"Everydays: the First 5,000 Days," a digital artwork by US artist Beeple has sold for more than $69 million

The buyer of a landmark work by the digital artist Beeple, which sold for $69.3 million, is a leading collector of new technologies who operates under the pseudonym Metakovan, the auction house Christie's announced Friday.

The sale of "Everydays: the First 5,000 Days", a virtual mosaic created by Mike Winkelmannthe US artist's real namecaused upheaval on the art market, where digital art was still a niche just six months ago.

Only two artists have achieved a higher price during their lifetimes in the history of the arts, the British painter David Hockney and the US visual artist Jeff Koons.

The purchaser of the digital collage, Metakovan, is one of the oldest investors in "NFT," or "Non-Fungible Tokens," which are virtual objects like "Everydays," whose authenticity and traceability are deemed to be inviolable.

"NFTs" are based on so-called "blockchain" technology, which is also used by cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.

In 2017, together with his partner, who goes by the pseudonym Twobadour and whose identity is also a closely guarded secret, Metakovan created Metapurse, the main investment fund in "NFT" virtual objects, of which he is the main financier.

At the beginning of January, Metapurse announced it had acquired 20 virtual paintings from Beeple for a total of approximately $2.2 million.

"When you think of high-valued NFTs, this one is going to be pretty hard to beat," said Metakovan, in a statement released by Christie's. "And here's whyit represents 13 years of everyday work."

The 39-year-old artist from Charleston, South Carolina, started the "Everydays" project back in 2007, with the mission of producing a work every day.

After 5,000 consecutive days, "Everydays" brought together his daily pieces in digital form, beginning with a simple image of his Uncle Jim and ending on a detailed graphic portrait of characters from Donald Trump to Buzz Lightyear to Michael Jackson, depicted as dystopian muses around a child drawing.

To date, Winkelmann has produced 5,064 consecutive imagesindividually visible on his Instagram feed.

Techniques are replicable and skill is surpassable, but the only thing you can't hack digitally is time," said Metakovan. "This is the crown jewel, the most valuable piece of art for this generation. It is worth $1 billion."

In mid-January, Metapurse announced the launch of three virtual museums in which it will exhibit acquisitions from the fund, enhanced by the use of virtual reality.

 2021 AFP
A mother and son have been given suspended prison sentences for a public order offence in Longford town.

James Donoghue and Lucy Donoghue, both of 3 St Marys Street, Drumlish, were convicted of the offences, which occurred on October 15, 2019.

I have received photographs and two movies of the incident and it is very serious, admitted defence solicitor, Frank Gearty.

Theyre absolutely terrified that youre going to send them to prison. Theyre talking about giving money to the court.

Well, well have to see the movie first, said Judge Hughes.

Mr Gearty explained that both of his clients were entering a guilty plea and that the incident occurred when Ms Donoghue came into town in an intoxicated state to get some food from a local restaurant.

Judge Hughes, who was examining photographs that were handed into court, noted with amusement that Ms Donoghue seems to have taken a claw hammer out of her blouse.

Is it common for women in Longford to carry claw hammers in their blouses when theyre shopping? he asked.

Unfortunately, when Mrs Donoghue was in town, she started a conversation that went the wrong way and she took great offence to it and became violent, which is very out of character for her, said Mr Gearty.

James Donoghue, regretfully, in defence of his mother came up in the car.

Mr Gearty stated again that his clients are terrified of going to prison, to which Judge Hughes replied they deserve to go.

A total of 700 was handed into the court by the two accused that day.

This whole incident would be seen as a precursor to a feud taking place between the Donoghues, John Robertson and the Stokes', said Sgt Mark Mahon on behalf of the state.

Weapons were taken out in Longford in front of the Bank of Ireland. They were going to the van to get tooled up for a row in the middle of the street. These are factors that need to be taken into consideration.

Mr Donoghue objected somewhat stating that he admitted to 'everything there, but there was no feud'.

I was defending my mother. Wouldnt you do it for your mother? he said.

Hes admitting in court that he came in to inflict harm. Its very concerning, said Sgt Mahon.

The court heard that Mr Donoghue had 13 previous convictions, including two for section 3 assault causing harm and one section 2 assault.

A total of 500 which was previously paid in surety for Mr Donoghue was forfeited to the court and he was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Judge Hughes suspended the sentence for three years and also handed down a fine of 250 with three months to pay.

Youve been out of trouble for a year. If you stay out of trouble for a further three years, youll be fine, said Judge Hughes.

Ms Donoghue, the court heard, had five previous convictions, all of which were for public order.

The 700 offered to the court was paid to the court poor box on her behalf and she was also given a 10 month sentence, suspended for three years.
What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday
The hotel group which owns Clayton Whites and The Maldron has announced losses of more than 100 million during 2020. Dalata Hotel Group, which is the largest hotel operator in Ireland, also revealed it had seen a 68 per cent reduction in revenue last year because of the pandemic.

And, after a challenging year, outgoing Group CEO Pat McCann called upon the Irish Government to continue its support of the hotel industry.

'Given the scale of our business in Ireland, the Irish support packages are particularly important,' he said. 'The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the commercial rates waiver in Ireland remain in place until 30 June 2021. The ongoing support is critical as the industry navigates through this crisis and positions for recovery.

'I am now calling on the Irish Government to continue their commitment to support this vital part of our economy as it starts to recover. One of the key supports after the financial crisis was the reduction in the VAT rate.

'I am asking the Irish government to commit to a minimum of five years to a VAT rate of 9 per cent. The big beneficiary of this will be to the exchequer itself and it will support getting people back to work.'

Meanwhile Mr McCann has informed the group of his intention to step down as CEO, a role he has fulfilled since founding the company in 2007. He will be succeeded by current deputy CEO, Dermot Crowley.

'I am honoured to have been chosen by the Board to succeed Pat as CEO,' said Mr Crowley. 'I am very excited about leading the great team that we have in Dalata as we continue to expand the group across the UK and Ireland.'
Car Bomb Kills at Least 7, Injures 53 in Afghanistans Western Herat Province

HERAT, AfghanistanA powerful car bomb near a police station on Friday night killed at least seven people and wounded more than 50 others in Afghanistans western Herat province, officials said.

Herat Governor Sayed Abdul Wahid Qatali said several women and children were among the dead. He added that at least 53 people including civilians and security forces have been hurt in the explosion.

Dozens of homes and shops were also damaged in the blast as rescuers rushed to the scene to help several people trapped under the rubble, Qatali said.

No one claimed responsibility for the bombing but local officials blamed the Taliban terrorists.

Representatives of the Taliban, which has been fighting a foreign-backed Afghan government since they were ousted from power by U.S.-led forces in late 2001, were not immediately available to comment.

Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and Taliban in Qatars capital Doha have struggled to make progress amid international calls to reduce violence.

Russia plans to hold a conference on Afghanistan in Moscow on March 18 and has invited several regional players, including Afghan government and politicians to jumpstart the peace process as diplomacy by foreign powers including Washington ramps up.

It comes at a crunch time for the peace process as a May 1 deadline for foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan looms and the United States reviews its plans.

A Texas lawmaker filed legislation this week that would make it easier for the state to identify gaps in the care of mentally ill people who have been accused of a crime and who often wind up at state psychiatric hospitals.

The bill, SB 1346, would create the Office of Forensic Services, tasked with collecting data on services provided to individuals with mental illnesses who have been accused of a crime  forensic patients.

Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat from Austin who could not be reached for comment, filed the bill about a week after a Houston Chronicle investigation, In Crisis, revealed that the states mental health system has suffered for years from underfunding and insufficient oversight.

The investigation found that the state doesnt have enough hospital beds to serve its growing population, with waitlists that stretch on for up to a year, and its failing to track whether patients are getting the help they need. Many find themselves in jail over and over again.

Roughly 70 percent of the 2,300 beds in the 10 state-run mental hospitals are occupied by people who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial by a court or found not guilty by reason of insanity.

On HoustonChronicle.com: In Crisis: How Texas fails the mentally ill

Greg Hansch, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Texas, said the organization is strongly in favor of Eckhardts bill, which would help the Texas Health and Human Services Commission make data-driven decisions.

If the office is created, we can start accounting for the people who have been served through forensic services and identifying what their needs are, Hansch said. It will help identify what the gaps in the continuum of care are and where people are slipping through the cracks.

For example, the Chronicles investigation found that the commission does not track how many people who are transferred from maximum security to a less-restrictive setting are later accused of injuring other patients or staff.

Christine Mann, a spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, declined to comment on Eckhardts bill.

As a state agency, we are prohibited from lobbying for or against any particular bill, Mann said in an email. We will implement all legislation that is enacted into law. Given this bill was recently filed, we are still analyzing its potential impact to our agency.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Read more in-depth investigations by the Houston Chronicle

Under Eckhardts bill, the new Office of Forensic Services would create a comprehensive statewide registry of hospital beds available for mentally ill individuals accused of a crime.

It would collect data on patient outcomes for programs that include outpatient and jail-based competency restoration, and it would track the length of time it takes someone to receive forensic services. The office also would develop best practices for inpatient psychiatric services for these individuals.

The bill would also allow the office to consult on and review contracts for outpatient and jail-based competency restoration programs, as well as look at local initiatives such as jail diversion and crisis services.

alexandra.stuckey@chron.com
Even though Matt James season of The Bachelor has yet to conclude, Bachelor Nation is already jonesing for spoilers about The Bachelorette 2021. Not only are fans curious about which woman will lead the next season, but theyre also raising questions about who the host will be now that long-time host, Chris Harrison, has temporarily stepped back from the franchise.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for The Bachelor 2021 finale and also reveals the leads for The Bachelorette 2021.]

Chris Harrison | Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images

Harrison has been a key part of The Bachelor franchise since its inception in 2002. Not only has Harrison been the permanent host, but he is also an executive producer. However, the TV personality made the decision to step aside from his post after doing an interview with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay. Harrisons remarks, made in defense of Rachael Kirkconnell, rubbed many viewers the wrong way. In fact, there was even a petition circulating which sought to permanently remove Harrison from his position. Seeing the backlash, Harrison chose to step back from the franchise and work on educating himself.

Chris Harrison temporarily steps back from The Bachelor franchise

This historic season of The Bachelor should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions, Harrison shared in a statement posted on his Instagram page. To that end, I have consulted with Warner Bros. and ABC and will be stepping aside for a period of time and will not join for the After the Final Rose special.

RELATED: The Bachelor: Kit Keenan Wasnt Lying About How Rich She Is; Her Mom Is Worth a Fortune

Who is the next lead for The Bachelorette 2021?

And it looks like Harrisons absence will continue for the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. Reality Steve (a popular blogger who is known for his accurate spoilers) revealed that two Bachelor fan-favorites are taking Harrisons place for the upcoming season starring Katie Thurston.

Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will co-host Katie Thurstons season

(SPOILER): Tayshia Adams & Kaitlyn Bristowe are your new co-hosts for Katies Bachelorette season, Reality Steve revealed on his Twitter page. Every1 is currently quarantining in New Mexico  Katie, the men, the co-hosts, and production  & filming begins late next week at the Hyatt Tamaya, just outside of Albuquerque, NM.

Spoilers reveal that Michelle Young will receive her own season of The Bachelorette

But Thurston isnt the sole Bachelorette of 2021. Reality Steve also revealed that Matt James runner-up, Michelle Young, will also be receiving her very own season. Thurstons season will begin filming shortly while Youngs season will begin filming over the summer. According to the bloggers post, Young, who is a teacher, didnt want to be away from her students for that long, thus the need for two seasons.

Will Harrison rejoin the cast in 2021?

Considering there will be two seasons of The Bachelorette in 2021, theres a chance that Harrison will return for Youngs season or even partway through Thurstons. But even if the long-time host doesnt return soon, the franchise was smart to pick two fan-favorites to replace the veteran host considering how many viewers are loyal to him.
Yves here. The headline is hyperventilating, since humanity does not equal the entire world but the piece does substantiate the claim that Brazils refusal to do much of anything about Covid is a train wreck that puts other countries at risk.

By DemocraciaAbierta, the global platform that publishes voices from Latin America and beyond in Spanish, Portuguese and English, connecting them to the global debate of openDemocracy. Twitter: @demoAbierta. Originally published at openDemocracy

The world is nearing the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel thanks to the effectiveness of mobility restriction, social distancing, usage of masks and the start of massive vaccination campaigns. However, there is a black hole on the planet, and its name is Brazil.

To add on top of the catastrophic denialism of President Jair Bolsonaro in the face of the virus, comes the variant that emerged in the state of Amazonas in northern Brazil, which has put the country  and the world  at risk. This development also provides lessons about COVID-19 and the crucial importance of taking epidemics seriously.

Known as P.1, the variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is not only more contagious, but preliminary studies suggest that it is also capable of infecting people who have already recovered from other versions of the virus.

The variant is believed to have emerged amid the chaos in Manaus, the most affected city, in terms of proportion, in the country with the worlds second highest COVID-19 death toll. And it is not all a coincidence.

Brazil is experiencing its most deadly period since it registered its first case in February last year. On 9 March, the country reported 1,954 deaths in 24 hours, the worst figure since the pandemic began. The situation in hospitals is cataclysmic, with ICU bed occupancy in 17 cities already at 100%.

Bolsonaros administration is largely responsible for all of this chaos, which has killed 270,000 Brazilians. As Robert Muggah of the Igarape Institute has argued, his denialism in the face of the severity of the disease and inability to curb the outbreak, along with his anti-vaccine crusade, goes beyond creating a national tragedy  it has produced a global threat.

A Breeding Ground for New Variants

Political scientists are not only blaming Bolsonaros incompetence and resistance to handling the pandemic for Brazils current crisis. In an interview with The Guardian, neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis from Duke University argues that the international community must intervene to put pressure on the Brazilian government for its inability to act.

Nicolelis explained that the situation in Brazil has created the perfect storm for variants. The virus has been given free reign to reproduce at levels that drive up the possibility of mutations thanks to its president denying its existence and questioning the usage of masks  even on one of the countrys highest mortality days.

If the virus is allowed to proliferate as it is now, it opens the door to the appearance of new mutations and the emergence of even more lethal variants, Nicolelis said.

What is the point of controlling the pandemic in Europe or the United States if Brazil continues to be a breeding ground for this virus? Brazil is an open-air laboratory for the virus to proliferate and end up creating more lethal mutations. This is about the world. It is global.

Slow Vaccination Campaign

Another aggravating situation in Brazil is the slowness of vaccination campaigns. Figures from this week show that the country has vaccinated just over 8 million people, equivalent to 4% of the population. According to specialists, at this rate it would take Brazil four years to reach collective immunity.

At a recent meeting, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) criticised the slow pace of the vaccination campaigns throughout Latin America, warning about the risks of more resistant variants emerging.

This occurs, among other reasons, because contact between people who have received the vaccine encourages the emergence of super-potent mutations capable of evading the action of the immuniser, according to researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Leicester. For this reason, the researchers say it is imperative to combine vaccination plans with shutdowns and other measures to contain the virus.

In Brazil, this slowness is compounded by variants such as the E484k mutation that evades antibodies and high levels of contagion due to the lack of preventive measures. Since January, several countries have closed their borders to Brazil to prevent the arrival of dangerous variants.

Tragic Results of Misrule

From the start of the pandemic, Bolsonaro insisted that his country could not stop due to a little cold, claiming that the economic consequences would be worse. However, he clearly miscalculated the true cost.

As this article in Valor Economico, Brazils largest financial newspaper, outlines, the federal governments delay in ordering COVID-19 vaccines has cost Brazils stock exchange, best known as Ibovespa, about 13,000 points, or 10%.

The root of our problem, what affected us the most this year, was the mismanagement of the vaccination,said Ronaldo Patah, a market strategists at UBS Wealth Management. If the government had closed deals back there, the Ibovespa would have been near the peak, at 125,000 points, and not at 112,000 points.

Last year, the Brazilian government rejected a proposal from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer to supply 70 million doses of vaccines. The health ministry claimed that it had taken this decision to avoid falling into a marketing scheme involving the vaccine producers.

Patah said that if the government had purchased the doses back in September last year, Brazil could currently be vaccinating at a rate similar to that of the United States.

Although Bolsonaro cannot be held responsible for the entire complex process of virus mutation and the development of a pandemic unprecedented in modern history, it is more than evident that his government could have contained the worsening situation through the implementation of simple measures that proved to be effective in many countries.

However, his ultra-conservative idea that the economic consequences of restrictive measures would be worse than the deaths of citizens revealed his absolute disregard for the popular classes, as well as strong structural racism.

The conviction, so far ratified by the polls, that whatever is done the majority will continue to vote for him, makes Bolsonaro feel supported in his lethal policy.

But neither the country nor the world can wait for the next election to see a change in the Brazilian governments attitude. Only coordinated international pressure can ensure that dangerous new variants are curbed and thousands of lives are saved, not only in Brazil, but worldwide.
An election sign is seen in The Hague

By Toby Sterling and Stephanie van den Berg

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch voters look set to give Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative VVD Party a fresh four-year mandate in a national election on March 15-17 that is widely seen as a referendum on its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

With a ban on gatherings of more than two people, restaurants and bars shut and the first night-time curfew in place since World War Two, voting has been spread over three days to help ensure social distancing at polling stations.

A majority of voters reluctantly support the lockdown, given the Netherlands' current infection rate of 31 per 100,000 people, towards the high end of Europe's range.

Rutte is running as "a safe pair of hands and I think that resonates with a large group of voters", said Rem Korteweg of the Clingendael Institute, a think-tank based in The Hague.

Rutte, 54, has been Dutch prime minister since 2010, making him one of Europe's longest serving leaders.

While the government's coronavirus response has included blunders such as flip-flopping over face masks and a slow vaccine rollout, voters credit Rutte with ensuring enough hospital beds were available through two COVID-19 waves.

Government support for companies has kept unemployment at just 4%, dulling the economic pain of the prolonged lockdown.

Three polls released this week showed Rutte's VVD taking 24-26% of the vote, compared with 11-14% for its closest rival, Geert Wilders' anti-Islam Freedom Party, which leads the parliamentary opposition.

NO TIME FOR 'EXPERIMENTS'

"I believe that in a crisis... people look at the current leader, and they are not too much into experiments," said Wilders.

In the first Dutch election in two decades where immigration has not been the pivotal issue, Wilders has campaigned for more spending on healthcare and small businesses, and against the curfew, which caused rioting when it was introduced.

Story continues

Among other major parties, Labour, the Green-Left and the pro-education D-66 parties are vying with the centre-right Christian Democrats for third place. Two or three of these will likely join a new VVD-led coalition.

Some voters remain undecided after a year of struggles.

"I don't feel supported by the party now at the helm and I just don't know who I will vote for," said cafe owner Jaap de Vriend in Leiden, who said he had usually supported the VVD.

"In the last year... I sold everything I could just to save my business," said De Vriend, who converted his cafe into a takeaway deli to stay afloat during the lockdown.

The National Institute for Health (RIVM) has advised against any swift relaxation of the lockdown measures, saying that hospitals could still be overwhelmed in a third wave of the pandemic driven by more contagious variants of the virus.

Although Rutte's government was among the last in Europe to begin vaccinations, they are expected to have reached 10% of the population by the end of March. On government forecasts everyone who wants a shot will have had one by July.

"We have light at the end of the tunnel... but it may still really take a while before we get there," Rutte said at his last pre-election news conference.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling, Stephanie van den Berg and Bart Meijer; Editing by Anthony Deutsch and Gareth Jones)
Conflict, not cooperation, is going to define international affairs for the foreseeable future. This will be true both on Earth and, more importantly, in the strategic high ground of space. Fact is, the second space race is on. The worlds powers are playing for keeps. Whoever wins the second space race will rule the world. Despite the competitive advantages that the United States has in this arena, Americas rivals  namely Russia and China  are catching up.

Unless the Biden administration takes a radical departure from where its nascent space policy is heading, America will lose space and, in so doing, the United States will cease being the worlds superpower.

Some people reading this might not understand why it matters if America surrendered space to China. You might be questioning why we should care if the country remains a superpower. But without Americas once unquestionable dominance of space, without access to critical satellites in orbit, the America you and I know would ground to a halt. Everything in our society today relies on signals and those signals must pass through satellites. The U.S. military could not defend itself or American interests abroad nor could everyday life for average Americans continue should U.S. satellites be destroyed or rendered inoperable.

How long do you think America could survive in a world commanded by Beijing and Moscow?

The new space race is the most important challenge of our time. Sadly, few  in government and in the public  seem to have recognized this fact.

China and Russia have announced plans to unite their space programs and jointly develop the moon and its bountiful natural resources. For the record, the moon is believed to hold potentially trillions of dollars of mineable rare-earth minerals. Capturing the moon could provide the Sino-Russian alliance the ultimate strategic high ground over Earth. More importantly, the mined resources of the moon could be sold  and those trillions of dollars could be funneled into the coffers of the Sino-Russian war machine on Earth.

This new space alliance represents the most significant geopolitical shift in national security space policy in recent decades. It is the fusing of the second-most-powerful nation in space, Russia, with the rising, third space power, China. And it is part of a larger geopolitical trend: the hardening of Eurasia against the United States and the greatest challenge to Americas superpower status since the Cold War.

Whats required now from Washington is decisive action. The political will and strategic vision for controlling the strategic high ground  for exploiting its vast bounties  is essential for whichever power seeks to order the remainder of the 21st century. Both Moscow and Beijing are clearly expressing such a will. The Americans, on the other hand, appear blinkered.

The United States must protect its satellites from attack, build reliable space-based missile defenses, insist upon returning American astronauts to the moon by 2024 (the year that China plans to begin construction of a lunar base), keep its manned Mars mission on schedule, and unleash the private space sector as never before  all to stay ahead of the new Sino-Russian entente in space. And Washington must do these things within a few short years.

Should the new Sino-Russian space alliance go unanswered, then these authoritarian states will quickly claim the strategic high ground of space and reduce the United States to a middle power on Earth beholden to the oppressive whims of Beijing and Moscow. The space race is on, a space war is near, and the Biden administration must do everything in its power to ensure that America is defended in space and that its dominance remains absolute.

To keep that dominance, the new administration must call for a minimum $1 trillion investment in both the military and civilian space programs while offering clear guidelines  and steady support  for ensuring Americas access to space and for pushing ahead of the Chinese-Russian alliance.

Losing space to those two powers means also losing the Earth to them. Should our dominance disappear, one can expect a far bleaker future for our children than what many of us expect or want. President Biden must act in support of a robust space policy and he must do it now.
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The report into a HIQA inspection Carlingford Nursing Home on November 11 2020 identified certain aspects of the premises that did not meet the requirements set down under the regulations for nursing homes and found that this 'had a direct impact on staff's ability to adhere to best standards in infection prevention and control.'

The inspection took place when the nursing home was operated by Cooley Nursing Home Limited, which was part of the Arbour Care Group. The group has since been acquired by JWP Enterprise Fund.

According to the report, which was published on the HIQA website last week the 'risk inspection was carried out to assess the designated centre's preparedness for a potential COVID-19 outbreak and inform a registration renewal. The centre had a good history of compliance and the inspectors were satisfied that the action plan from the last inspection had been completed. At the time of inspection, there had been no COVID-19 outbreak in the centre and staff proudly described to the inspectors the measures they took at work as well as in the community to ensure the centre remain COVID-19 free.'

The report stated; 'All the residents who spoke with the inspectors expressed very high levels of satisfaction with their lives in the centre. They all referred to the hard work and kindness of the staff. Residents told the inspectors that they were happy with everything including the food, their bedrooms and their home in general, and some were particularly complimentary about the food.

The inspectors observed that staff were 'kind and courteous in their interactions with the residents'.

Staff and residents who spoke with the inspectors described their lived experience in the centre over the past year. While mentioning that these were very anxious and challenging times, they were all confident and grateful that they had been successful to date in keeping the centre COVID-19 free. Residents told the inspectors that they felt safe in the centre.

Although the feedback from residents was overwhelmingly positive, some mentioned that they missed the outings and were looking forward to a time when these could resume.

Overall, the inspectors were assured that residents living in the centre received a high standard of quality care which ensured they continued to enjoy a good quality of life. The inspectors acknowledged that from an infection prevention and control point of view the provider had made significant efforts to promote residents' safety and ensure staff were trained and knowledgeable.

However, additional improvements in respect of premises were required to ensure regulatory compliance and to support best infection prevention and control practices. Infection control practices were largely of good standard, however some processes and practices required further review.

Although the inspectors accepted that non-essential refurbishments had been put on hold because of the pandemic, they identified a number of areas which needed improvement, relating to the laundary, cleaning room and storage of cleaning supplies and equipment. They also highlighted an issue with the ventilation in the smoking room and cleaning room. A full review of furniture and equipment such as chairs, bed tables, wooden surfaces including handrails was required to ensure they were fit for purpose and permitted appropriate cleaning and disinfection practices.

The nursing home management responded with a programme of actions to address these issues, some of which have already taken place while others will be carried out when restrictions are lifted.
Hundreds of Aiken County school employees got their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Friday at Midland Valley High School, the first of six clinics scheduled for March.

Midland Valley High principal Sheldon Higgenbottom said nearly 300 people signed up ahead of the clinic, which ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One of the first in line that morning was Higgenbottom himself, who said he was excited to get vaccinated and happy for MVHS to host the clinic.

"It was nice to get one step closer to not having to wear a mask, is the way I look at it. To be there for my faculty and my community, and for them to see that I'm positive about it was a big thing, because I want everybody to get back to normal as much as anybody," Higgenbottom said.

The school district announced the vaccination opportunities for employees after South Carolina moved into phase 1b of the state's vaccine distribution, which includes school staff along with other frontline workers.

Medical professionals from Rural Health Services administered the vaccines Friday. Rural Health is partnering with the Aiken County Public School District for the school vaccine clinics continuing during the month of March.

Pamela Grandy, a library media aide, said the vaccine didn't hurt.

"I barely felt it," Grandy said.

While waiting in line for her shot, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School principal Dr. Tiffany Hall said the vaccine will offer peace of mind for the employees at her school.

"I think it just gives reassurance that we're going to be safe and that we can fully serve our kids five days a week," Hall said. "And it's really awesome that Rural Health has partnered with us, so it just speaks to Aiken, how we come together in the time of the pandemic."

Instructional aide Angela Beaty said the vaccine will help her and others feel safer in the classroom.

"I think it's wonderful to be able to finally get it (the vaccine), and that this is happening for Aiken County school district employees," Beaty said.

On March 2, Gov. Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced the state would move into phase 1b of vaccine distribution on March 8. The move made residents aged 55 or older, residents ages 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions and frontline workers with increased occupational risks eligible for vaccine appointments.

That afternoon, Carina McGee, an English teacher at Aiken High School, said she was ecstatic about being able to get a vaccine soon.

Im a little disappointed that it took this long, and some of the comments from the governor have been discouraging, but Im just relieved that Ill be able to get on the list in order to start getting my vaccination, McGee said.

Along with other teachers in Aiken County, McGee has been vocal at protests and school board meetings about the safety risks that come with full-capacity classrooms during a pandemic.

Schools returned to traditional five-day, full-capacity schedules on March 1, and McGee said she feels the vaccines will make classrooms a safer environment, reducing the spread of COVID-19 to students and fellow employees.

I think vaccines will make any area a safer environment, but especially in schools where were being required to go back five days a week, when there is no possible way to keep any of those students socially distanced, McGee said.

McGee said she knows several teachers who crossed state lines to North Carolina to get vaccinated  a route she no longer has to consider taking herself.

Im just so relieved, McGee said.

Five more vaccine clinics for Aiken County school employees are scheduled this month, and employees can get their second dose at clinics slated for April.

Other vaccine clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates at the following locations:

Today: Midland Valley High School, 227 Mustang Drive, Graniteville;

Tuesday: Silver Bluff High School, 64 Desoto Drive;

March 19: Aiken High School, 449 Rutland Drive;

March 24: North Augusta High School, 2000 Knobcone Ave., North Augusta;

March 26:Wagener-Salley High School, 272 Main St., Wagener; and

March 30: Ridge Spring-Monetta High School, 1071 Trojan Road, Monetta.

The school district has posted a survey link online at acpsd.net which will include each vaccination location, dates and time slots. Employees will be asked to select an hour time slot to receive the first vaccine dose. Employees will also receive the survey link via email.
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. Supporters of the Homeland Salvation Movement are rallying outside President Sarkissians Office where Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to arrive for a meeting.

The anti-government protesters were earlier rallying outside the foreign ministry headquarters.

We have information that Pashinyan is going to come to the presidents office to meet the president, so weve come here to demonstrate, said Homeland Salvation Movement member Gerasim Vardanyan.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Pupils at a top private school have claimed it has a 'rape culture' after detailing allegations of sexual abuse and harassment, it was revealed yesterday.

Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, has contacted pupils and alumni to offer support after youngsters reported a 'toxic environment' within the 20,000-a-year co-educational school.

Headteacher David Goodhew said he was 'troubled' by the anonymous allegations made online, which included claims female students had been assaulted by their male counterparts and coerced into sex acts.

The website and social media campaign Everyone's Invited has received hundreds of anonymous claims of sexual abuse involving pupils from some of Britain's leading private schools, also including Eton and St Paul's Boys School in Barnes, south-west London.

Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, has contacted pupils and alumni to offer support after youngsters reported a 'toxic environment' within the 20,000-a-year co-educational school (file photo)

Pupils at Latymer said it had a 'serious and ongoing problem'. A second website has since been set up to demand the school tackles its alleged 'rape culture'.

The school, where alumni include actor Hugh Grant and model Lily Cole, said it had alerted parents and the local council's child safeguarding officer to the allegations.

One shocking account claimed some 'rich, white, privileged boys' at the school were 'predators' who forced girls into performing sex acts.

Girls alleged boys made 'sexual comments' to them in the classroom, compared nude photographs of them and ranked them based on their faces and bodies.

Pupils said they were bullied and sexually harassed during lessons and that teachers had ignored the behaviour.

Parents who complained to the school were also ignored, according to some of the accounts on the Everyone's Invited website.

One anonymous pupil said they had been repeatedly sexually harassed in a classroom by a boy, saying: 'The teacher could also see this happening every lesson and the other boys laughing and chose to ignore it.'

In a statement, Latymer said: 'It was deeply disturbing reading the accounts by young women, and men, of alleged incidents that have occurred, both on-site and outside of schools or university campuses across the UK.

'We are full of respect and compassion for all of those who shared their harrowing stories.

'We were troubled to see a number of the stories and experiences attributed to Latymerians.

'The welfare of our students and alumni is of the utmost importance to us and we take any report or allegation made by a member of our community extremely seriously.

'Sexual harassment and abuse have no place at Latymer or in the wider world. Such behaviours are completely incompatible with Latymers values and contrary to our ethos of respect for others.

'Our policies around safeguarding and anti-bullying stress a zero tolerance approach to behaviours that foster the prevalence of misogyny, sexism, harassment, abuse and assault.

'All staff at the school undergo regular safeguarding training, including a unit on Sexual Violence and Harassment between Children and Young People.

'When an allegation is reported to us, we follow the appropriate processes, including referral to and involvement with outside agencies and the police if appropriate, and work with our young people to ensure they feel empowered and supported.

'If an allegation were to involve a member of staff, we would always follow our safeguarding procedure which requires us to take any disclosure extremely seriously, notify the LADO and carry out a thorough investigation.

'We take all such issues very seriously and have encouraged anyone affected to come and talk to us directly.

'The welfare of our students and alumni is of the utmost importance to us and we will be listening carefully to our students and alumni and reflecting on what further steps we should take.'

Condemning the actions described, St Paul's Boys School said it had also reported the website allegations to its local council's safeguarding team.

Eton said it took any allegations 'extremely seriously', would investigate thoroughly and take appropriate disciplinary action.
More people will be eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine starting March 22. The state announced we're moving into Phase 1C of the vaccine distribution plan.

WAAY 31 spoke with Kelley Barber, who said she can finally breathe easily again after learning her son will soon be able to get vaccinated.

Kelley Barber and her son Kelley Barber and her son

Barber's 16-year-old son has Down syndrome. According to a study in the United Kingdom, people with down syndrome are 10 times more likely to die from the coronavirus than people without Down syndrome. So, Barber is very relieved people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are included in the new expansion.

Barber said she and her family are doing everything in their power to keep her son healthy, since he's at such a high risk of getting severely ill.

I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Weve moved him around like a prized painting, just to keep him protected. Like if someone would get ill where I work, he would go to my parent's house," she said. "So, hes spent a lot of time at his grandparent's house and hell come back home for a while. Its nice to know my anxiety level can go from a 10 back to a regular 5.

Barber said she's excited her son will finally be able to go back to school and have a normal life once he's vaccinated.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  The Integrated Bar of the Philippines called on government authorities to investigate the viral letter from the Calbayog City, Samar police requesting for a list of names of lawyers representing "communist terrorists."

The IBP said top Philippine National Police officials assured them that there was no directive to request for a list, but the regional trial court confirmed receiving the letter Friday afternoon.

"We ask all concerned government authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter, exact accountability, and more importantly, promote state responsibility to ensure that lawyers can do their job without threats, harassment, intimidation, or retribution," said IBP President Domingo Cayosa in a statement.

The letter, which has since made rounds on social media, was signed by PLt. Fernando Calabria Jr., a chief intelligence officer. It stated that the request was in compliance with "higher PNP offices" and asked for names of lawyers of "Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) personalities."

"The letter is improper, deplorable, and alarming," said Cayosa.

The National Union of People's Lawyers' also condemned the document and reminded the police that they have no right to profile lawyers on the basis of their clients' personalities or ideologies.

"The letter intensifies the atmosphere of fear and repression with which lawyers are trying to perform their sworn duties towards the courts, society, and their clients, regardless of the latter's political beliefs," said the group.

Earlier this week, Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino, along with four other people, were killed in a shootout against policemen. The PNP has since agreed to work with the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the incident, but it is not clear if the request letter is related to this case.
New Delhi: Actress Urvashi Rautela has yet again impressed fans with her chic fashion choices. This time the stunner took inspiration from the 70s and posted a picture on Instagram in which she can be seen wearing a peach fringe dress.

It is a beautiful dress with three layers of fringe. Urvashi Rautela styled the fringe dress with a ponytail giving away an adorable look. Back in 2019 the American fashion diva Kylie Jenner styled the same outfit in white.

The leggy lass carried this fringe ensemble for the launch event of her music video Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si, which is the 2021 remake of a 1958 hit of the same name. In the music video, Urvashi Rautela efficiently portrayed the late legendary beautiful actress Madhubala. The song went to become a massive hit and trending on Youtube with more than 12 million views in just a week.

Urvashi has starred in films like Virgin Bhanupriya, Sanam Re, Porobashinee, Kabil, and many more. The actress has also appeared in many hit music videos like Love Dose, Teri Load Ve, Who Chaand Kaha Se Laogi, Ek Diamond Da Haar and the remake of the melodious song Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si.

On the work front, Urvashi Rautela will be seen in Inspector Avinash a web series, along with Randeep Hooda, apart from this Urvashi Rautela has also signed a three-film deal with the Jio Studios. Urvashi Rautela will be seen in the bilingual Thriller Black Rose and Hindi remake of Thirutu Payale 2. The actress will also be seen in her first international music collaboration with the Egyptian superstar Mohamed Ramadan in Versace. Urvashi Rautela will be seen romancing with Guru Randhawa in an upcoming music video Mar Jayenge.
A federal judge with a reputation for belittling women from his bench threatened on Friday to fine or jail a Houston civil rights attorney who he said failed to follow procedure in a Baytown police brutality case.

Judge Lynn N. Hughes said he would make a decision next week on possible sanctions against the lawyer, U.A. Lewis. She appeared before him in person  by court order  to justify multiple lawsuits she had filed in separate courts that surround the events of a case already in Hughes courtroom.

Those other lawsuits, the judge wrote, range from identical to close with shifting defendants and claims, as camouflage, including collateral attacks on this courts jurisdiction.

Any possible sanctions will not exceed $50,000 or 150 days of incarceration, the judge said in the order.

Lewis said she was solely protecting her clients interests. She is representing Kedric Crawford, a man who said he was stunned and punched by Baytown officers searching his car in July 2019, leaving him hospitalized.

During the hearing Friday, Hughes first focused on the defense attorneys verbal complaints about Lewis behavior, mostly unrelated to the intention of the proceeding. She finally requested to be heard, sparking a contentious volley of explanations and accusations.

The attorney told the judge that she filed one of the subsequent lawsuits to correct an error regarding a defendant who was left off the original case, and she said she assumed all of the cases would be rejoined in Hughes court.

But then she said she decided to dismiss the case in front of Hughes with the plan to regroup, start fresh and refile at a later date, all because the initial lawsuit was getting too complicated with new information coming to light.

It wasnt an effort for me to circumvent your jurisdiction in filing that lawsuit, she said. I have made a lot of errors along the way  I am guilty of being overworked and nothing nefarious is going on here with my filings.

Hughes said Lewis was at least required to notify him of related cases being filed. He also called the content of her lawsuits unbusinesslike.

Its not consistent with the way laws practiced, that you sue a whole bunch of people, make claims against them, insult them - there are lots of gratuitous comments in the proceedings  and you just dismiss it all, he said.

Defense attorneys for the city of Baytown condemned the filings of other cases and accused Lewis of judge shopping, adding that the additional lawsuits would cost their clients more money.

It was an obvious attempt to get out of this court, and I think it was done in bad faith, Steven D. Selbe said.

Lewis also fought allegations that she was not turning over records to the defense, saying she made every effort to obtain records that defendants were seeking.

I disapprove of people who dont do what theyre ordered to do, Hughes responded. Every effort - thats your problem, you didnt make every effort.

Hughes has drawn attention for various remarks and rulings, and in late January, he was pulled from a sex discrimination case after an appellate panel said he suffocated a female plaintiffs access to fundamental fairness.

The 5th U.S. Circuit ruled that he should be removed from ruling on the psychology professors challenges against two universities, and the cases were reassigned to Judge Andrew S. Hanen.

The conservative circuit found that Hughes, among other things, repeatedly failed to give the woman a chance to request documents through the discovery process. He also made off-key remarks about how much she complained, and suggested the defense lawyers pursue a dismissal, the circuit judges said.

In other news-making moments, the judge once issued a rare order of ineptitude to a terrorism prosecutor from Washington, D.C., who showed up to his courtroom in a track suit. In 2013, the circuit criticized Hughes for dismissing comments allegedly made by a Fort Bend ISD official that if Barack Obama were to be elected president, the Statue of Liberty would have its torch replaced by a piece of fried chicken.

The 5th Circuit admonished Hughes in 2018 after remarks to a female prosecutor about women that the court found demeaning, inappropriate and beneath the dignity of a federal judge.

The sanction in the criminal case came after Hughes said of a female prosecutor, It was a lot simpler when you guys wore dark suits, white shirts and navy ties We didnt let girls do it in the old days. Hughes previously explained to the Houston Chronicle he was speaking about an FBI agent and referring to the exclusion of women historically. He did not see his 2017 remarks as derogatory, he said.

Hughes is a 79-year-old and a Houston native who has served since his appointment in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan.

Gabrielle Banks contributed to this article.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
Brazils Health Ministry has inked a contract with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to buy Russias Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, the ministrys press service said on Friday, TASS reports.

"The health ministry has signed a contract today on purchase of Sputnik V vaccine which will be imported from Russia by the Brazilian laboratory Uniao Quimica," the tweet said.

The vaccine is expected to be delivered by three shipments in April, May and June.

"The vaccine still needs to be approved by Anvisa (the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency - TASS]," the ministry reminds.

Earlier, the regulator asked for more information about the vaccine after Uniao Quimica and the Russian Direct Investment Fund submitted a request for the temporary emergency use authorization of Sputnik V.

In early January, Uniao Quimica received cell material to manufacture the vaccine and began producing a trial batch of the vaccines active components for research purposes.
Former Aussie Finance Minister Picked to Head Up International Economic Corporation, OECD

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has welcomed the OECD picking former Australian finance minister Mathias Cormann as its new head.

Mathias Cormann has been selected as the new head of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in a move Prime Minister Scott Morrison calls a recognition of Australias global agency.

Cormann, Australias longest-serving finance minister until last year, closely edged out Swedens Cecilia Malmstrom to take over as secretary-general of the Paris-based organisation from outgoing Angel Gurria.

This is a great honour for Mathias who has worked tirelessly over several months to engage with leaders, senior ministers and officials of OECD member nations from Europe, Asia and the Americas, Morrison said in a statement on Saturday morning.

Mathias work and life experience in both Europe and Australia, his outstanding record as Finance Minister and Senate leader and his expertise in international economic diplomacy will ensure he makes an outstanding contribution as leader of the OECD, he continued.

The prime minister said it was the most senior appointment of an Australian candidate to an international body for decades.

The appointment is recognition of Australias global agency and standing amongst fellow liberal democracies and our practical commitment and contribution to multilateral co-operation, Morrison said.

Cormann said he was honoured to be selected and would focus on promoting stronger, cleaner, fairer economic growth and raising employment and living standards following the coronavirus pandemic.

The issues and the specific policy challenges the world faces evolve over time but the OECDs capacity to find solutions and better ways forward has stood the test of time, he said in a statement.

I will give the organisation and its members my absolute best and strive to make the OECD a place that inspires collaboration and action in support of a sustainable and inclusive future, he continued.

Cormann also plans to pursue an ambitious and global approach to help countries become carbon-neutral by 2050, finalise a multilateral approach to digital taxation, and strengthen the outreach of the OECD into the Asia-Pacific.

He will begin his five-year term from June 1.

AAP


UI / Front End Engineer Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Mar 11, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200229054 Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, great ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Apple is a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Together we craft products and experiences people once couldn't have imagined - and now can't imagine living without. If you're motivated by the idea of making a real impact, and joining a team where we pride ourselves in being one of the most diverse and inclusive companies in the world, a career with Apple might be your dream job. The Customer Systems team is looking for an experienced UI & Configuration Engineer. You will play a critical role in working with diverse teams and external vendors to configure cloud based package solutions to meet business needs together with implementing intuitive front end user experiences. Strong judgement, oral and written communication, and leadership skills are required. The ability of drive decisions through consensus and influence change and the ability to resolve conflict effectively is essential to succeed in this role. Key Qualifications 4+ years UI experience building rich visual experiences in enterprise software solutions

Experience in configuring business rules in packaged cloud solutions

Expertise in front-end design, JavaScript libraries and accessibility

Comfortable with ambiguity and time spent outside of comfort zone acquiring new skills

Ability to adapt and approach problems flexibly

Passionate about the customer experience and attention to detail

Excellent communication and teamwork skills

Experience bringing to life impactful features by collaborating with diverse teams Description Developing user experiences for customer interactions within packaged solutions in financial domain. UI modifications and enhancements to screens and workflows. Configuring business rules, polices, procedures to meet defined requirements. Meet with business partners to understand business needs. Troubleshooting application issues. Keep up-to date on latest technology solutions to generate innovative ideas to solve business challenges We need someone with ability to stay focused and prioritize a heavy workload while achieving exceptional quality. You bring passion and dedication to your job and are committed to our vision and supporting the developer community. Education & Experience BS degree in Engineering related field plus 4 years of experience, or equivalent. Additional Requirements Industry experience with financial service solutions

Experience with packaged solutions UI development environments such as Lightening and Cosmos






Mumbai, March 13 : Actor Pulkit Samrat sure is in a festive mood lately, though one is not sure if it is because he has a big release lined up, or because he is at a wedding.

In a new picture the actor posted on Instagram, he seems to be attending some sort of a festivity -- most likely a wedding. The actor is seen whistling and dancing at the ceremony.

"In the mood to dance and whistle and scream and jump..!" he wrote as caption.

Pulkit is right now gearing up for the release of the upcoming movie "Haathi Mere Saathi". The Rana Daggubati-starrer jungle adventure is slated to be released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages.

The film highlights the issue of global warming and deforestation that impact wildlife and human population, and is directed by Prabhu Solomon.

The Hindi version of the film also features Zoya Hussain, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Paras Arora, Ankit Sagar and Tinnu Anand.
LONDON  In his first major move since joining the company in 2019, Sunny Jain has thrown down the green gauntlet and laid out a new sustainability and sociallyminded strategy for Unilevers Beauty and Personal Care division.

Jain and his team will be making myriad moves as part of a new Positive Beauty strategy, erasing the word normal from products packaging; refusing to alter marketing images, and challenging narrow beauty ideals, as the division advocates for more diversity and inclusivity in the sector.

More from WWD

The new strategy aims to impact 1 billion people by 2030, and stretches far beyond product and marketing. (According to Unilever, 1 billion people use its beauty and personal care products every day, and even more see the advertising.)

The division is also committing to broader sustainability targets, too, with plans to protect and regenerate 1.5 million hectares of land, forests and oceans by 2030; contribute 1 billion euros to Unilevers Climate & Nature fund, and ensure that all plastic is recyclable, reusable or compostable across every brand worldwide by 2025.

In addition, the division will continue to campaign for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics by 2023. Already, 23 of its beauty and personal care brands are PETA-approved, with more working toward certification.

The new Positive Beauty strategy chimes with Unilever chief executive officer Alan Jopes wish for the corporate giant to become the global leader in sustainable business.

In an exclusive interview, Jain called the strategy an exciting new vision for the beauty and personal care here at Unilever. We believe that Positive Beauty is going to champion the new era of beauty, which aims to do more good  and not just less harm.

He said the new strategy was aimed at improving the welfare of people and the planet, and was crafted in response to consumer demand  and market trends. Unilever well knows that consumers want products with a purpose, and it is determined to meet those demands.

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Jain reiterated that Unilevers purposeful brands grow two times faster than its non-purposeful ones, and this is why Im very, very excited about Positive Beauty because its not just a vision for beauty, but its a vision for faster growth for the division.

In an interview late last year, Jain had hinted at his new strategy, and said it was the reason he joined Unilever. Were going to actually do things on the ground. Were going to do positive things for the planet. Its about doing better, Jain said in December.

The vision, he added at the time, taps into the consumers of today, and tomorrow.

Younger consumers dont care about brands that are just providing functional benefits, they want to associate themselves with brands that are doing good for the people in society, and the planet, said Jain. This is a future-fit vision, one that is going to be enduring over time.

Jain president of Unilevers Beauty and Personal Care division, which had sales of 21.1 billion euros in 2020, a little less than half of the companys overall turnover. Brands under its umbrella include Dove, Suave, Vaseline, Ponds, Sunsilk, Lifebuoy and Glow & Lovely. The prestige division includes Hourglass Cosmetics, Dermalogica, Kate Somerville SkinCare, Ren, Murad, Living Proof and Tatcha

In the 12 months to Dec. 31, beauty and personal care grew 1.2 percent, with the prestige portfolio, the best-performing luxury beauty business in the market, said Jope.

The prestige portfolio is now a 700 million euros business.

In his latest interview, Jain said the prestige brands will be a big part of the Positive Beauty strategy going forward and that continuing R&D across all products was crucial. He wants to continue marrying deep consumer knowledge with great science, technology  and purpose. When you can do that you can bring amazing products to life and also drive fantastic growth rates, he said.

Jain pointed to Mele, a Unilever brand that launched last year in the U.S. It was co-created with dermatologists of color, and its really designed to give melanin-rich skin the attention it deserves. It was a hugely successful, and the growth rates are exceptional, he said.

A large part of Positive Beauty is based on the work that Unilever is already doing in the areas of sustainability and inclusion. Positive Beauty has also been inspired by Dove and its Campaign for Real Beauty, according to Jain. Dove is the largest beauty brand in the world, and Jain said its consistently one of the fastest-growing mass consumer brands.

The Campaign for Real Beauty launched in 2004 in response to a global study that showed only 2 percent of women would describe themselves as beautiful. The campaign was groundbreaking, with ads showing women of various shapes and sizes dressed in just their underwear, and women talking openly about their facial and figure flaws.

Dove embodies what were trying to do with Positive Beauty across the entire division. What we love about Dove is that it goes beyond advertising and marketing to take real action on the ground, Jain said. He pointed to the Dove CROWN Act, which was created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition.

The act ensures protection from discrimination because of race-based hairstyles, and has so far been passed and accepted as law in seven states, including California, New York, New Jersey and Virginia.

With Dove in mind, Jain commissioned his divisions latest piece of research: a global survey of peoples experiences of the beauty industry. It polled 10,000 people across nine countries, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, U.K. and the U.S.

It found that 56 percent of people think the beauty and personal care industry can make people feel excluded, while seven in 10 people said that using the word normal on product packaging and advertising had a negative impact. For those aged 18 to 35, that figure rose to eight.

The research also showed that 69 percent of people said they would recommend a beauty brand to their friends and family if it caters to a wide range of skin and hair types. Half of respondents said they would pay more for these products.

The survey shed light on other themes, too: Some 74 percent of respondents said they want to see the beauty and personal care industry focusing more on making people feel better, than just look better.

More than half said they now pay more attention to a companys stance on societal issues before buying products.

Our research is telling us that inclusivity matters more to people than ever before, and younger generations feel that its time for brands to show even more responsibility, Jain said. We know we have the power to make a real difference, and by doing so, we will become a stronger, more successful business.

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Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping talks to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (not pictured) during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Dec. 23, 2019. (Noel Celis-Pool/ Getty Images)

Japanese Public Opinion Toward CCP Deteriorates as Disputes Over Chinas Coast Guard Law Deepen

Japanese public opinion of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to deteriorate as tensions caused by Chinas new Coast Guard Law intensify.

According to the results of a public opinion survey released by the Japanese Cabinet Office in February, 81.8 percent of the respondents thought that the current relationship between Japan and China was not good and 77.3 percent did not feel good about China, Kyodo News reported.

The media outlet quoted an anonymous Japanese Foreign Ministry official as saying, The result is a reflection of every [Japanese] citizens judgment based on the current situation in China, and it will be difficult to improve [relations] until China changes its thinking.

Its widely believed that the several major obstacles facing the two countries are the confrontation over the Diaoyutai Islands, also known as the Senkaku Islands among the Japanese, which has been worsening by the CCPs newly passed Coast Guard Lawwhich explicitly allows its coast guard to fire on foreign vesselsand CCPs handling of Hong Kong.

Since President Donald Trumps trade war against the CCP, and especially when the Trump administration started to implement its Indo-Pacific strategy to push back against the CCP last year, the CCP has tried to make every effort to draw Japan to its side via economic and political diplomacy.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping was scheduled to make a state visit to Japan one year ago, but because of the outbreak of the CCP virus pandemic, both China and Japan agreed to have it postponed. Xis visit to Japan has been regarded as a potential important breakthrough.

However, prolonged pressure from Chinese coast guard vessels in the disputed Diaoyutai waters as well as the long history of human rights abuses by the CCP have intensified the Japanese peoples dislike of the regime. The Japanese government has shown little enthusiasm toward Xi Jinpings visit to Japan, citing the pandemic and Diaoyutai Islands as reasons for delaying the visit again and again.

According to the Kyodo News report, Xi Jinping spoke with IOC President Thomas Bach in January and expressed his willingness to make the Tokyo Olympics a success, which was regarded as a friendly gesture intended to improve the relations with Japan.

However, there are opinions within the Japanese government that it will be difficult even to have Xi Jinping visit Japan in 2022, the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, the media outlet reported.

Strengthening US-Japan Security Cooperation Key to Confronting CCP: Ex-Defense Official

After the Chinese regime passed its Coast Guard Law on Jan. 22 this year, tensions between China and Japan over the Diaoyutai Islands have been escalating.

The new Coast Guard Law went effective after Feb. 1.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi hinted at a press conference on Feb. 26 that if the CCPs coast guards tried to force a landing on the Senkaku Islands, Japans Self-Defense Forces might also use weapons to suppress the other sides harmful shootings.

To tackle the rising tensions between Japan and China after the implementation of the CCPs Coast Guard Law, the Japanese government has attempted to replace the Japan Coast Guard, which currently patrols Senkaku Islands, with its Self-Defense Force.

However, there are a number of legal issues regarding its implementation.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tried to downplay and defend the CCPs Coast Guard Law at a press conference during this years annual session of Chinas National Peoples Congress, saying that the Coast Guard Law does not target any specific nation, and is in accordance with international law and practice.

China and Japan can always engage in dialogue and communication to enhance understanding and build trust, said Wang on March 6.

Wang also mentioned that as both China and Japan would host the Olympics one after the other, the two countries should support each other and develop good relationships.

I hope that Japanese society can really build up an objective and rational understanding of China and really lay a solid foundation of public opinion that is conducive to the stability of Sino-Japanese relations, Wang said.

During an interview with Kyodo News, Akihisa Nagashima, a former Japanese vice minister of defense, said that the involvement of the United States in eliminating tensions around the Senkaku Islands was essential.

He stressed that strengthening the security cooperation between Japan and the United States was key to confronting the CCP.

Nagashima believes that joint training with the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy should be carried out continuously to strengthen cooperation and deterrence.

Article V of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty states that the Senkaku Islands are subject to U.S. defense obligations. If the U.S. turns a blind eye to the crisis at the Senkaku Islands, that could lead to the collapse of the Japan-U.S. alliance, he said.
New Delhi, March 13 : Even as government claims to have taken cooking gas penetration in the country to over 99 per cent of households, an independent study on the usage of the LPG shows that very few households, even in urban areas, use the cleaner fuel in their kitchen.

According to a recently released independent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), only half of the urban slum households in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, use LPG exclusively.

This is in spite of 86 per cent of urban slum households in these states having an LPG connection. The six states account for nearly a quarter of India's urban slum population.

Further, 16 per cent of the households are still using traditional fuels such as firewood, dung cakes, agriculture residue, charcoal, and kerosene as their primary fuel and over a third are stacking LPG with these polluting fuels. This increases exposure to indoor air pollution for such households.

The findings are based on CEEW's Cooking Energy Access Survey 2020 conducted in urban slums across the six states. The survey covered 656 households across 83 urban slums, notified and non-notified, in 58 districts.

Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, said, "As part of the next phase of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the government must target poor households without an LPG connection in urban slums. Policymakers must also nudge oil marketing companies and distributors to improve home delivery of LPG refills in slum areas to increase exclusive use of LPG. Also, as the LPG refill prices rise, the government must target vulnerable households - beyond PMUY beneficiaries - with differential subsidy support for using LPG in a sustained manner." Shaily Jha, Research Analyst at CEEW and lead author of the study, said, "A significant share of the urban slum population is struggling to afford using LPG for all their cooking, especially due to the rising fuel prices and the economic impact of the pandemic. Further, given that the number of Ujjwala beneficiaries living in urban slums is low, majority of slum households remain ineligible for relief support in the form of free cylinders under the PM-Garib Kalyan Yojana. We suggest that major government programmes, such as the National Urban Livelihoods Mission and social service allocations for housing, should use existing targeting approaches to include access to clean cooking energy within their ambit of services for the poor." The CEEW study also found that only about 45 per cent of households use LPG as their primary fuel in winter. Further, three-fourths of households using polluting fuels cook inside the main house and two-thirds do not have a chimney for ventilation. This indicates high exposure to household air pollution, primarily for women and children. Long-term exposure to emissions from biomass burning also makes the population more vulnerable to the severe risks of COVID-19 infection.

The CEEW study highlights that 37 per cent of LPG-using slum households do not receive doorstep delivery of cylinders, an important factor influencing LPG's exclusive use. The study further found that only in half the households women decide whether or when to purchase LPG refills, indicating women's limited participation in decision-making.

The study recommends leveraging platforms like LPG Panchayats to increase awareness regarding the process of subsidy calculation and disbursement for households. The intrahousehold decision making regarding refill purchase remains dominated by male members, increased awareness about actual expense on the refills may lead to improving women's bargaining power within the household.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Turkey "strongly" condemned California Gov. Gavin Newsom's decision not to try to halt the planned release of an Armenian terrorist jailed for the 1982 murder of the Turkish consul in Los Angeles. As Daily Sabah reports, the release of the man convicted in the 1982 assassination of Turkey's consul general "will set a dangerous precedent that will only embolden violent extremists," Turkey's Los Angeles Consul General Can Oguz said Thursday, as the Foreign Ministry also released a statement condemning the decision.

"It is a deplorable decision based on petty political considerations. Not appealing the court's order overturning the veto of Hampig Sassounian's release is an utter and reckless disregard for the fundamental principles of the law," Oguz said in a statement.

Hampig Sassounian, an Armenian immigrant who was living in the suburbs of Los Angeles, was jailed in 1984 for opening fire on Consul General Kemal Arkan after he stopped at a traffic light on Jan. 28, 1982. In 2002, Sassounian signed a declaration renouncing terrorism, was sentenced to life in prison and required to serve a minimum of 25 years. His application for parole had been repeatedly denied until a Los Angeles judge granted it last month.

"This is a sad day for Kemal Arkan's family, the people of Turkey and the international fight against terrorism," Oguz said.

"Following the decision of Los Angeles County Superior Court that paved the way for the release of Armenian terrorist Hampig Sassounian who had murdered Kemal Arkan, the consul general of the Republic of Turkey in Los Angeles, California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that he would not appeal this decision. We strongly condemn this approach, that deeply hurts the conscience of the Turkish nation," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said.

"This grave decision that could not be reversed despite all attempts of the U.S. administration is in conflict with the universal principles of law and the understanding of justice. Fifty-eight Turkish citizens, including 31 diplomats, have lost their lives as a result of the attacks perpetrated by Armenian terrorist organizations. In a period when hate crimes are on the rise and international solidarity is most needed, the release of a brutal murderer with political motivations harms the spirit of cooperation in the fight against terrorism," the ministry added.

"This murder, which was heinously committed by the terrorist Sassounian, who has never shown a sign of remorse during his 38 years of incarceration, will never be forgotten as a crime that represents a sick and distorted ideology. On this occasion, we commemorate with respect our martyred diplomat Kemal Arkan and all our martyrs who lost their lives in the attacks of Armenian terrorist organizations," the statement by the ministry concluded.

U.S. disappointed by parole

Washington also expressed its disappointment regarding the court's decision, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday. "Attacking a diplomat is not only a grave crime against a particular individual, but it is also an attack on diplomacy itself," Blinken said in a statement.

The top U.S. diplomat noted that the U.S. has long advocated that those who assassinate diplomats receive the maximum sentence possible and that they serve those sentences without parole or early release. "We again offer our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Arkan and our colleagues at Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their loss," Blinken said.

Previous judicial rulings to release Sassounian on parole were blocked by California's governors, including incumbent Newsom who rejected his eligibility. However, Newsom reversed course, announcing he will not appeal the Los Angeles County Superior Court's decision for Sassounian's release.

The vast majority of the attacks on Turkish diplomats and citizens in the 1970s and 1980s were conducted by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) and the Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG), both designated terrorist groups in the U.S. and Turkey. Sassounian belonged to the JCAG.

The assassinations occurred across the globe, including in the U.S., Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, Iran and the U.K.

Founded in 1975 in Beirut, Lebanon, during the Lebanese Civil War, ASALA is responsible for hundreds of bloody terrorist acts. While the Marxist-Leninist ASALA not only targeted Turkey but also other countries and became infamous for a 1975 bombing on the Beirut office of the World Council of Churches, the nationalistic JCAG has only targeted Turkey because it believed that attacking other countries would damage the so-called "Armenian struggle."

Armenian terrorist attacks intensified from 1980 to 1983, when 580 of the 699 attacks  over 80%  occurred. The attack at Esenboga airport in the Turkish capital Ankara on Aug. 7, 1982, was one of the most notorious attacks by ASALA, as the group targeted civilians for the first time. Nine people died and over 80 were injured when two terrorists opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting area at the airport.

The 1981 and 1983 Paris attacks are among the group's other notable acts. ASALA terrorists held 56 people hostage for 15 hours during the Turkish Consulate attack in 1981, while a suitcase bomb killed eight people  most of them non-Turks  in 1983 at a Turkish Airlines check-in desk at Paris' Orly Airport. According to some Turkish officials, after the Orly attack, the group lost much of its support and financial backing from the Armenian diaspora and had to dissolve. The terrorist attacks ended in 1986, according to the Armenian study on terrorism.
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Flowers left at the property in Ballastown, Lusk where the body of a man was found, last Wednesday, March 3rd. (pic by Fintan Clarke)

Lusk is in shock at news that a body was found in the quiet townland of Ballastown last Wednesday (3rd) in circumstances that have led to a Garda investigation.

At approximately 5pm on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Gardai at Lusk attended a domestic dwelling in the Ballastown area and discovered the body of a male, a polish national in his 50s in the bedroom.

The body was subsequently transported to Dublin City Morgue where a post-mortem took place last Thursday. Gardai say that details of those post mortem results are not being released for operational reasons.

Local councillor and Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Robert O'Donoghue said that people are 'very shocked' by the incident.

He said: 'There's a large Polish community in the area and there has been for the past 15 or 20 years, between Rush and Lusk and particularly in Rush with the all the farming and all that. A lot of Eastern Europeans came across after 2004 when the EU expanded to the east, and a lot of them would have had kids and put down roots now at this stage.

'Ballastown is incredibly quiet, it's outside Lusk, it's down the Skerries road just down one of the lanes. So there's a couple of one-off houses and a couple of medium-sized farms. So it is fairly isolated. It's possibly the quietest area of all of Lusk.'

Gardai have established an incident room at Balbriggan Garda station, a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed. CCTV enquiries are ongoing and a number of witness statements have already been taken.

The last known movements of the deceased are on the evening of Monday 1st March 2021.

A family liaison officer has been appointed to establish contact and liaise with the family of the deceased male.

Gardai at Balbriggan Garda Station are appealing for motorists with dashcam footage who were in or around the area of Ballastown, Lusk, Co. Dublin between Monday, March 1 and 5pm on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.

Of particular interest to Gardai is the sighting of a male pedestrian, believed to be the deceased, on the Skerries Road, Commons Lane or Hill Lane, Lusk between the hours of 6pm and 8pm on the 1st March 2021. This male was wearing navy blue track suit bottoms and a black zip up bomber jacket and was carrying a distinctive 'Lidl Deluxe' shopping bag (black with white writing).

Any person with any information is asked to contact Balbriggan Garda Station 01-6664500 , the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

HADDAM NECK  The Haddam Neck Congregational Church will hold the 32nd Annual Quilt Show on Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 9, from 12 to 5 p.m. at the scenic 19th century Haddam Neck Congregational Church, 408 Quarry Hill Road.

The show is a fundraiser for the church; proceeds from attendee donations will support the annual upkeep of the 19th century church and Sunday School building, formerly the local one-room schoolhouse.

This year, members are combining the show with the Ladies Aide Plant Sale. All COVID-19 protocols will be in place and followed. Masks will be required and visitors will be asked to stay 6 feet apart. Only the church will exhibit quilts and visitors will be limited to permitted capacity and follow a set one-way flow with a separate entrance and exit. There will be no food services this year, but baked goods will be available for purchase to take home. For additional information, contact Lisa Malloy at 860-267-2713 or email elizabethhartmalloy@gmail.com or Franky Dallas at 860-267-4513

Visit www.haddamneckcongregationalchurch.org for church directions and information.

Submissions welcome for annual book awards

Connecticut Center for the Book at Connecticut Humanities is now accepting submissions for the 2021 Connecticut Book Awards. Connecticut Book Awards recognize the best books by authors and illustrators from Connecticut or books about Connecticut. Categories include: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Books for Young Readers broken into three subcategories: Picture Books, Fiction, and Nonfiction.

A special category called the Bruce Fraser Spirit of Connecticut Award is in memory of longtime director Bruce Fraser and celebrates Connecticuts sense of place.

Entry fees start at $40 for a 2,000-copy-or-less print run. Submissions will be accepted through April 30, 2021. Go to ctcenterforthebook.org for more information.

Artist calls for upcoming shows

CENTERBROOK  Spectrum Gallery and Store is seeking artists and fine artisans for exhibits and festivals. Representational and abstract painters, collage artists, photographers, potters and ceramicists, glass, wood and fiber artisans and jewelry designers are all welcome. For all submissions, visit spectrumartgallery.org/future-exhibitions or email 3-4 high resolution jpegs of work with titles, medium, and dimensions to Barbara@spectrumartgallery.org.

Gallery Exhibit: Abstracting Nature. Opens May 14-July 3. Receiving May 2-May 6. No receiving Friday, May 7. Spectrum is looking for pieces in all mediums including photography that show through an artists technique and craft impressionistic and abstracted views of nature in all its variety, color, and abundance.

Essex Green Summer Arts Festival. Seeking artists for the outdoor arts festival on the Essex Town Green, June 19-20. Submit early, space fills. Fine Artisans are invited to submit work to Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook for future show displays.

Madison Green Autumn Arts Festival. Seeking artists for outdoor festival on the Madison Town Green, Oct. 10-11, rain date Oct. 12. Artists participating on the Green can submit to a 6-week show at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook (Sep. 25-Nov. 8; Receiving: Sep. 12-16, 1-6pm).

Middletown Adult Education joins campaign

MIDDLETOWN  With reskilling and upskilling programs in place, adult education is an economic catalyst to help low-skilled adults and their communities recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adult education programs provide numerous options for participation, including working from home or receiving in-person instruction, according to a statement.

Middletown Adult Education has joined this national campaign to enroll adult learners into programs that equip them with skills that lead to high school equivalency and jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage. Millions of Americans are out of work or underemployed and need to reskill or upskill to re-enter the workforce or pursue their education. The pandemic has exacerbated the need for services. We currently are providing instruction both online and in-person. CDC guidelines and sanitation protocols are in place for in-person instruction to ensure a safe learning environment, according to the statement.

Adult education provides on-ramps to better jobs and to college. Middletown Adult Education is focusing on re-engaging adults who are in need of additional skills to compete in the workforce to recover financially from the pandemic. In addition to providing industry skills training, adult education programs teach literacy, numeracy and digital literacy as well as high school equivalency classes.

Our free academic programs are offered days and evenings, and are open to area residents. For more information, call 860-343-6044. www.maect.org

MARC receives American Savings Foundation grant

MIDDLETOWN  MARC Community Resources has received a $3,500 award from the American Savings Foundation to support MARCs Virtual Services. While MARC quickly pivoted to providing virtual services to those that chose not to return to the program during the pandemic, we discovered the challenges in creating a successful online format. The grant from the American Savings Foundation helped MARC purchase the equipment necessary to achieve its goals, according to a statement.

Not only were we bringing programs to everyone at home, but we were also connecting them to their peers that were physically in the program. This created an added challenge, said Linda Iovanna, MARCs President/CEO. The grant allowed us to enhance the virtual experience, so the participants at home and those that come in our space were able to have the same rich experience, she continued.

MARC Community Resources is a nonprofit agency established in 1955. MARCS mission is to empower people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) to make their own life choices and aid in the fulfillment of their dreams - through employment, housing, social, and community involvement and advocacy.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov has said that at the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on Thursday, March 11, it was not about the nationalization of Zaporizhia's Motor Sich enterprise, but about its return to the ownership of the Ukrainian people in accordance with current legislation.

"The word 'nationalization' was neither used in any way at the meeting of the NSDC, nor in the decisions adopted by the NSDC, nor at the briefing at which I spoke. Today we are involved in an information war with the Russian Federation, which has a direct relationship with China to attempts to seize the Motor Sich enterprise. So, today we have such negative information regarding the nationalization. It was about the fact that the Motor Sich enterprise will soon be returned to the ownership of the Ukrainian people in a legal way in accordance with the current legislation," Danilov said in the program Freedom of Speech on the Ukraina TV channel on Friday evening.

According to Danilov, "Ukraine, being in a state of war, cannot afford to hand over the enterprise, on which the Ukrainian defense capability depends, into the wrong hands."

"If investors invest in some Galapagos Islands, some Virgin Islands, some off-shores unknown to Ukraine, then these are rather dubious investors. We urge investors to invest in Ukraine those funds that should enter our country. And if there are hidden turnovers somewhere, we cannot admit it. We will only recognize the money that has officially entered the bank accounts that are located in Ukraine," Danilov summed up.

Nowhere is the evangelical zeal of liberals more clearly illustrated than in the Bidens administrations tying aid to Africa and other continents to the acceptance of the doctrines of leftist progressivism.

For many decades, liberals have excoriated the nineteenth-century Christians global evangelistic outreach as a characteristic of colonialism. They have ridiculed what they termed the White Mans Burden. But now they imitate what they have despised by taking their own messianic vision of equality to those they deem backwards and ignorant.

If they are to have relief from poverty, hunger, disease, Africans must accept progressive dogma: abortion as a sacrament; trans self-identity in place of the Christian idea of imago dei and identity with Christ; and same-sex marriage in place of the Christian ideal of monogamy characterized by union between a man and a woman.

For progressives, its good for Africans to be raised up beyond their adherence to outdated Christian values artificially imposed by Western colonialism. It is best they see that inevitable evolutionary progress that discards the opiate of antiquated monotheistic religions is obviously as advanced for them as the West, and indeed the entire globe. Africans shall be shown by economic pressure just how inevitable the new progressive ways are. Money for bread and water will achieve the transformation from the sacred to the secular.

The condescension and contempt displayed by Bidens foreign policy toward third world countries hint of a throwback to Spencerian Darwinism, an ideology that is inherently racist, as it saw Africans as less evolved than the West. Social Darwinist, predestinarian reasoning sees the rich and powerful as automatically right, as more advanced than the poor.

The result of the unholy pressure is great spiritual anguish among the devout. But ideological totalitarians do not take spiritual anguish into account. On the contrary, they consider the painful process necessary in order the unenlightened evolve. The tortuous process is deemed progress.

Thankfully, the Obama/Biden policy of tying aid to acceptance of and conversion to the progressive faith has not gone unnoticed or without protest by African leaders.

Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea and other Catholic (and Protestant) leaders are aware that Africa is now the global center of Christianity; not the spiritually enervated West. The growth of Christianity in Africa has been staggering. Christians now number almost 650 million souls; and the implications for global Christianity are enormous. As Western Christianity is increasingly capitulating to secularism, becoming less and less influential, Christianity in Africa now is shaped more and more by indigenous conservative and orthodox leaders who are no longer exclusively dependent on Western missionaries.

The Biden administration has also failed to note that almost all of Africa is monotheistic. Muslims, who also refuse accommodation to the Western progressive agenda, number in the hundreds of millions.

The Obama and now the Biden administrations ham-fisted attempts to proselytize people they consider underdeveloped show utter contempt for peoples who do not wish to be converted; peoples who consider themselves as progressing forward in their faith despite material poverty; peoples who have found meaning transcending their circumstances; peoples who regard progressivism as going backwards, not forwards.

No objective observer should be surprised that African Christians (and Muslims) reject an ideology that strips the human being of meaning, erases the prospect of life eternal and does not know how to give meaning to suffering and finitude.

No one should be surprised that deeply religious Africans repudiate the economic blandishments of an administration that looks with bland equanimity on Chinas persecution and extermination of the Uighurs. No one should be astonished if Africans reject abortion on demand as a Malthusian means of reducing their numbers, which are seen as rising unchecked and as ruining the environment.

No one should wonder if Africans who have tasted spiritual freedom do not regard separating the individual from all collective identity, especially familial and religious identity, as true freedom. Nor should they be shocked that Africans repudiate a freedom that supposedly liberates one from being human as imago dei, male and female.

Thankfully, leaders like Sarah adamantly reject Western secularist proselytization. In an interview turned into a book titled God or Nothing, he wrote:

Regarding my continent of origin, I want to strongly condemn a desire to impose false values using political and financial arguments. In some African countries, ministries dedicated to gender theory were created in exchange for economic support! These policies are all the more hideous than the majority of the African population is defenseless, at the mercy of fanatical Western ideologues.

The core issue, be it for African or other nations is whether or not the religion of modernism, now known as leftist progressivism, is to subsume Christianity, including Catholicism; not just in Africa, but throughout the globe.

For the fact is, pragmatically speaking, Biden and others who share his worldview, some deeply embedded within Catholic and Protestant hierarchies, actually adhere to another religion altogether; one in which they believe more fervently than the Christianity to which they offer ritualistic tokenism. For Biden and the likeminded, the progressive Left is to be the conscience of the globes culture, not any monotheistic religion. If Christian theology is to exist at all, it must become the handmaiden of leftist progressivism.

It is an unhappy truth that the march of leftist progressivism through Western institutions has included a march through the Church, with the consequence that progressive tenets are becoming the equivalent of universal laws that cannot be questioned -- even by the Church itself. The Christian religion now is expected to accommodate itself to progressive mores, which have assumed the positions natural law, tradition, creeds and councils once held almost uncontested by the Church. The ultimate goal is to desacralize the Church by what Pope Pius X and Archbishop Carlos Maria Vigano have called the synthesis of all heresies.

The synthesis has proceeded, first by getting the hierarchy to syncretize certain aspects of progressivism; then by subsuming it altogether, turning the Church into an instrument of progressivism. Progressivists see their syncretistic worldview as revelation that is universal. Anyone who doesnt believe in the vision of immanentization of the eschaton via the march of progressive values, including those of the LGBTQ+ and pro-abortion movements, is spiritually underdeveloped, full of hate and needs to be converted and practice the progressive virtue of tolerance. Considered to be among the underdeveloped are all orthodox Christians, African or otherwise. The faithful are seen as needing to have their eyes opened to the new universal progressive paradigm that has moved beyond former paradigms, now justly consigned to the dustbin of history.

The solution? If the Church is to be authentic, it must return to its foundational beliefs, as Cardinal Sarah, Archbishop Vigano and others have insisted. Vigano has called on the Church to shore up its defense of the church against the attacks of secularism by returning to the authority of the Kingship of Christ.

Vigano calls on the Church to return to loving fidelity to the Truth of Christ; which Truth the Church has always taught transcends Caesar and the City of Man, both of which have always wished to convert and to govern the world unimpeded by any sacred transcendent values.

Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, which awarded her the prize for excellence in systematic theology. Her thoughts have been published in many online magazines. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com

Image: UN Photo/Olivier Chassot
The Afghan government has said it will take part in two separate peace conferences sponsored by the United States and Russia in the coming weeks.

Russia has invited several regional players for the March 18 conference in Moscow. Separately, a U.S.-backed conference will be held in Turkey next month.

The Afghan government and the Taliban, the two warring factions in the 20-year conflict, have been invited to both events.

The conferences are meant to bring new life into stuttering peace talks held in Qatar between the Taliban and Kabul.

"The Afghan government will take part in both the Moscow and Turkey conferences," Afghan national-security adviser Hamdullah Mohib told reporters in Kabul on March 13.

Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said the militant group had yet to decide if it would participate in either event.

The conferences come as a May 1 deadline looms for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan, a key component of the U.S.-Taliban deal signed by the Trump administration in February 2020.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is currently reviewing the agreement amid concerns about whether the Taliban is meeting its commitment to cut ties with the Al-Qaeda terrorist network and reduce violence in Afghanistan.

The Taliban has escalated its attacks against Afghan security forces and civilians despite holding peace talks with the government.

A car bomb near a police station in the western province of Herat on March 13 killed at least eight people and injured nearly 50 others.

Within hours of the attack, the UN Security Council at a press briefing in New York condemned an alarming increase in targeted killings in Afghanistan that U.S. and Afghan officials have blamed on the Taliban.

These heinous attacks have targeted civil servants, the judiciary, the media, health-care and humanitarian workers, including women in prominent positions, those who protect and promote human rights, and ethnic and religious minorities, the council said in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier this month made a new push for a United Nations-led peace effort in Afghanistan and asked Turkey to host a senior-level meeting of "both sides in the coming weeks to finalize a peace agreement."

Blinken wrote to Afghan leaders that the United States is "considering the full withdrawal of forces by May 1 as we consider other options."

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AP
At least three people were killed when demonstrators took to the streets again across Myanmar Saturday, after a deadly overnight crackdown as hundreds defied a curfew to hold vigils in honour of those killed since the military seized power.

The junta has deployed increasing force against daily protests since the February 1 coup, with more than 70 people killed according to the UN's top rights expert on the country.

But hundreds of thousands have continued to gather across the country to call for the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi -- who was detained in the February 1 putsch -- and a return to democracy.

Saturday brought early crackdowns by security forces in Myanmar's second largest city Mandalay, which saw more than 20 injured, including a monk.

At least three were killed, including a 21-year-old, according to an AFP reporter and a doctor on the scene.

The sister of Saw Pyae Naing sobbed as she uncovered her brother's body and gently touched his face at a makeshift medical centre.

Further south along the Irrawady river, protesters in Pyay wearing hard hats and carrying homemade shields attempted to hold off authorities as they retrieved an injured man.

"Come! Come and protect with the shields!" they yelled as they carried a slumped bleeding man to safety.

The fresh violence against protesters comes after three people were killed overnight in commercial hub Yangon.

Footage shared on social media late Friday and verified by AFP showed police pulling three residents out on the streets of Thaketa township, beating them on the head and hauling them away.

Angry residents went to the police station to protest, and sounds of gunshots were heard hours later in the township, including by an AFP reporter.

"Security forces arrested three young men, and as we followed to get them back, they cracked down on us," recounted a resident Saturday, requesting anonymity.

"Two were killed -- with one shot in his head and another one hit with a shot that penetrated his cheek to the neck," he said, adding that they had to wait until the police stopped shooting to retrieve the bodies.

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- 'Drive them out' -

One of the deceased was 37-year-old rickshaw driver Si Thu, a staunch supporter of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.

His body, displayed outside his home Saturday as part of a traditional mourning process, was covered with the NLD flag.

His wife Su Yadanar Hlaing said she had begged her husband to remain at home, but he had rushed out after hearing about the arrest of the three men.

"I don't want anyone to end up like him," she told AFP sobbing. "Now I just want to die."

Across town in Hlaing township, residents alarmed at the presence of police and soldiers in their neighbourhood left their homes on Friday night to protest, fearful they were going to make arrests.

"We wanted to drive them out," one told AFP on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, adding that residents deployed Molotov cocktails against security forces.

"Police and soldiers used stun grenades to disperse us," he said.

His account was confirmed by another resident, while AFP-verified footage shared on social media showed residents hiding behind cars as loud bangs could be heard before they retrieved a bleeding man shot in the head.

He was 18-year-old Aung Paing Oo, whose brother Wai Lin Kyaw confirmed he died hours later, after struggling to breathe through the night.

"The doctors could not do much for him as his head was burst," he told AFP, sobbing.

- 'The revolution must win' -

Hundreds defied an 8:00 pm curfew Saturday for the second night in a row to hold a candlelight vigil

near Yangon's Hledan junction -- which has for weeks been a hotspot for unrest.

Protesters held candles to mourn those killed in anti-coup demonstrations, while others banged pots and pans, now a nightly act to show resistance against the junta.

"Are we united? Yes we are, yes we are," they chanted as they sat on the street.

Earlier Saturday, the funeral of Chit Min Thu -- who died Thursday -- was held in Yangon, drawing a crowd who flashed the three-finger salute in a sign of resistance as his body was carried to the crematorium.

"The revolution must win," said his wife, crying as the crowd around her chanted "May your soul rest in peace."

A community leader connected to the ousted NLD government, Zaw Myat Linn, died Tuesday during interrogation following his arrest, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group.

But state-run media on Saturday said he "jumped" from a house and fell on a steel pipe, warning of severe action against those who describe his death in other ways.

The military has denied responsibility for loss of life in the protests, and defended seizing power by alleging widespread electoral fraud in November's election, which Suu Kyi's party won in a landslide.

bur-dhc/reb
A "staggering number" of migrant children detained at a Border Patrol facility in south Texas face overcrowded conditions, with some held for as long as seven days, lawyers who interviewed them on Thursday told CBS News.

Neha Desai, a lawyer representing migrant youth in U.S. government custody, said she interviewed children who said they were hungry, as well as minors who only showered once in seven days.

"Some of the boys said that conditions were so overcrowded that they had to take turns sleeping on the floor," Desai added, citing interviews with nearly a dozen unaccompanied migrant children held at the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) holding facility in Donna, Texas.

On March 2, the Donna complex was holding more than 1,800 people  729% of its pandemic-era capacity, which is designed for 250 migrants, according to an internal CBP document reviewed by CBS News.

Most of the minors said they had only showered once while in U.S. custody, even though they'd been held for more than five days, according to Desai. Some said they had showered twice.

"They all said they wanted to shower more and were told they couldn't," Desai said.

An entrance to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility housing unaccompanied migrant children in Donna, Texas. / Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

As lawyers representing migrant children in the federal court case over the landmark Flores Settlement Agreement, Desai and her colleagues at the National Center for Youth Law are entitled to interview minors in U.S. immigration custody.

Desai said she and one of her colleagues were only able to interview some of the hundreds of migrant children detained at the Donna facility, a large tent complex designed to detain unaccompanied minors and families with children for short periods of time. The lawyers said CBP denied them a tour of the facility.

The Donna facility, which opened last month, has been operating over its pandemic-era capacity for weeks, CBP acknowledged in a recent filing in federal court. The facility was holding 854 children on February 21 and nearly 700 two days before, according to the court filing, which also noted that social distancing "could not be observed at all times given the increasing numbers of individuals in custody."

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The children interviewed included a young teenager in U.S. custody with her baby and an 8-year-old unaccompanied girl. Some of the children who traveled with older siblings were even younger, Desai said.

"There was a staggering amount of very young children," she said.

Many of the children were visibly emotional, Desai said, especially siblings of different genders who had been separated and placed in distinct sections of the Donna facility. The young detainees, Desai said, also reported not having access to outside activities. She said the children told her "about how they never saw the sun."

"One of them shared that he could only see the sun when he showered, because you can see the sun through the window," Desai said, noting the children raised this issue during their interviews outside the CBP facility.

The minors Desai spoke to also said they had been denied phone calls to communicate with family members. "They were hysterically crying, wanting to talk to their family," she said.

"We appreciate the extraordinary challenge that the government faces in undoing the damage of the prior administration's immigration policies," Desai said. "That said, it is deeply concerning to see young children in facilities for days on end, unable to take a shower, call their families or see the sunlight."

The Department of Homeland Security said Border Patrol agents are working to "quickly and efficiently" transfer unaccompanied minors to the U.S. refugee agency, which Congress charged with housing these children.

"Addressing the flow of unaccompanied children crossing our southwest border is an important priority of this Administration and DHS," the department said in a statement to CBS News. "It requires a whole of government coordinated and sustained response."

An aerial view of the facility in Donna, Texas. / Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

During a call with reporters Wednesday, acting CBP commissioner Troy Miller said his agency was "struggling" with the number of migrant families and children in its custody. But he said CBP was offering children access to medical contractors, welfare checks, blankets, baby formula, hot meals and showers at least every 48 hours.

"Many of us, maybe most of us, are parents," Miller said. "I myself have a 6-year-old, and these Border Patrol agents go above and beyond every single day to take care of the children."

In an interview with Univision's Jorge Ramos, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said he saw "too many children" when he visited the Donna facility earlier this month. But he applauded Border Patrol agents for their "heroism," saying the children were well taken care of.

"There are no children in cages in the United States," Mayorkas said, according to a transcript of the interview.

A sharp increase in the number of unaccompanied minors entering U.S. custody along the southern border has severely strained the government's capacity to process them, creating significant humanitarian and logistical challenges for the Biden administration.

Nearly 9,500 unaccompanied children were taken into U.S. border custody in February  a 21-month high, according to government data.

According to government figures obtained by CBS News, more than 7,000 of these minors were transferred to shelters overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is responsible for housing them until a sponsor, typically a family member in the U.S., is located.

With nearly 9,000 children currently in custody, the refugee agency is scrambling to expand its bed space, which had been limited by social distancing measures. To accommodate more children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relaxed those restrictions last week, citing "extraordinary circumstances."

The lack of bed space and upward trend of unaccompanied minors entering U.S. custody has led to a logjam of migrant minors in Border Patrol facilities, most of which were built to briefly detain adult men.

As of earlier this week, more than 3,200 unaccompanied children were stuck in Border Patrol facilities, according to CBP documents obtained by CBS News. Nearly 1,400 of the children had been held beyond 72 hours, the legal limit border officials have to turn over unaccompanied minors to the refugee office.

Desai said the children she interviewed on Thursday echoed one similar sentiment about their time in Border Patrol custody.

"Multiple kids said the exact same sentence: 'the only time I get up is to throw away trash or go to the bathroom,'" she said.

D.C. teacher denied maternity leave after stillbirth shares her story

U.S. reaches 100 million COVID vaccinations, states ease restrictions

Biden meets with "The Quad" allies in effort to balance China's rising powerBiden meets with key Pacific allies in efforts to balance China's rising power
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 19:40:01|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The government of Equatorial Guinea on Friday organized an official funeral in Bata for the more than 100 victims in the explosions that rocked the country's most populous city on March 7.

During the ceremony, the list of the 107 deceased was read. The coffins were all covered with the flag of Equatorial Guinea, and the presidential couple laid a wreath. Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue gave each victim a posthumous medal.

In his speech, Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo offered his condolences and reaffirmed the government's commitment to rebuilding the city. He called for the solidarity of the populations, and thanked countries like China which helped his country in this difficult period.

On March 7, explosive warehouses at the Nkoantoma military camp in Bata caught fire following a nearby farm fire, causing explosions. In addition to the 107 dead, the tragedy also left more than 600 injured.

According to a presidential decree issued on March 9, the city of Bata has been declared a disaster zone, and the government has released ten billion CFA francs (about 18.14 million U.S. dollars) as an initial emergency fund. Enditem
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The first boat sliced across the surface of the northern side of the river just before 7:10 a.m., leaving a growing tail of green behind. Members of the citys plumbers union dumped the dye off the side of the boat that was emblazoned with flags bearing their emblem. More boats, carrying the American flag or beer logos, soon zigzagged across the water on the other side, some with dye and others just to spread the green around.
After the shocking exit of TikTok star Dhanushree from Bigg Boss Kannada 8, the mini-screen audiences are eagerly waiting for the Saturday episode, when host Kichcha Sudeep will join the 16 contestants. Apart from having a candid chit-chat with the housemates and discussing various issues inside the house, the actor will also be evicting one among the nominated contestants.

Let us tell you that a total of 8 contestants have been nominated for the elimination process this time. Chandrakala, Divya S, Geeta, Nidhi, Nirmala, Prashanth Sambargi, Shubha and Vishwanath are currently on the nomination list. Well, with various voting result data and rumours doing the rounds on social media, looks like Prashanth might bid goodbye to the Kichcha Sudeep show.

Reportedly, the businessman, who made it to the headlines during the controversial Sandalwood drug case probe has received the least votes and has high chances of getting evicted this week. His abusive argument with Shamanth during the lockdown task had also turned many heads. Prashanth who lost his cool during the task, was seen nabbing and pinning down his opponent, which even shocked the other contestants. Several posts on social media also suggest that they were not really happy with his aggressive attitude and are now waiting for the host to question the same in the weekend episode.

On a related note, in Friday's episode, the contestants unanimously chose the best and worst performer of the week. Shamanth has been given the worst performer tag while Manju Pavagad became the best performer. Notably, Rajeev Hanu is the new captain of Bigg Boss Kannada 8.

Also Read: Bigg Boss Kannada 8 March 12 Highlights: Shamanth Aka Bro Gowda Named Worst Performer Of The Week

Also Read: Bigg Boss Kannada 8 March 11 Highlights: Rajeev Hanu Becomes The New Captain Of The House
Murray Walker, the voice of Formula One, has died aged 97, the British Racing Drivers Club has said.

Walker, whose broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years, worked for the BBC and ITV, before he retired from commentating in 2001.

The BRDC said in a statement: Its with great sadness we share the news of the passing of BRDC Associate Member Murray Walker OBE.

A friend, a true motorsport legend, the nations favourite commentator and a contagious smile.

Rest in Peace Murray Walker. Wonderful man in every respect. National treasure, communication genius, Formula One legend.  Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) March 13, 2021

We thank Murray for all he has done for our community. RIP our friend.

Martin Brundle, who commentated alongside Walker in the final years of his career, led the tributes on social media.

Writing on Twitter, Brundle said: Rest In Peace, Murray Walker.

Wonderful man in every respect. National treasure, communication genius, Formula One legend.

F1 tweeted: We are immensely sad to hear that Murray Walker has passed away.

His passion and love of the sport inspired millions of fans around the world. He will forever be a part of our history, and will be dearly missed.

It was in Northern Ireland, at the age of just five, where Walker himself recalled that he first became fascinated with speed, and girls.

"I spent a lot of time in Belfast, where my father was racing a motorbike for the Norton team," he said.

"Most of my memories are centred around a team member of his called Jimmy Shaw, who owned a car business in Belfast.

"Jimmy had five daughters and, as I grew up, I fell in love with each of them in turn, eventually trying unsuccessfully to marry one of them.

"Jimmy's wife Ethel, had a cupboard in which she kept herbs. "The aroma emanating from it was so distinctive that, when I smelt something similar a few years ago, it was as though the blinds had been opened on the window of my past.

"At that moment, I could have given the most intricate description of the Shaws' house, from the pattern on the carpet to the pictures on the walls."
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
It is unlikely that the bullish sentiment currently driving oil markets can be sustained over a prolonged period, but Middle Eastern producers are determined to make the most over higher prices while they last. On the back of ballistic missile attacks on Saudi infrastructure and OPEC+ quota roll-overs, the global benchmark Brent surpassed the key threshold of $70 per barrel for the first time in more than a year. Concurrently, backwardation steepened even further, with a solid $7 USD difference between April 2021-April 2022 contracts. Against such a background, Saudi Aramco and other Middle Eastern NOCs have opted for a conservative approach, increasing prices of lighter grades as gasoline cracks have been improving throughout February, all the while rolling over heavier streams into the next month.

Graph 1. Chinas Crude Imports in 2010-2021 (million barrels per day).

China

Source: authors data.

One of the key factors in oil markets over the past few months has been Chinas robust demand. For the 3rd month in a row, Chinas monthly seaborne crude purchases have averaged above 10mbpd. With pipeline imports from Russia (approximately 3.5 million tons per month) that would swing above 11mbpd. Such healthy demand has several underlying reasons  new refineries such as Hengli and Zhejiang are readying for maximum capacity production, the teapot refineries have availed themselves of the allocated quotas for 2021, and overall refining margins improved in January-February 2021. The independents allocation is of special significance as the first batch of quotas for 2021 was hiked by a whopping 18% from 2020, to 98.75 million tons. Despite the robust Q1 2021, the forthcoming quarter is headed towards a weaker start.

March 2021 might be the healthiest month of H1 2021 in terms of Chinese crude demand, yet it needs to be noted that roughly 7 million tons (more than 52 MMbbls) of crude was moved into March from February as port congestion caused by bad weather once again became a pertinent issue. A weakening of Chinese crude demand looking into April 2021 remains very likely  amongst others, almost 1mbpd of refining capacity across 6 large-scale refineries will be taken offline on the back of refinery maintenance season. Concurrently, the surge of Brent above $65 USD per barrel coupled with steep backwardation that heavily penalizes prolonged storage has cooled the erstwhile enthusiasm of Chinese refiners.

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Graph 2. Saudi Aramco Official Selling Prices for Asia in 2018-2021 (vs Oman/Dubai Average, USD per barrel).



Source: Saudi Aramco.

It should be noted that Saudi Arabian exports to China are set to decrease significantly in March, down 25% from February 2021, at 1.45mbpd. The same declining trend also applies to Iraqi barrels moving to China, following a run of robust demand in January and February, March arrivals are expected to plunge below the 1mbpd mark, at 0.91mbpd. Falling demand for Middle Eastern barrels will be compensated by a spectacular surge in Brazilian grades (assumed to amount to 0.9mbpd in March 2021, having averaged 0.5mbpd in the previous six months). Here one should add that March-arriving Brazilian cargoes were loaded in January as the average sailing time is 50-60 days  in fact, every single VLCC that loaded Lula in January 2021 ended up in China.

Related: Can Carbon Capture Make Clean Oil Production A Reality?

Cognizant of the abovementioned trends, Saudi Aramco decided to follow a fairly logical strategy with its Asian OSPs  the lighter its grade, the bigger its month-on-month increase. Thus, Arab Heavy was simply rolled over from February (when it was also left unchanged, see Graph 2), whilst Arab Extra Light rose by 60 cents m-o-m to a 1.20 USD per barrel premium to the Oman/Dubai average. On the one hand, such an ambitious hike might seem counterintuitive for a month when many refiners will either go into maintenance or will decrease refinery runs amid still-depressed regional demand. On the other hand, the Saudi NOC is seemingly betting on arbitrage opportunities shrinking (a wider Brent/Dubai EFS certainly does indicate this) and East Asian buyers will have to make do with Middle Eastern grades.

Graph 3. Saudi Aramco Official Selling Prices for Northwestern Europe in 2018-2021 (vs ICE Bwave; USD per barrel).



Source: Saudi Aramco.

The Brent/Dubai EFS, essentially the spread between light sweet and heavy sour grades, surged to its highest in 15 months on February (3.18 USD per barrel), so now the only thing that might alleviate market developments in Asia would be Saudi Aramco partially curtailing its term allocations. Interestingly, Saudi Aramcos official selling prices for Europe-bound cargoes reflect a much more conservative approach, largely stemming from the Saudi NOC overshooting its March 2021 prices. For April 2021, Aramco dropped all grades by $1.50-$1.80 USD per barrel, committing to the steepest cuts with its heaviest stream, Arab Heavy (see Graph 3). Only 5 MMbbls of Saudi crude loaded in February to Europe, hence the NOCs April prices are a clear indication of its willingness to get back to action, battling for its place in the European refining market against the invariably weak Urals.

Graph 4. Iraqi Official Selling Prices for Europe in 2018-2021 (USD per barrel; vs Dated Brent).



Source: SOMO.

Although the Iraqi state oil marketer SOMO went much softer with its Europe-bound prices than its Saudi Arabian peer, Iraq nevertheless mirrored Aramcos steep European price cuts for April 2021. With Basrah Light, SOMO surpassed Aramcos aggressive pricing, dropping the lightest of Iraqi grades by $1.90 per barrel from March 2021, to a -$2.5 USD per barrel discount to Dated Brent, its lowest level since June 2020. The European OSPs of other marketed grades were dropped by 1.4-1.8 USD per barrel (see Graph 4). As opposed to Saudi Aramco which has seen a rather weak start to 2021 in terms of its European exports, Iraq has been on the upswing ever since it bottomed out in December 2020 (0.42mbpd), loading 0.64mbpd of crude (incl. Kirkuk) this February. Thus, Iraq is expressing its interest to maintain an alternative market outlet for its crude so as not to depend on Asia too much.

Graph 5. Basrah Light-Arab Medium Spread in 2018-2021 (USD per barrel).



Source: Saudi Aramco/SOMO.

The Iraqi state oil marketer followed Saudi Aramcos lead with its Asian prices, hiking Basrah Light by 15 cents and Basrah Medium by 25 cents per barrel, to respective premia of $1.3 and $0.1 USD per barrel against the Oman/Dubai average. Basrah Heavy, the exports of which to Asia have heretofore been remarkably stable at 0.6-0.65mbpd, has seen its April price rolled over from the previous month. Traditionally, SOMO has sought to maintain a pricing balance between its Basrah Light and the Saudi Arab Medium. The COVID pandemic and then quality reshuffling or Iraqi grades have totally upended the previous balancing point, leading to wild swings throughout 2020. The developments of January-April 2021, however, seem to indicate that SOMO has found a new balance around 35-40 cents of the Basrah Light-Arab Medium spread (see Graph 5).

Graph 6. ADNOC OSPs in 2017-2021 (vs Dubai/Oman Average; USD per barrel).

ADNOC

Source: ADNOC.

The Asian markets preference for lighter grades has been an indisputable boon for the United Arab Emirates, whose ADNOC has increased its April prices by 15-30 cents per barrel month-on-month. Perhaps wary of Aramcos excessive optimism, perhaps more enlightened thanks to the 2-day difference between the respective dates of issuance, ADNOCs Asian price-setting policy turned out to be tangibly more modest than that of its Saudi counterpart  just to provide a couple of examples, Upper Zakum was hiked by 15 cents to a $0.9 USD per barrel premium over Oman/Dubai (peer grade Arab Light rose by 40 cents), whilst Murban rose by 30 cents to a $1.05 USD per barrel premium against Oman/Dubai (Arab Extra Light rose by 60 cents).

By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com

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Security forces in Myanmar dug up the grave of a 19-year-old protester and filled it with cement after she was shot dead during anti-coup demonstrations.

Authorities entered the cemetery in Mandalay just hours after mourners laid Angel, whose real name was Ma Kyal Sin, to rest - claiming an autopsy was required to investigate her cause of death.

The following morning Angel's grave had been filled with cement and a thick grey slab took the place of flowers and tributes.

Debris, including surgical gowns and bloodied plastic gloves, had also been thrown on top of the desecrated grave.

It comes after the United Nations said Myanmar's military are likely to be committing crimes against humanity - adding that 70 protesters had been 'murdered' since last month's coup.

Security forces in Myanmar dug up the grave of 19-year-old protester Ma Kyal Sin (bottom left) and filled it with cement days after she was shot dead during anti-coup demonstrations

Authorities entered the cemetery in Mandalay and the following morning Angel's grave had been filled with cement and a thick grey slab took the place of flowers and tributes

Angel became a symbol of the country's fight for democracy after she was photographed during the protests wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan 'Everything will be OK'.

The teenager, had joined the demonstrations against the military coup that forced Myanmar's elected government from power, was shot in the head on March 3.

Thousands of people followed Angel's hearse procession before attending the teenager's funeral on March 4.

But a witness told CNN that just hours later, between 4pm and 7pm, around 20 people arrived at the cemetery gates.

Debris, including surgical gowns and bloodied plastic gloves, had also been thrown on top of the desecrated grave

Witnesses claimed that the officials had 'rebuilt the grave' but that there had been litter strewn across the burial site

Ma Kyal Sin: 'Everything will be OK' The 19-year-old protester was shot in the head on the streets of Mandalay after joining the anti-coup protests. 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. Ma Kyal Sin 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. She left her details of her blood group, a contact number and a request to donate her body in the event of her death. Angel 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 could be heard on video shouting: 'We won't run' and 'blood must not be shed'. Myat Thu, 23, who is now in hiding said: 'When the police opened fire she told me "Sit! Sit! Bullets will hit you. You look like you're on a stage". '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. 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

'They got here with a car first and a motorcycle and they pointed with guns and asking to open the gate.

'There was another car from military at the back,' the witness said.

'I saw a guy opened the gate for them...

'They said we are not allowed to enter, not allowed to come see, and do not inform anyone about it.'

The next day they claimed that the officials had 'rebuilt the grave' but that there had been litter strewn across the burial site.

The Myanmar Police Force had said that it needed to investigate Angel's death but her family had not consented to an autopsy, CCN said.

In a statement in state media, police said her body was exhumed 'with the permission of a judge, district police chief officials, forensic pathologists and witnesses.'

The day of Angel's death is considered to be one of the bloodiest since protests against the military coup broke out after security forces opened fire on crowds and killed at least 38.

It comes after the United Nations said Myanmar's military are likely to be committing crimes against humanity.

It added that 70 protesters had been 'murdered' since last month's coup.

More than 2,000 have also been detained, with allegations of torture and enforced disappearances.

On Thursday, the UN's top expert in the country, Thomas Andrews, told the Human Rights Council in Geneva of growing evidence the top brass are directing crimes including 'murder, enforced disappearance, persecution, torture, and imprisonment.'

An Amnesty International report on Thursday accused the military of using 'battlefield weapons' on unarmed protesters.

It also claimed authorities had been carrying out premeditated killings orchestrated by their commanding officers.

The rights group catalogued the security forces' use of firearms that are 'completely inappropriate for use in policing protests', including light machine guns, sniper rifles and semi-automatic rifles.

With international condemnation so far seemingly ignored by the junta, the United States applied fresh pressure with sanctions against two adult children of coup leader General Min Aung Hlaing.

And the Asian Development Bank announced it had temporarily suspended funding for government projects in Myanmar 'as the international community assesses the evolving situation'.

The junta responded to the international condemnation with a propaganda offensive against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi who it accused of accepting 430,000 in cash and 24 pounds of gold (490,000 worth) from a now-detained lawmaker.

Seven thousand British Gas engineers began another four-day strike Friday.

A previous four-day strike ended March 8 bringing to 30 the total number of strike days. They are opposing new contracts the company is attempting to impose through a fire and rehire strategy that would see an effective 20 percent pay cut, with some workers losing up to 15,000 a year.

A British Gas van (credit: WSWS media)

This week the GMB trade union announced a further series of four-day strikeson March 19 and March 26to follow the March 12-15 action and warned that strikes could continue to mid-April.

After taking 18 days of strikes, the GMB and Centrica, parent company of British Gas, emailed workers February 12 to say that new negotiations were going ahead. The union had called off planned action on the evening of February 11 to enter talks at the governments Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). On February 14, the GMB imposed a temporary cessation of hostilities stating, The company has suspended its actions against our members and in turn the strike has been suspended.

At the ACAS brokered talks, British Gas refused to take the threat of fire and rehire off the table and strike action was resumed on February 19.

British Gas put forward a new offer, which was essentially just a rehash of the previous contract, with workers expected to work an extra three hours a week with no extra pay, work unsociable hours and accept inferior pay and benefits. The only difference was a one-off payment of up to 4,000 as an inducement to accept. The threat of fire and rehire was not removed.

However, the GMB union still put the offer to a ballot the week beginning February 28. The result of the ballot of the Field staff bargaining group was an overwhelming rejection by a 79 percent majority on an 88 percent turnout. The GMB announced the result on March 5 and said that the four-day strike planned to begin that day would go ahead.

British Gas has threatened the workforce that they must sign up to the new deal by March 25 or face being sacked on March 31.

Chris OShea, chief executive of British Gass parent company, Centrica, said, Whilst weve reached collective agreements with the majority of our trade unions, we have been unable to secure an agreement with the GMB despite two extensive rounds of talks and making significant concessions.

Well now talk directly to those colleagues who have not yet agreed their new contracts and we will go the extra mile to try and avoid the need to dismiss and re-engage.

British Gas workers and their families have been taking to social media to condemn Centricas intimidatory tactics, and stating their determination to fight for their pay, terms and conditions.

On twitter one wrote, Feeling very deflated with the consultations coming up and getting closer to 25th/31st. Discussing with my wife how were going to manage with me doing a 40-hour week & my daughter starting school this year

Another wrote, So very angry, today my husband has a consultation where he will be told how his employer is dismissing him because he is unwilling to have the employment contract he has held for 40 years torn up and be forced to work longer more unsociable hours.

Determined not to sign one wrote, Had my 1-2-1 consultation, still not signing, 30 yrs service coming to an end in next 3 weeks

Another wrote, I will be fired from my job on the 31st. All because I wont sign a hugely reduced contract that our workforce has overwhelmingly rejected CEOs and directors make themselves millionaires in a few years. How is that fair.

For the union, the sticking point is the refusal of British Gas to drop the fire and rehire threat as it undermines the unions role as an arm of corporate management. Following the announcement of further strike days in March, GMB General Secretary Justin Bowden said, The company needs to understand its fire and rehire plan is the big obstacle to members accepting a dealthey must withdraw it now.

All along, the core of the GMBs argument was that the actions of British Gas were impacting on Centricas share value. Bowden again pointed to this imperative, as if the interests of workers at British Gas and corporate millionaires and billionaires have anything in common. The behaviour of British Gas bosses is hurting workers, customers and ultimately company shareholders. GMB's executive has determined action could continue to mid-April in this deadlocked dispute."

The use of fire and rehire is the weapon of choice by corporations using the opportunity supplied by the COVID-19 pandemic to push through long-desired restructuring. A recent Trades Union Congress poll indicated nearly ten percent of workers have faced re-applying for their jobs on worse terms and conditions or be sacked.

ACAS has carried out a study of the fire and re-hire process, but as yet its findings have not been released. In an email of March 9, Scottish National Party MP, Gavin Newlands wrote to Kwasi Kwarteng, the Conservative governments Secretary for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Referring to the British Gas and other fire and rehire disputes, he wrote, On 24th of February the parliamentary Under Secretary of state for BEIS told the House [of Parliament] that ACAS has completed this work and shared his insight with officials at the BEIS.

As with the trade union bureaucracy, Newlands fears that firms using fire and rehire strategies will undermine the corporatist role of the trade unions. He wrote that there was surely a case for publishing their findings as quickly as possible so to allow for in-depth consultation and discussion by interested parties such as trade unions and employee representatives. Instead, there will be another long wait to add to the time that ACAS has taken to get to this stage.

Newlands pointed to the reason why ACASs findings have not been published: I am concerned that this extremely lengthy period of time is indicative of an attempt to avoid this process concluding before Centrica potentially carry out their threat to terminate the contracts of those who refused to sign up to wage cuts and downgraded terms and conditions.

Hundreds of bus drivers at Go North West in Manchester, owned by Go Ahead, are also striking at present opposing a fire and rehire plot. Workers at British Airways and Heathrow Airport have faced similar ultimatums. Around 200 workers at aircraft parts manufacturer SPS Technologies in Leicester, members of the Unite union, began a strike March 12 over fire and rehire threats that would leave them between 2,500 and 3,000 a year worse off, with three other strike days planned.

Fighting these attacks requires a united offensive of the working class, organised in fighting organisations. The Socialist Equality Party calls on British Gas workers to oppose the GMB union bureaucracy and establish rank-and-file committees independent of them. British Gas strikers must establish contact with all workers fighting fire and rehire ultimatums and turn for support to the 20,000 workers in the Centrica group and the nearly 700,000 employed throughout the UKs energy sector. Contact us today to discuss the way forward.
Public opinion around the world unanimously and rightly condemned the heinous assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by the hand of his own government, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Istanbul in 2018. The United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) conducted a thorough investigation that concluded, Mr. Khashoggi's killing constituted an extrajudicial killing for which the State of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible. But the killing of a dozen journalists and civil society activists over the past six months in Afghanistan has failed to invoke the same international outrage.

On March 2, three female journalists were murdered in the eastern city of Jalalabad in broad daylight. These crimes only add to the suffering of Afghans caught in an endless war. The journalists, Mursal Waheedi, Saadia Sadat, and Shahnaz Raufi, aged between 18 and 20, were on their way home from their jobs at Enikass TV, a local station, when they were assassinated in two separate attacks. Last year, another female journalist from Enikass, Malala Maiwand, faced a similar fate.

These are not isolated incidents, but a pattern. Last November, Yama Siawash, a well-known journalist, was ruthlessly killed in a bomb attack in Kabul. A week later, Mohammad Ilyas Dayee, a journalist for Radio Free Afghanistan in the southern province of Helmand, lost his life in a similar attack. Assassins have not spared clerics, either. In the past month, two prominent clergymen, Mohammad Atif and Faiz Mohammad Fayez, were murdered.

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, approximately 8,820 civilians were killed or injured in 2020. The bulk of last years deaths and injuries occurred over the past six months as the parties to the Doha peace talks failed to reach a consensus on reducing violence or a comprehensive cease-fire.

While many of these assassinations go unclaimed, the Taliban and other Islamist militant groups such as the Islamic State of Khorasan -- the main drivers of violence in the country -- remain the prime suspects. Recently RFE/RL interviewed several journalists who have barely escaped the Talibans hit list. These militant groups in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region compete for political power and hold ultra-conservative views on the role of the media, freedom of speech, women's rights, and civil society. The families of victims seek justice for the killing of their loved ones in a country where justice has been delayed for more than 40 years. However, the government has generally offered empty thoughts and prayers, and no substantial consolation.

In the case of Khashoggis murder, some countries including the United States are now considering sanctions against the perpetrators. However, the U.S.-Taliban deal signed in February 2020 obliges the United States to engage diplomatically with the Afghan government and members of the United Nations Security Council to delist the Taliban from the 1988 U.N. Security Council terrorism blacklist. Delisting the Taliban before there is a political agreement between the warring Afghan parties, and the Taliban fighters return to civilian life, will be a mistake.

Some observers also propose removing Taliban state sponsors from international financial sanctions in exchange for nudging the Taliban to negotiate. This is giving too much for too little. While the state of talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Doha is an improvement, there is no sign of ceasing hostilities, particularly in the face of such daily assassinations and fighting between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces.

At a time when civilians in Afghanistan are living in constant fear and mourning the deaths of their loved ones, it is ironic to see calls for easing sanctions and prioritizing the Taliban's demands. Instead, the focus should be meeting the basic demand of Afghan civilians, namely sparing their lives. There should be calls for an end to the bloodbath and proper investigations into these brutal assassinations. If the Taliban is supposedly not behind these attacks, then it should have no issue cooperating with a neutral entity like the United Nations to probe the situation. This way, the perpetrators, whoever they may be, can be brought to justice.

Afghans often find themselves asking whether there is any accountability left in this world and if their lives even matter. For them, its not just rhetorical. It matters to them if international public opinion, the global media, and human rights watchdogs care about their lives and their suffering. The U.N. investigation of Khashoggis murder demonstrates that there is a promising level of willingness to investigate extrajudicial killings. To this end, the bereaved community of Afghan journalists and civil society should not be abandoned in their quest for justice and accountability.

The U.N. Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the alarming number of attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan. But the UN would need to go beyond condemnations and message of condolences. Given its international mandate, the U.N. Human Rights Commission should open an investigation into the killing of Afghanistan's journalists and members of civil society immediately. Such investigations are part of the U.N.s obligations to the citizens of its member states and there are no procedural obstacles. Other entities such as the European Union should also contribute to an international advocacy initiative focused on the issue of defending the rights of Afghanistan's journalists and activists by filing lawsuits against perpetrators in jurisdictions possible. The international community should stand for Afghanistans journalists and civil society before it is too late.
NEW DELHI: A video of Bollywoods beloved star kid Taimur Ali Khan running into a glass door has gone viral on the internet with netizens expressing their concerns for the star kid. Taimur along with his gorgeous mom Kareena Kapoor Khan arrived at Karisma Kapoor's residence recently to attend his cousin Samaira's birthday bash. The little munchkin, who otherwise loves to pose and wave at paparazzi, this time, however, seemed to be in a rush to visit birthday girl Samaira and enjoy the cake.

As soon as Kareena Kapoor and Taimur stepped out of the car, the actress, looking diva as always in a blue and white kaftan, posed for the paparazzi outside the residence. And while she was posing, Taimur ran towards the entrance of the building but ended up running into a glass door and bumping his head into it. Kareena immediately turned around to see if her 4-year-old child was fine. Bollywood photographer Viral Bhayani shared a video featuring Kareena and Taimur, which has since gone viral on the internet.

Fans had mixed reactions to the viral video. While some were concerned about Taimurs safety, others castigated mom Kareena for not paying attention to her son. One user commented, "See How careless Kareena is ??? & How much greedy for photo session....!?" while another wrote, Taimur bechaara (poor Taimur)". We hope that Taimur Ali Khan is fine and did not hurt him.

Earlier, Kareena had taken to social media and extended a warm greeting to her niece, writing, "You call me BebooMA for a reason... cause when Mom says no you know who to turn to... always got you my girl...forever. Fly high, be happy and healthy ...I love you our first born baby. Happy birthday Samuuuu."

Lately, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan have been busy with parent duties as they welcomed their second baby on February 21. Last week, on the occasion of Internationals Womens Day, the 'Ki & Ka' actress took to Instagram to post an adorable picture with her newborn, who was seen resting on her shoulder.

On the work front, Kareena Kapoor will next be seen in the upcoming film Laal Singh Chaddha alongside Aamir Khan, which is set to be released on December 24.

KABUL (Reuters) - The Afghan government said on Saturday it would participate in two separate U.S.- and Russian-backed peace conferences in the coming weeks.

The Russian-backed conference is scheduled for March 18, while the U.S.-sponsored one will take place in Turkey next month, officials said.

Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha have largely stalled.

"The Afghan government will take part in both the Moscow and Turkey conferences," Hamdullah Mohib, the country's national security council advisor told reporters in Kabul.

Mohammed Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban, told Reuters it had received an invitation from Moscow, but had not yet decided whether to attend or not. The Taliban has not made any comment about the proposed meeting in Turkey.

It comes at a crunch time for the peace process as a May 1 deadline for foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan looms and the United States reviews its military commitments.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a letter to President Ashraf Ghani earlier this month made a new urgent push for a United Nations-led peace effort and asked Turkey to host a senior-level meeting of "both sides in the coming weeks to finalize a peace agreement."

Blinken wrote to Afghan leaders that the United States is "considering the full withdrawal of forces by May 1st as we consider other options".

Russia plans to hold a conference on Afghanistan in Moscow on March 18 and has invited several regional players, including Afghan government and politicians to jumpstart the peace process as Washington's diplomacy ramps up.

(Reporting by Hamid Shalizi, Editing by Ros Russell)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 10:21:10|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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MOSCOW -- The United States and its allies were plotting a "disinformation campaign" to hurt the credibility of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, Russia's RIA Novosti and TASS news agencies reported on Friday.

Such a campaign was made by non-governmental organizations and media in the West, a high-ranking source in the Kremlin was quoted as saying.

- - - -

ULAN BATOR -- Mongolia on Friday received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX, a global initiative to ensure quick and equal access to vaccines against the virus.

Sergey Diorditsa, representative of the World Health Organization in Mongolia, handed over the initial batch of 14,400 doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines from the COVAX, to Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg.

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BERLIN -- Despite the ongoing lockdown, Germany registered 12,834 new COVID-19 infections within one day, around 2,250 more than one week ago, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Friday.

At the beginning of the year, the number of COVID-19 cases in Germany decreased, "but unfortunately the pandemic is not over yet, and on the contrary, we are now at the beginning of the third wave," warned Lothar Wieler, president of the RKI during a press conference.

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DOHA -- The Qatari Health Ministry on Friday announced 455 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 169,284, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

Meanwhile, 335 more recovered from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 157,577, while the fatalities increased by one to 265, according to a ministry statement quoted by QNA.

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YEREVAN -- Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on Friday went through a medical checkup in a hospital here, according to media reports.

The president had complications of the COVID-19 infection, which he contracted in January, reported local Armenpress, citing sources from the President Office.

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JAKARTA -- The death toll of COVID-19 in Indonesia has risen sharply around 1,000 to more than 2,000 cases per month during the long holiday season, an official said on Friday.

The Indonesian COVID-19 Task Force's spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said this number was different from those in other months without long holidays, which were recorded between around 50 to 900 deaths. Enditem
City Editor

Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has cover statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids.
The Fermoy International Choir have come together to celebrate St Patricks Day with a rendition of their local ballad, featuring the voices of those who call the town home.

Members of the Fermoy International Choir have marked St Patricks Day with the release of their own rendition of the song.

The rendition includes the voices of 13 different nationalities who took part in the tribute.

It has been dedicated to Fermoy native Dave Roche who passed away last year and Tommy Baker, a participant in the initiative whose voice and image feature the video.

Founder of the Fermoy International Choir, Graham Clifford said that local ballads are an important part of communities.

Theres nothing as local and cherished and protected and revered really as much as that local ballad. No matter what village or town in the country you are- its yours, he said.

Some people would know the song in Fermoy but most wouldnt and they would know bits of it.

"We thought it would be lovely to do something for the people who call Fermoy home now in 2021- recording it together.

He said that each person spoke a line from My Home in Fermoy which were compiled together along with a recording of Dave Roche singing the song.

Because we couldnt go to a recording studio to sing, we lay down the music and then people spoke a line each and Lisa Dunphy, our conductor, put in all the work to gel it together and then we incorporated an actual recording of Dave Roche singing it in recent years.

Mr Clifford is hopeful that other towns and villages across Ireland take inspiration from the idea and create their own rendition of the song that means so much to the local area.

The song belongs to everybody and I think thats why its so beautiful and I can imagine that kind of idea and I would love to see that kind of idea taken up in other towns.
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We are shocked at the brazen and illegal manner in which Hidme Markam, a 28-year-old anti-mining and tribal rights activist, was abducted from the programme marking the International Working Womens Day in Sameli, Dantewada, held to commemorate Nande and Kawasi Pande, two young women forced to take their lives after custodial physical and sexual violence by the Chhattisgarh police and paramilitary forces. Markam (daughter of Podiyam Markam, Burgum village, Dantewada district) was later shown as arrested in four cases involving serious charges, including charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The irony of forcibly taking a young woman activist from a Womens Day programme, trampling on all her fundamental rights and the Code of Criminal Procedure guidelines of lawful arrest, and that too in the immediate presence of the subdivisional magistrate, beggars belief. She was dragged away in front of 300 villagers and activists who had peacefully gathered there, including activists from the Jail Bandi Rihai Committee and Chhattisgarh Mahila Adhikar Manch. Despite their strong opposition to her arrest, Soni Sori and others were violently pushed aside by police personnel. We demand her immediate release in no uncertain terms, and an end to this endless saga of baseless arrests of tribal activists under charges related to Naxalism.
President Joe Biden has been undoing many of the Trump-era immigration policies, such as halting the border wall's construction and suspending the "Remain in Mexico" program.

Now, the Biden administration will end another policy from the Trump administration that lets U.S. border agents collect details on the immigration status of people who are coming forward to care for unaccompanied migrant children so it could potentially deport them, CNBC reported.

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) departments said in a statement on Friday that they would end the 2018 agreement, which allowed the border agents to identify and deport those would-be caregivers who were in the country illegally.

That means that immigrant parents who came to the U.S. and then later sent for their children to cross the border will face possible deportation when they tried to pick up their kids from HHS' custody.

The administration officials said they would replace the 2018 policy with a new memorandum that promotes the safe and timely transfer of migrant children.

The officials noted that the new agreement would not change safeguards designed to ensure unaccompanied migrant children are unified with properly vetted sponsors who can safely care for them while they await immigration proceedings.

They noted that the 2018 policy created a "chilling effect" that discouraged family members and sponsors from coming forward as they fear they would be deported.

"Whatever we can do to encourage those family members and sponsors to come forward more quickly we need to be doing," an official said as CNBC reported. The move comes amid the surge of unaccompanied migrant children at the southern border.

RELATED ARTICLE: Biden Administration Eyes Army Base to House Migrant Children

Migrant Children

The influx of migrant children crossing the border leaves the Biden administration struggling to find proper care and housing for them.

The latest statistics released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Wednesday showed that border agents encountered around 3,500 migrants a day last February, which is a 28 percent increase over January.

According to an NPR report, the number of unaccompanied migrant children from Central America also surged to 60 percent over January to more than 9,400.

Officials said that increase in migrants crossing the border was due to natural disasters, food shortages, and poverty in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Trying to house and care for all the migrant children coming to the U.S. has some legal, space, and cost constraints.

Federal health officials are mandated to provide housing for any unaccompanied migrant children until they can be placed with a parent or a sponsor, as stated under U.S. law. However, officials have limited bed space in state-licensed to comply with their job mandate, Reuters reported.

Roberta Jacobson, Biden's border czar, and the U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday the jumpstart of the Central American Minors program, which had allowed children to apply in their home countries and join relatives in the U.S. This was ended under the Trump administration.

Officials will need to expand emergency housing and open more licensed facilities if the number of children arriving in the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian continues to increase.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said they are focusing on speeding up the children's release to their sponsors. However, HHS officials said that speeding up the process of finding sponsors for the migrant children might be taken advantage of by some people, such as the cases in 2013 and 2014 when some Guatemalan teenagers were released and were forced to work on an egg farm in Ohio.

"We need to take the time to vet the individuals who these kids are being connected with," Psaki was quoted in a report. The press secretary added that they are trying to figure out how to expedite the process.

READ NEXT: U.S. Near Max Capacity to Hold Migrant Children; Biden Administration Scrutinized Over Reopening Holding Facility

WATCH: Shelters for Migrant Children Near Capacity Along the Border - From CBS News
Samantha Armytage said goodbye to Sunrise on Thursday in a teary farewell.

But the sun certainly hasn't set on her time in the spotlight, thanks to the success of her new Something To Talk About podcast.

Speaking to Sunday's Stellar magazine, the 44-year-old waxed lyrical about her new career path as a podcaster, explaining: 'I've had a very good response from everyone I know.'

'I'm loving this long-form journalism. There's a real freedom to it': Samantha Armytage, 44, (pictured) has gushed over the 'freedom' offered by her new career as a podcaster after quitting her role hosting Seven's Sunrise

'People seem to be enjoying the podcast and I'm really thrilled with how many people are tuning in,' she added.

Samantha's podcast was launched last month in partnership with Stellar, and has already reached the top five on the Australian podcast charts.

'I'm loving this long-form journalism. There's a real freedom to it. It's really just like having a chat with a mate,' she explained to Stellar.

'I've had a very good response from everyone I know': Samantha's podcast was launched last month in partnership with Stellar, and has already reached the top five on the Australian podcast charts

Samantha sensationally revealed she was quitting the Seven's breakfast show Sunrise in order to reclaim 'peace' and 'calm' in her life on Monday.

She marked her last day on Sunrise on Thursday, and broke down in tears during an emotional goodbye.

As she bid farewell to her viewers, the presenter made special mention of the 'bullying' Australian media.

Gone: Samantha marked her last day on Sunrise on Thursday and broke down in tears during an emotional farewell

Emotional: Sam, who was supported by her husband, Richard Lavender, and her Sunrise co-hosts on Thursday, took aim at the wider Australian media as she bid farewell to viewers

'I do want to say that I never fully understood some of the scrutiny and the snarkiness and the bullying from some aspects of the media,' she said.

She continued: 'But today we move on from that, because there is a new chapter starting and it has been overwhelmingly a good experience in my life.'

'Most of all, I thank all of our viewers. You are just wonderful people. There are so many lovely people. So many more lovely ones than the nasty ones.'

New focus: She had announced her resignation live on air on Monday, saying she wanted to step back from TV to spend more time with her family

Sam, who joined Sunrise in 2013, spoke about the toxic environment of the TV industry in an article for the News Corp-owned Stellar magazine last month.

'There's a lot about television that's all about you and that's an awful way to live your life. TV isn't a place that's necessarily very healthy,' she said.

'It's full of sociopaths and narcissists. It can be a dangerous environment, let me tell you.'

Making headlines: Sam, who joined Sunrise in 2013, spoke about the toxic envirHer remarks greatly upset her colleagues and executives at Seven, and said to be described by some insiders as tantamount to 'career suicide'.onment of the TV industry in an article for the News Corp-owned Stellar magazine last month

Cha-ching! Sam's last day on Sunrise was Thursday, but her $800,000-a-year contract with Seven doesn't expire until October

She also said unmarried, childless women in television were treated differently and given more work compared to their married counterparts.

Her remarks greatly upset her colleagues and executives at Seven, and said to be described by some insiders as tantamount to 'career suicide'.

Her announcement followed months of rumours she was preparing to leave Sunrise to spend more time with Richard at his country estate in the Southern Highlands.

Sam's last day on Sunrise was Thursday, but her $800,000-a-year contract with Seven doesn't expire until October.

On Sunday, Sunrise newsreader Natalie Barr was confirmed as Samantha's permanent replacement on the breakfast show.
For Christmas 2019, my husband gave me an Apple Watch. Id been eyeing one for a while, so was thrilled. I had a very specific purpose in mind for it: to use the silent timer while moderating panels or otherwise talking to a group. I hate public speaking but know I need to do it more, and one of my anxieties is around timingknowing when its time to wrap things up or head to Q&A. The Apple Watch seemed to be a perfect solution as I headed into a busy spring 2020.

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Then, the pandemic erased any need I had for a silent vibrating timer. I had always been suspicious of fitness wearablesI have a Fitbit in a drawer somewhere that I really should donateand hadnt planned to use the Apple Watch for activity tracking. I even considered just sticking it in that mystery drawer and dusting it off when things returned to normal. But slowly, my Apple Watch became my quarantine accountability buddy, or, on days when I felt less enthused about it, my quarantine handcuff. It told me when I needed to stand. It helped me push myself to at least get out and walk for 30 minutes every day. There were times when I was just a little short of my move goal, so I would jump around a bit. I started to get an endorphin rush every time it showed little sparking rings that indicated that I had reached my goals on movement, exercise minutes, and standing. I started staring at my trends in the Fitness app. Once, a little before I started an online Zumba class, I foolishly began updating the watchs software. I anxiously watched the clock, hoping it would finish in time for me to slap it back on before the class started. If I got 58 minutes of exercise but it wasnt logged, did it really count?

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What was remarkable about this transformation was that I have always loathed emotional manipulation via tech. Thats why Im a jerk to my Alexa. And in theory, I think behavioral nudges are patronizing, as they try to externalize what should be internal motivation. Why should this gadget tell me that its time to stand up? Sometimes I wanted to stay seated out of petulance. But at some point, I found myself happy to be patronizedI even like the Apple Watchs You Did It! when I stand up and move around for a minute after it nudges me to get off the couch. And the privacy violations of having location services on all the time? Well, I dont love it, but it really isnt that different from carrying my iPhone all the time (even if I am diligent about turning off location services when not in use).

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I thought about all of this when I read an article by L.V. Anderson on Slate this week. Anderson writes about how living alone in the pandemic prompted her to start tracking literally everything in her life. She writes that her tracking was Ludicrous because every day was, for all intents and purposes, a carbon copy of the day before. And its the same when I look over at my history in the Fitness appmost days I reach all of my goals, making them run into each other. But I think thats better than the alternative: Without the watch, days still would have run into each other, but at least this way I know Im moving enough.

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Heres some stories from the recent past of Future Tense.

Evan Mills To Make Cannabis Green, We Need to Grow It Outdoors

Elena DeBre and Aaron Mak Exactly What Just Sold for $69,346,250 at Christies?

Emily Oster What Can Families Do When Adults Are Vaccinated and Kids Are Not?

Paul Chakalian Why Are We Still Surprised by Large Blackouts?

Sherry Turkle Is Pretend Empathy Enough?

Wish Wed Published This

Tesla Touts Self-Driving to Consumers. To the DMV, It Tells a Different Tale, by Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times

Future Tense Recommends

The Head on HBO Max is bone-chillingnot just because its scary, but because its set largely in the winter in Antarctica, when the temperatures are incompatible with human life and the darkness is total. The miniseries begins as a bare-bones crew of researchers are left behind for the winter, where they will continue work they believe is critical to combat climate change. But weeks before the end of the winter crews shift, the research base goes silentno radio contact, nothing. After three weeks, the new base commander arrives to find out whats happened, hoping for a minor technical problem. Instead, he discovers that something terrible has happened. Its a psychological thriller that examines the isolation of scientific research, and I just wish it lasted more than six episodes.

What Next: TBD

On this weeks episode of Slates technology podcast, Lizzie OLeary spoke with the Washington Posts Nitasha Tiku about the disappointing results of Googles partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities. Last week, Lizzie talked to the Posts Tony Romm about the need to overhaul Lifeline, a federal program that helps low-income Americans pay for broadband and cellphone access.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, March 17, 3 p.m. Eastern: Join us for a launch event for Mission: Interplanetary, a new podcast from Slate and Arizona State University that looks at our path to becoming an interplanetary species. Mission: Interplanetarys hosts, Cady Coleman and Andrew Maynard, will speak with guest Jim Bell about the landing of the latest Mars rover, Perseverance, and the unique visions of those working to take us to new worlds. More information here.

Wednesday, March 24, 7 p.m. Eastern: In too many places across North America, serious coverage of local issues is scarce or nonexistent due to the crisis afflicting journalisms traditional business models, a lack of innovation across media, and, in some cases, actual intimidation of those seeking to inform the public. Join Future Tense and Convergence Lab to hear from a number of journalists seeking to remedy the erosion of our information ecosystems in the United States and Mexico by fostering innovation in local journalism. RSVP here.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
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On March 6, Judith Whitmer, formerly the chair of the Clark County Democratic Party and a member of the Las Vegas chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), beat Tick Segerblom to become the new chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party. Segerblom is a former state representative and long-time Democratic Party operative. He is also a member of the DSA.

Judith Whitmer (Source: judithwhitmer.com)

After then chair of the state party, William McCurdy II, announced on February 3 that he would not seek reelection, Segerblom was pressed to run by current Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. Masto was hand-picked by former Senate Majority Leader and long-time Democratic Senator Harry Reid as his replacement when he retired in 2016.

The media has described the victory of Whitmerwho was endorsed by both the DSA and the Bernie Sanders affiliated Our Revolution Nevadaas socialist takeover of the Nevada Democratic Party. Entire staff of Nevada Democratic Party Quits after Democratic Socialist Slate Won Every Seat, proclaimed The Intercept, describing the victory of insurgent progressives in Nevada against the Harry Reid machine.

Whitmer is described in recent articles as a liberal, progressive, socialist and uber-progressive.

In fact, the victory of Whitmer involves conflicts within various factions of the Democratic Party, with the DSA brought in to provide a veneer of progressivism.

In explaining their endorsement of Whitmer, the Las Vegas DSA chapter tweeted on February 19 that she demonstrated commitment to her democratic socialist values through her extensive organizing as a member of LVDSA + Left Caucus. She has led the charge to include Medicare for All, Green New Deal, College for All, in the Party Platform.

That is, Whitmer earned the endorsement of the DSA because she was able to pay lip service to empty political slogans for inclusion in a Democratic Party document that has no impact on any future candidate or politician.

Joining Whitmer in victory were four other candidates, three of them DSA members, on the self-proclaimed NV Dems Progressive Slate, which defeated Segerblom and his Progressive Unity Slate. On the latter slate, only Segerblom is a member of the DSA.

Significantly, even though both slates were led by members of the DSA, neither wanted to associate themselves in any way with socialism, instead sticking with the politically empty progressive moniker.

The lack of political differences between the establishment pick Segerblom and Whitmer was openly acknowledged by all parties involved. The Las Vegas DSA Twitter account plainly stated on March 11, Our disagreement with Tick [Segerblom] in this race was based on strategy and not political positions. He remains one of the strongest progressive voices in Nevada and a well-loved member of our chapter.

The victory of Whitmer and her fellow candidates last weekend was followed immediately by the resignation of the entire Reid-loyal staff of the state party, five people. The outgoing faction reportedly prepared for the defeat by transferring nearly half a million dollars out of the partys accounts and into the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).

The Reid machine is a web of corruption, with the long-time senator and his family at the center. Masto served as the chair of the DSCC from 20192021 and is up for re-election in 2022. Whitmer and the LVDSA have claimed that Masto requested that she drop out and allow Segerblom to win.

Whitmers designation as an anti-establishment candidate, however, is entirely manufactured. She is a loyal Democrat who began working for former Maryland Governor Martin OMalley in 2006 and then as a volunteer for Obamas 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns before backing Sanders campaigns in 2016 and 2020.

In a revealing interview with the Las Vegas Sun, Whitmer explained that her central aim is to strengthen the Democratic Party by balancing the competing interests between the partys moderate and progressive wings.

The rhetorical differences between the various factions within the party, she explained, were inconsequential. Were all parts of the same party and were all trying to achieve the same goal, which is to elect Democrats We talked about unity because its important and were going to do the work to make sure we unify the party.

Whitmer added: We need to be doing everything we can to work together, and its OK that we have diverse opinions, diverse ideologies. That really doesnt matter because at the end of the day weve got to hold our Democratic seats and weve got to elect Democrats. No matter whether theyre progressive, conservative or moderate, every Democrat will agree that we cannot let Republicans take control.

The fact is, Whitmer isnt a socialist and neither is the DSA. The whole purpose of the DSA, as Whitmer has clearly stated in multiple interviews since being elected, is to ensure the continued electoral and political dominance of the Democratic Party.

Whitmer was powered to victory via the backing of Sanders-affiliated organizations like Our Revolution Nevada and the Left Caucus, which she founded and still serves as the Chair Emeritus. However, Segerblom is also a DSA member and a member of Left Caucusa true comrade according to the official Twitter accountleaving one to ask: What was this race about?

The real fight is over positions within the Democratic Party, with identity politics and a dash of left-phraseology used to cover for the elevation of an upper-middle class layer into the structure of the party.

A Nevada Current article, The NV Democratic party has some work to do, whoevers running it, which was retweeted by the official Left Caucus account on March 10, explains that the new leadership plans to prioritize a more robust infrastructure for coalition alliances. Coalitions, in party speak, refers to the department of the party that is tasked with specifically amplifying the needs of diverse constituencies like Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian-American and Pacific Islanders within the political campaign to increase turnout among those groups.

It adds, Coalitions must become permanent staff positions in the party, with community leaders drawn from those communities as staff, to correct both historical wrong and aid to ensure the future of the Democratic Party is more equitable.

In order to remain electorally competitive and foster a layer of upper-middle class supporters along different identities, Whitmer and the DSA will use identity politics and the allure of a select few well-paid state party positions.

The DSA frequently touts its inside outside strategy, which it claims is working outside the Democratic Party to affect change in the local community while working inside the party to push it to the left by electing supposed progressive or socialist candidates.

It is all bunk. The truth is the DSA exists to pull those disillusioned with the capitalist system and all the social ills it produces back inside the Democratic Party, thereby smothering any outside independent movement of the working class against not only the Democratic Party, but the whole capitalist system.

The two big-business parties are widely hated and reviled by millions of workers and youth who are becoming politically radicalized, having lived through three decades of unending war, two once in a generation recessions followed by the genocidal herd immunity response of the ruling class towards the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed over 530,000 people in one year.

The maneuvers of the DSA within the Democratic Party are not an expression of the growing opposition among workers and youth, but an effort by the DSA and its leaders to play a more prominent role in the suppression of this opposition.
President Joe Biden took a much-deserved bow for the passage of the American Rescue Plan. The $1.9 trillion package made good on his campaign promise to provide a new round of direct payments to individuals making less than $75,000 a year. He also assured that the pace of vaccinations accelerates with a $14 Billion boost to the delivery system.

A total of $130 Billion will now be used to assure an expedited and safe return to the classroom and states and localities will get help to fund police, first responders and fire services throughout the country. Gov. Tom Wolf pointed out that direct payments will flow to more than 5.5 million Pennsylvania households and another 480,000 on unemployment insurance will be able to make ends meet.

Columbia Universitys Center on Poverty projects that the stimulus will lift 13 million Americans out of poverty. And, by the way, Joe Bidens name will not be appearing on the $1,400 checks. This president is more concerned with helping a beleaguered nation than with promoting his own brand.

In terms of the scope of this legislation and the impact it will have on nearly every American, one has to go back to 1933 and FDRs first hundred days. Like then, the current president acted boldly on a number of fronts to pull the country out of an economic disaster. Like then, this is a dramatic departure from the previous administrations private market philosophy that prevented transformational involvement by government.

Bidens first signature achievement affirmed a belief that robust support for working families is better than doling out tax cuts to the wealthy. The return on investment will be felt immediately as families buy food, pay college tuitions, or just pay down debts incurred during the pandemic. This is the antidote to the fantasy of trickle-down economics where the rich got richer and middle income families got stuck with the tab.

Republican leaders make the point that the cost of the rescue plan is enormous. This is true. But it is equally true that they did not hesitate to spend $1.2 trillion on a tax plan that overwhelmingly favored the rich. The amount of debt doesnt seem to matter to them as much as who benefits.

Whats more, the American Rescue Plan enjoys broad popular support.

Pew Research Center found that 70 percent of Americans favor the plan. This includes 41 percent of those who identified as Republicans. Similarly, the Associated Press poll showed that 70% also approved of Bidens handling of the pandemic.

Looking deeper into the numbers, the support for some of the rescue provisions is even stronger. 85% support tax credits for working families; 77% support the funding to reopen classrooms; and 76% support direct stimulus checks to provide funding to facilitate a return to classrooms.

Still, the Republicans marched in lock-step to oppose the rescue package. Some of them argued that much of the spending was not related to Covid-19. Really? Which parts? The money to save small businesses from bankruptcy? The money to get our children back in classrooms? The handful of infrastructure projects that will provide real jobs for families that are hurting?

Others argued that the president moved forward without them. True enough. But let the record show that the president reached out to moderate Republicans early for their input. They gave him no assurance that they would cooperate beyond the photo opportunity. It seems that the orders from their leadership were similar to what we heard when President Obama faced an economy on the brink of collapse: just vote no.

Given the public approval numbers for Biden and the American Rescue Plan, this strategy of obstruction is just plain dumb. Republicans will have a hard time explaining to their voters why they turned their backs on their own voters. When their own voters were drowning, they didnt want to throw them any lifelines.

In one transformational bill, President Joe Biden has set forth a new era of governance. It is an era that puts people first and places trust in the choices they make to build the economy from the kitchen tables of middle America. It is an era where services like education, food, health care, and decent wages are no longer considered luxuries but essential components of a healthy, prosperous society.

There is more to come. Look for an ambitious infrastructure program in the near future. Maybe the Republicans will recognize that support for roads and bridges and the huge economic development that comes with it is widespread across party lines. Maybe they will become part of the solution rather than continue the mean-spirited posture of a party frozen in its indifference.

Mark S. Singel is a former Democratic Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania.
The EU is facing vaccine chaos after AstraZeneca announced a fresh shortfall in planned shipments as five European countries claim others are signing 'secret contracts' to make sure they get extra jabs.

The pharmaceutical giant cited production problems and export restrictions as the cause for the delay.

In a statement it said: 'AstraZeneca is disappointed to announce a shortfall in planned COVID-19 vaccine shipments to the European Union (EU) despite working tirelessly to accelerate supply.'

The company had previously warned it was facing shortfalls from its European supply chain due to 'lower-than-expected output from the production process.'

It comes as Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Latvia have called for a EU summit to discuss 'huge disparities' in the distribution of vaccines, according to a letter, written to Ursula Von der Leyen and Charles Michel, published Saturday.

The EU is facing vaccine chaos after AstraZeneca announced a fresh shortfall in planned shipments as five European countries claim others are signing 'secret contracts' to make sure they get extra jabs

AstraZeneca has said that it hopes to compensate for part of the latest shortfall by sourcing vaccines from its global network - with half of the EU's supply in the second quarter and 10 million doses in the first quarter due to come from its international supply chain.

'Unfortunately, export restrictions will reduce deliveries in the first quarter, and are likely to affect deliveries in the second quarter,' the statement added.

AstraZeneca started delivery of the vaccine to the EU in February, and still aims to deliver 100 million doses in the first half of 2021, of which 30 million are due to be delivered in the first quarter.

The under-fire firm said it was 'collaborating with the EU Commission and member states to address the supply challenges...

'It remains confident that productivity in its EU supply chain will continue to improve, to help protect millions of Europeans against the virus.'

It comes as Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Latvia have called for a EU summit to discuss 'huge disparities' in the distribution of vaccines, according to a letter published Saturday.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his four counterparts on Friday sent a letter to Ursula Von der Leyen (pictured), president of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, president of the European Council

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz suggested Friday that some members of the European Union may have signed 'secret contracts' with vaccine companies to receive more doses than they were entitled to as per EU-wide agreements.

Kurz and his four counterparts on Friday sent a letter to Ursula Von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, president of the European Council, claiming that 'deliveries of vaccine doses by pharma companies to individual EU member states are not being implemented on an equal basis'.

'If this system were to carry on, it would continue creating and exacerbating huge disparities among member states by this summer, whereby some would be able to reach herd immunity in a few weeks while others would lag far behind,' the letter said.

'We therefore call on you... to hold a discussion on this important matter among leaders as soon as possible,' it said.

Kurz on Friday described 'bazaars' where some member states made additional agreements with vaccine companies, but an EU spokesman said that it was up to members states to 'ask less or more of a given vaccine.'

Meanwhile, EU's drug regulator said on Friday that severe allergies should be added to the possible side effects of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine (stock image) after likely links were found to a number of cases in Britain

The Austrian health ministry also dismissed Kurz's claims, reiterating the EU's statement that each member state was allowed to say how many doses of the various vaccines it wanted to procure.

'These were very balanced and transparent negotiations,' Ines Stilling, general secretary of the Austrian health ministry, said in an interview with the public broadcaster Saturday.

The European Union has blamed its sluggish vaccine rollout on supply and delivery problems and continues to lag behind the United States, Israel and the United Kingdom in terms of the percentage of the population that has already received at least one dose.

Meanwhile, EU's drug regulator said on Friday that severe allergies should be added to the possible side effects of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine after likely links were found to a number of cases in Britain.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it had 'recommended an update to the product information to include anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity (allergic reactions) as side effects'.
Ahead of upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, former union finance minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Kolkata. While addressing a press conference after his induction into the Mamata Banerjee-led party, Sinha said there is no one to monitor the government and went on to invoke late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

At a presser, Sinha said at TMC Bhawan, "Nobody is there to put a stop to the government's whimsical behaviour. You can see what's happening in the country and nobody seems to be worried. Farmers are sitting at the borders, migrant workers are forced to walk back home. Health, education everything is in doldrums. The aim of the ruling party seems to be to win elections somehow. There is a lot of difference between Atal ji's party and the one of today, Atal ji believed in consensus, today's government believes in crushing."

Sinha told news agency ANI, "The tipping point was the attack on Mamata Ji in Nandigram. It was the moment of decision to join TMC and support Mamata Ji," adding he was disappointed that the Election Commission ceases to be an independent institution.





Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha joins Trinamool Congress in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/21P5IDcMab a ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2021

He said most institutions have become weak. "I would like to say that the country is going through an extraordinary situation. The strength of democracy lies in the institutions of democracy. Today mostly all institutions have become weak. This includes the judiciary too, unfortunately."

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has been discharged from the SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, two days after she accidently fractured her leg during her Nandigram visit.

Also read: 'Time to say goodbye': Sachin Vaze shares cryptic message; files anticipatory bail plea in Hiren murder case

Also read: India Today Conclave: Sadhguru backs PM Modi's 'One Nation One Election' proposition
Significant threats to kill were made in the hours of night when people should be safe in their homes, was how Judge Francis Comerford surmised what had happened during the aggravated burglary.

"They are very decent young people who just happened to live too close to the wrong neighbour," said Judge Comerford in his sentencing.

A headline sentence of seven years had been indicated for McDonagh.

In coming to the total immediate custodial sentence of three and a half years for McDonagh, Judge Comerford acknowledged the early plea of guilty to the charges and said it was especially important given that jury trials could not take place during the pandemic.

The judge said though a crime had been committed, it was a "chaotic crime put into effect due to alcohol, and or drugs."

"It wasn't a planned targeting of large amounts of money, rather chaotic, almost opportunistic knowing there would be something there [in the house] in order to get money.

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"The car was damaged but not taken away," said the judge in relation to the unauthorised taking of a vehicle charge.

He added that in relation to the second burglary, McDonagh took away the items in a brazen way in "a show of what he could do."

The judge also noted McDonagh simply wanted goods in order to obtain whatever drug he was looking for.

"It was a crime borne out of a brazenness and one was capable of, and could go into whatever house they wanted to take whatever they felt they needed and threatened whoever was there, and take relatively modest proceeds to feed their addiction.

"There was a touch of arrogance through drink and drugs by the way the crime was committed," said the judge.

He said serious and all as the crimes were, he did not see the aggravated burglary offence as at 'a high range', and said it was "sufficiently chaotic and unplanned, and sufficiently brazen, as to being irrational," and was therefore at the mid range.

When taking into account McDonagh's circumstances he accepted he had 35 previous convictions, including a number for assaults, but none for aggravated burglary.

The judge noted McDonagh, who is originally from Kerry, but moved to Sligo where he is married to Sweeney's sister, had a troubled upbringing.

The court was told McDonagh had been in care during his childhood, and the absence of his father, while serving a prison term, had a detrimental impact on his life.

He suffered from mental health issues, tried to take his own life for the first time aged 13, had self harmed and again tried to take his own life after his wife was the victim of a crime perpetrated by a member of his extended family.

The court was told this crime had led him to a serious attempt at taking his own life in 2018 and he was in a coma for a week.

He also returned to heavily depend on alcohol and cocaine. and at one point his wife had to ask him to leave the family home.

"This is a crime of addiction, coming from psychological frailty as a result of a crime to his wife," said the judge.

Judge Comerford said his contact with his wife now is the only thing reportedly keeping him going in prison and he is on a better course in life in prison.

McDonagh has been in prison since his arrest for the aggravated burglary on January 19th, last year and has received prison sentences while in custody.

It was noted McDonagh is at high risk of reoffending.

Before deciding to adjourn sentencing in relation to Kaelem Sweeney, providing he cooperated with the Probation Service and partake in urinalysis, Judge Comerford noted he was a minor at the time of the offences and was "more of a follower than a leader".

However, it was accepted Sweeney was completely active in the crimes and he engaged in the offering of threats and damaged the property.

While it was accepted he had no previous convictions, Judge Comerford said he was a "vulnerable character" who had began taking substances aged 13.

Judge Comerford told the court there was greater grounds for mitigation for Sweeney given his age, no previous convictions and playing a lesser role in the offence, and in the offence of criminal damage to a car.

The judge paid particular attention to previous evidence provided by Mr Aubrey Melville of Social Groundforce, who assists people who are suffering from addiction.

"It is of huge benefit to Mr Sweeney and society, if the work of Mr Melville bears fruit."

The court was told Sweeney, like McDonagh had not cooperated with gardai when first questioned.

The judge said he was of the opinion the appropriate sentence to actually be imposed was one of four years in prison, taking into account his age and part in the crimes.

He noted Mr Melville's evidence was of "huge value" in that Mr Melville believed he was at a 'crossroads'.

A Probation Report furnished to the court showed he was at a moderate risk of reoffending, due to his negative peer group, unemployment, substance issues.

Judge Comerford said Sweeney's childhood had not been in anyway tragic but he did begin consuming alcohol and drugs at a young age.

The court had previously heard he assists his grandmother with whom he lives with and no longer consumes alcohol or drugs.

Sweeney had previously indicated he could not recall the night's events because of what he had consumed on the night.

"Mr Sweeney is at crossroads in these matters, I'm going to consider a suspension.

"I'm going to have to adjourn Mr Sweeney's case to put him under Probation Supervision and for urinalysis every three weeks...If they come back and cooperation comes back positive, I would contemplate suspending a sentence in its entirety."

Legal aid was extended to cover urinalysis. Sweeney was represented by Mr Colm Smyth, SC, instructed by Mr Joe Barnes, BL and Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor.

The matter was adjourned to November 16th next.

Judge Comerford said while he appreciated McDonagh would be away from family longer than he wishes, the conditions for suspension are to keep the peace and be of good behaviour while serving his sentence and during the suspension period of three years.

He is to be under the supervision of the Probation Service and is to abstain from alcohol and drugs and attend all appointments.

He was represented by Mr Desmond Dockery, SC, instructed by Mr Keith O'Grady, BL and Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor.
A mob of about 70 people carrying weapons attacked a group of Christians who were praying at a believers home in Indias eastern state of Chhattisgarh this week, burning Bibles and vandalizing furniture, according to a report, which said at least six Christians sustained serious injuries.

The Christians were attending a prayer meeting at the house of a fellow believer in Surguda village in the states Bastar District on Monday night when some of the men in the mob surrounded the property and the others entered the house to attack, according to the U.K.-based group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The men, believed to be Hindu nationalists, verbally abused and physically assaulted the Christians, burning Bibles, furniture, bicycles and a motorcycle, CSW reported Thursday, adding that at least six Christians had to be admitted to the hospital due to severe injuries.

This brutal attack on a prayer meeting is yet another example of the rise in crimes against religious minorities in several Indian states, CSWs Chief Executive Scot Bower said. When private prayer gatherings are seen as soft targets for mob violence it is evident that states are failing to uphold an individuals right to manifest their faith, which is a central aspect of freedom of religion or belief and protected by the Indian constitution.

Source:The Christian Post
Mr. Cahill did not answer requests for comment. Mr. Smith said the executive directors behavior had been prompted by his interpretation  a misinterpretation, it turned out  of how long the Irish Rep could linger after the last performance.

The response from Chris was overly exuberant, he said.

By this point, the societys new president, a lawyer named James Normile, and its new chairman, Mr. McCabe, the former detective, had already resurrected the familiar call for urgent reorganization. The society, Mr. McCabe later wrote, was in disarray, with a $3 million loan owed to one board member.

Their plan called for hiring a director of business and development. Mr. Cahill would be required to seek counseling and assume the reduced role of director of cultural and archival affairs  a plan he agreed to in a letter.

The Irish government, which had given the society $934,000 over the previous decade, also signed on to what it viewed as a much-needed restructuring plan. It agreed to provide $50,000 for the new business position.

But the plan for reform blew up. Again.

First, an emissary of the Cahill-controlled board notified Mr. Normile that he had been removed as president. (I almost threw him out of my office, he said.) After that, Mr. McCabe  whom the society had recently applauded for making the 2018 gala a success  was ousted as chairman. A series of governance lapses by Mr. Normile and Mr. McCabe, Mr. Smith explained.

Also terminated: the new business director, David OSullivan, who had presented a plan for revenue streams that included opening the building to exhibitions and special events like weddings.

This never appealed to the Cahills, he said. They always wanted to keep the doors locked.

Mr. Smith said Mr. OSullivan had been fired because he had tanked the upcoming gala by sharing internal documents that tipped off the would-be honoree to the societys struggles, after which the businessman declined the honor. Mr. OSullivan scoffed at this, saying the strife was already public knowledge.
Musical links are being forged between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia thanks to the D'Arcy McGee Beacon Fellowship by the Ireland Canada Universities Federation

Dr Daithi Kearney from the Creative Arts Research Centre at DkIT and Professor Heather Sparling from Cape Breton University have been awarded the fellowship which named after the Carlingford-born journalist and politician Thomas D'Arcy McGee, who is who is revered as a father of Canadian Confederation.

They will collaborate on a programme including an online public lecture and further additional activities in 2021 that, it is hoped, will lead to further research links and collaborations between both researchers and their institutions into the future.

As well as his work as lecturer and co-director of the Creative Arts Research Centre at DkIT, Daithi is an All-Ireland champion traditional musician who has toured regularly. He is also a director of the Oriel Traditional Orchestra and choir in St Brigid's Church, Dunleer, and his recordings include the critically acclaimed A Louth Lilt with his wife and colleague, the Co. Louth accordion player Dr Adele Commins.

The programme gets underway tomorrow (Wednesday) with a public lecture by Heather. Entitled 'Death Culture, Vernacular Memorialization, and Disaster Songs of Atlantic Canada', the talk provides an overview of more than a decade of research on disaster songs of Atlantic Canada, including interviews with more than two dozen songwriters. In particular, Sparling considers how they can be understood as "intangible memorials," the musical equivalent of vernacular memorials. Disaster songwriting is not a declining or moribund pre-modern tradition; it is about a vital, burgeoning, living tradition.

Follow up events will engage postgraduate students, established researchers and the wider Irish traditional music community including the Oriel Traditional Orchestra, who are an ensemble-in-residence at the Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music at DkIT.

:Dr Heather Sparling is the Canada Research Chair in Musical Traditions and a Professor of Ethnomusicology at Cape Breton University. As ethnographers who believe in making research accessible to the broader public and in conducting research of significance to the community, both Dr Sparling and Dr Kearney are extremely active in their respective communities in Nova Scotia and Co. Louth. Sparling is a fluent Gaelic learner (and also a fluent French speaker) who regularly attends and supports Gaelic cultural activities and who regularly collaborates with community partners to develop Gaelic language and cultural opportunities for others.

For more information on the planned activities at DkIT or to register to attend the events, please contact daithi.kearney@dkit.ie
By Su Xincheng, KYODO NEWS - Mar 13, 2021 - 12:40 | Japan, All, Coronavirus

When working as a physician at a hospital in Tokyo, Tatsunori Jo often felt it was difficult for foreigners to receive the same level of medical services as Japanese people due to language barriers.

Jo, who was born in Japan and grew up in Taiwan, set up Joes Corp. in Tokyo four years ago as a company specializing in medical care and living support for foreigners in Japan.

The coronavirus pandemic prompted Jo, who learned medicine in Taiwan and Japan, to start online medical consultations and examinations in multiple languages.

The company launched its Online Home Doctor services in English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese for individuals in January and expanded them this month to cover company employees and foreign trainees brought to Japan under the government-sponsored technical internship program.

Using the company's service, foreign residents can consult over 10 doctors, who cover internal and respiratory medicine, otolaryngology, pediatrics and dermatology, in the four languages via the Zoom videoconferencing application.

If a medical examination is required, it can be conducted and paid for by credit card online, with medication directly delivered to the person's home.

There is no charge currently for medical consultations of up to 10 minutes as the company aims to help people amid the coronavirus pandemic. An examination of up to 15 minutes that includes a prescription costs 1,000 yen ($9) including tax but not the cost of a medication and its delivery.

Jo said he thinks the internationalization of medical care in Japan has been improving ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to be held this summer after being delayed by a year due to the pandemic.

But the doctor said developments have not kept up with increasing demand and he had been wondering how to provide better services to more foreigners in Japan.

The number of foreigners living in Japan topped 2.95 million last June, according to data compiled by the Immigration Services Agency.

Jo said he aims to reach out to more foreigners in Japan via the internet and social media.

"I have medical experience in Taiwan and Japan, and understand both cultures. I want to contribute my strengths to people in need," said Jo, who speaks Chinese, Japanese and English.

He added he hopes to help people who hesitate to consult a doctor as they cannot explain their conditions properly due to language barriers and assist those concerned about visiting clinics due to the fear of coronavirus infection.

The number of users of the services had exceeded 3,000 as of mid-February, according to the company.

In Japan, telemedicine was permitted in 1997 for patients on remote islands and in rural areas. It became available across the country in 2018 but was limited to patients with certain chronic conditions who had already received prescriptions for medication.

As a temporary step to cope with the spread of coronavirus infections, the government allowed telehealth services for new patients in April last year and is considering making the measure permanent.

While some other telehealth services stress the convenience of seeing doctors online, the company said its services are aimed at helping a doctor to better understand a patient's condition and increasing interaction between them.
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(Newser)  The criminal fraud trial of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has been delayed three times because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, its set to be delayed again because Holmes is pregnant, CNBC reports. The trial was supposed to start in July, but in a court filing Friday both the defense and prosecution asked that it be pushed to Aug. 31. With an expected due date in July 2021, Both parties agree that, in light of this development, it is not feasible to begin the trial on July 13, 2021, they wrote in the filing. Holmes, along with former Theranos President Ramesh Balwani have pleaded not guilty to charges of defrauding investors, doctors, and patients, per Reuters. They claimed that Theranos technology could enable a wide range of medical tests with just a few drops of blood. Holmes was 19 years old when she founded Theranos, which was once valued at $9 billion. Per court documents filed last year, she may seek a mental illness defense at trial, according to CNN. (Read more Elizabeth Holmes stories.)
Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NasdaqGM: VNDA).

On February 11, 2019, Aurelius Value reported that the Company was involved in an off-label promotion scheme in which its drug products, Fanapt and Hetlioz, were marketed to treat disorders for which the drugs were not FDA-approved, for example, promoting sales of Fanapt to children with schizophrenia, rather than adults, in a manner that was inconsistent with the FDAs authorization.

Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. Recently, the court in that case denied the Companys motion to dismiss in part, allowing the case to move forward.

KSFs investigation is focusing on whether Vandas officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Vandas shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Vanda shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqcm-vnda/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

Story continues

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210312005069/en/

Contacts

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com

1-877-515-1850
The board of management of Colaiste Chraobh Abhann has said it won't support increasing the school's intake unless extra accommodation is in place by August 6.

'It is way beyond time for the design team and timeline for the extension to Colaiste Chraobh Abhann to be put in place and acted on,' said Cllr Tom Fortune, who is on the school board. 'It is absolutely deplorable that this is allowed to drag on, and so unfair to the school community.'

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he welcomed news that the appointment of a design team for the school extension is now 'imminent'. However, he said that requests by the Department of Education for the school to accept additional pupils in September could only happen if the proper resources are provided. 'At a meeting with the Department of Education last week officials confirmed the long-awaited appointment of the design team was now imminent which is fantastic news,' said Minister Donnelly. 'CCA has been in desperate need of additional facilities for a number of years so it's great to see progress finally being made. The school has also been asked to take in additional students in September but they have rightly asked for additional facilities to cater for their growing student population. I would ask that both the KWETB and the Department of Education look carefully at what the school are asking for and respond to them as soon as possible.'

The school board had an emergency meeting last week and has written to the KWETB and spoken to the Department. They have a number of requirements while waiting on the extension, and as conditions to providing 150 school places for the academic year 2021/2022.

They have set a deadline of August 6 for the provision of 10 temporary classrooms, a social area with seating for 150 students, toilets, offices and space for lockers as well as the allocation of another deputy principal to meet the needs of a self-contained year group.

The board has provisionally agreed to increase the intake by 30 places to 150 for the coming school year once they receive a written commitment agreeing to their demands. The current building has a capacity for 550 to 600 students and the current enrolment is 774, according to the board.

School principal Oliver Stack said that the department has but not specified what an extra class means. 'Is this 19, 24 or 30 pupils? CCA has currently classes of 30 students to meet the demands of the area while other schools have classes of 24. This needs urgent addressing,' said Mr Stack.
Iraq's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities announced Feb. 5 the launch of the rehabilitation project for Mustansiriya Madrassa, a historic school building established in the capital Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate in 1230. The ministry refutes the news of restorations in the historical structure that may harm its historical value. Recent photos had spread of four sewage pipes penetrating the complexs external wall overlooking the Tigris River and surrounding Mustansiriya Madrassa from the back. The building seems to disappear in a corridor surrounded by a multitude of shops and markets with narrow, winding alleys, most notably the Khaffafin and Saffaren markets.

Mustansiriya Madrassa is one of the oldest universities in the world, and one of the greatest works of Islamic civilization. The university taught the sciences of the Quran, medicine and mathematics, at the hands of senior sheikhs and scientists in Iraq and the Levant. Only bright students were admitted to this university, which was home to 80,000 books.

Al-Monitor spoke to Iyad Mohammed Hamzah, director general of the Department of Maintenance and Preservation of Antiquities at the Ministry of Culture. Mustansiriya Madrassa and the Abbasid Palace have been nominated to join UNESCO's World Heritage tentative list since 2014, he said. The modernization works and restorations are conducted in a scientific manner and within UNESCO conditions to boost Mustansiriya Madrassas chances in the global list.

Regarding the details of the development work, Hamzah explained, Efforts focus on eliminating the groundwater danger threatening the structure. The water level of the Tigris River, adjacent to the madrassas backyard, greatly affects the foundations, especially when water levels are high.

Hamzah refuted what was published in the media about violations to the original madrassa building, asserting that all works in the minutest detail involve the use of the same original materials, with the developments being documented to identify the original and the new parts.

Hamzah noted that the last maintenance process of the madrassa was in 2013, within the scope of the project of Baghdad as the capital of Arab culture. The new maintenance operation is being carried out according to a schedule set by the Directorate of Maintenance and Preservation of Antiquities, which includes the interior yard, the roof, inscriptions, doors, windows, rain drainage network and the external fence. This operation also includes rehabilitating a laser lighting network, treating water leaks in the structure and stopping moisture from creeping into the foundations.

He explained that the environmental pollution resulting from traffic is the most important risk threatening the madrassa at the present time. The madrassa is located in an area with heavy traffic. The complex seems to be lost amid raucous commercial chaos, with stores concealing its true value as an archaeological landmark," he noted.

Hamzah confirmed the ministry will address the shortcomings to transform the madrassa into a tourist and cultural landmark.

Mustansiriya Madrassa consists of a square structure, and in the middle of it is a large yard that leads to tiled corridors toward about 80 side rooms surrounded by arches. These rooms were used as classrooms in the Abbasid era and had windows for ventilation.

The former governor of Baghdad, Salah Abdul-Razzaq, who wrote several books and held seminars on the history of Baghdad, told Al-Monitor, The madrassa was neglected during the Ottoman era and used as a warehouse for the customs department. Many of its features, decorations and inscriptions adorning its walls and doors were lost. The Directorate of Antiquities regained the ownership of Mustansiriya Madrassa in 1940, and inevitably sought to rehabilitate it.

Abdul-Razzaq said the first maintenance operation took place in 1960 and focused on solving the underground water problem as the level of the school courtyard was lower than the level of the neighboring market. The courtyard was rehabilitated using yellow bricks. After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, the madrassa was looted and sabotaged. It became a den of thieves and outlaws. In 2005, a UNESCO delegation and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq visited it to inspect its conditions.

To keep the name of Mustansiriya Madrassa alive, the Iraqi government established in 1963 a modern university  Mustansiriya University. Ghaith Salim, professor of ancient history and civilization at the university, said the madrassa was included in the World Heritage List as the historical center of Baghdad, which includes multiple sites.

Salim expects Mustansiriya Madrassa to successfully join the UNESCO list after the restoration works have finished. He told Al-Monitor, This cultural landmark carries a religious heritage that tells the history of the Islamic schools that used it nearly 798 years ago, since the reign of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir Billah, who built the school from puddled clay.

The head of the Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Committee in the Iraqi parliament, Sumaya al-Ghalab, summarized the national policy regarding Mustansiriya Madrassa and other archaeological monuments. There is an emphasis on meeting all conditions to make sure the madrassa and other nominated sites make it to the World Heritage List, she told Al-Monitor. The committee calls for providing the necessary financial allocations and logistical support and exerts all possible efforts to prevent any harm to the monuments that document the history of the inheritance of Muslims. This is why it seeks to make sure all maintenance works are based on scientific and professional practices in line with international specifications and conditions.

Tariq Harb, an activist who has written several books on the history of Baghdad, believes previous restoration works have hidden the traces of the Abbasid era and its architectural style. Violations and urban sprawl continue to threaten the madrassa, he told Al-Monitor, noting that the Mongol royals, the descendants of Hulagu Khan, who conquered Baghdad in 1258, would pray in this historical edifice whenever they came to Baghdad, before going to government headquarters.

Despite Mustansiriya Madrassas location in the commercial heart of Baghdad, which affects its cultural value, may be turned into its favor with good planning. The complexs surroundings may be developed and turned into a profitable investment tourism project and a cultural and artistic hub. The madrassa itself may be turned into a historical museum that showcases the most beautiful eras of Baghdad.
As promised by her for the hospital bed, Chief Minister will kick-start her poll campaign on a wheelchair from Monday.

The Trinamool Congress supremo had returned home from the state-run SSKM Hospital on Friday evening, after receiving treatment for the injuries she sustained while campaigning in her constituency in Nandigram in East Midnapore earlier this week.

She will first visit the Purulia district where the Trinamool chief is scheduled to address two public meetings - one at Baghmundi's Jhalda area and another at the Balarampur Rathtala ground.

As per her earlier campaign schedule, she will visit two other districts - Bankura and Jhargram. Sources said that the CM will travel to all these districts by helicopter, but she would remain seated on a wheelchair as she still has a leg injury which has not healed totally.

Banerjee had sustained leg injuries during a poll campaign in Nandigram on Wednesday evening. She got admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital that night itself after she was rushed back to Kolkata via a green corridor. She was discharged from the hospital on Friday.

--IANS

sbn/arm
Austin, TX, March 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As more COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to Central Texas, nearly two-thirds of Sendero Health Plans members responding to a survey said they plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to them.

In the first study of its kind in Central Texas to measure support for getting the COVID-19 vaccine, Sendero members were asked to respond to the statement I plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available. Some 64.1 percent of respondents said yes, compared to 35.9 percent who said no, were unsure, or preferred not to answer.

In addition, the overwhelming majority of those who responded to the survey, 88.9 percent, answered yes to the question I believe that wearing a mask can protect me against COVID-19. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has lifted the statewide mask mandate, effective March 10.

A total of 1,648 Sendero Health Plans members in Central Texas responded to the survey, which was conducted between November 11 and December 22, 2020. Sendero provides health insurance to residents of eight Central Texas counties. The majority of respondents were from Travis, Williamson and Hays Counties.

Knowing basic demographic information about who is likely to obtain the vaccine is key to having a successful vaccination strategy and in reaching vaccine-induced herd immunity in our community, said Dr. John R. Litaker, PhD, the principal researcher for this study. For instance, we know from these results that women and individuals who identified as Black or African American are less likely indicate that they plan to obtain the vaccine. Knowing this information can help with community outreach, education and building awareness.

For example, females are 19 percent less likely than males to say they plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Likewise, Blacks are 47 percent less likely than non-Blacks to say they plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals identifying as Mexican, Mexican American, or Chicano are 15 percent less likely to say they plan to get the vaccine than those who do not report an ethnicity. Similarly, those with a high school diploma or below are 21 percent less likely to say they plan to get the vaccine than those with a bachelors degree or higher. Finally, those with a household income of less than $30,000 per year are 11 percent less likely to say they plan to get the vaccine than those with household incomes of greater than or equal to $30,000 per year.

Sendero CEO Wesley Durkalski said: This scientific study provides key insights into Central Texans intent to be vaccinated, and Sendero is working with local decision-makers to leverage this data in improving our local response. Our goal is to understand vaccine hesitancy concerns so we can work with our members and the community to help them make informed decisions about their health, and to assist local public health officials in developing effective engagement and delivery strategies for this vaccination campaign across the entire Austin community.

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Wednesday that people 50 and older eligible to be vaccinated beginning March 15. Three vaccines are currently approved for emergency use: the two-dose vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna and the one-dose vaccine by Johnson & Johnson/Janssen.

Sendero has already conducted follow-up surveys and collected data to better explore the reasons why people chose to get or not get the COVID-19 vaccine. That data will be released in April 2021.

The results were presented in a webinar briefing Wednesday titled Equity Gaps in COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake: A Community Conversation and included comments from panelists Cynthia Valadez, of LULAC and the Central Health Board of Managers; Stephanie Hayden-Howard, Director, Austin Public Health; and Dr. Mary Carol Jennings, Chief Medical Officer, Sendero Health Plans.

This study is part of ongoing population health research at Sendero Health Plans that seeks to improve the health and well-being of members and the community. Previous research has looked at vaccine doses for COVID-19 to reach heard-immunity, strategies to increase mammography screening, strategies to identify and treat members with hepatitis C, and improving eye care for members with diabetes.

The full set of findings from this study will be published in a peer-reviewed public health journal to be published later this year.

About the lead authors:

John Litaker, PhD, MSc., MMedSc is a public health expert and research scientist with degrees in pharmacoeconomics, public health, and medical science from the University of Texas at Austin, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the University of Hong Kong, respectively. He has spent 20 years working as a scientist and public health expert in public health emergency preparedness and the last five years applying his skills as a scientist and researcher in the health insurance industry.

Richard Taylor, PhD, MPH is an infectious disease epidemiologist who previously worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an epidemic intelligence service officer and career epidemiology field officer. He worked at the Texas Department of State Health Services as the manager of strategic preparedness and is currently a clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin where he teaches epidemiology and other public health courses.

# # #

ABOUT SENDERO HEALTH PLANS

Sendero Health Plans Inc., formed in 2011, is a community-supported nonprofit Health Maintenance Organization affiliated with the Travis County Health District, known as Central Health. Sendero is dedicated to improving the health of the community by providing affordable, quality healthcare coverage, especially for low-income Travis County residents. Sendero offers its IdealCare plans on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace and is available in Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, Fayette, Lee and Caldwell counties.
New Delhi, March 13 : Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil) has leveraged its expertise and reach to bolster India's Covid-19 vaccination programme by supplementing the available cold chain equipment (CCE) infrastructure in four states -- Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Manipur -- for the storage and transportation of vaccines.

IndianOil is procuring CCE equipment like ice-line refrigerator (ILR), deep freezer (DF), walk-in-cooler (WIC), walk-in-freezer (WIF) and refrigerated truck (RT) for handing them over to the respective state governments.

The IndianOil management has also asked the company's stakeholders to get vaccinated at the earliest to contribute to the success of the world's largest vaccination drive.

Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, and Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Director (HR), IndianOil, were among the first few to get the indigenous vaccine shot to allay the apprehensions among the stakeholders.

Speaking about IndianOil's focus on employee welfare, Vaidya said, "An inspired, agile and resilient team of employees enabled IndianOil to fuel the economy and keep the kitchen fires burning, even during the most difficult phases of the pandemic. We are committed to ensuring the employees' welfare at all times".

During the countrywide lockdown, IndianOil ensured the supply of petroleum products, including delivering on an average of 25 lakh cylinders every day to its customers' doorsteps. India's largest energy company also extended medical insurance coverage and ex-gratia payment in case of death for its over 3,23,000 frontline workers.

The company also formed a high-powered committee for on-ground situation assessment and deployment of measures to contain the threats, even before the countrywide lockdown was announced. Presently, the empowered committee continues to meet on alternate days.

IndianOil is also contributing to the resurgent economy and is well on track to achieve its capital expenditure target of Rs 26,000 crore in the current fiscal.

Since the easing of the lockdown from April 20, 2020, IndianOil has commenced work on around 2,800 projects worth about Rs 2 lakh crore across the country.


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Anna Collins presented 10 ukuleles to Kanturk Community Hospital residents as part of the Cork County Council Sound Initiative in June 2020. Nora Scannell accepted on behalf of the residents, with Staff members Ber OLeary and Mary OConnor also ready to strike up a tune!

Last month, people of all ages around the country were urged to 'Squeeze in a Read' by Ireland Reads, a public libraries initiative, in partnership with publishers, booksellers, authors and others under the Government's 'Keep Well' campaign, while World Book Day was celebrated on last Thursday, March 4th.

Librarian Anna Collins works with Cork County Council Library and Arts Service in Kanturk and was among the many staff members in libraries throughout the country who were delighted to highlight the pleasures of reading, a wonderful recreation that brightens the darkest of these days of lockdown. "Since the arrival of the pandemic, we utilised our network throughout the country to liaise with local community groups so that through the Libraries we can help people out" Anna explained.

Anna, who is a native of Newmarket, has been a librarian since the early 1980s when she started work as a temporary staff member. In 2001 she returned as a full time librarian, initially based in Cork, followed by seven years in Cork County Council's Mobile Library serving from Butlerstown in West Cork to Rylane in the North and all areas in between. Since 2009, Anna has been one of the friendly faces of Kanturk Library.

Anna follows in a family tradition; her father Con Collins was the driver of the North Cork Mobile Unit for 35 years. "He loved every minute of it, and still misses it, even now when we are driving somewhere, he will mention to me 'we had a stop there', he still phones some of the people that he used to meet on the run" Anna said.

"I really love my job and I have learned from experience that if I ring someone, it's better to say, 'it's Anna the Library here', and they instantly know who's on the line. All our local communities are very supportive of the Library, as we are of them" she said.

"I'm not sure when I decided to work in the library, I think it chose me!" she said with a smile. "It was always great that Dad was so happy in his work, I loved visiting the Mobile Library after he finished for the day, he always brought books home which did influence me and encouraged me to apply for the job of Librarian" she said.

Expand Close Authors Padraig Kenny and Owen O Doherty, pictured here with Oliwia and Lucy, spoke at the Cork County Council Library & Arts Service Literature and Lego Event at the Trade Union Hall, Kanturk in December 2019 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Authors Padraig Kenny and Owen O Doherty, pictured here with Oliwia and Lucy, spoke at the Cork County Council Library & Arts Service Literature and Lego Event at the Trade Union Hall, Kanturk in December 2019

Walt Disney said, 'There is more treasure in Books than all the pirate loot on Treasure Island' and Anna would agree with him. "I read a lot and can enjoy content such as history and current affairs or romances. I have been known to spend hours in bookshops and libraries when travelling abroad," she says.

"During my childhood, my mother would always buy me a book when she went to Cork for a day. Also, we lived near the Library in Newmarket, first Jimmy Cross and then Joan Tobin were the Librarians. Joan had a great influence on my reading habits, and it was great in later years when we became work colleagues".

Anna has seen major changes in her work as Librarian, especially with the arrival of the computerised system. "It's brilliant for checking stock or ordering a book for someone, but it hasn't taken over, the Library is still very much about staff knowledge," she said.

"Although the Library has evolved a lot in recent years - we have gone from manual to computerised and provide amazing online services, the Library is so much more. I think it's the best kept secret in most towns, and it's free.

"It's where people meet up for a chat and read the newspapers, it's not just about books," she said, outlining that staff assist people with family genealogy searches and offer an extensive resource in the Local Studies section.

In addition, the Library hosts exhibitions, author visits and projects for local school children.

Anna says that the footfall visiting libraries has changed somewhat with the advent of the e-book and many people opt for the convenience of downloading books and reading them on their various devices. However, she believes that the e-book is not a threat to the actual libraries. "Libraries will not be closed due to people reading online, they have already evolved, and we as staff change to meet the changes in our communities," she said.

She has been delighted to note that children are reading so much more in recent years, mainly due to the fact that so much diverse material has been published in that genre. "We do a lot of work with schools, to encourage library membership and reading" she said.

"In the libraries, there is so much more that the staff do, like taking a person to the train station because they missed the bus for instance.

"If a regular Library user hasn't shown up for a while, it has been known for staff to call to their house to check if they are ok - that is just a few examples of what we do without any one knowing and that goes on in every branch," Anna said.

Cork County Council's Library Service is delivered through a network of 25 branches and 4 mobile libraries, located across the county. User-friendly, it is there to inform, entertain and educate.

The library service provides the community with a comprehensive range of material for information, study and recreation, as well as access to a growing number of online resources. Library membership is free and open to all. All library branches are closed at the moment under Level 5 public health restrictions.
Phnom Penh, March 13: A lady police officer was photographed breastfeeding her child while on duty in Cambodia this week. The picture went viral and her superiors compelled her to issue a public apology for "offending" the dignity of her office and women in general. The cop was also forced to sign an agreement stating she won't repeat the act. This has triggered an outcry on social media with people calling for protection of women's rights in Cambodia. Gilu Josephs Breastfeeding Photo-Shoot: What Do Real Mothers Think about Breastfeeding in Public?

Also Read | Chitra Rin, Visionary Cambodian Entrepreneur Associated With a Very Successful and Growing Enrerprise

The picture of Sithong Sokha breastfeeding her child while on duty has gone viral on social media platforms. Later, it emerged that she was publicly shamed by her seniors for her act and told to apologise, according to a report of news agency Reuters. The treatment of Sokha sparked public outrage and drew divided official response. Does Breastfeeding Really Tire You Out? Here's How Nursing Your Child Could Dip Your Energy Levels and Make You Sleepy!

Picture of Sithong Sokha Breastfeeding:

Also Read | Canadian Hockey Player Serah Small Goes Viral for Breastfeeding in the Locker Room! Empowering Facebook Post Wins Hearts on Social Media

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Sithong Sokha Made to Apologise:

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"It is disturbing that the officer was originally encouraged to apologize for offending the dignity of her office and women and made to sign a contract agreeing to discontinue her behaviour," 39 civil society groups said in a statement. "For women's rights in the workplace to be realised, it is paramount that childcare equipment and facilities, and breastfeeding breaks with pay, are made easily available to all working mothers," they added.

Cambodia's Women's Affairs Ministry, initially, remained silent on the incident. It later wrote an open letter in support of the lady officer. However, the response was not welcomed fully because the ministry said breastfeeding in public could be seen as "affecting the values and the dignity of Khmer women." Earlier this week, a senior Interior Ministry official also wrote an open letter, saying she was "extremely dismayed" at the treatment of Sokha.

"She did not express any sexiness in the photograph in order to attract attention like some online vendors," Chou Bun Eng, a secretary of state, said. Following the outcry, according to Reuters, the police said the officer was not reprimanded for breastfeeding in public. The police said the lady officer was scolded because she shared her picture while on duty.
External Affairs Minister discussed bilateral cooperation with his Syrian counterpart Dr Fayssal Mekdad.

"A cordial conversation with FM Dr Fayssal Mekdad of Discussed our bilateral cooperation. Will work together on humanitarian, health and capacity building challenges," he said.

India has taken steps to strengthen food security in and had gifted 2000 MT of rice last month.

The two countries have historically enjoyed close and friendly relations.

India has always stood in solidarity with the people of and the bilateral engagement has continued apace even during the years of internal conflict there through a number of development and capacity building projects.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Thousands of Britons tonight gathered to remember Sarah Everard in at least nine vigils held in towns and cities across the UK - in defiance of calls for the events to be cancelled in the wake of Covid-19.

Mourners stood together in Clapham Common from 6pm on Saturday to lay flowers and pay tribute to the marketing executive, who was found dead in Kent a week after she disappeared while walking home in south London.

They were joined by hundreds of others who gathered to light candles in memory of Miss Everard in Bristol, Leeds, Cambridge, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Nottingham - where Britons held placards reading 'We are all Sarah' and 'Teach this in schools.'

Others remembered the marketing executive by lighting candles on their doorsteps and windowsills, with tributes paid by Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds, Labour Leader Keir Starmer and actor Richard E Grant.

The largest of the vigils took place in Clapham Common, close to where marketing executive Miss Everard, 33, vanished while walking towards her home in Brixton on March 3.

It began peacefully at around 6pm on Saturday, with Kate Middleton among those seen paying tribute.

But clashes broke out later in the night, with Scotland Yard seen arresting several women who had congregated without social distancing in a response dubbed 'neither appropriate nor proportionate' by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the scenes were 'upsetting', while confirming she has asked the Metropolitan Police for a 'full report on what happened' during the vigil on Saturday.

The planned event had been cancelled following a High Court battle on Friday, but an estimated 1,500 Londoners defied calls from the Metropolitan Police 'stay at home or find a lawful and safer way to express your views' to attend.

Around 150 people gathered in Valley Gardens, Brighton for another vigil tonight, with Sussex Police confirming a 20-year-old man was arrested and eight fines were handed out to those in attendance.

'We acknowledge many women have experienced violence, abuse or harassment and this is not acceptable,' a statement added. 'Protecting our communities is a top priority for Sussex Police, and we will do what it takes to ensure you feel safe in the county where you live.'

LONDON: Crowds gathered on Clapham Common tonight near to where Sarah Everard vanished on March 3, despite the Metropolitan Police urging mourners to stay home

CAMBRIDGE: Mourners hold candles and placards in support of the marketing executive on King's Parade tonight

BRISTOL: On College Green, Britons lit candles and laid flowers in remembrance of Miss Everard, who was found dead in Kent

BOURNEMOUTH: A gathering also took place in Bournemouth, where a handful of Britons stood socially distanced

NOTTINGHAM: Those in Nottingham stood in solidarity with the late Miss Everard, following her death on March 3

LEEDS: A placard reading 'We are all Sarah' was left on the steps of the Parkinson Building at the University of Leeds today

EDINBURGH: People light candles outside the Scottish Parliament after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Miss Everard in Edinburgh was cancelled

CARDIFF: Women hold up placards outside the Senedd in Cardiff during a Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard

BIRMINGHAM: A woman places a candle in Birmingham after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was officially cancelled

Scenes were calmer in Birmingham, where more than 100 people defied police requests not to gather due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The gathering in the city centre had been called off earlier in the day following discussions with West Midlands Police, but dozens of people still attended the hour-long vigil.

The event, which was addressed by several speakers and included a minute's silence for Ms Everard, passed off without incident and with no obvious sign of uniformed police.

One woman, addressing the crowd, said: 'The police have prevented this, but despite that we have still come out in a pretty decent number. I think we should all be really proud of the fact that we have stood our ground anyway.

'One of the reasons I am here today is not just to acknowledge the tragic, awful thing that happened to Sarah, but also the countless women who are going to be dying because of the system.'

Another speaker, who introduced herself as Elizabeth from Wolverhampton, said: 'I am fed up of hearing people - men and women - telling me that I need to have somebody to walk with me.

'If I go somewhere, they say 'oh, I'll walk you home' - it seems like almost it's something that I have to do, be walked home.

'I've been told this, like many of you, since I was a young girl, I'm not a child, I don't need to be told how I should behave, I should be able - and I do - to walk the streets anytime I want.

'Because I am a free human-being, I am equal to everybody else, not a child to be told what I have to do.'

She added: 'I just wish that everybody would be safe to walk, anytime, anywhere, without fear of violence - society needs to change.'

Earlier, attendees had lit candles and laid them at the foot of a tree in Victoria Square, to which signs had been fixed reading 'I am Sarah Everard' and 'Male violence is for men to fix'.

Virtual events were also held in Sarah's memory tonight, with QI presenter Sandi Toksvig opening an online vigil hosted by Feminists of London by saying her death 'should be a turning point.'

'Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Never have I felt more passionately concerned about my kids,' she said. 'It surely cannot be asking too much to want them simply to be free, to walk where they like, when they like.

'I am filled in equal measure with profound sorrow and rage, and I know there are many who share this rage and I think it is entirely justifiable. But I also know that it will harm rather than help us if we don't try and direct that anger to good purpose.'

She added that it was not a 'small change' that was needed, but a 'cultural shift about how women are viewed and treated both in the public and private space'.

'This has to be a turning point where ending violence finally becomes a political priority,' she said.

Mandu Reid, the leader of the Women's Equality Party, added violence against women and girls is 'akin to a form of domestic terrorism'.

Speaking at Feminists of London's virtual vigil, she said: 'The pain and poignancy of this moment lies in the devastating fact that all women and every girl lives under the perpetual threat that what happened to Sarah could happen to any one of us.

'The reality for women and girls is that the harassment we experience, which is as omnipresent as the air we breathe, could escalate at any time.'

LONDON: The bandstand was surrounded by flowers laid three-foot deep as people gathered for a vigil

LONDON: A well-wisher places a adds a tribute to the growing pile from a gap in a police cordon at the band-stand where a planned vigil in honour of Miss Everard

LONDON: People clash with police tonight during a gathering at a memorial site near the Clapham Common bandstand

LONDON: Police officers form a cordon as well-wishers turn on their phone torches as they gather at a bandstand where a planned vigil in honour of Miss Everard was cancelled

LONDON: Those paying tribute to Miss Everard place flowers and candles around a tree in Clapham Common tonight

LONDON: A woman was pinned to the ground in Clapham Common amid rising tensions on Saturday night

BRISTOL: People bring flowers and candles on College Green in Bristol after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was officially cancelled

EDINBURGH: A police liaison officer talks to people outside the Scottish Parliament after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard in Edinburgh was cancelled

LEEDS: Mourners left their tributes including a sign reading 'we are all Sarah' at the University of Leeds

EDINBURGH: People gather outside the Scottish Parliament after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard in Edinburgh was cancelled

BOURNEMOUTH: Three women light candles in Bournemouth after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was cancelled

Scotland Yard urged Britons to leave Clapham Common as the scenes quickly turned tense on Saturday night

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds light a candle on the doorstep of Downing Street Candles have been lit on doorsteps and in windows in tribute to Sarah Everard. From the doorstep of Number 10 Downing Street to the homes of celebrities and activists, the 33-year-old was remembered on Saturday evening. The simple act of lighting a candle had been promoted by the Reclaim These Streets group after in-person vigils in honour of Ms Everard and all women they described as 'lost to violence' were cancelled amid coronavirus restrictions. A candle lit by Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds was placed on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister had earlier said he 'cannot imagine how unbearable' the pain and grief is for Ms Everard's family and friends. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were pictured holding a candle outside their home in north London during the doorstep vigil. Labour MP Jess Phillips said she is feeling 'sad and angry and determined'. She tweeted: 'I am on my doorstep. Sad and angry and determined that our lives and our liberty have got to matter more than they do today. Tonight is for Sarah, her family and all who feel the loss.' Actor Richard E Grant tweeted a video of himself with his eyes closed beside a candle, with a caption stating Ms Everard's name alongside several heartbreak emojis. It's A Sin actor Keeley Hawes tweeted: 'In memory of Sarah Everard Thinking of her and her loved ones.' Following controversial scenes in Clapham, where police officers clashed with some of those attending a gathering in memory of Ms Everard, television presenter Kirstie Allsopp said the act of lighting a candle 'still matters'. She tweeted: 'It still matters that we light a candle at 9.30. I know it feels like a small thing in the face of so much. But please go and find your candle now.' Advertisement

She continued: 'I am done with empty platitudes from political leaders from across the spectrum who treat male violence like a tragic but inevitable force of nature, as if they haven't spent years slashing budgets to prevention programmes and support services.'

Planned gatherings across the UK were today cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, but an estimated 1,500 Londoners defied pleas from the Metropolitan Police to stay home and attended a vigil in Clapham Common.

A number of police officers moved in on the bandstand to block access for speakers as the crowd started chanting 'arrest your own' and 'shame on you' this evening. Scenes quickly turned violent as officers pinned women to the ground to handcuff them.

Footage posted to social media showed a tussle between Metropolitan Police officers and some of the crowd as dozens shouted 'you are scum' following the brief clash. One woman screamed 'you're supposed to protect us'.

Labour leader Keir Starmer and Liberal Democrats deputy Daisy Cooper were among the parliamentarians to condemn the use of force in Clapham this evening, with Mr Starmer dubbing the scenes 'deeply disturbing.'

He said: 'The scenes in Clapham this evening are deeply disturbing. Women came together to mourn Sarah Everard - they should have been able to do so peacefully.

'I share their anger and upset at how this has been handled. This was not the way to police this protest.'

Sadiq Khan furiously hit out at the 'unacceptable' scenes, adding: 'The police have a responsibility to enforce Covid laws but from images I've seen it's clear the response was at times neither appropriate nor proportionate.

'I'm contact with the Commissioner and urgently seeking an explanation.'

Priti Patel has called for a 'full report' from Metropolitan Police after officers manhandled screaming women during the extraordinary clashes on Saturday.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn shared a picture of candles on his windowsill, tweeting: 'Women must be safe on our streets. Solidarity with Sarah. Women must be safe to walk peacefully everywhere.'

'The Met Police must answer for their actions at Clapham Common this evening,' he added.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Dame Cressida to 'consider' her leadership of the force.

In a letter to the Commissioner, he wrote: 'The scenes this evening of the policing of the Clapham Common vigil in memory of Sarah Everard are utterly disgraceful and shame the Metropolitan Police.

'The vigil this evening was a peaceful one brought together in the most horrific of circumstances.

'Across the country, countless women have told their own painful stories of harassment and abuse. Your officers should have been standing in solidarity with those on Clapham Common tonight not being ordered to disrupt this display of grief and peaceful protest.

'This was a complete abject tactical and moral failure on the part of the Police.

'We therefore call on you to consider your leadership of the service and whether you can continue to have the confidence of the millions of women in London that you have a duty to safeguard and protect.'

A Reclaim These Streets event was due to be held tonight at the bandstand on Clapham Common, near where Ms Everard went missing, but organisers yesterday failed to secure a High Court ruling that lockdown - which bans gatherings - should not stop their right to protest.

Despite urging people to conduct a vigil at their doorstep with a candle, hundreds of people arrived at Clapham Common this evening and similar gatherings have been held in Bournemouth, Leeds, Cambridge and Bristol.

Following violence at vigils, Reclaim These Streets said it was 'deeply saddened and angered by the scene of police officers physically manhandling women at a vigil against male violence'.

A High Court judge last night refused to intervene on behalf of the group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions

LONDON: Police officers scuffle with people gathering at a bandstand in Clapham Common on Saturday night

EDINBURGH: Roses were laid close to the Scottish Parliament amid a vigil which took place on Saturday

BIRMINGHAM: A woman lights a candle in Birmingham after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Miss Everard was officially cancelled

CAMBRIDGE: Women lined a road in Cambridge and held up signs as they held a vigil for Ms Everard

BRISTOL: Mounted police watched over a vigil on the College Green this evening

BOURNEMOUTH: Three women light candles in Bournemouth after the Reclaim These Streets vigil

The vigil was planned for Saturday in memory of marketing executive Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home to Brixton on March 3

A spokesman added: 'From the start Reclaim These Streets set out to work closely with the Met to ensure this vigil could go ahead safely, so women could stand together peacefully and safely to remember Sarah Everard and all the women lost to male violence.

'The Metropolitan Police failed to work with us despite the High Court ruling yesterday that a vigil could potentially go ahead lawfully. In doing so they created a risky and unsafe situation. It is their responsibility to protect public order, public health and the right to protest - they failed tonight on all accounts.

'All the time they spent fighting us on a legal claim that the Judge agreed should not have been necessary and was caused by the Metropolitan Police's stance, they could've been working with us to ensure the vigil went ahead in a safe way. The Judge was clear and the Metropolitan Police conceded minutes before the hearing, that there was no blanket ban on protest under the current law. They then had an opportunity - and a responsibility to work with us safely and within the law.

'This week of all weeks the police should have understood that women would need a place to mourn, reflect and show solidarity. Now is the time for the police and the Government to recognise that the criminal justice system is failing women. Tonight, it has failed women again, in the most destructive way. We will keep fighting for women's voices to be heard and to matter.'

Campaign group Sisters Uncut, which had representatives attending the Clapham vigil, tweeted: 'As soon as the sun went down, police stormed the bandstand. We do NOT answer to violent men.'

The account posted: 'Stay safe. Know your rights: 'NO COMMENT' if cops talk to you. If police ask you to do anything, ask 'am I legally obliged to?'. if they say yes, ask 'under what power?''

Police last night said the gathering at Clapham Common is 'unsafe', and urged people to go home.

A tweet from the Lambeth police account said: 'The gathering at #ClaphamCommon is unsafe. Hundreds of people are tightly packed together in breach of the regulations and risking public health.

LONDON: Fights broke out as people battled against police officers on Saturday evening in Clapham Common

LONDON: Crowds gathered around the bandstand in Clapham Common on Saturday in a peaceful vigil ahead of the unrest

LONDON: A candle is seen as part of a memorial to mark the last time Sarah Everard was seen at Downing Street

'We are urging people to go home and we thank those who have been engaging with officers and who are leaving.'

A small vigil was held in Brussels for Ms Everard. Entrepreneur Rozina Spinnoy, who moved to Belgium almost 20 years ago, attended the event with her son and a few others, holding posters proclaiming 'reclaim these streets'.

She said: 'Todays Brussels vigil was important for me. Showing all that regardless of our backgrounds, colour, race or religion, as women we unite - we share the grief together over Sarah Everard and all women who have experienced violence.

'Internationally and cross border to show solidarity in the fight to stop violence against women. We won't be silenced.'

She added: 'I feel positive to have contributed to this campaign for more safety / no violence against women in public spaces. Also to remember Sarah.'

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson lit a candle for Ms Everard with his fiancee Carrie Symonds. The Prime Minister said he 'cannot imagine how unbearable' the pain and grief is for Ms Everard's family and friends.

He wrote on Twitter: 'Tonight Carrie and I will be lighting a candle for Sarah Everard and thinking of her family and friends. I cannot imagine how unbearable their pain and grief is. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime.

'I will do everything I can to make sure the streets are safe and ensure women and girls do not face harassment or abuse.'

LONDON: Police attempt to break up a vigil for Ms Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common

LONDON: Hundreds of mourners defied social distancing to gather at Clapham Common on Saturday night

Kensington Palace said Kate (pictured) 'wanted to pay her respects to the family and to Sarah', reported Sky . 'She remembers what is was like to walk around London at night before she was married,' the palace added

The unexpected visit came after a planned vigil was cancelled, with organisers citing the Met Police's 'lack of constructive engagement' to help make it Covid secure

It comes after a High Court judge refused on Friday to intervene on behalf of the group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions.

The group said today that despite their attempts to work with police to ensure the Clapham vigil could proceed safely, they now felt it could not go ahead.

Organisers said they had made 'many suggestions' to police, including splitting the event into different time slots - but that they were told going ahead with a vigil could risk a 10,000 fine each for each woman organising.

A number of police forces across the country also issued statements urging people not to attend the in-person events, instead encouraging people to move online.

LONDON: Emotions were high at the bandstand in Clapham Common as people paid tribute to Sarah Everard

LONDON: Women across the UK have been devastated this week following Sarah Everard's death

LONDON: A sign reading 'end violence against women' was left at the bandstand in Clapham Common among hundreds of flowers

LONDON: Placards left at the memorial read 'text me when you're home' and 'when will women be safe'

Greater Manchester Police said: 'We along with the rest of the country are shocked and saddened about what happened to Sarah Everard - women should never have to live in fear. Gathering in large groups is still unlawful so if you plan on joining events this weekend, please do so in a covid-safe way.'

A vigil planned for Miss Everard's home city of York was cancelled and organisers urged people to post a photo of a candle in their window or doorway.

A fundraising target of 320,000 by Reclaim These Streets was set to mirror the fines which might have been issued had the vigils gone ahead, with the aim to raise 10,000 for each of the 32 vigils which organisers said had been scheduled.

Caitlin Prowle, from Reclaim These Streets, said the group had not wanted to end up in a situation they were having to raise funds to pay fines, rather than for charitable causes.

She said the money would 'just go straight back into a system' that 'continues to fail' women.
Critics of the ATAR want incoming Sydney University boss Mark Scott to act on his past condemnation of the tertiary entrance rank and persuade the NSW Vice Chancellors committee to change or even dump it.

Two years ago Mr Scott, who has run the NSW Department of Education for almost five years, described the ATAR as a straitjacket around our kids and a rigid, 10-unit boot march which put relentless pressure on students.

He has said the rank could be based on fewer units and has frequently praised the work of Western Sydney University, which has found students success in relevant subjects to be just as accurate at predicting tertiary academic success as a raw ATAR.

Mark Scott is stepping into the top job at the University of Sydney.

NSW universities own and calculate the ATAR through the Universities Admissions Centre, but the vice chancellors committee has rejected calls to review it even though many have established non-ATAR entry pathways to their own institutions.
8 Charged in Carlisle Drug Bust with Stolen Car

By West Kentucky Star Staff





CARLISLE COUNTY - A call about a reckless driver in Carlisle County led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle and drug charges for eight people.On Friday, the Carlisle County Sheriff's Office received a complaint of a reckless driver in the Kirbyton area. A check of the license plated showed the vehicle had been reported stolen from McCracken County on Thursday.Deputies located the vehicle on State Route 80 in Milburn. Authorities said the car was occupied by 54-year-old Kevin Shane Crawford and 29-year-old Cristina Crawford.A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered methamphetamine. Both were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, possession of meth, and drug paraphernalia possession.Law enforcement agencies attempted to find the suspect that had initially stolen the vehicle at a home on County Road 1141 near Beulah.A vehicle matching the description of the suspect's vehicle arrived at the home while deputies were present. Deputies said there was a strong smell of marijuana as they approached the car.A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered marijuana and Xanax pills.The vehicle's occupants, 52-year-old Donald Jones of Mayfield and 51-year-old Denita Ramage of Benton, were both arrested. Two other occupants, 55-year-old Steven West of Benton and 54-year-old Freddie Jones of Fancy Farm, were cited to appear in court.Jones and Ramage were both charged with possession of a controlled substance third-degree.West and Jones were both charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.Deputies said 60-year-old Mickey Baker and 59-year-old Chris Pillow of Milburn were in a camper behind the home. A search yielded 20 grams of methamphetamine packaged in 7 separate bags, meth pipes, a firearm, body armor, digital scales, and cash.Pillow allegedly consented to a search of his home, where deputies found 2 grams of methamphetamine, meth pipes, and marijuana.Pillow was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia possession.Baker was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance first-degree (methamphetamine), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia possession.All except for West and Jones were lodged in the McCracken County Jail.
San Antonios coronavirus numbers continue to improve as local officials reported only 158 newly diagnosed cases and three more deaths Friday.

The citys risk level is now classified as low and improving.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases has now dropped to 168 per day. Thats down substantially from the average of 746 per day reported one month ago, and the average of a staggering 1,791 per day just two months ago.

As of Thursday, 184,348 people had been fully vaccinated in Bexar County against the COVID-19 virus, while 319,011 people had received their first doses only.

More than a third of those fully vaccinated are seniors 65 years old or older, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.

Seniors make up the largest age group of those who have been vaccinating, and that is, of course, by design, he said. We want to make sure that those who are most vulnerable to the severe impacts of this virus are being vaccinated first.

Among 16 years old and older, 18.3 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine, Nirenberg said.

We really are in a race to get vaccines in (as) quick as we can and to get them administered as we try to counteract this COVID, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. With the relaxed rules, were having to move as fast as we can.

On ExpressNews.com: A guide to getting vaccinated in San Antonio

Local hospital numbers continue to improve. On Friday, 237 coronavirus patients were being cared for in San Antonio hospitals; 35 of them were admitted in the past 24 hours.

A month ago, 767 coronavirus patients were hospitalized in San Antonio. Two months ago, the number of hospitalizations stood at 1,426  about six times the number reported Friday.

Local officials reported 97 of those patients in the hospital are being monitored in intensive care units, while 61 were on ventilators to help them breathe. Its the first time the ICU number has dipped below 100 since early November, Nirenberg said.

The three latest victims to die after contracting the virus were all men  one in his 40s, the others in their 60s. They died in the past two weeks.

The man in his 40s, who was Hispanic, died at University Hospital. The victims in their 60s were a Hispanic man who died at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital and a white man  a Bexar County resident  who died in Dallas at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

San Antonio and Bexar County are closing in on 200,000 diagnosed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began one year ago. From the beginning of the pandemic through Friday, 199,589 cases have been here.

Among those patients are 2,864 Bexar County residents who died. More than 200 additional deaths reported by the state health department are still being investigated by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.

The city hasnt updated its estimated number of recoveries since Feb. 23, but at that time, 187,150 Bexar County residents were reported to have recovered from the virus. Based on the total number of diagnosed cases reported through Friday, that would account for a recovery rate of at least 94 percent.

On ExpressNews.com: Free COVID tests offered this weekend to San Antonio area students wrapping up spring break

In Comal County, public health officials reported 39 more cases of the virus on Friday  a figure that includes 17 newly diagnosed cases and 22 backlogged cases. No new deaths were reported  the total number of fatalities stands at 298.

Comal County currently has 325 active cases of the virus. Among them are 44 patients who are hospitalized.

Since the pandemic began a year ago, Comal County has recorded 9,419 cases of COVID-19. while 8,796 county residents have recovered from the virus. That amounts to a recovery rate of 93 percent.

Across Texas, 4,650 new confirmed cases of the virus were reported Friday, along with 1,428 new probable cases. State health department officials also reported 212 more deaths of Texans who contracted the virus.

Throughout the pandemic, more than 2.3 million cases of the virus have surfaced in Texas, and 45,318 people have died statewide.

pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare
Mar. 13There is an old adage that says nobody likes to be told their kid has big ears, and for many owners, opening a restaurant is like giving birth to a child. They feel a passion and love for everything from the name to the concept to the recipes and the decor. Hearing any criticism can sting.

But, unless you land on a concept and menu that hits home with customers right away, adapting, changing and listening to those criticisms can be the difference between success and failure.

Mike and Taylor Monen have learned that from all sides during their almost 13 years of operating multiple eateries together in Chattanooga and Nashville. They actually worked together at Sticky Fingers, which he co-owned, before getting married, so their restaurant experience goes back even further.

They currently own and operate Community Pie, Urban Stack, Taco Mamacita and Hi-Fi Clyde's in Chattanooga, and they just opened a Milk & Honey in the Market South space, which they also opened in 2019. They are also completely remodeling and enlarging a second Milk & Honey in the Town & Country property on the North Shore.

The Monen Family Restaurant Group also owns Taco Mamacita, Hi-Fi Clyde's and Milk & Honey locations in Nashville.

By most standards, their concepts have been successes, but Mike Monen said they have had to grow and tweak, and learn from their customers over the years in some cases.

"Never give up, rethink and try," Monen said. "Sometimes that's the way opening a new business works. We've been lucky that some of our concepts were home runs, but this is not an easy business. Sometimes you have to sit back and reflect and see what people want."

It's not uncommon for restaurateurs to find a concept or food that works elsewhere and want to introduce it here, and that is what happened with Community Pie. Monen traveled to San Francisco, where the particular type of pie is popular to learn all he could about the traditional Neapolitan or Naples-style pie, with its thin crust and simple but specific tomato and mozzarella cheese ingredients.

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The Chattanooga restaurant scene is littered with failed restaurants that closed because owners tried to introduce a new concept to the market only to find people here didn't really want it. The ones who made it were able to adapt. Monen said while many Chattanoogans liked the Neapolitan pies, "most want their pizza by the slice.

"When we opened Community Pie," he said, "we were really excited, but what we do today is not what we did then.

"Customers came and some loved it and some did not. What they were used to was pizza by the slice, and we started to listen to our customers and people wanted slices for lunch. Then we added lasagna and salads and sandwiches."

They even took the Neapolitan off the menu for a couple weeks, "and got more complaints than we did for not having slices."

Milk & Honey represents one of their home runs, however.

"That's Taylor's brainchild," Mike said.

Taylor Monen said Milk & Honey's evolution is almost the opposite of Community Pie's, because it was a big hit from the beginning.

"When we opened Milk & Honey, it turned into something we never intended," she said. "It was a happy accident."

She said she became interested in the process of making gelato and thought it would be a nice, small side business, but it grew and grew. They first opened a 1,ooo-square-foot space near their Taco Mamacita location on North Shore serving gelato, but soon realized that not only did people like it, it took more space to make it than they thought. So, they moved into a 2,000-square-foot space nearby and added coffee.

"With coffee, people think breakfast," Mike said, "so we added that and ran out of room there too, pretty quick. It became so popular we had lines out the door."

Taylor said it was primarily a "grab-and-go concept with a limited menu, which she said doesn't make a lot of money.

So as space has become available, they are now expanding into what will be a 4,500-square-foot, full-service restaurant.

"It will be much more like the Nashville location, which is 5,500 square feet," he said.

The work will take close to five months to complete, he added.

Taylor said the couple never wanted to own a chain of restaurants with the same concept and that their growth stems more from having a successful employee training program than a desire to simply open more eateries.

"We both started at entry-level positions and were allowed to grow," she said.

"After we married in 2008, we wanted to create a company with a culture that shows we've grown. With our training program, we ended up with all of these incredibly talented and creative people with nowhere to go. We never set out to grow, but we had people ready to run their own places."

She said the staff members who go on to run other locations are partners who share in the profits.

"They are empowered to run their own stores," she said. "If our staff is having fun and giving their best to customers, then that is the best."

She said having such a staff is what has gotten them through the pandemic.

"They have stuck with us and we are so grateful. People give us a lot of credit, but this is an amazing group we have."

Both Mike and Taylor said they are still tweaking their concepts for the 15,000-square-foot Market South, which now has Milk & Honey, Five Wits kitchen and bar and Chow Main, an Asian wok concept. The Milk & Honey store at Market South is a "scaled down version of what the North Shore one can be," Taylor said, with a smaller menu.

It will serve coffee, espresso, gelato, breakfast and lunch items.

Originally conceived as a food hall with several eateries and a central dining area, Mike said COVID-19 forced them to rethink the plan for Market South entirely.

"When the pandemic happened, all of our concepts became very challenging," he said. "We were very proud of the Indian food we were serving, but there were so many ingredients and it took so much prep because it was super complex, so we scaled down and focused on Chow Main and pop-up concepts."

Both said they have big plans for Market South in the coming months.

"We are still trying to figure out what we will do when we fully reopen," she said.

Being willing to adapt has been the key, she added.

"People's perception of success is funny. The more successful we are, the more humbled we are. We've learned a lot over the last 13 or 14 years and it doesn't get any easier.

"I think our story is that we've had to be adaptable and resourceful."

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.
Google is facing a 'very large investigation' into its advertising business, the EU's competition commissioner has said.

Margrethe Vestager issued the warning during an online event on Friday which was reported by Bloomburg.

She said that an investigation was being carried out into the 'Google ads ecosystem'.

The EU had been investigating Google's data practices since 2019 and recently widened the scope of its probe to look at Google's plans to phase out third-party cookies.

Ms Vestager has already slapped Google with billions of pounds worth of fines for breaching competition laws and thwarting rivals of shopping comparison websites.

Google is facing a 'very large investigation' into its advertising business, the EU's competition commissioner has said

Her latest warning comes after news emerged in January that the UK's competition watchdog would probe the firm amid claims it is using its Chrome browser to abuse its position as the dominant power in searches and browsing.

The Competition and Markets Authority launched a blockbuster antitrust probe after publishers said the tech giant's controversial 'sandbox' privacy project will allow the US company to 'distort' the market, hoard customers' data and cream off more cash.

Antitrust laws are regulations which encourage competition by limiting the market power of any particular firm.

The investigation was set to assess whether the possible removal of third-party cookies and other functionalities from Chrome could be anti-competitive and further hit UK businesses by decimating their online ad revenues.

The CMA's probe was announced days after it became Britain's guardian on antitrust and monopoly matters after the country fully left the EU and Brussels' influence on UK competition laws formally ended.

The UK's competition watchdog will look into how the possible removal of third-party cookies and other functionalities from Chrome could distort competition.

Online publishers such as newspapers rely on third-party cookies to target advertising effectively and fund their content. But the use of these cookies comes with privacy concerns, as they allow consumers' behaviour to be tracked across the web.

Mr Coscelli said last year that ministers needed to urgently set up a regulatory regime to counter big tech's monopoly on the search and digital ad markets or it would act alone.

Margrethe Vestager issued the warning during an online event on Friday

The cash hoovered up by Google using its advertising algorithms and its extraordinary market power has already put it in the CMA's crosshairs.

Google shook the online advertising world in 2020 as it announced it would phase out third party cookies.

These allowed businesses to use targeted advertising based on websites a customer had visited or ones they had clicked on to browse or buy.

Google insists the changes are primarily to protect privacy.

Web browsers such as Mozilla and Apple Incs Safari have already blocked third-party cookies.

The CMA said it will assess the matter following complaints of anticompetitive behaviour, with Marketers for an Open Web (MOW), a group of newspaper publishers and technology companies, among those concerned.

Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said in January: 'As the CMA found in its recent market study, Google's Privacy Sandbox proposals will potentially have a very significant impact on publishers like newspapers, and the digital advertising market.

'But there are also privacy concerns to consider, which is why we will continue to work with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as we progress this investigation, while also engaging directly with Google and other market participants about our concerns.'

Marketers for an Open Web has repeatedly asked the CMA to block the tech giant's controversial 'sandbox' privacy project.

The pressure group says that without Government intervention to protect media plurality in the UK their members could see revenues drop by 75 per cent because Google controls up to 98 per cent of UK search engine traffic on PCs, tablets and mobile phones.
Photo: Glacier Media

Vancouver Police say a 42-year-old man pled guilty today to possession of child pornography and making child pornography available.

Ryan Jones plead guilty Friday (March 12) to possession of child pornography and making child pornography available, explains a news release. The VPD initiated its investigation into child sexual abuse material in 2018.

This case began in October 2018 as a proactive investigation targeting offenders using peer-to-peer file-sharing networks to trade child sexual abuse material, says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD.

Jones was identified as a suspect immediately. A search warrant of his residence was executed in March 2019 and multiple devices were seized.

Vancouver Police Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) investigators located over 2,300 images and 55 videos of child pornography. The ages of the victims in the material ranged from three (3) to 10 years old. The children were engaged in various horrific and violent sexual acts.

Police target suspects who share child sexual abuse images and videos using a variety of peer-to-peer file sharing networks. The downloading and hoarding of child sexual abuse material fuels the market and leads to direct harm to children, adds Constable Visintin. Our ICE investigators have worked methodically and diligently on this disturbing file.

Jones has received a sentence of nine months in custody and two years probation.
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Congress leader and former Kerala chief minister on Saturday said that the party will announce its list of candidates for Kerala Assembly polls on Sunday.

"Congress will announce its list of candidates tomorrow in Delhi. You all have to wait to know who will be the candidate in the Nemom constituency," said Chandy.

When asked if he will be contesting from Nemom constituency, he said, "Wait to know who will be the candidate in the Nemom constituency."

Nemom is one of the ten seats out of 91 that Congress is yet to choose a candidate.

The Congress party on Friday announced that 81 candidates have been finalised, out of the 91 seats it will be contesting in Kerala. However, it did not announce the names of these candidates.

"There are no disputes in the ten seats, candidates are yet to be decided by the party," said

Nemom, a suburb in the state capital is becoming a focal point of the Kerala assembly polls, with all three fronts betting huge for a victory on the lone seat that the BJP managed to win in the 2016 assembly polls.

The BJP leaders had referred to Nemom as the 'Gujarat of Kerala" and to upset the apple cart of BJP, Congress is playing its cards close to the chest.

CPI(M) has decided to go ahead with V Shivankutty who also started his campaign in the constituency beating both his Congress and BJP rivals.

The Nemom constituency was won by BJP veteran O Rajagopal in 2016, garnering 67,813 votes against CPI(M) candidate V Shivankutty, who managed to get 59,142 votes.

While Congress-led United Democratic Alliance (UDF) finished in a distant third with just 13,860 votes secured by the JD(S) candidate V Surendran Pillai.

Even as the list of Congress candidates getting delayed, the main constituent partners in the Congress-led UDF, the Indian Union Muslim League ( IUML) announced its candidates on Friday.

While the Muslim League will contest on 27 seats, Kerala Congress, the splinter group headed by PJ Joseph having prominence in the Christian-dominated Kottayam-Idukki belt will be contesting on 10 seats.

Five seats have been given to the Revolutionary Socialist Party ( RSP) of which Shibu Baby John will be contesting from Chavara.

The election for 140-member Kerala Assembly in 14 districts will be held in a single phase on April 6. The counting of votes will be held on May 2.

(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.)
Gulki Joshi

My first pay cheque was Rs 700 when I was in Standard 8. I treated all my friends with Coke and sandwiches.

Nibeditaa Paal

I started working at the age of 17 at Subway in Australia, as a sandwich artist, as they call it. I was earlier 17 dollars/week. I was very much excited; I took my parents on a treat. It was like a dream come true.

Manasvi Vashist

I am sure that the first pay cheque is always special to everyone. I got mine back in 2013 when I shifted my base to Bangalore right after I passed out of college. My first salary was Rs 20,000. I paid off my PG's rent, shopped a little and saved a little. That's pretty much it.

Donal Bisht

When I was in the second year of my college, one of my seniors called me up for an internship opportunity for the Delhi shopping festival in one of the biggest malls in Noida. So, when I turned up for the interview, she saw me and said that I should instead get into anchoring as they any way were on the lookout for an anchor. It was a two-week-long job. Although I was a little apprehensive when she asked me, she immediately said "mujhe pata hai tu kar legi" (I know you can do it). She guided me along, and then it turned out great- a lot of people would actually turn up outside the mall! The mall was near my house, and people started noticing me. From my neighbourhood to my college friends- they all came to know. I became a star in my college after that hahaha! Noticing the turnout of the crowd, I started getting a lot of other anchoring opportunities too from the mall! So, that was pretty cool! And if you ask me what I did with the pay cheque which was Rs 12,000, well, I gave it to my mom and she kept it in my home's mandir haha! And I think it's still there!

Shagun Sharma

I got my first pay cheque when I was in my final year of BMM and it was Rs 60,000, for a show I did. I started contributing to rent, groceries and ensuring my parents that I have become self-dependent.

Krishna Kaurav

I got my first pay cheque for the movie Jai Gangaajal i.e., Rs 11,000. I was very excited and I saved some amount and used some to party with friends.
BRIDGEPORT  The Board of Education has voted to terminate a special education teacher who school and district leadership say falsified legal documents for students with disabilities.

At a special meeting this week, the Board of Education voted 6-1 to terminate the contract of employment for Kathleen Smith, a former special education teacher at Bassick High School.

An investigation this winter found that Smith falsified at least three individualized education programs, or IEPs, district and school leadership told the board earlier this month. IEPs outline the services and supports students with disabilities are entitled to under federal legislation.

As part of that law, IEP teams of parents and educators meet routinely to discuss student progress and eligibility. Smith claimed at least three IEP meetings happened before winter break that school administration found never took place.

The board, district representatives and their legal representation, Bassick administration and Smith convened on Wednesday evening. Previously, the board met on March 3 to discuss the allegations against Smith but declined to vote on termination without her present.

Smith, who could have required this weeks session be held in public, waived her right to an open meeting. John Weldon, the chairman of the board, sought a motion to go into executive session, without the public present.

Just before 8 p.m., the board returned to the public meeting to vote on a motion to terminate Smiths contract. John Weldon, Bobbi Brown, Albert Benejan, Sosimo Fabian, Joseph Sokolovic and Chris Taylor voted in favor of termination. Sybil Allen was the sole vote opposed.

Shes given service to the school board, said Allen. I think that she should have some retraining.

Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Everhart Museum Board of Trustees has named Kathy Johnson Bowles as the museum's next executive director.

Johnson Bowles, who resides in North Carolina and will relocate to Scranton, brings 32 years of experience in museum management and higher education, specializing in fundraising, strategic planning, community engagement, diversity and inclusion and sustainability to the role, according to a news release. She replaces Aurore Giguet, who resigned in June to take a position in the Pacific Northwest.

"I am passionate about the role museums play in communities," Johnson Bowles said in the release. "I hope to bring my experience to the Everhart, guiding and leading the team to achieve institutional excellence through focused innovation and shared responsibility as we serve the public."

The board conducted a nationwide six-month search with assistance from Arts Consulting Group.

Johnson Bowles has worked extensively with educational and nonprofit institutions creating philanthropic and revenue-generating solutions and, as a museum director, has organized more than 120 exhibitions and has written numerous catalogues and essays for national publications.
Authorities on Friday arrested a man accused of assaulting D.C. Metropolitan police officer Mike Fanone, who was allegedly beaten and tased by a mob of rioters during the assault on the U.S. Capitol. Charging documents say Thomas Sibick ripped Fanone's badge and radio off his uniform during the assault on the west front steps, and subsequently buried the badge in his back yard.

Prosecutors allege Sibick, of Buffalo, New York, assaulted Fanone when he ripped off the badge and radio. The assault allegedly occurred while Fanone was being beaten and tased by a group of rioters who had pulled him out of the police line.

As a result of the violence, Officer Fanone lost consciousness and was subsequently hospitalized for his injuries, which likely included a concussion and injuries from the taser, court documents said. Sibick is not accused of beating or tasing Fanone.

Sibick is charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, obstruction of law enforcement, and taking from a person anything of value by force, among other charges. A federal judge in the Western District of New York granted him release into home confinement over the government's objection this afternoon. The Justice Department has appealed that decision in D.C. Federal court, where the case will be further prosecuted.

Fanone said he was positioned at a West entrance to the Capitol along with a few dozen other officers, facing off against a mob of rioters who were attempting to storm the building, when someone grabbed him out of the police line and dragged him into the crowd alone.

"It was brutal, just beaten, struck with a variety of different objects," Fanone said during a January interview with CBS News. He said he was tasered "probably about a half dozen times."

Prosecutors say Sibick initially denied being part of the crowd attacking the officer during an interview with FBI agents.

But when federal investigators confronted him with still images from Fanone's body camera video, Sibick allegedly admitted that he was part of the crowd  but claimed to have only grabbed the officer's badge and radio in an attempt to pull him away from the mob. Sibick allegedly told the agents that after taking possession of the items, he placed the radio and badge in a trash can on Constitution Avenue and did not return them to law enforcement because he was afraid of being arrested.

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Prosecutors say Sibick later recanted that statement to the FBI agents, claiming instead that he disposed of the items in a hotel dumpster upon his return to Buffalo. After an agent emailed Sibick to say authorities would be reviewing security footage from the hotel to confirm his claim, Sibick allegedly called the agents saying he was "distraught" and "wanted to do the right thing," and admitted that he had buried the officer's badge in his backyard. He allegedly handed it over to the FBI muddied, in a ziploc.

A photo allegedly showing the muddied badge Sibick returned to police. / Credit: FBI

Describing his experience with the mob to CBS News in January, Fanone said people began to chant, "Kill him with his own gun," and that some in the crowd started grabbing for his weapon.

In an interview with CBS affiliate WUSA9 in January, Fanone said that he considered killing people  but thought that if he did, "they're going to take the gun away and kill me."

He added that he thought his best chance of survival was to "try to appeal to someone's humanity" and said he yelled to the crowd that he had children. He explained that some of the protestors eventually came to his aid, surrounding him to help him leave the crowd.

Fanone told WUSA9 he spent a day and a half in the hospital after the attack, and he said had message to the group that helped him escape the crowd: "Thank you, but f**k you for being there."

He also described the assault as a "coordinated effort," and said, "I mean, they were almost counting cadence as they were pushing against us," referring to the military practice of chanting in a call and response pattern.

Before he was pulled into the crowd and beaten, Fanone said he saw Officer Daniel Hodges bleeding and being crushed between a door and the mob as they screamed, "heave-ho."

Hodges told CBS News in January that a rioter ripped off his gas mask, beat his head against the door, and took his baton and hit him in the head with it.

"I definitely considered that that might be it," Hodges said. "I might not be able to make it out of there."

Authorities arrested Patrick Edward McCaughey III in January, alleging that he used a police riot shield to pin Hodges to the door as Hodges cried out in pain. McCaughey was charged with crimes including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon and civil disorder.

No one has yet been charged in the death of Officer Brian Sicknick, but a U.S. official told CBS News last month that the FBI was focusing on one man as a possible suspect.

Almost 140 officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police were injured during the riot, Capitol Police Labor Union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou said in a January statement provided to CBS8.

"I have officers who were not issued helmets prior to the attack who have sustained brain injuries," Papathanasiou said in the statement. "One officer has two cracked ribs and two smashed spinal disks. One officer is going to lose his eye, and another was stabbed with a metal fence stake."

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Two of Britain's most prestigious private schools could change their name after it was discovered their founder had shares in a slave trading company.

Haberdashers Askes Boys School (Habs) in Elstree and its sister school, the Haberdashers Askes School for Girls, are considering a name change due to ties with the colonial past.

In a letter to parents, the chariman of both schools announced 'great sadness' at the revelation that founder Robert Aske had shares in the Royal African Company - which was responsible for shipping around 100,000 people from the West Coast of Africa to the colonies in the West Indies and America.

The schools are named after merchant Robert Aske (pictured) who was a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers and had shares in the slave trade

Who was Robert Aske? Born in 1619 and died in 1689, Aske was a merchant in the City of London. He is chiefly remembered for the charitable foundation he created from his estate including the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School and Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls. In 1643, he became a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers and an alderman of the City of London Corporation in 1666. Despite marrying twice, Aske had no children and so left his sizable estate of 32,000 to the Haberdashers Company. He asked that 20,000 was to be used for a school and a hospital. Advertisement

Chairman of the governing body of both the schools, Simon Cartmell, said a comprehensive review will be launched into the school's culture, values and ideals - including Aske's name.

In a letter seen by The Spectator, he said: 'The outcome of these reviews, including the future use of the Aske name, will be communicated when conclusions are reached, and decisions made.

'It is clear to us all that the role of the Royal African Company, and the other companies involved in the slave trade, was deplorable and abhorrent.

'Such activity sits in stark contrast with the values which underpin the activities and philosophy of the company, its schools and beneficiaries today.

'We cannot change the past, but equally we cannot ignore it. The Schools are already engaged in comprehensive reviews of their culture, values and ideals' which are now being considered as part of a consultation and review process.'

The move comes after a wave of protests last summer in response to the death of Floyd George who died in police custody in the US.

Black Lives Matter protests swept the UK with staues such as Winston Churchill's being vandalised, and a statue commemorating Bristolian merchant Edward Colston was vandalised and thrown into Bristol harbour due to his links with the Atlantic slave trade.

Chairman of the governing body of both the Haberdashers Elstree schools, Simon Cartmell, said a comprehensive review will be launched into the school's culture, values and ideals - including Aske's name

What was the Royal African Company? The company dates back to the reign of Charles II who encouraged the expansion of the slave trade. He granted a charter to a group of men known as the Royal Adventurers who later became the Royal African Company. Between 1672 and 1698, the company transported an estimated 100,000 slaves from Africa to plantations. The first company ships sailed from Liverpool and Bristol to the West African coast. Both cities grew from the profits of the terrible trade. Advertisement

Many schools and universities have begun to reevaluate their links with the past, including slavery and colonialism.

The two schools have had among their alumni politicians, actresses and entrepreneurs.

Some famous names include Matt Lucas, David Baddiel, Sacha Baron Cohen, Vanessa Feltz, Richard Wright, Luciana Berger, Lord Brittan and Brian Sewell.

The schools are named after merchant Robert Aske who was a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.

When he died in 1689, he gave 20,000 in his will to build a hospital and a school.

The school was originally built in Hoxton, east London.

Later a girls' school was added and the sites were moved to Hampstead and Acton.

Eventually, the sites remained in Elstree in 1961.

In 2005 the Haberdashers Federation was set up by the Haberdashers Company with Hatcham College and Knights Academy.

It has grown to include other schools across south east London and Kent.

If the school is renamed it will put pressure on other members of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference to follow.
Mar. 12The mayor of Boston has issued an apology and rescinded a proclamation similar to one that last month inflamed tensions in Portland between communities loyal to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The proclamations in Portland and Boston recognized the 29th anniversary of the 1992 Khojaly massacre, which resulted in the killing of as many 600 Azeris by Armenian and Soviet forces.

Although the proclamations seems to caution against the ravages of war, some Armenian-Americans say it's part of a propaganda campaign by Azerbaijan and its political ally, Turkey, which still refuses to acknowledge its ethnic cleansing of more than a million Armenians. Some also view it as a public relations campaign in the wake of recent fighting that displaced many Armenians from a disputed territory in the mountainous border between the two countries.

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said in a March 10 letter addressed to the Armenian Greater Boston Community that the city was rescinding the proclamation declaring Feb. 26 as Khojaly Commemoration Day, because the proclamation had not undergone the typical review process.

"Following conversations with leaders of the Armenian-American community, we realize that this proclamation has been hurtful to many of you," Walsh said. "Our goal when issuing a proclamation is to honor and celebrate the contributions of Bostonians from all walks of life, and not to engage in international matters that can cause pain or divisiveness. Because our typical review process was not followed in this case, I have decided to rescind this proclamation."

Walsh went on to hail the contributions of Boston's Armenian-American community, which he said was the third largest in the United States. Those contributions include the creation of the Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. And Walsh noted that the city recognized victims of the Armenian genocide in 2015.

"I said at that event that the Armenian people have made Boston a stronger city," said Walsh, who has been tapped by Pres. Biden to be labor secretary. "I continue to be proud to stand in support of of Armenian-Americans in Boston and the surrounding area."

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Portland Mayor Kate Snyder issued a similar proclamation last month, prompting a similar backlash from Armenian-Americans. Snyder also apologized to local Armenians. Rather than rescind the proclamation, she vowed to mark the anniversary of the Armenian genocide next month and said future proclamation requests would undergo more scrutiny.

One difference between the proclamations issued in Portland and Boston is that the former described the Khojaly killings as "genocide," although scholars say it was not widely recognized as such, whereas the latter described it as a massacre. The reference to genocide in Portland's proclamation especially angered some Armenian-Americans, because Turkey refuses to acknowledge its role in killing more than 1 million Armenians in World War I, an event widely recognized as a genocide.

The tensions are part of a long, complicated dispute over the mountainous territory between the two South Caucasus countries, which once again broke into all-out war late last year.

Audrey Altstadt, a history professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who studies and has written books about Azerbaijan, told the Press Herald that the historical conflict stems from a disputed border drawn between the two countries when they were both independent republics of the Soviet Union. She said the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region was placed inside of Azerbaijan by the Soviets, even though it had an Armenian majority population and Armenians controlled the administrative functions.

Small-scale fighting between the Azeris and Armenians began in the late 1980s, she said, and escalated into an all-out war after the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991. The war raged from 1992-1994, claiming 30,000 to 35,000 lives and displacing between 750,000 to 1 million people in the region. Armenian forces captured the Nagorno-Karabakh region and maintained control after a cease-fire was declared, she said.

The Khojaly massacre occurred overnight from Feb. 25-26, 1992.

Altstadt said that 1994 cease-fire was generally followed until last year, when Azerbaijan launched an offensive, using drones obtained from Turkey, and ultimately reclaimed the territory. A cease-fire was negotiated by Russia on Nov. 10. Azerbaijan retained control over the disputed region and Armenians have been protesting the agreement, causing political turmoil.

Altstadt said the push to recognize Khojaly Remembrance Day in U.S. states and cities began about 10 years ago, when the Azerbaijan Embassy in Washington, D.C., began running ads on public buses. The campaign was an effort to counter the vilification of Azeris and the political clout of Armenians, she said. The embassy has invested "a great deal of money" into public diplomacy and lobbying, which is likely spurring the push to recognize the massacre.
In defending his governments unprecedented introduction last fall of 19 bills without any accompanying text that could be studied by the opposition or the public, Premier Brian Pallister admonished the NDP for its procedural tactics and offered a stern affirmation that his is the elected government of Manitoba.

In defending his governments unprecedented introduction last fall of 19 bills without any accompanying text that could be studied by the opposition or the public, Premier Brian Pallister admonished the NDP for its procedural tactics and offered a stern affirmation that his is "the elected government of Manitoba."

The implication, which was accompanied by a pointed reminder that "the Opposition (should) not... try to pretend that they are the government; they are not," is that there should be no questioning the right of the duly elected Progressive Conservative government to formulate and enact policies in what it perceives to be the best interest of Manitobans.

Manitoba promises referendums on large projects Click to Expand Premier Brian Pallister Posted: 12:02 PM Mar. 11, 2021 WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister promised Thursday to ensure that any large capital projects in the future will be put to a public referendum before they can go ahead. Pallister's comments follow a report last month by former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall about billions of dollars in cost overruns on two megaprojects at Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro. Read Full Story

Or, to put it in more colloquial parlance: "Governments gonna govern." Which is a fundamental truth of representative democracy, and which Mr. Pallister might have done well to keep in mind Thursday as he served up a purely populist declaration that he intends to introduce legislation requiring all future major capital projects in the province to be subject to public referendum.

The premier, who seems intent on getting maximum mileage out of the recently released report by former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall  which is highly critical of Manitoba Hydros deficit-ballooning operations under the previous NDP government  said under the hinted-at legislation, major projects ranging from Hydro dams to government-run casinos would be subject to referendum votes before being allowed to move forward.

"Manitoba Hydro does, naturally, like to build dams," Mr. Pallister explained. "If they want to build another one, then they have to ask (the public)."

Its a perspective that is as preposterous as it is populist. And given the current provincial governments aggressive, bill-laden agenda for the just-opened legislative session, its apparent Mr. Pallister sees it as both his duty and his right to use his majority mandate to shape Manitobas public policy for the near-to-medium term.

One is left with the inevitable conclusion that the premiers referendum-requirement assertion amounts to another variation in a form of performance art for which he has demonstrated an ever-growing affinity: political theatre. Defaulting to public-opinion polling as the lodestar of legislative intent is both an abrogation of political responsibility and a flimsy plea for popularity.

Lapsing lazily into political theatre for the sake of scoring a few political points serves neither the public nor the ruling party well.

When the people vote you into office, the election result states definitively that they trust you to deliver what you have promised and govern in a manner that reflects the values and principles they have endorsed. And those same people know, as surely as Mr. Pallister does, that default referendums are a recipe for public-policy paralysis.

During Thursdays briefing, one reporter wisely asked the premier if he believes the provinces most important capital project ever  the Red River floodway  could have been built had it been subject to referendum approval. Mr. Pallisters tepid response was that "a case could have been made then and was made very effectively."

Except, of course, history shows the floodway mega-project to have been hugely controversial, and that the full determination of premier Duff Roblin was required  at great political risk  to get the ditch done. Being subject to referendum would almost certainly have scuttled the initiative  as it likely would have hobbled such now-beloved local landmarks as The Forks and Bell MTS Place long before the first shovels hit the ground.

Lapsing lazily into political theatre for the sake of scoring a few political points serves neither the public nor the ruling party well. Mr. Pallister and his Progressive Conservative colleagues would be well advised to remember this and to govern themselves  and us  accordingly.


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(Newser)  Scientists say they've taken a huge step toward understanding how a remarkable device often referred to as the world's oldest computer actually worked. The 2,000-year-old "Antikythera mechanism" was a complex astronomical calculator used by the ancient Greeks, per the Guardian. But exactly how it would have presented a working model of the heavens has been a mystery since it was discovered a century ago in a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikytheralargely because only about a third of the device survived, in more than 80 separate fragments. Previous research focused on unraveling the "back of the mechanism," per the BBC, and a new study in Scientific Reports by researchers at University College London focuses on how the intricate set of gears at the front operated. That link to the study includes video representations.

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"The sun, moon and planets are displayed in an impressive tour de force of ancient Greek brilliance," says lead Tony Freeth. "Ours is the first model that conforms to all the physical evidence and matches the descriptions in the scientific inscriptions engraved on the mechanism itself." The researchers now hope to move on from 3D modeling and build a physical replica, though the Guardian notes an issue with that. A modern lathe would be able to shape metal gears to work in the required way, but the ancient Greeks might have been out of luck there. "The concentric tubes at the core of the planetarium are where my faith in Greek tech falters, and where the model might also falter, says UCL's Adam Wojcik. Lathes would be the way today, but we cant assume they had those for metal. (The shipwreck has yielded other treasures.)
Chandigarh: Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat will register an FIR against the Punjab MLAs who tried to corner and misbehave with Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal in the Vidhan Sabha premises.

Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Gian Chand Gupta on Friday held a meeting with senior officers of the Police Department including Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Rajeev Arora, Principal Secretary, Arun Gupta, Director General of Police, Manoj Yadava and ordered a high-level investigation.

Manohar Lal Khattar

This investigation will be done by a joint committee of officers from both the states and UT Chandigarh. Haryana Deputy Speaker, Ranbir Gangwa, Vidhan Sabha Secretary, Rajender Nandal and officers of Haryana, Punjab and UT Chandigarh were present in the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat on Friday in the meeting convened by the Speaker during which the details of the incident of 10 March were sought. The matter will also be discussed in the House of Haryana Legislative Assembly on 15 March.

Gian Chand Gupta also summoned the officers of CID wing present in the meeting and directed to formulate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for future sessions. He also spoke to Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Rana KP Singh, raising strong objections to the development. Gupta had also written a letter to his counterpart in Punjab, urging him to take strict cognizance of the matter. Rana KP Singh regretted this and assured them to take drastic measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.
Shannagh Bay Nursing Home on Strand Road took measures to improve its cleaning regime following a HIQA inspection which took place last October during an outbreak of Covid-19.

The Health Information and Quality Authority has published the findings of its unannounced inspection which took place on October 2, during an outbreak of the virus at the home.

Residents were in isolation in their rooms during the inspection and were communicating with staff positively. Choices were being offered in relation to meals and drinks.

Visiting was suspended with the exception of compassionate circumstances and virtual visiting.

All essential visitors or service providers had to sign in, complete a questionnaire and undergo a temperature check, sanitise their hands under staff supervision and don a mask and gown prior to entry.

Nursing and health care staff were spending time in residents rooms providing support with personal care and during mealtimes if support was needed. Inspectors observed that staff engaged positively with the residents and responded quickly to the call bell when it rang.

This risk inspection was prompted by a significant outbreak of Covid-19. Inspectors found that the centre was taking steps to implement public health advice.

An outbreak of Covid-19 had been declared at Shannagh Bay on September 27. On the day of the inspection, 17 residents and 5 staff had been affected by the virus. This was the first significant outbreak for the provider.

The department of public health was liaising with the registered provider on a daily basis in relation to outbreak management. An action plan to support cohorting of Covid-19 and non Covid-19 residents was under way on the day of inspection and staff were endeavouring to operate distinct zones within the confines of floors affected.

There was sufficient PPE and management had completed the process of reducing the risk of Covid-19 in the centre, and planning for an outbreak.

Records showed procedures and practices in the centre were revised to reflected national guidance as the guidance was updated and published.

Staff had been trained in infection control and prevention, including hand hygiene and putting on and taking off PPE, as well as respiratory care and swab testing.

Inspectors found that the cleaning arrangements in the centre were not in line with national standards. This included the facilities available, and the practices being followed.

It was noted that there was a knowledge gap in the management team, relating to best practice in relation to some aspects of infection prevention control, and this should be reviewed.

While the provider had plans in place to manage a Covid-19 outbreak, they had to review their approach as they had not planned for the size of the outbreak and location of residents with Covid-19 through three floors of the centre.

Information posters to support practices were clearly displayed on entrance to and throughout the centre. Staff followed good hand hygiene techniques and appropriate use of PPE.

Face protection masks were worn by all healthcare workers and staff adherence to 'Bare below Elbow' initiatives was evident. Isolation precautions were observed and signage advised staff as to whether low contact or high contact PPE was required in each area. Signage was clearly displayed on residents' doors which were closed.

Staff were recording contact time with positive residents and actively monitoring for signs and symptoms of the virus.

Segregation of healthcare risk and non-risk waste was evident and foot operated bins were available in most areas inspected.

Overall the areas visited appeared clean.

There was a comprehensive cleaning schedule in place, including enhanced cleaning for frequently touched surfaces.

The colour-coded cleaning textiles and flat mops were reprocessed after each use. There were two housekeeping staff who had defined responsibilities for Covid-19 and non Covid-19 rooms each day.

The reprocessing of linen, apart from reusable cleaning textiles, had been outsourced to an industrial service provider.

However, the inspectors found that significant improvement was required to ensure the safe management of linen at the centre.

For example, although the centre had a dedicated facility for storage of clean linen, extra supplies of clean linen were inappropriately stored in open trolleys on corridors posing a risk of inadvertent contamination.

The designated collection and distribution storage area for Linen was located on a walkway leading to the entrance of the building which was insecure. Linen was not covered when stored and transported on open trolleys. Reusable cleaning textiles were reprocessed in a domestic-type washing machine at the centre.

An industrial-type washing machine was due to arrive shortly. The laundry facility was not visited on this inspection.

In the cleaning room, the facilities, fixtures and fittings were not compliant with best practice guidance in the housekeeping.

Reusable spray bottles were not cleaned after use. There was no janitorial or equipment sink and access to a small sink was restricted. There was no soap, paper towels or PPE in the cleaning room, and the small size meant staff had to clan trolleys. Other issues included the storage of clean textiles,

Renovation of the housekeeping was due to take place as part of construction at Shannagh Bay.

New cupboards have been installed and the laundry area secured. Industrial washing machines and a dryer have been installed.

The cleaning storeroom has been refurbished as far as is possible temporarily. All shelving has been repainted, new flooring was installed, and the storeroom reorganised so that only clean items are stored in the area.

The hand washing sink is now easily accessible and dispensers for hand towels and soap installed.

As part of the overall nursing home refurbishment plan there will be an equipment washing sink. Reusable spray bottles are now marked with the date they are filled and are washed prior to being refilled.

New systems are in place and all housekeeping staff have been trained on the set up of their trolleys, and where used items are to be stored on the trolleys.

There was no response from Shannagh Bay Nursing Home at the time of going to press.
A man walks past Deanes Deli in Belfast during Northern Irelands national lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus (Liam McBurney/PA)

One further Covid-19 related death has been recorded in Northern Ireland, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.

An additional 146 people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths here to 2,098.

There are currently 180 people in hospital with the virus. Twenty-four patients are in intensive care, with 18 on ventilators.

Hospital occupancy is at 95% and 14 care homes are dealing with Covid outbreaks.

Some 1,309 positive cases have been confirmed in the last week, down from 1,207 in the previous seven days.

On Friday, the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) recorded a fall in its record of Covid-related deaths for the sixth week in a row.

The publication of the Nisra figures coincided with the visit of Prime Minister Boris Johnson who was in Northern Ireland on Friday where he toured a mass vaccination centre in First Minister Arlene Foster's Co Fermanagh constituency.

He was joined by the DUP leader and Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann at the converted Lakeland Forum leisure centre in Enniskillen.

Earlier this week government has agreed to deploy 100 members of the military to Northern Ireland to support the "accelerated rollout" of Covid-19 vaccines.

It is the second time medically-trained members of the armed forces have been sent here to support health service staff during the pandemic.

The request for military support for the vaccine programme was made by Stormont's Department of Health and was granted by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
May 12, 2021

It has been two months since KOMU 8 sent Dish Network our most recent proposal; they have yet to respond. Please contact Dish Network and request they restore KOMU 8's channels on their service. Visit their website, Twitter or Facebook, or call 800-333-3474.

April 26, 2021

KOMU 8 is available to continue negotiations and Dish Network remains silent. We remain committed to getting our channels back on Dish as soon as possible.

April 9, 2021

KOMU 8 remains available to continue negotiations with Dish Network; they have not responded as of April 9, 2021. Please contact Dish Network and request they respond to KOMU 8. Visit their website, Twitter or Facebook, or call 800-333-3474.

March 26, 2021

As of March 26, Dish Network has not responded to KOMU 8's most recent proposal. KOMU 8 remains committed to coming to an agreement as soon as possible.

March 12, 2021

KOMU 8 and Dish Network came to a temporary agreement to carry our NBC and CW streams in March of 2020, which expired on March 12, 2021. We offered to continue distribution on fair market terms and Dish declined. Similar to how it has with 236 other channels in recent months, Dish dropped our programming on Friday, March 12.

KOMU 8, a locally-owned, small-market TV station only requests that Dish Network, a multi-billion dollar corporation (with a net income of $773 million in Q4 of 2020), agrees to a fair agreement in line with what we agreed to with other providers. At no time have we demanded exorbitant fees. KOMU 8 remains committed to reaching a fair agreement.

It is more important now than ever that our viewers know their trusted, local station is there for them, providing the news and information they need to keep their families informed and safe. KOMU 8 remains devoted to reaching an agreement and restoring service on Dish Network.

Please contact Dish Corporation and ask them why they dropped KOMU 8 despite our attempt to avoid service disruption. Visit their Website, Twitter or Facebook, or call 800-333-3474.

Remember, KOMU 8 News is streaming on multiple platforms. You can stream live and past newscasts by downloading the KOMU 8 app on Android TV, Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV here.

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Experts claimed that LiDAR could damage the eyes of its users. Previously, Apple confirmed that its latest iPhone 12 flagships offer this feature to enhance its camera quality.

Several researchers warn that some kinds of LiDAR could harm the human eyes and cause damage to autonomous cameras that are used for safe operation. Aside from these, this innovation could also damage the cameras used in professional photography, smartphones, and traffic devices.

Clean Technica reported that LiDAR is considered dangerous because it uses lasers.

The full definition of LiDAR si "Light Detection and Ranging." This means that it uses a laser to get a picture of its surroundings, which is the same method that radar uses radio waves.

Right now, various car and smartphone manufacturers use LiDAR technology to improve their cameras. But, some companies don't use this tech, such as Tesla.

How LiDAR harms users' eyes

Researchers explained that LiDAR has a frequency of 905 nanometers, which is considered too powerful for the human eyes. If the users are exposed to LiDAR regularly, their eyes could be temporarily or permanently damaged, leading to blindness.

Also Read: Google Pixel Phones Adopts Features For Heart, Respiration Monitoring

On the other hand, some types of LiDAR are safe to use. These kinds are those that have a frequency of 1,500 nanometers. Experts explained that this gap makes it hard for LiDAR to penetrate the human eyes. Why? Because eyes are usually opaque to those frequencies. Although these LiDAR models could still damage your eyes, they could not cause blindness.

Things about LiDAR that are not true

Right now, this claim is still a speculation. But, it is still a good decision to be extra careful when using your iPhone 12's LiDAR feature. Here are other beliefs about LiDAR that are considered myths, as reported by Electronic Design;

LiDAR is expensive

Solid-state LiDAR is the best approach because it has no moving parts.

LiDAR can't work in poor weather conditions.

LiDAR must operate infrared wavelengths.

LiDAR can only be used for automobiles.

Flash LiDAR is the best LiDAR for imaging.

LiDAR is a very high-tech solution.

If you want to know more details about these claims, all you need to do is click here.

For more news updates about LiDAR and other advanced smartphone features, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Chinese Smartphones Hide This Secret for you to Buy it, Claims Report

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Giuliano de Leon

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Mar. 13Desperate for cash and unable to access traditional lenders for all sorts of reasons, some Mainers turn to financial outfits that give out payday loans with terms that are sometimes impossible to pay back.

In a bid to offer better protection, state Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford, told a legislative committee this week that too many Mainers are "misinformed, bilked, conned and abused by unscrupulous predator lenders, often when they are in dire personal circumstances as well and most vulnerable to snake oil and fine print."

Bennett introduced a bill this session that would impose caps on the fees charged by lenders in the dark corners of financial services who sell money at outrageously exorbitant rates to Mainers in distress.

His amended bill would require that any fees charged are considered in calculating interest rates. Maine imposes interest rate caps on Maine-based finance companies but it doesn't restrict fees that can accompany the loans.

The measure faces some opposition, mostly based on the reality that out-of-state firms would still be allowed to charge excessive rates to Maine residents. The bill's future is uncertain.

In pushing his proposal, Bennett cited a complaint that a Mainer made to the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as an example of the sorts of practices he aims to stop.

In that complaint, a wife said that with her husband "working minimal hours," they were in "a very tight place" financially. She sought ought a short-term loan to get past a desperate moment.

To receive $650 immediately, the anonymous woman said, she agreed to an installment loan she hoped to pay back in two weeks, a short enough period that the interest wouldn't be too much to bear.

What she found out, though, is that the payment plan for the loan required her to pay $150 biweekly for six months. That amounted to $1,900 to receive a $650 loan. To pay it all off after a mere two weeks required her to cough up $190 in interest as well as the principal  a 29% rate to borrow cash for half a month.

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Whitney Barkley-Denney, senior policy counsel for the Center for Responsible Lending, told the Legislature's Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services that payday lenders in Maine can charge rates that reach as high as 271% annually without making any assessment of whether the borrower can pay it back. They can also seize money from borrowers' bank accounts in their quest to recoup their loan, he said.

"This toxic combination of loan terms is the debt trap by design," Barkey-Denney said. "The debt trap is the core of the business model."

The state's Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection and its Bureau of Financial Institutions told lawmakers they had no position on Bennett's bill, but pointed out that there are "a number of limitations on the reach of the proposal and potential consequences to consumer lending in Maine that are important for the committee to evaluate as it weighs policy changes."

Most importantly, since a 1978 Supreme Court ruling, federally-chartered banks and institutions from other states are not obligated to follow Maine's interest rate caps and rules. As a result, the state bureaus said, Maine consumers could still face higher rates if they turn to financial entities that aren't regulated from Augusta.

Bennett said that while it is true that "unscrupulous players are often beyond the reach" of Maine law, it doesn't mean that policymakers in the state are helpless.

Every New England state except Rhode Island bans payday loans that charge interest rates that exceed statutory caps.

From Ohio in the West to North Carolina in the South, the only other northeastern states that top the rate charged in Maine on a $300 loan are Rhode Island and Delaware, according to the Center for Responsible Lending.

The state bureaus also warned the change might devalue Maine's financial institutional charter and decrease lending opportunities for those considered high-risk borrowers.

"Consumers desperate for credit have options for accessibility to credit, including internet-based nonbank lenders and unlicensed payday lenders. If loans from Maine lenders are restricted, we may see residents turn more frequently to these other types of loans, which are much more difficult to regulate," the bureaus said in their joint testimony.

Kathy Keneborus, vice president of government relations for the Maine Bankers Association, told lawmakers her group opposes the bill because it wouldn't apply to all lenders and might limit consumers' choices.

She raised the specter of some borrowers, unable to get small-dollar loans from Maine banks, turning to "informal loan sources" instead.

Jonathan Selkowitz, a staff attorney at Pine Tree Legal Assistance, told the panel he sees what predatory loans can do.

"Crushing consumer debt is an unfortunately common trait among Pine Tree's client population," he said. Too many of them "become ensnared in a cycle of debt that prevents them from using the benefits of the consumer credit market to help accumulate wealth and shed the burdens of poverty."

"Pine Tree has observed how overwhelming consumer debt prevents Mainers from affording reliable vehicles to get to work, purchase a home, make rent, and improve their earning capacity," Selkowitz said.

What happens, said Frank D'Alessandro, litigation and policy director of Maine Equal Justice, is that people get in over their head.

"These loans are rarely paid off with just one loan, but instead turn into multiple, repeat loans with increasing amounts of fees and interest," he told lawmakers.

He said coping with exorbitant interest rates puts Mainers who turn to payday loans at greater risk of hunger and homelessness.

Jody Harris of the Maine Center for Economic Policy urged the committee to back Bennett's bill, which she called "a common-sense change that would help thousands of Maine borrowers and level the playing field with other financial products."

Legislators plan to discuss the proposed bill soon.
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New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait in Nandigram on Saturday (March 13) urged peopel to not to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and instead cast votes for a candidate who can defeat BJP.

The BKU leader's agenda for the Bengal visit includes discussing the issue of MSP and the three controversial farm laws with the farmers of the state.

Further, he accused the saffron party of 'conspiring' to injure West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Tikait is visiting the hotly contested seat of Nandigram which is witnessing will a neck-and-neck contest between TMC supremo and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from the constituency.

Earlier, Tikait had told the reporters in Delhi that he will be going to Kolkata and meet the government there only. "The government has gone to Kolkata. They will return in one and a half month. We are also going there. We will meet the government there only.

Addressing another meeting earlier in Kolkata, Tikait attacked the Centre and claimed that the government is run by big companies and not any political party. These farmers protests have to be held across the country, in every district, he added.

Recently, Banerjee had suffered injuries during her two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination on March 10. She had alleged that she was pushed by four-five unidentified people during her election campaigning.

The West Bengal CM was discharged from SSKM Hospital on March 12. "CM Mamata Banerjee has responded well to the treatment. She has been discharged with appropriate instructions, due to her repeated requests. She has been advised to review after 7 days, the hospital had said in its release.

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Not since the Roy Keane versus Mick McCarthy Saipan shootout has the country been so divided on a matter of relative unimportance.

This time round its Meghan Markle. There is of course a coterie of undecideds. But in the main she has lived up to her reputation as a woman who generates strong feelings  one way or the other.

There are those convinced she has been more than hard done by. They believe she was put upon and isolated by Buckingham Palace machinations. Was she not ostracised to the point of suicide? And worst of all there was speculation about the skin colour of her son.

Others see a scheming femme fatale. They charge she has brainwashed an emotionally vulnerable Prince Harry, indulging a feigned sense of victimhood.

They are equally convinced her pleas for privacy ring hollow while she courts a public profile. It is suggested this carefully calculated strategy is designed to build a brand which will net her millions of dollars.

But despite all the words written and spoken these last few days, we really dont have a clue as to who is the real Meghan Markle.

Once again the old adage from the Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez comes into play, Everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life, and a secret life.

And this is surely a situation where the secret inner life must remain a mystery. To be sure, indulging a bit of pop psychology here and there is tempting. Anything to try and find out what makes the central figure in this latest royal drama tick.

Would a woman so self-contained, focused, and determined in her life to date, allow herself to be a prisoner within the palace? Is this believable given the huge financial resources available through her husband  a scion of one of the worlds wealthiest families.

On the other hand, racism in its many guises lurks in the most unlikely places. It is not beyond belief certain royals harbour unease that somebody not fully white married somebody so close to the throne. The House of Windsor, at the apex of the British class structure, has long been laced with snobbery.

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But instead of confronting such attitudes  in tandem with her husband  did Meghan use these slights to forge a pathway to freedom? Is her hearts desire a Californian lifestyle replete with west coast fame and wealth?

And so her private thoughts must remain a mystery. Like many such family sagas, questions will remain forever unanswered. Secrets will be carried to the grave, leaving the echo of all those what might have beens.

Of much greater significance this past week is that other drama dubbed the Davy 16. This is the collective who, in Jack Charlton parlance, saw a nice little earner. But unlike the Big Man, who had a penchant for straightforward graft, doing things by the book was of limited concern to these corporate heavy hitters.

They cut corners in the cause of personal greed. As a result, a client of Davy was forensically duped. Lucky for him he realised he was being shortchanged.

And now the house of cards has come tumbling down. Davy, which traded for so long on its perceived trustworthiness, indulged shoddy sharp practice at the highest level.

Those involved in this in-house sleight of hand were surely convinced their scheme would remain below the radar. Central Bank investigators had to confront an institutional arrogance within the company.

Its all eerily redolent of the fast buck culture which nearly wrecked our economy only a few years ago.

Despite probing by the Central Bank, a plethora of questions still remain unanswered.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is pivotal by way of explaining how such behaviour remained hidden for so long. There is a shroud of vagueness over the whole affair.

As with Meghan, we surely dont know the private thoughts of the Davy 16 on a scheme which would so damage the reputation of their business. But they surely figured it would remain their secret.

And did they console themselves the fallout would never end up in the Four Courts  unlike the actions of some untrustworthy types who for personal gain nick stuff from supermarket shelves?
The Nation Speaks (March 13): Outcry Over H.R. 1; Ashli Babbitt Shooting Lawsuit; Gender Council Called Sexist

On this weeks The Nation Speaks, critics are ringing alarm bells over the sweeping new federal powers contained in House Bill H.R. 1, or the For the People Act. The act has been passed by House Democrats; Senate Republicans say they will do everything they can to stop it.

Hans VonSpakovskysenior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a former Federal Election Commissionerwarns that the bill would cement into law many of the voting practices that caused chaos during the 2020 election. David Keating, president of the Institute for Free Speech, says half of the provisions in the nearly 800-page bill severely limit free speech for everyone but politicians.

Both experts expect a host of constitutional challenges if the bill becomes law.

On this weeks America Q&A we ask: What do you think most Americans can agree on?

Then we speak with Terry Roberts, the lawyer representing Ashli Babbitts husband and family. Babbitt was the 34-year-old Air Force vet who was shot and killed by police in the Capitol on January 6. Her family is preparing a lawsuit.

Finally, the White House has just created a Gender Policy Council. Warren Farrell, author of The Boy Crisis, calls the council sexist, racist, and anti-unity. Find out why on The Nation Speaks.
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden and the leaders of Australia, India and Japan agreed in a summit on Friday (March 12) to cooperate in providing up to a billion coronavirus vaccine doses to developing countries in the Indo-Pacific by the end of 2022, a move to counter China's widening vaccine diplomacy.

Joe Biden, hosting the first leader-level meeting of a group central to his efforts to counter China's growing military and economic power, said a free and open Indo-Pacific region was "essential" to all four countries. "The United States is committed to working with you, our partners, and all our allies in the region, to achieve stability," he said.

Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the leaders addressed key regional issues at the virtual meeting, "including freedom of navigation and freedom from coercion" in the South and the East China Sea, the North Korean nuclear issue, and the coup and violent repression in Myanmar.

Sullivan told a news briefing the meeting discussed the challenges posed by China, although this was not the focus. He said that among the issues discussed were recent cyberattacks and semi-conductor supply-chain issues.

The Quad leaders committed to delivering up to one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Southeast Asia by the end of 2022, Sullivan said.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he wanted the four "to forge strongly ahead toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific" and that Japan had agreed to cooperate in providing vaccine-related support to developing countries.

He also told reporters he had expressed strong opposition to attempts by China to change the status quo in the region and that the four leaders had agreed to cooperate on the issue.

India and Australia also emphasized the importance of regional security cooperation, which has been enhanced by previous lower-level Quad meetings.

India Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the meeting had agreed US vaccines would be manufactured in India, something New Delhi has called for to counter Beijing`s widening vaccine diplomacy.

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In a joint statement, the leaders pledged to work closely on COVID-19 vaccine distribution, climate issues and security.

"We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion," they added, without mentioning China by name.

The meeting also agreed to set up a group of experts to help distribute vaccines, as well as working groups for cooperation on climate change, technology standards, and joint development of emerging technologies.

The leaders agreed to hold an in-person meeting later this year.

India, Australia and Japan have all faced security challenges from China, strengthening their interest in the Quad.

Quad cooperation dates back to their joint response to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004.

The Quad was revived under the Trump administration, which saw it as a vehicle to push back against China. The United States hosted foreign ministers meeting in 2019, which was followed by another in Japan last year and a virtual session in February.

Friday's meeting coincided with a major US diplomatic drive to solidify alliances in Asia and Europe to counter China, including visits next week by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Japan and South Korea.

Blinken will also meet in Alaska with China`s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, and State Councillor Wang Yi - the first high-level in-person contact between the world`s two largest economies under the Biden administration.

Washington has said it will not hold back in its criticism of Beijing over issues ranging from Taiwan to Hong Kong and the genocide it says China is committing against minority Muslims.

Modi told the session the Quad had "come of age" and would "now remain an important pillar of stability in the region." Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the meeting "a whole new level of cooperation to create a new anchor for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific."

A fact sheet issued after the meeting said the United States, through its International Development Finance Corp, would work to finance Indian drugmaker Biological E Ltd to produce at least 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses by end of 2022.

It also said Japan was in discussions to provide concessional yen loans for India to expand manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines for export.

The Biden administration told Reuters on Tuesday (March 9) the United States and Japan would help fund Indian firms manufacturing vaccines for US drugmakers Novavax Inc and J&J.

However, Indian government sources say US curbs on exports of critical materials could hamper that effort and those to start large-scale distribution to Southeast Asia.
Russia on Friday backed Talibans inclusion into a future interim government in Afghanistan, ahead of talks in Moscow next week aimed at securing peace deals and resolving the conflict. The statement by the foreign ministry came as a May deadline looms for the USA to put an end to its two-decade-long military involvement in the ravaged country. Washington has announced its support and encouraged that Afghan leadership to work towards the establishment of an inclusive government, proposing talks with the Taliban to secure a peace settlement.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova while addressing the reporters said that the formation of an inclusive administration would be a legal solution to the problem of integrating the Taliban into the peaceful political life of Afghanistan. She further added that the decision should be made by the Afghan leaders themselves and should be resolved during negotiations on national reconciliation.

Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, while speaking at a news conference in Doha, stated that talks on Afghanistan planned in Moscow this month aim to help peace talks in Doha and are not rival processes. Russia is also going to hold a press conference on Afghanistan in Moscow on March 18.

Also Read: Quad virtual summit begins: Vaccine cooperation, Indo-Pacific charter on agenda

Zamir Kabulov, the Russian special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan has said that the participants who have been invited to attend the meeting have confirmed their visit to the Afghan Peace Talks conference going to be held in Moscow. the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad will also be present at the meeting and has confirmed his participation.

Also Read: #China5YearPlan:Xi Pushes for tech supremacy, rakes up controversial infrastructural plans
Business Insider

Beachgoers relax on South Beach in Miami Beach, FL on Friday, June 19, 2020. Scott McIntyre/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

The CDC still says "do not travel."

But many health experts disagree, arguing that travel should be a perk for the fully vaccinated.

If you do decide to book a flight or hotel, here are some tips for how to do it most safely.

This article is one in a four-part series on the simple ways to fix America's biggest COVID-19 mistakes. Click here to read more.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Last month, Kyle, a 21-year-old college student, traveled from Arizona to Mexico for spring break. He wasn't supposed to, as his school's spring break (like so many others) was officially canceled this year.

But, he said, he really needed a vacation.

"The virus has been going on for a while now, so I might as well go, because it's not going to end anytime soon," he told Insider, asking to omit his last name for privacy reasons.

Kyle is not the only one using pandemic fatigue as an excuse to travel. Beachgoers are flocking to Florida, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The number of people passing through TSA checkpoints has been on a steady upward creep for the past month.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn't shifted its recommendations to address this uptick, nor has it come up with new guidelines for vaccinated travelers.

"Travel increases your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19," the agency's website has read for months. "CDC recommends that you do not travel at this time."

This kind of abstinence-only approach has fallen on deaf ears, alienating the public. At this point, when case rates are declining, vaccinations are ramping up, and pandemic fatigue is going strong, people are straight-up ignoring the conservative government advisories.

Perhaps if more public health officials had suggested ways to travel safely, rather than warning against any and all trips, things would be different.

Many leading, independent public health experts now agree: loosening up travel restrictions for fully vaccinated people makes scientific sense, as long as a few common sense precautions are followed to protect those who aren't vaccinated.

Story continues

Let vaccinated people travel a bit, with guidelines

Alexeen Simms, a server at the Hungry Tarpon Restaurant in Islamorada, Florida, provides a luncheon entree to a couple Monday. June 1. 2020. Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/Handout via REUTERS

Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University school of public health, recommends vacations only as a perk for the fully vaccinated.

"I think right now people, if they need to travel and have been fully vaccinated can - but they've got to continue wearing their face mask," Jha told reporters on Thursday.

That doesn't mean jetting off to Europe for weeks on end, since there are some limited studies that suggest viral COVID-19 transmission has happened on a few long-haul flights. ("Would I get on an airplane as a vaccinated person and travel around the world right now? I probably wouldn't," he said.)

But short, domestic flights to see family generally carry a low level of risk, especially if people are vaccinated and cautious on the trip.

"Grandparents really want to see grandkids," Jha added. "And that requires traveling. And the question is, is that unsafe? And I don't believe it's unsafe."

Make transport hubs safer, and be stricter about what tests are acceptable

Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo

Jha said that by summertime, more domestic travel will be "relatively comfortable and safe," but we need to keep up the reliable public health measures that work well.

First, that means mandating masks and distance.

It's true: planes are generally well-ventilated and safe, as long as passengers are masked up. But that doesn't mean that your entire air travel experience is risk-free. You should still avoid crowded areas of the airport and take precautions on your way to and from your destination, especially if you're taking public transit.

It also means fixing our testing strategy.

The US has mandated that international travelers must show a negative COVID-19 test result from up to three days before their flight to enter the country. Some states have implemented stricter testing and quarantine requirements for domestic travelers too. But these state and federal guidelines still don't address well the fact that some people can incubate the virus for an entire week (or more) before they become infectious to others.

A more stringent testing-quarantining combo would yield more reliable results, as a COVID-19 test can only capture a moment in time. When someone takes a test three days before their flight, it doesn't capture their exposures in the few days before and after the test - so staying unexposed to other households during the period after a negative test, but before a flight, is vital.

Teach people how to take small, safe, domestic vacations

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

For the unvaccinated, there are some trips that don't involve going to an airport or popping your social bubble, like a road trip with just your household. These options are "zero risk," pandemic preparedness expert Amesh Adalja told Insider. And there's a wide spectrum of risk levels between that kind of conservative option and a "Spring Breakers" kind of vacation.

Camping is another well-ventilated outdoor option, as the weather gets warmer.

It's also possible to safely take a trip that looks similar to a "normal" vacation, as long as you're willing to observe precautions and feel comfortable taking on some level of risk. Private home rentals that are not shared with other travelers are safer than busy resorts.

A socially-distanced hotel stay isn't completely out of the picture either. Just make sure that the place you're staying is following common sense COVID-19 protocols (contactless check-ins, room service options instead of indoor dining, and places with plenty of outdoor seating for meals are all good signs).

Any kind of vacation rental that includes a private, en suite bathroom and absolutely no shared indoor space with other travelers (including for dining) is going to be the safest bet.

Scrap performative measures and focus on the real risks

A Thai Airways crewmember disinfects the cabin of an aircraft on January 28, 2020. Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

If you do your own research on traveling during the pandemic, you're bombarded with a barrage of recommendations on how to do so safely. But before you spurge on a Naomi Campbell-style hazmat suit and goggles combo, let's review. Because some precautions are more crucial than others, and it can be tough to separate the signal from the noise.

While it might give you some peace of mind to watch flight attendants wipe down your seats on a plane, most visible sanitation measures are simply "hygiene theater," a term coined by The Atlantic to describe performative COVID-19 precautions meant to put customers at ease.

Cleaning shared surfaces can't hurt, but it's much more important to protect yourself from the airborne particles that carry the coronavirus from person to person. Wearing a well-fitted mask (or two) and staying at least six feet away from others on your travel journey is far more effective than packing antibacterial wipes (though those can be good in a pinch to replace handwashing if you need to clean your hands before you touch your face, or eat a meal).

Letting confined spaces air out before you use them is good too: if you rent a car, roll down the windows and let the air blast for a few minutes before you get in. If you check into a room and don't know how long it's been since the cleaning crew came, or the last customer left, crack some windows and let a good crossbreeze blow through. Same goes for dining tents. In general: avoid breathing the same air as people from different households as much as possible.

A health advisory sign at Miami Beach last spring break. Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Many businesses, including airlines, theme parks, and hotels, have implemented temperature checks to screen out potentially sick customers. But given that a quarter of COVID-19 patients don't develop a fever - and even more might slip through the checks before developing symptoms - temperature checks may give travelers a false sense of security, chipping away at other, more effective measures.

"It's more effective to think of personal hygiene to reduce your own exposure," microbiologist and author Miryam Wahrman previously told Insider. "You have to assume where people are, there are going to be germs."

Read the original article on Business Insider
New Gambling Care Charity Established By Gibraltar Regulator

Published March 13, 2021 by Sol FH

The Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) has taken a major step in lessening gambling harm and at-risk gamblers.

The Gibraltar Gaming Care Foundation (GGCF), funded by the CBGA has been established to combat the challenging side-effects of problem gambling. The Foundation will work with players, operators, gaming industry leaders, and even government regulators to lessen the impact of gambling disorders, within the local market.

The Foundation will operate on its own, independent from the CBGA, in partnership with local councilors Selvan Soobiah and Stephen Reyes. Acting as a corporate counselor and an initial funder of research is the Belvedere Trustees Limited. The new initiative will be at the University of Gibraltar and will be called the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming (CERG).

Ground-Breaking Research

More than 2.5m has already been raised by the Gibraltar regulator, mainly by local gambling companies for its establishment and first years of operations. The main research will look at the impacts of gambling addiction and other problems on families, individuals, and society.

Additional research will focus on how gambling addiction may be linked to other problematic behavior and how gambling operators can work to minimize the negative impact of gambling.

This is a pivotal step change for all Gibraltar licensed operators and the jurisdiction as a whole, commented GBGA chairman Nigel Birrell.

The GBGA, via the GGCF will be supporting the creation of an industry-leading research program aimed at exploring solutions to minimize gambling-related harm and the creation of open-source databases for academic studies.

Reyes, who will act as chair of the GGCF added: Gibraltar is known globally as a premier jurisdiction in the online gambling area, so it is great that as an industry the operators have come together and set up and formed this charitable foundation to invest in academic research to inform effective initiatives to encourage responsible gambling and prevent gambling harm.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and TD for Dublin Fingal Darragh O'Brien has announced a transformational 25.4m fund for the Balbriggan Rejuvenation project, which grew out of the 'Our Balbriggan' public consultation process on the future shape of the town.

Minister O'Brien said the funding would drive the regeneration and rejuvenation of the town with a particular focus on the harbour and town centre renewal.

At a press conference at Balbriggan Harbour Minister O'Brien said: 'I am really delighted to be in a position to announce this extremely significant funding for Balbriggan which will not only go towards the rejuvenation and regeneration of the harbour and town centre but will also act as a key driver of the local economy, creating employment and giving local businesses a boost.

'Under Call 1 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) Balbriggan received over 2 million. Now, under Call 2, a game changing sum of 25m has been allocated which is absolutely a vote of confidence in the town and indeed the wider North Fingal area by this Government.'

Minister O'Brien paid tribute to Fingal County Council for their work in submitting a successful application, to local representatives for their backing of the proposal and to the 'Our Balbriggan' organisation, who are the driving force behind the regeneration in the town.

The Minsiter said: 'As we know, Balbriggan is home to one of the youngest, fastest growing and most diverse populations in Ireland. There is an unmatched determination across the community of Balbriggan to build a bright future for the area. There is so much history to this town, Bremore castle, a beautiful beach and a working harbour - it has so much to offer and the redevelopment plans will help to make it thrive.

Expand Close Pictured are Cllr David Healy, Mayor of Fingal, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien TD, AnnMarie Farrelly, CE, Fingal County Council / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pictured are Cllr David Healy, Mayor of Fingal, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien TD, AnnMarie Farrelly, CE, Fingal County Council

'An 'Our Balbriggan' survey, which a quarter of the local population participated in, found that there was an overwhelming desire to redevelop the heart of the Main Street opening up the centre of the town to Millpond Park and the Bracken River, with new landscaped civic amenities. We are listening, their voices have been heard and this funding will go towards doing just that.

'I really look forward to seeing these plans progress. I am deeply committed to the project and to this town as a Dublin Fingal TD - we all want to see it prosper.'

Fingal County Council has welcomed the announcement and said the funding will help realise eight projects under the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan by 2027. The overall cost of the projects is anticipated to be 33.9m with Fingal County Council providing 8.5m to complete the planned public realm improvements.

Eight projects will be funded as part of the rejuvenation scheme which inclue the improvement of Quay Street and the re-imagining of the Harbour area as well as the transformation of the pocket of buildings from 2 to 4, Dublin Street. There will also be funds spent on the upgrade of Bridge Street and Railway Street and of Millpond Park with promenade and coastal improvements and a 'Castle to Castle' cycleway also included in the plans.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy, said: 'The Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan is a key project for Fingal County Council and this funding will support the efforts to transform Balbriggan town centre. The infrastructure and public realm improvements which can now proceed will support a number of connected purposes. Improvements to public space will support quality of life and community life in Balbriggan. In doing so they will underpin the development of the local economy as well as the transition to a decarbonised economy and society which is at the core of both national and Fingal policies. I want to pay tribute to the Council officials, community representatives and local Councillors whose imagination and commitment is reflected in the Rejuvenation Plan, and to thank Minister O'Brien, on behalf of the Council and community, for the URDF funding which will help to realise the Plan.'

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: 'We are delighted that our application for funding under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund has been successful and it will assist the Council in delivering a transformed town centre and harbour area. Our aim is to ensure Balbriggan continues to be a great place to live, invest, to work and do business. We have planned the investment with extensive collaboration with the local community and I want to thank the Balbriggan Leadership Group for their work on the ambitious plan that is Our Balbriggan.'

Professor Brian MacCraith, Chair of the Balbriggan Leadership Group, said: ;On behalf of the Balbriggan Leadership Group, I welcome this announcement wholeheartedly. With significant funding now secured and detailed plans in place, the rejuvenation and regeneration of Balbriggan can now take a major step forward and by 2027 the heart of the town will be transformed. This investment in the public realm of Balbriggan will create the conditions for private investment, leading to the repurposing of existing vacant buildings and infill developments. This will create a more attractive place to live, work and visit. The re-development of buildings and disused areas will expand the available space in the town centre for community and commercial uses providing new amenities, green spaces and an improved public realm.'

With funding now secured, Fingal County Council plans to deliver the eight projects in phases. The first phase, which is scheduled for completion by 2023, will involve the re-imagining of the public realm at Quay Street, the upgrading of the Harbour area and the development of Artists' Studios and a Digital Innovation/Maker Space at 2/4 Dublin Street.

The development of Bremore Regional Park, the Fingal Coastal Way and Bridge Street is expected to be finished by 2026. These projects will involve improvements to the promenade and coastal areas as well as a cycleway between Bremore Castle and Ardgillan Castle which will form part of the Fingal Coastal Way. It also includes the redevelopment of buildings on Bridge Street which have recently been acquired by the Council.

The final phase will be completed by 2027 and will see the rejuvenation of Railway Street and Millpond Park. This will be a key part of the rejuvenation plan focusing on the town's urban core and opening up its green corridor, the River Bracken, through Millpond Park.
Ahead of talks next week in Moscow, Russia on March 12 said that it was in favour of Afghanistan forming an interim government including members of the Taliban. While speaking to reporters, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the formation of an interim inclusive administration would be a logical solution to the problem of integrating the Taliban into the peaceful political life of Afghanistan. However, she also added that the decision should be made by the Afghans themselves and should be resolved during the negotiations on national reconciliation.

Moscow is set to host a conference on Afghanistan on March 18 and has invited several regional players, including Taliban representatives. The talks next week comes at a crucial time for the peace process ahead of a May 1 deadline for the US troops to withdraw from Afghanistan. It is worth mentioning that the US has drafted a peace plan calling for the current Afghan government to be replaced with an interim administration until a new constitution is agreed and elections held, but Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has refused to step aside for a transitional government.

Afghan peace deal

Last year, the United States had struck a deal with the Taliban in Qatar and began withdrawing its troops in return for security guarantees from the militants and a commitment to kickstarting peace talks with the Afghan government. But now the Biden administration officials are to reevaluate the pact as violence across Afghanistan has increased despite the Taliban and Afghan government engaging in those talks since September in Doha. Taliban has also threatened to renew strikes on the US forces if the withdrawal does not occur.

It is worth noting that as part of the deal, the US committed to withdrawing its 12,000 troops within 14 months. There are currently only 2,500 American troops left in the country. The Taliban committed to preventing other groups, including Al Qaeda, from using Afghan soil to recruit, train or fundraise toward activities that threaten the US or its allies. The Taliban has stopped attacks on international forces as part of the historic deal, however, it continued to fight the Afghan government.

(Image: AP)
Highlights OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are set to debut on March 23.

The two phones were spotted on two Chinese certification sites  3C (CCC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)

The listing on the certification sites revealed that the smartphones could support 65W fast charging.

OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are set to debut on March 23. Ahead of the big launch, a new certification has confirmed the charging speeds on both the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro. The two phones were spotted on two Chinese certification sites 3C (CCC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). If reports are to be trusted, the two smartphones will be powered by Snapdragon 888.

As per the Gizmochina report, the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro have appeared on the two Chinese certification sites with the model numbers LE2120 and LE2110. The listing on the certification sites revealed that the smartphones could support 65W fast charging. The smartphones will also ship with WARP chargers inside the box. The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are rumored to come with 4500mAh batteries and support for wireless charging. The OnePlus 9 Pro up to 45W wireless charging.

Previous leaks have revealed that the OnePlus 9 Pro could feature a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz. The OnePlus 9, on the other hand, could come with a smaller 6.55-inch Fluid AMOLED display and a high refresh rate of 120Hz. The smartphones are speculated to be powered by Snapdragon 888 SoC paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage which can be expandable using a microSD card. There could be more variants during the launch.

In the camera department, the OnePlus 9 Pro is expected to feature a quad-camera setup on the rear. The sensors would include a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 50-megapixel secondary camera, an 8-megapixel sensor, a 2-megapixel sensor for the macro or depth mode. Similarly, the OnePlus 9 is tipped to feature a quad-camera feature on the rear too. The camera island could include a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel secondary sensor, and a 2-megapixel sensor for macro mode.

The company had confirmed that it had collaborated with the Swedish brand Hasselblad for the cameras of the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro. For the unversed, Hasselblad is one of the most popular camera companies that had manufactured lenses since 1941. They are known for producing high-end cameras. In 1948, Hasselblad had introduced the first single-lens reflex camera, which was known as Hasselblad 1600F.
(Natural News) Joe Biden was elected as a moderate who was going to stay the course and return this country to normalcy. As it turns out, Biden is changing this country faster than any president ever has. Our job is to pay attention to how exactly Joe Biden is changing it. The New York Times isnt going to tell you, and we think you have a right to know.

(Article by Tucker Carlson republished from FoxNews.com)

Now, not every change that Joe Biden makes will matter over time. Despite all the huffing and puffing, a lot of things that presidents do are quickly forgotten. Some of the things he promises wont happen; others are just symbolic ring-kissing, designed to appease the interest groups that got him elected. But some of Bidens changes are very real, and they matter very much. Nothing matters more than what Joe Biden does to the U.S. military.

Our military is the last functional institution of any size in this country. Its the last institution most people trust and respect. It is by far the most important. A weak military means no country. Period.

So on Monday, when we saw Joe Biden pledge to bring an intensity of purpose and mission to really change the culture and habits of the U.S. military, we paid attention.

JOE BIDEN: Some of its relatively straightforward work where were making good progress. Designing body armor that fits women properly, tailoring combat uniforms for women, creating maternity flight suits, updating requirements for their hairstyles.

Perhaps maternity flight suits have been around for a while. Weve never heard of them. But here was the President of the United States promoting them at a press conference. That phrase stuck out not because we have some hateful bias against pregnant women flying military jets. Were pro-pregnancy, as we often say. Were also open-minded. Maybe pregnant women make the best pilots. The Department of Defense measures everything, so there has to be extensive research on this question. If the Pentagon can show that pregnant pilots are the best, we will be the first to demand an entire Air Force of pregnant pilots.

The problem is, were pretty confident that Joe Biden hasnt asked to see those numbers. Wed bet money he never even thought to ask.

The rest of us depend on the U.S. military to protect our families and to protect the country itself. Joe Biden doesnt see it that way. Finding the most effective military pilots  or infantry officers, or SEAL teams  is not his priority. Its not even close to his priority. Identity politics is Joe Bidens priority. Its all that matters.

You see this attitude throughout the U.S. government, as well as in the corporate world. Key positions filled on the basis of physical appearance, without any reference to ability or experience. Now, you can get by with that if youre Citibank, which now cares more about wokeness than about banking. (They can explain the results to their shareholders ten years from now.) But it is not fine if your only job is to protect the United States from people who want to kill the rest of us. That is the worst kind of dereliction of duty.

Yet its happening right now on an enormous scale. Just this week, the Biden administration announced that the Pentagon will pay for gender reassignment surgery for active duty personnel. How do sex changes in the military make this country safer? Thats not a trick question, its another volley in the culture war. Its the only question that matters  literally. But no one bothered to ask it, probably because no one can remember why the U.S. military exists.

Heres a reminder: the U.S. military exists to fight and win wars. That is its only purpose. The U.S. military is not an NGO. It is not a vehicle for achieving equity. It is not a social experiment. Its definitely not an employment agency; nobody has a God-given right to work in the military. If you ever hear this show whine that Delta Force is discriminating against paunchy, 51-year-old cable news hosts, youll know weve lost the thread. Its not about us, its about the country. Making people feel valued and included is a good thing, but it is not the point of the U.S. military. It cannot be the point of the U.S. military, or else were done.

This used to be obvious. The military was the purest meritocracy we had. If you get a minute, go back and listen to some of the speeches that Colin Powell used to give about his experience in the U.S. Army. The military was willing to judge Powell purely on his talents, something that few would do at the time. Powell was smart and capable, and for that reason, he became chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was justly proud of that, and so was the country he served. Would Colin Powells story be possible today? It would not.

Joe Biden has put a man called Lloyd Austin in charge of the Pentagon. Biden plucked Austin from the cynical world of private equity, but youre not supposed to notice that. Youre supposed to notice only that Lloyd Austin is Black. The real headline, however, is that Lloyd Austin is the second defense secretary in a row to have been on the payroll of Raytheon, the massive defense contractor. If you saw something like this happen in a Central American country, you would call it corruption, and you would be right.

For centuries, our military has been self-consciously non-partisan. In a democracy, it has to be that way. No country can survive if its armed forces become the tool of a specific political party. We know that because it happens all the time, all over the world, and the consequences are always horrifying. It has never happened here.

However, Lloyd Austin is openly political. In his first days on the job, Austin made the entire armed services submit to a kind of political purity test. Anyone with views that he found extreme had to leave. The rest of us watched as this happened, and once again, no one said anything. The left approved, the right felt hamstrung because they support the troops. Of course, if you support the troops, you should probably speak up when theyre being abused.

Then Austin set about accelerating poisonous trends already in progress at the Pentagon, the worst of these being the use of irrelevant criteria in hiring and promotion. In order to meet the demands of various Democratic interest groups, the Pentagon has dramatically lowered standards in the services. They officially deny this, but its true. Ask anyone who works there. If you press the spokesmen, theyll tell you that its not a big deal because traditional standards dont really measure anything. Well, then why have them in the first place? Why have standards at all? It doesnt make sense. Theyre lying. And theyre lying because they have to lie. Politicians have demanded it.

Now, if you dare to point any of this out, they become hysterical because they cant defend their own policies. When people cant defend what theyve done, they yell. They cant even clearly explain what those policies are, at least publicly. So they attack.

You hear politicians like Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. say that its unpatriotic to question the Pentagon unless youve served in the military yourself. You havent earned that right. Really? Can only cops talk about police brutality? If you havent been elected to office, can you criticize Congress? Theyre not making a real argument. Theyre trying to silence dissent.

Were not playing along, sorry. Every American citizen has a right, maybe an obligation, to know what the military they pay for is doing because our lives may depend on it.

Thursday, the Department of Defense launched a large and coordinated public relations offensive against this show. Pentagon brass issued hostile statements. People in uniform sent out videos on social media. The DOD even issued a news release attacking us: Press Secretary Smites Fox Host. (Smites! Like were a hostile foreign power.) We suspect this is one war they might actually win. Theyve got a manpower advantage.

We could play you a lot of the tape from this today  it took up most of their day  and we could marvel over it. Since when does the Pentagon declare war on a domestic news operation? We cant remember that ever happening. But were going to pass on that, because this is bigger than a feud with some flack at the Pentagon. This is genuinely worrisome.

The Department of Defense has never been more aggressively or openly political. There are, at present, 2,500 American troops stationed in Afghanistan. They remain there to prevent the fall of Kabul to extremists. Simultaneously, there are 5,000 troops in our own Capitol, also as protection against extremists, meaning people who voted for the losing candidate in the last election. Judging by those numbers, the Pentagon is twice as focused on controlling our own citizens as it is on controlling the Taliban.

Meanwhile, as Lloyd Austin hyperventilates about White supremacy, there are real threats out there, and the biggest ones continue to be ignored. Those threats arent in Syria or suburban Virginia, and theyre not domestic extremism, at least not right now.

The main threat we face, as everyone who is honest knows, is the government of China. China is ascendant. Their economy will soon outpace ours. China now has the largest navy on the planet. Why do they have that? Why did they feel the need to build it? Does that have potential consequences for us? Yes.

If China moved against Taiwan, how would we respond? More likely, if the Chinese decided to close international shipping lanes, it would cripple our economy. If they decided to shut down our internet, it would bring our life to a halt. If they decided to occupy Malaysia, that would be a grave concern to the world. If any of these things, or 100 other things that might take place, actually happen, what exactly would our Pentagon do about it? Can the U.S. military still win a real war?

Those are the questions that matter. Those are the only questions that matter, which may be why Joe Biden wants to talk about maternity flight suits.

Read more at: FoxNews.com and JoeBiden.news.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/03/12

For quite some time in "A Way Station" it's not made explicitly clear that the film is a melodrama. We just have Ji-ah (played by Kim Jae-kyung) acting the role of an unremarkable salarywoman, in an oddly chaste-seeming relationship with her office boyfriend Seok-jin (played by Shin Ji-hoon). It's only over the course of a fairly awkward birthday dinner that we find out the horrible truth behind Ji-ah's medical condition, as she mulls over how to spend the rest of her limited time.

"A Way Station" is at its best when its simply being a drama about getting a cancer diagnosis young. That Ji-ah is not a particularly interesting character somewhat perversely works to the story's benefit. It's very easy to identify with her living day by day with no real purpose, and thus seeming oddly numb to the idea that her life is going to end. Ji-ah is neither enraged nor is she particularly sad. She simply persists one weak smile at a time, having accepted her own mortality.

This part of the narrative goes on for so long that I was honestly a little surprised when the movie moved on to proper romantic melodrama territory, with Ji-ah's relationship with her longtime friend Seung-hyeon (played by Kim Dong-jun) coming into focus. Now, you might be thinking to yourself, wait, didn't the first paragraph say that Ji-ah had a boyfriend? And yes, yes it did. Ji-ah breaks up with him rather unceremoniously in one of the film's more genuinely affective moments.

I doubt this was intentional. Seok-jin is just a very pitiable character. It's clear that he always liked Ji-ah more than she liked him, and that's a pretty brutal way to find out, learning that with her days numbered, Ji-ah would rather not spend them with Seok-jin. This is such a powerful arc that by just abruptly dropping it, writer/director Kim Jung-min-XIII made it very difficult for me to properly identify Ji-ah and Seung-hyeon as a proper couple.

Matters are not helped by another brutal midpoint scene, where Seung-hyeon attempts to romanticize Ji-ah via extreme cliche and she responds with sincere revulsion, much as nearly any woman would do in a situation like that. All these elements, from Ji-ah's banality to Seok-jin's existence to the initial emotional distance between Ji-ah and Seung-hyeon, undermine the movie's inherent melodrama. They're good story elements but they feel cheapened being used in service of a typical romantic melodrama, where they just bring unwanted conflict with the tone.

Eventually "A Way Station" gets its bearings straight. But until then the movie just meanders in a frustrating way that obfuscates its most important elements as a genre flick about the realization of lost love. We barely get any discussion either of the school days of the lead characters or Seung-hyeon's memory issues, despite these aspects being essential both to their shared relationship as well as Seung-hyeon's character. "A Way Station" gets the job done as a tear-inducing melodrama but it could have been so much better.

Review by William Schwartz

___________



"A Way Station" is directed by Kim Jung-min-XIII, and features Kim Dong-jun, Kim Jae-kyung, Yoon Yoo-sun, Jin Ye-sol, Heo Jung-min, Shin Ji-hoon. Release date in Korea: 2021/02/18.
Today, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had to leave the residence of President Armen Sarkissian on the technical route.

Oppositionists who came to Sarkissian's residence demanding Nikol Pashinyan's resignation blocked the main entrance. In order not to arrange new clashes between the protesters and the police, Pashinyan chose to leave through the Armenian presidents garage.

According to the Armenian media, the prime minister's motorcade drove via Antarain Street and headed towards the government buildings.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 14:03:57|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday strongly condemned the latest mass kidnapping of students in Nigeria and demanded unconditional release of them.

Late Thursday night, some 30 female and male students as well as several school staff, were reportedly abducted by gunmen from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, just outside Kaduna city in the Igabi local government area, which marks at least the fourth students kidnap in the country since December.

While some students have reportedly been rescued by Nigerian security forces, the UN chief called for "the immediate and unconditional release of those students that remain in captivity," his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric told journalist at a regular press briefing.

"The secretary-General underscores that schools must remain safe spaces for children to learn without fear of violence or kidnapping or any other attacks on them," Dujarric said, adding that "attacks on schools and other educational facilities constitute a grave violation of children's rights and human rights more broadly."

The UN chief "urges the authorities to safeguard schools and to ensure the right to education in a safe environment," Dujarric added.

Last week, 279 schoolgirls were freed after being snatched from their boarding school at Jangebe, in northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state. Weeks before, dozens of children and staff were taken from a boarding school and in December, more than 300 boys were abducted.

Fears are growing that a so-called "kidnapping industry" is continuing to expand across northern Nigeria. In 2014, the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram's attack on the Chibok secondary school in Borno state sparked international outcry and prompted the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Of the 276 girls taken then, more than 100 are reportedly still missing nearly seven years later. Enditem
She often showcases her incredible figure in a series of bikini snaps.

And Montana Brown didn't disappoint as she flaunted her curves in a black two-piece on Friday in a snap taken on her recent Barbados break.

The Love Island star, 25, sported the matching set from her own Swim Society collection in the snaps she shared with her 1.3million followers on Instagram.

Blondes have more fun! Montana Brown flaunted her curves in a black two-piece from her own Swim Society collection in the snaps she shared with her Instagram followers on Friday

Montana looked sensational in the one shoulder bikini top which featured a cut-out section that drew attention to her pert cleavage.

The reality star beauty flaunted her taut midriff in a pair of matching bottoms with metal circle details on the hips.

She looked radiant as she posed in front of foliage in the Ella two-piece. Her golden tresses were in beachy waves while she appeared to go makeup free.

Montana captioned the snap: 'Im going back blonde.... they have more fun #happyfriday.'

Sizzling: The Love Island star, 25, looked sensational in the one shoulder bikini top which featured a cut-out section that drew attention to her pert cleavage

Montana has been soaking up the sunshine since she 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.

Wow! Montana often showcases her incredible figure in a series of bikini snaps from Barbados after she managed to escape Britain's third national lockdown and jetted off there

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)

Wow: Montana posed in a cream swimsuit as she admitted it's 'not my intention to be insensitive' as she thanked others for supporting her decision to travel during the pandemic

Montana's outing also 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.

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.'
Daniel Andrews had admitted he has a 'very long journey' ahead after severely injuring his back and ribs in a horror fall.

Tweeting from his hospital bed after being moved from the intensive care unit to a ward at Melbourne's The Alfred hospital, the Victorian premier said he was not due to undergo surgery 'for now'.

The father-of-two badly hurt his T7 veterbrae and cracked several ribs during a horror fall at a Mornington Peninsula holiday home on Tuesday morning.

While surgeons have so far delayed operating, it is understood they hold 'significant concerns' for his health.

'The good news is no surgery for now,' he wrote.

'But the doctors tell me recovery and rehab is still going to be a very long journey.'

Daniel Andrews (pictured with his wife Catherine) admitted he will need extensive recovery and rehab after his horror fall

The Victorian premier tweeted on Saturday (pictured) to give the update on his condition

Intensive care unit director, Professor Steve McGloughlin, said the premier was in 'good spirits' and was in a stable condition.

'Mr Andrews is comfortable and doing well,' he said.

'There is no plan for surgery at this stage.'

So bad are Mr Andrews' injuries that fears are increasing that he may never return as Victorian premier.

Daniel Andrews (pictured with wife Catherine) may never return as Victorian premier after a horror fall while he was getting ready for work at a holiday home, according to radio presenter Neil Mitchell

Mitchell, a leading Melbourne radio presenter, said he understands it will be a long road ahead for the Premier.

'This is serious stuff. Despite the bravado  and I can understand that from the ministers  nobody can be sure he'll return as premier,' he said on 3AW.

'I am sure he wants to, I'm sure he intends to and he probably will, but at this stage, nobody really knows.

'I know I disagree with him on a lot of things, a lot of us do, but in the end, we wish him well.'

The premier said the 'good news' is that he won't need surgery to repair his T7 vertebrae 'for now'

Acting Premier James Merlino on Thursday said Mr Andrews would eventually return to lead the state.

'I spoke personally with Dan this morning his focus is getting better and the care that he needs,' he said.

Mr Andrews also suffered fractures to his left and right ribs, with concern growing over his spine following subsequent CAT scans.

The vertebrae injury is considered very serious and surgery would have likely involve adding reinforcing screws and pins.

Orthopaedic spine surgeon John Cunningham said the kind of fracture the Premier suffered would be painful.

'It can cause immobility and I would expect the pain to last if not three, maybe six months,' Dr Cunningham told Nine News.

'These fractures can be really common and often caused by minor trauma, but the pain from them can persist for quite some time.

'Fortunately they don't all end up in paraplegia.'

A government source said there still remains a '50-50 chance' Mr Andrews will require surgery on his spine.

However the head of the intensive care unit where Mr Andrews is recovering said there were no immediate plans for him to go under the knife.

Mr Merlino (pictured) revealed Victorians will have a much clearer picture of Mr Andrews's recovery in the coming days and assured residents they will get regular updates on the premier's condition

Daniel Andrews fractured his T7 vertebrae (pictured), which is in the middle of his spine after slipping on wet stairs at a Mornington Peninsula holiday rental

Mr Merlino, who has been deputy premier since 2014, sought to reassure Victorians he would be able to fill Mr Andrews' shoes for a longer period if required.

'We made a commitment back in 2014 when we first came into government to not waste a day,' he said.

'Government will continue. I'll be the acting premier, leading cabinet.'

Mr Andrews was initially treated at Peninsula Private Hospital but transferred to Alfred Trauma Centre in Melbourne after specialists assessed an MRI scan.

Associate Professor Steve McGloughlin, the head of the intensive care unit at The Alfred hospital said the premier was 'comfortable and his pain is well-controlled'.

The head of the intensive care unit at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne has confirmed his injuries are serious but said he is in a stable condition and there are no immediate plans for surgery

A statement from Mr Andrews on Tuesday revealed a series of horrific injuries uncovered by a CT scan (pictured)

'A multidisciplinary team including intensive care, trauma and orthopaedic specialists has developed a treatment plan, together with the Andrews family,' Prof McGloughlin said late on Wednesday.

'Mr Andrews has sustained some serious injuries and his condition is being monitored closely. At this stage there is no immediate plan for surgery.'

He has been cleared of any internal or head injuries.

'Heartfelt thanks to the entire team at @AlfredHealth for taking such good care of me. We're so very grateful,' Mr Andrews tweeted on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 16:06:20|Editor: huaxia

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Workers unload the first batch of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines at an airport in Libreville, the Gabonese capital, on March 12, 2021. The first batch of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Libreville, the Gabonese capital on Friday, the first anniversary of the start of the pandemic in the central African country. Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, accompanied by two ministers and the Chinese Ambassador Hu Changchun, welcomed the arrival of the cargo at the airport. (Xinhua)

LIBREVILLE, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Libreville, the Gabonese capital on Friday, the first anniversary of the start of the pandemic in the central African country.

Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, accompanied by two ministers and the Chinese Ambassador Hu Changchun, welcomed the arrival of the cargo at the airport.

China responded quickly to the Gabonese government's request for vaccines and was the first country to do so, fully demonstrating the brotherhood between the two countries, said Ossouka Raponda.

Gabon is confident in the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines, she said, adding that with the support of China, Gabon will surely overcome the epidemic.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba said Friday on social media that the national vaccination campaign was about to start and that healthcare workers, security forces, people at risk and the elderly will be the first to benefit from it.

The aid demonstrates the deep traditional friendship and the great political trust between the two countries. China is actively implementing the promise to make its vaccines an accessible and affordable global public good for developing countries and is taking concrete steps to build a closer China-Africa community of common destiny and a closer global health community, said Ambassador Hu.

Gabon reported its first case of infection on March 12, 2020. As of Friday, it has recorded a total of 16,313 confirmed cases with 93 deaths related to COVID-19. Enditem
(L) Charles Perez wears a protective face mask and gloves as he waits on tables at the Morada Bay Beach Cafe in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys on June 1, 2020. (Lynne Sladky/AP). (R) The doors of the Baby Blues BBQ restaurant are seen locked in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2021. (Damian Dovarganes/AP, File).

Virus Tolls Similar Despite Governors Contrasting Actions

Nearly a year after California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the nations first statewide shut down because of the coronavirus, masks remain mandated, indoor dining and other activities are significantly limited, and Disneyland remains closed.

By contrast, Florida has no statewide restrictions. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has prohibited municipalities from fining people who refuse to wear masks. And Disney World has been open since July.

Despite their differing approaches, California and Florida have experienced almost identical outcomes in COVID-19 case rates.

How have two states that took such divergent tacks arrived at similar points?

This is going to be an important question that we have to ask ourselves: What public health measures actually were the most impactful, and which ones had negligible effect or backfired by driving behavior underground? said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Nailea Rosales works behind a protective shield wearing a protective mask and gloves at the Morada Bay Beach Cafe in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, on June 1, 2020. (Lynne Sladky/AP, File)

Though research has suggested that mask mandates and limits on group activities such as indoor dining can help slow the spread of the coronavirus, states with greater government-imposed restrictions have not always fared better than those without them.

California and Florida both have a COVID-19 case rate of around 8,900 per 100,000 residents since the pandemic began, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And both rank in the middle among states for COVID-19 death ratesFlorida was 27th as of Friday; California was 28th.

Connecticut and South Dakota are other examples. Both rank among the 10 worst states for COVID-19 death rates. Yet Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, imposed numerous statewide restrictions over the past year after an early surge in deaths, while South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, issued no mandates as virus deaths soared in the fall.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

While Lamont ordered quarantines for certain out-of-state visitors, Noem launched a $5 million tourism advertising campaign and welcomed people to a massive motorcycle rally, which some health experts said spread the coronavirus throughout the Midwest.

Both contend their approach is the best.

Even in a pandemic, public health policy needs to take into account peoples economic and social well-being, Noem said during a recent conservative convention.

Connecticut Gov. Edward Miner Ned Lamont Jr. (D) speaks about the states efforts to get more people vaccinated at Hartford HealthCare St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn., on Feb. 26, 2021. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Lamont recently announced that he is lifting capacity limits at retail stores, restaurants, and other facilities, effective March 19. But bars that dont serve food will remain closed and a mask mandate will continue.

This is not Texas. This is not Mississippi. This is Connecticut, Lamont said, referencing other states that recently lifted mask mandates.

Were finding what works is wearing the mask, social distancing, and vaccinations, he said.

As new COVID-19 cases decrease nationally, governors in more than half the states have taken actions during the past two weeks to end or ease coronavirus restrictions, according to an Associated Press tally. Some capacity limits ended Friday in Maryland and Oklahoma. Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Wyoming are relaxing restrictions in the coming week.

In almost all cases, governors have lauded their approach to the pandemic, while critics have accused them of being too stringent or too lax.

Californias slow reopening is expected to gain steam in April. But Republicans in California are helping organize a recall effort against Newsom that has drawn nearly 2 million petition signatures from people frustrated over his long-lasting limits on businesses, church gatherings, and peoples activities. He also faces intense pressure over public school closures and the glacial pace of getting them reopened.

Newsom asserted that California has been a leader in combating the virus while delivering his State of the State address this past week from Dodger Stadium, where the empty seats roughly equaled the states 55,000 COVID-19 deaths.

From the earliest days of this pandemic, California trusted in science and data, and we met the moment, Newsom said.

He added: Were not going to change course just because of a few naysayers and doomsdayers.

In his own State of the State address, DeSantis asserted that Florida was in better shape than others because its businesses and schools are open. Floridas unemployment rate ranked below the national average, and significantly lower than Californias, at the start of this year.

While so many other states kept locking people down over these many months, Florida lifted people up, DeSantis said.

Determining which approach is best is more complicated than just looking at statewide policies and overall case rates.

Like Florida, Missouri had no statewide mask mandate, ended business restrictions last June, and has a cumulative COVID-19 death rate similar to Californias. In the absence of statewide orders, many of the largest cities in Florida and Missouri imposed their own mask requirements and business restrictions. In Missouri, that meant about half the population was still subject to mask mandates.

Republican Gov. Mike Parson has touted a balanced approach to the pandemic that left many public health decisions up to local officials and allowed Missouris economy to come back strong. New COVID-19 cases and unemployment are both low, and consumer spending has returned to pre-pandemic levels, Parson said this past week.

State health director Randall Williams believes residents heeded Parsons call to voluntarily mask up when Missouris coronavirus cases spiked last fall to some of the highest levels nationally.

Public health experts said individual choices could help explain the similar outcomes among some states with loose or strict orders from the governor.

Some people voluntarily were being more vigilant in states where the guidelines are more relaxed, said Thomas Tsai, an assistant professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Yet in states with more government mandates, people generally in public were wearing masks and following the guidelines, but in private they were letting down their guard and less vigilant, he said.

Imposing strict measures, like forbidding families from visiting grandparents and friends from gathering, is like taking an abstinence-only approach to combating drug use and sexually transmitted disease, said Adalja, of Johns Hopkins University.

Some will comply. But other people are going to do those activities, anyway, he said.

By David a. Lieb
Photo: The Canadian Press The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday April 13, 2018. British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a man suffered serious injuries during his arrest linked to a report about a firearm that was found at a cemetery in Chilliwack. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a man suffered serious injuries during his arrest linked to a report about a firearm that was found at a cemetery in Chilliwack.

RCMP say that when an officer arrived, a man allegedly pointed a firearm at her and threatened to shoot before escaping on foot to a nearby residence.

Mounties say in a release that officers from a police dog service were among those called to assist and when the man left the home, he was arrested with the help of a dog.

The man was hurt, but the RCMP did not provide any details about the extent of his injuries, saying only that they were later determined to be serious.

Police say threats and allegations related to the firearm are being investigated as the Independent Investigations Office conducts its own investigation into what happened.

The watchdog investigates serious injuries and deaths involving the actions or inactions of police before forwarding a report to the B.C. Prosecution Service for assessment of any charges.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Dr. G.H. Javaheripour new Interim President of Columbia College View Photo

Columbia, CA.  Columbia College has a new Interim President.

Dr. G.H. Javaheripour was picked for the post by the Yosemite Community College District. He replaces Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay, who became Acting and then Interim President of Modesto Junior College earlier this year. The two colleges serve more than 29,000 students.

Dr. Javaheripour has great skillsets, and he previously led a college in a multi-college district that is similar in many respects to Columbia College, Dr. Henry Yong, district chancellor said. I know he will serve the faculty, staff, and students of Columbia College well.

In March 2020, Javaheripour was hired to be the districts Vice Chancellor of Educational Support Services, overseeing IT, HR, and Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Accreditation at the district level. Prior to this post, he served for five years as the President of Yuba College.

It is an honor to have the confidence of Chancellor Yong and the members of the Board of Trustees with this important assignment at Columbia College, Javaheripour said. Ill strive to support the great work of the colleges faculty, staff and administrators to ensure the success of our students.

District officials note that Javaheripours career spans the academic, student services and administrative services arenas. While he has served in executive capacities for the past 18 years. They add that Javaheripour was instrumental in developing an extended education network across the United States to deliver courses and programs in 13 states/territories from Puerto Rico to Arizona. He also developed networks to deliver Bachelor and Masters degree programs and K-12 and advanced placement classes to rural communities in New Mexico.

Javaheripour has a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Education from Southern Illinois University; MBA from Webster University; and a Doctorate of Education degree from the University of New Mexico.

Additionally, the district relays that the deadline for candidates to apply for the full-time MJC presidency is March 19. The applicants will be evaluated by a search committee comprised of members of faculty, students, classified staff, and Modesto community members that will conduct the first-level interviews.
[March 12, 2021] Former Federal Prosecutor Attorney John Helms Challenges Empirical Evidence Used to Convict Texans

Dallas, March 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to research eyewitness testimony isnt all that reliable, youve probably seen a number of dramatic cinematic moments where an eyewitness takes the stand and then dramatically points at the defendant, claiming they saw the person carry out a serious crime.

While this might make for a compelling film, research shows that eyewitness testimony in the real world isnt as reliable as you might think. Its human nature to doubt something unless you see it with your own eyes, but studies have shown that even eyes can deceive, and human memory is notoriously unreliable. Texas highest criminal court has actually recognized how unreliable eyewitness testimony can be. In Tillman v. State, No. PD-0727-10 (Tex. Crim. App. Oct 5, 2011), the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that a defense expert witness should have been able to explain to the jury how unreliable eyewitness identification can be. This case represented a remarkable shift in judicial attitudes toward eyewitness identification. When a criminal case hinges mostly on eyewitness testimony, innocent people can end up being wrongfully convicted of a crime. If you have been charged with a criminal offense and prosecutors say they have eyewitnesses willing to testify against you, its important to discuss your case with a Texas criminal defense lawyer. DNA Testing Has Exonerated People After Wrong Eyewitness Identification To understand how inaccurate eyewitness testimony can be, you need to look no further than exonerations brought about by DNA evidence. Available since the late 1980s, DNA evidence has changed criminal trials over the past few decades. The Innocence Project, an organization that tracks criminal convictions that have been overturned by DNA evidence, states that more than 350 people have had their convictions overturned through the use of DNA evidence. An astonishing 71 percent of cases from this group resulted in wrongful convictions due to eyewitness testimony and misidentification. Even more alarming, the average time in prison served in these cases is 14 years. In 41 percent of cases, the inaccurate eyewitness identification involved African Americans. In 28 percent of cases, the convicted individual confessed to a crime they didnt commit. The Human Memory Is Imperfect If you try to remember what you had for lunch yesterday, theres a decent chance you can recall your meal and where you ate it. However, if you challenge your long-term memory, you might have a more difficult time remembering a meal. For example, try to recall what you ate for lunch exactly one week ago. For many people, this is a challenge. Furthermore, what they recall might not even be accurate, even if they claim they remmber perfectly.



Researchers point out that human memory isnt objective. Specifically, it doesnt record an unbiased record of events. A group of individuals viewing the same incident are likely to record memories that are very different because individuals remember things based on their needs, preferences, and personalities. While one persons memory might focus on a specific event or item in a scene, another person may observe it in an entirely different way. Why Do People Believe in Eyewitness Testimony?

If research has shown that eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable, why do so many people trust it to be accurate in a criminal trial? Researchers say there can be a few reasons for this. Social Norms First, popular culture places a great deal of emphasis on eyewitness testimony. You can see this in everything from literature to movies. In film and on television, its much more compelling to show someone pointing at a defendant from the witness stand than it is to realistically show a scientist in a lab running tests on evidence. The Myth That Trauma or Stress Leads to More Accurate Memories Additionally, there is a common myth that the human brain remembers traumatic or vivid events more readily than a mundane or everyday event. On the contrary, memory research has shown that times of great stress or fear can actually inhibit the brain from accurately recording memories. Research has also shown that people who experience traumatic or stressful events will continue to create and form additional memories of the event after it has occurred. This is because the mind is settled and relaxed enough to process memory once the individual is removed from the threatening or frightening situation. Confirmation Bias Also, researchers say that confirmation bias can play a role in people trusting eyewitness testimony. Specifically, people tend to focus more on instances in which they have been correct rather than the times they have been proven wrong. People also tend to believe more readily in things and ideas that reinforce their existing beliefs, even when research or evidence proves otherwise. For example, many people believe that science shows that left-handed people are more creative than right-handed people. In reality, this isnt the case. Instead, several studies have shown that the majority of people arent truly right-handed or left-handed but instead somewhere on a wide spectrum. That is, they might use their right hand for some tasks but prefer their left hand for others. As with which hand you write with, creativity exists on a spectrum.

John Helms Criminal Defense Attorney Being charged with a crime can be an overwhelming experience. If youre facing prosecution, discuss your case with an experienced Dallas criminal defense lawyer who understands the criminal justice system and what's required to prepare a state or federal criminal defense for anyone facing serious criminal charges in Dallas. Having the knowledge of a former assistant United States attorney in the Northern District of Texas as a federal prosecutor has helped defendants of crimes in Texas represented by Dallas criminal defense lawyer John Helms to select the most effective criminal defense approach. If you're facing a criminal charge in Texas understanding how a district attorney or federal prosecutor thinks will help in choosing the most coherent criminal defense to proceed with. Media Contact R. William 214-666-8010





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West Bengal elections 2021: ISF releases first list of 26 seats

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kolkata, Mar 13: Amid an ongoing tussle with alliance partner Congress over the seat-sharing agreement, the Abbas Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front on Friday released the first list of 26 constituencies it will contest in the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

The party, however, is yet to name the candidates who will contest from these seats.

Seats in the list include Mahisadal, Canning Purba, Bhangar, Metiabruz, Panchla, Uluberia Purba, Basirhat Uttar, Ashoknagar, Amdanga, Asansol Uttar, Entally, Madhyamgram and Khanakul.

West Bengal elections 2021: JMM to support Mamata Banerjee's TMC in upcoming polls

Party sources said that the ISF has an alliance with the Left Front in these 26 seats.

"The 26 seats are out of the 30 constituencies that we got from the Left Front. Our alliance partners will contest the remaining four seats. We decided to announce the names of the seats so that there is no confusion among our supporters," ISF leader Simul Soren told PTI.

Also, by announcing the names of the seats, we have sent a message to our alliance partner Congress, with whom the seat-sharing talks have not been smooth, that we would be contesting from those constituencies so that there is no duplication of alliance candidates, he said.

The Congress and the ISF had last week managed to break the ice between them over seat-sharing but talks are still underway for some constituencies.

Newly floated ISF had initially demanded 15 seats from the Congress, but the grand old party has agreed to give it only eight.

YASHWANT SINHA JOINS TMC and more news | Oneindia News

The Left Front has given 30 seats to the ISF from its kitty.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 10:11 [IST]
A male was found fatally shot in a Marrero home Saturday morning.

The body, with at least gunshot wound, was reported just after 5 a.m. in a home in the 1900 block of Bonnie Ann Drive, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said. Authorities pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

Investigators withheld the victim's name pending notification of relatives. They said they did not immediately have a suspect or motive.

Anyone with information on the killing was asked to call the homicide section at (504) 364-5300 or Crimestoppers Inc. at (504) 822-1111. Crimestoppers callers need not identify themselves nor testify to be eligible for a reward of as much as $2,500 for information that leads to an indictment.
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Telangana saw a slight rise in cases with 216 new infections added in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 3 lakh, while the toll rose to 1,652 with two more fatalities.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for the most number of cases with 52, followed by Rangareddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts with 19 and 18 cases respectively, a state government bulletin said on Saturday providing details as of 8 PM on March 12.

It said 168 patients recovered from the infection on March 12.

The cumulative recovered cases stood at 2,97,363, while 1,918 were under treatment.

The bulletin said 34,482 samples were tested on March 12.

Cumulatively, the number of samples tested was 91,49,467.

The samples tested per million population was 2,45,821, it said.

The recovery rate in the state was 98.81 per cent, while it was 96.8 per cent in the country, it said.

The case fatality rate in the state was 0.54 per cent, while it was 1.4 per cent at the national level.

The state has been witnessing a marginal rise in positive cases since about a week though the daily count remained below 200.
A survey conducted by the Plainview Chamber of Commerce shows a clearer picture of how Plainview businesses handled the unusual circumstances and tough conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tonya Keesee, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, said that the Chamber board sent the survey to business owners around town in an effort to gauge the past years activity.

Of the surveys that were sent out to Plainview businesses, the Chamber received 55 responses, which the board considered a solid basis for data.

Questions on the survey ranged from focuses on finances to business capacity and supplier delays. The survey consisted of nine questions.

While many businesses around the state and country have had to let customers go during the pandemic, 80% of the responding Plainview businesses said they either increased their number of employees or remained the same with the other 20% saying they lost employees.

On the question of revenue, 55% said they had a decrease of revenue and 40% said they experienced delays in supply deliveries.

About 25 businesses said the pandemic had a moderate negative impact while around 18 said it either had a positive or no effect on their businesses.

Of the businesses that responded to the survey, 15% said they do not offer online services. Of the other 85% that do offer those services, 40% said those sales saw an increase over the past year.

The final question on the survey asked businesses when they think theyll be able to return to normal operations with 67.5% saying that there has been little-to-no effect or they expect about six months to return to normal.

Another 7%, equal to about one business, said they dont believe their business will ever return to normal.

Keesee noted that last spring and summer, she and members of the Chamber of Commerce started a shop local campaign around town. During visits to those businesses, she said that many were doing great even then, which she said was because of Plainview citizens rallying around those entities.

While responses were anonymous.
The Biden administration is not planning to step up government surveillance of the US internet even as state-backed foreign hackers and cybercriminals increasingly use it to evade detection, a senior administration official said Friday.

The official said the administration, mindful of the privacy and civil liberties implications that could arise, is not currently seeking additional authority to monitor US-based networks. Instead, the administration will focus on tighter partnerships and improved information-sharing with the private-sector companies that already have broad visibility into the domestic internet, said the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.

The comment was an acknowledgement of the fraught political debate surrounding domestic government surveillance - nearly eight years after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden triggered a scandal with leaked agency documents - and a recognition of the challenges in balancing the growing cyber defense imperative against privacy concerns that come with stepped-up monitoring.

Foreign state hackers are increasingly using US-based virtual private networks, or VPNs, to evade detection by US intelligence agencies, who are legally constrained from monitoring domestic infrastructure.

In the crucial second stage of the SolarWinds hacking campaign, for instance, the suspected Russian intelligence operatives used US-based VPNs to siphon off data through backdoors in victims' networks, establishing an account that made it seem like they were in the US.

That hack detected in December compromised at least nine federal agencies, and exposed significant gaps in modernization and in technology of cybersecurity across the federal government, the official said. Dozens of private-sector companies were also hit, the telecommunications and software sector most heavily.

The US is also addressing a separate, far more widespread and indiscriminate hack that cyber sleuths blame on China and which became a global crisis last week.

It has exposed tens of thousands of servers running Microsoft's Exchange email program to intrusion. Though Microsoft has patched the vulnerability, affected server owners had only a short window to get vulnerable servers fixed, the official said. Criminal and state-backed hackers seeking to exploit the underlying flaw are apt to cause more havoc, the administration says.

The official said President has been briefed on the incident, and private-sector cybersecurity sleuths were brought in to confer with White House officials on a response.

When it comes to the pursuit of new surveillance or monitoring authorities, the official described the administration's posture as not yet, not now." The official said the administration is committed at the moment to improving the flow of information with cloud providers and private companies who have good visibility into U.S. networks but aren't bound by the same government constraints.

Predictions from the cybersecurity community were proving correct, meanwhile, that ransomware attacks leveraging compromised Exchange servers would be inevitable given the scope of the hack.

Microsoft said it has detected a new family of ransomware, dubbed DearCry, exploiting the compromises. Ransomware expert Brett Callow of the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft said the website ID Ransomware had so far received six submissions of the malware - from victims in the United States, Australia, Austria, Canada and Denmark.

Microsoft said in a tweet that it was blocking the ransomware, but, said Callow, That'll not necessary stop attacks. Antivirus products detect and block a lot of known ransomware - but hackers often disable those products prior to deployment, he said.

The global ransomware scourge - primarily the work of Russian-speaking and North Korean cybercriminals - has cost businesses, local governments, health care providers and even K-12 school districts tens of billions of dollars in the past few years.

(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.)
Few governors have soared quite as high or plunged as low in the publics eye during the pandemic as Gavin Newsom.

Hes gone from being nationally lauded on prominent political stops like ABCs The View in May for doing an amazing job to the brink of being the first California governor to face a recall in 18 years. In January, with the states coronavirus infection rate peaking, Newsoms approval rating dropped precipitously in a Berkeley IGS Poll, prompting some Democrats to worry that he could be vulnerable to being ousted by voters before his first term ends.

But those fears may have been premature. Some analysts believe Newsom hit rock bottom when the states pandemic situation did, and that his fortunes will improve if the state has already seen its worst days.

The only way he gets dragged down again, in their view, is if California mismanages another surge or bungles the vaccine distribution as the rest of the country gets its shots, or if students arent back in classrooms at least most of the time by fall.

Newsom just received a political cushion in the form of $42.6 billion in aid coming to state and local governments in California from the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package. That will prevent many cuts to local services and could give Californians the feeling that life is returning to what it was before the pandemic struck.

You wont have a lot of budget cuts, and he can sprinkle that money around, said veteran Democratic strategist Andrew Acosta.

That January poll may have captured a low point for the governor, said Eric Schickler, co-director of UC Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies, which conducted the survey. It found that 46% of registered voters approved of Newsoms performance as governor  down from 64% in September  while 48% disapproved.

It was a confluence of frustration that voters were feeling at that point in the pandemic, Schickler said.

The number of COVID-19 cases was high, restrictions on businesses and restaurants had returned, the vaccine rollout was going poorly, some hospitals were overflowing, and most public schools were still closed for in-person leaning.

There was a general frustration that the state didnt have its act together, Schickler said. But reality has shifted significantly, and hes pushing a more clear message and being more active talking about what hes doing to address the pandemic.

But Newsom still has damage to repair. The governor who became a national star when Californias infection rate was low transformed into the focal point for the publics frustration with the pace of the recovery.

Recall organizers say gathering signatures to oust Newsom became easier after The Chronicle reported that the governor had dined at the ritzy French Laundry restaurant in the Napa Valley with a lobbyist friend and more people than his own administration recommended for gatherings.

Republicans portrayed him as elitist and above following his own rules. The moment crystallized the anger that many Californians were feeling after being locked in their homes for months, and that vitriol showed in the polls.

Dr. (Mark) Ghalys not on the ballot, Acosta said, referring to the states health and human services secretary. Your county health director is not on the ballot. Thats that problem the governor has  he has to eat all this.

For now, at least. If the worst of the pandemic is over, the worst of the political damage to Newsom could be, too.

I think that governors get a lot of blame for whats going on that is not in their control, and get a lot of credit for whats not in their control, said Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. Its poll in January showed that Newsoms approval rating had dipped to 52% among likely voters, roughly what it was before the pandemic.

I dont think hes in trouble at this point, Baldassare said. His approval numbers have dropped from the stratosphere during the early days of the pandemic (64% in May 2020) when peoples hopes were placed on their governor rather than their president in Washington.

These next few months, Baldassare said, will be very telling in how people view the governor.

Here are some factors that will shape Newsoms future over those months:

When will schools reopen? Newsom cut a deal with the Legislature this month to offer $2 billion in incentives to school districts that bring at least some students back by March 31. The move was criticized by some teachers and administrators as favoring wealthier districts that were more able to put safety measures in place quickly. But it helped to spur productive conversations about returning to class, said Bob Nelson, superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District.

The message that he sent in this last piece of legislation was that we needed to get back to school. I think that really helped him a lot, Nelson said. I dont think the money was the push there (for school districts). I think it is addressing the level of inertia that was there.

Getting back in class goes a long way toward feeling better about where were at. But it does not approximate normalcy, said Nelson, whose district will bring some students back to classrooms in early April. He said he fully expects students to return in the fall.

Will the federal money help? One of the many factors that led to the recall of Gov. Gray Davis in 2003 was that the budget was upside down, Acosta said. All that people heard was dysfunction in Sacramento.

That is not the case this year. Even without the federal stimulus money, the state had a $15 billion surplus after tax revenues came in better than expected.

Where governors get in trouble is when the budget news gets bad, and it affects local government and services, Baldassare said. This governor seems to have been spared this.

Will Democratic unity hold? Some Democrats in the Legislature have criticized Newsom for bigfooting them on emergency spending and not communicating well with them through the pandemic. San Jose Assembly Member Evan Low said he learned that Newsom was lifting the states stay-at-home order in January when he checked his Twitter feed.

Others said some of Newsoms moves seemed aimed more at generating positive headlines than achieving anything, such as an economic task force he convened in April to chart the states post-pandemic course.

It was filled with big names: San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer, future Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Walt Disney Co. boss Bob Iger. The group took seven months to come up with a report that was largely ignored.

In recent weeks, as the likelihood of the recall qualifying for the ballot has grown, Democrats have closed ranks. In the past week, groups of Asian American and LGBTQ officeholders and activists have held events praising Newsom and denouncing the recall as a partisan attack.

Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, who remains popular in California after winning the states 2020 Democratic primary, denounced the recall last week as the work of extremist Republicans and said, We must all unite to oppose the recall.

For now, no Democrats have said they would run as a replacement candidate. Many Democrats recall that Davis was hurt in 2003 when his lieutenant governor, Cruz Bustamante, ran as a replacement candidate in the recall, siphoning the partys energy from preserving Davis.

Newsom doesnt have that worry. So far.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Vaccinations are being stepped up in Northern Ireland (Victoria Jones/PA)

One more person has died with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said.

Another 146 people tested positive.

On Friday, Boris Johnson toured a mass vaccination centre at a leisure centre in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, as part of his one-day visit.

Northern Irelands vaccination effort is outstripping expectations.

Those aged 60 and over are receiving the jab, as well as people with underlying health conditions who are vulnerable.

The UK Government has agreed to deploy 100 members of the military to Northern Ireland to support the accelerated rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.

Medically-trained members of the armed forces have been sent to support health service staff.

The request for military support was made by Stormonts Department of Health and granted by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
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When H.R. 1 (the For the People Act) passed the House, I sent emails to Virginia's supposedly moderate Democrat Virginia senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, urging them to vote no. So far I have received a reply only from Senator Kaine. I expected little from either based on a previous response from Senator Warner regarding my thoughts about the equally egregious H.R. 5 Equality Act. Warner's empty and obviously automated email response follows:

Dear Mr. Stansbury, Thank you for contacting me. As we work in the Senate to meet the enormous challenges facing this country, your views and those of your fellow Virginians are very important to me. I am honored to serve Virginia as your United States Senator, and am glad that you took the time to send me your thoughts. If you need additional information or if there's another issue that's important to you, please visit my website at: www.warner.senate.gov where you may send a message to me or sign-up for email updates to get the latest on my work in the Senate. You may also follow me at: www.facebook.com/MarkRWarner/ and https://twitter.com/MarkWarner . Sincerely, MARK R. WARNER United States Senator

Although it was also likely an automated response, at least Senator Kaine's staffers sent a very formal signed letter that included his detailed endorsement. I lack a Ph.D., but I know that this bill is nothing more than a Democrat power-grab that will severely weaken voting safeguards to guarantee one-party Dem rule for the foreseeable future. Even our poor neighbor Mexico will have stronger voting safeguards. Mexico even now requires a photo ID with fingerprints. I cannot believe that our powerful senator can honestly think this self-righteous, eloquently worded load of lies will convince many Virginia citizens to support this travesty, but then again, it appears there are plenty in newly blue Virginia who have abandoned critical thinking for postmodern-era feelings. Malcolm Muggeridge got it right when he said, "People do not believe lies because they have to, but because they want to."

However, I do admire the Senator Kaine's courage to put his position in writing, unlike Senator Warner. His letter follows:

March 10, 2021 Dear Mr. Stansbury: Thank you for contacting me about the For the People Act of 2021 (H.R.1). I appreciate hearing from you. On January 4, 2021, Representative John Sarbanes introduced H.R.1, a sweeping package of pro-democracy reforms that would amend current federal law related to campaign finance, voting rights, and government ethics. The For the People Act addresses urgent and long-overdue steps to renew our democracy by making it easier for eligible Americans to vote; ending the dominance of big, dark money in politics; and ensuring that public officials work in the public interest. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on January 19, 2021, that the legislation would be the Senate Democratic majority's first bill in the new Congress. In March of 2019, the House of Representatives passed the For the People Act of 2019 by a vote of 234 to 193, with every Democrat voting in support. I was an original cosponsor of the companion bill in the Senate, which all 47 members of the Senate Democratic caucus cosponsored. Unfortunately, the bill sat in Mitch McConnell's self-described "legislative graveyard," and he did not bring it up for a vote before the conclusion of the 116th Congress. The American democracy urgently needs repair. For decades, public trust has declined as our political system's longstanding challenges have worsened. I believe that we should always strive to increase transparency and improve how our federal government functions. I will continue to do everything in my power to safeguard our democracy and preserve our electoral system. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind should the Senate consider this bill. Thank you again for contacting me. Sincerely, Tim Kaine

I have since learned that 20 Republican state attorneys general sent a letter to congressional leadership claiming that H.R. 1 is unconstitutional. Good luck with that. To date, the Supreme Court has clearly demonstrated its unwillingness to review any serious challenges alleging 2020 vote fraud. We should expect even less help now that every Dem, the DOJ, SCOTUS, big corporate CEOs, the MSM, and even the DoD are seemingly united. I see little chance that adult supervision will reappear in time to save America from the Orwellian future that awaits.

Image via Pxhere.
Britain's exports of goods to the European Union (EU) fell by 40.7 percent in January while imports from the regional bloc dropped by 28.8 percent, the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Friday.

Falling imports of goods, excluding non-monetary gold and other precious metals, were largely seen in machinery and transport equipment, and chemicals from the EU in January, particularly in imports of cars and medicinal and pharmaceutical products, according to the ONS.

January marked the first month of trade after the Brexit transition period ended on Dec. 31, 2020.

The ONS said multiple factors may have attributed to the falling trade in goods between Britain and the EU. In addition to the changes facing Britain after the transition period ended, the country went into another national lockdown at the beginning of January.

Stockpiling of goods from the EU increased in November and December 2020 in preparation for the end of the Brexit transition period, just like Britain's goods imports from the EU also peaked in the weeks approaching previous Brexit deadlines in March and October 2019, the ONS said.

The ONS said data suggested that importing and exporting to the EU began to increase toward the end of January 2021.

The British government announced on Thursday that it will delay post-Brexit checks on some EU goods coming into Great Britain to help firms recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for health certificates on imports such as meat and milk will be pushed back from next month to October.

In contrast to the falling exports to the EU, exports of medicines and pharmaceutical products to non-EU countries increased by 0.3 billion pounds (about 0.42 billion U.S. dollars) in January, and a large proportion is represented by increasing exports to China and Japan, according to the ONS.
CHERRY 

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo

Written by Angela Russo-Otstot and Jessica Goldberg, based on the book by Nico Walker

141 minutes, rated MA

Apple

It was about a year and a half ago that Martin Scorsese broke the hearts of a million Marvel fans by declaring, with the authority of one of the most revered living filmmakers, that superhero movies were not cinema.

Tom Holland in Cherry. Credit:Apple TV+

As luck would have it, regular Marvel directors Joe and Anthony Russo were just then preparing to shoot Cherry  an adaptation of the semi-autobiographical book of the same name by Nico Walker, published in 2018 while the author was still in prison and described by one reviewer as the first great novel of the opioid epidemic.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday inaugurated an exhibition in Pune virtually as part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mohotsav', to celebrate 75 years of the country's independence. The exhibition at Aga Khan Palace, which will go on till March 15, pays homage to freedom fighters and their contribution to the country's freedom struggle.

"Our freedom was earned after a lot of sacrifice. Hence, it is essential that everyone understands the journey of the freedom struggle," Javadekar said.

The goal of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is also to showcase the various achievements of Independent India, he said.

"We also want to visualise the progress the nation will make in 25 years, in all spheres of life, as a leading world power as per our vision of surajya," the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting said.

Javadekar joined the programme virtually after inaugurating the exhibition at National Media Centre in Delhi.

Exhibitions at five other locations, including Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Samba (J&K) and Moirang (Manipur) were also inaugurated virtually on the occasion.

Aga Khan Palace in Pune holds a special place in the freedom movement. Mahatma Gandhi was detained at the palace for 21 months in 1942, following the launch of the Quit India Movement.

The palace is now a museum that showcases the story of Gandhi's detention.

According to a release, similar exhibitions will be held in Sevagram, Wardha and Mumbai, from where the Quit India Movement was launched.

The Centre, in collaboration with the state governments and other institutions, will hold a number of programmes over the next 75 weeks to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of India's Independence.

Also Read: Farmers' protest 'absolutely, totally' matter for Indian govt, says British minister

Also Read: Centre to lay out OTT regulation guidelines soon: Prakash Javadekar

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Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Students in the nine Drogheda-based secondary schools (including Dunleer and Laytown) will have a chance to complete a 35-day video challenge, doing 50 Innovative challenges, and win part of 2,000 Drogheda Young Innovators prize, at The Mill Enterprise Hub, Newton Link Road, Drogheda.

The increased prize fund is thanks to support from State Street, Fitz Scientific, Amazon, East Coast Bakehouse, and Coca-Cola International Services. Challenges range from predicting the latest technology in 2040, completing a book or Wikipedia entry, taking a walk, or designing Drogheda United's new stadium as part of their Wellness programme.

In 2014,The Mill Enterprise Hub and supporters launched a competition for secondary school students, encouraging teenagers to think like innovators in the fields of business, social enterprise, and technology.

The 2021 competition will feature a new socially-distanced format which involves individual or remote teamwork on over 50 challenges, covering themes such as Environment, Mental and Physical Wellbeing, Self-Development, Innovation, Business, Technology, and the Drogheda Community.

'The traditional format involved an application process with new ideas on how to make a small change or a big difference in the world we live in,' says Breanndan Casey, Innovation & Enterprise Manager at The Mill. 'Challenges have been designed specifically to encourage creativity and innovation, as well as boost the skills needed in the current climate - online team meetings, remote work, task delegation and goal setting, time management, thinking outside the box, and creative presentation skills.

'Students should use the hashtag #DYI2021 when posting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and our team will be tracking hashtag activity across the three platforms.'

Each challenge from the approved list has a difficulty rating attached to it, and students need to complete at least fifteen of the challenges.

The final task will include some editing as students are required to put together a compilation of videos, presenting the challenges they have completed on camera. A combination of score results based on creativity, difficulty, innovation, and new skills will determine the winners. 'This year's prize pool is a massive 2000, with ten finalists receiving 100 each, plus additional awards for 'Best team submission', 'Best Individual Submission and some ad-hoc prizes.' adds Geoff Fitzpatrick of Fitz Scientific. 'The overall winner can win 750 as part of a team project or 400 as an individual entry.

Winners will be announced at a Zoom final on April 30th that includes screening of the ten finalists' videos.

Further details on www.droghedayounginnovators.com .
KYODO NEWS - Mar 13, 2021 - 21:41 | All, Japan, World

China has told Japan that Beijing is "exercising self-restraint" in operating its coast guard ships near the Senkaku Islands amid rising security concerns over its new law which allows such ships to use weapons against foreign vessels, Japanese government sources said Saturday.

Japan in response criticized Chinese coast guard vessels spotted around the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed islands in the East China Sea before and after the new law took effect on Feb. 1, saying that the islands are Japan's inherent territory, the sources said.

China said it is "exercising self-restraint" in using weapons and chasing away Japanese vessels entering the waters around the islets. But the county also said it will not stop actions to prevent Japanese vessels from entering the waters around the islets, including the so-called contiguous zone outside Japanese waters, as it conveyed its policy under the new law for the first time.

Japan responded that China's claim is unacceptable and maintained there exists no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved over the islands.

The law explicitly allows the Chinese coast guard to use weapons against foreign ships it sees as illegally entering China's waters and raised concerns that the legislation would target Japanese vessels navigating around the uninhabited islets called Diaoyu in China.

As the law was implemented and Beijing has argued the islets are "China's inherent territory," tensions have risen between China, Japan and the United States.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on the day of the law's implementation that China must not manage the legislation "in a way that is against international law." But Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier in the month that the law does "not target any specific country" and is "in accordance with international law and practice."

The U.S. Defense Department last month criticized Beijing's activities in waters near the Senkaku Islands, while expressing "support" for Japan on the issue.

Japanese government officials in late February confirmed their interpretation of existing laws under which Japanese coast guard vessels could fire a weapon against foreign official ships aiming to land on the Senkaku Islands.

China also has conflicting territorial claims with four of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam -- as well as Taiwan in the South China Sea.

Related coverage:

FOCUS: Uncertainties linger over how U.S. promotion of Quad will play out

FOCUS: China's Xi paves way for 3rd term as president, may baffle Japan

China says coast guard law does not target specific nation
India: Christians attacked, beaten at prayer meeting by radical Hindu mob wielding weapons

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A mob of about 70 people carrying weapons attacked a group of Christians who were praying at a believers home in Indias eastern state of Chhattisgarh this week, burning Bibles and vandalizing furniture, according to a report, which said at least six Christians sustained serious injuries.

The Christians were attending a prayer meeting at the house of a fellow believer in Surguda village in the states Bastar District on Monday night when some of the men in the mob surrounded the property and the others entered the house to attack, according to the U.K.-based group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The men, believed to be Hindu nationalists, verbally abused and physically assaulted the Christians, burning Bibles, furniture, bicycles and a motorcycle, CSW reported Thursday, adding that at least six Christians had to be admitted to the hospital due to severe injuries.

This brutal attack on a prayer meeting is yet another example of the rise in crimes against religious minorities in several Indian states, CSWs Chief Executive Scot Bower said. When private prayer gatherings are seen as soft targets for mob violence it is evident that states are failing to uphold an individuals right to manifest their faith, which is a central aspect of freedom of religion or belief and protected by the Indian constitution.

Christians in Chhattisgarh state, the majority of whom are from tribal or indigenous people groups, have witnessed a rise in attacks since last September.

The persecution is taking place amid radical Hindu groups campaign to stop the countrys tribal people from converting to Christianity. These groups have been demanding that the government ban those who convert from receiving education and employment opportunities.

Most tribals do not identify as Hindus; they have diverse religious practices and many worship nature. However, the governments Census deems them to be Hindu. Radical nationalist groups, which have been working in tribal-majority areas to compete with Christian workers, have influenced some groups among the tribal population.

In three separate attacks in Chhattisgarhs Kondagaon district in September, tribal villagers vandalized 16 houses belonging to Christians from the same tribe and attacked at least one tribal Christian woman, forcing all male family members to flee into jungles for safety at the time.

The Christian men were able to return to their homes days later after the Bilaspur High Court passed an order in a Public Interest Litigation filed by 12 Christians to seek security for the displaced Christians.

Chhattisgarh is one of the states where an anti-conversion law is in force. These laws, which presume that Christians use money or other fraudulent means to convert Hindus, have been in place for decades in some states, but no Christian has been convicted of forcibly converting anyone to Christianity. These laws, however, allow Hindu nationalist groups to make false charges against Christians and launch attacks on them under the pretext of the alleged forced conversion.

Since the current ruling party took power in 2014, incidents against Christians have increased, and Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences, noted Open Doors World Watch List last year, which ranked India as the 10th worst country for Christians.

The view of the Hindu nationalists is that to be Indian is to be Hindu, so any other faith  including Christianity  is viewed as non-Indian. Also, converts to Christianity from Hindu backgrounds or tribal religions are often extremely persecuted by their family members and communities, Open Doors said at the time.
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AN Garda Siochana have upgraded their initial inquiries into Tanaiste Leo Varadkars leaking of a confidential Government document to a friend into a full investigation, the Sunday Independent can reveal.

It comes as the States political standards watchdog has separately said it is suspending its consideration of a complaint into the leak pending the outcome of the garda investigation.

Gardai are probing a complaint which centres on Mr Varadkars leaking of a confidential copy of the Governments proposed new GP contract with the Irish Medical Organisation to Maitiu O Tuathail, who was then the head of the rival National Association of General Practitioners, in April 2019. Mr Varadkar has apologised over the affair and has said his legal advice is that he committed no offence. He has offered to meet gardai to provide a full statement.

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Gardai have not yet spoken to the Tanaiste. However, this is standard procedure as he is considered the main person of interest. He will be spoken to last so that all material gathered in the course of the investigation can be put to him. The decision does not mean at this stage of the investigation that a charge is a foregone conclusion, but investigating gardai have now gathered sufficient material to justify further investigation, it is understood.

In response to queries, a Garda spokesperson said yesterday: I refer to your inquiry and am to advise An Garda Siochana does not comment on any ongoing investigations.

Meanwhile, the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) has told People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy that it is suspending consideration of a complaint he made last November about the leak.

Sipo contacted Mr Murphy last Wednesday.

An official in the complaint and investigations unit told him: The Commission notes that this matter is the subject of an investigation by An Garda Siochana, as reported in the media. Based on this information, the Commission has decided to suspend consideration of the complaint made by you until An Garda Siochana have concluded their investigation.

Mr Murphy asked Sipo to investigate if Mr Varadkar breached the Code of Conduct for Office Holders and the Code of Conduct for Members of Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann.

Sipo declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper. It is the practice of the Standards in Public Office Commission not to comment on individual compliance matters, a spokesperson said. A spokesman for Mr Varadkar said tonight: The gardai have not been in contact with the Tanaiste about this matter.

Last month, on foot of media reports, his solicitors contacted the gardai to confirm his willingness to meet them and provide a statement. His legal advice is that he has committed no offence and looks forward to the matter being concluded.

When contacted Mr O Tuathail said tonight: I havent been contacted by gardai but if and when I am I will obviously fully cooperate with them.

The Sunday Independent revealed last month that there had been discussions by senior officers about seizing phone records belonging to Mr Varadkar and Dr O Tuathail as well as Government officials involved in drafting the proposed GP contract.

Officers had been examining whether the complaint, made by a whistleblower at the Department of Health, could be investigated under a breach of the Official Secrets Act.

Assistant commissioner John ODriscoll, who oversees Special Crime Operations, had been conducting an extensive review of the complaint. The senior officer heads the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation

Former Minister for Health Simon Harris has already provided a written statement to gardai over the controversy. He is not suspected of any wrongdoing.

Mr Varadkar survived a Dail motion of no confidence tabled by Sinn Fein in November on foot of the controversy. Mr Varadkar acknowledged at that time that what he did was not best practice and an error of judgment. He told the Dail: There was nothing selfish, corrupt, dishonest or illegal in what I did.
The Edwardsville Public Library announced the renovation and modernization of the interior of our historic library, EPL  The Next Chapter.

The library building was originally dedicated in 1906, with additions in 1953 and 1991. The focus of the renovation is to provide the Edwardsville community with updated library spaces and improved access to library resources. The improvements planned have been considered carefully and will not damage the historical architecture of our Carnegie library.

The approved renovation plan includes the following:

 A complete renovation of all restrooms and the addition of a gender-neutral/family restroom on the lower level.

 The adult circulation area and bookstore will have complete makeovers, which will give patrons flexible seating space with laptop bars, a self-service area with a self-checkout machine, and self-serve holds pickup. Our circulation desks will still be fully staffed in case you prefer our friendly staff to assist you. These changes will also have the added benefit of improving sightlines (for safety) and easing some staff crowding.

 Four quiet study rooms will be added to the north wall of the adult library.

 The adult computer lab will be re-organized with staff desks on the north wall and a rectangular 8-person station with 18-inch privacy screens between users.

 The youth computer lab and the storage room next door will become our new Teen Room. The new room will house our teen collection and modular furniture so kids can study and interact with each other. This will free up collection space in the youth library that will give us more room for materials and/or creative play areas in the youth library.

 The youth circulation desk will be remodeled and a small workroom for staff will be added.

 Our patio will be redone and fenced in to give the youth library more usable space. The library expects this to turn into a fun area for activities or just relaxing and reading a book.

The estimated cost for the entire project is $750,000 (including contingencies, new furniture, and exterior signage).

The complete project will be funded from our special reserve fund. This project will not be funded by an increase in taxes.

The renovation is expected to be completed by the fall of 2021.

The library plans to remain open throughout construction, unless it becomes an issue of public/staff safety or access. There will be times where the front entrance will not be available because this is one of the areas being renovated. If the library does have to close temporarily, it would still offer curbside service. Such closures will be communicated via signage, phone messages, and the librarys website and social media pages.

As part of the strategic planning process in 2018, the library conducted a community survey. Cardholders indicated they would like to have spaces for library programs and for individuals to work quietly, both independently and collaboratively, as well as cozy spaces to read and more self-service options.

To follow the project, visit EPL: The Next Chapter section on the homepage of the librarys website, edwardsvillelibrary.org, or follow its Facebook and Instagram.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 20:11:32|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Militancy and conflicts have increased in the war-plagued Afghanistan as more than 30 people were killed over the past 24 hours amid accelerated peace efforts to find a negotiated solution to the country's lingering crisis.

In the latest wave of violent incidents, a roadside bomb struck a mini-bus in the eastern Uruzgan province on Saturday morning, killing three persons and wounding four others, all civilians, the provincial government confirmed in a statement.

Similarly, an explosive-laden car exploded in the western Herat city on Friday night, which left eight dead including one police and seven civilians and injured 54 others including women and children.

Three more civilians including women and children were killed and three others injured as a mortar mine fired by insurgents struck a residential area in Nurak village outside Zabul provincial capital Qalat on Friday, police said.

Neither Taliban nor the Islamic State outfit has claimed responsibility.

More than 30 Afghans including a dozen civilians were killed and at least a dozen others injured in Afghan fighting elsewhere in the country over the past 24 hours, officials said Saturday.

Increase in fighting is taking place amid accelerated peace efforts to end the war in Afghanistan and bring about peace in the country.

Russia, according to local media reports, is going to hold peace conference on Afghanistan on Thursday with the participation of Afghanistan's neighboring states as well as other countries including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, the United States and India.

Turkey would also arrange a U.S. proposed conference on Afghanistan peace process early in April to help find a political solution to the war-torn country's lingering crisis.

"The Taliban group would continue to increase insurgency in a bid to get more ground and speak from strong position in any possible talks with the Afghan government," Afghan observer Khan Mohammad Daneshjo told Xinhua. Enditem
Postal services provider TTPost yesterday shut its branches in Port of Spain and San Fernando after dozens of people rushed to collect senior citizen pension and public assistance grants and would not adhere to physical distancing rules.

Eventually, police were called to disperse the crowds.

Several elderly people at the St Vincent Street branch in Port of Spain complained about not being able to collect their pension cheques because other unruly ones refused to socially distance and abide by the law amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stella Griffith, 68, of Diego Martin, said she was adhering to rules of social distancing, but there were other people who came for their public assistance and disability grants and were refusing to listen.
A culture of fear has returned to Myanmar. Peaceful protesters are killed and detained every day. Police execute unarmed civilians at point-blank range. Members of the National League for Democracy, the countrys main opposition party, have been tortured to death. When security officials havent been able to find the dissident theyre looking for, they have taken elderly relatives hostage.

Ive seen this before. In 1988, I joined my fellow students on the streets to protest for democracy. Two years later, soldiers arrested me and began eight days of interrogations. They tortured me physically and mentally. They beat me in the stomach until I could no longer stand. They didnt let me see daylight. They forced me to drink water from the toilet. I was not given a lawyer, and my family had no idea what was happening to me until the next week, when a military court handed me a three-year sentence for demonstrating and working with student unions.

My generation knew to distrust the generals. In 1962, before I was born, the military seized power; when students protested, soldiers dynamited a student building. I saw injustice everywhere the military went. Students were massacred when we asked for student unions to be recognized, for the right to free speech, for the right to vote. When I joined the struggle in 1988, we wanted ballots; we were met with bullets.

Eventually, the military allowed free elections in May 1990, but when its proxy party lost, it did not transfer control to the elected representatives. Gen. Than Shwe held onto power; the troops didnt let go until 2011.

My release in 1993 after serving a three-year sentence was hardly the end of my ordeal. I was arrested again. I was allowed to reenter my final year at university, but intelligence personnel tried to intimidate me into not attending classes. I had a part-time job at a photocopying shop. Officials told the owner that I was a former political prisoner and could not be trusted, that bad things would happen to his business if he kept me on. After he fired me, I gave private lessons to high school students who wanted to learn English. Military intelligence again pressured parents not to send their children to my classes. One pupil told me that her father, a military officer, was forced to retire because she was in one of my classes.

Intelligence agents also pressured me to work for them. One day in 1994, they took me to a police station and told me to inform on fellow activists. I turned them down and proposed instead that they release Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the NLD. They said I had not learned my lesson from three years in prison.

In July 1994, I was detained and eventually was charged in 1995 under the same Emergency Provisions Act Section. My inquisitors found three poems that they said would poison peoples minds. They sentenced me to five more years with hard labor. Once, I was beaten every day for two weeks straight, often until I lost consciousness. I was forced to assume stress positions and hop like a frog while tied in chains. I slept on concrete without a mat. I was transferred to Tharrawaddy Prison in 1997 and held in solitary confinement for six months. After my parole in 1998, intelligence officers continued to monitor my every activity.

Leading up to a general strike in 1999, the police special branch warned me that I should become an informer, or they would regard me as an agitator. They came to arrest me that August, but I got lucky: I hid in the homes of allies across Myanmar until I made it to Thailand. Soon I helped found the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which advocates human rights reform in Myanmar.

What I experienced then, and what a younger generation of activists has begun to experience today, was calculated to engender a climate of fear among those who wished to speak out. But I wanted to live in a free Myanmar. Young activists today have this same courageous desire. The military wanted to destroy my brain, my will to fight the dictatorship and my hope. It failed.
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The government of southwestern Yunnan province is tracking 15 wild Asian elephants round-the-clock as the herd moves northward. The elephants, which started their journey from the southernmost prefecture in the province on April 16, were 10 kilometers away from the provincial capital Kunming on Tuesday. The local government has been tracking and escorting the animals to keep them away from residents. The elephants have damaged 561 square meters of cropland, according to media reports

Jun 02, 2021 05:22 PM
Sarah's death seemed to tip the world on its axis so that everything went topsy-turvy for a while. All the women I spoke to felt the same. There was a heaviness in the air.

She did everything she was meant to. Wore bright clothes. Stuck to the busy main roads. Called her boyfriend on the way home.

Didn't leave it too late. It was 9pm when she left her friend's flat. It was a time when women should be safe. And yet

The tragedy of Sarah Everard's death lies in those last two words.

And yet she disappeared off the streets and was murdered. The prime suspect is a policeman, a person who is meant to keep us safe, a person we are meant to trust.

And yet.

Perhaps it was because I once lived in Clapham, and used to trudge home across the Common after dark.

Perhaps it was because, during lockdown, we have all taken to walking a lot more, or going for daily runs, and I have become accustomed to seeing young women just like Sarah moving purposefully across parks and streets, in headphones and trainers.

Perhaps it was because one of Sarah's friends messaged me on Instagram appealing for help when she first went missing.

Perhaps it's because I now live near the American Embassy in South London where the prime suspect is alleged to have worked as a member of the diplomatic protection group on the day of her disappearance.

For whatever reason, it all felt very close. Sarah's death seemed to tip the world on its axis so that everything went topsy-turvy for a while. All the women I spoke to felt the same. There was a heaviness in the air.

Our hearts were collectively breaking. To think of the shattering grief her family, boyfriend and loved ones must be experiencing is almost unimaginable.

Many women will have a similar story. It's time to listen to them. I'm aware that men are victims too, but it's on a different scale. For men, street harassment is the exception. For women, it's the rule

Sorry seems an inadequate word. And yet it's all we have: I am so very sorry for their pain.

As women, we know what it is like to walk the streets and fear for our safety. It is, in many ways, a difficult thing to convey because we have become so used to it, that our behaviour now is instinctive.

But trust me when I tell you that almost every woman you know has experienced some form of harassment. It is why I never feel safe travelling abroad on my own, or having dinner in a restaurant by myself, because eight times out of ten I will be approached by a man assuming that my single-ness is an invitation.

It is why I, too, stick to busy, well-lit streets. I'll take a taxi rather than the last Tube (although that, too, is fraught with risk). It is why I note numberplates of suspicious vans or cars.

It is why I have a sixth sense for my surroundings; why I panic when I hear footsteps behind me; why I will always cross the road or stop walking so a man can overtake me if he seems to be following me.

When I was 27, I was mugged by four men on the North London street where I lived. I was returning from a work trip and it was a winter's evening, so although it was only 7pm it was already dark.

They pushed me against a wall, grabbed my laptop and a bag of clothes. One of them hit me twice across the face with the flat of his forearm. I held on to my handbag. At some point, I fell to the ground and lost a shoe. They ran off, leaving me on the pavement.

I did not scream. I had always thought I would. But I couldn't believe it was happening to me, at the same time as I believed it completely. Because this was the risk of being a woman in a city, wasn't it? This was the price I paid for an independent life.

The police never caught the culprits. They told me the way a plastic bag I'd been carrying had been slashed, suggesting that one of the muggers had a knife. They took my handbag for DNA testing. I never got it back.

The prime suspect is a policeman, a person who is meant to keep us safe, a person we are meant to trust

In the days and weeks after the mugging, I felt scared. I also felt grateful. Grateful that it hadn't been worse. I was lucky.

I didn't once think to question why the men had done it.

That's just what happened, I thought. The responsibility was mine. I shouldn't have walked back alone, even though the attack had taken place 200 yards from my front door. I shouldn't have been carrying a laptop. I shouldn't have stayed silent. I shouldn't have fought to keep my handbag. It was never, 'They shouldn't have done that to me.'

In the end, I moved to a different part of London and bought a flat a few paces away from a main road. It felt safer that way.

Many women will have a similar story. It's time to listen to them. I'm aware that men are victims too, but it's on a different scale. For men, street harassment is the exception. For women, it's the rule.

And yet for decades, women are the ones who have been encouraged to change our behaviours.

I remember, as a teenager, a woman coming to our school to talk about personal safety. Walk with keys in your hand as a makeshift weapon, we were told, and learn some basic self-defence.

We were never taught to question why men wanted to attack us. It was just the way things were.

Girls were advised to be careful, but I'm not sure boys were ever given lessons in how not to be violent. Boys were never taught in school how to be kind, supportive and unthreatening in public spaces.

This female passivity was underlined in language. As the American gender activist Jackson Katz put it in a quote that went viral on social media last week: 'We talk about how many women were raped last year, not about how many men raped women Even the term 'violence against women' is problematic. It's a passive construction. There's no active agent in the sentence. It's a bad thing that happens to women Men aren't even a part of it!'

Of course, we do not mean all men when we speak of our experiences. We know there are many good men out there who cannot understand why others would perpetrate this kind of violence.

At the same time, it is an unassailable fact that we live in a world where, on average, a woman is killed by a man every three days, and 80 per cent of women say they have been sexually harassed  a statistic that increases to 97 per cent for women aged 18-24, according to a poll released by YouGov this month.

It's difficult for any of us to walk the streets and know, simply by looking, which men are good and which are bad. The responsibility, therefore, is not one to be shouldered by women alone. It's a responsibility that has to be tackled by society as a whole. We need to hold perpetrators to account rather than victim-blaming.

We need to educate all genders on what safety in public space means. We need to interrogate the language we use. A woman is not simply attacked. Someone is attacking her.

Or, to put it another way: if you parked your car on a well-lit street, locked it and kept all valuables out of sight, then returned after a couple of hours to find the car stolen, your reaction would not be: 'Well, that's just the way of the world. It was my fault to think I could park here. Next time, I'll be more careful. Maybe I shouldn't have bought this particular car anyway' Your reaction  rightly  would be anger that your property had been stolen.

And yet. We're not talking about cars or inanimate objects here. We're talking about people.

We're talking about a woman who was murdered for the simple act of walking home. We're talking about Sarah Everard, who should still be alive.

We need to change. Because I don't want to live in a world where we accept the 'and yet'. I want to live in a world where we say 'no more'.
San Antonio will soon get a second serving of Comfort Cafe.

The pay-what-you-can, volunteer-based restaurant, which benefits a community of recovering addicts, has quickly become a foodie favorite throughout San Antonio. Regulars tout the eatery for its brunch that's as memorable as the warm service. Comfort Cafe is making room for more huevos rancheros and sweet cream pancakes by opening a second location at Los Patios by the summer.

The restaurant confirmed the expansion on Friday.

RELATED: Receipt left at Comfort Cafe 'hits hard' against volunteer-based restaurant staff

Teri Lopez told MySA.com the restaurant will be housed in one of the buildings on the Los Patios property. Though there isn't a set opening date yet, the team is shooting for the cusp of April and May.

Lopez said the menu fans have come to love at the Bandera Road location will be served at the Los Patios installment. The hours will match, too.

The original Comfort Cafe is located in Smithville. SerenityStar, the community of recovering addicts the cafe supports, is also located there.

READ ALSO: Meet the Oklahoma woman who spent February helping San Antonio restaurants

Rosalina Lopez, one of the co-founders, said the added cafe will help SerenityStar expedite building a program in San Antonio. The new restaurant is part of a larger sober community Blue Heron Recovery is piecing together at Los Patios.

The restaurant is currently working to supply the upcoming cafe with essentials like dinner plates and other restaurant items. Donations can be organized by contacting donation@serenitystar.org.

Can't wait for the North East side expansion? The original San Antonio spot is located at 5616 Bandera Road and is open Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
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Border row: Karnataka temporarily stops bus service to Maharashtra

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Bengaluru, Mar 13: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation on Saturday temporarily suspended its operations to Kolhapur in Maharashtra which has a substantial Kannada population in view of the ongoing border row between the two states, officials said.

A few Maharashtra leaders have been demanding the merger of the regions dominated by Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka, especially Belagavi, which the pro-Kannada organisations have been opposing. According to a senior officer in the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, a vehicle belonging to Maharashtra was blackened in Belagavi which aggravated the tension between the regions.

With COVID-19 cases rising, Karnataka tightens rules for weddings

"The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation officials had asked us if there was tension in Kolhapur and asked us not to run any buses. They too did not run any bus," the officer added.

Meanwhile in Mumbai, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut alleged that Marathi people residing in Karnataka's Belgaum were being victimised, and said an all-party delegation from Maharashtra should visit the city in the neighbouring state to resolve the ongoing stand-off.

He told reporters that in the last eight days there have been instances of attack on Shiv Sena leaders and the party's office in Belgaum by pro-Kannada outfits.

"Belgaum is part of India and the Maharashtra- Karnataka dispute is a language dispute. It shouldn't be stretched too far and this is the responsibility of the Karnataka government too," he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had been raising the issue of merger of Belagavi and other Marathi- dominated regions with Maharashtra time and again.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 19:51 [IST]
After the gavel dropped and a piece of digital art sold for $69.3 million at a Christies auction on Thursday, one thing wasnt clear: who had bought it. Now we knowsort of. The buyer is a mysterious figure known only as Metakovan who has been hovering around the cryptocurrency space for years.

Everydays: The First 5000 Days is a collage of 5,000 pictures that artist Mike Winkelmann, better known as Beeple, started composing every day since 2007. Besides being the third-most-expensive piece of art ever sold by a living artist, the collage is notable because it is attached to a form of cryptocurrency called a non-fungible token, or NFT, and has no physical presence. In fact, the artwork itself is available for viewing free of charge across the internet. What Christies actually auctioned off is a one-of-a-kind cryptographic token that acts as a sort of certificate of ownership for the collage, which can in turn be sold to someone else in the future. The buyer also received a digital file of the art and some rights to display the image, but the copyright wasnt part of the transaction, Christies told Slate. NFTs are the latest cryptocurrency craze, in which celebrities like Grimes and Logan Paul are using the technology to sell digital keepsakes for millions of dollars.

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Initial reports speculated that the winner of the Christies auction was Justin Sun, founder of the cryptocurrency platform Tron who has been willing to spend huge sums of money on other virtual grails; he recently bid $2 million for an NFT attached to Twitter CEO Jack Dorseys first tweet. However, Sun tweeted on Friday that he was outbid within 20 seconds of the auction closing by someone who had offered $250,000 more than his final $60 million bid. (There were around $9 million in fees added to the final bid.) Christies announced on Friday that Metakovan, who is a Singapore-based cryptocurrency investor, had actually won the collage.

Metakovan is the founder of the worlds largest NFT fund, Metapurse, and has been amassing an almost $120 million collection of tokenized art over the last several years. The collector also paid $2.2 million for another set of 20 pieces by Beeple in December using various different accounts in an apparent attempt to hide his tracks. Metakovan has been displaying the artworks in a digital museum and selling cryptographic tokens that entitle buyers to a stake in the collection. The current price of one of these tokens is currently about $20 as of Friday evening, giving the entire lot a market cap of about $195.4 million. Heres a video about Metakovans B.20 Museum, which may not make it any less confusing, but looks kind of cool:

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When you think of high-valued NFTs, this one is going to be pretty hard to beat, Metakovan said of The First 5000 Days in a press release. It represents 13 years of everyday work. Techniques are replicable and skill is surpassable, but the only thing you cant hack digitally is time. This is the crown jewel, the most valuable piece of art for this generation. It is worth $1 billion.

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Details about Metakovan are scant, but the investor has given a few interviews with some select hints about his identity. In an interview with Hack Crypto, he said hes a coder who discovered Bitcoin in 2013 while trading options. He began going to cryptocurrency meetups in Canada and became more and more involved in the space. Most of his assets are now in cryptocurrency; he said he doesnt even own a house or car. On the podcast The Defiant, Metakovan said hes built several crypto companies and has been active in investing in both tokens and blockchain infrastructure. He became active in the NFT space in 2017 and assumed the Metakovan personality a few years later. Explaining his pseudonym, Metakovan said, It gives you a space where you can experiment and be something youre not, so you can learn things and you can remove all the attachment that would come with being the same person doing something else. It gives us a clean slate on the internet. He got the name, which means king of meta in Tamil, from his mother. (The meta, in this case, refers to the metaverse, the concept of a virtual world that encompasses all of the internet and popular culture.) According to his spokesperson, known only by the pseudonym Twobadour, Metakovan has been able to fund his NFT ventures because he was such an early investor in cryptocurrencies. Indeed, he told Hack Crypto that he was in contact with one of the founders of Ethereum, the worlds second-largest cryptocurrency, before its launch and subsequently became one of its first investors. Its unclear how rich that would make Metakovan, but very is a good guess.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High 66F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Cloudy with showers. Low near 55F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Texas Judge Says Austin Can Continue to Enforce Mask Mandate for at Least Another 2 Weeks

A district court judge in Texas on Friday refused to grant the states attorney general a restraining order that would force Austin and Travis County to discontinue enforcing their mask mandates, according to officials and reports.

Travis County district court judge Lora Livingston, during a Friday hearing, decided to set a March 26 trial on the matter, effectively allowing Austin to continue enforcing mask-wearing for at least another two weeks, according to the Austin-American Statesman.

People have been wearing masks for a year. I dont know that two more weeks is going to matter one way or the other, Livingston said, according to the outlet.

Travis County judge Andy Brown confirmed the fact that the mask mandate remains in effect following Fridays hearing.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Austin-Travis County on Thursday over its refusal to heed an order by Gov. Gregg Abbott that rescinded the statewide mask-wearing mandate.

I told Travis County & The City of Austin to comply with state mask law. They blew me off. So, once again, Im dragging them to court, Paxton said in a tweet on March 11, adding, Adler will never do the right thing on his own. His obstruction wont stop me from keeping TX free & open!

On Wednesday, Paxton sent a letter to Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County judge Andy Brown, giving them a deadline of Wednesday at 6 p.m. to rescind their local order or else he would sue.

Over the past 24 hours, Travis County and City of Austin officials announced that local orders requiring individuals to wear face masks while outside their homes will continue unabated, despite the issuance of Governor Abbotts executive order GA-34, which states that as of today, no person may be required by any jurisdiction to wear or to mandate the wearing of a face covering,' Paxton wrote.

Adler and Brown insist the local order, issued last week by interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott, still stands. The order calls on anyone 10 years or older to wear masks outside their home and calls on businesses to require people to wear facial coverings inside their establishments.

In remarks to CBS Austin on Thursday, Adler said he believes the local order is both lawful and necessary.

Its not my order that has standing. Its the health authoritys rules that by ordinance are enforceable, Adler told the outlet. I think that follows directly from state law that says health authority rules can be enforceable to protect the public health. I think the governor has broad powers, but I dont think those powers extend to waiving any state law that he wants to waive.

In declining to award the temporary restraining order that Paxton sought, Livingston said a piecemeal approach to the issue is not optimal and instead both sides should prepare for a big hearing and present their arguments at the upcoming trial.

Paxton, in his letter, expressed confidence that the case would ultimately go his way: We have already taken you to court under similar circumstances. You lost. If you continue to flout the law in this manner, well take you to court again and you will lose again.
Escalating COVID-19 cases has been recorded after the Tesla Plant was reopened by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who had violated state orders involving coronavirus lockdown in May 2020. At the time, Musk was fully against business shutdowns amid the pandemic scare and even told the officers to arrest him.

What Happened to Tesla Plant Reopening Previously?

The Washington Post wrote that between May and December, the number went from ten COVID-19 cases to 125, ultimately reaching a total of 450 cases, as the data gathered by the county revealed. The workers at the plant were around 10,000.

In line with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the data on the COVID-19 cases could not be released as per the Alameda County Public Health Department. The said federal law tackled the protection of the health data of the people.

In mid-May, the Fremont Tesla plant was allowed to reopen, and in connection to this, the company has an obligation to report about the cases in its vicinity. In early June, it was reported that there are no known COVID-19 cases that infected the residents from the county.

For the 49-year-old magnate, the shutdown, which was mandated by the county, should not be happening. Since business firms are one of the most affected during the pandemic, a company like Tesla should continue its automobile production even though the order for the workers to stay at home has already been implemented.

Read Also: Elon Musk Says Tesla FSD AI is 'Deeply Underestimated' When it Comes to Software, Hardware

Musk Does Not Like Business Shutdowns Amid Pandemic Scare

However, Musk continued the campaign against the federal government mandates.

During the time when Donald Trump was still the ruling as the U.S. president, Musk took note of Tesla's reopening, which attracted the attention of the former president to the business shutdowns. Some organizations have also recognized what Musk wanted to convey.

After that, Musk tweeted that his company will restart the production, which was against Alameda County's rules. Furthermore, he said that he supports those who are against the shutdown and even requested that he be the only one to be arrested if many will experience the same treatment.

Meanwhile, Tesla was also accused of the treatment of its workers. The company vowed that its employees could stay at home if they cannot return to the physical workplace immediately.

In late June and July, termination notices have reached the workers who grew concerned if they were exposed to the coronavirus. These are the people who chose not to return to work due to their possible COVID-19 exposure.

In the month of June, there were 19 cases of coronavirus infection, while in July, there were 58 reported cases at the Tesla Plant, as per Alameda County's data.

By late April, Musk said that the coronavirus was 'dumb,' and he released his prediction that the cases of infection will be close to zero during the said month. It drew the attention of many, and Musk was bombarded with flak from his critics, Weekday Times reported.

Just recently, on Mar. 12, Musk decided to remove a dubious tweet about the capabilities of COVID-19 vaccines, despite the assurance from the medical experts that people should be vaccinated for their protection.

The case of Tesla reopening were only a few of many cases involving operations of large companies. The coronavirus pandemic has really challenged numerous firms with how they plan to stay on track with their goals while abiding by the safety protocols.

Related Article: Selenium Believed to Contribute to Low COVID-19 Infections, Chinese Scientists Reveal

This article is owned by Tech Times.

Written by Joen Coronel

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
London, March 13 : Former world No. 1 Andy Murray and his wife, Kim Sears, have welcomed the birth of their fourth child.

The couple, who have been married for six years, already have two daughters -- five-year-old Sophia and three-year-old Edie, and a one-year-old son Teddy, according to ATP Tour website.

The 33-year-old British star has competed at three tournaments this year, including a runner-up finish last month at the Biella Challenger Indoor 1 on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Last spring, Murray spoke about family life under lockdown as he joined legend Billie Jean King and CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour for a special interview.

"It's been tough, obviously, tough for everybody just now, but it has also given us the opportunity to spend time -- and a lot of time - at home with my family, which with my job and the travelling that we usually do, I don't usually get that opportunity," he said.

"That's been really nice and challenging at times trying to teach and educate my children, which our teachers usually do that for us. It's been hard, but I've enjoyed large parts of it. It's been quite special to have time with my family." Murray also explained the photo he posted of himself wearing a kilt and tiara, a request from his daughters.

"They've already got me wrapped around their fingers, so it's fun. They are the sort of things that you get up to as a dad when you're at home... when I did put it on they just said, 'Oh Daddy, you look silly. Take it off.'"
Mar. 12AUGUSTA, Maine  Maine would require insurers to cover COVID-19 testing costs and expand the number of people able to administer vaccines under a measure easily passed by the Legislature early Friday.

The passage of the "COVID-19 Patient Bill of Rights" was a victory for Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, and Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford. It was LD 1, the first bill formally unveiled during the 2021 session, a designation that signals a major priority for leaders. It now goes to Gov. Janet Mills, who is likely to sign it.

It comes as new coronavirus cases remain relatively flat in Maine, despite falling nationally. Cases virtually everywhere have declined since a major surge ended in January as vaccine distribution ramps up and states begin to map out reopenings. Mills, a Democrat, announced a plan last week to allow more travel and ease capacity restrictions ahead of the tourism season.

"The COVID-19 Patient Bill of Rights is key to getting us through this crisis and a post-COVID world," Jackson said in a statement.

The bill is the first COVID-19 policy-related piece of legislation passed in the Legislature this year. It requires health insurance providers to cover COVID-19 screening, testing and vaccine costs. It also does not allow an out-of-network provider to charge a patient the difference of what their insurance would cover.

Providers would be required to provide notice on any upfront charges. It also looks to expand the number of people able to give vaccines and includes a provision allowing for doctors to prescribe an extended amount of medications during a state of emergency.

Maine already covers testing charges at its "swab and send" sites and rapid tests through its partnership with Walgreens. Medicare and Medicaid providers are required to cover testing along with doctor's visits during a federal state of emergency thanks to two federal laws passed nearly a year ago. Vaccines distributed by the federal government are currently given free of charge to Americans, but the new state law aims to ensure no changes down the line.

Minister for Women Marise Payne will snub the historic Womens March 4 Justice on Parliament House on Monday, telling organisers she will receive their petition via correspondence rather than in person.

Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek and Greens co-deputy leader Larissa Waters will jointly receive the petition from organisers  who invited Senator Payne to do the same  but the most senior woman in the Morrison government has turned down the invitation.

Marise Payne speaking at the Future Women Leadership Summit on March 9. Credit:Mark Broome/Future Women

The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age has been told that, as of 5pm on Saturday, just one Coalition MP had indicated they would attend the March 4 Justice in Canberra, which is expected to attract thousands of people.

Organisers of the event would not confirm the identity of that MP when approached for comment but The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age has been told it is first-term Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer. Ms Archer did not respond to requests for comment.
Two York County volunteer firefighters are being lauded after they rescued a woman in February from a house fire in Fawn Township.

Citizens Volunteer Fire Co. member Paul Scott and Airville Volunteer Fire Co. member Ryan Shaull were commended recently by their departments for taking action and potentially saving a womans life.

Ryan and Paul with no gear, no nothing, they went right inside the house, said Citizens Volunteer Fire Co. Fire Chief Jimmy Williams. They were able to get her out super quick.

Joan Grimm, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, was house and dog sitting alone Feb. 21 at her daughters home in the 500 block of Mount Olivet Church Road in Fawn Township.

She and Pit Bull, Kenzie, were sleeping in a bedroom on the lower level of the recently remodeled home when the smoke detector woke her up, said her husband, Karl Grimm.

Grimm, 59, realized the house was on fire and called 911. Williams said the call came in about 10:50 p.m.

Grimms family members said she couldve perished that night if the two firefighters hadnt been there.

We believe that the outcome would have been different, said Karl Grimm, who spoke for his wife because she was still recovering from smoke inhalation. Shes very thankful.

Shaull was on his way to work when he saw the fire and drove to the scene. Scott, who lives several doors down from the residence and was watching TV at home, also went to the house.

Both firefighters said they believed the 911 caller was still inside the house since an initial search of the premises showed no signs of anyone and the front door was locked.

Scott and Shaull said they entered the dwelling through an open walkout basement and found Grimm slumped on the floor in the main level of the house.

Grimm recalled that she went searching for Kenzie  who had ran to a safe spot in another bedroom  but became so disoriented and consumed by the smoke that she walked into a wall and fell down, her family said.

When we found her, she was rough looking. Her face was black, Scott said, adding she appeared semi-conscious at best.

Scott said smoke was so heavy on the main floor that it was difficult to see anything clearly.

I just happened to reach out, and when I reached out, I touched her shoulder, Scott said. But that was as far as we could go. If she wouldnt have been there. We werent going any farther than that.

Scott and Shaull said it was then a grab and go situation and the two firefighters got Grimm up and escorted her out through the front door.

Engines arrived minutes later and Kenzie unconscious in her safe spot. Williams said firefighters were able to revive the dog using an oxygen mask.

You really dont think about it. You just do it because you know somebodys in there, said Shaull, who has been a firefighter for 20 years.

Shaull also volunteers at New Bridgeville Fire Co. and is a deputy at the Harford County Sheriffs Office in Maryland.

Its just muscle memory. You dont think about it. You just do it, said Scott, who has been a volunteer firefighter since 2011 and runs Scotts Equipment Repair LLC.

Scott and Shaull said theyre glad Grimm and Kenzie are alive and well.

For those guys to drive to the scene and be there, Williams said. The stars lined up for her that night.

Officials believe the fire started from a defect in the chimney flue of the oil furnace in one of the back bedrooms.

Karl Grimm said the house was destroyed, and his daughter and her family are temporarily living at a siblings h in Maryland.

Both firefighters received commendations Feb. 27 at the Citizens Volunteer Fire Co. fire station, located at 171 S Market St, with about 20 people present, including Joan Grimm.
Mar. 13The Marysville Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees approved reopening the Abraham Lincoln Home School during a recent meeting.

Rocco Greco, executive director of student engagement for the district, said the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated a need for more flexibility in learning options at school districts and that while many students have struggled with distance learning, about 20 percent of families have consistently chosen to keep their students on distance learning in the district.

"(This could be) for the students who are doing better in this environment, we predict there are some students who don't want to return," Greco said.

According to a staff report, Abraham Lincoln Home School was closed and converted to a "district program" utilizing part-time, after-hour certified MJUSD teachers and allowed limited independent study options.

In order to be an equitable school that would allow high school students to be able to meet all A-G accreditation requirements, the school has to be accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges but cannot accredit a district program  Greco said students who go through the program not accredited by WASC are not able to go straight to a four-year university but could go to a junior college first.

Greco said they are working on the logistics to reopen the school and gain accreditation  such as working on the paperwork for the California Department of Education and they have a WASC inspection tentatively scheduled for April 30.

The school is planned to be staffed to support independent study students as well as those who choose to remain on distance learning as the COVID-19 pandemic slows, according to a staff report.

Greco said they predict, initially, they will need eight secondary teachers and four primary teachers. He said there would be two curricular pathways that would be available for families depending on technology and educational needs.

Story continues

There are technology-based platforms that could be utilized  such as Edmentum  along with an option for paper-based materials.

There is a physical center for the school, Greco said, that will be used as the main hub but there are also opportunities to have the teachers placed at other school sites in the district for students who may not be able to easily access the main center.

Greco said students who go through the independent study program have to see a teacher physically once per week, however, if they need additional assistance, they could do so either virtually or in person.

"It's time for districts to learn from (the COVID-19 pandemic)," Greco said. "...It allows us to continue to look into avenues and look into different solutions so we don't just jump back into the same rut."

The goal is to open the school for the 2021-2022 school year.

"The teachers who are working on the independent studies are great," Greco said. "This honors the work they're doing already by providing additional resources and providing different avenues."
A 12-year-old girl has been taken to hospital after she fell 'from height' by a block of flats in east London.

Police were called to the scene at 9.16pm last night after the girl fell in Acton Mews in Haggerston.

She was treated at the scene by paramedics and rushed to hospital in an ambulance.

Her fall is not being treated as suspicious and she is not in a life threatening condition.

A 12-year-old girl has been taken to hospital after she fell 'from height' by a block of flats on Acton Mews in Haggerston, east London, last night

The girl is thought to have fallen from an apartment block and she is still being treated in hospital after three emergency cars were sent to the scene.

London Metropolitan Police said: 'Police were called to Acton Mews at 9.16pm on Friday to a report of a girl fallen from height.

'Officers attended along with paramedics from London Ambulance Service.

'A 12-year-old girl was found injured. She was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

'Her condition has been assessed as non life-threatening. The incident is not being treated as suspicious.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson: 'We were called at 9:16pm on 12 March to Acton Mews, E8, to reports of a person injured from a fall from height.

'We dispatched a number of resources to the scene including an incident response officer, an ambulance crew and three response cars.

'We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from Londons Air Ambulance.

'We treated a child at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre.'
New Delhi:

A feeling of animosity made 25-year-old Mustakeem Ahmad kill his colleague who allegedly introduced him to smoking that caused him throat cancer.

As per the reports, Ahmad was a cook at a West Delhi restaurant and was so consumed with hate towards the victim named Inayat that he purchased a pistol and practiced with it several times before shooting the victim.

Inayat was reportedly better at work which developed a sense of enmity in Ahmad. He also started smoking cigarettes and marijuana and later blamed Inayat for the addiction.

Though Ahmad and Inayat were friends at the workplace, Inayat was reportedly better at his job and well-behaved and soon became the favorite of the restaurant owner, Shibesh Singh, DCP (southwest) said in a statement.

In the course of time, Ahmad developed throat infection, forcing him to consult a doctor. Ahmad has claimed that the doctor told him he had developed throat cancer due to excessive smoking, the DCP added.

Read more: Smokers show 200 per cent more hypersensitive behaviour, says study

Ahmad's work quality drastically sank and he was later removed from his job. He then went back to his native village in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh and bought a pistol to carry out the fatal act.

He first practiced firing in his village, before returning to Delhi a few days ago, said the DCP.

Ahmad first visited back to the restaurant on Thursday morning and tried to persuade the restaurant owner to fire Inayat. On failing to do so, he picked a fight with Inayat and shot him in the process.

Inayat was rushed to a hospital, but he was later declared dead. Ahmad fled the murder spot, said police.

Later, an informer told police on Friday that Ahmad was set to visit a relative in Uttam Nagar to take some money before leaving the city, after which a police team grabbed him after a chase.
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The Honeymooners, although relatively short-lived, is among the most beloved classic television shows of all time. The series took a deep dive into the lives of working-class families and helped them feel heard. The main character, Ralph Kramdens job as a New York City bus driver, was particularly iconic, but it almost didnt happen that way. The Honeymooners star, Jackie Gleason, dismissed the first job writers gave his character, paving the way for Ralph to become a bus driver.

Ralph Kramden was originally going to be a police officer

Fans of The Honeymooners probably cant imagine Ralph as anything other than a bus driver. Ralphs job became instantly connected to the iconic character, and it is hard to picture him as anything else. Still, his job as a bus driver was not the writers original intent. Instead, the development team had planned on making Ralph a police officer. Ralph was only portrayed as a bus driver at the insistence of Gleason.

Audrey Meadows and Jackie Gleason | Paramount Television/Getty Images

RELATED: The Honeymooners: Joyce Randolph Was Not the Original Trixie Norton

While the cast mentioned Ralphs job repeatedly during the shows short-lived run, he was never seen driving a bus on the show. Ralph was shown at the bus depot and appeared in the drivers seat of a New York City bus for promotional photos, but he was never seen actively driving.

Jackie Gleason dismissed the job idea

Gleason dismissed the notion of Ralph serving as a police officer. He didnt feel an authoritative job would suit the character. According to IMDb, Gleason was concerned that Ralph being in a position of power and authority could alienate him from viewers and strip away the very fabric of what the role was about.

Promotional photo for The Honeymooners | Paramount/Getty Images

The shows writers quickly changed things around, leading to Ralph serving as a bus driver. His best friend, Ed Norton, had a similarly service-oriented career path. The character, portrayed by Art Carney, worked as a plumber in New York Citys sewer system. He once said he was the sub-supervisor in the subdivision of the department of subterranean sanitation.

Jackie Gleason and his The Honeymooners character have been honored by transit workers

Jackie Gleasons instincts were correct, his position as a bus driver endeared him to the masses, and transit workers have a particular affinity to the character. According to The New York Times, Ralph became an honorary member of the Transport Workers Union. The actor who portrayed the star also has a bus depot named after him in Brooklyn, the borough that the Kramdens called home.

The cast of The Honeymoooners | Paramount Television/Getty Images

RELATED: The Honeymooners: Audrey Meadows Was The Only Cast Member to Earn Residuals

Gleason died in 1987 at the age of 71. While he had some public health struggles, Gleason kept his cancer diagnosis private until his death. The famed actors actual cause of death was liver and colon cancer. Gleason reportedly knew his time was running out. According to the AP News, Gleason changed his will the day before he died, increasing the inheritance of his two daughters and his beloved secretary and lowering the inheritance of his third wife, Marilyn Gleason.
In the evening of March 12, at a meeting of the regional commission of the State Commission on Manmade Disaster, Emergency Response, it was decided to put under quarantine the tourist complex Bukovel and restrict entry to the territory of Polianytsia territorial community, which only local residents or people who work there can freely move through, the local newspaper Halka reports.

"It was decided to terminate the activities of the Bukovel resort. Tourists will not be able to visit it. If you are a tourist, then you must understand that you are not going to Bukovel - you are going to the red quarantine zone, a high-risk zone. We are making such a forced decision, and probably not the last. After all, the red zone, in which we live, is growing, and we do not see a trend towards its decrease," said head of Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration Andriy Boichuk.

The new rules will take effect from 24:00 on March 13.

"As of today, 51 administrative protocols have been drawn up in Bukovel tourist complex: for lift operators, ski equipment rental points. Additional checkpoints will be introduced on the territory of Polianytska territorial community. Only local residents or those who have a place of work in this settlement will be able to move freely, subject to quarantine requirements," said Volodymyr Holubosh, head of the Main Department of the National Police in Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Colm with his 1985 Dodge 4.8Ltr truck which was a fire engine used in Carlingford and Dundalk. Picture Ken Finegan / Newspics

From Raleigh bicycles to a former fire engine and just about anything else you can think of in between.

Colm Duffy has been a member of the North Louth & Border Vintage Club since the start and it's fair to say his interests are varied.

His current project concerns an ex-Dundalk/Carlingford fire engine, a Dodge Commando, bought two years ago.

Since then, the 1985 model has been to shows and on runs, the Convoy to Cooley among them, but is now set for a change of 'career'.

'I'm converting it into a lorry with a flat body for carrying tractors,' explained Colm who has a shed for the purpose at the family home in Caraban, Ravensdale.

With the help of one of his sons, Padraig, he plans to have the job finished for next year when hopefully there will be plenty more shows to attend.

Expand Close Colm Murphy with his amazing Universal 445. Picture Ken Finegan / Newspics / Facebook

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'I work (on the vehicles) in the evenings during the winter. When the summer comes, that's me finished, there are other things to do,' he pointed out.

He described Padraig as his partner in crime. 'He nearly does more than me' but Colm realises that he could not indulge in his pastime without the patience and understanding 'and late cups of tea' of wife Aisling and their other children Conor and Aoife.

The collection includes a Universal 445 tractor, built in Brazov, Romania in 1977.

'My father Donal bought it in 1980 from Tom Martin in Monvallet, Louth, who was the agent.

'It's been here ever since. Me and Padraig did it up over a period of five years. It's no longer a working tractor. I haven't the heart to let it get dirty.'

However, two other Universals, a 445 and 640 earn their keep.

Parts for the Universal which the boys restored were very hard to get and were eventually sourced from England, Italy, Canada, India and Australia, as well as from breakers' yards.

'A lot of Universals were exported back to Romania,' Colm added, while they are still being made in Pakistan.

He has a Ferguson FE 35 which has an interesting quirk to it.

In 1952 Massey-Harris merged with Ferguson to become Massey-Harris-Ferguson, before finally taking on the Massey Ferguson name in 1958.

The Fergusons had been painted grey before the amalgamation upon which they were painted red.

Colm's 1957 tractor is red but bears the Ferguson badge.

'I bought it in Dublin. It was an English tractor, imported to Cavan in the 1960s, and has a Cavan registration.'

There is also a 1950s Ferguson plough.

'My father bought it and it's here as long as I am.'

When the fire engine conversion is complete, Colm will turn his hand to restoring a Subaru Legacy RS, a mere pup compared to the rest being a 1993 make.

He has it since 2009, and while the bodywork is done - new wings and a bonnet - there is still plenty left to do.

The Legacy is a nippy car, and another 1993 RS was driven by World Rally Champions Ari Vatanen and the late Richard Burns.

For travel at a more leisurely pace, Colm can turn to pedal power.

'I had a Raleigh Esquire growing up. I went to buy a mudguard for the bike, and I found that the bike was cheaper than the mudguard, so I bought two Esquires!'

Colm and Padraig subsequently rode the bicycles on a run organised by the Knockbridge club.

He has been a member of the North Louth & Border Vintage Club since it was founded in 2012, and is also in IVETA, the Irish Vintage Engine & Tractor Association, whose membership stands at more than 8,000.

Like his fellow enthusiasts, Colm spoke of the camaraderie which exists and said that if you were at a show it was almost certain someone would come up and be able to tell something about your car or tractor that you didn't know.

On each occasion that a world record for the number of vintage tractors working together was established in Cooley in 2002 and again in 2007 Colm was a part of that history.

He enjoys all the shows, listing Fingal as one of his favourites, while he also has great time for the events in Kilbroney, Knockbridge, Cooley and Moynalty, Co. Meath.

Of course, the pandemic has had an obvious impact in that sphere and while they had been hoping to go ahead at Kilbroney in Co. Down later this year, news came through that the event had been cancelled.

Nevertheless, Colm hopes to be back in action in 2022 with that converted fire engine.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. High 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Overview of the session of the Human Rights Council during the speech of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 27, 2020. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse/File Photo)

Beijing Reports Australia to UN Human Rights Council

Beijing has reported the Australian government to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), claiming it is deeply concerned by Australias use of offshore detention centres for asylum seekers.

The move, which demonstrates a change of tactic in Beijings coercive diplomacy, comes as a new report (pdf) by the U.S.-based Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy revealed that Beijing has breached every provision of the United Nations Genocide Convention 1948 in its persecution of the Uyghur minority.

On Friday, Beijing issued a statement to the UNHRC alleging that Australias offshore detention centres failed to provide adequate medical conditions to detainees and their human rights were being violated.

We urge Australia to immediately close down all offshore detention centres and take concrete steps to protect the rights of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, especially children, the statement read, according to Reuters.

Beijing also called on Australia to carry out comprehensive and fair investigations into alleged war crimes committed by Australian Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan in 2005.

Australia will be expected to respond to the complaint.

The complaint comes despite the recent Newlines Institute report concluding that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was committing widespread atrocities in an effort to eradicate the Uyghur population.

One finding from the report revealed that CCP authorities systematically target Uyghurs of childbearing years, as well as community leaders, for detention. The report described the conditions as unliveable and that CCP authorities imposed birth-prevention measures on Uyghur women, separated Uyghur children from their parents, and transferred Uyghurs on a mass scale into forced hard labor schemes in a manner that parallels the mass internment.

China was last year controversially re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council, despite being responsible for numerous industrial-scale human rights violations, according to Human Rights Watch.

Tibetans, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Hongkongers, Southern Mongolians, Taiwanese, and Chinese Democracy Activists join together to call on governments to stand against the Chinese Communist Partys suppression of freedom, democracy, and human rights, in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Oct. 1, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the UNHRC in 2018 in response to the bodys lack of action on human rights issues and because of the make-up of its member countries, which included notorious human rights abusers like China, Russia, Cuba, and Venezuela.

However, the Biden administration in February announced the United States would work to re-enter the UNHRC.

In the meantime, the complaint by Beijing over Australias detention centres comes as bilateral relations continue to sour.

Since May last year, Beijing has waged an ongoing trade conflict against Australia in response to Foreign Minister Marise Paynes calls for an investigation into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The trade strikes swept up a wide array of export industries including beef, wine, barley, lobster, timber, coal, and cotton.

Beijing changed tact late last year and began deploying its diplomatic representatives and propaganda mouthpiece The Global Times to target sensitive Australian issues.

These included publishing editorial pieces and Twitter posts accusing Australia of failing to address issues such as Indigenous rights, sexual assault allegations, racism against local Chinese people, and war crime allegations.

Meanwhile, Australia has refused to engage in tit-for-tat diplomacy and has instead focused on shoring up its national security and diversifying its trade relationships away from China.
Sean J Murphy is one of a rare breed - a full-time historian. Such beings are scarce indeed in Ireland outside the universities. But he has managed to carve a career and a living from the past for the past four decades.

He has applied his expertise to digging into the roots of those who come to him looking to draw up family trees. He is available to the producers of radio and television programmes to speak on issues such as Irish surnames and the legend of Molly Malone. Sean knows his way too around some of the most important collections of manuscripts in the country.

The office in his home at Windgates between Bray and Greystones is the nerve centre of a research operation that spans the centuries. And his delving into the lives and deeds of previous generations clearly goes far beyond mere business. The love of history leads him to be a willing voluntary contributor to the activities of historical societies, especially the Kilmacanogue Historical Society.

Sean has become a clear, disciplined, rational explorer of various nooks and crannies of our heritage, capable of lighting up our understanding with a very modern style. Though he may spend much of his time immersed in what has been, he is by no means stuck in the past as his insights are delivered with up-to-date freshness.

Yet, he is very aware that his life might have taken a very different direction. The young Sean knew, when he sat his Leaving Cert in 1969 as a teenager from Terenure, that history was his favourite subject. But he was pitched straight into the world of work, finding employment as a pen pusher, a role which did not appeal - he was not CEO material.

'I didn't see that I was going anywhere as a clerk,' he muses. 'I didn't have the ambition.' What he did have was a hankering to study and to work in history. He remains grateful to this day to his mother for agreeing to subsidise his return to full-time education. The late starter emerged in 1981 from UCD with a first-class MA degree, determined at the age of 30 to make up for lost time.

'I went into the genealogy business and took on historical research assignments - and I have never ceased since'. What he calls the genealogy business - charting family trees - was the obvious earner.

Most of the source material he nosed his way into has since gone online, but back then it was a field of enterprise which could not be done remotely. Certainly, there was no way that families in the USA could uncover their connections on the Emerald Isle without having someone on the ground.

'You had to have someone to go manually through the records,' he explains. Manuscripts, registers, microfilm, he sorted his way through them all.It may have been occasionally tedious work and peering at the microfilm was hard on his eyes, but it was also financially rewarding: 'America has been very good to me.'

Business was drummed up through strategically placed advertisements in publications such as Bord Failte's 'Ireland of the Welcomes'. More often than not, researcher and client never met, though some few families did get to shake Sean's hand if they came to the oul sod on vacation.

One memorable assignment was Australian rather than American. He was asked to look into the past of 'Red' John Kelly, father of the famous outlaw Ned Kelly from Tipperary. The family may have been hoping to find that Red had a distinguished pedigree before he was shipped off from Ireland to the Outback.

However, when Sean blew the dust off the relevant Victorian police reports, it emerged that he had been exiled for pig stealing: 'It seems so cruel, that you could be sent away from your native country for the rest of your life,' muses the genealogist.

In 1987, marriage to Margaret McGinn from Windgates meant a move out of the big city to take up residence in her neck of the woods, where the couple have lived happily ever since. He discovered there that he is a countryman at heart and cannot imagine being ever pulled back into the city to live.

Sean J Murphy has become well known to generations of young historians, not least through his work as a teacher. From 1989 until 2017 he was a part-time lecturer in the familiar Belfield surroundings of UCD, passing on his expertise as a genealogist.

He continues to give lectures for the National Library of Ireland, contributing to the genealogical programme which is part of their educational programme. No doubt he tells his students how he has reported on the breed and seed of Bill Clinton.

The conclusion was that the ties of the former US president with Ireland are quite tenuous. While there are plenty of Clintons on this island, they have no blood ties with the great man as Bill adopted the surname of his stepfather.

Bill Clinton's mother was a Cassidy and attempts were made to link her to a farm at Rosleigh in County Fermanagh, which is often portrayed as the ancestral home. Sean J was not convinced and had the nerve to say so, though he reckons it is plausible that Clinton's Cassidy forebears came originally from next door Tyrone instead.

The new man in the White House has plenty of connections to this island, through the Blewitts of Mayo, though the Bidens are of English stock.

Joe Biden's predecessor has no Irish in him, so far as is known, with forebears a mix of Scottish and German: 'Donald Trump was the first American president since Eisenhower to have no Irish ancestry at all,' asserts the Windgates genealogist.

Away from sifting through the births, marriages and deaths, Sean has been called up to delve into several interesting topics. It fell to him, for instance, to research the history of Irish coffee for a book due to be published shortly in New York.

He confesses that he is not a big drinker, but the assignment undertaken for Diageo helped him develop a taste for whiskey.

The Irish coffee, by the way, was the invention of a man called Joe Sheridan, who died back in 1960 and now lies buried in California. Before moving to America, Sheridan worked at Shannon Airport and it was there that he dreamed up his recipe for fortifying coffee and adding a cream top.

Conversation with Sean is littered with such nuggets. As a devotee of heraldry, for instance, he is the right person to speak about the Mac Carthy Mor affair. This is the tale of Terence Mac Carthy who styled himself the last chief of the McCarthy clan and charged top dollar for the titles he bestowed.

That a man from Belfast could be so prominent in a clan associated mostly with Cork roused suspicion which proved amply justified. Terence's earnings were severely curtailed after his claims were put under the S Murphy microscope and the Chief Herald of Ireland denounced him as an imposter.

The same forensic curiosity was also brought to bear on the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels which were stolen from Dublin Castle in 1907. While not as valuable as the British equivalent, they were unique, created to be worn with the regalia of the Order of Saint Patrick.

Sean discovered that security was lax, with the precious objects kept in a public office rather than stored in a quiet vault. Whoever committed the crime was able to get hold of the safe keys and make off with the swag unchallenged.

The suspicion is that Frank Shakleton, brother of the Antarctic explorer Earnest Shakleton, may have been the man responsible. But he was never charged, and the Crown Jewels were never recovered.

The pursuit of history is not always so entertaining, and Sean has done his share of unglamorous foot slogging. He is expert on the topic of Dublin graves, with particular reference to the plots in the cemetery beside St James's church in the Liberties.

He has pored over papers in Westport House for the Irish Manuscripts Commission. He has also scoured documents held in the Republic, seeking items of Six Counties relevance for the Northern Ireland public records office. He has checked coats-of-arms and pedigrees for Burke's Peerage.

Sean's efforts have not been stalled by the virus, he is happy to report, though such familiar haunts as the National Library and National Archive have been locked up in lockdown.

'Covid was not a big shock to me as so much material is on the internet now,' he reflects. Zoom allows him to deliver talks to groups such as his recent presentation on the Killruddery hunt to the Kilmacanogue HS. The question-and-answer session which followed was as lively and intense as anything conducted in the flesh.

'History is very important,' Sean muses. 'History has been my life. Those who do not know their history are condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past. I say look at history and try to learn, though history never repeats itself exactly.'
ANN ARBOR, MI  On the anniversary of Breonna Taylors death, a group of protesters gathered on the Diag at the University of Michigan to call for more accountability from themselves and the community.

Hosted by the nonprofit organization Survivors Speak, several dozen protesters listened to speakers talk about accountability within themselves and community members. Survivors Speak posted pictures of an accountability pledge on their Facebook page, which says community members will be proactive, educate themselves on the needs of the community, commit to racial equity and sound the alarm against racial and social injustices to promote the building of equity.

Trische Duckworth, CEO of Survivors Speak, said they had originally planned the protest for January but it was pushed back and happened to fall on the one-year anniversary of Taylors death. While they were honoring Taylor and others who were victims of police brutality, Duckworth said its about much more than that.

Its not just about police brutality. Its about racial equity, its about holding our legislators accountable, its about getting COVID-19 vaccines to the community, its about so much, Duckworth said. We have to come together and do the work. The legislators have to do their part, and we have to do ours.

Officials in attendance included U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit and Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Victoria Burton-Harris. They will hold each other accountable, Burton-Harris said, but she expects community members to return the favor.

We work for you. We serve you, and in serving you, we understand that our job is to answer to you, to be transparent and to not stop until we have reached back and gotten every last person this system has swallowed up, Burton-Harris said.

Other local officials at the rally included Washtenaw County Commissioner Ricky Jefferson (D-Ypsilanti), Ann Arbor City Council Member Travis Radina (D-Ward 3), Ann Arbor City Council Member Jen Eyer (D-Ward 4), Washtenaw County Trial Judge Tracy Van den Bergh, Conviction Integrity and Expungement Unit Coordinator at Washtenaw County Frances Walters and Ann Arbor City Council Member Kathy Griswold (D-Ward 2).

Charmelle Kelsey, the mother of an Ann Arbor Pioneer High School student, alleged that she and other Black students face a racially hostile environment at the school. Their attorney, Solomon Furious Worlds, a UM law student with the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative, called for more accountability from Pioneer and Ann Arbor Public Schools and to make their investigation into the alleged racism public.

Activists from Chelsea also participated in the event. Last month, Judge Anna Frushour declined to charge members of an antiracist activist group on impeding traffic violations during demonstrations last summer. David Bloom, a member of community movement group Drop the Charges, also called for accountability in his community within his community.

We want to stop asking for stuff that should be a given. The way that happens is by demanding it and demanding it with a strong voice, and thats what were here to do, Bloom said.

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A woman attacked by a shark posted a chilling message on Facebook encouraging other swimmers to join her for an early morning ocean swim just hours earlier.

Michele Bootes, 63, suffered injuries to her hips, back and buttocks after she was bitten by a shark at Merimbula, on the NSW south coast, on Saturday morning.

On Friday, Ms Bootes posted on the Facebook community page Merimbula Merpeople asking other members to join her for a swim just after dawn.

'Anyone keen on a 6.30am swim tomorrow (Saturday) morning?' she wrote.

Michele Bootes suffered injuries to her hips, back and buttocks after she was bitten by a shark at Merimbula, on the NSW south coast, on Saturday morning

Witnesses heard the decorated surf life saver scream 'shark' when she was in waist deep water

Chillingly, she posted on Facebook if 'anyone (was) keen for a 6.30 swim tomorrow morning' on Friday

'This morning's swim in the rain was magic.'

The decorated surf life saver started her early morning dip from Mitchies Jetty at Merimbula about 6.30am before swimming to nearby Main Beach.

Witnesses then heard Ms Bootes scream 'shark' when she was in waist deep water, according to the Daily Telegraph.

She described being nearly halfway through her 2km swim when she felt something powerful collide with her under the water.

'The shark came up from behind, I didn't see if beforehand. But it was funny, all week we'd been swimming through massive schools of fish and right before it hit me, I was thinking 'where are all the fish'?' she told the publication.

Ms Bootes made it to the shore line, with a bystander calling an ambulance.

'I just screamed and my buddy hadn't realised what had happened and we swam in,' she said.

She then limped from the sand across an oval with the help of onlookers to where an ambulance would be easily able to get to her.

The bystanders, who used towels to stop Ms Boote's bleeding, said they caught sight of large fins rising out of the water before she was struck.

Paramedics confirmed treating the woman for injuries from a shark bite.

'At about 6.55am we received a call about a person bitten by a shark off Main Beach, Merimbula,' he said.

'The paramedics found some puncture wounds to the woman's shoulder and hip.'

Ms Bootes was taken to South East Regional Hospital in Bega in a stable condition before undergoing emergency surgery.

She later declared on Facebook she was 'fine and had surgery to clean out wounds and antibiotics (were also) given.'

She said she would not let the incident keep her from the water but would probably have break for while as she had noticed a 'bit of shark activity'.

Ms Bootes was released from hospital late on Saturday afternoon.

In 2020, Ms Bootes named the Bega Valley Shire Citizen of the Year, due largely to her work as a volunteer lifesaver with Pambula SLSC.

Surf Life Saving NSW confirmed the incident on social media on Saturday.

The bite marks on Ms Bootes's back from the shark (pictured) will help researchers determine the species

'Beaches from Wallagoot Lake down to Pambula are closed for 24 hours after a woman in her 60s was bitten on the hip and thigh by a shark while swimming at Main Beach Merimbula,' they wrote on Twitter.

Earlier this week, terrifying footage showed hundreds of unsuspecting swimmers paddling over sharks named at Bondi Beach - about 500km north of Merimbula.

Aerial footage uploaded to YouTube channel Bondi Nation on Wednesday morning revealed the incredible scene in the waters at the iconic Sydney hotspot.

In the video, swimmers could be seen free-styling virtually next to the carnivorous beasts.

Some remained oblivious as they carelessly waded through the ocean, but others stopped in their tracks when they realised they were potentially moments from death.

'Surely someone's got to see him,' a male voiceover said, as two beachgoers moved harrowingly close to the shark he dubbed 'Norman'.

He's going to go straight under you, mate.'

While the paddlers did not appear to have noticed at first, they stopped in the water after clearing the flesh-eating fish - bewildered by the vicious sight.

As more Sydneysiders free-styled towards an enormous school of salmon, the shark called Newman could be seen lurking in the middle.

One viewer said the sharks did not strike because they were feasting on a large school of salmon (pictured)

Some people swum through the school, completely unaware the predator was drifting in the middle.

Despite the potentially dangerous situation, no one was attacked.

Viewers took to the comments section to express their shock, and possible reasons as to why the sharks didn't strike.

'That's amazing! But if I was one of those swimmers... I'd absolutely sh*t myself if I turned around and saw one of those sharks,' one user wrote.

'Of course the sharks didn't attack look how much food was surrounding them,' another suggested.
Nandigram, May 13 (UNI) Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait here on Saturday urged the people to vote against the BJP in West Bengal Assembly polls if they are with the farmers protesting against the new farm laws.

Addressing a Kisan Mahapanchayat here, Mr Tikait said, he was confident that the people of Bengal will listen to him and farmers will get the rightful benefits.

Mr Tikait, who is credited with reviving the protest at the Ghazipur site after the Republic Day violence in Delhi, said he was not seeking votes or campaign for any party. The BKU spokesperson said that he will hold discussions on the election with "distressed farmers" in the state.

He also condemned the alleged attack on West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday.

Mr Tikait said, "Mamata is fighting a lone battle in the state and she is like Rani Lakshmi Bai. In a country where the government is claiming to have big schemes on women empowerment, such kind of attacks should be condemned. The whole country is pained due to the attack on Didi."

Farmers leading the sustained protests against the Centre's farm laws at Delhi's borders have shifted focus to the poll-bound state of West Bengal.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 farmers' unions, on Friday urged farmers in the state not to vote for the BJP in the upcoming elections.

Several leaders of the SKM are set to participate in rallies and kisan mahapanchayats across the state on Saturday and Sunday.

UNI BM PS2155
New Delhi, March 13 : Eight states in the country are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases of Covid-19 over the last three weeks, said the union health ministry on Saturday.

These states are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana.

In the last 24 hours, Maharashtra recorded 15,817 new cases; Punjab reported 1,408; Karnataka logged 833; Gujarat 715; Tamil Nadu noted 670 cases; Madhya Pradesh 603; Delhi 431 cases and Haryana reported 385, as per the data shared by the ministry of health and family welfare.

Meanwhile, India's total active caseload stands at 2.02 lakh (2,02,022) on Saturday, of which, Maharashtra alone accounted 63.57 per cent.

Besides, the ministry also informed that Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh reported 87.72 per cent of the new cases reported in last 24 hours.

Kerala recorded 1,780 cases in the last 24 hours.

The single-day rise of new Covid-19 cases in India on Saturday is the country's highest tally so far this year. It recorded 24,882 cases and 140 deaths showing eight per cent increase since Friday.

The cumulative tally has risen to 1,13,33,728 while the toll reached 1,58,446.

The infection level in the country is back to what it was in December as it soared to 1.78 per cent from 1.55 within a week.

In the last four days, the number of fatalities has spiked as well, which earlier was hovering under 100.

The country on Friday reported 22,885 new Covid-19 cases, 117 fatalities. On Thursday, India had reported 22,854 Covid-19 cases and 126 deaths; while on Wednesday, 17,921 Covid-19 cases and 133 deaths were recorded.

Health experts and doctors have attributed this sudden rise to people turning complacent, not following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and assuming all is well now.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The leadership of Germanys Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has been stricken with panic following revelations that two of its deputies in the German parliament ( Bundestag ) pocketed six-figure commissions after brokering deals with companies producing medical masks. Both men used their parliamentary mandate for personal gain. The revelations come just days before elections take place in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate on Sunday and six months before the federal election.

Georg Nulein, Nikolas Lobel (Photo: Marta Ifrim / Dkckrls / CC BY-SA)

Georg Nulein, a Christian Social Union (CSU) deputy, is alleged to have pocketed a consulting fee of 660,000 euros ($US790,000) for the purchase of coronavirus protection masks, while CDU MP Nikolas Lobel took home 250,000 euros for brokering a mask deal. Both finalised the deals through companies they ran. The conservative CDU and CSU form a block known as the Union and both parties, which currently govern Germany in a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), now fear the wrath of the electorate.

After initially refusing to do so, both Nulein and Lobel have since resigned from the Bundestag and Lobel has quit the CDU. Both men came under pressure from the party leadership, which feigned astonishment and horror at their behaviour. The leader of the CDU, Armin Laschet, told ARD television that anyone who engaged in business deals involving the protection of the population in the middle of a crisis did not represent the people and should quit parliament as soon as possible. CSU leader Markus Soder wrote on Twitter: All those concerned should immediately come clean and draw fundamental consequences.

CDU parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus also called on the pair to immediately relinquish their mandates. He also did not rule out the possibility of further cases of corruption. We will use the next few days to clarify all doubtful cases accordingly, he told ARD. This suggests that Brinkhaus is aware of other casesperhaps also involving members of other parties.

In fact, the cases of Nulein and Lobel are only the tip of the iceberg. The two backbenchers simply carried out practices conducted by others on a much larger scale. CDU leader Laschet was involved in a similar scandal this past spring. In his function as the premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, he ordered protective gowns worth 10,000,000 euros from a company for which his son Johannes works as a lobbyist.

Commissions and brokerage payments are just one way in which the pandemic is being used to coin money. Speculators, big corporations and their political stooges are exploiting every aspect of the crisis to profit from the casualties of the pandemic. Profits always take precedence over peoples health and lives.

This began with the refusal of federal and state governments to impose a strict lockdown. Such a lockdown, as the examples of China and other countries have shown, could have prevented most of the 73,000 COVID 19-related deaths in Germany and 2.6 million worldwide. Instead, the German government never contemplated shutting down production in non-essential industries. In order for factories and other workplaces to continue production, daycare centres, schools and public transport were largely permitted to continue operating.

Not only were the health and lives of children, teachers, bus drivers and workers endangered, they also transported the virus into families and nursing homes, where the old and those already sick were infected. Government experts then claimed that infections were taking place mainly in the private sphere, without asking the obvious question of how the virus got into the private sphere in the first place.

At the same time as they played Russian roulette with the lives of children, teachers and others, the German government, the European Union (EU) and the European Central Bank flooded the financial markets and big corporations with trillions of euros. A fraction of this sum would have been enough to compensate for all the wages lost and the losses incurred by the self-employed and small businesses during a lockdown lasting a number of weeks.

This, however, was never the purpose of the aid packages. Rather they generated a windfall for the super-rich. The DAX (German stock index) climbed to one record after another despite the economic slump. Last Wednesday it reached an all-time high of 14,540 points72 percent higher than its level one year ago when the pandemic began. The total value of the 40 DAX companies has risen by 550 billion to 1.3 trillion euros in just under a yearan orgy of enrichment for investors and speculators.

Auto companies such as VW, Daimler and BMW, which received huge amounts of money from the state to subsidise short-time working and purchase bonuses, are now pouring out billions in dividends, while many workers are forced to live for months on meagre short-time working payments. BMW alone plans to hand out 1.64 billion euros to its shareholders for the past business year. Half of this sum goes to the major shareholdersthe Quandt and Klatten families, whose wealth originates from the exploitation of forced labour during Hitlers Third Reich.

At the same time, the pandemic is being used to press ahead with plans for company rationalisations and job cuts worked out long in advance. According to a study by the McKinsey Global Institute, which takes into account the impact of the pandemic, around 10.5 million workers in Germany will confront fundamental changes to their working lives up to the year 2030. Six-and-a-half million will have to acquire significant new skills and qualifications or retrain, while 4 million will have to find new jobs.

The snails pace of the vaccination campaign in Germany and Europe, which is crucial to overcoming the pandemic, also results in part from profit interests. Despite the fact that coronavirus vaccines were funded with government money and based on scientific knowledge and technologies developed at public universities, the government has flatly refused to lift patent protection rights or in any way interfere with the profits raked in by pharmaceutical companies.

For the latter, the vaccine is a goldmine. They have a vested interest in keeping the supply scarce and in building up the necessary production capacities only when sales of their vaccines are assured. Although supply contracts worth billions were already signed last summer and autumn, only now are some of the factory facilities necessary for mass production being expanded.

Pfizer and Biontech first offered their vaccine to the EU in June last year for the extortionate price of 54.08 euros per dose, according to the Suddeutsche Zeitung on February 18, citing internal documents. For 500 million doses, the companies demanded a total of 27 billion euros. They justified the price by claiming that it should not be based on research and development costs, but rather on the medical benefits of the drug, i.e., the damage the pandemic would cause without vaccination.

According to the Suddeutsche, this was one of the reasons why the contract was not signed until November. A price of 15.50 euros per dose was finally agreed upon, less than one third of the original demand. Nevertheless, Biontech expects a pre-tax profit of 4.4 billion based on sales totalling 6.5 billion euros this yeari.e., a profit margin of 68 percent. The stock market value of the company has correspondingly tripled to 27 billion dollars.

Moderna, founded in 2010, whose vaccine has also been approved and which had a turnover of 60 million dollars in 2019, expects sales of 13.2 billion this year and is now worth 62 billion dollars on the stock market.

Compared to the daylight robbery undertaken by the financial markets, auto companies and vaccine monopolies, the two German deputies, Nulein and Lobel, resemble mere pickpockets. Nevertheless, alarm bells are ringing in the party headquarters. They fear that public disclosure of enrichment by elected MPs will cause anger over the federal governments coronavirus policy to spill over.

This policy, based on the principle of profits before lives, is supported by all the parties in Germanys 16 state governments. In their programmes for the federal election this autumn, they advocate the continuation of the same policy. Even such timid demands as the massive taxation of speculative profits, assets and top incomes are not to be found, let alone the demand for expropriation of the crisis profiteers. All of the political parties represented in the Bundestag are determined to recoup the trillion-dollar handouts to the rich by restoring the countrys black zero balanced budget policy at the expense of social spending and wages.

The Socialist Equality Party (SGP) is the only party contesting the federal election based on mobilising the working class on a socialist programme to overthrow capitalism. Its election statement reads: No social problem can be resolved without expropriating the banks and major corporations and placing them under the democratic control of the working class. Their profits and wealth must be confiscated, and the trillions given to them over the past year must be returned.
The World Health Organization firmly endorsed AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine Friday as countries continue to suspend using it, while approving Johnson & Johnsons vaccine for emergency use.

WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris described AstraZenecas vaccine at a virtual briefing hosted in Geneva as excellent and that we should continue to be using the vaccine.

The WHO endorsement came as Thailand followed an increasing number of European countries in suspending its use because of periodic blood clots among recipients.

The European Medicines Agency said in a statement that the AstraZeneca vaccines benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing.

The WHO also broadened global access to vaccines by approving Johnson & Johnsons for emergency use, the first to inoculate recipients with a single injection, instead of two, and the third to receive WHOs endorsement.

Every new, safe and effective tool against COVID-19 is another step closer to controlling the pandemic, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

Johnson & Johnsons chief scientist, Paul Stoffels, told Reuters on Thursday that the company intends to manufacture about 3 billion doses in 2022 after earlier vowing to deliver 1 billion worldwide by the end of this year.

The U.S., Australia, India and Japan agreed to a partnership Friday to make 1 billion vaccines available across Asia by the end of 2022, Indias foreign secretary said at a news conference in New Dehli after a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and the leaders of the other countries.

At the meeting, the Quad group of four countries agreed to finance, manufacture and distribute the vaccine across Asia.

The initiative is designed to attack the global vaccine shortage and counter Chinas growing diplomatic campaign to distribute vaccines in Southeast Asia and globally.

India, the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer, will use its capacity to make U.S. vaccines, which will be financed by the U.S. and Japan. Australia will provide financing, training and logistical support for vaccine distribution.

India reported more than 23,000 new COVID-19 cases Friday.

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported more than 118 million global COVID-19 cases Friday. The U.S., with 29.2 million infections, has more cases than anywhere else in the world. India follows with 11.3 million cases, and Brazil comes in a close third with 11.2 million.


Tho Nguyen, a YouTuber famous for content for kids, with more than 8.7 million followers, has been criticized by the online community for two video clips with superstitious content.

The offensive content that Tho Nguyen posted on TikTok.



On February 25 and 27, Tho Nguyen uploaded two clips with content about Kumanthong dolls on TikTok, a video-sharing social networking service owned by Chinese company ByteDance.

In the clip posted on February 27, Tho Nguyen said that she made a video using a doll to "ask for good study" after "receiving many requests from children". These clips were then posted on her YouTube channel. They have been strongly criticized by the online community.

Tho Nguyen is a famous YouTuber in Vietnam, who has more than 8.7 million followers. Tho Nguyen YouTube channel offers kid-oriented videos. Tho Nguyen began to become famous in Vietnam in 2017, after her clip of bathing in a giant jelly bath spread on social networks. After that, she continued to make other videos such as boiling cans of carbonated soft drinks, putting dry ice in water bottles... causing mixed reactions.

Since then, the number of viewers and followers of Tho Nguyen has increased dramatically, reaching 6.2 billion views and 8.74 million subscribers, the 7th Youtuber with the highest subscribers in Vietnam.

Tho Nguyen has also signed many advertising contracts with big brands for children and became a KOL in the field of children's toys. The Tho Nguyen channel is currently under the management of the Canadian BBTV network.

Tho Nguyen is a famous YouTuber in Vietnam, who has more than 8.7 million followers.

The Department of Television, Broadcasting and E-information has asked TikTok and YouTube to remove these clips.

An official from the Department of Television, Broadcasting and E-information of the Ministry of Information and Communications told VietNamNet that the agency was working with the police regarding the case of Tho Nguyen.

If Tho Nguyen does not cooperate with the authorities, the Department of Television, Broadcasting and E-information will ask Google to block her channel.

Google supports blocking YouTube channels with superstitious content. These YouTube channels may even be listed as being unpaid.

The Department of Television, Broadcasting and E-information recommends that parents, if they find inappropriate content, use filters before allowing their children to watch online content.

Regarding Tho's content, Kumanthong is a household divinity of Thai folk religion. It is believed to bring luck and fortune to the owner if properly revered. The authentic Kuman Thong originated in a practice of necromancy. They were obtained from the desiccated fetuses of children who had died while still in their mothers' womb. The witch doctors were said to have the power to invoke these stillborn babies, adopt them as their children, and use them to help them in their endeavors.

Trong Dat
A sign of Ant Group is seen during the World Internet Conference (WIC) in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, China, (Photo : REUTERS/Aly Song)

China's Ant Group flagged a set of financial self-discipline rules on Friday amid intense scrutiny on its activities by authorities and the country's overall tightening of financial technology regulations.



The rules, the first of their kind released publicly by the financial technology giant, comes some four months after China suspended the group's $37 billion plan for a share listing in both Shanghai and Hong Kong.



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Chinese regulators have tightened their grip on fintech companies, amid concerns over systemic financial risks brought by the financial empire affiliated to China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.



In response to the intense regulatory pressure, the group has been reining in some of its operations, taking steps to bring its capital requirements in line with those of banks, and revamping itself into a financial holding firm.



In a statement, Ant said its consumer loan platforms should not issue loans to minors, and must prevent small business loans from flowing into stock and property markets.



The group's credit-rating service Zhima Credit must also not be available to financial institutions including micro loan lenders, it said, without elaborating the specific risk of such collaborations.



As a reflection of regulators' tough stance on financial risks, Guo Shuqing, head of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, warned last week that bubble risk was a core issue facing China's property sector.



About Ant's business restructuring, Guo said there were no restrictions on the financial business it develops but that all of its financial activities should be regulated by laws.



Earlier, Ant lowered its borrowing limits for some young users of its Huabei virtual card product. The credit limit reduction is intended to promote more "rational" spending habits among users, it has said.



(This story refiles to correct the sixth paragraph to say the rating service "must not" be available, rather than "will not")


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No cases of blood coagulation have been recorded in Vietnam, so the vaccine will continue to be used as planned.

Dr. Dang Duc Anh, Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and Head of the Steering Committee of the Expanded Immunization Project, said that nearly 1,600 people were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the last four days in Vietnam. No cases of blood coagulation have been recorded, so the vaccine will continue to be used in Vietnam as planned.

Health workers at the Hanoi-based Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo: Pham Hai

The vaccine has been used in Vietnams first Covid-19 vaccine campaign since March 8. So far, 1,585 people have been vaccinated at 13 medical facilities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Bac Giang, Gia Lai and Long An provinces.

Only six cases of level 2 anaphylactic reactions have been reported and all of them were promptly handled. The rest had mild post-injection reactions such as pain at injection spots, tiredness and low fever.

From now to the end of the year, Vietnam will receive 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, including 30 million doses from the COVAX program, and 30 million doses ordered by Vietnam. In March and April, Vietnam will receive 4.1 million doses.

AstraZeneca is one of three Covid-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for extensive vaccination in emergencies. This vaccine is currently being used in 50 countries.

However, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have decided to suspend the use of AstraZeneca vaccine after some cases of blood coagulation were reported.

Denmark will suspend the use of this vaccine for 14 days to clarify the cause of death of a 60-year-old woman from a blood clot 10 days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Austria also reported that a 49-year-old woman died of a blood clotting disorder following the vaccination and a 35-year-old person with a pulmonary embolism.

The vaccine doses used in Austria belong to the shipment of 1 million doses coded AV 5300, distributed to 17 European countries.

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg have also stopped using doses of vaccines distributed from this shipment.

However, the European Drug Administration stressed that there was no evidence that AstraZeneca's vaccine caused the clotted blood phenomenon. The suspension is being done as a precautionary measure. AstraZeneca's vaccine offers more benefits than risks, the agency said.

Denmark also said that it had not yet determined a link between the vaccine and blood clotting.

According to the results reported from four clinical trials with nearly 24,000 volunteers who were vaccinated with AstraZeneca in the UK, Brazil and South Africa, the rate of people who felt pain at injection spots accounted for 54-63%. At least 52-53% had headache and felt tired, 44% reported muscle pain, 33.6% had low fever, 7.9% had fever of over 38 degrees Celsius, 31.9% had chills, 26.4% had joint pain, and 21.9 % felt nauseous.

However, most side effects went away after the first few days. By the seventh day, only 4-13% reported at least one local or systemic symptom. After being vaccinated with the second dose, the side effects were much lower.

Only about 0.7% of people reported having serious side effects after the first shot. However, this rate in the group of people who were injected with a placebo was also 0.8%. As such, there are no concerns about the safety of the vaccine.

Thuy Hanh
In countries with historic ties to Britain, recent accusations by Prince Harry and Meghan have raised a difficult question: Do those nations still want to be closely connected to Britain and its royal family?

In a recent interview, Meghan said that an unnamed member of the royal family had raised concerns about how dark the skin color of her baby with Harry would be. At the time, she was pregnant with the couples son, Archie. Meghans mother is Black and her father is white. She also claimed in the interview that the palace failed to help her when she experienced suicidal thoughts.

Buckingham Palace said Tuesday the accusations of racism by Harry and Meghan were concerning and would be dealt with privately by the royal family.

It was expected that Harry and Meghans interview would uncover more divisions in the royal family.

But now, it also seems to be risking divisions within the family of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is a group of 54 countries, most of them former British colonies. For many years, Queen Elizabeth II has been the driving force behind the Commonwealth.



After the TV interview, former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was another reason for the country to cut its constitutional ties to Britains royal family.

After the end of the queens reign, that is the time for us to say: OK, weve passed that watershed, Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Watershed is a term that means a time when an important change happens.

Turnbull added, Do we really want to have whoever happens to be the head of state, the king or queen of the U.K.... our head of state?

The value of the Commonwealth has been debated before, with critics questioning whether countries and people colonized in the past should remain in such a group.

Its stated aim is to improve international relations. But Britains relationship with the members has been clouded by diplomatic issues and the long-term effects of colonization. In a speech to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday, the queen spoke of the spirit of unity.



The interview this week opens our eyes further on issues related to the Commonwealth, wrote Nicholas Sengoba, a newspaper writer in the former colony of Uganda.

He questioned whether the heads of Commonwealth countries should still be proud to eat dinner with members of the British royal family.

Reaction to the interview was especially strong in Africa.

In Kenya, news of the interview appeared widely in the countrys newspapers. We feel very angry seeing our fellow African sister being harassed because she is black, said Nairobi resident Sylvia Wangari, about Meghans claims of mistreatment.

One Twitter user in South Africa wrote: Its Britain and the royal family. What did you expect? They oppressed us for years.

The interview was not shown on television in India, the Commonwealths largest member country with 1.3 billion people. But it still was covered by the media and drew criticism from the public toward the royal family.

Fashion writer Meenakshi Singh used the term elegant -- a term that means showing good taste -- when sharing her thoughts on the issue.

Behind that whole elegant facade are thoughts that are not so elegant, Singh said.

Im John Russell.

Gerald Imray reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

interview  n. a meeting between a reporter and another person in order to get information for a news story

reign  n. the period of time during which a king, queen, emperor, etc., is ruler of a country

harassed  v. to annoy or bother (someone) in a constant or repeated way

facade  n. a way of behaving or appearing that gives other people a false idea of your true feelings or situation
To be fair, rhetoric surrounding "the wall" might've been helpful in order highlight immigration as a top priority for Americans and facilitate a pathway to citizenship.

But don't count on seeing fewer Mexicans.

Read more . . .




Haiti - FLASH : Failure of the anti-gang operation in Village de Dieu, several police officers killed, others injured





Friday for the 3rd consecutive day the National Police of Haiti and its special units launched a strong anti-gang operation in the Village de Dieu.



Ambushed by the heavily armed men of Chief "Izo" of the "5 Segon" Gang who control the Village of God, the area quickly became a scene of urban guerrilla warfare.



During the intense exchange of fire between the police and the men of "Izo", 3 agents of the special unit Swat team were killed (Standley Eugene, Ariel Poulard and Georges Renoit Vivender Alexis) and at at least 8 other police officers injured, several seriously, who were rushed to Bernard Mevs hospital.



During this operation, the PNH suffered a serious setback and a humiliating defeat. The bandits seized 2 armored vehicles, one of which was set on fire and took away large caliber automatic weapons and PNH bulletproof vests.



Bursts of automatic weapon fire were heard all morning in the Village de Dieu neighborhood fueling the terror of the population ...



At the beginning of the afternoon in a televised intervention broadcast on the Facebook platform (scheduled the day before as part of his weekly talks with the population "Ti Kozri ak pep"), President Jovenel Moise at the beginning of his talk mentioned the drama of the failure of the police intervention "What happened in Village de Dieu today is appalling. Police officers fell under the bullets of the bandits, armored vehicles were set on fire. They fell on the battlefield, they are heroes."







So far no official results of the intervention have been made public by the PNH.



To be continued...



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Patna: There was a ruckus in the Bihar Assembly on Saturday over allegations against Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ram Surat Rai for framing charges against the Principal of a school in Muzaffarpur district for his involvement in illicit liquor trade.

Opposition leaders including Tejashwi Yadav demanded the resignation of Rai. They have also questioned the Speaker`s intention behind favouring the ruling party leaders and not listening to the Opposition.

After the allegation, RJD MLA Rekha Devi requested the Speaker for an adjournment motion to submit the evidence to support Rai`s claims.

When Tejashwi pointed out the allegation against Rai, Deputy Chief Minister Tar Kishore Prasad objected, saying that the member who brings an adjournment motion has the right to point out things first and not the other members.

Tejashwi requested for two minutes to put the evidence in perspective of the House so that it comes on record but speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha did not allow him.

It led to a heated argument between Tar Kishore Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav in the House.

On the direction of Tejashwi, all the RJD members entered the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the NDA government and Speaker Vijay Sinha.

Tejashwi and the RJD MLAs walked out of the Assembly and sat on a dharna outside the Chamber of the Speaker inside the Vidhan Sabha.

After spending half-an-hour outside the Speaker`s chamber, they marched towards Raj Bhavan to register their protest before Governor Phagu Chauhan.

"The Nitish Kumar government is saving the Minister and the Speaker is not giving us a chance to present proofs in the House. Hence, we are marching towards Raj Bhavan to register our protest before the Governor and will request him to intervene in the matter," Tejashwi said.

Ram Surat Rai, the BJP MLA from Aurai in Muzaffarpur and Land Reforms and Revenue Minister in the Nitish Kumar government, is facing the charge of illegal liquor trade.

Nikhil Anand, the chief spokesperson of the BJP Bihar unit said: "Tejashwi Yadav`s allegations against Cabinet Minister Rai amounts to a defamation case."
It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
A bowl of shamrocks will be presented to US President Joe Biden on St Patricks Day (Niall Carson/PA)

A bowl of shamrocks will be presented to US president Joe Biden on St Patricks Day.

The Taoiseach will hold a virtual meeting with his counterpart in Washington DC on Wednesday.

Discussions are expected to cover combating Covid-19 and driving recovery; and shared global challenges, including climate change.

The meeting will also allow Micheal Martin to thank President Biden for the USs ongoing support for the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Martin said: My visit is an opportunity to highlight how our mutually beneficial trade and investment relationship leaves both our economies well-positioned to bounce back quickly.

I look forward greatly to meeting President Biden, who has a very special connection with Ireland, and to bring him greetings from Ireland on this his first St Patricks Day in office as president.

I will thank him personally for his unstinting support for Ireland over many years, including in recent times for his support in helping to secure a positive outcome in the Brexit negotiations, as we face into the task now of making those new arrangements work well.

The Taoiseach will also meet Vice-President Kamala Harris as well as House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

He will meet members of the US Congress Friends of Ireland Caucus, who mark their 40th anniversary on St Patricks Day.

On Monday, Mr Martin will deliver a virtual address to the Washington-based Brookings Institution.

That evening, he will speak at the US launch of a new book about the Kennedys and Ireland: From Whence I Came: The Kennedy Legacy, Ireland & America.

On Tuesday, the Taoiseach will attend virtual round table events hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Ireland, and the IDA.

All events will be conducted from Government Buildings.
If I had a euro for every time the culture of an organisation is cited as the root cause of recurring institutional failures and scandals, I would be a rich man.

Among the epithets used to characterise dysfunctional cultures over the past decade are: cover-up and collusion, impunity, greed, clientelism, violence, abuse, secrecy, gombeen-man, clericalism, arrogance, denial, deference, fear, entitlement, extravagance, amoral localism and, this week in the Dail, the toxic culture in Davy.

The organisations in question were from all sectors: business, policing, government departments, the health service, nursing homes, the childcare system, the juvenile prison, churches and religious orders, sports organisations, political parties and regulatory bodies.

In management-speak, culture is commonly viewed as the soft stuff, as distinct from the hard stuff, like structure, technology or finance. In fact, culture is the hardest stuff of all when you try to change it. Just how hard is borne out in the 50-year history of scandals in financial services, including insurance, banking and now stockbroking. In banking, a litany of scandals culminated in the reckless lending and weak regulation that resulted in the implosion of the banking system in 2007.

Read More

Then, no sooner had the banks been bailed out with 64bn of public money, than they were discovered to be at it again, breaching contracts with tens of thousands of tracker mortgage holders. It took persistent intervention by the Financial Regulator to force banks to own up to their betrayal of trust with customers, some of whom lost their homes as a result, and to finally deal with the matter and pay compensation. Yet as recently as July 2020 new cases of tracker mortgage abuse were still surfacing.

In what seemed like desperation, a last chance for the banks, according to Junior Minister Michael DArcy, the Irish Banking Culture Board (IBCB) was established in April 2019. The mission of the IBCB, chaired by a retired judge, is: To make banking in Ireland trustworthy again.

The jury is still out on whether the IBCB will succeed.

When Matthew Elderfield came to Ireland in 2010 to establish an effective system of financial services regulation, he put it simply: You need invasive scrutiny and effective sanctions.

A 2014 paper from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform defined accountability as: The requirement to submit to external scrutiny, to explain and justifywith the possibility of consequences arising. In its introduction to the paper, DPER said that accountability is personal and virtuous.

Leadership

It obvious that imposing sanctions on an organisation, and not the culpable individuals, will not bring about a change of culture.

According to Brandon L Garrett, nor will new systems to detect and prevent crime among its employees foster a culture of ethics and integrity inside the company. Garretts conclusions resulted from his painstaking study of prosecutions of corporate misconduct in the US. (He is the author of Too Big to Jail: How Prosecutors Compromise With Corporations, 2014, Harvard University Press.)

While new compliance and surveillance systems, staff training, whistle-blower protection, audits and other instruments are essential to establishing a new culture, they are not sufficient.

Garrett points out that when the organisation is penalised and not the responsible individual, it is shareholders, staff, customers and wider society who suffer the consequences. He asks: Why should the law be used to punish the innocent?

Furthermore, he questions whether even these very large amounts (paid in settlement by delinquent banks) compare to the billions of dollars the banks and others realised through their alleged misconduct. So, how does the 4.1m fine imposed by the Central Bank compare with the profit pocketed in the Davy scam? And who paid the fine?

The culture of an organisation is set by a critical mass of people in leadership positions. What the Davy 16 did will not have remained a secret for long, creating a tone whereby others, so disposed, could feel free to cut corners. Once it became known more widely, the Davy leadership would have lost the moral authority to hold others to account.

Davys proud claim of 97pc trust rating from customers was hard won over nearly a century by competent, honest staff but once trust is lost it takes a long time to be restored. Similarly, the reform of a dysfunctional culture will require sustained effort by a group of senior people who are personally committed to a set of ethical standards and corporate values, like transparency and accountability.

Unless the deep, virus-like roots of a dysfunctional culture are exorcised, history shows that it is only a matter of time before it spawns the next scandal, as revealed in the story of Irish banking.

It is high time, therefore, for the Government to bring in the promised Senior Executive Accountability Regime and any other tools needed to ensure swift, effective accountability of senior executives and board members in financial services, that is accountability with consequences.

Invasive scrutiny and effective sanctions are pre-requisites to restoring trust in our institutions. Yet it remains questionable whether we have sufficiently invasive scrutiny in any sector and we still dont have effective sanctions in policing, healthcare, business, auditing, public administration or politics.

The reason we dont yet have effective infrastructure for accountability is due to inaction by successive governments. We dont do accountability well in Ireland.

Of course thats a reflection of our clubby-cosy political culture, a term used back in the days of golden circles, but which hasnt gone away.

Eddie Molloy is an independent management consultant and a client of Davys pension management service.


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Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor while locked in intense debate with Former BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav said, "You can take out the word 'secular' from the Constitution, it will still be a secular Constitution." Tharoor and Madhav were locking horns at India Today Conclave South in the session 'Poll Plank: Politics of Appeasement vs Politics of Polarisation'.

Tharoor, while defending his idea of India from Madhav, added that India's would remain a secular constitution "because it says you have right to freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of religion and the freedom to propagate religion."

Also Read: India Today Conclave: India Cements MD N Srinivasan on why investors flock to Tamil Nadu

"If you read the Constituent assembly debates, you will find that these core issues were debated. The debate of 'they created a country for Muslims, why don't we call ourselves a state of the Hindus', and was thrashed out and overwhelmingly rejected," added Tharoor.

The Congress MP further noted, "Now that fundamental difference goes to the heart of the question of the idea of India. To my mind, when we celebrate India, we celebrate a country."

"But the advocates of Hindu Rashtra argue that the fundamental difference is that these people who wrote the Constitution, seem to assume that India is a territory, and the Constitution is written for all the people on that territory. Wrong, they said," the Congress MP explained.

Also Read: India Today Conclave: FM Sitharaman to speak on blueprint for self-reliant India on Day

Tharoor then explained the difference between his idea of India and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's idea of India. He said, "India is not a melting pot but a thaali. It is a collection of different dishes on the same platter. Each dish tastes different... so they combine together to give you a satisfying meal. But Mohan Bhagwat said, "no, it's diversity in unity".

"It's a khichdi. A saffron khichdi nicely stirred together. There might be an aloo [potato] here and a piece of gajar [carrot] there, but essentially it is one unity and occasionally some amount of diversity is tolerated," Tharoor paraphrased Bhagwat.

When asked about the Congress' Kerala Election strategy, Tharoor said that he was not at the conclave to discuss the internal workings of the Congress party. "There isn't an option to vote for any individual as Chief Minister," said Tharoor when asked about is why he not running as the Congress' CM candidate in Kerala.

Also Read: India Today Conclave: 'Where is the V-shaped recovery,' asks Chidambaram

Also Read: India Today Conclave: South's contribution to $5 tn-economy could be much higher, say experts
Vaccines mean we are hopefully coming to the end of COVID-19s most-lethal phase. But really, were at the start. This is the rebirth of the pandemic age, Professor Doherty says. We need to treat COVID-19, painful though it is, as a trial run. *** Today, Turkeys central plains are a patchwork quilt of broad-acre farming that feed a growing nation. But about 9000 years ago, parts of them were fertile wetland that played home to fish and waterbirds. Wild animals roamed the plains. There, a small band of stone-age humans established one of the first known cities: Catalhoyuk.

Cities, experts believe, are made possible by farming, which allowed us to produce more food and store it, allowing nomadic hunter-gatherers to settle down. And exploiting livestock, particularly sheep, goat and cattle, was central to Catalhoyuks existence. They were the centrepiece of the citys feasts and banquets, their bones and horns becoming part of the mud-brick architecture, their painted images adorned the citys walls. Catalhoyuks early residents paid the price. Evidence from fossilised bones shows a third were affected by serious disease, many likely to have jumped from animals. When we lived in very small hunter-gatherer populations, there are so few hosts any virus would not have been able to spread that far. As we became farmers, we would have experienced more. In the first cities, we would have had even more, says Professor Holmes. *** Catalhoyuks honeycomb of mud-brick apartments laid the foundations for how we live now: in density. More than 50 per cent of humanity lives in cities; that number could rise to 70 per cent in the next 30 years.

Cities are naturally vulnerable to pandemics simply because they pack so many targets into a small space, according to a recent report from the UN-backed Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Dense city apartments were the site of superspreading events for the original SARS, while urban centres rapidly amplified West Africas Ebola outbreak, the report notes. Burial workers in protective gear carry the remains of someone that died of Ebola in Beni, Congo in 2019. Credit:AP Its not clear where or when COVID-19 jumped from bats to humans, but it was in Wuhan the outbreak took off. Wuhan is a city of more than 11 million people  all susceptible targets. Mega-cities like this are like fuel on the fire, says Professor Holmes. At the time the virus was spreading locally, Wuhan was celebrating Lunar New Year, a time that sees the city  a local and global travel hub  flooded with visitors from across China and the world. As they returned home, many they took the virus with them.

Its in Wuhan in the morning, and Singapore in the afternoon, and from there everywhere, says Professor Holmes. The Black Death took five years to circle Europe. An emerging virus in a city with an airport is instantly a global threat. When the emergence of a possible new pandemic virus is detected, we need some sort of global agreement to instantly ground the worlds airplanes, says Professor Doherty. We stopped it from getting to Australia by stopping the planes, he says. We have to stop the planes. And we have to notify everyone so they have to stop the planes. ***

Exploiting animals exposes us to their viruses, though the vast, vast majority cannot infect humans. But very occasionally they will. And if we keep exposing ourselves, its just a numbers game. Somethings going to happen, says Professor Holmes. Modern humans have been around for a few hundred thousand years. Mammals have been around for hundreds of millions of years. Thats a long time for their viruses to diversify. Examine newsletter Science and health explained and analysed with a rigorous focus on the evidence. Examine is a weekly newsletter by science reporter Liam Mannix. Sign up to receive it every Tuesday. Scientists estimate there are something like 1.67 million viruses circulating in mammals and waterfowl  although thats a very rough guess. In complex life, there is maybe 87 million viruses. We have managed to catalogue perhaps 0.1 per cent of them.

How many virus species currently infect human cells? Two hundred and nineteen. More than 60 per cent of emerging infectious diseases in humans come from animals, with that number increasing over time. To go from animal to human, a virus first needs to randomly develop a mutation that allows it to survive and replicate in two entirely different species. Then, it needs to be able to jump from human to human  all the while evading our immune systems defences. Lastly, it needs the opportunity: the bat with the ultra-rare new disease needs to come into contact with a susceptible human, and that human then needs to spread the virus. If we keep our contact with animal viruses low, maths is on our side. But given there are so many animal viruses, as we increase our contact with animals the maths starts to swing sharply the other way. And new animal viruses are likely jumping over to humans way more than we think, experts suspect. Its just that, in nearly every case, the virus cannot spread from patient zero. Ninety per cent of the time, the farmer gets sick and does not give it to anyone else, says Peter White, a professor of microbiology at the University of New South Wales. Minks in cages on a farm in Gjol, Denmark. Credit:Cathrine Ertmann/Bloomberg

*** Livestock is just one part of the problem. Pandemic threats lurk far from human eyes, in dark caves, wet rainforests, dense jungles. Places where biodiversity, and hence viral diversity are highest. Every year, we intrude more and more into these spaces. Humans have already brought 70 per cent of the worlds habitable land under control. Our species population grew by 30 per cent in the last 20 years. Were likely to have cleared 1 billion hectares of land by 2050 as a species, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report predicts. Its easy to blame local farmers for cutting down rainforest. But much of that virgin land will be planted with cash crops like palm oil to put in cosmetics sold to Western consumers, says Dr Michael Walsh, co-leader of the One Health Node at Sydneys Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity. Countries are losing their forests, their wildlife, for cash crops for export. And the people who are suffering, the ones who the diseases are spilling over into, they dont have any control. They are not profiting off the forest loss, says Dr Walsh.

With the forest gone, the animals that survive have nowhere to go but into human communities. Their viruses come with them. A section of Amazon rainforest stands next to soy fields in Belterra, Para state, Brazil. Credit:AP Ebola and Lassa fever in Africa and Machupo virus in South America have all been linked to land-use changes, according to the IPBES report. We need to stop agricultural expansion at the rate its going, says Dr Katie Woolaston, one of the reports authors and a Queensland University of Technology international wildlife law researcher. One way of doing that: a tax on meat consumption, as proposed by the IPBES report.

Thats very controversial, says Dr Woolaston. But we need to really transform society. And if were going to do that, we need some radical changes, to make sure this does not happen again. This is the start of a pandemic era, because of human activity. This is a wake-up call. As the climate crisis boils over, it will push animals even further from their normal ranges and into ours. Warmer temperatures also open up communities to new threats. Bluetongue disease  an African virus that can kill sheep  has spread to Europe over the last two decades, as the ticks that carry the virus move into the warming continent. Warmer temperatures are allowing a tick that spreads Lyme disease access to northern parts of America that were once too cold. ***

A dead crocodile is seen on the floor of Huangsha Seafood Market in Guangzhou. Credit:AP The growing wildlife trade, which brings humans into close contact with exotic animals, poses serious epidemic and pandemic risks, with Ebola, SARS and HIV likely among the diseases that have resulted. Over the last two decades the trade has expanded significantly. The legal trade has grown by 500 per cent since 2005, per the IPBES report, and thats not counting the often-invisible illegal trade. About a quarter of all land-dwelling species are now traded. Many of these animals end up at wet markets, such as the Wuhan market from which the virus is believed to have spread. Loading There is evidence wet markets do pose risks, as viruses are able to jump from one animal to another and then to humans. But blaming wet markets alone  which include Sydneys Fish Market  is simplistic, says Dr Woolaston. A lot of people talk about it as a global south, a Chinese problem, but the driver of their trade is consumption. And that consumption comes from the global north, says Dr Woolaston.

The USA is among the biggest importers of wildlife, closely followed by Germany. Traditional Chinese Medicines demand for exotic animals is large, and Chinas growing middle-class is inflating the market. But so is the demand from Americans keen to own an exotic pet. Netflixs Tiger King doco shocked American viewers who were unaware the country has more pet tigers than there exist tigers in the wild. America has more pet tigers than there exist tigers in the wild. Credit:Netflix *** Mike Pritchett flew into Australia early in the pandemic, after spending three years living between Australia and Singapore working on the video production start-up he founded, Shootsta.

The contrast, as he touched down in Sydney and then walked through the city, could not have been more jarring. Both countries have led the world in the effectiveness of pandemic response  but one, already scarred by the SARS shock, was far better prepared than the other. Lockdown was lockdown. You were allowed out once a day. If you were seen without your mask on, just going for a walk, people would take a photo of you on the street and youd be busted. And you just would not break the rules  no one does that over here, says Pritchett. Asia was ready. They already have biometric security. They take your temperature when you walk through the airport. Australia was left sitting there going whats happening?. A body temperature scan at Singapore Airport. Credit:Getty Images In our new pandemic age, every society that wants to weather the storm is going to need to become pandemic resilient  learning the same lessons Singapore and Taiwan learnt after SARS, says Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott, an expert on pandemic preparedness at the University of Sydney.
Google now has no choice but to deal with a lawsuit over Incognito mode tracking. As Bloomberg reports, Judge Lucy Koh has denied Google's request to dismiss the class action case. Koh determined that Google "did not notify" users it was still collecting data while Incognito's privacy mode was active, giving the plaintiffs enough ground to move forward with their case.

The chief participants in the lawsuit had accused Google of misleading users, telling them their info was private even as it monitored their habits. The search giant had argued that users agreed to its privacy policy and thus knew Google was collecting data. It reportedly warned that Incognito "does not mean 'invisible'" and that sites could still see activity.

We've asked Google for comment.

It's unclear whether or not the lawsuit will succeed, let alone that there will be meaningful changes or compensation. Successful class actions frequently lead to payouts that represent a fraction of the damage to customers. Incognito mode's limitations are well-known among enthusiasts  it's really there to keep sites out of your local search history and cookies, not to block all potentially identifying traffic.

It's not clear the general public is aware of Incognito's true behavior, though. The lawsuit could force Google to more explicitly tell users what it does and doesn't collect. The complaint also serves as criticism of companies that bury important information in their terms of service. Few people read those agreements from start to finish, and that can cause problems when privacy is at stake.

Update 3/14 11AM ET: Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda told Engadget the company "strongly dispute[s]" the claims, and that Incognito warns you sites might still track you. The full statement is available below.
A petition calling for the rewilding of Wicklow National Park which was started by siblings of the Alvey family of Wicklow town has passed 6,000 signatures in the space of a matter of weeks.

The petition is in response to the start of the public consultation into the Masterplan for Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains National Park by Failte Ireland in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte along with the National Monuments Service and Wicklow County Council.

Over 700 people signed up to the petition within its first two days.

Danny Alvey said, 'We are overwhelmed with the support from the Wicklow public on this. I think the tinder was already there and we just lit the match. On one day alone over 1,300 people supported our petition. The likes of the Irish Wildlife Trust shared our petition on various platforms. A number of local councillors also shared it on their pages.'

The Alvey family attended the first day of public consultation last Tuesday. Enya Alvey, who has also joined the campaign, said, 'The consultants were very receptive to this and open to including this in the design as the plan develops. They also agreed it was important to keep the pressure on the agencies involved as we all know other priorities can quickly take precedence and the environment is so often neglected and in danger of becoming an afterthought in big plans such as these.'

Unease has also been expressed over the format of the zoom drop-in sessions taking place with the consultants behind the plan as part of the consultancy period which is due to last until March 12.

Expand Close Deputy Jennifer Whitmore on her Zoom meeting with Danny, Ian and Simon Alvey / Facebook

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'I don't really think that a 15 minute meeting with ten people is a good structure. The consultants are trying their best to explain the whole thing in around three minutes so there is still some time for feedback. I know public meetings can't take place at the moment but it would be a more suitable format, At least that way you get to hear everyone speak and share their ideas,' said Danny.

Danny, Simon and Ian Alvey also held a Zoom meeting with Deputy Jennifer Whitmore who has lent her support to the campaign.

She said, 'I was delighted to meet with the Alvey family this week and give them my support for the petition to rewild Wicklow National Park. As Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Change and Biodiversity this is an issue I have raised a number of times in the Dail.

'Ireland have committed to the EU target of 30 per cent of land for biodiversity by 2030 but the Government has not laid out how it will achieve this. As it stands we are far off that target and have one of the worst rates of environmental protection in the EU. Even our six national parks are not currently managed for positive biodiversity outcomes and none has management plans in place. We need more than just 'paper parks'. Any land or marine that is set aside for protection must be actively managed for biodiversity benefits.'

Green Party TD Steven Matthews is facilitating a further meeting with the Irish Wildlife Trust and others with expertise in biodiversity and regenerative farming.

He said, 'I'll also make contact with The National Parks and Wildlife Service and Minister Malcolm Noonan to discuss how we can progress rewilding projects such as this on state owned lands.'

The family urge those who support their campaign to sign their petition on change.org and attend the ongoing public consultation with the next Zoom drop-in session due to take place on Thursday, March 11.
Daughter Works Part-Time Washing Dishes, Mopping Floors at Nursing Home to See Dad During Pandemic

An industrious daughter surprised her father when she walked into his nursing home wearing a staffers uniform. She had taken a part-time job washing dishes and mopping floors at the home in Minnesota, knowing it would allow her more time to spend with him.

For many care home residents family members, waving through windows has been the closest theyve been able to get to their loved ones since early 2020.

One day I just was thinking, How can I see my dad more? Lisa Racine explained to KARE 11. And I thought, Hey, why dont I get a job there?

Good Samaritan Society in Stillwater, Minnesota (Screenshot/Google Maps); (Inset) Lisa Racine (Courtesy of Lisa Racine)

Lisa had reached out to Good Samaritan Society home in Stillwater in December, and they were delighted to hire her to fill a vacant position, having struggled to find staff during the pandemic.

I was shocked, really. I was kind of dumbfounded, said 87-year-old Harold Racine. He asked his daughter, How did you get in? and recalled her arrival as one of the happiest days of his life.

Yet Harold wasnt the only one happy to see Lisa. Good Samaritans administrator, Rene Racine, is Lisas cousin. Having her reach out and wanting to come to work was an absolute godsend for us, she admitted.

Harold with his late wife (Courtesy of Lisa Racine)

(Illustration  Jose Luis Carrascosa/Shutterstock)

While the job is a far cry from Lisas vocation as a project manager for a printing company, she enjoys the work and has loved meeting the residents. Surprising her father was the icing on the cake of her ingenious plan, though.

She maintains a part-time position at the home, working evenings and weekends, and jokes that, Its quite glamorous. The extra time with her dad, however, is priceless, she says. I cant believe they pay me for this.

Harold and his late wife raised eight children together. The trials and tribulations of raising that many children, in the end it certainly paid off, he said. Im getting my rewards back, tenfold.

Harold (C) with his arms around his wife and daughter, Lisa (Courtesy of Lisa Racine)

Now, many states are easing restrictions on in-person visits at long-term care facilities, since residents have received vaccines, according to AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons. As a key worker, Lisa received her CCP virus vaccination alongside her father in February.

She plans to keep her job at the nursing home on an on-call basis.

I could take a yoga class or do a happy hour, she said, but Id rather come and mop the floor and clean dishes so I can see my dad.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter here: TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
A flaw in how pre-paid funeral plans are drawn up has been exposed by a family of grieving siblings who were denied the opportunity to have a say in the funeral arrangements for their late brother.

Dignity Funerals, which owns more than 800 parlours nationwide, refused to deal with the next-of-kin of 65-year-old Peter Grant after he died from lung cancer in October last year.

Peter, a former electrician, was unmarried, had no children and had paid 3,000 in advance for his funeral to be carried out by Dignity.

When someone dies who is not married and has no children, it is any surviving parent that is designated the next-of-kin.

Refusal: Dignity Funerals refused to deal with the next-of-kin of 65-year-old Peter Grant

In Peter's case, it was his 91-year-old mother for whom daughter Katherine Daniels had power of attorney. But when Katherine contacted Dignity to talk about Peter's funeral on his mother's behalf, it said it could not discuss the arrangements.

It said it would only take instructions from another sister of Peter's who had obtained his death certificate. This sister is estranged from the rest of the family.

As a result, when the funeral took place, Peter's mother, Katherine and four other siblings were denied an input into the funeral arrangements.

With Peter's estranged sister not turning up or putting in place any instructions, it meant no one led the service, there was no eulogy and no agreed music.

'What kind of service is that?' asks Katherine, 59, a headteacher. 'We've had no closure.'

She did, however, manage to play one of Peter's favourite songs  Neil Young's Harvest Moon  on her phone, while his brother Donald said some words about him.

One family member is launching a national petition to ensure other warring families do not go through a similar experience

In light of her family's experience, she now believes that people signing up to a pre-paid funeral plan should be required to nominate a person to deal with the funeral arrangements. This would head off any disputes.

She is also launching a national petition to ensure other warring families do not go through a similar experience.

Katherine was so desperate to give Peter a fitting send-off that she asked Dignity if the family could pay its costs to date and take possession of Peter's body and arrange a funeral with another firm.

But it refused, urging the two sides of the family to reconcile or contact it via a solicitor.

Although she then got a letter of administration from HM Courts & Tribunals Service authorising her to take control of her brother's affairs and funeral, it arrived after Peter's cremation.

Katherine has complained to Dignity accusing the company of showing 'disrespect for the grieving family'.

She adds: 'I will continue fighting on all fronts so that no family has to suffer what we have been through.'

Dignity told The Mail on Sunday: 'Out of respect for the families we serve, we do not comment on specific or personal aspects of any funeral arrangement.

'Our role is to provide a respectful service for families and recognise that this can be a distressing time for relatives. We will not comment on personal disputes amongst families.'

GET OVER HERE!!!!!!!!!



(that is my only contribution to this post ty op ilu)

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I'm fucking ready for this



Hearing Scorpion say his name was *chef's kiss*

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I generally don't like movies (too long, too much talking) but I cannot wait for this!

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Yessss I'm so ready for this movie. Gonna get HBO Max just to watch it lmfao.

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6 year old me is so hyped for this

(6 year old me shouldn't have been playing Mortal Kombat but heeeey the 90's)

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I remember there was a short series on Youtube with Ian Anthony Dale as Scorpion mmmhhhhhhh

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I don't know anything about this except I know someone who named their kid Raiden after it, lol.

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I'm so excited for this, but I'm still bummed Kitana is missing

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Theres an actress without a character who is being really cryptic about who shes playing who looks like she would play a Kitana. People are saying shell play her in a post-credits scene since the actress said her role is small

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Shes not missing just not revealed yet. In the first trailer in a flash cut you see one of her fans in the background and syfy went on a set tour and spotted her blue costume as well as a tongue prop believed to be reptile. 

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It looks a bit generic? Or its just a bad trailer

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I think it's generally difficult to adapt a game series to a movie and the majority suffer from badly translated plot points, since vg scripts tend to be more focused on participation rather than a passive audience. Even the better ones like Tomb Raider, Silent Hill, or Hitman get panned.



The previous MK trailer was better.

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Tbf its a lot of reused footage from the previous trailer and toned down violence with a handful of new stuff thrown into each teaser



And if the rumors are true there's some plot points they want to keep secret.



Or it could a generic bloody mess we'll find out lol

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I'm excited to see this, the cast looks so great! My whole mood improves when I hear that theme song, gives me big 90s rave nostalgia.

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Ohhh this is gonna be on hbo max?? I'm so excited. I'm definitely gonna have a nice fat blunt with this one.

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here for Sonya and also that its rated R, which hopefully is a sign that they didn't dumb it down. I wish they had included that old song tho!

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NGL I'm excited for this lol The '90s movie was on tv (the first one - I have zero memories of the sequel lmao) the other day and while it's cheesy glory is fun, I'm definitely here for something with a little more substance (I'm assuming lol).



Edited at 2021-03-13 08:30 pm (UTC)

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I am more excited for this movie than I should be. I loved the original Mortal Kombat movie its stupid fun and the song, they better find some way to work it in.

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OTTAWA - In February 2020, the governor of the Bank of Canada was testing the seal on his N95 face mask by trying to smell the scented gas his security team pumped at him.

Stephen Poloz arrives before a press conference on economic support for Canadians impacted by COVID-19, at West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - In February 2020, the governor of the Bank of Canada was testing the seal on his N95 face mask by trying to smell the scented gas his security team pumped at him.

In that moment, it occurred to him that COVID-19 might turn out to be more than just a health concern.

Stephen Poloz needed the protective mask in case he contracted the virus during a flight to Australia for an annual economic meeting. By the time he was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia a week later for a meeting of G20 central bankers and finance ministers, the virus's accompanying economic concerns were becoming apparent in places like Italy and Singapore.

Poloz had his ownpressing economic concerns. Oil prices were plummeting, enough so that the Bank of Canada's senior leadership was ready to cut its key policy rate by half a percentage point in response, even as COVID-19 cases rose worldwide. The cut, at the time the first since 2015, came March 4, a date already scheduled for a rate announcement.

We believe we've done a lot there to cushion a blow," Poloz said at a news conference following a Toronto speech the next day. "We don't know how big the blow might be, so we'll be looking at ways to figure out how big that blow might be and how long it might last."

Before he faced the media, Poloz recalled scrubbing his hands, after shaking hands of many in the packed ballroom who came to hear him speak.

So began a month like no other at the central bank. After that first move brought the rate down to 1.25 per cent, Poloz oversaw two more cuts and the launch of a bond-buying program to prop up the economy as the first wave of the pandemic crashed on Canada's shores.

Poloz, now with the Lawrence National Centre for policy and management at Western University, recalled the events in detail during a recent interview with The Canadian Press.

The day after the speech, Poloz called a snap meeting with the heads of the country's big banks. The lessons of the 2008-09 financial crisis hung over the meeting,where the governor and his colleagues emphasized the importance of keeping credit flowing to companies and suggested giving mortgage holders payment holidays if things got really bad.

Poloz recalled speaking the same day with the deputy minister at the Finance Department, and with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the end of the day.

A week later, on the morning of Friday, March 13, then-finance minister Bill Morneau called. The government planned to unveil an economic aid package that afternoon, and Morneau wanted Poloz to join himin hopes of projecting some confidence. Preventing a panic was top of mind.

"That's when you get a real recession," Poloz said. "It's hard to restore confidence after it's been shattered."

Poloz had to check with his deputies on the central bank's governing council, which was already considering cutting rates by another 0.5 per cent. They weighed cutting rates that day, rather than wait until mid-April for the next scheduled announcement and release of the bank's monetary policy report.

In a few hours, the decision was made: The bank would drop the rate by another half a point, to 0.75 per cent.

Poloz's chief of staff, Jill Vardy, and Carolyn Wilkins, then second-in-command at the Bank of Canada, worked out the wording of a press release. Poloz prepped for media questions. His opening statement was the last item to be finished, delivered to Poloz minutes before we went before the cameras with Morneau and the superintendent of financial institutions.

"(Morneau's) insight into having the two of us there was a good one," Poloz said. "At the time, there was no inkling that we might have anything to enact. It kind of just came together."

The joint appearance created some unusual side-effects: When Poloz agreed to appear alongside Morneau the next week, jittery investors took it as a bad sign. The bank had to take the unusual step of issuing a notice that it wasn't planning to cut rates to calm markets.

He said the rate-setting group still hoped to wait for the scheduled rate decision on April 15 to make a further drop, giving the bank time to put together a comprehensive package.

"In the background, we knew things were caving in and we were going to need to probably make the third move," Poloz said. "And sooner than later."

Other central banks, with whom Poloz was in regular contact, were slashing rates and heading to what's known as the "lower effective bound"  basically as low as rates can go without turning negative.

What Poloz said tipped the scales toward action was a distortion at the front end of the money market, where dealers were paying more to finance their inventories of government debt than they actually earned on the debt itself. Poloz said they couldn't let that persist until mid-April.

So early Friday morning, March 27, the Bank of Canada sent out a notice. The key rate was going to 0.25 per cent. It also launched bond-buying programs so the financial system wouldn't freeze up.

His tenure as governor ended last June, and he's been an observer since.

Thus far, the economy looks OK, Poloz said, noting that there are big fiscal decisions looming that will take some real orchestration.

Kind of like fighting a fire.

That was the analogy Poloz used one year ago when he explained the month of monetary moves by saying a firefighter hasn't been criticized for using too much water.

After trying to douse the economic flames, he is intently watching the rebuild.

"I can't wait to see how it all turns out."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2021.
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They say two things wait for no man, time and tide... and for Staad Abbey, near Streedagh Beach, that is also sadly the case.

The medieval church which is one of the central locations described by Spanish Armada survivor Captain Francisco de Cuellar in his Adventures in Connaught memoir, sits precariously close to the Atlantic and is yearly coming closer and closer to disappearing.

As coastal erosion impacts various locations around the north west, Staad Abbey could prove to be one of the biggest losses, given its heritage.

Reports suggest Staad was a shore chapel for pilgrims en route to the monastery on Inishmurray island, some four miles offshore.

At present, the corner of the building is just 3.5 meters away from water, according to zooarchaeologist at the Institute of Technology, Sligo, Dr Fiona Beglane.

Dr Beglane tells The Sligo Champion that rather than erosion of a couple of centimetres happening each year, usually it can be a case that things remain stable at a site before a case of the 'perfect storm'.

Expand Close Zooarchaeologist and lecturer at IT Sligo, Dr Fiona Beglane / Facebook

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Whatsapp Zooarchaeologist and lecturer at IT Sligo, Dr Fiona Beglane

"Usually everything is a bit stable for awhile and then coincides with high tide and a big storm. A meter was lost between 2012 and 2014. If you had a few years like that you could lose it in five years time," she explains.

Dr Beglane believes Staad Abbey could be lost to the water within a generation, but warns that if Sligo's coastline gets a "bad run" it could be in in no time.

Giving an example of just how powerful the ocean can be at the spot, the zooarchaelogist says her peer Gerry O'Sullivan who also works on preserving the site once heard from the previous landowner that in one night they lost the guts of half a field.

So, what can be done, if anything to protect the historic site?

"You get various erosion control mechanisms that have been tried; bollards, big rocks, plastic things, things to break wave patterns, metal baskets filled with small rocks, a whole range of things that can be done."

However, like everything, these measures all come at varying degrees of costs, and it, in essence moves the issue up or down the coast, Dr Beglane says.

"If you reduce water you move it up or down the coast. They're [erosion control mechanisms] very expensive and you need to monitor it. As much as everything you need a plan on what could be done."

Simply put, Dr Beglane says, "We can't save everything."

She understands the great costs of measures and, more importantly the ferocity of the Atlantic Ocean beating against the coastline each year, but, she does believe some sort of plan must be put in place for this important site.

What the IT Sligo lecturer and academic believes is also important is to be able to examine the site in greater detail before it could be lost.

"The whole site goes right through, beyond the building. There's a lot of information there. It has been excavated in the past, only on a small scale. There's so much information that could be got from the site."

Describing it as a very important site and one that is associated with Inishmurray, the lecturer says it goes back to 'pre history' with evidence of activity in the bronze age, over 4,000 years ago.

Asked if people are aware of the site's importance, Dr Beglane believes the awareness is out there, but anything that can be done to highlight it is good.

She adds that it is not just Staad Abbey that is in danger of disappearing, and says there are many more sites across Sligo and Ireland that are perhaps undiscovered and are in danger of being lost without ever being known.

"There are so many sites. Here [Staad Abbey] is an example of a site that has a little profile, but others are disappearing that people don't know are there."

Dr Beglane wants to see sites like this preserved and with a plan in place to monitor sites along the coast to be monitored and decisions being made. along with resources being put in to doing surveys on sites.

"The National Monuments Service do a very good job but have very, very limited resources. They are very thinly stretched on the ground."

The zooarchaelogist references a project in the south east of the country called 'Cherish' which has a regional focus looking at sites and she says something like this should be expanded to the whole country.

"The east coast is not going to be effected by storms the same way the west is, how exposed it is. I would like to see it [Cherish] being rolled out. It needs political will behind it. It's a race against time, places are disappearing all the time, including some things we saw at Stadd."

Dr Beglane tells The Sligo Champion about remnants of structures at the abbey which have disappeared since being discovered.

"There was a lovely souterrain, or cellar for storing butter and things over the summer to keep it cool at Staad, that's disappeared and there's one stone left."

Asked if the more the site is naturally excavated by the elements the more that will be able to be studied, Dr Beglane does admit this may be one silver lining, but still reminds that there has to be plans in place to preserve such things in order for them to be studied.

"It could be a silver lining, new things being exposed all the time. We didn't know about platforms from the bronze age and in 2016/2017 they were starting to be revealed, the peat was seen."

She continues, "It looked like natural wood but there was evidence this wood had been worked it had been put there. In 2017 we had a small excavation."

Recalling the ever changing nature of the site due to the elements, Dr Beglane says since the excavation sands and cobbles have moved covering the area.

"Every time a storm comes it's going to grind away. More of it is under there, we only excavated part of it."

The academic says it is exciting when new things become exposed and talks about what is currently being done about the wood that has been discovered at Staad Abbey.

"What we're doing now is the wood we recovered from the excavation, along with environmental samples, insects, plant remains and peat samples is send them to be examined.

Tests on these peat samples show us how the environment and climate has changed. They're able to tell us first off this peat was laid down 6,500 before farming came to Ireland."

She says the testing can tell the changes in vegetation.

"We're waiting for the final reports and we'll put out the whole report when it's ready."

Dr Beglane says there are many sites across Sligo of archaeological significance and sadly many are at risk due to rising sea levels and climate change, such as shell middens.

Shell middens are an archive of ancient coastal lifeways and environments. In shell middens bone artefacts, food remains and even ceramics can be preserved.

"There's a shell midden at Staad. People were eating shellfish, and in among that [midden] you could have charcoal, animal bone and those sites exist all along the coast of Sligo, the full length of the coast. They're all at risk from storms and sea level change."

Another significant shell midden exists at Cullenamore at Strandhill.

"There are a whole series of shell middens there and go back to pre historic times, 6,000 to 7,000 years. There are so many of them."

Dr Beglane says there is now evidence coming out thanks to her former colleague at Sligo IT, Don Cotton of a lot of Sligo Bay having peat deposits in it.

For now, with the Atlantic chipping away at the historic Staad Abbey site, Dr Beglane emphasises the need for conservation.

"It would be great to get funding for more work of conserving what's there and preserving and investigating further. You cannot get it back. As Sea levels rise more and more sites will be gone."
LTC Tony Moss, Commandant at Fork Union Military Academy, congratulates members of the Middle School Drill Team for their first place finish in the national AMCSUS drill competition.

Members of the Middle School Drill team at Fork Union Military Academy were honored today during Commandant's Call for their First Place finish in the annual drill competition sponsored by the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS). The team's unit leader, Cadet Arkiliz Zavala, from Whittier, California, accepted the trophy from LTC Tony Moss on behalf of the team in a special ceremony held today in Wicker Chapel.

The Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (amcsus.org) was founded in 1914 and serves as an advocate for America's premier military colleges and schools. The association includes 25 college prep military high schools and 13 colleges.

The team recorded their entry for the drill competition in November and submitted the video to AMCSUS for judging. The competition was judged on five criteria: the commander's voice, proper execution of the command by each team member, position of the unit commander in relationship to the unit, proper alignment, and all members remaining in step. A card specifying the 48 specific movements to be performed by the unit was unsealed immediately prior to the team's performance. The team's performance can be viewed on YouTube at Fork Union Military Academy's channel.

The team members included: Arkiliz Zavala, Unit Leader; Bryson Albert; Maxwell Boyd; Jacob Clodfelter; William Girod; George Gurney; Laith Haddad; Tyler Hill; Michael Johnson; Hyunwoo Kim; Kitaphat Koodou; Aiden Lucas; Hunter McDonnell; Solomon Mendoza; Everett Mitchell; Daouda Niang; Cannon Nicholson; Thinh Pham; Travis Tran; Adrian Sampayo; Ethan Schroyer; Diego Serrano; Travis Shepard; Joaquin Yescas.
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-- Inspired by China's prominent achievements amid the pandemic and heartened by the country's new development blueprint, observers worldwide believe China's resolution to achieve modernization through high-quality development will definitely promote world prosperity.

-- China has avoided the "trap" of a dilemma between safeguarding health and beefing up the economy, and its strategy "has resulted in overcoming the health crisis inside China and at the same time protecting its economy."

-- China has always put the people first during its development, increasing their benefits, ensuring that the people are their own masters and supporting development in an all-round way.

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- In the past few days, China's annual "two sessions" have attracted much global attention, with the international community watching closely where the world's second largest economy is heading and what impetus it will generate for global development.

Inspired by China's prominent achievements amid the pandemic and heartened by the country's new development blueprint, observers worldwide believe China's resolution to achieve modernization through high-quality development will definitely promote world prosperity.

ACHIEVEMENTS AMID PANDEMIC

During the annual sessions of the country's top legislature and political advisory body, China reviewed its achievements and experience in coordinating epidemic control and economic development, which observers believe will inject confidence into the global fight against the deadly pathogen.

The country became the only major economy that registered positive growth last year, with its gross domestic product (GDP) increasing by 2.3 percent year on year to cross the 100-trillion-yuan (about 15.40 trillion U.S. dollars) threshold, while its imports and exports of goods expanded 1.9 percent.

People work at a workshop of Harbin Dongan Automotive Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

In 2020, all of China's nearly 100 million impoverished rural residents living below the current poverty line cast off poverty after eight years' efforts.

China has demonstrated its ability to cope with unexpected challenges facing the world, said Andrei Vinogradov, head of the Center for Political Studies and Forecasting at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies under the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"China's victory in eradicating absolute poverty is a major achievement ... This experience is of global importance," Vinogradov said.

Women of the Miao ethnic group make clothes at a workshop in Huawu Village in Bijie City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

China has avoided the "trap" of a dilemma between safeguarding health and beefing up the economy, and its strategy "has resulted in overcoming the health crisis inside China and at the same time protecting its economy," said Pelagia Karpathiotaki, a Beijing-based researcher at China's University of International Business and Economics.

Praising the Chinese people's dynamism in fighting the pandemic, Bernard Dewit, chairman of Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said "this can be a model for the rest of the world, because despite being severely hit by the pandemic, they could overcome it and even go further with growth, with improving the situation of its population."

China has displayed the "generosity spirit" of international cooperation in its global anti-virus efforts, said Munir Akram, president of the UN Economic and Social Council.

HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

During the "two sessions," China set its goals for 2021 and adopted the country's development blueprint for the next five to 15 years, which, with an emphasis on high-quality development, are expected to bring fresh opportunities to the pandemic-battered world.

China aims to expand its GDP by over 6 percent year on year in 2021, with more efforts on reform, innovation and high-quality development, according to the government work report.

The growth target shows "the determination and confidence of the Chinese government to promote sustained economic recovery to the world, and China will continue to boost the world economy," said Tursunali Kuziev, a professor at Uzbek University of Journalism and Mass Communications.

In the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period and beyond, high-quality development will remain the theme for China's economic and social development, and it concerns the overall situation of the country's socialist modernization drive.

Customers visit a duty-free shop in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 31, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

At the same time, the country will implement opening-up policies in a wider scope and broader areas and at a deeper level, and better participate in international economic cooperation.

The goals for 2021 and the blueprint for economic and social development over the next five years "are impressive," said Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at Columbia University and a senior UN advisor.

"They aim for sustainable development, based on reduced pollution, resource efficiency, scientific and technological advance, expanded education, and improved quality of life," Sachs said.

Visitors learn about an automatic aircraft on display at an exhibition during the "China 5G + Industrial Internet Conference" in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

According to the blueprint for its development in the next five to 15 years, China will accelerate forging a new development paradigm of "dual circulation," in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other with the domestic market as the mainstay.

"'Dual circulation' puts a parallel emphasis both on domestic and international circulation. A high-level opening-up certainly serves this end, brings win-win outcomes both for Chinese and multinational companies," said Jochen Goller, chief of BMW Group Region China.

PEOPLE-CENTERED APPROACH

For observers, the annual "two sessions" provide them with an opportunity to decode China's enormous successes and better understand its democracy.

China has always put the people first during its development, increasing their benefits, ensuring that the people are their own masters and supporting development in an all-round way.

From the massive poverty alleviation campaign and the handling of the pandemic, to the development blueprint and goals that aim to meet people's aspiration for a better life, China has shown that its modernization involves not only a remarkable increase in economic production capacity, but also comprehensive targets to improve people's well-being.

Nurses administer COVID-19 vaccines to drivers and conductors of the Shenzhen Bus Group Co., Ltd. at the health service center of the Xiameilin community in Futian District, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

China's poverty alleviation campaign is "the work of a nation committed to its people," according to Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club.

Describing China's response to the pandemic as "first class," Perry said no other country could get thousands of doctors and nurses to Hubei, once the hardest-hit province in China, within days.

"As soon as the Chinese government knew about the severity of this epidemic, they moved the priority to saving lives," Perry said.

Meanwhile, the agendas of the "two sessions" have demonstrated that China's democracy features an extensive collection of public suggestions, thorough discussions and a gradual formation of consensuses.

Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Institute for China-America Studies, said that the "two sessions" present a window on how China efficiently builds consensuses for its development strategies and goals.

"I think the consensus-building process is just as hard, but it's more efficiently conducted in China," Gupta said.

"You have so many delegates from the provinces and from local levels at the 'two sessions' showing ... how broad and wide that consensus is," Gupta said.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles speaks to the media during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia, on June 30, 2020. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Brisbane Doctor Contracts CCP Virus From Hospital Patient

The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland, was placed into lockdown on Friday night after a positive case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, was detected in a doctor.

On Saturday, Deputy Premier Steven Miles confirmed that the staff member was a doctor.

The doctor had been managing two patients who had COVID-19. She used all the proper PPE but because this virus is so contagious she still caught it, he said in a statement on Facebook.

Queensland Health said in a statement that the doctor had contact with COVID-19 positive patients in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and was infectious in the community on Thursday.

Test results revealed the doctor had low levels of the virus which meant that she may have only been infections for around one daybefore being tested on Friday.

Queensland Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

MEDIA RELEASE: COVID-19 case identified at PA Hospital The Princess Alexandra Hospital has been placed into lockdown effective immediately after a positive #COVID19 case was detected today (12 March 2021). Read more here: https://t.co/zZolu6CEc4 pic.twitter.com/qWk4l3Xeco  Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) March 12, 2021

Queensland Health is currently tracing the doctors movements and any contact she may have had with staff, family, and friends.

The public will be alerted if there is any risk to the broader community.

Meanwhile, all non-essential visits to patients will not be allowed.

If you must attend PA Hospital, you will be required to wear a mask, the Queensland Health statement said. The Emergency Department will remain open, but if youre able to receive care at a nearby hospital or at a GP, please do so.

Staff will wear masks at all times. Patients will be required to wear masks at all times unless it is not clinically appropriate. Non-urgent outpatient bookings and elective surgery will be postponed.

Anyone with symptoms is being advised to get tested immediately and isolate unit they receive a negative result.

The health department will provide an update on Sunday.
When longtime president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, stepped down from office on March 19, 2019, it heralded a new era in Kazakh politics in many ways, not the least of which was a renewed inspiration among many, particularly the youth of the country, to go out on the streets and demonstrate for changes.

The new president, Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, has promised to ease past restrictions and implement reforms, some of which he says will help provide the basis for opposition groups to take a greater part in the country's political process.

But to date, there seems to be little progress.

There was an opposition rally on October 31 in the country's biggest city, Almaty, and in many other cities groups tried but failed to get permission to hold rallies.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for January 10, 2021, and on November 5, a request from Kazakhstan's Democratic Party to hold a rally in Almaty was officially approved. But with or without permission, more rallies seem inevitable, even in these times of global pandemic.

On this week's Majlis Podcast, RFE/RL's media-relations manager for South and Central Asia, Muhammad Tahir, moderates a discussion that looks at the rallies and attempted rallies of October 31, the difference in what authorities promised about the right to freedom of assembly and what is actually happening, and what we might expect in the weeks leading up to parliamentary elections, the first in Kazakhstan since Toqaev became president.

This week's guests are, speaking from Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, independent journalist Aigul Zhamal; from Almaty, political analyst Shalkar Nurseitov: also from Almaty, from RFE/RLs Kazakh Service, known locally as Azattyq, Mukhtar Senggirbay; and Bruce Pannier, the author of the Qishloq Ovozi blog.

Listen to the podcast above or subscribe to the Majlis on iTunes or on Google Podcasts.
Popularity of Harry and Meghan plummets in UK after Oprah interview, poll says

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive to attend the WellChild Awards Ceremony (Photo : REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool)

The popularity of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan has tumbled in Britain and has never been lower following their explosive interview with U.S. chat show host Oprah Winfrey, according to a poll on Friday.



During the interview aired last Sunday, Meghan said her pleas for help while she felt suicidal were ignored and that one unnamed member of the family had asked how dark their son Archie's skin might be.



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Meanwhile, Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, also bemoaned his family's reaction of the couple's decision to step back from official duties.



The tell-all interview has plunged the 1,000-year-old monarchy into its greatest crisis this century, and according to a YouGov poll, the standing of the two royals has also taken a big hit in the aftermath.



It found 48% percent of the 1,664 respondents had a negative attitude of Harry compared to 45% with a positive view, the first time his net favourability rating had been negative, and a fall of 15 points from a week earlier.



Meanwhile, only three in 10 people had a positive view of Meghan, while 58% had a negative opinion.



As with other polls conducted since the interview, there was a divide between generations, with a majority of those aged 18 to 24 liking Harry and Meghan and those over 65 overwhelmingly having negative feelings towards them.



The only other member of the family to see their popularity fall was Harry's father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles. The survey said 42% now had a negative view of him compared to 49% with a positive opinion.



That compared to the 94-year-old queen, who was liked by 80%, and Harry's elder brother and his wife Kate, who were popular with three-quarters of respondents.



A separate poll, conducted partly before the interview was broadcast in Britain, found support for the monarchy as a whole was largely unchanged with 63% backing the institution and 25% wanting an elected head of state.



But there were some worrying figures for the royal family. Among the youngest age group, support for an elected head of state was higher than that for the monarchy by 42% to 37%, although YouGov said this was within the margin of error.


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Demonstrators react after being exposed to teargas fired by the police during a protest against the military coup in in Mandalay, Myanmar, Mar. 13, 2021. EPA-Yonhap



Eight people were killed and several others injured late Friday and overnight in an ongoing crackdown by Myanmar's military on protesters denouncing a coup, local media and witnesses reported.



In the former capital and biggest city Yangon, three people were killed when security forces cracked down on demonstrators in several parts of the city late Friday.



Three other demonstrators were killed on Saturday during protests in the city of Mandalay in the country's centre, according to a witness and a dpa journalist.



Two protesters were also killed in protests on Saturday in Pyay, a township located some 260 kilometres north-west of Yangon, Radio Free Asia reported.



Since a military coup at the beginning of February, there have been daily mass demonstrations in Myanmar. The protesters are demanding the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the reinstatement of her civilian government.






As the Congress and the (BJP) are yet to announce their candidate lists for the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls, the media is raking up many names.

One name which the media has raised in each and every state election is that of superstar Mammootty and this time, too, it is no different.

This speculation had a shelf life till the Communist Party of India (Marxist) released its candidate list. Asked about his political leanings, Mammootty said he clearly has a political leaning but till now he has not been asked to contest the upcoming Assembly elections.

"There is lot of freedom for the media reporters when it comes to naming probable candidates of political parties and the ground rule is nothing but to run his/her imagination wild and come out with names which create a buzz. The moment one TV channel comes out, the others are also not far behind and finally when it comes to the actual candidate list, a huge majority of the hyped names that were doled out fail to figure. But then no one remembers what was said as all start to go after the actual electoral list. This is what happens all the time and this time also it's been the same," said a media critic who requested anonymity.

In the past few days, one name that has taken centrestage in all TV news reports has been that of two-time former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Oommen Chandy. By now all the TV channels are naming him as the Congress candidate from Nemom in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, often referred to as the Gujarat of Kerala by the state BJP leaders as that's the only seat which the BJP had won in the 140-member Kerala Assembly during the 2016 Kerala polls.

"I do not know from where you (media) get all this news as I have not thought of contesting out of Puthupally where I have contested the previous 11 elections," commented Chandy but even after his denial, TV channels continue running the same news.

Even though the Congress candidates list is yet to be released and Nemom continues to be in the news, the other names that surfaced in the media include Congress Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor, K. Muraleedharan, among others. The latest name doing the rounds is that of acclaimed film personality Major Ravi.

But soon after arriving from New Delhi on Saturday morning, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, said out of the 91 Assembly seats that the Congress is contesting, 81 seats have been finalised and the remaining 10 would be finalised on Saturday. State Congress President Mullapally Ramachandran will announce it on Sunday.

With the BJP yet to reveal its candidates list, the major name that none in the media could play up was that of Metroman E. Sreedharan. Only after it was revealed by the State BJP President, K. Surendran, did Kerala come to know that he would be a BJP candidate.

Among the numerous names that continue to be floated around is that of yesteryear actress Maneka Suresh, the mother of the National award winning actress, Keerthi Suresh.

In the CPI(M) ranks, one name which was raised was that of youth leader of the CPI(M) and a hugely popular face on all TV channels defending his party to the hilt -- A. A. Rahim who was missing when the list surfaced. Strangely none of the media could play up the name of Mohammed Riyaz, the son-in-law of current Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as a likely candidate.

Riyaz has already started his campaign in the Beypore constituency in Kozhikode district.

The candidates list of both the BJP and the Congress is expected by Sunday.

--IANS

sg/khz/bg

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The new global players in the region are no longer France, Italy, Great Britain, and Germany. Today, China, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the U.S., Russia, India, Brazil, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, and the Gulf nations are all working hard to expand their spheres of influence. If our reading of current affairs and history is correct, what is starting in the Horn of Africa is yet another World War Scramble for Africa.

The account of world history we know today was created with a European world viewpoint at its core. This eurocentric narrative of world events is colonial by its nature, White supremacist by its objective, aggressive by its methods, and expansionist by design. A major part of its agenda is to create the illusion of African inferiority. Global educational, religious, and media institutions were created to amplify and serve this eurocentric narrative. More than 50 years after the end of colonialism as a system, most people still view history through the limiting scope of eurocentricity.

Scholars and scholarly outputs, through the mechanisms of peer review and citations, perpetuate and pay homage to the same old racist thinkers, continually victimising Black and Indigenous people of colour. News media, motion pictures, and new Artificial Intelligence technologies continue to base their content on this biased mass of data, which has been in circulation since the invention of the printing press.

Was Europe really at the centre of all major world events? What would you say if I told you that the two World Wars didnt start in Europe?

I know that an article will not be able to change a 500-year-old cemented narrative about the superiority of one race against the rest of the world. My expectation here is not to convert your way of thinking overnight, but rather to ask you to question the sources of historical knowledge we have acquired collectively, to look carefully at current affairs, and to consume media cautiously.

We all were taught that World War I, which claimed 16 million people in four years, began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. The war was fought between the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria) and the Allied Powers (France, Great Britain, the Russia Empire, and Japan), which grew out of the Triple Entente of France, Great Britain, and the Russian Empire.

The question is when and where were these political alignments first made? And why?

The answer cant be found in any of the 21 combatant countries involved in the war in Europe or the place where the Duke was killed. The beginning lies in a far away country on a different continent, almost a decade earlier.

It all began 125 years ago this week, when Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia defeated the Italian colonial power at Adwa on March 1, 1896, and initiated a major railway line project.

On the March 9, 1894, the Emperor signed a decree granting Alfred Ilg, the Emperors advisor and a Swiss engineer, and Leon Chefneux, a French engineer, to work on a railway between the port of Djibouti and the capital of Ethiopia. The railway was intended to open up the Ethiopian Empire, which is landlocked, to further trade on the Red Sea[1] . This, however, created a conflict over the contract that lasted for almost a decade between the French, who controlled the small port protectorate of Djibouti, and the British, who controlled the majority of North-Eastern Africa (including Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and Somaliland). The conflict was exacerbated by the Bonheur-Chefneux Convention of 1902, when Ilg and Chefneux sold the concession to the French government, giving them much more territorial power than initially stated  a significant advantage over the British Empire[2]. This stalemate ended on April 8, 1904, with the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale. The Entente, which settled colonial tensions both inside and outside of Africa, brought the British government into the contract, giving them more sway over the future of the railroad than was originally given by Menelik II[3]. Since the Entente was also a promise to support each others East African interests against German influence, the French government privately intended to use the agreement to attempt a French monopoly on the Ethiopian markets. British opposition to this came not from a place of support for Ethiopian sovereignty, but as an objection to any European monopoly that wasnt their own.

At the same time, the feud that started in Ethiopia, 3,000 miles away from Europe, grew worse. With the June 28, 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. A few weeks later, Russia got involved to protect Serbia, its ally. Three days later, Germany declared war on Russia, supporting Austria-Hungary.

At the end of the same year, Germany sent a mission to the Emperors court and, on March 7, 1905, signed a commercial treaty with Ethiopia. The treaty, paired with Germanys growing military strength and renewed European tensions in Ethiopia, put the positions of France and Britain in Ethiopia in danger. This led France, Italy, and Britain to sign the Tripartite Treaty of December 13, 1906, which concerned Ethiopian sovereignty and the railroad construction. Though the treaty, on its surface, settled the commercial differences between the three nations, it was essentially a contingency plan for the death of Menelik II. Without any consent from the king, it allotted each nation a sphere of influence in Ethiopia, setting up a confrontational dynamic between the Ethiopian government and the Europeans[4]. The Tripartite Treaty paved the way for the participants cooperation against Germany  a decade preceding World War I.

In 1909, Emperor Menelik II declared Iyasu, his grandson, as his successor. In the years that followed, and during the Emperors sickness, Iyasu served as regent under Empress Tayitu. During this time, the Germans got much closer to the court and appointed the physician of the emperor, the tutor of Lij Iyasu, and the advisor to the Justice Minister. In July 1914, the same month that World War I began, Emperor Menelik and Empress Tayitu formalised this close relationship by signing a collaborative agreement with Germany. When the emperor died, Iyasu officially inherited strong relationships with the Germans and the emperors close advisor, Hassib Yidlibi, a Turk of Syrian origin, whom he appointed as his adviser and government official in Dire Dawa, a town adjacent to Djibouti.

A modernising ruler, Lij Iyasu wished to create a nation as multiethnic and multireligious as himself and to decolonise Eritrea and Somalia from Italy, Somaliland from Britain, and Djibouti from France. Unfortunately, he got caught up between his allies (the Germans and the Ottomans) and the colonizers [who] are deliberately in favor of [Ethiopias] weakness through the religious and ethnic conflicts.[5] Each of these nations (Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire) sought to gain Iyasus alliance in order to secure the Red Sea as a military and economic asset. For the Central Powers, establishing a stronghold in East Africa was necessary to take control of the Suez Canal and sever Britain from its African colonies[6]. In addition, Germany, like the other European powers, was interested in gaining access to African resources through colonisation. Beginning in 1904, Germany sent a series of exploratory expeditions led by scholar Leo Frobenius, allegedly to further Germanys academic knowledge of the continent of Africa. However, the 1915 expedition to the Horn of Africa was a cover for an espionage mission meant to coax Iyasu into the Central Powrs[7]. Similarly, the purpose of the Ottoman Empires envoy was to support Lij Iyasus plan to unify East Africa and use it against the British and the French. Both the Germans and the Ottomans attempted, independently and through Iyasu, to incite various tribes living under French and British rule into rebellion in the hopes that, once war broke out, it would cause further turmoil within the empires.

While the Germans and the Ottomans supported Lij Iyassu, the uncrowned emperor from 1913 to 1916, the opposing faction (Great Britain, France, and Italy) conspired against him. The British and French governments both felt that Iyasu was jeopardising their East African holdings; from the beginning of his reign, he had launched a campaign to strengthen and support tribes on the borders of the nation, leading to conflicts with the colonial forces, which included train derailments and attacks[8]. In retaliation, the British and French attempted to cut Ethiopia off from any other of its European allies. In 1915, they intercepted two separate German attempts to contact Ethiopia  one of which was the Frobenius expedition, which was rerouted to Italy. Locally, they intensified their attack on Iyassus reputation and supported his rival Teferi Mekonnen, the Francophone future emperor. Accounts from Armenian ambassadors at the time allege a British bribery attempt, in addition to a negative propaganda campaign spread throughout the Horn of Africa. On September 27, 1916, Iyasu was deposed, allowing Great Britain and France to hold on to their fledgling colonies in the Horn of Africa[9]. In 1917, Menilek IIs daughter, Zauditu, became empress, and Ras Tafari was named regent and heir apparent to the throne.

At the same time, the feud that started in Ethiopia, 3,000 miles away from Europe, grew worse. With the June 28, 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. A few weeks later, Russia got involved to protect Serbia, its ally. Three days later, Germany declared war on Russia, supporting Austria-Hungary. Then, Great Britain declared war on Germany to protect Belgium and France. So went the dominos, starting one of the most devastating wars in world history.

Even though we dont usually read it in our history books and see it in the many films made on the subject, not only were the important alliances of World War I initiated in Africa, but 250,000 African lives were also sacrificed in the conflict, out of more than two million who were involved as soldiers and labourers for the Central Powers. On the other side, about half a million African soldiers were also deployed by the Allied Powers.[10]

Until the end of 2020, the love-hate relationships between Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan drastically shifted global alliances, potentially propelling the region and the world towards another devastating set of conflicts on the order of what took place in the 1910s and 1940s.

After four years, during which nine million soldiers perished and 21 million more were wounded, the war to end all wars ended on November 11, 1918, with Germany signing an armistice and surrendering. The next year, on June 28, Germany and the Allied Nations signed the Treaty of Versailles, formally ending the war. The following year, on January 10, leaders of the United States, Great Britain, and France met in Versailles and established the League of Nations. Germany, Austria, and Hungary were not invited.

While Europe was engulfed in its war, in Ethiopia, the Shewan nobility defeated Lij Iyasu and successfully transitioned into power, with Empress Zewditu as their queen and Ras Teferi Mekonnen as the regent at the helm. For Great Britain, France, and Italy, this development was a great success, as they continued to maintain their colonies in the Horn of Africa, but it was a devastating double defeat to the Germans and the Turks, as they lost on both fronts.

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For Ethiopia, too, this success continues to have a negative generational impact, as the winning Shewan nobility (later dubbed Neftegna) would be blamed as the new arch enemy of their own fellow countrymen  Tigrayans, Oromos, Wolloyes, Gojjams, Somalis, and others  who were taught to hate them for all the shortcomings of the society. Books and education were used as a vehicle of creation, conversion, and propagation of discord and disunity within Ethiopia.

The new global players in the region are no longer France, Italy, Great Britain, and Germany. Today, China, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the U.S., Russia, India, Brazil, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, and the Gulf nations are all working hard to expand their spheres of influence. If our reading of current affairs and history is correct, what is starting in the Horn of Africa is yet another World War Scramble for Africa.

Until the end of 2020, the love-hate relationships between Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan drastically shifted global alliances, potentially propelling the region and the world towards another devastating set of conflicts on the order of what took place in the 1910s and 1940s. Trumps endless interference in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dams negotiation between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia got us closer to the precipe, but his loss of power seemed to have given us another four years of peace. Unfortunately, Joe Bidens administration and his Secretary of State, Antony Blinken seem to lead us down the same path. Making things worse, earlier this month, the U.S. and Russia moved their warships to Sudan shores, Turkey sided with Ethiopia against her former ally Egypt, and China signed a pact aimed at establishing security safeguarding mechanisms to her Belt and Road Initiative in Ethiopia, including the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway.[11] A century later, with new actors at play, the region is facilitating confrontations similar to those that culminated in World War I.

Might Ethiopia be where the third World War begins? Only time will tell. In the past, the dominant colonial narrative has been a blind spot in our assessment of global politics and its unfolding drama. If we dont broaden our understanding of the world and our place in it, we will end up as victims of our own collective ignorance. Liberating our minds and rereading history from a new perspective is not a choice but an obligation.

Elias Wondimu is the CEO and President of TSEHAI Corp., a global knowledge company, and founding director of TSEHAI Publishers based at Loyola Marymount University.

Notes

[1] Thomas Lennox Gilmour, Abyssinia: The Ethiopian Railway and The Powers(London: A. Rivers, 1906), 7-9.

[2] Shiferaw Bekele, Some Notes on the Genesis and Interpretation of the Tripartite Treaty, Journal of Ethiopian Studies 18 (November 1985), 64-65: www.jstor.org/stable/41965928

[3] Edward C. Keefer, Great Britain, France, and the Ethiopian Tripartite Treaty of 1906, Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies 13, no. 4 (Winter 1981), 370: www.jstor.org/stable/4048642

[4] Shiferaw Bekele, Some Notes on the Genesis and Interpretation of the Tripartite Treaty, Journal of Ethiopian Studies 18 (November 1985), 74: www.jstor.org/stable/41965928

[5] The First World War as a Turning Point / Wendezeit Weltkrieg: The impact of the years 1914 -1918 on Church and Mission (with special focus on the Hermannsburg Mission). Editor Frieder Ludwig; Publisher LIT Verlag

[6] How Ethiopian Prince Scuppered Germanys WW1 Plans. BBC, September 25, 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-37428682.

[7] Patrick Gilkes and Martin Plaut, Great War Intrigues in the Horn of Africa, in The First World War from Tripoli to Addis Ababa (1911-1924), edited by Shiferaw Bekele et al. (Addis Ababa: Centre francais des etudes ethiopiennes, 2018) 1-8.

[8] Plaut, Great War Intrigues, 14.

[9] Richard Pankhurst, The Reign of Lij Iyasu as Avedis Terzian Saw It, in The Life and Times of Lij Iyasu: New Insights, edited by Eloi Ficquet and Wolbert G. C. Smidt (LIT Verlag, 2014), 91.

[10] Shiferaw Bekele et al., eds., The First World War from Tripoli to Addis Ababa (1911-1924) (Addis Ababa: Centre francais des etudes ethiopiennes, 2018).

[11] China, Ethiopia ink accord on establishing security safeguarding mechanism for major projects under BRI. Xinhua (March 07, 2021): http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2021-03/06/c_139790042.htm

This article was originally published by the Los Angeles Review of Books.
Response of United States, Japan, India and Australia to China's "vaccine diplomacy". Production in India with US technology, Japanese financing and Australian logistics. Beijing "belittles". Summit with the Chinese next week in Alaska: Waashington announces a hard line.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The United States, Japan, India and Australia have pledged to provide Southeast Asian and Pacific nations with one billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of 2022. The announcement came yesterday during the first meeting between heads of state of the QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), a forum for discussion between the four governments that China sees as a possible "Asian NATO".

The final document of the virtual summit never makes explicit reference to Beijing, but the points raised - including a common commitment to technology - are a response to Chinese policies in the Indo-Pacific.

The "QUAD Vaccine Partnership" is an alternative to China's "vaccine diplomacy". The Chinese government has said it wants to donate the drug to 53 countries and export it to 27 others, despite its national vaccination campaign so far lagging behind that of the US and Great Britain.

The vaccine of choice for the QUAD initiative should be Johnson & Johnson's single-dose. It will be produced by Indian company Biological Ltd with technological backing from Washington, US and Japanese funding and logistical help from Australia. The four countries have made it clear that distribution will take place in collaboration with the World Health Organization and in coordination with Covax, the world program for providing vaccines to developing nations.

The Chinese state media tried to downplay the importance of the summit, arguing that the four members of the QUAD all have different agendas, especially regarding China. Joe Biden, Yoshihide Suga, Narendra Modi and Scott Morrison, however, said they wanted to work in favour of a "free and open Indo-Pacific, anchored in democratic values".

At the end of their meeting, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stressed that the four leaders discussed Beijing's "coercive" acts against Australia, Chinese "aggressive" manoeuvres in the waters around the Senkaku Islands (administered by Tokyo, but claimed by China) and along the border with India.

On March 18 Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet in Alaska with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi, the highest diplomatic authority in Beijing. Washington announced yesterday that in addition to its concerns over the repression in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and those over Chinese threats to Taiwan, its envoys will address the issue of tensions between Beijing and the other QUAD nations.
BRUSSELS: The European Union announced Friday it was ending sanctions imposed in 2011 against nine Egyptians, including the family of former leader Hosni Mubarak, over the alleged stealing of state funds.

Restrictive measures were initially adopted in 2011 and aimed notably at assisting the Egyptian authorities with the recovery of misappropriated state assets, the member states said in a statement.

Following the most recent review of the nine listings still in force, the Council concluded that the regime had served its purpose.

The EU slapped asset freezes on senior figures, including Mubarak, his wife, two sons and their wives, after he was toppled in the Arab Spring uprisings following thirty years in charge.

The deposed president died in February of last year at the age of 91.

The sanctions  which were reviewed annually  included asset freezes on holdings located in the EU and a ban on any citizens or entities from the 27-nation bloc making funding available to those on the blacklist.

EU member countries imposed the sanctions on Mubarak and his family in March 2011 based on lawsuits filed against them in Egypt for alleged embezzlement of state funds.

Mubarak and his family had challenged the punitive measures in court.

Egypt suffered years of instability in the wake of Mubaraks ouster.

President Muhammad Mursi took power in 2012 before the military toppled him in 2013 following mass protests against Mursis rule.

Former military chief Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi became president later that year.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Amid a deepening stalemate over financing highways and public transit, Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday proposed phasing out Pennsylvanias gasoline tax, the second-highest in the nation, and appointed a commission to recommend alternative ways to pay for the states needs.

Wolf ordered a commission of several dozen lawmakers, transportation industry representatives, transportation planners, government officials and others to deliver recommendations by Aug. 1 of funding alternatives to foot the extra billions of dollars deemed to be necessary.

Our economy, our communities, and our future rely on a strong transportation system that supports our safety and growth, Wolf said in a statement.

The gas tax that Wolf calls burdensome isnt keeping pace with transportation and safety needs as vehicles become more fuel-efficient and more motorists buy electric vehicles, state officials say.

States are seeing stagnant revenue from gasoline taxes, the major source of cash for highway construction, and are increasingly experimenting with user fees.

PennDOT has said its current highway and bridge budget for construction and maintenance is about $6.9 billion per year, less than half of the $15 billion that is needed to keep Pennsylvanias highways and bridges in good condition and ease major traffic bottlenecks.

To raise about $2 billion over the next few years, PennDOT is seeking to add tolls to nine major bridges on interstates around the state to finance reconstruction projects, drawing objections from Republican lawmakers. The Interstate 83 bridge in Harrisburg is one of the bridges being considered for tolls.

Lawmakers are discussing slapping fees on electric vehicles, while Wolf has proposed, without success in the Legislature, along with ways of weaning the state police budget off highway construction funds.

Meanwhile, the Legislatures efforts to fund transportation over the last two decades have run up debt and costs to motorists.

A 2007 law siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars from turnpike tolls each year  now more than $7 billion in total since then  has plunged the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission deeper into debt.

The turnpike commission has more than $14 billion in debt, as of last year, double what it reported a decade ago. It paid $652 million in interest and borrowing costs last year, more than half of its total revenue and more than its operating costs for the year, according to its financial statement.

At the same time, turnpike tolls have more than doubled in 12 years to $47 across the length of the highway and more than quadrupled for motorists who dont have E-Z Pass to $95.30, or almost a quarter per mile.

A 2013 law raised the gasoline tax and various motorist fees to raise more than $2 billion a year for highway construction and other transportation needs.

As a result, Pennsylvanias gas tax is now No. 2 in the nation, behind California, at 58.7 cents per gallon, according to an analysis by the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation.

Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne, the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, told a House hearing last month that the sprawling expanse of Pennsylvanias highways and state roads has not kept lawmakers from peeling off almost half of the gas tax revenue for other purposes.

That includes 12 cents a gallon to the state police budget, 8 cents a gallon to local governments, 3 cents a gallon to the Mon-Fayette Expressways Southern Beltway in southwestern Pennsylvania and 3 cents a gallon to the Department of Agriculture and other state agencies.

Nearly half of the gasoline tax that we collect does not go to PennDOTs responsibility with respect to roads and bridges, Carroll said.

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Be a superhero: Millions of investors have rights over the companies in which they hold shares

What if I told you that you had the power to change companies for the better  while still making a profit?

Or that you could challenge a chief executive on their company's environmental policies or help rein in excessive pay or even boot out an underperforming fund manager?

Well the chances are that you already have this power  you're just not using it.

Millions of investors have rights over the companies in which they hold shares.

And yet just a handful use them  often because they don't even know it's possible or as a result of it being made difficult for them.

It may have been investors in Gamestop who hit the headlines earlier this year when they used their power to humble some mighty hedge funds.

But if they choose to use it, millions of ordinary investors have more far-reaching powers than this.

What powers do shareholders have?

The beauty of investing in companies is that one share equals one vote. That means an individual who owns a few shares in a company has the same rights as a fund manager or a pension fund that holds a much larger stake.

You are just as entitled to vote for or against the strategy of that company as anyone else. You also have the same right to get involved and ask difficult questions of the company's leadership team and board.

The annual general meeting is ideal for this, says Jeremy Fawcett, founder of consultancy Platforum.

He says: 'Companies put out plenty of glossy information for shareholders about their finances and strategies. But sometimes you want to see the whites of the eyes of the people you're investing in. Investors have that opportunity every year. The AGM is an unsanitised, unscripted environment.'

Why didn't I already know about this?

Probably because your investment platform is failing to tell you.

All investment platforms have mechanisms to allow customers to engage with the companies in which they hold shares. But the systems are often clunky, poorly publicised and rarely used.

For example, in theory it is possible for Hargreaves Lansdown customers to attend company annual general meetings and vote.

But the FTSE100 listed company admits that in reality less than one per cent of eligible customers vote  and it has seen no improvement for years.

But perhaps that's not surprising. Hargreaves Lansdown customers are rarely told when an AGM is due. If they want to vote, they have to get in touch in advance and Hargreaves will pass on their wishes.

Rival investment platform AJ Bell says it doesn't have data on how many customers vote or attend AGMs, other than to say that it is 'a very small percentage'.

It adds that it is exploring whether it can automatically alert customers to all AGM votes. Customers who wish to vote have to contact AJ Bell by secure message or phone at least five days in advance with their request.

The exception  as with Hargreaves Lansdown also  is for AGM resolutions that are likely to have a material effect on customers' shareholdings. In these cases all affected customers are notified.

Power: It is possible for customers to attend company annual general meetings and vote

Fidelity says customers can vote, receive notifications and attend meetings through its third-party provider Broadridge. Customers need to sign up to the service located in the 'preferences' section of their secure account.

Cliff Weight, director of investor campaign group ShareSoc, says wealth platforms make it so difficult for customers to engage that they are 'disenfranchising individual shareholders'.

He says: 'Most platforms don't even pass on information and if you want to vote the method offered is practically prehistoric. As a result they're throwing away millions of shareholder votes.'

Weight believes platform Interactive Investor is better than most. Eight per cent of its eligible customers voted last year at annual general meetings  a low turnout, but likely to be several times higher than most of its rivals.

It alerts customers who opt in for notifications of forthcoming annual general meetings when there is a vote and they can click through from the platform to exercise their right.

But chief executive Richard Wilson admits there is still more to do.

He says: 'ShareSoc kindly thinks we're the best of the bunch at encouraging voting, but that doesn't mean to say our process is perfect.'

He admits that even he doesn't vote all the time as it's easy for it to become another thing to add to the to-do list.

He adds: 'In today's age of consumerism, if it's not slick and pain free, it's not happening. The user experience has got to be easy.'

Interactive Investor is working to improve its processes and last month wrote to customers urging them to use their votes.

Why can't firms contact shareholders directly?

Most people own their shares through an investment platform. In general, this makes life easier; you can see all of your holdings in one place, it's straightforward to buy and sell  and you can hold shares inside tax-free wrappers such as Isas and Sipps.

But there is a huge downside: technically you don't actually own the shares you hold. Instead, you have what is called a 'beneficial interest' in them.

So you have rights over the shares, but it is not your name on the share certificate, but rather that of the investment platform.

Simon Crinage, head of investment trusts at asset manager JPMorgan, warns that this means shareholders often get left out.

He says: 'Many investment trusts put a lot of time and effort into producing communications and quality documents for their shareholders.

'But they are obliged to send them to the registered shareholder  which is the platform, not the ultimate shareholder. It is then up to the platform to pass them on and to notify shareholders when it is time to take action and vote. But in reality, many don't.'

Encouragement: Investors are being urged to take part in the votes so they can enact change

What is the fallout of investors not voting?

JPMorgan's Crinage warns that when voter turnout is low, the votes of those who do turn up have a stronger sway. As larger investors are more likely to vote, they will end up having a greater influence and the interests of smaller investors may be overlooked.

Annabel Brodie-Smith is communications director at the Association of Investment Companies. She agrees that platforms must do more.

She says: 'Most platforms allow investment company shareholders to exercise their rights, but it isn't always obvious how to do it, and it can be more difficult and fiddly than it should be.'

She adds: 'If shareholders in investment companies are engaged, then the trusts can respond better to their needs.

'With so many shareholders now holding their shares through platforms, it's vitally important they play a part in shaping the strategy and direction of the companies they are invested in. These decisions should not just be left to large investors.'

The association has recently launched its 'shareholder engagement award' to recognise investment platforms that are doing a good job of helping shareholders have their say.

Small shareholders can be sidelined

Small investors are sometimes treated like second class shareholders. For example, when a company issues new shares, existing shareholders should have the right to buy them before others get a look in. This is known as pre-emption rights.

But increasingly, companies ask shareholders to vote to waive their pre-emption rights, so they lose this ability.

When shareholders fail to turn up and vote against this motion, it gets carried and they lose their rights.

Wilson explains: 'You have this crazy set-up where, because people don't vote, the board sanctions a resolution that allows small shareholders to switch off their pre-emption rights so they don't need to be asked if there's a share raise.

'It's a systematic undermining of shareholders' rights, delivered through a voting system which everyone knows no one uses. It's a fundamental wrong.

'For me this whole system is perpetuating a disenfranchisement or an isolation of retail investors. Institutional investors get all the fat and the retail shareholders pick up the gristle.'

Is anything in the system improving?

Alex Denny is head of investment trusts at Fidelity. He believes that the changes companies have had to make during Covid may have long-term benefits.

He says: 'Investment trusts have had to move their AGMs online over the past year. As a result, attendance has improved because investors no longer have to travel to attend.

'Hopefully, investors will be able to attend in person again, but ideally we will keep a hybrid model where people can attend online or in person.'

Also, bosses of the three biggest investment platforms are calling for ordinary shareholders to be given a look in when companies list for the first time on the London Stock Exchange.

Andy Bell of AJ Bell, Chris Hill of Hargreaves Lansdown and Richard Wilson of Interactive Investor wrote an open letter last month demanding a consultation on whether companies coming to market should be obliged to include ordinary investors.

They claim that ordinary investors are excluded from around 93 per cent of all share launches, citing the Hut Group, Dr Martens and Moonpig as recent high-profile examples.

They believe that involving ordinary investors in new listings will help improve shareholder engagement.

So, finally, how can I exercise my rights?

Sign up for alerts on upcoming votes and AGMs. Your platform should enable this. If it doesn't  or if it makes it difficult  ask it to improve.

As Fawcett explains: 'Platforms claim there is no appetite for shareholder information, but while their offerings are poor there will be no appetite. It's chicken and egg.'

You have shareholder rights over any companies or investment trusts in which you hold shares. So the message is: USE THEM.
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A shrine in Max Zaska's cabin studio is one of the goodies on offer for contributing 10,000 to the production of his second album 'A Better Way'.

Musician Zaska is crowd funding to finish the concept album themed around sustainability.

The album is ready to go but he needs help raising 16,000 to bring the work to life. Benefactors can help with as little as 5 if they don't have 10 grand, which will get them a hi-res download of the first single. Other valuables in exchange for contributions at different tiers include a private live-stream concert, guitar lessons, song dedications, the album on vinyl, digital tracks and more.

'The theme is not just sustainability for the planet 'but for all aspects of living a harmonious life. It's a hopeful album about our ability to turn it all around for ourselves and the next generation,' he said of the album.

Artists contributing to 'A Better Way' include Tolu Makay, Faye O'Rourke, Jess Kav, Melina Malone, Precious Okpaje, James Smith and Carly Coonagh.

The 'dream team' band includes Max on guitar, Dylan Lynch on drums and Neil Dorrington on bass, while keys and synth player James Smith is also co-producing the album with Max.

In 2016, the first album 'It Takes A Village' came to life thanks to a sum of 14,000 contributed by 379 people.

Over the past year, Max had plenty of time for writing as the pandemic cancelled a full calendar of paid gigs, including festivals, headliners, corporate and private shows. His teaching income was halved. He and his family were just leaving Asia as Covid-19 was breaking out in November 2019. Max was awarded a grant of 6,000 towards the studio and recording costs of this album. 'It's awesome and I'm super grateful, but it doesn't cover these costs,' he said. The remaining costs include paying a recording engineer, mixing, mastering, paying artists, vinyl pressing, album design, marketing, album design and more.

Max worked on his first EP with Wicklow musicians Andrew Hozier-Byrne and Karen Cowley, before going on to make his first album, a further collaborative affair, featuring Wyvern Lingo and various other artists.

Almost a year and a half ago, Max was coming to the end of three months of travelling around Vietnam and Thailand with his wife and their two daughters when the first confirmed cases of coronavirus were emerging in the world. 'It was mad,' he said. 'My parents were telling us to be careful and wear masks; we thought that was crazy. Then we got to the airport and everyone was wearing masks.' The idea that 16 months later the entire world's population would be grounded was still out of the question.

Max was born in Germany and his family moved to Bray when he was a year old. He went to St Cronan's, and Pres for a year, before they moved to Westport. He attended the renowned Newpark Music Centre in Dublin to study jazz and now lives in Monasterevin, County Kildare.

'Newpark was an amazing four years,' he said. 'It shaped my entire musical live since.' Travelling the world is also something which shaped Max's work. 'My dad was a professional photographer, so we went on a lot of trips. He would be sent to photograph different things in different countries. That opened my mind at an early age, being able to see different parts of the world quite young.'

An eclectic spectrum of genres in the house also played a part. One older brother played guitar, sang and listened to guitar bands. Another used to write rap music, and listen to hip-hop and soul. So, young Max had everything in his ears from Clapton and Radiohead to Tupac, and his dad's favourites Deep Purple and Santana. Today, hip-hop, guitar bands and soul still influence the musician's output.

For him and countless others, that work is taking place without a live audience getting to enjoy it in the traditional sense. Gigs are happening on live-streams, instruments are being played in bedrooms, and work is being done on post-production for those who have had the chance to record.

Max hopes that performance of some sort will accompany the launch of his second album later this year.

He has done some live streams and is musical director for Limerick rapper Denise Chaila who has also been performing online.

'We have to accept it and try to keep busy doing what we can be doing for now,' he said. Practicing, playing the instrument, preparing for the future, and trying to keep positive. To contribute to the making of the album, go to fundit.ie and find 'Help ZASKA's 2nd Album - A Better Way'.
Kuwaits #MeToo moment: Women denounce harassment, violence View Photo

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Abrar Zenkawi was cruising toward the beach in Kuwait City when she saw a man waving and smiling in her rearview mirror.

Elsewhere, this may have been a benign highway flirtation. But in Kuwait, its a haunting routine that often turns dangerous. The man pulled up beside her, inched closer and finally drove into her. Zenkawis car, carrying her toddler nieces, sister and friend, flipped six times.

Its considered normal here. Men always drive way too close to scare girls, chase them to their homes, follow them to work, just for fun, said Zenkawi, 34, who spent months in the hospital with a shattered spine. They dont think about the consequences.

But that may be changing as women are increasingly challenging Kuwaits deeply patriarchal society. In recent weeks, a growing number of women have broken taboos to speak out about the scourge of harassment and violence that plagues the Gulf nations streets, highways and malls, in an echo of the global #MeToo movement.

An Instagram page has led to an outpouring of testimony from women fed up with being intimidated or attacked in a country where the criminal code doesnt define sexual harassment and lays out few repercussions for men who kill female relatives for actions they consider immoral. A wide variety of news and talk shows have taken up the subject of harassment for the first time. And one journalist used a hidden camera to document how women are treated in the streets.

The spark may have come from fashion blogger Ascia al-Faraj, who vented in January on Snapchat to her millions of followers after being hounded by a man in a speeding car. In such episodes, men often try to bump a womans car, but many serious accidents result, as in Zenkawis case.

Its terrifying, all the time youre feeling so unsafe in your own skin, al-Faraj told The Associated Press. The responsibility is always on us.  We must have had our music too loud or our windows down.

Shayma Shamo, a 27-year-old doctor, sought to seize the momentum of al-Farajs viral video, creating an Instagram page called Lan Asket, Arabic for I will not be silent.

Shamos rage had been building for weeks. In December, a female employee of Kuwaits Parliament was stabbed to death by her 17-year-old brother, reportedly because he didnt want her working as a security guard. It was the third such case  described as honor killings  to make headlines in as many months. The National Assembly, all-male despite a record number of female candidates in the recent election, offered none of the customary condolences.

The silence was deafening, Shamo said. I thought, OK, that could happen to me, and anyone could get away with it.

Kuwait, unlike other oil-rich Persian Gulf sheikhdoms, has a legislature with genuine power and some tolerance for political dissent. But restrictions to slow the the spread of the coronavirus prevented Shamo from staging a protest and forced her to take her grievances online, as women in the regions more repressive countries have done recently.

The Lan Asket account thrust sexual harassment, long shrouded in shame, into the limelight.

From there, the conversation moved to traditional media. A well-known female journalist at state-linked al-Qabas newspaper went out at night with a hidden camera and captured motorbike riders recklessly trying to catch her attention, men yelling sexual slurs on the street and strangers pulling the hair of female passersby  offering proof to millions in Kuwait of the harassment women were describing.

It seems rudimentary, but weve never had these discussions before, said Najeeba Hayat, who helped organize the Lan Asket campaign, which is also training bus drivers to report harassment, organizing an ad campaign to raise awareness and creating an app that allows women to anonymously report abuse to police. Every single girl has kept this in her chest for so long.

As the movement gained steam, lawmakers scrambled to respond. Seven politicians, from conservative Islamists to stalwart liberals, submitted amendments to the penal code last month that would define and punish sexual harassment, including one that called for a $10,000 fine and one-year prison sentence.

The Kuwaiti penal code doesnt cover harassment, there are just some laws that cover immorality that are so vague that women cant go and report to the local police, said Abdulaziz al-Saqabi, a conservative who was among those who drafted amendments.

But womens rights activists, whose input the lawmakers did not solicit, are skeptical that the proposals will result in significant change, especially with the nation in the midst of a financial crisis and with Parliament now suspended because of a political standoff.

The frustration is familiar for activist Nour al-Mukhled. For years, she and other women have struggled to abolish a law that classifies the killing of adulterous women by their fathers, brothers or husbands as a misdemeanor and sets the maximum penalty at three years in prison. Such leniency remains common across the Gulf, although the United Arab Emirates criminalized honor killings last fall.

Kuwait also has statues that let kidnappers evade punishment by marrying their victims and empower men to discipline their female relatives with assault.

In Kuwait, there can be no legal change without cultural change, and this is still culturally acceptable, al-Mukhled said. Only in August did Parliament pass a law that opened shelters for victims of domestic abuse.

But progress is happening outside of official circles, activists say. In recent weeks, a growing number of female collectives have sprung up, in homes and on Zoom  a mirror to the custom of the diwanyia, gentlemens clubs that often vault men to top jobs. Women also have turned to Clubhouse, the buzzy app that lets people gather in audio chat rooms, to hold discussions of sexual assault and harassment.

The horizon for equality may be far off, but campaigners say their ambitions are modest in the short term.

Right now, attempted murder is considered flirting, said Hayat, one of the organizers of the Lan Asket campaign. We just want to be treated like human beings, not as aliens and not as prey.

By ISABEL DEBRE

Associated Press
Texas governor has already said he is seeking third term (AFP via Getty Images)

Joe Biden did not mince his words when he was asked about the Texas governors decision to drop its mask mandate.

I hope everybody has realised by now these masks make a difference. We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease, he said.

And the last thing, the last thing, the last thing we need is the Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime everythings fine, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters.

Republicans, apparently suddenly forgetful of the four years of insults heaped on people of all stripes by Donald Trump, all of which they had tolerated, tried to call foul. Presumably they were hoping neanderthal, could be seized on in the same way Trump had gladly made use of Hillary Clintons clumsy description of some of his supporters as deplorables.

As it was, Biden neatly sidestepped the issue, his White House spokesperson telling reporters the president had merely been referring to a way of thinking, not any physical or emotional similarity.

Abbott also did not the issue delay him too long. Appearing on Fox News, he highlighted 100 undocumented migrants who had tested positive for the coronavirus, but released into Texas by the border authorities.

First, it obviously is not the type of thing that the president should be saying, Abbott said of Bidens remarks. But, second, he kind of said it on the worst day he could have, because the same day he said that in Texas, the Biden administration was releasing illegal immigrants into our communities who had Covid.

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Yet there is a lot at stake, for both men. Put most simply, what happens in Texas matters.

It is the second largest state by population, and carries with it the second highest number of electoral college votes. As such, if Biden wishes to see the nation back to some sort of post-pandemic normalcy by July 4, he does not want to see more outbreaks in large Texas cities, some of which were previously hotspots.

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Abbott, 63, has already announced he is running for a third term as governor of Texas, one of the states that does not set term limits for such positions. And there is also chatter the former lawyer may have his eye on grander targets; asked last November by KSKY-AM radio host Mark Davis, whether he was considering a White House bid in 2024, he said he was currently focussed on holding onto the governors mansion.

Yet he added: You know, one thing that you know about me, I take one step at a time. The first step is to win re-election and after that, Mark, well see what happens.

Renee Cross, associate director of the Hobby Centre for Public Policy at the University of Houston, says Abbott would have weighing several factors when he made the decision earlier this month to end the mask mandate imposed last year and open Texas 100 per cent, even while only 11 per cent of Texans had been vaccinated.

From a philosophical point of view, letting people make their own decisions about such matters fitted with a conservative, and Texan tradition. The number of infections was also dropping.

Cross tells The Independent Abbott would also have an eye on the primary election for the governors seat, which takes place a year from now.

There may be criticism from Democrats about him dropping the mask mandate, but it is important to remember that when he introduced it last year, there was a lot of push-back from some Republicans who felt we did not need it, she says. He has never faced a serious primary challenger before, so he may be trying to see off such a challenge and reaffirm his Republican principles.

Abbott, who married and has one child, has used a wheelchair since the age of 26, when he was struck by a falling tree when running. He is only the third governor on the country to use one, but would be only the second president.

A one-time judge on Texass Supreme Court, he won election as its attorney general in 2002, a position he held until 2015, having won the 2014 race to be governor. He was reelected in 2018, defeating Democrat Lupe Valdez 56-42.

The last Democrat to serve as governor of Texas was Ann Richards, who hold the position from 1991-1995. The last Democrat to win a statewide office was in 1994.

Yet, the state is changing as a result of shifting demographics, and the suburbs of cities such as Houston are turning more purple and less red. In 2020, Trump beat Biden 52-47, but in 2016 he had smashed Clinton 52-43.

Nevertheless Texas remains a powerful springboard for any Republican seeking the partys nomination, and then making it all the way, as underscored by George W Bush. Indeed, if the states population continues to grow, and with it the number of electoral districts increase, its relevance and importance to the national debate will only grow.

Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak, says Abbott is by nature and he would not have dropped the mask mandate if he felt the situation in Texas was not safe to do so. (The governments top health officials have urged Americans to continue to wear masks, and practice social distancing even as the vaccine roll out continues.)

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In terms of candidates for 2024, Mackowiak says Abbott, who recently completed a term as chair of the Association of Republican Governors, certainly has his name out there.

Hes not in the top three or four names that get mentioned - such as Mike Pence or Nikki Haley, says Mackowiak, president of Potomac Strategy Group. But he is in the second tier.

If he were to run, he might find himself in the company of Texas senator Ted Cruz, who fought off a fierce 2018 challenge for his seat from Democrat Beto ORourke, and has started to stake out a series of hardline, populist positions, that suggest he is trying to tap into the support of Trumps most loyal supporters.

(A recent poll by Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, suggested Trumps supporters would most like to see Pence, Cruz or Florida governor Ron DeSantis, if the former president does not run again himself.)

Indeed, Cruz was one of those Republicans who voted not to ratify the electoral college votes of Biden during a joint session of Congress, even after hundreds of supporters of Trump stormed the US Capitol.

The Texas Tribune pointed out that when Cruz was asked last summer if he wanted to run again for the White House, he said: I dont know for sure. I hope to run again.

In terms of his bid for governor, Abbott might also find the situation slightly clouded if the actor Matthew McConaughey makes a run, something he suggested earlier this month he was seriously thinking about.

Its a very honourable consideration. So am I considering that? Sure. Its a great thing to and an honourable thing to be able to consider, he told NBC News. What Ive got to choose for myself is, I want to get into a leadership role in the next chapter of my life, he said. Now, what role am I going to be most useful in? I dont know that thats in a political position or if thats me as a free agent.

If the 51-year-old actor did run it is unclear which partys nomination he would seek, or whether he may consider a bid as an independent. (In 1992, Texas businessman Ross Perot ran for the presidency as an independent, secured 19 per cent of votes nationally, and was blamed by George HW Bush for his defeat by Bill Clinton.)

In the immediate future, Abbotts most pressing challenge will be to be ensure his decision to drop the mask mandate, does not backfire. Under the new rules, schools and other governmental facilities can continue to mandate masks, and businesses can also oversee their own demands.

But state attorney general Ken Paxton has threatened legal action against cities such as Austin, which have sought to continue to insist people wear masks. Steve Adler, the Democrat mayor of Austin, which last year was among the nations hotspots, has accused the governor of breaking his promise to Texans.

At the beginning of this pandemic, governor Abbott said hed be guided by the science and the data, and yesterday he broke that promise, said Adler. Masking works, and it continues to be necessary.

Read More

Austin Mayor blasts Greg Abbott for breaking promise on mask mandate

Greg Abbott and his Republican friends cant handle the truth
Police witness appeal after motorcyclist dies in road traffic collision by Bangor-on-Dee

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 13th, 2021

The Roads Policing Unit are investigating a fatal road traffic collision which happened on the A525 in Bangor-on-Dee earlier today.

Police have said a motorcyclist sadly died following a road traffic collision by Bangor-on-Dee, Wrexham earlier this afternoon.

They said, At 12:40pm North Wales Police were notified of a two vehicle collision on the A525 between Bangor-on-Dee and Whitchurch involving a black coloured motorcycle and a grey coloured Audi Q7.

Emergency services attended, however sadly, the male motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed.

Sergeant Liam Ho of the Roads Policing Unit said: Our heartfelt condolences are with the motorcyclists family and friends at this difficult time.

We are appealing to anybody who may have witnessed the collision, or to anybody who may have seen either vehicle prior to the collision and who has dash cam footage to contact us immediately.

The road remains closed at this time.

Anybody with information is urged to contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit on 101 or via the live web chat quoting incident number Z034382.

Associated Press

The largest warship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances, the latest calamity to strike one of the countrys vessels in recent years amid tensions with the West. The blaze began around 2:25 a.m. and firefighters tried to contain it, the Fars news agency reported, but their efforts failed to save the 207-meter (679-foot) Kharg, which was used to resupply other ships in the fleet at sea and conduct training exercises. The vessel sank near the Iranian port of Jask, some 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) southeast of Tehran on the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz  the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Photo: Contributed

Surrey RCMP are hoping the public will be able to help a victim of crime breathe easier.

On March 10, police were called after two Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines were stolen from a vehicle in Whalley.

CPAPs are medical machines used for people suffering from sleep apnea and allow a person to breathe properly while sleeping.

The two machines were stolen from a vehicle in the 10100-block of University Drive.

The machines were contained inside cases that looked like camera carry cases  making them a target for thieves looking for opportunities to steal high-value items, said Cpl. Joanie Sidhu, adding the kit is comprised of a machine, hose, mask, adaptor and a power cord.

It is believed that the suspect(s) may have discarded the machines upon realizing the cases contained medical equipment.

Anyone with information about the theft, or has located the stolen items, is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.
After the painful cancellation of her last television show, shes returning to her roots with another mystery crime series.

Variety reports that actress Lucy Hale, of Pretty Little Liars fame, will star in a new limited series titled Ragdoll for AMC and Alibi.

The actress, 31, will play a newly recruited detective constable within a unit investigating a series of murders in which the victims have been dismembered and sewn together into one grotesque 'ragdoll.'

New work: Actress Lucy Hale, of Pretty Little Liars fame, will star in a new limited series titled Ragdoll for AMC and Alibi; seen recently on Instagram

Hale's casting in the series marks her first return to TV after her failed Riverdale spinoff Katy Keene, which she tearfully announced had been canceled after just 13 episodes last year.

The new series, set to unfold over six episodes, is based on the novel Ragdoll by Daniel Cole.

However, the premise does sound somewhat similar to the now-classic horror movie from 2001 Jeepers Creepers, in which victims are also found sewn together in a horrific and gory pattern.

Thriller: The new series, set to unfold over six episodes, is based on the novel by Daniel Cole

Lucy, for one, is no stranger to horror films herself, having notably starred in Scream 4 in 2011, Truth Or Dare in 2018, and last years creepy take on Fantasy Island.

And speaking of Scream, the raven-haired star has recently been linked romantically to Skeet Ulrich, who got his start in the first Scream movie back in 1996.

In addition to the Scream franchise, the pair share another connection, as well  Skeet, 51, stars as FP Jones on the CW hit Riverdale, which featured Hale in one episode as Katy Keene before she went to her ill-fated spinoff.

Lucy, for one, is no stranger to horror films: She notably starred in Scream 4 in 2011, Truth Or Dare in 2018 (pictured), and last years creepy take on Fantasy Island

Nonetheless, Lucy is best known for her starring role as Aria Montgomery in ABC Family's hit Pretty Little Liars, which ran from 2010 to 2017.

Although decidedly less grisly than her new show Ragdoll, PLL was a dark and moody mystery thriller centering around an unknown presence who stalks four friends who are guarding deep secrets.

Ragdoll is scheduled to star filming starting soon, and is expected to premiere later this year.
Francesca Paris is The Eagle's data and public records reporter. She was previously the North Adams reporter. A California native and Williams College alumna, she has worked at NPR in Washington, D.C. and WBUR in Boston. Find her on Twitter at @fparises.
Doodnath Maharaj was the general secretary of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union for nearly two decades. This is out of a total of 40 years service.

He was a dedicated and loyal comrade who did his best work away from the limelight. Indeed, he shunned it, embodying a self-effacing personality that was deeply mystifying to many who came to know him.
In this weeks air travel news, the FAA has issued another huge fine against a disruptive airline passenger; the CDC still advises against travel, even for vaccinated individuals; spring-breakers are taking to the air even though some destinations are advising them to stay away; Greece and Belize are opening their borders to vaccinated travelers without a testing or quarantine requirement, and Hawaii is working on plans to do the same; San Francisco International moves its rapid COVID testing center this week; Alaska Airlines unveils more new routes and will begin code-sharing with American in more markets (including one from SFO) as AA plans a big build-up at Austin; Southwest Airlines adds three more U.S. airports to its network; Spirit Airlines will offer the only non-stop service between Los Angeles and New York LaGuardia; the JetBlue founders new startup carrier gets DOT approval; United trims summer international route plans from Washington Dulles; Japan Airlines returns to San Diego; and British Airways gives its frequent flyers a break.

The Federal Aviation Administration has struck again in its new crackdown on unruly airline passengers, this time slapping a $14,500 fine on a traveler who refused to obey flight attendants. Last week, we reported on the FAAs imposition of a $27,500 civil penalty against a Delta passenger who struck a flight attendant, part of a new get-tough policy on in-flight behavior that the agency announced in January. In the latest case, the disruptive flyer didnt hit any of the flight crew, but was loud and obnoxious, causing the flight to return to the airport. According to the agency, the incident happened on a Dec. 23 JetBlue flight from New York to the Dominican Republic.

The passenger crowded the traveler sitting next to him, spoke loudly, and refused to wear his face mask, the FAA said. Flight attendants moved the seatmate to another location and warned the unruly passenger about his refusal to wear a face mask and his continued imbibing of alcohol that he brought on board himself, which are both violations of FAA rules.

Despite these warnings, the passenger continued to remove his face mask and drink his own alcohol, the FAA said, leading the captain to declare an emergency and take the plane back to JFK Airport, where it landed 4,000 pounds overweight due to the amount of fuel on board.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Plenty of potential air travelers were hoping that the newest COVID guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued last week, would say it is OK for individuals who complete their vaccinations to take flight once again  but it didnt, much to the dismay of the airline industry. CDC officials were reportedly planning to ease travel restrictions for vaccinated Americans, but decided at the last minute to leave that out of the new guidance. That means the agencys previous warnings remain in effect, and Americans should continue to avoid all unnecessary travel, even if they are fully vaccinated.

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. CDC recommends that you do not travel at this time. Delay travel and stay home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, the agencys travel guidance says. You can see the full CDC travel policy here.

The younger segment of the population is the least likely to be vaccinated, but that isnt stopping many of them from hitting the road for their traditional spring-break trips  a season that is now in full swing. On five of the first 10 days in March, the number of TSA passenger screenings at airports topped 1 million, a relatively high number in the pandemic era. Orlando International Airport officials said last week that they are expecting traveler numbers during spring-break season (Feb. 28 to April 13) to increase by 600,000 over the same period last year  a jump of 45%. (By comparison, the number of spring-break travelers at the airport last year fell by 1.8 million from 2019 levels, so this years number is still historically low.)

But faced with the prospect of hundreds of unmasked revelers hitting their beaches and potentially spreading the virus, some destinations are less than enthusiastic about welcoming them. According to various press reports, the city manager of Miami Beach has suggested that spring-breakers should go to Las Vegas. The public health director of Los Angeles County, still reeling from a massive virus outbreak, said that spring travel can lead to another surge that, frankly, would be almost impossible to tolerate, and warned that anyone arriving from out of state is still required to quarantine for 10 days. UC Davis is offering students $75 gift cards if they stay in town during the schools March 22-26 break. And the U.S. Embassy in Mexico said in a statement that U.S. citizens should reconsider Spring Break and other non-essential travel to Mexico due to COVID-19, noting that cases and hospitalizations remain high in most of Mexico, and that Americans who do vacation there have to produce a negative COVID test result before they can board a flight home.

Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

As vaccination numbers continue to grow  in the worlds wealthier countries, at least  there is a growing consensus that destinations could reopen their borders without other restrictions (like testing and quarantines) for those who got their COVID shots. The latest examples are Greece and Belize. Greeces tourism minister, Harry Theocharis, said last week that the country is preparing to reopen this summer  perhaps as soon as mid-May, according to a Reuters report. Tourists will be welcome if before travel they are either vaccinated, or have antibodies, or test negative. All tourists will be subject to random testing, he said. Greece depends heavily on tourism, and it has been urging member countries of the European Union to open their borders to vaccinated visitors this year by adopting a standardized vaccination passport. And Belize said it is now allowing travelers to enter the country without a COVID test if they can show documentation proving that they were vaccinated at least two weeks before arrival.

The state of Hawaii is working on plans to exempt vaccinated mainland visitors from its mandatory 10-day quarantine, just as it currently exempts those who show a negative COVID test. However, local news reports suggest that program isnt likely to take effect until May at the earliest, as Hawaii Gov. David Ige is concerned about the CDCs continuing guidance against all nonessential travel. In addition, there is currently no way to verify if a person has been vaccinated, and there isnt sufficient information on the length of the vaccines efficacy beyond three months, Ige said last week.



With the focus of public health officials shifting gradually from COVID testing to vaccinations, the travel industry is pressuring the federal government to come up with a standardized health passport that can be used by all travelers and will be universally accepted as proof that they have been tested and/or immunized. More than two dozen airline, travel and business groups sent a letter to the White House last week urging the Biden administration to take the lead in creating standardized health credentials that could facilitate the resumption of travel. However, the groups also said that a COVID vaccination should not become mandatory for travel, either domestic or international.

Speaking of testing, San Francisco International Airport said its on-site rapid COVID testing center, which opened in July, is moving on March 15. It will still be in the International Terminal, but will move from Level 1, Courtyard A to Level 3, at the Aisle 6 ticket counter in the Edwin M. Lee International Departures Hall. SFO said the new location for the appointment-only testing center will provide travelers with easier access to other airport facilities for their travel, including ticket counters, security checkpoints, and shopping and dining. Travelers can book an appointment through the GoHealth Urgent Care site here.

Mike Siegel/TNS

U.S. airlines are continuing to add new domestic routes as travel slowly revives, concentrating on destinations that would likely appeal to leisure travelers. Alaska Airlines last week announced four more new routes beginning June 17, including one to Northern California. The airline said it will introduce daily year-round Q400 flights from its Seattle hub to Redding, Calif., and to Idaho Falls, Idaho, along with daily E175 service to Boise from Austin and Chicago OHare. And Southwest Airlines, which has already added 14 new destinations to its route map since the pandemic started, just announced three more, with plans to begin service at Eugene, Ore.; Bellingham, Wash.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C.  although in typical Southwest fashion, it didnt immediately say when, or where it will fly from those airports. (Last week, Southwest also kicked off its previously announced new service at Colorado Springs Airport, with flights to Denver International, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas Love Field and Chicago Midway.)

The next phase of Alaska Airlines growing partnership with American Airlines will include more code-sharing in the western states starting May 6. American said last week it will put its AA code on Alaskas flights between San Francisco and Austin, San Diego-Austin and Portland-Austin, as well as Austin-Seattle and Alaskas recently announced Austin-Boise service. Thats just part of Americans plan for substantial growth at Austin this summer. On May 6, AA said, it will begin new daily service from Austin to Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando and New Orleans, followed by new routes from Austin to Tampa starting June 3, Raleigh-Durham beginning July 2, and Washington Dulles starting Aug. 17. American said it sees real promise for the Austin market due to the exponential growth of the region.

One new route announcement last week really caught our eye: Spirit Airlines said that on June 12, it will begin new non-stop service between Los Angeles International and New York LaGuardia. You know how many airlines fly non-stop between LAX and LGA? None. Thats because LaGuardia has a perimeter rule banning flight of more than 1,500 miles. However, there are two exceptions: One is for flights from LGA to Denver and the other is for flights on Saturdays. And thats the loophole Spirit will use: Its LAX-LGA flights will only operate once a week, on Saturdays. Spirit said it will also introduce new service from LaGuardia to San Juan in April and to Nashville in May, and will expand its space at the New York airport by moving all Ft. Lauderdale departures to Terminal A, the old Marine Air Terminal. Meanwhile, Spirit also announced last week it will add St. Louis to its network, launching daily flights starting May 27 to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale.

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation last week gave its approval for Breeze Airways to begin interstate passenger operations. Breeze, the startup carrier created by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, has already started hiring staff and taking delivery of 15 leased Embraer 190 aircraft, although for the longer term, it has ordered 60 Airbus A330-200s, with the first one expected in August. Under Neelemans business plan, Breeze will operate on routes between secondary U.S. cities that are currently unserved or underserved by existing airlines. Its unlikely Bay Area travelers will see Breeze jets anytime soon, however. In a DOT filing last fall, Breeze said it expects to begin flying from a city in the southeast to four northeastern airports, then expand to another southern airport with flights to points in the northeast, southeast and southern plains. It did not name any of the airports.

In international developments, the ongoing stagnation of travel has reportedly led United Airlines to give up on a number of global routes from its Washington Dulles hub this summer, as the carrier has decided to suspend them at least through October. That includes United transatlantic service from IAD to Amsterdam, Dublin, Geneva, and Tel Aviv, as well as transpacific service from IAD to Beijing and Tokyo Haneda. Seasonal summer flights from Dulles to Edinburgh and Lisbon will be dropped for 2021. In other news, Japan Airlines has resumed service three days a week between San Diego and Tokyo Narita, a route that is code-shared with American Airlines. And British Airways said it will give a break to its most frequent flyers by extending their Executive Club tier status for another year if it is due to expire in 2021.
GENEVA (Reuters) - China on Friday said it was "deeply concerned" by what it described as the Australian government's operation of offshore detention centres, and it called for the sites to be closed immediately.

Ties between the two countries soured in 2018 when Australia became the first nation to publicly ban China's Huawei from its 5G network and worsened when Australia last year called for an inquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus.

In a statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, China alleged that the detention centres "fall short of adequate medical conditions where a large number of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers have been detained over a long period of time or even indefinitely, and their human rights have been violated."

It did not specify any locations, describing them as "third countries". Asylum seekers intercepted at sea en route to Australia are sent for "processing" to Papua New Guinea or to the South Pacific island of Nauru.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal working hours.

China itself has long faced accusations that it operates detention centres, with UN experts and rights groups estimating it has detained more than a million people in its Xinjiang region, mostly Uighurs and other Muslim minorities, in a vast system of camps.

China has described the camps as vocational centres designed to combat extremism.

"We urge Australia to immediately close down all offshore detention centers and take concrete steps to protect the rights of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, especially children," China said in its statement, which it submitted on behalf of a group of unnamed countries.

It also called on Australia to carry out "comprehensive and fair investigations" into reported cases of "serious war crimes" committed by Australian troops overseas.

An Australian inquiry published in November said Australian special forces were suspected of killing 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016, drawing criticism from China's foreign ministry.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; additional reporting by Cate Cadell in Beijing; writing by Tom Daly; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Jersey Citys plan to improve safety at its historic reservoir is leaving the local preservation alliance concerned that the 13-acre nature sanctuary will completely change.

The Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance (JCRPA) is asking residents to Save the Reservoir by sending letters to their councilmembers to stop the citys site safety improvement plan. The group alleges the citys plan will remove plant life without a way to ecologically restore and improve the area.

Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace -Scalcione said the city has committed $2.5 million for the restoration and preservation of Reservoir 3, which will expand access to the public space. The city is creating a more accessible trail around the reservoir and adding new fencing and lighting throughout the area for safety, she said.

But JCRPA Board Member Heather Sporn said the citys plans to add 139 bollard lights will be detrimental to the parks wildlife. She said the lights and the expansion of the walkways will take away from the reservoirs intimate trails.

We feel like what they are proposing will completely change the character of the reservoir in a way that is really unnecessary, Sporn, a landscape architect for over 35 years, said. There is a lot of built infrastructure that they are putting into this very delicate green oasis that is a wetland, an ecological gem.

Sporn said some of the wildlife consists of owls, hawks, songbirds, turtles, groundhogs, muskrats, ducks and herons.

The JCPA, a nonprofit organization, has been fighting to save the reservoir from being redeveloped for over 15 years. The organization conducts tours, youth programs and hosts boating and nature events.

Jersey City announced in September that it would upgrade the hidden oasis in the Jersey City Heights, spending $6 million to make it a recreational destination. The city plans to contribute $3 million to the project, while the remaining $3 million will comprise four grants ranging from $400,000 to $1 million.

The wildlife is damaging the wall (around the property), which the City is charged with preserving, Wallace-Scalcione said. It is pushing the stones out of the wall into the right of way, causing members of PS 26 and St. Josephs School for the Blind to walk in the roadway.

Experts have determined that in order to preserve the wall and also keep the right of way safe, we need to remove some of the wildlife as safety and preservation of the site are priorities.

Wallace-Scalcione added that city officials asserted their commitment to the development of a planting plan during a meeting with the JCPRA in November. She said the city hired Earthbilt, a Jersey City company, in January to create a planting plan consistent with the project.

The 13-acre manmade reservoir was built in the 1870s as a local tap water source for the area. The reservoir, which sits between Central and Summit Avenues, was decommissioned in the 1990s.

The JCPRA said in its email to residents that it will be sending out invitations to a public presentation on the citys plan, as well as the alternatives that the group is proposing.

The JCPRA said it feels the city is stonewalling them since it selected Cypreco Industries to handle the improvements in September without being consulted first. But the city disagrees, as a city liaison has been designated for the project and has asked the organization to pick the type of lights they would prefer to use, but never received a response.

Sporn said the JCRPA is just asking for a lighter touch so there is no destruction of the landscape. She said her groups plans would definitely be cheaper as we will build less.

What we are proposing is a lighter touch and a more sensitive and environmentally conscience approach to this precious space that will be destroyed by their plans, Sporn said.
Sanaa, March 13 : Yemen's Houthi militia said that 43 Ethiopian migrants, who were killed in a fire at a detention centre here earlier this week, have been buried in mass graves.

"The Sunday's fire at the migrant detention centre in Sanaa was an accident," Xinhua news agency quoted the Houthis, who control the centre, as saying on Friday.

More than 200 other migrants are still in hospitals receiving treatment, the militia said.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said that the migrant detention centre was holding nearly 900 African migrants, mostly Ethiopians.

The IOM urged the Houthi authorities to allow its staff in Sanaa to access the centre and the hospitals to provide health assistance to the victims.

The Yemeni government on Tuesday called for international probe into the fatal fire.

It also accused the Houthis of forcing recruiting detained African migrants to fight against the government forces in the ongoing civil war.
The worlds of arts, letters, and academia have long been fertile territory for novels of intrigue. Molly Odintz, writing on CrimeReads, pointed to Dorothy L. Sayerss 1935 novel Gaudy Nightset at a fictionalized version of the authors alma mater, Somerville College, Oxfordas the academic mystery that started them all. Daniel Silva has spent two decades writing the exploits of Gabriel Allon, art restorer and intelligence operative; Julys The Cellist (Harper) is the 21st installment.

The coming months bring books whose insular communities, whether academic or artistic, may at first appear idyllic, but theres always something more complex, and sinister, lurking beneath the surface.

Dream Girl Laura Lippman, Morrow, June Life seems to imitate art in Lippmans latest, in which novelist Gerry Anderson, bedridden in his apartment after an accident, believes hes receiving phone calls from a woman claiming to be the main character of his latest book. Even worse, she says shes coming to see him soon.

For Your Own Good Samantha Downing, Berkley, July Downing takes on private schools through the lens of Teddy Crutcher, a teacher beloved by students and parents alike. The authors previous books deployed unreliable narrators, so its safe to say that Teddywhose wife hadnt been seen in some time, and who seems unconcerned by the mysterious death of a school parentisnt necessarily what he seems.

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife Ashley Winstead, Sourcebooks Landmark, Aug. In Winsteads debut, Jessicas close-knit friend group fell apart when one of their number, Heather, was murdered on Duquette Universitys picturesque campus, and another was accused of committing the crime. A decade later, Jessica, back for the 10-year class reunion, is eager to project the image of a successful, confident woman, unaware that someone has plans to unearth long-buried secrets and name Heathers real killer.

Lesson in Red Maria Hummel, Counterpoint, June Hummel introduced Maggie Richter, a staff editor at the fictional Rocque Museum in L.A., in 2018s Still Lives, a Reeses Book Club pick. In the amateur sleuths second outing, a rising art-world star is found dead on her college campus. Maggie discovers clues about what might have happened to her in the artists latest provocative documentary, and works to put together the pieces before she becomes the next target.

The Maidens Alex Michaelides, Celadon, June Fresh off his 2019 blockbuster debut, The Silent Patient (647,000 print copies sold, per NPD BookScan), Michaelides returns with the tale of a Cambridge University secret society, the Maidens. When one of the group is found murdered, therapist Mariana Andros, whose niece was a friend of the victim, becomes consumed with exposing the person she believes responsible: handsome, charismatic Edward Fosca, a professor of Greek tragedy.

Never Saw Me Coming Vera Kurin, Park Row, Sept. Social psychologist Kurians debut novel follows Chloe Sevre, a seemingly normal college student who is also a psychopath. In exchange for free tuition, she and six other studentsnone of whom experience guilt or fearagree to participate in a clinical study that monitors their moods. A murder among the participants unites unlikely allies in an effort to catch the killer.

Buy this book Bookshop IndieBound The Plot Jean Hanff Korelitz, Celadon, May Korelitz deserves acclaim for her own perfect plot, PWs starred review said of this psychological thriller, in which Jake, a down-on-his-luck instructor in an MFA program, steals the plot for his next novel from a promising young student who died before publishing. While on tour for what becomes a bestselling book, Jake is contacted by someone who threatens to expose his deception.

The Turnout Megan Abbott, Putnam, July Abbott specializes in psychological thrillers that pry open insular, largely female worlds, as in 2016s You Will Know Me, set among elite adolescent gymnasts. Her new book centers on ballet, and two sisters, Dara and Marie, who run a dance school with Daras husband, Charlie. The three keep things humming along, but a newcomers arrival and a suspicious accident threaten their finely tuned equilibrium.

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ALBANY  The citys Common Council will consider a proposal that would ban the police department from using tear gas and rubber bullets.

The proposed law, which will be introduced Monday by Councilwoman Judy Doesschate, would allow officers to use pepper spray but ban other chemical irritants the department uses.

Mayor Kathy Sheehans office and the city police department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Doesschate said she was alarmed over the summer when city police used tear gas twice. The department used tear gas during the May 30 and June 1 protests for racial justice, which began peacefully but later saw a small group of protesters become violent. Police officers reported having bricks and lit fireworks thrown at them.

Doesschate said that tear gas use came after protests against the police department's treatment of people of color and was deployed in neighborhoods whose residents are predominantly people of color.

"I've been participating in demonstrations for over 45 years, predominantly in the city of Albany, and I'm not aware of tear gas having been used otherwise," she said.

Doesschate noted that other cities in the region saw similar large protests after Albany's but none of them became violent.

The idea was among those that the citys Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative proposed during its six-month review of the citys police department. One working group called for an outright ban of tear gas while the other recommended restricting the use of chemical weapons in heavily populated neighborhoods and called for the department to find additional safe crowd control measures.

In the final draft, written by Sheehans office, the city opted for the second recommendation.

Councilman Tom Hoey, who is supporting Doesschate's legislation, said he was hit by the gas during the June 1 protests in front of the department's headquarters on Henry Johnson Boulevard. Hoey and other council members had gone down to the station to support the protesters and several other council members who were there.

"There was no warning, it was just done," he said, adding that the chemical caused the worst pain he'd ever experienced.

The department's use of tear gas was criticized after multiple residents not involved in the violence or the protests said they were given no warning that it would be deployed and it filled their homes.

In one instance, officers allegedly fired gas canisters down an empty street. Mayor Sheehan and Police Chief Eric Hawkins later said the department may have violated its policies around tear gas use.

The gas is considered more harmful in enclosed spaces than in outdoor settings where it dissipates faster.

Doesschate said she did not introduce her legislation earlier in part because she wanted to see what the police collaborative's recommendation would be.

"Ultimately, I think it's important to change the dynamic and say we're not doing this anymore," she said. "And we need to figure out a different way of doing things."

The legislation is similar to a proposal state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi made in June 2020. That bill remains in the state Senates rules committee.

Critics of tear gas use note that its use as a chemical weapon is banned in warfare under the Geneva Convention. The 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, a United Nations agreement, also banned chemical weapons in warfare but made an exception for law enforcement for domestic riot control purposes.

Council members Richard Conti, Ginnie Farrell, Sonia Frederick and Hoey have signed on in support of the legislation.
New Delhi: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated exhibitions at seven places on Saturday (March 13) as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav'.

The festival was kickstarted at Sabarmati Ashram in Gandhinagar by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (March 12).

The exhibition inaugurated by Javadekar at National Media Centre in New Delhi was set up by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC).

The Union minister of information and broadcasting also virtually inaugurated exhibitions at six other places -- Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir, Bangalore, Pune, Bhubaneswar, Moirang district in Manipur and Patna in Bihar.

"Effective exhibitions set up by @BOC_MIB across the country will educate the populace on the ethos of freedom struggle and envision our path for the next 25 years. Inaugurated 7 such exhibitions today. I invite people to visit these venues and leave with a piece of history with them," Javadekar tweeted.

Effective exhibitions set up by @BOC_MIB across the country will educate the populace on the ethos of freedom struggle and envision our path for next 25 years. Inaugurated 7 such exhibitions today. I invite people to visit these venues and leave with a piece of history with them. pic.twitter.com/Undtqcsjb4  Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 13, 2021

Addressing the media on the occasion, the minister said this was an important moment for the country to reflect on "how far we have come since independence as well as envision what we want to achieve in the next 25 years."

Javadekar said freedom for the country came at a great cost and this exhibition seeks to narrate the story behind those sacrifices. Amit Khare, Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry said the National Committee headed by the Union minister of home affairs has tasked each ministry to work towards educating people on the efforts of the people who contributed to the freedom struggle.

The secretary said a digital version of these exhibitions is in the making and is expected to be unveiled before August 15. The exhibition at Samba, Jammu is being held at Brigadier Rajender Singh Pura Bagoona, which is the birthplace of Brigadier Rajender Singh, also known as 'Saviour of Kashmir' who single-handedly faced off against Pakistan backed tribesmen during an attack in October 1947 in Kashmir and laid down his life in the conflict, the ministry said in an official statement.

The Regional Outreach Bureau has organised an exhibition at Kendriya Sadana, Bengaluru. It highlights the contributions of local freedom fighters along with national freedom fighters. The exhibition at Pune has been organised at the Aga Khan Palace, closely linked to the Indian freedom movement as it served as a prison for Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi, his secretary Mahadev Desai and Sarojini Naidu.

The Regional Outreach Bureau at Bhubaneswar has organised an exhibition from March 12 to 16 in Khorda district which is historically significant as a number of freedom fighters were born there. "During these five days, exhibitions, seminars, cultural programs and other competitions will be organised. Panels highlighting the significant contribution of freedom fighters from Odisha have also been displayed," the ministry said.

Moirang in Manipur, which occupies a unique place in the history of India's freedom struggle, is holding the photo exhibition as part of the celebration of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav and is very significant, the statement said, adding that it was in Moirang that the flag of the Indian National Army (INA) was first unfurled on April 14, 1944.

The virtual inauguration of the five-day photo exhibition on 'Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav' at INA Memorial Auditorium at Moirang in Bishnupur district of Manipur was attended by Lok Sabha MP RK Ranjan Singh, senior officials of State Art and Culture Department and Bishnupur district administration.

The exhibition at Patna has been organised at Anugrah Narayan College, which is named after Anugrah Narayan Singh who was a leading freedom fighter and played an important role during Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran satyagraha.

"It highlights important freedom fighters of Bihar. Rare footage of freedom fighters is being screened on LED TV and a cultural program is being organised," the ministry said. These exhibitions showcase the sacrifices and struggles of various freedom icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Sarojini Naidu, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai and revolutionaries like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil and many more.

The ministry said the festival, which has commenced 75 weeks prior to Independence Day 2022, would continue till Independence Day 2023.

Live TV
Spacewalking astronauts have been forced to take extra safety precautions after possibly getting toxic ammonia on their suits from the International Space Stations external cooling system.

Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins had no trouble removing and venting a couple of old jumper cables to remove any ammonia still lingering as part of a number of maintenance tasks they were carrying out on the space station.

But so much ammonia spewed out of the first hose that Nasas Mission Control was worried some of the frozen white flakes might have gotten on their suits.

Mr Hopkins was surprised at the amount of ammonia unleashed into the vacuum of space. Oh yeah, look at that go. Did you see that? he asked flight controllers. Theres more than I thought.

aStreaming LIVE from spacea



Watch @AstroVicGlover & @Astro_illini conduct a 6.5 hour spacewalk outside the @Space_Station to continue upgrades on the labas communications and cooling systems and prep the station for solar array upgrades later this year: https://t.co/IYfSgpvyJt  NASA (@NASA) March 13, 2021

Even though the stream of ammonia was directed away from the astronauts and the space station, Mr Hopkins said some icy crystals may have touched his helmet.

As a result, Mission Control said it was going to be conservative and require inspections.

The astronauts first suit check found nothing amiss. Looks clean, Mr Hopkins called down.

Nasa did not want any ammonia getting inside the space station and contaminating the cabin atmosphere.

The astronauts used long tools to vent the hoses and stayed clear of the nozzles, to reduce the risk of ammonia contact.

"See you back at the airlock."



During an orbital sunrise at the @Space_Station, spacewalkers @AstroVicGlover & @Astro_illini made their way back to the hatch after wrapping up their tasks for today. pic.twitter.com/AXuzrtYXRm  NASA (@NASA) March 13, 2021

Four hours into the planned six-hour spacewalk, Mission Control said the astronauts had already spent enough time in the sunlight to bake off any ammonia residue from their suits, and that everything should be in order when they went back inside.

An unrelated issue popped up soon afterwards, however, when Mr Glover complained of eye irritation. He said his right eye was watering, but quickly assured Mission Control that blinking seemed to help.

Once the ammonia hoses were emptied, the astronauts moved one of them to a more central location near the Nasa hatch, in case it was needed on the opposite end of the station. The ammonia jumper cables were added years ago following a cooling system leak.

The hose work should have been completed during a spacewalk a week ago, but was put off along with other odd jobs when power upgrades took longer than expected.

Over six hours since the beginning of today's spacewalk, @AstroVicGlover & @Astro_illini are now working on routing cables that will be connected on future spacewalks to provide a new WiFi hotspot: pic.twitter.com/deW9V7NNow  NASA (@NASA) March 13, 2021

Saturdays other chores included replacing an antenna for helmet cameras, rerouting ethernet cables, tightening connections on a European experiment platform, and installing a metal ring on the hatch thermal cover.

Eager to get these station improvements done before the astronauts head home this spring, Mission Control ordered up the bonus spacewalk for Mr Glover and Mr Hopkins, who blasted off last November on a SpaceX craft.

They originally teamed up for back-to-back spacewalks one and a half months ago, and were happy to chalk up another.

Saturdays spacewalk got started almost an hour late.

Before going out, the astronauts had to replace the communication caps beneath their helmets in order to hear properly. Ive got you loud and clear, Mr Hopkins said once the new cap was on his head.

It was the sixth spacewalk  and, barring an emergency, the last  for this US-Russian-Japanese crew of seven. All but one was led by Nasa.
Sydney musician Flume has one overriding hope around his nomination for best dance recording at Mondays Grammys: that his internet connection holds up long enough to get through the virtual ceremony.

No way did I expect to be nominated for a Grammy, says the producer, whose real name is Harley Streten, of the surprise journey of earworm single The Difference. The track was made during a day session with fellow indie fave Toro y Moi (Chaz Bear) and released more than a year ago.

Sydney producer Flume is up for a Grammy for best dance recording. Credit:Zachary Chick

Sometimes these tracks can fall through the cracks, the ones that arent part of a proper album campaign. So it feels very validating or something, like the work feels official, Flume says. But its going to be a very different Grammys this year. Its going to be on Zoom.

After years of living in Los Angeles, he relocated to NSWs Northern Rivers at the beginning of the year, seeking both a slower pace of life and a safer refuge from the COVID-19 running rampant in the US. But when the weather turns, so does his Wi-Fi.
cpim.org

Provide Refugee Status to the People of Myanmar

Date: Saturday, March 13, 2021

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau expresses its deep concern at the Central Governments instruction to the North-Eastern state governments to check the influx of people coming in from Myanmar. The Home Ministry in a letter has asked the states to identify illegal migrants, hold them and start deportation proceedings.

This is an inhuman and anti-democratic stand towards people fleeing the violence perpetrated by the military rulers who have seized power ousting the elected government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Indian people have great sympathy and support for the neighbouring people of Myanmar who are valiantly protesting against the military takeover.

The Indian government should reflect this sympathy and not treat the people who have crossed over fearing for their lives as illegal migrants. They should be given refugee status and provided humanitarian assiatance.
This article was submitted to the World Socialist Web Site by a member of the newly established Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (CERSC). For more information about the committees program or to get involved, read its founding statement or visit the CERSC Facebook page . You can also email the committee at cersc.csppb@gmail.com.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the growing threat of a deadlier third wave, provincial governments across Canada have given the greenlight for the gradual reopening of universities and colleges. This premature and reckless step will contribute to spreading the lethal virus among students and staff on campuses and in the broader community.

At the urging of Quebecs right-wing CAQ government, which has been at the forefront of the Canadian ruling classs back-to-work/back-to-school drive, some universities and colleges (CEGEPS) in Canadas second most populous province began offering in-person learning as early as February 8.

Across Canada, universities are planning to offer bimodal learning this fall, which could see up to one hundred students gathered in one classroom, with a hundred more online.

University administrations have seized on the recent decline in daily new COVID-19 cases to around 3,000 per daya level equal to the peak of the first wave last springto make their announcements about a return to in-class learning.

The reopenings represent a serious threat to students and staff members, as underscored by the repeated warnings of scientists and public health officials about the three more contagious and potentially deadlier new COVID-19 variants rapidly spreading across the country. As of March 4, 1649 cases of the variants had been reported in Canada, according to the countrys Public Health Agency. The mingling of hundreds of students and workers on university campuses in the coming weeks, in classes, libraries, cafeterias, fitness centers, and campus residencies will inevitably increase the spread of the virus.

Several outbreaks at privately owned student residence complexes have already occurred over recent weeks and months. For instance, at least 34 cases have recently been identified nearby Fleming College and Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario. According to University Affairs Canada, there have been outbreaks in three residences at London, Ontarios Western University since last fall. The university was forced to delay residence move-in for the Winter 2021 term until after reading week, with students returning on a staggered schedule as of February.

Reopening university and college campuses has nothing to do with offering students a better educational experience and learning environment. This hasty and negligent decision is part of a concerted drive to reopen the economy that is aimed at enabling the financial elite and big businesses to churn out more profits at the expense of the working class.

In the case of elementary and secondary schools, which have been open since last summer and have been shown to be a major vector in spreading COVID-19, big business governments were determined to get children back in schools so their parents could be pushed back to their jobs in unsafe working conditions.

A major reason university and college administrations are eager to restart on-campus learning is that this will ensure they can continue to charge students all sorts of fees and make money from residences and ancillary campus services.

The ruling class is only capable of going forward with the reopening of schools and non-essential production thanks to the trade union bureaucracy. The unions have been actively involved in closed door discussions with the federal and provincial governments and big business representatives to orchestrate the schools reopening. One of their main functions from the beginning has been to suppress workers opposition to the ruling classs disastrous pandemic response and subordinate them to the very capitalist parties responsible for this catastrophe.

A university professor in Ontario contacted the WSWS and shared their observations of what is happening on campus: As I was walking around the campus, I was shocked and appalled to see so many students gathered at the cafeteria with no masks, walking worry-free in their residence, he remarked. It was strange to see maintenance workers, security employees and the cleaning crew in several buildings. Also, electrician staff members were already starting to install the video equipment for the new teaching delivery, as if nothing was happening with the pandemic. Some workers already contracted the virus in the past months and the campus was completely empty. Imagine once it will fully reopen. Our lives and safety are at stake.

The professor added: I feel betrayed by my union for which I paid my dues but does not represent me at all. On the contrary nowadays, university unions only represent the interests of the administration. A grand betrayal.

The pandemic has intensified the capitalist crisis, increasing social inequality, and impacting mostly working class people, many of whom are forced to work in unsafe workplaces. Teachers and workers on university campuses have not been spared from the ravaging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The university and college administrations view the reopening of campuses as a means of offsetting past and current revenue losses, which are the outcome of decades of austerity and underfunding. Canadian universities are also anticipating huge losses of revenue in coming years due to the pandemic, including a significant drop in student registration, especially among international students.

In an attempt to offset these pressures, universities got the greenlight from governments to receive international students as early as last October, even as experts warned of the dangers related to international travel. In Canada, international students pay approximately five times higher tuition than domestic students and represent a major source of revenue for universities. Tuition fees from international students accounted for over one-third of the tuition fees received by Canadian universities in 2018-2019.

The professor who contacted the WSWS also explained that poorly paid, overworked contract teachers are particularly risking their health. He stressed that the pandemic may be exploited to increase their workload. There is an abusive instrumentalization of PhD part-time professors teaching undergraduate courses composed of more than 100 students, he said. We have, he added, an entire cohort of PhDs struggling to pay their student debt with contracts at universities refusing them social benefits. This situation perpetuates the social determinants of health issues which arise in relation to precarious employment.

The situation facing teachers and lecturers in Canada is similar to that in the United States and in Australia, where educators are being forced to go back to their classrooms with few safety measures and under increasing stress.

To justify the reopening of schools and universities, governments such as that of Emmanuel Macron in France invoke the pretext of mental health. Macron and the corporate media recently seized on the tragic suicide of one student to justify campuses reopening. In Canada, there is an increasing number of media reports about the isolation and depression felt by students.

While many students may well be experiencing stress and depression, what is required above all is ending the pandemic and the murderous herd immunity policy advocated by all the political parties of the establishment. Students mental health will be improved only if the spread of the virus is halted, the economic situation improves and good jobs are available. But in direct opposition to these goals, all measures have been taken to prioritize the profit interests of businesses over workers health and lives. Governments have imposed fruitless measures such as short and totally inadequate lockdowns, and systematically disregarded scientific evidence and the warnings of health experts.

The reopening of the economy amid delays in the vaccination campaign is leading to unnecessary and preventable deaths and threatens us with a third wave of the pandemic, even larger and more the lethal than the previous two.

To protect workers and save lives, teachers and support staff in Canada have begun to organize through the building of the Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. The committees statement adopted unanimously by its members on March 7 states: The struggle for an end to in-person learning must be linked to the call for a halt to all nonessential production with full wages guaranteed for all workers, and the provision of free and safe childcare for health care and all other essential workers. In taking up this critical demand, rank-and-file educators committees will provide a lead to the growing opposition among health care, industrial, construction, and logistics workers and other sections of the working class over the ruling class ruinous response to the pandemic.

We encourage all university and college staff and students who agree with us to join and build our committee.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 19:47:02|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 10, 2021 shows Panagiotis Papanikolaou, a neurosurgeon, chief consultant at the General Hospital of Nikaia, a Piraeus port suburb, and general secretary of the Federation of Hospital Doctors of Greece, posing at his office in Piraeus, Greece. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Greece's public healthcare system is reaching its limits in the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, as the numbers of new infections and admissions to hospitals increase, officials and doctors warned.

The Greek government took more steps this week to strengthen the healthcare system with the mobilization of private hospitals and clinics in the treatment of patients.

The National Public Health Organization (EODY) announced on Friday 2,405 new cases, 49 deaths and 464 admissions of COVID-19 patients in hospitals nationwide in the past 24 hours. In addition, 521 were intubated.

"If you take into account that a middle-sized hospital in our country has about 200 beds, you will see that in the past few days almost all beds fill up in each emergency shift," Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias told a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

Until two weeks ago, the average daily admissions were almost half. Occupancy at intensive care units (ICUs) and regular wards for COVID-19 patients increases lately at alarming levels, officials and experts said in another press briefing on Friday.

Although the country is in a lockdown since Nov. 7, 2020, the mutated COVID-19 strains which are more contagious than the initial strain and quarantine fatigue have led to an alarming situation, they explained.

In order to control the further spread of the virus, officials also announced on Friday that the lockdown is further extended to March 29 and the few schools which had remained open will also go back to online learning for the next two weeks.

The situation is bleak, two doctors at public hospitals told Xinhua, suggesting additional measures to boost defense.

"In the past few months, a few steps have been taken to increase the number of available beds. However, the total across the country, which stands at about 1,500 beds (for COVID-19 patients in ICUs), is not enough," Panagiotis Papanikolaou, a neurosurgeon, chief consultant at the General Hospital of Nikaia, a Piraeus port suburb, and general secretary of the Federation of Hospital Doctors of Greece, told Xinhua on Thursday.

For Papanikolaou, the mobilization of private hospitals and clinics so far is a "drop of water in the ocean" and more support is needed.

"What we have requested a month ago, forecasting the increase of the epidemiological load in Attica region (which hosts half of Greece's population), is that the big private hospitals in the region will be mobilized for COVID and non-COVID patients," he said.

The measure should apply to all public hospitals in Attica for a month, he said.

Moreover, the federation has called for immediate hiring of more doctors and nurses.

"We want to get support at last by more doctors, nurses and other personnel. Those of us who are currently in the system are not enough to face the COVID-19 tsunami," Despoina Tosonidou, a radiologist at Asklepieio Voulas hospital in the southern suburbs of Athens, and also a unionist, told Xinhua on Friday.

"Every day there are a few dozen patients who are intubated and are not treated inside ICUs. Beds in wards for COVID-19 patients in hospitals are constantly full," the doctor added.

Papanikolaou also suggests the implementation of tougher measures for more social distancing in workspaces and public transport until the mass vaccination program hits 70 percent of the population so that a strong defense shield against the virus is created.

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, 263 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 81of 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 March 12.

To date, more than 1.2 million vaccinations have been administered in Greece with about 390,000 people having received both doses, according to the latest official data on Friday. Enditem
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Most of California's 40 million residents will be able to enjoy limited indoor activities such as dining inside or watching a movie at a theater by mid-week as coronavirus case rates continue to stay low, state officials said Friday.

Officials said that 13 counties, including Los Angeles, would be able to open restaurants, gyms and museums at limited capacity on Sunday, the result of the state hitting a 2 million equity metric aimed at getting more vaccines into low-income communities. Another 13 counties are expected to reopen Wednesday under a different metric.

Also next week, the state expands eligibility for the still-scarce vaccine.

WHICH COUNTIES CAN REOPEN SUNDAY AND WHY?

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that he would set aside 40% of vaccine for residents of about 400 ZIP codes the state deems most vulnerable based on metrics such as household income, access to health care and education levels.

The point is to tie reopening standards to ensuring that the people most affected by the pandemic are protected against the virus, he said. Once the state reaches 2 million doses administered in those ZIP codes, which it did Friday, the threshold for moving out of the most restrictive tier in a color-coded, four-tier system the state adopted in August relaxes.

Previously, counties could move from the purple tier to the lower red tier based on metrics that include the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per day over a period of several weeks. The threshold for entering the red tier now moves from 7 cases per 100,000 residents to 10 cases.

The counties eligible to reopen within 48 hoursSundayinclude Contra Costa and Sonoma in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. San Bernardino and Orange said it would do so Sunday, although LA County officials said they would wait until Monday.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER COUNTIES?

San Diego, Sacramento, Riverside and Ventura are among 13 additional counties expected to reopen Wednesday via the normal reassignment process that occurs every Tuesday.

San Joaquin and Santa Barbara are in this category. The hard-hit counties of Kern and Fresno in the central valley remain in the most restrictive tier.

WHO BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE MONDAY?

The state is opening up vaccinations to an estimated 4.4 million people ages 16-64 with disabilities and certain health conditions, including severe obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease at stage four or above and Down syndrome.

California's guidelines do not call for medical documentation; instead, people will have to attest that they are eligible. This reduces barriers to access, but it also opens up a loophole for determined line jumpers.

San Francisco is going a step further than the state, broadening the allowed categories and adding people who are deaf, HIV positive or who have behavioral health disabilities, including severe mental health or substance use disorders, to get vaccinated.

Dr. Paul Simon, LA County's chief science officer, said people will be asked to sign an attestation if they can't provide documentation. "We certainly hope people won't try to take advantage of the situation and will be honest," Simon said.

The state is also expanding eligibility to transit workers and residents and workers of homeless shelters, jails and detention centers. They join teachers, food and agriculture workers, health care employees and seniors 65 and older in being eligible for vaccine.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF CALIFORNIA'S NEW VACCINE SYSTEM?

In late January, Newsom announced insurer Blue Shield would set up and administer a new vaccine tracking and delivery system. The state's 58 counties and three cities with public health departments would be required to use the state's My Turn system to make appointments.

Blue Shield is expected to take control by March 31. But Santa Clara County has refused to sign a contract with the insurer, saying it can better vaccinate its residents with an appointment system that is superior to the state's system.

Blue Shield CEO Paul Markovich said Friday that more than half of local health jurisdictions have switched to My Turn or will switch soon, he said.

My Turn is great for scheduling appointments at mass vaccination sites, but it is not so good at carving out slots for vulnerable populations at smaller clinics, said Joe Prado, Fresno County's community health division manager. He expects the state online portal to improve.

"We're going to live with these two systems a little while longer," he said.

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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  A 24-year-old male from Quezon City who falsified travel documents to enter Coron, Palawan turned out positive for COVID-19, but all his contacts tested negative for the disease, the local government said Friday.

The Coron LGU said the tourist arrived in town on March 9.

The next day, the Quezon City Surveillance Team informed Coron authorities the tourist tested positive for the virus and that he faked travel requirements.

The LGU said it immediately brought the person to an isolation facility as well as traced his contacts and made them undergo a COVID-19 test.

Aside from the tourist from Quezon City, Coron only has one other active case  a returning Filipino.

While discouraged under the uniform travel protocols approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force, the Coron local government still requires those entering the town to present a negative swab test result.
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on Jan. 21, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Seizes Upon Faucis Calls for Solidarity to Push COVID-19 Propaganda

Chinese state media has raved about Dr. Anthony Faucis recent calls for solidarity to combat the pandemic, using his comments to bolster the Beijing regimes virus narratives.

As a top U.S. infectious disease expert and chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, Fauci appeared with Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan in early March during an online forum hosted by the University of Edinburghtheir first public event together over the issue.

In a nearly hour-long video panel discussion themed around the future of health, the two repeatedly highlighted the need for collaboration, a message that Chinese authorities have frequently adopted to fend off criticism of its initial coverup of the outbreak.

Zhong, whom one Chinese official has described as Chinas Fauci, earned international prominence for helping the regime manage the SARS outbreak that originated from the country in late 2002. Zhong has championed state narratives about its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including by stating that the regime was completely transparent compared to SARS, and lending credibility to Beijings claims that the virus could be spread via imported foodsa theory dismissed by Western scientists.

Zhong, during the event, credited the regimes heavy-handed lockdown policies for China having the least number of COVID-19 infections and deaths compared to most other countries. Critics and leaked internal documents, however, have disputed the regimes official COVID-19 figures as being vast undercounts of the real number. Snap lockdowns across the country, meanwhile, have led to complaints of starvation and harsh treatment at quarantine centers.

The virus, Zhong said, is a common enemy of the human being.

Just like dealing with the climate, just like dealing with the air pollution, we were on the same goal to deal with that, he said.

Zhong praised Biden for rejoining the World Health Organization. The Trump administration withdrew from the body last year over its role in enabling Beijings coverup of the outbreak by repeating its talking points downplaying the severity of the virus in the early stages. Zhong added that the politicization of public health measures was his greatest fear.

Meanwhile, Fauci described vaccines from China as highly efficacious, and cast solidarity and cooperation as a moral obligation to bring the virus under control.

Later in the event, Fauci said, I would underscore everything that Professor Zhong said.

We are all in it together, every single country, Fauci said during the conversation. To emphasize something that both of us said, If we do not completely suppress this, we will continue to be challenged by variants, which have a way of coming back to bite us.

At no time during the panel discussion did the two mention the Chinese regimes efforts to cover up the outbreak and its ongoing efforts to deflect blame and fend off genuine independent investigations into the virus origins.

Dr. Fauci is bought and paid for by the Chinese Communist Party, Peter Navarro, former director of the National Trade Council under the Trump administration, told The Epoch Times in an email.

Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan in a virtual forum hosted by the University of Edinburgh on March 2, 2021. (Screenshot)

Propaganda Coup

Chinese officials and state media quickly seized upon Faucis remarks as an endorsement of Beijings narratives.

Hua Chunying, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a same-day tweet: When Dr. Zhong Nanshan meets Dr. Fauci. Their consensus: solidarity and cooperation against COVID19.

Chinese headlines stressing cooperation also proliferated on the internet and were reposted on a number of government sites, including the Chinese embassy in Spain.

State-controlled media Xinhua carried a commentary on March 4 touting what it saw as an encouraging sign for bilateral cooperation.

Scientists and medical workers of the two countries have been working together since the beginning of the pandemic. However, their cooperation was disrupted by Washingtons politically-motivated acts, the article stated.

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.

The newspaper ran an article the next day saying that such calls have struck a chord with international scholars.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Chinas top disciplinary body, took the opportunity to extol the Party for enforcing most rigorous virus control procedures. The exchange demonstrated yet again Chinas firm resolve to participate in the global pandemic fight and its sense of responsibility, it said.

Fauci, the White House, and the National Security Council didnt immediately return requests for comment.
A prominent Episcopal school in New York City is standing by its decision to publish an Inclusive Language Guide after the document received criticism for, among other things, encouraging students to refrain from using terms such as Mom and Dad.

The Grace Church School, a private Manhattan Episcopal school serving 770 students in Junior Kindergarten-Grade 12, published an Inclusive Language Guide to address ways we can remove harmful assumptions from the way we interact with each other.

The 12-page guide suggests students and teachers use alternatives to gender-specific words and phrases as well as other terms it sees as problematic.

The guide prompted considerable backlash, causing the Head of School George P. Davison to issue a statement.

Source:The Christian Post
Arklow Library is hosting a special display this week to mark International Women's Day.

The Library on the Main Street will showcase the 'Our Wicklow Women' exhibition in its windows until Friday, March 12 to be enjoyed by those living in the local area.

The exhibition tells the stories, unique experiences and achievements of women from all over County Wicklow.

It was created in 2018 as part of the commemorations of the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918 which extended for the first time the right to vote (suffrage) to women, albeit with certain restrictions.

The Wicklow Heritage Forum, through Our Wicklow Heritage, made a public appeal for stories relating to Wicklow women. Stories were invited of Wicklow women who have made a difference in our community: stories of success, struggle or of quiet diligence.

The exhibition will also be available to view on the Wicklow County Library Services Facebook page.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 04:24:35|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 24,000 children under five across 14 of the Central African Republic's (CAR) 35 health districts are at risk of severe acute malnutrition following the recent spike in violence across the country, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Friday.

Out of these 14 districts, which are now on alert for a child malnutrition crisis, six currently have no resources or capacity to respond to children's acute needs, according to a press release published by UNICEF.

The two UN agencies also noted that violence and insecurity are exacerbating population displacement, hindering humanitarian access and causing food prices to rise.

This adds to the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have on children's nutrition security in the country. This year, at least 62,000 children under five are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, a 25 percent increase from 2020.

"The situation is extremely concerning," said UNICEF CAR representative, Fran Equiza."Without urgent access to the care they need, severely malnourished children are at imminent risk of death. We must be able to safely reach all children in need as soon as possible, particularly in the areas most affected by recent violence, where families have been forced to flee and access to food is scarce."

"The spiraling nutrition situation is a consequence of recent post-electoral violence and needs an immediate and adequate response to save lives and avoid catastrophe," said WFP CAR country director Peter Schaller.

Despite growing insecurity, UNICEF and WFP teams on the ground are intensifying efforts to reach the most vulnerable children and mothers, by pre-positioning nutrition supplies to ensure there is no disruption in the delivery of aid, as well as deploying mobile clinics to bring health and nutrition support to remote and displaced communities.

In 2021, UNICEF is seeking 15.2 million U.S. dollars to scale up its nutrition response and provide almost 50,000 severely malnourished children under five with lifesaving treatment and reach more than 800,000 women and children with measures to tackle both acute and chronic malnutrition, including feeding counseling and Vitamin A supplementation.

As of Friday, programs remain critically underfunded, with only 30 percent of needs - 4,500,868 U.S. dollars - covered since the beginning of the year.

WFP will continue the prevention and the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition among children aged from 6-59 months, and pregnant and breastfeeding women. However, the organization is facing a serious funding shortfall and needs 9 million dollars for its nutrition response through December 2021, according to the press release. Enditem
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") (TSX:FR) (NYSE:AG) (Frankfurt:FMV) and Sprott Mining Inc. ("Sprott Mining") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") whereby First Majestic will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Jerritt Canyon Canada Ltd. ("Jerritt Canyon") from Sprott Mining (the "Acquisition") for $470 million in shares of First Majestic plus 5 million First Majestic share purchase warrants. Concurrent with the Acquisition, Eric Sprott, President of Sprott Mining, will complete a $30 million private placement investment in First Majestic.



Jerritt Canyon owns and operates the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine located in Elko County, Nevada. Jerritt Canyon was discovered in 1972 and has been in production since 1981 having produced over 9.5 million ounces of gold over its 40-year production history. The mine currently operates as an underground mine and has one of three permitted gold processing plants in Nevada that uses roasting in its treatment of ore. This processing plant has a capacity of 4,500 tonnes per day (tpd) and is currently operating at an average rate of approximately 2,200 tpd due to limited ore production from two underground mines. The property consists of a large, underexplored land package consisting of 30,821 hectares (119 square miles). In 2020, Jerritt Canyon produced 112,749 ounces of gold at a cash cost of US$1,289 per ounce. First Majestic has identified several opportunities to enhance both the cost and production profile of Jerritt Canyon as well as near-term brownfield potential between the SSX and Smith mines and long-term property wide exploration potential.

Together with First Majestic's existing three operating silver mines in Mexico, the combined company will be a premier North American silver and gold producer with expected pro forma annualized attributable production of 30 to 33 million silver equivalent ounces based on historical production rates. With a strong balance sheet and liquidity profile and a diversified portfolio of three producing silver mines in Mexico, and one gold mine in Nevada, the combined company is expected to continue generating strong free cash flow and industry leading exposure to silver and gold prices.

BENEFITS TO FIRST MAJESTIC SHAREHOLDERS

Diversification into Nevada, USA, a world-class, mining-friendly jurisdiction

Continues track record of accretive production and cash flow growth

Maintains peer leading silver exposure

Significant upside potential through capital investment and applying First Majestic's technical innovation

Accretive on all key metrics including NAV, cash flow, production, and resources to First Majestic

Preserves very strong balance sheet

Continued strong endorsement from Eric Sprott



Keith Neumeyer, CEO of First Majestic, said, "The acquisition of Jerritt Canyon is a highly compelling transaction that further enhances First Majestic's operating platform, adding a producing asset in a world-class jurisdiction. Nevada is ranked as one of the most attractive jurisdictions, if not the most attractive, for mining operations and we are delighted to add another cornerstone asset to our portfolio. While we remain focused on maintaining our peer-leading exposure to silver, Jerritt Canyon is a unique opportunity to create value for First Majestic's shareholders and provides a new geographic operating platform while preserving our pristine balance sheet. We look forward to working with the operating team at Jerritt Canyon and are excited about the opportunities we have identified to enhance operations to unlock value. We also welcome the increased endorsement from Eric Sprott who will continue to be a significant shareholder in First Majestic going forward and thank him for his continued support of the Company."

Eric Sprott, President of Sprott Mining, stated, "This deal is a win-win for both parties and we look forward to having continued exposure to Jerritt Canyons bright future through our increased ownership in First Majestic. We have a long-standing respect and high regard for Keith Neumeyer and his leadership in the silver industry, an industry with which we have had an increasing involvement over the past two years. We also see this as a big step forward for Jerritt Canyon where it can flourish under the larger umbrella of First Majestic. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all the employees and management at Jerritt Canyon for their tireless efforts in the successful turnaround of the operation since Sprott Minings acquisition in 2015 and wish them well in their future with First Majestic.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY

Under the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, Sprott Mining will receive 26,719,727 common shares of First Majestic. This represents $470 million in share consideration based on the 20-day trading volume-weighted average price of $17.59 per First Majestic share on the New York Stock Exchange for the period ended on March 11, 2021. In addition, Sprott Mining will receive 5 million common share purchase warrants at an exercise price of $20.00 per share for a term of three years. Concurrently, Eric Sprott will make a $30 million private placement in First Majestic at a price of $17.59 per share for a total of 1,705,514 common shares. Upon completion of the Acquisition and private placement, Eric Sprott, through himself or affiliated controlled companies, will own 32,925,241 shares, including current shareholdings, representing approximately 13.1% of the issued and outstanding common shares of First Majestic.

The Acquisition will be effected by way of purchasing 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Jerritt Canyon Gold Ltd. The Acquisition includes the assumption of certain liabilities and a customary working capital adjustment and is subject to applicable regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX and NYSE and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature.

The Acquisition is expected to close by April 30, 2021, subject to meeting all applicable closing conditions.

ADVISORS

TD Securities Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor and DuMoulin Black LLP and Parsons Behle & Latimer LLP acted as legal counsel to First Majestic.

Irwin Lowy LLP and Dorsey & Whitney LLP acted as Sprott Mining's legal advisors.

CONFERENCE CALL

First Majestic will be holding a conference call and webcast on Monday, March 15, 2021 at 8 am PDT (11 am EDT).

To participate in the conference call, please dial the following:

Toll Free Canada & USA: 1-800-319-4610 Outside of Canada & USA: 1-604-638-5430 Toll Free Germany: 0800 180 1954 Toll Free UK: 0808 101 2791

Participants should dial in 10 minutes prior to the conference.

Click on WEBCAST on the First Majestic homepage as a simultaneous audio webcast of the conference call at www.firstmajestic.com.

The conference call will be recorded and you can listen to an archive of the conference by calling:

Toll Free Canada & USA: 1-800-319-6413 Outside of Canada & USA: 1-604-638-9010 Access Code: 6413 followed by the # sign

An archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at www.firstmajestic.com.

Mr. Ramon Mendoza Reyes, Vice President Technical Services for First Majestic, is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

First Majestic is a publicly traded mining company focused on silver production in Mexico and is aggressively pursuing the development of its existing mineral property assets. The Company presently owns and operates the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine and the La Encantada Silver Mine. Production from these mines are projected to be between 12.5 to 13.9 million silver ounces or 20.6 to 22.9 million silver equivalent ounces in 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact info@firstmajestic.com, visit our website at www.firstmajestic.com or call our toll-free number 1.866.529.2807.

FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP.

signed

Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (together, forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans", "potential" or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements and information related to closing of the Acquisition; anticipated benefits of the Acquisition to First Majestic its shareholders; the timing and receipt of required stock exchange and regulatory approvals for the Acquisition; the ability of First Majestic and Sprott Mining to satisfy the other conditions to, and to complete, the Acquisition; the exploration potential of Jerritt Canyon, future mineral production; and operating costs of Jerritt Canyon, the merits and benefits to be derived from the Acquisition and other statements regarding future plans, expectations, guidance, projections, objectives, estimates and forecasts, as well as statements as to management's expectations with respect to such matters.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumptions that: (1) the parties will be able to complete the Acquisition on the expected timing; (2) the Company will be able to accomplish its plans and objectives with respect to Jerritt Canyon within the expected timing; (3) market fundamentals will result in sustained mineral demand and prices; (4) the receipt of any necessary approvals and consents in connection with the continued operation of any mineral properties; and (5) sustained commodity prices such that any properties put into operation remain economically viable.

Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are made as of the date of this news release. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results may vary. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary include without limitation, risks related to the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions of the Acquisition and close the Acquisition; the ability of the Company to accomplish its plans and objectives with respect to the Acquisition within the expected timing or at all, including the ability of the Company to improve the economics of Jerritt Canyon the timing and receipt of certain approvals, changes in commodity and power prices, changes in interest and currency exchange rates, risks inherent in exploration estimates and results, timing and success, inaccurate geological and metallurgical assumptions (including with respect to the size, grade and recoverability of mineral reserves and resources), changes in exploration or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors, unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications, cost escalation, unavailability of materials, equipment and third party contractors, delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), political risk, social unrest, and changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets.

The actual results or performance by the Company could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements relating to those matters. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the Acquisition, results of operations or financial condition of the Company. Except as required by law, the Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
(That individual) went in without having that information, so thats pretty outrageous, Dreskin-Anderson said.

Congregate care facilities are supposed to notify relevant parties of outbreaks of communicable disease via physical signage in their facilities, Relucio said. She said she could not quantify the number of nursing homes in the county failing to do so.

Yvonne Baginski, the representative for Napa and Solano Counties California Senior Legislature, said she believed additional transparency would foster a safer environment for residents and staff of and visitors to the care facilities in question.

Earlier in the year shed submitted a proposal to the California State Senate that would have made this type of reporting mandatory for each of Californias 58 counties, Baginski said. The bill was ultimately not sponsored by a state senator and thus failed to pass.

Considering how badly hit these facilities were, we need to know this information, Baginski said. The truth is very, very important in giving us freedom of choice. We have to be able to make informed decisions about the facilities we enter and about the facilities were placing our loved ones in. We have to know we can trust (them).
With his re-election all but a formality now, WA Premier Mark McGowan has tried to downplay predictions as he urged voters to cast their votes for the team that kept the state strong. As he joined WA Labors Hillarys candidate Caitlin Collins at South Padbury Primary School in Perths north on Saturday morning, Mr McGowan wouldnt be drawn on questions about how he would celebrate his win, saying he wouldnt want to get ahead of himself and that polls could be inaccurate. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Im confident we put forward plans and policies that take the state forward, he said, asking West Australians to support the team that kept the state strong. He said his plans were affordable and achievable and addressed the core issues such as jobs, infrastructure, good financial management, fairness, and the promise both the city and regions would benefit from the states success.

This is one of the most important elections  if not the most important election  in living memory and its very important that Western Australia stays the course and sticks with the team that has kept our state safe and strong over the last four years, he said. Mr McGowan said WA had gone through a very traumatic year, marred by the COVID-19 pandemic and the states emergency response, but he pinned the states success in handling the crisis on the governments economic policies to get the state back into surplus three years prior. Loading When COVID hit we had the financial capacity to launch our recovery plan. Had we not done all that work in the first three years we would have been in real trouble over the course of the last year but we did the work, we turned around the mess we were left, he said. Mr McGowan has enjoyed almost unprecedented popularity for his handling of the pandemic, and a Newspoll for The Australian newspaper showed Labor ahead 66 to 34 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, which would represent a landslide 10.5 per cent swing to the McGowan government.
ST. PAUL, Minn.  An Austin man is going to federal prison for distributing child pornography.

Authorities say Phillip Arlan Koontz, 52, began chatting online with an undercover federal agent posing as a 13-year-old girl in April 2018. Court documents state Kootz sent the agent multiple images containing sexually explicit content involving minor. Investigators say Koontz was also found to possess 478 images of child porn and had a previous conviction for second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Mower County.

Hes now been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.

This repeat offender will spend the next 20 years behind bars, says Jamie Holt, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) St. Paul. Community safety is our top priority and hopefully this lengthy sentence will give peace of mind to his victims and their families. HSI special agents will continue to work with our Minnesota law enforcement partners, like the Austin police, to relentlessly pursue child predators and ensure they are brought to justice.

Koontz had been charged with 24 child porn offenses in Mower County but those local charges were dismissed to make way for his federal prosecution.

The sexual exploitation of children is a heinous crime, one deserving of a lengthy prison sentence, says Acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk. Here in Minnesota we are fortunate to have dedicated federal, state, and local investigators who are committed to seeking justice for those who abuse and exploit innocent children.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Austin Police Department.
Millions of vaccine doses are in cold storage in the U.S. that can't be injected in the states because they are not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but the Biden administration is not allowing them to be sent overseas, where American allies are struggling to get enough doses for vulnerable populations.

The two-dose vaccine from AstraZeneca has received emergency approval from the European Union and World Health Organization, but not in the U.S. Now U.S. partners are prodding President Joe Biden to release the supply, noting that the administration has lined up enough doses of the three already-approved vaccines to cover every American adult by the end of May and the entire U.S. population by the end of July.

AstraZeneca said that the U.S.-produced vaccines are owned by the U.S. government and that sending them overseas would require White House approval.

We understand other governments may have reached out to the U.S. government about donation of AstraZeneca doses, and we've asked the U.S. government to give thoughtful consideration to these requests, Gonzalo Via, a spokesman for AstraZeneca, said in a statement.

EU member states' ambassadors this week discussed the challenge of accessing US-produced doses of the AstraZeneca shots. The German government said on Friday it was in contact with U.S. officials about vaccine supplies, but stressed that the European Commission had the lead when it comes to procuring shots for member states.

Biden and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have directed representatives to discuss supply chains in the vaccine production.

Hopefully, we will be in a position on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure that sufficient quantities of vaccine doses are distributed out in line with the schedule so as to complete the vaccination campaigns, EU commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer said.

Even though it is not approved in the U.S., well over 10 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine are stockpiled in the country for domestic use and cannot be exported under the terms of the company's agreement with the federal government.

We have a small inventory of AstraZeneca so if approved, we can get that inventory out to the American people as quickly as possible, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Friday, saying the U.S. was following the same procedure it used for the already-approved shots.

Drug manufacturers that received federal assistance in developing or expanding vaccine manufacturing of doses were required to sell their first doses to the U.S. In the case of AstraZeneca, whose vaccine was initially expected to be the first to receive federal emergency use authorization, the U.S. government ordered 300 million doses enough for 150 million Americans before issues with the vaccine's clinical trial held up its approval in the U.S.

The company said this month it believes it will have roughly 30 million doses available to the U.S. government by the end of March, and another 20 million by the end of April.

As foreign regulators have moved ahead with approval for the shot, the U.S. has not dropped its contractual claim on the initial doses produced in the U.S..

That policy has also come under criticism from U.S. neighbors like Canada and Mexico, which have been forced to seek vaccine manufactured on a different continent, rather than across the border. Its enforcement comes as the Biden administration has purchased enough doses of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson to be able to inoculate 150 million more people than its population by the end of the year.

The U.S. has also ordered 110 million doses of vaccine from Novavax, which is expected to file for emergency approval as soon as next month.

We want to be oversupplied and overprepared, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday, saying Biden wanted contingencies in the event of any unforeseen issues with the existing production timeline.

We still don't know which vaccine will be most effective on kids, she added. We still don't know the impact of variants or the need for booster shots. And these doses can be used for booster shots as well as needed. Obviously that's still being studied by the FDA but again we want to be overprepared.

Pressed Thursday on the AstraZeneca situation, Psaki said, We have conveyed privately what we've conveyed publicly, which is that our focus is on ensuring the American people are vaccinated."



AstraZeneca's 30,000-person U.S. trial didn't complete enrollment until January. The company hasn't given any hints of when initial results might be ready beyond an executive with AstraZeneca's U.S. division's statement to Congress last month that he expected it would be soon.

Amid its own stumbling vaccine rollout, the EU appears increasingly resigned to the Biden administration retaining control of the doses.

Even though the 27-nation bloc is eager to relaunch a fruitful trans-Atlantic relationship after the bruising Trump presidency, cooperation between the EU and the US proves to be a thorny topic, with some in Europe seeing it as a continuation of former President Donald Trump's America First approach.

The EU is at odds with AstraZeneca because the company 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 this year, the company will be struggling to deliver half that quantity.

(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.)
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 79F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Great Scott Bravo to the fellows of the senate of the University of Sydney for their wise decision to make Mark Scott the new vice-chancellor. Mark and I go back a long way. He was just two years behind me at school  in the form above the outgoing vice-chancellor he replaces, Michael Spence  and then just behind me at Sydney University, before becoming my editor-in-chief at Fairfax, immediately prior to become managing director of the ABC, and then head of the NSW Department of Education. I know, quite the stunning resume, isnt it? Throughout all those professional positions he has prospered through softly spoken decency, hard work, and an ability to manage people to get the best out of him. A passion for education is in his very bones, and his wife, Briony Scott, is the highly regarded principal of Wenona girls school. He was born for the position, and will prosper. Mark Scott is stepping into the top job at the University of Sydney. Credit: Whats going on here? Ummmm, has anyone noticed something odd being played out when it comes to the musical chairs of commercial breakfast television hosts over the last two decades? Every few years there is a major change, as someone leaves and someone new arrives. Look at them: Tracy Grimshaw, Jessica Rowe, Sarah Murdoch, Kelly Connolly, Lisa Wilkinson (thank you, I know), Georgie Gardner, Deb Knight, Ali Langdon, Mel Doyle, Samantha Armytage. Notice anything yet? Yup. All the changes are with the female co-hosts. On average they have been replaced every four years or so. But next to them? We have Karl Stefanovic and David Koch who between them are batting 40 years, not out, with the momentary exception of Stefanovics brief hiatus in the naughty corner before being brought back. Why is it so? I point this out with great respect to Koch and Stefanovic, both of whom I know well. But it is a striking comparison, yes?

As to who will replace Armytage, it is not official yet, but the word on the street (and on the inside) is that it will be offered to Natalie Barr. My two cents worth is that shed sign. She is already a key and valued member of the team, and is adored by the viewing public. Natalie Barr is tipped to be the new Sunrise anchor. Credit:Seven Joke of the Week Father OMalley answers the phone. Hello, is this Father OMalley?

It is!

This is the Australian Taxation Office. Can you help us?

I can!

Do you know a Ted Houlihan?

I do!

Is he a member of your congregation?

He is!

Did he donate $10,000 to the church?

He will! Tweet of the Week When rounding up, Australia is just 4 million vaccinations short of its target of 4 million vaccinations by the end of March. @TheShovel Quotes of the Week

Im not going to take any legalistic moralising from this Liberal government. This is the Liberal government that appointed an independent investigator, Dyson Heydon of all people, to look into 30-year-old allegations about Julia Gillard, her former boyfriend and a kitchen renovation. Now if it is okay for the Liberal government to appoint an independent investigator to look into a kitchen renovation, then surely it is okay for the Liberal government to appoint an independent investigator to look into allegations of rape. - Kristina Keneally to Fran Kelly Australia has raised our grave concerns about the military coup in Myanmar and the escalating violence and rising death toll following the events of February 1. We condemn the use of lethal force or violence against civilians exercising their universal rights, including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. - Foreign Minister Marise Payne in a statement announcing thatAustralia has suspended its bilateral Defence Cooperation Program with Myanmars military in the wake of the countrys violent military coup last month. How good does it feel to be a minister in the Morrison government knowing that no matter what questions arise over your conduct your jobs safe? - ABC 7.30 host Leigh Sales, to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. How cruel it is that this country, the cradle of civilisation, should have been afflicted by so barbarous a blow, with ancient places of worship destroyed and many thousands of people  Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others  forcibly displaced or killed. Today, however, we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than hatred, that peace more powerful than war. - Pope Francis speaking to the people during his visit to the ruined Iraqi city of Mosul. Obviously this on face value would be concerning. Let us take it away on notice and provide you with a fulsome answer, and if there is an issue that needs to be resolved, it will be. - NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet telling budget estimates that he cannot explain why state insurer iCare paid a labour hire firm $235 million, including to lease and fit-out premium Sydney Harbour office space at its Kent Street premises. (And yes, I think he misunderstands the meaning of the word fulsome too.)

Theres a convention that when youre the grandchild of the monarch, so when Harrys dad becomes king, automatically Archie and our next baby would become prince or princess, or whatever they were going to be . . . While I was pregnant, they said they want to change the convention for Archie. [Its] not their right to take it away. - The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, to Oprah Winfrey. I dont believe a word she says, Meghan Markle. I wouldnt believe her if she read me a weather report. - UK media creature Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain after the interview. Morgan has since left the show. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. - The Queen about the interview. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Chant has been a familiar face, offering vital health information for our state in addition to years of service to the health sector. Dr Chant is a role model, especially for women, and has absolutely excelled in her chosen field to effect lasting change. - Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing that NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, who has overseen the management of the coronavirus pandemic in Australias most populous state, is the NSW Premiers Woman of the Year, the highest honour in the NSW Women of the Year Awards. His life is written in brick and stone and timber and concrete, in the beautiful historic buildings of The Rocks and Millers Point, of Glebe and Woolloomoloo. - David Noonan of the CFMEU remembering Jack Mundey at Mundeys State Memorial Service.
Napa County Library still quarantines books for several days after they have been returned. Patrons who take books off the shelf are asked not to reshelf them, but set them aside to be quarantined.

All of this is based on studies on how long the novel coronavirus can live on books.

Halstead said the library is probably quarantining items longer than necessary. Library officials would rather look back and say they did too much rather than too little.

The library also increased the check-out period from three weeks to four weeks. That allows people who want a longer quarantine to keep a book in a bag for a few days before touching it.

Still, much has changed since the March 2020 shelter-at-home order. The library initially shut down. Then, patrons checked out items online and waited in the library parking lot as staff delivered the items in bags. Today, patrons can once again enter the library and check out items themselves.

I think were in a lot better place because the things were doing we can see are based on science, rather than ... unknowns and fears, he said.

Still not over
Dublin model Emily MacKeogh opened up about the tragic death of her late fiance Killian Roche.

Appearing on the Late Late Show to promote funding for the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), Emily opened up about the devastating death of the former rugby player.

The newly engaged couple had just arrived in the United Arab Emirates where they were planning on starting a new life together when the tragedy occurred.

Read More

Speaking to Ryan Tubridy, Emily said the couple had only been in Dubai for five hours when Killian collapsed in the lobby of their hotel.

Its Sudden Adult Death Syndrome which takes the lives of around 80 young people in Ireland every year which is a massive number, she said.

The Irish model described the devastating moment she was told Killian had passed away

I just held his hand and talked to him and told him how much I loved him and I put my head in his chest and just cried.

I just remember trying not to go into too much shock because I wanted to remember everything that was happening so I could tell his family, she said.

Emily said the couple were the happiest they had ever been when the tragedy happened.

Killian had just gotten his dream job, he was going to be the head of digital for Wavemaker media for the Middle East and I have a jewelry company so I was going to work between Dublin and Dubai.

So it was really exciting and we had friends there and we had only decided to move at Christmas so it was a bit of a whirlwind. We had just gotten engaged seven weeks before we left, she said.

Emily revealed Killians mother Christine had an instinct that something was going to happen as she waved them off at the airport.

His mum said to me this just feels really final and I said dont be silly, were going to be back in a few weeks, she said.

Emily said the charity CRY has been a massive support during such a challenging time.

From the get go, they have been incredible.

They do full health checks, theyve tested both his sisters hearts.

"They just have been a huge source of comfort and just the understanding that they have for something like this happening, she added.

Visit CRY.ie to make a donation.
Judge allows Texas to remove Planned Parenthood from Medicaid program

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A judge has issued an order allowing Texas to remove Planned Parenthood from the state Medicaid program, preventing the abortion provider from getting an injunction.

State District Judge Lora Livingston of Travis County issued an order on Wednesday, blocking the injunction request, arguing that Planned Parenthood should pursue action through federal courts.

This decision is not made lightly. In the light of the ongoing public health crisis, the risks of the individual losing healthcare and medical attention requires increased attention and scrutiny, wrote Livingston, as reported by the Austin-American Statesman.

Jennifer Allmon, executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, said in a statement approving of the removal that Texans already have better options for healthcare.

There are hundreds of providers throughout the state of Texas willing to serve poor women with authentic healthcare services that are not also peddling abortion, stated Allmon, as reported by Life News.

The Texas Pregnancy Care Network has a list of such providers throughout the state and if these providers do not accept Medicaid, they can make referrals to life-affirming Medicaid providers who can offer genuine healthcare to women in need.

Dyana Limon-Mercado, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, denounced Texas removal of Planned Parenthood from Medicaid as harming healthcare [abortion] access for the most vulnerable Texans.

Planned Parenthood will do everything it can to protect and fight for its patients  since it remains painfully clear that [Texas Gov. Greg] Abbott and his administration will continue to fail Texans in the most devastating ways, stated Limon-Mercado, as reported by NPR affiliate KUT.

Last November, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an en banc ruling that said Texas and Louisiana could cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood.

Overturning an earlier panel opinion, the majority concluded that the law does not give Medicaid patients the right to challenge a states determination that a particular Medicaid provider is unqualified.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a supporter of his states Planned Parenthood Medicaid ban, released a statement last year approving of the Fifth Circuit's ruling.

Planned Parenthood is not a qualified provider under the Medicaid Act, and it should not receive public funding through the Medicaid program, he stated.

However, last month, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble had temporarily blocked Texas from removing Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, arguing that the abortion provider deserved more time to make their case.
In the latest reaction to the ongoing coup in Myanmar, the Joe Biden administration has decided to offer temporary legal status to Burmese people living in the US.

"Due to the military coup and security forces' brutal violence against civilians, the people of Burma (Myanmar) are suffering a complex and deteriorating humanitarian crisis in many parts of the country," said Department of Homeland Secretary (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas in a release.

The decision to designate Myanmar for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was taken after consultation with interagency partners and in consideration of the extraordinary conditions in the country followed by the military coup last month.

The development has led to continuing violence, arbitrary detentions and use of lethal force against peaceful protesters, and intimidation of the people of Burma. Considering these factors, the Biden administration has decided to extend the legal status to the people of Myanmar who arrived in the US by March 11.

"After a thorough review of this dire situation, I have designated Burma for Temporary Protected Status so that Burmese nationals and habitual residents may remain temporarily in the United States," Mayorkas added.

Nearly 1,600 people eligible for temporary status

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is offered to those who have left their home amid unrest or disasters in their country. The designation allows people from Myanmar to remain in the US for another 18 months. The government estimates least 1,600 people may be eligible to apply for the status.

The decision to provide a safe haven for the people of Myanmar in the US comes amid growing international alarm over increasing violence in the country after its military toppled the democratically-elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.

The Biden administration imposed sanctions on nearly a dozen officials associated with the coup and three entities associated with the military. The Myanmar military has launched a massive crackdown on anti-coup protesters, shutting down the internet and arresting hundreds of people, including PM Suu Kyi, and the figurehead president.

Violence against protesters has led to the death of more than 60 Burmese locals and the arrest of 1,800 protestors.

(With inputs from ANI)
A large popular vote in the lower house could still be devastating for the Liberals and Nationals with the former a chance to fall to single digit representation. Such a result will stretch cross-bench and opposition politicians to their limits in terms of filling out the panels of the numerous committees that work behind the scenes at parliament. The latest Newspoll for The Australian on the eve of the election had Labor up 66 to 34 per cent over the Liberals on a two-party preferred basis. The 10.5 per cent swing predicted by the poll, if replicated across the state, could see the Liberals only hold three seats  Cottesloe, Churchlands, and Vasse  and the Nationals between four and five, making the latter the new opposition. An unprecedented year leads to a golden opportunity for Labor

Mr McGowan went from unremarkable Mark to a cult figure and WA icon because of his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An initial reluctance to lock WA off from the rest of the country in the early stages of the outbreak fell away in March last year as Tasmania broke ranks from the national cabinet to impose restrictions on interstate arrivals. Loading WA followed suit and soon brought in even tougher measures on April 6, in a bid to stop coronavirus spread, which gave few exemptions for anyone to enter the big state as Mr McGowan and state authorities took the view of using the geographical distance from other population bases and a hard lockdown to save lives. The states rebound and bringing down of restrictions swifter than many other jurisdictions, besides the Northern Territory, has vindicated Mr McGowans conservative approach to the pandemic which has been vindicated by a recent assessment by global ratings agency Standard & Poors that said WA was the best economy in the world over the past 12 months.

Mr McGowans performance and his exposure to a WA public during lockdown as the most important man on the television and live social media videos has fostered a fervour for the Rockingham politician he had never experienced before. The Premier, who has reached approval ratings as high as 91 per cent, now has the opportunity to set up Labor for a potential third term and cement the party as the dominant force in WA at a state and federal level for the next decade. Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup. Credit:Peter de Kruijff The Liberal Party on the other hand are looking at a generational wipeout that will be difficult to rebuild from. Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup holds the smallest margin in his party of 0.7 points [343 votes] and it looks like his political career could be coming to an end after one term.

Mr Kirkup was thrust into the leadership role in November with the backing of backroom powerbrokers ahead of former Finance Minister Dean Nalder after Liza Harvey called it quits. Loading Mrs Harvey was the second Opposition Leader since 2017 after Mike Nahan, who took on the job when no one else wanted it, also stood down. A series of pandemic border policies from Mrs Harvey which were panned by the public have remained a millstone around Mr Kirkups neck which Mr McGowan still attacks the Liberals for. The situation for the Liberal Party got so dire that Mr Kirkup conceded the election last month saying Mr McGowan was going to win, a tactic often employed by parties facing political landslides.

Efforts by the opposition to make the election a hyper local campaign has done little to cut through the goodwill for Mr McGowan and Labor. Every seat saved by the Liberals will be seen as a win for the party at this point as state and federal politicians turn on Mr Kirkup both publicly and privately. The Nationals meanwhile have been running their own race and have openly clashed with the Liberals for the past four years. The regionally-focused party has geared its seat-by-seat re-election hopes on reversing changes to the Royalties for Regions program made by Labor even though their traditional government partners, the Liberals, have baulked at some of the Nationals policies. North West Central MP Vince Catania appears to be the only Nationals MP besides Geraldtons Ian Blayney in danger of losing their lower house seat, as their colleagues have much stronger buffers against a big swing, with an estimated 10.1 point margin following a redistribution to include Kalbarri in Mr Catanias electorate.

What has been promised? Labor has made close to $3 billion worth of pledges which will add about $2.4 billion to WAs net debt over the forward estimates of the budget. Mr McGowans party is promising things like $19.8 million to subsidise flights for regional residents, $60.6 million to cap public transport fares at $5 from January, $355 million to upgrade and build schools, $91.5 million to freeze TAFE fees, a $1.8 billion new womens and babies hospital, an extra 800 police officers, and a $361.6 million mental health plan. Labor is still building its massive Metronet projects and is also working towards constructing a multi-billion dollar outer harbour to replace Fremantle Port.

The Liberals, meanwhile, have promised more than $6 billion worth of state and federally funded projects but say their promises will only cost $2.7 billion all up over the forward estimates with a $1.4 billion impact on net debt in the budget with savings to be found elsewhere. Key promises include the $1.9 billion resurrected Roe 8 and 9 extension which requires a $700 million contribution from the state government but the Liberals say will only cost $125 million in the forward estimates period. A further $200 million has been promised to boost the number of apprentices and trainees by 20,000 in WA, a $316 million mental health package, an extra 1200 police officers, and a public-private partnership to replace publicly-owned coal-fired power stations with renewable energy generation by 2025. How many people have already voted? Early voting did not quite hit the 60 to 70 per cent levels the WA Electoral Commission had been hoping for.

There had been 755,075 votes cast as of Friday night which was 45 per cent of the states 1.7 million electors. One of the largest early turnouts has been in the seat of Mr Kirkup where 62 per cent of the Dawesville electors have already voted. Where can I vote? The WAEC has a great tool where you can search for your closest polling station by typing in your suburb or find a list of places to vote depending on your electorate. If youre wondering whether your nearest voting centre has a cake stall or sausage sizzle you can also jump on the Democracy Sausage website which has an interactive map.

Voting is open from 8am to 6pm and if you have a postal vote you can still mail it on Saturday and it will be counted. When will we know who wins? With Mr McGowan expected to romp home, the election could be called within an hour in the event of a Labor landslide. The 2012 Queensland election was declared by analysts just 48 minutes after the polls closed as the Liberal-National Party, which won 78 of 89 seats in the one-house parliament, went on to record 49 per cent of the primary vote and 62.8 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. Counting for the lower house starts at 6pm but for the upper house it may not get under way until late on Saturday night with a full result not likely to be known until towards the end of the week.

Loading Politics watchers will have a slight idea of whether Labor can get anywhere near 18 or 19 seats to achieve majority control in the Legislative Council comparing the partys primary vote to what it received in 2017. Getting about 57 per cent first preference vote across all electorates in the upper house for Labor would give it the balance of power. The vote is likely to be higher in the city than the bush, however, as Labor is a chance to win as many as four seats in both the south and east metropolitan regions. The Greens are hopeful of maintaining or improving on their first preference vote but will be in a fight with Labor on preferences for some upper house spots.

In any case, the Greens could find themselves in a balance of power situation but would also be in danger of being sidelined on some issues if Labor found more willing cross-bench allies elsewhere. The One Nation primary is expected to drop, with Labor the beneficiary, but the nature of preference flows means its representatives and other cross-bench parties could still be elected with only a handful of first preference votes. What can we expect from a pandemic election? There have been two state and territory elections during the COVID-19 pandemic with the NT going to the polls last August and Queensland in October. Both jurisdictions have sitting Labor governments which were returned.
Biden: All U.S. adults to be eligible for vaccines by May, some normalcy coming by summer

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the $1.9 trillion "American Rescue Plan Act" as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader (Photo : REUTERS/Tom Brenner)

President Joe Biden told U.S. states on Thursday to make all adults eligible for a coronavirus vaccine by May 1 and urged Americans to stay vigilant or face more restrictions, hours after he signed a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill into law.



In a forceful but somber speech from the White House on the first anniversary of the pandemic lockdown, Biden said if Americans pulled together there could be a greater sense of normalcy - and some backyard barbecue parties with small groups - on the U.S. Independence Day holiday on July 4.



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That date is a new goal for the president and a projection of hope amid a pandemic that has killed more than 530,000 people in the United States, the most of any country.



To achieve his summer target, Biden said he needed Americans' help.



"If we don't stay vigilant and the conditions change, then we may have to reinstate restrictions to get back on track," he said in an evening address from the White House, his first in television prime time since becoming president.



"We've made so much progress. This is not the time to let up. Just as we are emerging from a dark winter into a hopeful spring and summer is not the time to not stick with the rules," he said.



Republicans swiftly criticized Biden for his cautious approach. "What America needs now is to fully reopen our economy and our classrooms," House of Representatives Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said on Twitter.



Biden said he was ordering U.S. states, territories and tribes to make all adults eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine by May 1. The White House has said it would have enough vaccine supply to vaccinate the adult population by the end of May. About 10% of Americans so far have been fully vaccinated.



Administration officials said he would deploy 4,000 more troops to help with the vaccine effort, bringing the total number to 6,000. The White House is also seeking to expand the pool of people able to administer shots to include dentists, optometrists, paramedics, veterinarians and medical students.



Biden campaigned last year on a promise that he would tackle the pandemic more effectively than Republican President Donald Trump, and he has sought to encourage and model behavior, such as mask-wearing, that Trump eschewed.



In his speech, Biden took a swipe at his predecessor by saying the virus was initially met with "denials for days, weeks, then months, that led to more deaths, more infections, more stress, more loneliness."



Biden said hate crimes and harassment against Asian Americans must stop. Trump repeatedly referred to the disease as the "China virus."



Biden also encouraged Americans to keep up mitigation efforts - wearing masks, keeping social distance and practicing good hygiene - to stop the virus and its variants from spreading. A number of states have been loosening restrictions as Americans, like many people around the world, grow weary of pandemic life.



"Photos and videos from 2019 feel like they were taken in another era. The last vacation. The last birthday with friends. The last holiday with extended family," Biden said, recounting the toll the virus has wrought.



He said the country would come away from the crisis stronger. "We faced and overcame one of the toughest and darkest periods in this nation's history - darkest we've ever known," he said.



POLITICAL VICTORY



Earlier in the day, Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, designed to be a financial bridge to hard-hit Americans and a boost to the economy, in the Oval Office with Vice President Kamala Harris at his side. The $1.9 trillion package is a major political victory for the Democratic president fewer than two months into his administration.



Biden and top members of his administration will embark on a victory lap in the coming weeks to laud and explain the legislation, which got final approval from the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.



The package provides $400 billion for $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, $350 billion in aid to state and local governments, an expansion of the child tax credit and increased funding for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The bill passed without a single vote from Republicans, who complained the price tag was too high.



Coronavirus-related lockdowns and restrictions have cost millions of jobs, and Biden is focused on confronting the economic fallout. Direct deposits from the legislation would come as early as this weekend, the White House said.



Biden will discuss the benefits of the pandemic relief bill during trips to Pennsylvania and Georgia next week.



The lockdown from COVID-19 began under Trump, who played down the crisis in its early stages while repeatedly predicting the virus would soon disappear even as his administration pushed to speed up vaccine development.



The former president and his wife, Melania Trump, did not appear in a public service announcement released on Thursday encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations and featuring all of the other living former U.S. presidents and their spouses.


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Sung Kim, the United States' acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs / Yonhap



The United States is expected to complete an ongoing review of its North Korea policy in a few "weeks," a senior U.S. State Department official said Friday, ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's upcoming trip to South Korea and Japan to discuss the issue.



Sung Kim, acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said the secretary's visit to the countries will provide great opportunities for the Asian allies to offer their own input into the U.S.' new policy toward the North.



"I don't have any exact timeline for the completion of the review, but we are working expeditiously and I think maybe in the coming weeks we'll be able to complete the review," Kim said.



"We're not finished yet, but throughout the review we have stayed in very close touch with our colleagues and friends in Tokyo and Seoul because we want to make sure to incorporate their input," he said in a telephone press briefing, also joined by David Helvey, acting assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific affairs.






Contributed /Getty Images

NORTH HAVEN  Fire units were called to the scene of a rolled-over truck in front of the P.C. Richard & Son store on Universal Drive Friday afternoon.

Fire Chief Paul Januszewski said the crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m., and that the truck was the only vehicle involved.
The US will provide financial assistance to support Indian drug-maker Biological E's effort to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022, a document released by the White House on Friday after the Quad summit said. The Quad leaders, at a virtual summit, decided to launch a mega vaccine initiative under which coronavirus vaccines will be produced in India for the Indo-Pacific region with financial assistance from the US and Japan, while Australia will contribute in logistical aspects.

In the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga, vowed to work unitedly on manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, seen as an effort to counter China's expanding vaccine diplomacy.

"United in our fight against COVID-19, we launched a landmark Quad partnership to ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines. India's formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, US & Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

The fact sheet released by the White House said Quad partners were working collaboratively to achieve expanded manufacturing of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at facilities in India.

The United States, through the DFC (Development Finance Corporation), will work with Biological E Ltd, to finance increased capacity to support Biological E's effort to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022 with Stringent Regulatory Authorization (SRA) and/or World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL), it said.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) will provide financial assistance to enhance India's vaccine production capacities.

"What we are creating are additional capacities. This, I repeat, will not, in any matter, affect our domestic vaccine production and roll-out," he said.

According to the fact sheet, Japan, through JICA, is in discussions to provide concessional yen loans to India to expand manufacturing for COVID-19 vaccines for export, with a priority on producing vaccines that have received authorisation from WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities.

It said Quad partners will ensure expanded manufacturing will be exported for global benefit, to be procured through key multilateral initiatives, such as COVAX, that provide life-saving vaccines for low-income countries, and by countries in need. "Quad partners will also cooperate to strengthen 'last-mile' vaccination, building on existing health-security and development programmes, and across our governments to coordinate and strengthen our programs in the Indo-Pacific," according to the fact sheet.

"This includes supporting countries with vaccine readiness and delivery, vaccine procurement, health workforce preparedness, responses to vaccine misinformation, community engagement, immunization capacity, and more," it said. It said Australia will contribute USD 77 million for the provision of vaccines and "last-mile" delivery support with a focus on Southeast Asia, in addition to its existing commitment of USD 407 million for regional vaccine access.

The fact sheet said Japan will assist vaccination programmes of developing countries such as the purchase of vaccines and cold-chain support including through provision of grant aid of USD 41 million and new concessional yen loans, ensuring alignment with and support of COVAX.

The United States will leverage existing programs to further boost vaccination capability, drawing on at least $100 million in regional efforts focused on immunisation, it added.

Also read: AstraZeneca cuts COVID-19 vaccine supply target for EU to 30.1 mn doses

Also read: India to produce COVID-19 jabs for Indo-Pacific region under Quad initiative
In the series Vikings, King Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) is murdered in season 4B, episode 5. After his death, his sons soon learn about it. We have all the details about how they find out about the moment that changes their lives forever.

Ragnar Lothbrok is killed in England in Vikings

Travis Fimmel in Vikings | Jonathan Hession/A+E Networks/History

Ragnar returns after being gone for many years after a defeat at Paris at the hands of his brother, Rollo (Clive Standen). Upon his return though, people arent too happy to see him as he abandoned them. Plus, theyve learned about the destroyed settlement in Wessex that Ragnar knew about and didnt mention.

When Ragnar realizes that he doesnt have enough forces to get revenge on King Ecbert of Wessex (Linus Roache) for the settlement, he devises a new tactic. He decides to have himself killed by King Aelle of Northumbria (Ivan Kaye) by having Ecbert hand him over. He also makes a deal with Ecbert to have his son, Ivar (Alex Hgh Andersen), who traveled with him to Wessex, tell his sons that they are friends, and that Aelle is solely responsible for Ragnars death. However, Ragnar relays to Ivar to get revenge on Ecbert.

Ragnar is given over to Aelles forces, and hes beaten. Aelle carves a cross into Ragnars head, and he has him thrown into a pit of snakes, where he dies from their venom. Ragnar gives a speech right before his death where he talks about the gods and Valhalla because he knows his sons will hear of it despite him not believing anymore.

How all of Ragnars sons learned about his death

David Lindstrom, Jordan Patrick Smith, Marco Ils, Gustaf Skarsgard, Alex Hgh Andersen and Alexander Ludwig in Vikings | Bernard Walsh/A+E Networks/History

RELATED: Vikings: Which Character Do Fans Feel Is the Best Son of Ragnar Lothbrok?

Ivar makes it back to Kattegat with the help of Ecberts soldiers, and he fills Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) and Sigurd (David Lindstrom), his brothers, in on whats happened. Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) and Hvitserk (Marco Ils), his other brothers, are sailing on a voyage, and they make it to the Mediterranean Sea. However, Bjorn and Hvitserk notice crows and suddenly hear their father saying, How the little piggies will grunt when they hear how the old boar suffered. Bjorn asks his brother if he heard their father too, and he did. Next, they see Odin on the hill with crows all around. My father is dead, Bjorn says looking upset.

A man with one eye and face tattoos on the same side of his face, presumably supposed to be Odin, comes to bring the news to the sons in Kattegat. He rides in on a ship, and crows appear everywhere. He goes to Ivar first, who is heating up a blade and working on its form. He says to him, Ivar, your father is dead. Killed by serpents. He holds Ivars neck continuing, Cold in the cold, iron earth, Ragnar lies. He then walks away, and Ivar, who looks stunned, starts banging on the sword and yelling.

Ubbe can hear Ivar, and he turns around to see Odin, who just stares at him and quickly disappears. Odin walks up to Sigurd as well looking him straight in the face a foot from him. Apparently, all of the sons hear the speech about how the old boar suffered as well.

The sons of Ragnar get a great army together once they all reunite, and its called the Great Heathen Army. Nothing is ever the same once they get revenge on the kings of England, and they both die before its all over. Ragnars revenge is realized, and his sons mourn his loss from then on.
NEW YORK, March 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Customs Audit market will register an incremental spend of about USD 2.24 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 4.95% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Customs Audit sourcing can unlock several opportunities for buyers. This report also offers market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Download free sample report

Customs Audit Sourcing and Procurement Report

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices.

Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models.

Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPIs to evaluate incumbent suppliers.

Get a free sample report for more information

Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Customs Audit market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Customs Audit pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfill their category objectives.

For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, Click here.

Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth:

The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers.

Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 3.00%-5.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Customs Audit TCO (total cost of ownership).

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes.

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

Some of the top Customs Audit suppliers listed in this report:

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This Customs Audit procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Ernst & Young Global Ltd.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.

PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd.

KPMG International Ltd.

Grant Thornton International Ltd.

BDO International Ltd.

Ryan International

Mazars Group

Crowe Global

Simmons & Simmons LLP

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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

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Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia attended a church ceremony to honour the victims of the coronavirus on Thursday.

The memorial was held at the chapel of the Drottningholm Palace just outside Stockholm on the one-year anniversary of the first death of the pandemic in the Scandinavian nation.

Although the king and queen participated, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel could not attend as they both tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day.

The royal court said in a statement that the Crown Princess and her husband have mild symptoms and "are feeling well considering the circumstances."

Sweden has stood out for its comparatively mild response to the pandemic.

The country avoided lockdowns and relied instead on citizens' sense of civic duty to control infections.

As of Thursday, more than 13,100 people had died of COVID-19 in the country, far more per capita than Sweden's neighbours but lower than in larger European countries that did implement strict lockdowns or curfews.

The monarch - Sweden's head of state whose role is purely ceremonial and has no political power - said in December that he believes his country had failed to protect the elderly in care homes from the effects of the pandemic.

His comments followed the conclusions by an independent commission that looked into Sweden's handling of the pandemic.

It said that elderly care in Sweden has major structural shortcomings and authorities have proved unprepared and ill-equipped to meet the pandemic.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
China in Focus (March 12): Chinese Film Market Drives Hollywood Censorship

China steps up as the worlds biggest feature film market. Its giving Hollywood even more incentive to comply with Beijings censorship.

A New Yorker recounts being put under lockdown in Shanghai. Living in isolation for two months once drove him to a dangerous point.

A top U.S. military commander fears China is speeding up plans to replace the United States on the world stage, as the communist regime deepens a plan to recruit technology talents from around the world.

The International Olympic Committee is going to buy CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccines from China. But this years host country, Japan, is refusing to use them.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
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Ukraine supports the US decision to impose sanctions on former owners of PrivatBank and makes efforts to return the funds to the country.

As for the United States' sanctions against the former owners of PrivatBank. We support this decision and make efforts to return the money to Ukraine to bring justice back to Ukraine. Its main principle is that we clearly see a difference between the concepts of big business and oligarchic class. And surnames do not make any difference here: Medvedchuk, Kolomoyskyy, Poroshenko, Akhmetov, Pinchuk, Firtash or anyone else, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address posted on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to him, one thing is important: if a person is ready to work legally and transparently, such a person will be supported. If a person wants to continue creating monopolies and control the media, this time is over.

As reported, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on March 5 that the United States imposed restrictive measures against Ihor Kolomoyskyy. The businessman, his wife and children are banned from entering the United States.

The Office of the President of Ukraine thanked the United States "for supporting de-oligarchization."

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(CNN)  When Buckingham Palace finally broke its silence on the allegations made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their bombshell interview, royal observers paid particular attention to one line of the palace statement: "While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."

Harry and Meghan are clearly very upset at how they've been treated. They would clearly like some kind of resolution. And they clearly felt that they had exhausted all formal options for getting that, and could only get their side of the story across by sitting down with the most famous interviewer on the planet.

However, the fact that the palace has said this matter will be dealt with privately raises some pretty serious questions about how individuals who believe they've been wronged by the royals can possibly hold them to account.

"It's obvious that Harry and Meghan sincerely feel that they've been mistreated by members of the family and would like a resolution," says Marcia Moody, a royal biographer and journalist. "Unfortunately, their ultra-open style has collided with an institution that lives by the rule of never complain, never explain. They will probably never get that resolution."

Part of the problem is that the royal family is several things at once. It is a family business, a private family and a constitutional monarchy. It employs people, upholds parts of the UK's constitution and tries to maintain support among the public to justify its existence. It does this while being fair game for the media and trying to maintain some kind of private life.

These conflicting realities create some strange precedents, especially when it comes to holding the family to account.

"If a royal aide complains that they have been bullied by the Duchess, then they can raise it with their boss and it goes up the chain of command. But how the Duchess might complain about a racist comment from a member of her own family is of course a far more complicated problem," says Catherine Haddon, senior fellow at the Institute for Government.

In other constitutional bodies, there are mechanisms and processes in place for grievances to be aired and played out in public. However, decades of protocol and precedent have left British politicians on the whole uncomfortable to comment on matters concerning the monarchy. Even as US President Joe Biden and presidential envoy John Kerry made public comments on the interview, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused to get involved, saying that he had "spent a long time not commenting" and didn't "intend to depart from that." He did, however, feel the need to clarify the level of admiration he had for his boss, the Queen.

The respect for the crown is in itself part of the reason that the public knows so little of what actually goes on behind closed doors.

"Over the past few decades, many areas of government and civil service have come into the public domain and come under scrutiny. But with the royals, deference to the crown means things are generally done on their terms," says Andrew Blick, a constitutional expert at King's College London.

Blick explains that there is a "tendency for the monarchy to be exempt from things like freedom of information requests and the declassification of documents," which don't become public in the way that things like minutes from government cabinet meetings do. "We will probably never know how the Queen dealt with any of this saga, other than through the odd leaks to the press."

The British media plays a big part in the royal pantomime. Prince Harry dedicated a significant chunk of the interview to the tabloid press. He described how "scared" members of his family are "of the tabloids turning on them," and talked of an "invisible contract" where "if you as a family member are willing to wine, dine and give full access to these reporters, then you will get better press."

In saying this, the Duke perhaps admitted that he knew the best way to win justice with an institution unwilling to be held to account is to try them in the court of public opinion.

"When the mechanisms don't exist to do it in any formal way and there is no political accountability, it is inevitable that the public perception of monarchy  including whether it should exist  becomes the only way to really get accountability," says Haddon.

While it's true that bad press has forced the monarchy to break cover and give the public what they want in the past  most notably in the immediate aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death  it's not certain to work.

"The court of public opinion is an extremely odd thing. You can be panned on social media for something that is utterly scandalous but still go on to be successful. Look at Donald Trump and the Access Hollywood tape. Look at the banks who robbed people during the crisis," says Mark Borkowski, a veteran public relations consultant who has worked with Michael Jackson and Led Zeppelin.

Borkowski explains that even if a PR storm looks terminal, strong institutions usually have the ability to ride out nearly any crisis. This, very likely, includes the royals. "Don't forget that the 'third woman' in the interview with Diana that scandalized the whole family was Camilla. Not only is she now very popular with the public, she is going to one day be the de-facto Queen of England. It turned out OK."

The difference between that scandal and the Sussex crisis is that Harry is still the Queen's grandson and, according to the Palace statement, "Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members."

This means that both sides should probably be braced for a very long, painful war of attrition. Loyalists to Prince William and Duchess Catherine will probably continue to brief the UK newspapers, while the Sussexes will continue to build their dynasty in America, where they are very popular.

It seems very unlikely that there will ever be a public reconciliation from Buckingham Palace that comes close to containing the fallout from the allegations that Prince Charles let down Harry, or that a family member made racist comments about the color of unborn Archie's skin. And that applies to the British public also, who, it could be argued, have a right to know exactly what happened in an institution that it largely funds  and through open statements, rather than leaks to the media.

So, how do you hold a royal to account? The answer, it seems, is to give a blockbuster interview that ruins your relationship with the entire family, knowing they cannot really respond. Which must be tremendously sad if they happen to be your own family.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Harry and Meghan feel wronged by the palace. But they can only seek justice in the court of public opinion"
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 79F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
In a landmark ruling, a Malaysian High Court has overturned a government ban on the use of Allah by non-Muslims, saying it conflicted with the constitutional rights of religious freedom.

By Robin Gomes

Following a legal battle that dragged on for more than a decade, Malaysias High Court ruled on Wednesday that the use of Islamic words including Allah by Christians and other non-Muslim communities in the country is not unlawful. Non-Muslims can also use three words for religious and educational purposes including prayers, publications and religious services.

1986 Home Ministry directive

The ban against the use of Allah by non-Muslims came after Malaysian authorities in 2008 seized from Malaysian Christian, Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, 8 educational compact discs with the word Allah written on them, at Kuala Lumpur airport, when she returned from a visit to Indonesia. The authorities evoked a 1986 Home Ministry directive that forbade non-Christians from using the word saying it was a threat to public order. Some radical Muslim clerics argue that using Allah was the exclusive right of Muslims and allowing Christians to do so could cause confusion and unrest.

Bill then filed a petition with the Kuala Lumpur High Court for her right to use the word Allah for religious practices. In 2014, a court declared the confiscation unlawful and the CDs were returned to her the following year.

Ban - "illegal and unconstitutional"

The March 10 ruling by the Kuala Lumpur High Court stressed Bills right not to face discrimination on the ground of her faith. In her decision, Justice Nor Bee ruled that the word "Allah" - along with three other words of Arabic origin "Kaabah" (Islam's holiest shrine in Mecca), "Baitullah (House of God) and "Solat" (prayer) - could be used by Christians. She said the directive that banned the use of the four words was "illegal and unconstitutional". "The freedom to profess and practice one's religion, she said, should include the right to own religious materials." The judge quashed the 1986 government directive saying the Home Ministry had overstepped its powers.

Other cases

This is not the first time a Malaysian court has been divided over the use of the word "Allah". In a separate case, the local Catholic weekly, The Herald, sued the government after it said it could not use the word in its Malay-language edition to describe the Christian God. In 2009, a lower court ruled in favour of weekly and allowed them to use the word, a decision that prompted a strong protests from radical Muslim groups.

Dozens of churches and a few Muslim prayer halls were attacked and burned following the decision. In 2013, the Court of Appeals overt reinstating the ban. A year later, The Herald lost a legal battle in court over the government order. Sidang Injil Borneo (Borneo Evangelical Church) has also been fighting for the legal right to use the word Allah.

Malaysia's Muafakat Nasional - a political coalition  has urged that the March 10 High Court ruling be referred to the Court of Appeal, according to a report by local news outlet The Star. In Malaysia,

Allah is a word that entered the Malay language from Arabic, to refer to their God for centuries. However, Christians of Malay origin have been accustomed to the religious practice of using the word for God for centuries, especially in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak where about two-thirds of the countrys Christians live. Muslims make up about 60 percent of Malaysias 32 million population and Christians account for about 13 percent, making up the third-largest religious group.
Associated Press

The largest warship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances, the latest calamity to strike one of the countrys vessels in recent years amid tensions with the West. The blaze began around 2:25 a.m. and firefighters tried to contain it, the Fars news agency reported, but their efforts failed to save the 207-meter (679-foot) Kharg, which was used to resupply other ships in the fleet at sea and conduct training exercises. The vessel sank near the Iranian port of Jask, some 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) southeast of Tehran on the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz  the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  A medical society appealed to the Philippine government on Saturday to not neglect doctors who are not affiliated with any hospital or organization in the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Dr. Oscar Tinio of the Philippine Medical Association expressed worries over the fact that other doctors are not included in the government's master list for COVID-19 vaccination, and that they may be left behind since the focus is on medical frontliners working for government-run hospitals.

"Ang aming pagkakaalam ay 'yung pong mga (medical) frontliners sa government ay inuuna, followed by tertiary, secondary and primary level hospitals," he told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend.

[Translation: As far as we know, the (medical) frontliners in the government are given priority, followed by tertiary, secondary and primary level hospitals.]

"Kami ay umaapela sa pamahalaan na bigyan ng atensiyon ang ating mga doktor na nanggaling sa ganitong mga lugar (hindi kasama sa mga ospital sa listahan)," he added.

[Translation: We appeal to the government to pay attention to our doctors who come from such areas (not included in the hospitals on the list).]

RELATED: WHO wants medical workers vaccinated with first COVID-19 doses from COVAX in February

READ: LIST: Priority sectors, subgroups in COVID-19 vaccination program

He did not provide figures on how many doctors have no direct link to the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

However, Dr. Tinio noted that the government may tap PMA's 119 component societies to trace and add those doctors in the master list.

In a statement on Saturday, the Department of Health and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 assured the public that the country's vaccination pace for medical frontliners would "rise exponentially".

The government's bullishness is driven by expectations that the bulk of its procured COVID-19 vaccine doses, including those donations from the COVAX Facility, will arrive by "mid-second quarter of this year."

We are only in the second week of our rollout, but the experience we are gaining from this phase will help us once supply of vaccines becomes steady. As of latest count, we have already deployed almost 90% of our available doses," NTF chief implementer and vaccine czar secretary Carlito G. Galvez was quoted as saying in the statement.

"We are confident that we will be vaccinating much more once our vaccines arrive, but while we wait for our turn to get vaccinated, I want to emphasize that we cannot let our guards down. Vaccination is only one of our strategies to beat this virus, but our adherence to MPHS is still the best," Health chief Francisco Duque also said in the statement.

Sutro Baths Segregation

by Woody LaBounty

(Originally appeared on the Ocean Beach Bulletin, February 22, 2011.)

In February, Black History Month, the television is full of footage of the Freedom Riders, Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Lincoln Monument, and sepia-tinted interviews with heroes from the Civil Rights Movement. It's important to remember, however, that the struggle for civil rights didn't begin in the 1950s. John Martini, historian and retired National Park Service ranger, recently discovered more evidence of the long national struggle in 1890s San Francisco.

While leading guided walks or giving presentations about Sutro Baths, John was often asked if the baths were segregated. "My response has always been that they might have been, especially given the racist culture of San Francisco a century ago, but I had no solid proof."

Recently though, John found documentation in old newspaper articles that "Adolph Sutro definitely had a policy of restricting admission to the baths based on race. More specifically, there was an unwritten but unbendable policy about access to the pools when Sutros first opened in the 1890s."

Newspaper articles from the 1890s describe how Mr. John Harris, a colored man, attempted to buy a ticket to go swimming and was rebuffed, and subsequently filed suit against Adolph Sutro and his Baths.

"Mr. Harris lawsuit became an early test case for a then-new California civil rights law called the Dibble Bill," John emailed. "The new law, which had gone into effect on April 29, 1897, declared that 'no railways, hotels, restaurants, barber-shops, bathhouses and other like institutions licensed to serve the public shall discriminate against any well behaved citizen, no matter what his color.'

"The [articles] also reveal with stark clarity the blatant racism of the 1890s that directly and unabashedly opposed the rule of law, along with the twisted logic that supported the Jim Crow policies."

It started on the Fourth of July in 1897. John Harris came to Sutro Baths with a few white friends and bought a 25-cent ticket, which purported to entitle him to general admission, a bathing suit, and admission to the changing rooms. The San Francisco Call of August 1, 1897 reported what followed:

On receiving the ticket Mr. Harris presented the same at the proper place, and as he says, in a sober, orderly, polite and well-behaved manner demanded the use of a bathing suit and a dressing-room, intending to avail himself of the opportunities of the bathing pools generally offered to patrons of the place, 'but the defendant seeing and knowing that the plaintiff was a man of African descent, known as a negro and colored man,' refused him the privileges for which he had paid. This refusal he avers was on account of his race and color, and for no other reason whatever, and plaintiff was then and there for said reason denied full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of said bathing-house and said place of amusement.



When the refusal stated above took place, Mr. Harris says, he was in company with several white, or Caucasian friends, and his sensibilities and feelings were injured by the acts of the defendant in holding him up in the presence of his friends as of an inferior and degraded race.



On the 11th of July Mr. Harris made another effort to enjoy the bathing facilities offered by Mr. Sutro, but he was again similarly rebuffed. He assesses his damages at $5000 for each refusal, and consequently demands that Mr. Sutro pay him $10,000. 1

In response to the Call story and the suit, the superintendent of Sutro Baths attempted to clarify the company policy:

"Negroes," he said, "so long as they are sober and well behaved are allowed to enter the baths as spectators, but are not permitted to go in the water. It is not a matter of personal feeling with us but of business necessity. It would ruin our baths here because the white people would refuse to use them if the negroes were allowed equal privileges in that way. No one could in equity expect us to make such a sacrifice. I do not think such a case could ever be won against us. Public sentiment would be too strongly in opposition for any law to force such a commingling of the white and colored races. I do not believe the case will ever come to trial." 2

The superintendent further speculated the suit could have been intended as a test case or "prompted in spite by some enemy of Mr. Sutro," since in the fifteen months the Baths had been opened no other "colored person attempted to mingle with the whites in the water." 3

Mr. Harris did have allies in the fight. The Assembly Club, a social organization comprising of (in the Call's description) "the better class of colored people in this City," declared itself interested in supporting financially "this case or any other brought by a negro to test the rights of their race in this matter." 4

The Blade newspaper in Santa Rosa weighed in on the matter, claiming that "it will be a hard task to secure a jury that will allow damages even though the law allows the black brethren equal rights with other folk. A negro is a negro and his color is his misfortune, not his fault. He only makes the difference more apparent by rushing into the courts with a handicap laid on him by the hand of the almighty, who knew His business as well in the days of Ham as He does now." 5

On February 17, 1898, the San Francisco Chronicle announced the suit's conclusion. With Sutro's only defense being the objections of white patrons causing business loss, the judge in the case instructed the jury it must rule in favor of Mr. Harris by law. The jury awarded the minimum penalty of $50 for each of the two violations set forth in the complaint. It was a small victory, since any verdict under $300 required the plaintiff to pay the costs of the trial. The Chronicle concluded that "after paying his attorneys [Harris] will be little or nothing ahead by the suit." 6

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A Dublin woman who donated a kidney to her sick teenage daughter just over three months ago can look forward to some extra pampering on Mothers Day after her selfless act.

Claire Cody donated one of her kidneys to daughter Sophie (14) last year.

On the morning of Monday, November 30, Claire from Skerries, was wheeled down to the operating theatre in Beaumont Hospital, for the removal of one of her healthy kidneys by transplant surgeon Dilly Little.

The retrieved kidney was then rushed across the city to Temple Street Hospital, where surgeon Gordon Smith and his team were waiting to perform the transplant operation on Sophie.

After the successful operation it would be nearly two weeks before mother and daughter would see each other again, on December 12 and two more days before Sophie could return home.

Both mother and daughter took the opportunity to get some fresh air on their local strand in Skerries for a photo opportunity, organised by the Irish Kidney Association (IKA), to celebrate Mothers Day.

Expand Close Sophie Cody on the first day her mother got to visit her in Temple Street after their living donor kidney transplant operation. / Facebook

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I am so grateful to have received the gift of a kidney from my mother and I feel so much better now, Sophie said.

I cant wait for the restrictions and lockdown to be over so that we can celebrate properly with our friends and family. For Mothers Day, we will pamper mam, we will make the most of being together and my dad will cook for us.

Claire added: We have both recovered well since our operations and are grateful that Sophie is back to good health. However, the challenge now is to keep her safe as she will be taking immune suppressants for the rest of her life.

Claire said it had been an emotional journey for all the family since Sophies shock diagnosis two years ago, when she was suddenly catapulted into kidney failure and hospital dialysis treatment at Temple Street Hospital.

Our world was turned upside down and it took an emotional toll on Sophie as she was coming into her teenage years, Claire said. 

"Then Covid-19 came along and that compounded our anxiety levels. Sophie went to skin and bone and she was very pale but since her transplant she is putting on weight again and she looks really healthy now, with colour back in her cheeks and she has a positive outlook.

In the days that followed post-transplant, mother and daughter remained in two different hospitals, eagerly waiting to be reunited with one another.

Expand Close Sophie with her father Damian three days after the transplant operation / Facebook

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It felt very surreal when I woke up from my operation, Claire revealed. All I wanted was to see that Sophie was ok and to hug her but we had to settle for FaceTime.

"It was an emotional reunion for both of us when I finally got to visit her in Temple Street on the same day I was discharged from Beaumont, five days after my surgery and seventeen days after I last saw her, as she was admitted to Temple Street a few days prior to her operation.

For almost three weeks, Sophie was confined to her hospital room. Obviously, there was very valid safety reasons for this measure but for our 14-year-old, with all her renewed energy from the successful transplant, she felt isolated and was going doolally as she longed for the day she could finally go home.

Damian Cody left his wife at the doors of Beaumont Hospital the day before her operation and didnt get to see her again until six days later.

He was allowed some restricted visits to see Sophie but was also separated from his youngest daughter Amy (11) who left the family home two weeks before the transplant operations to allow her other family members to cocoon safely.

Claire and Sophie paid tribute to the medical, nursing staff and transplant teams at both Temple Street and Beaumont and transplant surgeons Gordon Smyth and Dilly Little and, to the staff in Michaels C Ward in Temple Street who cared for Sophie when she was receiving dialysis.

They also said a big thank you to John the taxi driver, who ferried Sophie to and from the hospital, and also to Paddy Cox of Dialyze Clothing, who sent Sophie a big hamper just before she went to hospital for her transplant.

Wed also like to thank our extended family for their loving care throughout and to our friends and neighbours who sent us messages of support, they said.

Our thanks also to Sophies teachers and the principal at Skerries Community School for supporting her. We also would like to acknowledge how supportive the staff at Bradys pharmacy in Skerries have been for Sophies medication needs.

I was lucky to be a suitable donor to Sophie but there are many other children and adults who dont have the opportunity for a living donor, and they remain on transplant waiting lists, Claire added.

Two years ago, we had no idea that Sophie would experience organ failure and thats why I would encourage people to consider organ donation as you never know if, someday, a member of your family will find themselves in the same situation that we suddenly did.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA)  The Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General and chief of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Jan Kubis, held a series of meetings in Paris with senior French officials in his efforts to rally international support for the Libyans in their quest for peace, stability, unity and prosperity
The Long household is a busy one. Like many others around the country, the kitchen table has been doubling up as a craft and play area for the "smallies" as mum and water engineer Aisling calls them.

"The house is ripped apart; no drawer has been left unturned," she says jokingly.

Sitting at home in Macroom with her laptop humming away, her kids are busily playing with dad Oliver in the background as Aisling talks about her journey through the lockdowns.

"We have dealt with it like everyone else really. Oliver and I share an office and we juggle the kids and work. My sister Keely and Oliver's mum Katheen have also helped us get through the extra busy days during this lock-down. We couldn't have managed without them.

"It has been a challenge, but we see light at the end of the tunnel now with the vaccine roll-out, so we must be optimistic.

"I miss the little things, like having a coffee and catching up with family, friends and colleagues in person. It has been a tough year for everyone in our locality."

Aisling lives just outside the picturesque market town of Macroom and although the Covid-19 incidence rate per 100,000 people remains lower in every Local Electoral Area in Cork than the national figure in the past two weeks, the virus has taken its toll.

"You see it on social media and when you talk to your family and friends. Families are grieving, businesses are reeling, and people are just exhausted now. Some businesses may never recover, but the people of Macroom are tough and resilient. We will bounce back.

"The one positive is that it has brought back a great sense of community, finding nice places to walk in our locality, supporting local businesses and looking out for neighbours."

A qualified Environmental Engineer, Aisling now works as a Regional Information Specialist with Irish Water.

"I love my job. I get to meet so many different and interesting people and work on a wide variety of projects too, albeit virtually for the moment. I've worked on many great projects in my career. My first job was on the Kinsale Road Landfill project and it was fascinating. It involved the remediation of the old landfill and turning it into a recreational park, while harnessing methane gas for power generation.

"After college, I worked on motorway projects, both designing and building them. Working on large infrastructure projects and being a part of a big team is really rewarding. I feel the same way working in Irish Water; we are doing something positive for the country, safeguarding our water for our future and protecting our environment."

Indeed, a lot of faith is being placed in the future. Covid-19 has disrupted all aspects of life with weddings all around the country being postponed, sometimes more than once.

"My sister Daire and her fiance PJ were meant to get married last June, and they have had to postpone twice, so we are all looking forward to a third time lucky wedding this August, all going well."

Naturally, Aisling's girls Finley (4) and Jules (2) mean the world to herself and Oliver. One might wonder if their future careers are pre-ordained having parents who are an Engineer and a Quantity Surveyor respectively?

"Definitely if they are interested in studying STEM subjects and engineering, I'll encourage them to follow and explore all of their interests. I've never regretted studying engineering, it's a great qualification that leads to many different paths. The best thing is the variety of projects and work - no two days are ever the same. We are all intrigued by the Macroom bypass now, which is literally on our doorstep. We've been bringing our girls to watch the large beams being lifted onto new bridges. They love to see all the machinery and trucks as well, so it is definitely in the blood."

A glance at Irish Water's website will tell you there are hundreds of projects happening all over the country and the Cork/Kerry area is no different.

"I really enjoy working in a company that is literally keeping the country's water and wastewater flowing. As an Engineer, I have been really impressed by how we are getting to grips with the size and scale of the challenges and delivering sustainable solutions for the future.

"The beauty of working in communications now is that I can bring my technical knowledge to the table and help people understand projects that affect them. I have communicated on a lot of great projects in Irish Water.

"The Lough Guitane Water treatment plant just outside Killarney is hugely impressive. It serves over 30,000 people. Water travels from there to Tralee, which is an amazing feat of engineering. The Cork Lower Harbour Main Drainage Project is another fascinating piece of engineering. We are eliminating the equivalent of 40,000 wheelie bins a day of raw sewage flowing into Cork Lower Harbour with that project and I was delighted to have been on site for some of the large-scale pieces of engineering work.

"It's great to look back at all of the things I have done in my career to date and exciting to look forward to when things return to normality."
President believes that the US is going to end up in a "stiff" competition with China and intends to "prevail" in that, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said, a week before he is set to meet his Chinese counterpart for the first time.

The relations between China and the US 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.

As far as China is concerned, the United States, as he (Biden) has said repeatedly, believes that we are going to end up in a stiff competition with China, and we intend to prevail in that competition, Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference on Friday.

And he is amassing the sources of strength that we need to be able to prevail. And that is 100 per cent in line with everything that said on the campaign trail. And 50 days in, we believe we are in a better position to deal with the challenge from China than we were the day that he took office, he said in response to a question.

Sullivan along with the Secretary of State Antony Blinken are scheduled to meet their Chinese counterparts at Anchorage in Alaska next week, the first in-person meeting since Biden became US president in January.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that Yang Jiechi, a member of the Politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China and State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold strategic dialogue with Sullivan and Blinken in Anchorage on March 18-19.

I don't expect that, for example, the phase one trade deal is going to be a major topic of conversation next week. This is our effort to communicate clearly to the Chinese government how the United States intends to proceed at a strategic level, what we believe our fundamental interests and values are, and what our concerns with their activities are -- whether it's on Hong Kong, or Xinjiang, or in the Taiwan Strait -- or, frankly, the issues that we heard today from our Quad partners: their coercion of Australia, their harassment around the Senkaku Islands, their aggression on the border with India, he said.

Responding to a question, Sullivan said that this will stay more in that zone than get into the details of questions around tariffs or export controls.

The world's two largest economies were locked in a bitter trade battle. The dispute has seen the US and China impose tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of one another's goods.

But we will communicate that the United States is going to take steps, in terms of what we do on technology, to ensure that our technology is not being used in ways that are inimical to our values or adverse to our security. We will communicate that message at a broad level, he told reporters.

Sullivan said that in just 50 days, the Biden administration has revitalised its alliances in Asia and Europe.

Last week, with the Europeans, we agreed to a pause in tariffs in the long-running Boeing-Airbus dispute. And we executed a strong joint response to Russia's poisoning of Aleksey Navalny. We've begun deep consultations with our European partners on a common approach to our concerns with China, he said.

In Asia, just in the last few days, we've reached new hosting agreements for our troops and our bases with both Korea and Japan. And now we've taken the Quad to a new level, he said.

In February, President Biden said that China is in for extreme competition from the US under his administration, but that the new relationship he wants to forge need not be one of conflict. The relations will not be in the way that Trump did but will focus on rules of the road.

(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 maskless Kate Middleton laid daffodils from Kensington Palace during an emotional visit to Sarah Everard's memorial in South London on Saturday, because she remembers what it was like to walk around London at night, it is understood.

The Duchess of Cambridge made the visit to Clapham Common on Saturday afternoon close to where the 33-year-old went missing, to pay her respects to Ms Everard and her family in the wake of the marketing executive's murder.

The duchess visited a bandstand in the park where she added to the dozens of floral tributes that have been placed for Ms Everard by mourners, whose body was formally identified on Friday.

She was seen pausing in front of the sea of tributes placed around the bandstand, which have grown substantially in the last day. As well as flowers, the memorial also features signs, with the duchess seen near a sign reading 'I am Sarah'.

It is understood Kate, who was seen not wearing a mask despite coronavirus measures, also made the visit in part because she remembers what it felt like to walk around London at night before she married Prince William.

The unexpected visit came after a planned vigil was cancelled, with organisers citing the Met Police's 'lack of constructive engagement' to help make it Covid secure. Instead, officers gathered in force this evening to break up the growing crowds.

Kensington Palace said Kate (pictured) 'wanted to pay her respects to the family and to Sarah', reported Sky . 'She remembers what is was like to walk around London at night before she was married,' the palace added

The unexpected visit came after a planned vigil was cancelled, with organisers citing the Met Police's 'lack of constructive engagement' to help make it Covid secure

Vigils had been organised across the UK in memory of Ms Everard, as well as to urge that more is done to tackle violence against women.

Organisers Reclaim These Streets announced that a vigil planned for Saturday in Clapham Common had been cancelled and said a 'virtual gathering' will take place instead.

A fundraiser set up by the group for women's charitable causes was less than 10,000 away from its 320,000 target as the virtual gathering began shortly after 6pm.

Reclaim These Streets has also encouraged people to join a doorstep vigil at 9.30pm, with the group saying it would be joining people across the country and 'shining a light, a candle, a torch, a phone, to remember Sarah Everard and all the women affected by and lost to violence'.

However, hundreds of people defied police requests to gather at Clapham Common on Saturday evening as others held virtual vigils in memory of Sarah Everard.

Some clashes broke out as emotions ran high at the gathering in south London, close to where 33-year-old Ms Everard disappeared.

Hundreds of mourners defied social distancing to gather at Clapham Common on Saturday night, around a bandstand where dozens of floral tributes have been placed for Ms Everard, whose body was formally identified on Friday

The vigil was planned for Saturday in memory of marketing executive Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home to Brixton on March 3

Officers surrounded the bandstand, where people have laid flowers, and members of the crowd could be heard shouting 'shame on you'.

An official vigil was cancelled - as were others across the UK - due to coronavirus restrictions, but a virtual event was held at 6pm in which campaigners called for more to be done to tackle violence against women.

A minute's silence was held and candles were lit during the online vigil hosted by Feminists of London, with television presenter Sandi Toksvig calling for Ms Everard's death to be a 'turning point'.

In Clapham, one video posted online showed officers grabbing women standing within the bandstand before leading them away, to screaming and shouting from onlookers.

Campaign group Sisters Uncut, which had representatives present at the demonstration, claimed that 'male police officers waited for the sun to set before they started grabbing and manhandling women in the crowd'.

A group of women hug as they stand in front of tributes for Sarah Everard

Two women weep at the Sarah Everard shrine

A woman was pinned to the ground as she was handcuffed by officers in Clapham Common on Saturday evening

Fights broke out as people battled against police officers on Saturday evening in Clapham Junction

The Metropolitan Police was criticised for its policing of the gathering, with one MP describing it as 'heartbreaking and maddening to watch'.

Labour's Sarah Owen added: 'No one can see these scenes and think that this has been handled anything but badly by @metpoliceuk. It could and should have been so different.'

Charlotte Nichols, shadow minister for women and equalities, tweeted: 'If @metpoliceuk had put the resources into assisting @ReclaimTS to hold the covid-secure vigil originally planned that they put into stopping any collective show of grief and solidarity (both through the courts and a heavy-handed physical response), we'd all be in a better place.'

Opening the online event, television presenter Sandi Toksvig said she had never 'felt more passionately concerned about my kids'.

She said: 'It surely cannot be asking too much to want them simply to be free, to walk where they like, when they like.

'I am filled in equal measure with profound sorrow and rage, and I know there are many who share this rage and I think it is entirely justifiable. But I also know that it will harm rather than help us if we don't try and direct that anger to good purpose.'

Police attempt to break up a vigil for Ms Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common

Police officers blocked people from accessing the bandstand as those in the crowd held up candles

Women shouted at police as they gathered near the bandstand in Clapham Common this evening

She added that it was not a 'small change' that was needed, but a 'cultural shift about how women are viewed and treated both in the public and private space'.

'This has to be a turning point where ending violence finally becomes a political priority,' she said.

Mandu Reid, the leader of the Women's Equality Party, echoed these sentiments, adding: 'The way to truly honour Sarah and every other woman we've lost is to demand that politicians of all stripes treat violence against women and girls as a political and policing priority.'

She said: 'The pain and poignancy of this moment lies in the devastating fact that all women and every girl lives under the perpetual threat that what happened to Sarah could happen to any one of us.

'The reality for women and girls is that the harassment we experience, which is as omnipresent as the air we breathe, could escalate at any time.'

Reclaim These Streets, which had planned to hold the Clapham vigil before it was cancelled, also urged people to take part in a doorstep vigil at 9.30pm on Saturday, with the group saying it would be joining people across the country and 'shining a light, a candle, a torch, a phone, to remember Sarah Everard and all the women affected by and lost to violence'.

They added: 'We aren't just lighting a candle for the women we've lost: we have been inspired by the women who have reached out and hope this is just the start of a movement that will light a fire for change.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would light a candle for Ms Everard with his fiancee Carrie Symonds, adding that he would be thinking of the 33-year-old's family and friends.

'I cannot imagine how unbearable their pain and grief is. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime,' he said.

The bandstand was surrounded by flowers laid three-foot deep as people gathered for a vigil

'This isn't about you': Anti-lockdown protester interrupts Sarah Everard vigil to complain about not being allowed to meet up with his friends An anti-lockdown protester interrupted a vigil for Sarah Everard in London this evening. The unknown man stood on a bandstand surrounded by hundreds of bouquets of flowers and other tributes left for the marketing executive. He shouted: 'We should be free to move, to visit friends, to be on the streets.' The rest of his words were drowned out by the crowd. The unknown man (pictured) stood on a bandstand surrounded by hundreds of bouquets of flowers and other tributes Photographs show the moment the man was escorted away from the vigil by a number of police officers He was met with a chorus of shouting as mourners told him: 'This isn't about you'. One woman screamed: 'A woman has died.' Others told him to shut up, with one man adding 'it's about women you idiot' before batting away another man's hand as they tried to calm him down. Photographs show the moment the man was escorted away from the vigil by a number of police officers. Advertisement

'I will do everything I can to make sure the streets are safe and ensure women and girls do not face harassment or abuse.'

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she would also be lighting a candle, and added that almost 20,000 people had responded in 24 hours to a consultation on how the Government could tackle violence against women and girls.

'That is completely unprecedented & we will carefully consider responses,' she tweeted.

The Duchess of Cambridge was among those to visit the make-shift memorial at Clapham Common on Saturday to pay her respects, and was seen pausing in front of the sea of flowers.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser set up by Reclaim These Streets for women's charitable causes passed its target of 320,000 on Saturday evening.

On Friday, a High Court judge refused to intervene on behalf of the group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions.

On Saturday, the group said that despite their attempts to work with police to ensure the Clapham vigil could proceed safely, they now felt it could not go ahead.

Organisers said they had made 'many suggestions' to police, including splitting the event into different time slots - but that they were told going ahead with a vigil could risk a 10,000 fine each for each woman organising.

A number of police forces across the country also issued statements urging people not to attend the in-person events, instead encouraging people to move online.

A vigil planned for Ms Everard's home city of York was cancelled and organisers urged people to post a photo of a candle in their window or doorway, while events in Coventry and Birmingham were also cancelled.

The fundraising target of 320,000 by Reclaim These Streets was set to mirror the fines which might have been issued had the vigils gone ahead, with the aim to raise 10,000 for each of the 32 vigils which organisers said had been scheduled.

Caitlin Prowle, from Reclaim These Streets, said the group had not wanted to end up in a situation they were having to raise funds to pay fines, rather than for charitable causes.

She said the money would 'just go straight back into a system' that 'continues to fail' women.
January 13

Graham Bell's partner Yebin Mok sustains 'a very nasty wound from an ice blade' during rehearsals.

While it was initially thought she would return to the competition, the injuries were worse than anticipated and she was replaced by Karina Manta. They were voted out the following weekend.

Ouch! Graham Bell's partner Yebin Mok suffers a freak accident after suffering 'a very nasty wound from an ice blade'

Out! While it was initially thought she would return to the competition, the injuries were worse than anticipated and she was replaced

January 26

Denise Van Outen announces she's quit Dancing On Ice after learning she'd fractured her shoulder in an accident during training.

The presenter, 46, shared an Instagram statement telling fans she'd withdrawn the show after being told by doctors the injury would leave her severely limited in training.

Denise was replaced by retired Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler, 21, who made her debut on the ice the following weekend alongside pro Joe Johnson. Amy and Joe were voted off on February 14.

Injury! Denise Van Outen announced she'd quit after fracturing her shoulder in training

Gone! The presenter told fans she'd withdrawn the show after being told by doctors the injury would leave her severely limited in training [pictured with pro partner Matt Evers]

January 28

Billie Shepherd reveals her grandmother Wendy has tragically passed away. She died age 77 from pneumonia.

In the wake of the news it was revealed that the former TOWIE star wouldn't appear in the next episode of the ITV skating show following the death.

January 31

Rufus Hound misses the live show due to coming into contact with someone with COVID-19.

Positive! Rufus Hound quit the show entirely, after testing positive for COVID-19

February 3

Rufus Hound quits the show entirely, after testing positive for COVID-19.

The comedian, 41, took to Twitter to announce the news. He posted an accompanying video message explaining why he regretfully had to withdraw from the ITV skating competition.

Show bosses confirmed that Rufus and his professional partner Robin Johnstone would be both be stepping down and replaced by Matt Richardson, 29, and his pro-skater partner Vicky Ogden.

They were voted out after just one performance.

Tragedy! Billie Shepherd's grandmother died, after which she suffered a concussion and had to pull out [pictured with pro Mark Hanretty]

February 6

Billie Shepherd is forced to quit the show after suffering a concussion following a fall in training.

The Mummy Diaries star, 31, reportedly went to hospital for an MRI scan after being left unconscious following the accident.

The next day, Billie shared a photo of herself with professional partner Mark Hanretty from their 'first and last' dance as she confirmed her exit.

An ITV representative also confirmed to MailOnline that Billie would not be replaced for the remainder of the competition.

Crestfallen! The Emmerdale actor, 18, said he was 'disappointed' to not be able to continue with the show, while his skating partner Vanessa Bauer, 24, said she was 'heartbroken'

February 12

Joe-Warren Plant becomes the fourth celebrity forced to bow out after he tested positive for coronavirus.

The Emmerdale actor, 18, said he was 'disappointed' to not be able to continue with the show, while his skating partner Vanessa Bauer, 24, said she was 'heartbroken'.

The professional skater revealed the pair got the 'shock' phone call during rehearsals on Thursday evening and said they 'both feel fine'.

February 14

Jason Donovan, 52, pulls out of the Valentine's Day live show with the star being advised to rest after suffering from back pain.

The former Neighbours actor said in a statement: 'I've had back pain the past couple of days and I'm under doctor's orders to take it easy and sit this week out.

'I'm resting up, I'll be watching from home and cheering everyone on and I look forward to returning next week.'

He sent a video message into the show wishing his fellow contestants luck for the episode.

Painful! Jason Donovan, 52, pulled out of the Valentine's Day live show with the star being advised to rest after suffering from back pain

Another one bites the dust! Hamish Gamin was forced to bow out after injuring his hand 'whilst putting on a sock'

February 15

ITV announce that Dancing On Ice will not air on February 21, but will be back, live on February 28.

The purpose of the break was to allow the stars a week off to give both cast and crew a chance to 'recharge and rest up'.

In a statement from an ITV spokesperson, it was revealed that show bosses felt it 'prudent to take a week's break at this juncture' to protect 'the welfare of all of those involved.'

February 16

Pro skater Hamish Gaman quits what is increasingly being referred to as the 'cursed' show.

Hamish, 37, is forced to bow out after injuring his hand 'whilst putting on a sock'.

An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Sadly we can confirm that Hamish Gaman, who has been partnered with Faye Brookes, has had to withdraw from the competition.

'We thank him for all his hard work and wish him the very best as he takes some time out to allow his injury to fully heal.'

Faye remains in the competition but is instead partnered with Matt Evers, who was previously partnered with Denise Van Outen.

Bye! An ITV spokesperson told MailOnlin - 'Sadly we can confirm that Hamish Gaman, who has been partnered with Faye Brookes, has had to withdraw from the competition'

February 22

Jason Donovan quits the show after failing to recover from a back injury.

The Neighbours star, 52, had pulled out of the Valentine's Day live episode to recover but on the advice of medics is not returning to the competition.

He announced the news on Facebook, saying he's 'completely gutted' to leave as he thanked his pro partner Alexandra Schauman for all her support.

Jason said: I am devastated to announce that due to this ongoing back issue which occurred on DOI about 10 days ago and at the advice of my medical team in the show that unfortunately I cant continue the competition and therefore have to withdraw.

'It's a nightmare and I'm completely gutted, we put so much work into getting to this point, but I have to respect my health and body moving forward and that's my biggest priority.'

February 26

ITV confirmed that the show's finale will now be taking place on Sunday March 14, instead of the original date of March 21

A spokesperson for the show said in a statement: 'ITV have taken the decision to move the final of Dancing on Ice forward by one week.

'The competitions final will now take place on Sunday 14th March. Our production team and cast have delivered a fantastic show during incredibly challenging times.

'Continuing to make the best TV for our viewers is our top priority and we look forward to the rest of the series, on air from this Sunday at 6pm.'
The "new Russian plan" was discussed this Monday by the EU ambassador to the Russian Federation, Markus Ederer, with the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, Bloomberg informs with a reference to its sources.

In particular, Ederer drew Borrel's attention to the fact that over the past 7 years since the beginning of European pressure on Russia due to the crisis in Ukraine "our position has become outdated and turned out to be too focused on the Ukrainian conflict."

In this regard, he suggested Josep Borrell modernise relations between the European Union and Russia.

The European Commission declined to comment on this news.
French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo has come under fire for a cartoon which shows the Queen kneeling on Meghan Markle's neck, drawing parallels to the death of George Floyd.

The publication, which has faced scrutiny before for its controversial drawings, has sparked outrage again just days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed they experienced open racism from family members and staff in the royal family.

The image appears to be replicating the horrifying death of George Floyd who died after police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes , despite Floyd's desperate pleas for help crying, 'I can't breathe'.

The latest cartoon on the French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo's front page titled 'Why Meghan quit Buckingham' depicts the Queen kneeling on Meghan Markle's neck as the Duchess says 'because I couldn't breathe anymore', drawing comparisons to the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last May

The controversial cartoon, which has sparked outrage online and among campaigners and activists, comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey aired this week. Pictured: The Queen and Meghan Markle together in July 2018

During the interview (pictured), the royal couple claimed they experienced open racism from family members and staff in the royal family

On the front cover of the magazine, the cartoon is displayed with the headline: 'Why Meghan quit Buckingham.'

The Queen is depicted pressing her knee in the back of the Duchess's neck, and Meghan replies: 'Because I couldn't breathe anymore.'

It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey aired this week, with claims they experienced racism within the royal family.

People on social media and activists have branded the cartoon 'wrong' and 'appalling'.

CEO of race equality think tank Runnymede Dr Halima Begum tweeted: 'Charlie Hebdo, this is wrong on every level. The Queen as George Floyd's murderer crushing Meghan's neck?

The latest cartoon draws parallels with the tragic death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last year

'Meghan saying she's unable to breathe? This doesn't push boundaries, make anyone laugh or challenge racism.

'It demeans the issues & causes offence, across the board.'

In response, campaign group WindrushAnchor, said: 'A poor and ill-conceived response from Charlie Hebdo which if anything inflames the issue.

'This brand of simplistic satire has no place in the fight against racism. Utterly appalling and deeply saddening.'

Another Twitter user wrote: 'Is this the free speech that Charlie Hebdo is so passionate about? Racism, disrespect and offence passed off as satire? Im sorry but no Je suis for me.

'This is nothing but racist bigotry and inciting hate. Do better with your platform and grow up.'

And Black and Asian Lawyers ForJustice tweeted that the cover was 'outrageous, disgusting, fascistic racism' adding that the magazine was 'pimping George Floyd's trauma for profit'.

George Floyd's death in May 2020 sparked outrage as video footage emerged of a police officer kneeling on his neck despite him saying he couldn't breathe and members of the public pleading for him to stop.

Black Lives Matter protests took place across the world to speak out against police brutality and racial inequality after his death in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Activists and campaigners have taken to Twitter to share their disgust at the latest Charlie Hebdo cartoon, branding it 'appalling' and 'wrong'

Just this week The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to pay an unprecedented $27million to settle a civil lawsuit from George Floyd's family over his death in police custody.

The news of the settlement was announced as jury selection continued in the murder trial of Chauvin, who killed Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nine minutes last summer.'

And while some have simply expressed their outrage at the Charlie Hebdo cover, a human and civil rights activist @_SJPeace is calling for the magazine to be removed.

'A French magazine is laughing about Floyds death...and Meghan Markle,' he said.

'This magazine is notorious for being racist and offensive and gaslighting people of color. This magazine needs to be removed!'

Chauvin is seen kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis on May 25. Shortly afterward, Floyd was pronounced dead at the scene

During the shocking Oprah interview Harry and Meghan claimed they had experienced open racism from family members and staff, and alleged a member of Harry's family even expressed 'concern' about 'how dark' their unborn son would be.

There has been much speculation about which member of the royal family they were accusing of racism.

But during the interview the couple would not be drawn on who had deeply offended them.

They also said the family had been unsupportive of the pressures they were going through, leaving Meghan feeling suicidal and fuelling their decision to quit the UK.

Harry said he felt let down by his father, who, he claimed, refused to take his calls at one point, and admitted there was still a gulf between him and his brother.

Although they had not been expecting to receive an easy ride, the royal family were said to be stunned at the ferocity of the allegations hurled in their direction.

Prince William was the first senior royal to address directly the string of allegations made in the explosive Oprah interview, insisting they are 'very much not a racist family'

There was significant internal debate as to whether to rebut many of them, but instead the Queen personally opted for a 'compassionate but firm' approach.

Days after the interview Prince William spoke to insist the royals were 'very much not a racist family', a move which was backed by the Queen and Prince Charles.

On Thursday he became the first senior Windsor to address directly the string of allegations made in the explosive Oprah interview.

This is not the first time the magazine has been criticised for its controversial cartoons.

Charlie Hebdo was attacked by Islamist fanatics in January 2015, after posting cartoons which were said to have insulted the Prophet Mohammed.

Twelve people were killed in the onslaught, including a number of cartoonists who were said to have continually mocked Islam.

The magazine is now published from a secret headquarters in Paris - one that is said to be under armed guard at all times.

Despite its reputation for 'Je Suis Charlie' free speech, Hebdo is frequently accused of racism and Islamophobia.

It denies the claims, saying that it is fully entitled to mock anybody it chooses.
At the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 was approved. The plan clearly states that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China will accelerate the establishment of a new development pattern of "dual circulation," where domestic and foreign markets can boost each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay, and start a new journey of building a modern socialist country with a new development concept.

China's five-year plans are a series of social and economic development initiatives issued since the 1950s, which map strategies, put forward targets and set corresponding policy-making directions. They are an important way in which the Communist Party of China (CPC) governs the country.

In 1953, China drew up its first five-year plan when the country needed to build its capacity from scratch. The 1st Five-Year Plan (1953-1957) set out the basic task of laying the foundations of China's industrialization and completing its socialist transformation. During that period, China successfully produced its first car, its first jet aircraft and the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge. By the end of 1957, China's total industrial output had increased by 128.6% compared with 1952.

In 1986, China drew up the 7th Five-Year Plan (1986-1990). This plan, devised after the reform and opening-up of China, included for the first time sections on "expanding external economic and technological exchanges" and "investment structure and policy," and also placed the development of science and education in important strategic positions. During the 7th Five-Year Plan period, China's economic system underwent major changes, with the Shanghai Stock Exchange starting operations in December 1990.

In the last five years (2016-2020) of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the 13th Five-Year Plan highlighted "innovation" and "reform." It also set out key tasks including targeted poverty alleviation, construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, integration of Hong Kong and Macao into overall national development, and strengthened the crackdown on corruption. By the end of 2020, China's GDP exceeded the threshold of 100 trillion yuan ($15.42 trillion). Meanwhile, the Fuxing bullet trains, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, C919 airplane, Chang'e-4 spacecraft, Beidou Navigation System and other achievements have become new icons of China.

China's five-year plans can be said to have charted the path of national economic and social development, and recorded the entire process of the country's growth.

From the 1st to 14th Five-Year Plan, China has been marching toward the same goal, that is, to achieve modernization. The consistency of targets, long-term decisions, stability and continuity of guidelines are distinguishing features of China's governance system.

Now, the new 14th Five-Year Plan and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 will lead the Chinese people toward building a great modern socialist country with a brighter future.

China Mosaic

http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

14th Five-Year Plan: How China guides development with five-year plans

http://www.china.org.cn/video/2021-03/11/content_77299352.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn
MASON CITY, Iowa  Sex with a teenager is sending a Mason City man to prison.

Kenton Yakeil Hentz, 28, has pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. He was arrested in October 2020 and charged with third-degree sex abuse. Police said Hentz had sex with a 14-year-old female between February and May of 2019.

Hentz has been sentenced to up to five years behind bars. He must also register as a sex offender and pay a civil penalty of $250.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law by President Joe Biden on Thursday, has allocated $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief aid, much of which will be handed directly to state and local authorities to bring swift aid to municipalities and school districts.

U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, has been a major proponent of the bill since its inception. Green, whose 9th Congressional District encompasses Fort Bend County and south Houston, convened a press conference with local leaders on Friday to discuss how the funds from the act will be allocated- and where that money will go.

Related: With $676M bond vote looming, Katy ISD superintendent details district needs

Funds will be dispensed to state and local entities in the county. Fort Bend County will directly receive $157 million. Missouri City will receive $7.4 million, and the city of Stafford will receive $3.8 million.

The American Rescue Plan includes $350 billion in funding for states and municipalities that have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic due to dwindling sales tax revenue, Green said. This influx of funding will help these municipalities work to recover from and continue fighting the coronavirus crisis.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George praised the allocation of funds to the counties. The CARES Act, predecessor to the American Rescue Plan Act, granted funding to the state with murky instructions as to how the funds should be dispersed, George said.

Some of the monies are still unaccounted for, he added.

When it comes to the CARES Act, 55 percent of the money authorized to us- we dont know where it went, said George. That's why (the American Rescue Plan Act) legislation is so beautiful. Because the money that is coming to Fort Bend County belongs to Fort Bend County.

Missouri City city council member Jeffrey Boney agreed that dispersing funds to local municipalities enables the aid to go where its needed most. We wanted the money to come directly to municipalities like Missouri City because we know best what our constituents need in the midst of COVID-19, Boney said. We've lost revenue. Many of our residents have been impacted in many of our small businesses.

School districts will receive funding directly as well. Alief ISD will receive about $200 million in aid. Stafford MSD will receive about $3.2 million and Fort Bend ISD will be allocated about $112 million.

Melinda McCall, president of the Fort Bend American Federation of Teachers, noted that the funding to Fort Bend ISD will go to increasing campus safety against the virus.

All of Fort Bend is going through a tough time, because our teachers love our kids, and they want to be in the classroom with the kids. But they can't do that if they're not safe, she said. This money will help support the excessive educational needs that we continue to have in the school district because of COVID.

Alief ISD superintendent HD Chambers said that his districts allotment will enable schools to fill some of the educational gaps left behind in the 2019-2020 school year. Chambers estimated that it may take up to six years for the district to bounce back to its pre-COVID-19 educational and economic status.

This $200 million that we're receiving will be spent on things like lowering class sizes, and we will be bringing in outside tutors and mentors, he said. It will also be used to provide transportation for our students who have no transportation, and it will be used for providing the type of resources, devices and technology weve learned we need.

House of Representatives Bill 1669, authored by Green, allocates $10 billion to help small businesses.

Of that $10 billion, Green said, $500 million will go to employers with nine or fewer employees. Another $2.5 billion will go to minority depository institutions, which are small banks. These small banks directly offer loans to small businesses, which further bolsters area economies.

That money goes to the bank, and the banks have explicit things that they can do with the money in terms of making loans to small businesses, Green said. It is designed for small businesses, and my intent is to give it to small businesses.

Through HR 1674, the Fair Housing Initiative Program, $39.7 million will go to ensuring that landlords are not discriminating against potential tenants.

The need for fair housing enforcement has increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Fair Housing Alliance found that - as Asian Americans endure an alarming spike in hate crimes related to the coronavirus - 8 percent of fair housing organizations have experienced upticks in complaints based on national origin of Asian-Americans or Pacific Islanders, Green said. The inclusion of HR 1674 in the American Rescue Plan will provide a much-needed $20 million in grants for emergency fair housing enforcement to help mitigate this upsetting trend.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston ZIP codes that need COVID vaccines the most don't have enough, data shows

Green concluded, When the deadly novel coronavirus reached the United States more than a year ago, many of us would have never imagined the severe health and economic toll it would take on our nation. However, it has been and continues to be my priority to ensure all my constituents - including those who have suffered from contracting the virus themselves or losing a loved one to it, job loss, inadequate access to health care, hunger, risk of eviction or foreclosure, or business closure - receive the necessary relief to weather and recover from this storm.

claire.goodman@chron.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  Bohol, a popular tourist destination, is far from recovery from the pandemic-triggered slump in the industry even after it started welcoming travellers again in December, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap said.

Malayo pa tayo sa usaping bawi, Yap said during the Laging Handa briefing on Saturday.

[Translation: We are still far from recovery.]

He noted from 30,000 tourists going in and out of the island-province per day prior to the pandemic, only 1,000 now visit the province per month, including their local tourists.

As the government eases travel restrictions, Yap said they still have to implement measures to prevent any massive transmission of the virus in their province, which include requiring a negative swab test taken at least 72 hours before the date of arrival.

READ: What you need to know ahead of Bohol tourism reopening

However, Yap noted that what will make the situation improve is the proper rollout of the government vaccination program.

We really think na ang deal maker dito ay ang vaccine I think may fighting chance tayo na mas babalik tayo sa normalcy in terms of tourism, business, investments [with the rollout], he added.

[Translation: We really think that the deal maker here is the vaccine. I think we have a fighting chance to return to normalcy in terms of tourism, business, investments with the rollout.]

Yap said Bohol started its vaccine program two weeks ago in one of the local government hospitals.

The government targets to procure around 140 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to immunize up to 70 million Filipinos. Currently available vaccines are only around 1 million doses which are being administered to the priority sector, the healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, latest data from the Department of Heath showed that total infections in Bohol are at 1,631, of which 332 are active. Death toll stood low at 20 and recoveries are at 1,279.



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Former Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky poses for a picture after an interview with Reuters in central London, Britain, Jan. 18, 2021. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

Russia Detains Around 200 People, Including Leading Opposition Figures, at Moscow Meeting

MOSCOWRussian police detained around 200 people, including several prominent opposition figures, at a meeting of independent and opposition politicians in Moscow on Saturday, the interior ministry said.

The detentions come amid a crackdown on anti-Kremlin sentiment, following the arrest and imprisonment of opposition politician Alexei Navalny who returned to Russia in January after recovering from a nerve agent poisoning in Siberia.

The Moscow forum, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, was a gathering of municipal deputies from all over the country, Andrei Pivovarov, the events organizer and executive director of Open Russia, a British-based group founded by exiled former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, told radio station Echo Moskvy.

As the forum got underway, police entered the building and began detaining attendees and taking them to police vans waiting outside, video footage from TV Rain and Russian news agencies showed.

The Moscow branch of Russias interior ministry said around 200 people had been detained and that an investigation was underway.

Police said those detained were not following the appropriate anti-coronavirus health measures even though footage showed most of them wearing masks. They said some of those attending the forum had links to an undesirable organization.

A significant portion of participants lacked personal protective equipment, the police said. Members of an organization whose activities are considered undesirable on Russian territory were among the participants.

OVD-Info, which monitors the detention of political protesters and activists, put the number of detainees at more than 170.

The finale of the short forum was very symbolic: deputies in police vans and masked police twisting peoples arms, one detainee, opposition politician Ilya Yashin, wrote on Facebook.

But no one promised us freedom on a silver platter. Russia will still be free.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, vice-president of the Free Russia Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organization, shared a picture from the inside of a police van after he was detained.

TV Rain said Yevgeny Roizman, the former mayor of Yekaterinburg, and Moscow city councilor Yulia Galyamina were also detained.

Open Russia is one of more than 30 groups that Moscow has labeled as undesirable and banned under a law adopted in 2015.

By Alexander Marrow
Demonstrators gathered on Friday after a week of protests in Paraguay's capital to demand President Mario Abdo Benitez' resignation over the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of protesters in Asuncion was smaller than in the first days of the protest, which began after the health ministry's declaration of a "red alert" due to an increase in cases of infections.

Protesters accuse President Abdo of corruption and negligence in the management of the pandemic. The South American country's hospitals lack key drugs to treat Covid-19 patients, and almost all beds in intensive care units of public hospitals are now occupied.

Hospitals across Paraguay have been left without basic drugs for intensive care patients. To date, 174.013 people have been confirmed infected with the coronavirus in Paraguay. The number of new infections has recently exceeded 2,000 cases per day. 3.387 patients have died in connection with Covid-19 disease, according to the Ministry of Health.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
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Colombian armed forces prevented a terrorist attack in the country's northeast, where a dissident revolutionary armed group was preparing to blow up a runway previously used for the shipments of COVID-19 vaccines

MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th March, 2021) Colombian armed forces prevented a terrorist attack in the country's northeast, where a dissident revolutionary armed group was preparing to blow up a runway previously used for the shipments of COVID-19 vaccines.

"Troops of the National Army in a military operation neutralized the terrorist action that the members of the Residual Organized Armed Group 33 tried to commit in the Cuatro Esquinas village of the Teorama municipality, where they were going to detonate explosives, at the same place where an aircraft that brought COVID-19 vaccines to this part of the Catatumbo region had landed earlier," the army said in a statement published late on Friday.

The security forces detected two explosive devices, ready for a controlled blast, which could cause significant damage to civilians and soldiers.

The armed group which tried to commit a terrorist act is one of the remaining organized groups in Colombia, which were formed from members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who did not want to participate in the 2016 peace deal, designed to end the decades-long Colombian conflict.

The war began in 1964, the same year the 20,000-strong FARC was founded as a military wing of a local communist party. It was supposed to fight for the creation of a "New Colombia", which was meant to be a society of social justice and equality.

In 2017, the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force communist political party was established as a political successor of the FARC.
No new COVID-19 case of UK variant in Madhya Pradesh post last week: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Bhopal, Mar 13: After six people tested positive for the UK strain of coronavirus in Indore in Madhya Pradesh last week, no new case with that variant has come to light in the state, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here on Saturday.

He said a call on whether to impose a night curfew in Bhopal and Indore will be taken on Monday. "No new case of the UK coronavirus strain has come to light," Chouhan told reporters after inaugurating the 27th'Hunar Haat' of indigenous products of artisans and craftsmen from across the country in the presence of Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi at Lal Parade Ground.

North-East got its respect only after advent of PM Modi's government in 2014: Smriti Irani

Chouhan was responding to a query on whether more people tested positive for the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus in Madhya Pradesh recently. "We are keeping a close watch on the coronavirus situation, especially in two big cities Indore and Bhopal. If needed, the night closing timings of shops will be decided by the crisis management group. We are going to review the situation on Monday to make decisions on the futurecourse of action," he added.

Chouhan said shop owners have been directed to wear masks and ensure that physical distance is maintained. "This is their duty," he stressed. He said the people found roaming without masks will be made to pay fine.

"Owners and managers of public hallshave been directed to reduce the current seating capacity by half. A hall with the seating capacity of 400 will now have to cut it to just 200 now," the CM said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on two-day campaign in poll-bound Assam, West Bengal

On Friday, 603 new COVID -19 cases were reported in Madhya Pradesh. Indore, the worst-hit district in the state by the pandemic, saw 219 new cases, taking the caseload there to 61,642, Bhopal witnessed 138 fresh cases, which pushed its total count to 45,079.

Indore has so far reported 940 deaths and Bhopal 621. There are 1,528 active cases in Indore, while the state capital has 806 such cases. Against this background, the CM said the pandemic situation is in controlling a large part of Madhya Pradesh.

"In ten districts, the number of pandemic cases is above ten. Districts like Betul near the Maharashtra border have reported a number of viral infections," Chouhan said.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 17:15 [IST]
Islamic State-aligned jihadists ambushed a Nigerian military convoy, killing 15 soldiers and four militia fighters in the northeastern state of Borno, security sources said Saturday.

The convoy came under heavy attack from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters near Gudumbali in the Lake Chad region on Thursday, the sources said.

The attack was the latest in a jihadist conflict which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in northeast Nigeria since it began more than a decade ago.

"We lost 15 soldiers and four civilian JTF (militia) in the terrorists' ambush in the forest near Gudumbali," a military officer, who asked not to be identified, told AFP.

He said 13 government fighters, including 10 troops, were wounded in the ambush.

The 10-vehicle convoy was on its way to Gudumbali from the town of Kukawa for a military operation against the insurgents when it came under fire, said another military source, who gave the same toll.

"The casualties were brought to Maiduguri this afternoon," the source told AFP, referring to the regional capital.

Militia leader Umar Ari said a vigilante leader in the area was among those killed.

Nigeria's army works with local militia forces as part of its battle against jihadists.

"Four of our comrades were among the dead, including, Yusuf Baba-Idris, the head of Civilian JTF in Kukawa," Ari said.

On Saturday, ISWAP issued a statement, claiming responsibility for the ambush, according to the SITE jihadist monitoring agency.

The Islamist group said its ambush "led to killing 33 elements and wounding nearly 20 others and taking one of them prisoner, while the survivors fled."

The group said its fighters also destroyed military vehicles, captured more and seized weapons and ammunition.

- Spreading insurgency -

President Muhammadu Buhari has come under increasing pressure to deal with Nigeria's security challenges, including the jihadist uprising, herder-farmer clashes as well as banditry and mass kidnappings in the northwest.

Story continues

Nigerian security forces on Saturday were seeking to rescue dozens of students who were abducted in northwestern Kaduna state in the latest attack on a school.

Gunmen stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando at the outskirts of the state capital, Kaduna city, late Thursday and took more than 30 students away while the military rescued 180 after a battle.

Kidnap gangs are largely driven by ransom payments and have no known ideological leanings. Victims are often released shortly after negotiations.

ISWAP split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016, and has since become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.

On March 1, jihadist fighters burnt down a United Nations humanitarian compound in the town of Dikwa after dislodging troops, killing six civilians.

Nigeria's jihadist violence has spread to neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.

abu/joa/pma
Before the ceasefire on Feb 24, Pakistan resorted to over 4,000 border violations

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 13: In 2020, Pakistan resorted to ceasefire violations 4,465 times. The escalation in the violations both along the Line of Control and International Border were after the centre decided to scrap Article 370 in August 2019.

There has been an escalation in ceasefire violations over the past five years. Officials tell OneIndia that these could be attributed to various factors. The surgical strikes, Balakot air strike, heavy security in Jammu and Kashmir and also the fact that the security forces gunned down a large number of terrorists in the past five years.

The violations were clearly aimed at providing cover fire to the terrorists looking to infiltrate. Pakistan has scores of terrorists waiting at the border waiting to infiltrate, but have found it hard in the past couple of years. The fact that so many infiltration bids have been foiled and a large number of terrorists being killed only meant that the terror groups are unable to operate with ease in the Valley.

Will give ceasefire with Pak the best shot: General Raju

On February 25, in a surprise move, both India and Pakistan said that the ceasefire was being maintained since February 24. The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere, a joint statement read.

The statement issued by the armies of both countries said that the move followed a discussion between India's DGMO, Lt. General Paramjit Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Nauman Zakaria.

The Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan held discussions over the established mechanism of hotline contact. The two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere.

In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO agreed to address each other's core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021.

YASHWANT SINHA JOINS TMC and more news | Oneindia News

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 8:28 [IST]
New Englands independent publishers are known for carving out strong niches and holding steadfast to them, come what may. The extraordinary forces of the last yearpandemic, protests, and climate changeput that model to the test, and for five publishers it appears that strategy paid off.

At the outset of the pandemic, sales took a nosedive at Interlink Publishing Group in Northampton, Mass., as traditional sales channels collapsed. Most independent booksellers canceled their orders for our spring list, Amazon suspended ordering for a month, and international trade came to a complete halt, said founder and publisher Michel Moushabeck. It was a very scary time.

Sales rebounded in fall, however, and Interlink ended the year up 8% over 2019. Moushabeck attributed the gains to a list that cultivated a dedicated audience who sought out the publishers brand of international cultural histories, fiction, cookbooks, and childrens books through new avenues. He helped readers find those new sales channels, including direct-to-home ordering, by writing two customer newsletters a week and ramping up social media.

Moushabeck said the embrace of Zoom for events was another plus, allowing overseas authors to promote their titles without the cost of bringing them to the U.S. He also more than doubled the size of the companys e-book offerings, from 150 titles at the outset of the pandemic to 350 today.

Cookbooks did especially well at Interlink. Almost all of our 2020 cookbooks won major awards, and this made a contribution to our bottom line, Moushabeck said. One creative marketing approach he adopted was to create easy-to-buy thematic book bundles that played to the presss focus on international titles. He devised country bundles that each include a cookbook, a translated novel, and a cultural history from a given country, as well as an optional picture book.

The new year includes more cookbooks featuring cuisine from around the world, and more picture books.

Moushabeck was able to keep his staff intact. We did not furlough anyone or cut anyones salary, and thats a massive achievement, he noted. Having weathered a big storm in 2020 and come out ahead, we are moving forward with greater confidence.

Godine started the yearits 50th anniversaryunder new ownership, with managing director David Allender overseeing the daily operations of the press. The transition could have been a vulnerability in an unpredictable time, but instead sales jumped 66% in 2020 over 2019, making it the publishers strongest year since 2004. Changes were implemented across the company, from back-end operations to retail sales and marketing. Among the most important was a new distribution agreement with Ingrams Two Rivers division that went into effect last March. At the same time, the press took strides to enhance its digital marketing to consumers, which resulted in a 75% increase in direct sales.

Other sales channels had smaller increases but they combined to have a large effect for Godine. Amazon sales ticked up from 49% of overall revenue in 2019 to 53%. E-book sales rose to 5% of revenue, from 2% the previous year, following a push by the press to expand its number of digital titles.

One of the most important shifts at Godine came in acquisitions, where Allender credited editorial director Joshua Bodwell for selecting titles with enhanced retail appeal. Under Bodwells leadership, Godines Black Sparrow list received multiple accolades from major media outlets, including a New York Times best of the year recognition for Wanda Colemans Wicked Enhancement: Selected Poems, which was edited by Terrance Hayes. The books were simply better and more exciting than theyve been in years, Allender said.

Godine did take a handful of losses on expensive illustrated titles that reviewers and consumers could not browse in print. Those knocks confirmed Allenders belief that the rise in e-commerce buying will shift public interest a bit further away from the presss long-standing approach of publishing titles that resist easy categorization. This is not a good time for unclassifiable books of uncertain audiences, he said.

Godines forthcoming list contains a mix of poetry, memoir, fiction, and nonfiction. Allender said Chaney Kwaks memoir, The Passenger, is one of the new titles that is representative of the presss new approach, as is Simon van Booys novel Night Came with Many Stars.

Allender thinks Godines success in the pandemic points to an even stronger 2021 as the U.S. begins to emerge from the crisis. I have every reason to believe the business will grow again in 2021, he said. The new Godine is just getting started.

From White River Junction, Vt., Chelsea Green Publishing was poised to move nimbly in the face of the pandemic in spring. Vermont was late to experience the effects of Covid, and the employee-owned publishing house had just underwent an overhaul of its distribution model and had launched a new website to enhance direct-to-consumer sales. All of it helped the press adapt quickly to shifting sales channels.

When Amazon deprioritized book sales in March, Chelsea Green president and publisher Margo Baldwin partnered with Amazon resellers to meet demand and forged ahead with her publishing schedule. Long-standing partnerships with environmental, food security, and culinary organizations paid off, too. The press finished 2020 with sales up 40% over the previous year. Backlist sales rose 34%, and frontlist was up 66%.

Notably, returns were only 3% for Chelsea Green in 2020, likely the result of a 145% increase in direct-to-consumer sales and sales through online retailers like Bookshop.org. Baldwin added several drop-in, subject-specific titles that did well in 2020, including Oneness vs. the 1% by Vanda and Kartikey Shiva, and Corona, False Alarm? by Karina Reiss and Sucharit Bhakdi. The publisher is also continuing its philosophy of challenging norms by producing books that question the handling of the outbreak and the science behind it.

Given Chelsea Greens success in 2020, Baldwin has no intention of slowing down. She predicts Aprils The Truth About Covid-19: Exposing the Great Reset, Lockdowns, Vaccine Passports, and the New Normal by Joseph Mercola and Ronnie Cummins will be a national bestseller and is preparing a first print run of 50,000 copies.

Boston-based Beacon Press has been a stalwart publisher of social justice classics like Martin Luther King Jr.s Why We Cant Wait. But few could have predicted the enormous success of a slate of titles on anti-racism in 2020, led by Robin DiAngelos White Fragility. That book was already a steady seller going into the year, but sales surged following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police last summer. The publisher does not disclose figures, but director of sales and marketing Sanj Kharbanda said that 2020 was the best sales year in Beacons history.

With new readers came new sales channels for Beacon, with its books landing at big-box retail chains like Target and Walmart. Director Helene Atwan said the increase in sales is an affirmation of the presss approach. The culture is finally catching up to our prophetic books, she said. Were happy theyre finding their audience, and we want to continue to do more of the same, only better.

Atwan expects continued strength for Beacons backlist, and its 2021 list has some potential strong sellers, led by Nice Racism, DiAngelos highly anticipated follow-up to White Fragility. Other titles include Collected Poems by Sonia Sanchez and Boyz N The Void by GRa Asim.

For Cider Mill Press, 2019 was going to be a hard year to beat, yet sales jumped 20% in 2020, according to founder John Whalen. As the pandemic took hold, he and his team conducted an analysis of the titles they were slated to release, asking tough questions about which ones would thrive in a digital-only retail setting, and which would not. Childrens books and cookbooks stayed near the top of the list, while some other books were held for later publication. We became very focused on books that would sell well online via a digital image versus those that require an enhanced point-of-sale experience, Whalen said.

Cider Mill also developed a handful of titles tailored to the pandemic, including a new coloring book in its Dare You adult coloring series, titled Fuck Off Coronavirus, Im Coloring. The press had the book ready for distribution by mid-April, and Whalen said its now in its ninth printing.

Like his fellow New England publishers, Whalen believes that 2021 will be another good year. As the pandemic loosens its grip, he expects cocktail books and regional travel titles to be particularly strong, but he believes gains will likely extend to the Cider Mills entire frontlist. Overall, he added, we remain bullish for all book sales in the year ahead.
Judging by his sprightly appearance on our Zoom call, Edward Bonham Carter has spent a good chunk of lockdown twisting and stretching on his yoga mat.

The fund manager, 60, reveals that regular sessions at his bolthole in the South Downs have been the key to maintaining his svelte physique  and his mental wellbeing.

'It's my main method of trying to keep healthy and sane,' he explains.

But when he's not been balancing on one leg, Bonham Carter has been busily contorting his business life after 26 years at asset management giant Jupiter.

Switch: Edward Bonham Carter is backing low-cost 'passive' investment funds

For almost three decades now  most of it as chief executive  Bonham Carter has championed highly paid City fund managers who use their expertise to pick stocks on behalf of savers.

Now, he's started advocating for the exact opposite: low-cost passive funds where investments are picked by robots instead.

Having stepped back to vice-chairman in 2014, Bonham Carter is set to leave the Jupiter board altogether in May as he ploughs his energies into a new role as chairman of start-up investing firm Netwealth.

The brainchild of former investment bankers Charlotte Ransom and Thomas Salter, Netwealth is a money manager that invests customers' cash at a low cost to deliver a steady income for long-term goals.

The concept is hardly new. But while traditional wealth managers have tended to charge 2 per cent or more, Netwealth's fees are less than 1 per cent.

This, Bonham Carter explains, is because the bulk of the process is done online (although human advisers are available on request) and investments are made through passive robot funds that mirror the rise or fall of shares or bonds.

'You could say it's ironic, since I've worked for many years as an active fund manager,' Bonham Carter admits. '[But] I think active and passive funds coexist; there are many ways up the mountainside to enlightenment  there's no one way.'

His new-found passion for passives is all the more surprising given that under Bonham Carter's leadership, Jupiter steadfastly declined to follow asset manager rivals such as Legal & General and Fidelity by launching its own passive funds  despite savers ploughing billions of pounds into these types of investment.

But Bonham Carter is now putting his money where his mouth is: as well as taking on the role of chairman in January, he has been among a host of City grandees who've provided early financial backing to Netwealth since it launched in 2015.

Other high-profile investors include Lloyd's of London chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown; former Prudential chair Harvey McGrath; and Michael Spencer, the founder of brokerage firm Icap.

Bonham Carter reveals he and his family are customers, too.

'My children are investing alongside me and my wife,' he says. 'I noticed that they're finding the technology easy to access and they're asking me more questions [about their investments]  both fortunately and unfortunately!'

Netwealth  whose customers must put in 50,000, but can then invite seven others with savings of just 5,000 each  is now on the hunt to acquire small advisory firms to boost its client numbers.

It could end up competing with large rivals such as Schroders Personal Wealth, many of whom are also looking to snap up advisers.

So Bonham Carter's experience in mergers and acquisitions could prove useful.

Having joined Jupiter in 1994, he rose to chief investment officer in 1999 and joint chief executive in 2000, before leading a swashbuckling management takeover with US private equity firm TA Associates in 2007  just before the financial crisis took hold.

'It was a bracing period, both as an investor and as a chief executive. Luckily, our fund managers did a good job.

Siblings: Helena has a 'famous' brother

'We were able to float in 2010, mostly with a motivation of paying down debt because we borrowed a bit of money to buy the business. It all worked out, but there were times it got my pulse rate up.'

His first foray into asset management was at blue-blooded Schroders and he says his parents provided inspiration: his father was a merchant banker and his mother a psychologist.

'I think I chose well with my parents,' he quips. 'Did I have a vocation? Not necessarily. Many of my colleagues think I should have done something else. I'm not sure if that's a compliment.'

While on the subject of family, I ask about his sister, the actress Helena Bonham Carter.

'Who?' he replies, before breaking into a chuckle. 'She's constantly, when she's in Hollywood, being asked if she's related to the famous fund manager,' he jests.

Bonham Carter isn't leaving Jupiter altogether in May.

He will remain an adviser on green and ethical investing. He has a few other non-executive roles, too, including ITV and Land Securities Group.

Jupiter, he explains, is still bedding down after its acquisition of fund boutique Merian Global Investors, which was also backed by TA Associates.

Jupiter reported a profit of 179million last year, up a tenth on the previous year, and now manages about 58.7billion, boosted by Merian's 17billion.

Bonham Carter expects more fund managers will join forces as stockpickers come under pressure from low-cost robot funds and a weak economy.

'I think there's going to be quite a lot of mergers and acquisitions in a number of different sectors in the UK,' he says.

Bonham Carter leaves the Jupiter board having helped the firm grow from 4billion in assets when he joined to nearly 60billion  but he is more keen to talk about Netwealth's huge potential than his impressive legacy.

In fact, when I ask him to reflect on his time at Jupiter's helm, he replies: 'The last thing I did as CEO was to insist that we had two ping-pong tables. I'm a great fan.'

And with that, he's off to challenge his children to another lockdown rematch at their rental cottage in the South Downs.
The urgency of tackling the obesity time bomb has been brought to the fore by evidence of the link to an increased risk from COVID-19, says the UK Government's Department of Health and Social Care.

Research has found living with excess weight puts people at greater risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, and negative health outcomes linked to obesity is not a new concept, with other studies finding it is connected to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Professor Amanda Daley, an expert in Behavioural Medicine in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences,says it's "critical" to explore the effects of lifestyle interventions on health outcomes as it could "prevent tens of thousands of lives being lost".

In the latest episode of the 'Cuppa with a Scientist' podcast, Professor Daley discusses two simple concepts she believes could make big changes: 'Just One', which is undergoing trials, and physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) labelling, which divided opinions online following the publication of a paper on the topic.

Just one

Funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Professor Daley and a team of researchers are looking at the effects of asking people to make small changes to their calorie intake and increasing their physical activity each day.

Professor Daley says the initial results have shown "that this approach can work in helping people manage their weight".

"It's all about getting the public to reduce their calorie intake by just 100 calories and increasing their step count a day by just 1,000, and this is called a small change or 'tiny steps' approach", Professor Daley explained.

"The reason I'm doing this research is because everyone thinks obesity is caused by massive over-eating and gluttony, and it's not true.

"At a population level, obesity is caused by the fact that all over us overeat just a little bit too much every day. So, if we can get people to reduce their calorie intake by just a little bit, then actually we can make a real difference to our levels of obesity in the UK and throughout the world.

"It's basically asking people to reduce their intake by one chocolate biscuit a day and over a week, that's 700 calories, so you can start to see the impact that small changes could make."

PACE labeling

In the UK, we are all familiar with the traffic light labeling system on food items that shows if a food has high, medium, or low amounts of fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt.

PACE labelling is the idea of using a small symbol to show people how long they would need to walk or run to burn off the calories in the food they eat.

To put it into perspective, one chocolate digestive is about 80 calories, so that will take about eight minutes to burn, so if you have two, that's 16 minutes and when I say minutes, I mean running. So you can see how the minutes and miles start to add up if you eat three or four biscuits, for example." Professor Amanda Daley, Expert in Behavioural Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

"We have found that the public don't fully appreciate how much physical activity it takes them to expend the calories in the food that they have consumed - that's a big factor in why the public overeat as they're not always aware of the energy in the foods that they're consuming so we'd like the government to look at this and change the way the food is labelled."

Professor Daley's research found that PACE labelingcan reduce the number of calories selected for consumption by 65 calories per eating occasion, although some people are concerned this type of PACE labelling system would be detrimental to those with eating disorders.

Commenting on the concerns, Professor Daley said: "If you ask the public, I think they want PACE labelling as it is easy for them to understand. We don't have any evidence that calorie or PACE labelling leads to eating disorders, in fact, the evidence is quite contrary to that.

"Having said that, eating disorders are a real concern and I would like to see more resources going into supporting those with eating disorders, but I don't think we can forget the 60-70% people that are overweight and are much more likely to die of diseases. We have a responsibility to all of those people too.

"My job is to save as many people as possible through science and research, so I have to focus on that."

To hear more about Professor Daley's research - plus her academic journey, predictions for the future of the field, tips for aspiring scientists and work withCLiMB(The Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour) - you can watch the full podcast episode by clicking the below YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/v1f1ng1YSTc.
NORTHWOOD, Iowa - Despite the pandemic causing numerous challenges to everyday life, people are finding ways to perservere. As we work towards reopening society, a new events venue in North Iowa has not only been completed, but already being utilized.

As part of a larger tour of North Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds and Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg toured The Timbers Events Center Friday afternoon, meeting with members of the Total United Northwood Effort, or TUNE, the non-profit that owns and manages the center, and other community members. In the couple of months the center has been open, their calendar has been full of events through the rest of 2021, with only just a few slots open.

Reynolds praises the amount of work that's been poured into the project, and for transforming the empty building that once housed a lumberyard into a successful business during the pandemic.

"It's a great example of what these communities can do when they all pull together, and everybody has a piece whether it's fundraising or volunteering or getting it done. It's a great outcome."

During her tour of North Iowa today, the Governor met with members of the Charles City Chamber of Commerce, as well as touring a new operating room at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center and a vaccination clinic, and touring the development along Mason City's Willow Creek. She also met with Republican State Representative Shannon Latham and the Butler County Development Alliance to discuss the region's needs for affordable housing and healthcare.
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Sunny Leone is one of the most popular personalities in the Indian film industry. Right from Bollywood to Kollywood, the actress has made a mark with her amazing screen presence and sizzling dance moves. For the unversed, Sunny made her Kollywood debut with 2014 film Vadacurry. She had made a special appearance in the song 'Low Aana Lifeu'. Well, ever since she appeared in a Tamil film, fans can't wait to see her in another Kollywood project.

And guess what, we recently got to know something interesting about Sunny Leone. The actress will reportedly be seen in an item number in Karthik-starrer Thee Ivan. A report published in a leading portal suggests that the makers have built a huge set in Mumbai to shoot a peppy number with Karthik and Sunny Leone. Interestingly, before the dance number, the Tamil actor will shoot for a bike stunt sequence, that too without any body double. Seems like the scene is connected to the item number, which is all set to entertain the audience. However, there is no official confirmation about the same.

Talking about Thee Ivan, the film is being directed by Jaya Murugan and it also stars Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sukanya, John Vijay, Abitha, Ilavarasu and others in key roles. It is expected to release in the second half of 2021.

Coming back to Sunny Leone, the actress is currently hosting Splitsvilla 13 with Rannvijay Singha. She will next be seen in the Tamil film Veeramadevi, her first Malayalam film Rangeela, Kannada film Kotigobba 3 and a couple of bilingual films (Hindi, Telugu) Koka Kola and Helen. Notably, she is also doing a special appearance in Arjun Rampal-starrer The Battle of Bhima Koregaon.

Also Read : Splitsvilla 13 Grand Premiere Episode Highlights: Sunny Leone And Rannvijay Singha Introduce The Contestants

Also Read : Sunny Leone Starrer Anamika's Shoot Gets Stalled Due To An Ugly Fight, Details Inside

Funding of 174,000 has been awarded to Enniscorthy Municipal District Council under the Built Heritage Scheme.

The funding will be used to rejuvenate Slaney Street and Mary Street as part of the Historic Towns initiative and, in welcoming the funding, Deputy Paul Kehoe, said that initiative is aimed at provide support to historic towns engaged in a programme of heritage-led regeneration.

'The funds will be used to transform this public space, improve building facades, repair windows and doors, fix wiring and generally revamp the general public realm,' said Deputy Kehoe.

'This is a really good project for the town, with a strong focus on the heritage of Enniscorthy and an eye to its future sustainability with great local buy-in,' he said.

He said it will also breathe more life into the town.

'Currently, there are a number of vacant shops on these streets which brings the associated problems of boarded up doors, empty windows and a general run-down appearance,' he said.

'This project has the potential to make the street a hub for artists and designers and the wider Enniscorthy community and bring back a beating heart to the town,' he added.

Deputy Kehoe said the funding will help Enniscorthy to fulfill its potential.

In addition to the Government funding, the local authority will be investing 21,000 while local business and property owners will also be providing additional funding, bringing the overall investment in the streets to 230,000.

Enniscorthy & District Chamber welcomed the announcement and a spokesperson said behind-the-scenes discussions are taking place at the moment with a view to attracting artists and designers to the Slaney Street area of the town, all with the aim of maximising its potential.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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LONGMEADOW  Many laborers working for subcontractors in the construction industry face unsafe working conditions, forced overtime with no extra pay or even pay that withheld altogether.

During his weekly Lunchtime Livestream series Friday, Sen. Eric P. Lesser, D-Longmeadow, spoke with Noel Xavier, business representative and organizer for the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, about everything from wage theft and tax fraud to labor issues within the construction industry.

Xavier said these issues are not occurring on small home or business additions, but on multimillion-dollar construction sites.

The projects that I go out to every day and talk to these workers that are being exploited under this new model are happening on multi-unit residential properties. These are multimillion-dollar projects anywhere from a 30-unit building to a 300 multi-unit residential contract, he said. You dont see many legitimate contractors being able to compete in a lot of the segments of this market unless you are cheating.

He said the new model involves larger companies bidding on a job, then hiring subcontractors who have a few employees on site. They also hire labor brokers who hire day laborers, often undocumented workers, and pay them in cash only.

The wages that these workers are making are definitely substandard. There are lower wages, theres no health insurance, theres no pension, Xavier said. Unfortunately, were fighting wages that my colleagues say 20 years ago they were fighting. The only thing that changes in the model is that the workers end up working more hours.

These workers do not get health insurance or overtime pay and often work in unsafe environments, an issue that became more prominent since the coronavirus pandemic began, he said.

Were always out there on non-union job sites, trying to inform workers of the rights that they do have, Xavier said. (During the pandemic) we shifted to an informational campaign, so we started going out to all these different jobs and talking to workers, letting them know that these are the guidelines, these are the safety procedures that should be in place.

Lesser said its important to bring this issue to light.

(Some do not have) the ability to seek traditional outlets in government to get help, he said. (This is a) workforce that may not speak English, that often has an undocumented status and doesnt necessarily have the support networks locally that other workers might have. That is a very important element of this, just how vulnerable some of these workers are.

Xavier said there is a population of employees working in the shadows.

They feel that they dont have somewhere to turn if something happens. There are organizations out here willing to help undocumented workers and thats one of the things we try to inform and educate the workers about, that they do have some options for help, he said.

Xavier said many undocumented workers feel they have no rights.

When they are a victims of wage theft, they take it on the chin and think this is just part of the life of being an immigrant in this country. They think, I will just lose a week of pay or I didnt get paid, so I just wont work for that guy again, but they will work for someone else who in the future will end up cheating them as well, he said.

Xavier, who speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese, spoke directly to viewers in Spanish, assuring them that regardless of their immigration status they have rights.

If you have been a victim of wage theft, please reach out. Wage theft is a big problem in the construction industry, but there are resources to hep you and the agencies that help you recover these funds are not interested in your immigration status, he said in Spanish. They just want every worker to receive the money the are owed.

The conversation can be viewed on Lessers social media platforms, including @Ericclesser on Twitter and at facebook.com/EricLesserMA.

To file a complaint with the state attorney general, visit mass.gov/orgs/the-attorney-generals-fair-labor-division or the U.S. Department of Labor at dol.gov Workers can receive multilingual help from Justice at Work at jatwork.org.

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Waterstones chief executive James Daunt said big retailers are 'acting in their own self-interest' by opposing an online tax  warning it is the last chance to save high streets.

In an impassioned plea for radical change, Daunt said an online sale tax would hit the likes of Amazon  but also cost his own company where online sales are rapidly growing.

He said shifting the tax burden away from shops would be for the 'greater good of society' and boost communities. But an online levy was also vital to help Chancellor Rishi Sunak pay off national debts, he added.

Big high street chains are lobbying against it through the British Retail Consortium.

'Self-interest': James Daunt believes shifting the tax burden away from shops would be for the 'greater good of society' and boost communities

Daunt said: 'An online sales tax would save tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of jobs.

'This just seems such a straightforward and immediately executable tax and I just don't understand why they don't just do it.

'The people who would gain are obviously physical retailers, but that is where the jobs are  really good jobs  flexible employment for the 16-year-old taking their first job, the part-time mum and the retired person keeping their hand in and doing four hours in the morning.

'It's a real mix and I can tell you that's not what you generally find in warehouses like ours, where the age range is much narrower, 21 to 35.'

Daunt dismissed suggestions that online prices would rise, saying internet retailing is highly competitive and prices easy to compare.

But he said, if that argument was true, then it would also mean prices in shops would fall, which would more likely benefit poorer shoppers who used local stores more than online stores.

Daunt added: 'I understand why my peers are against an online tax. It's pretty irritating to have built up an online operation, which is going so well, and then find it gets taxed. Particularly if you are closing shops and ever more concentrating on your online operation.

'Waterstones has invested a lot in online and it is going fantastically. If I argue from the narrow interests of Waterstones and its value as a business, I do not want an online sales tax.

'But, for goodness sake, we've already lost BHS and Debenhams and when you lose your Frasers or your M&S from places like Darlington or Altrincham, it leaves big physical holes in these places.

Waterstones has been making many sales online and the boss is against a new online sales tax

'In so many of the high streets where Waterstones operates we're sitting there with empty shops on the left and the right, often in quite prosperous places.

'But if you encourage businesses like Waterstones and M&S to keep their shops open, that would help the shops around them to keep going because of the footfall we help drive.

'The majority of the winners would be small independent retailers around them and opening up the high street again would encourage entrepreneurs.'

Daunt, who runs more than 280 shops, is negotiating with landlords in an effort keep a number of unprofitable stores open.

Few retailers have backed an online tax, but Daunt singled out Tesco as being 'on the side of the angels on this one' through its support.

'I think when Mr Sunak is contemplating all his new MPs across the Midlands, the North East and North West, I think he may actually tell Amazon and Waterstones: "Suck it up guys, we're making these changes, keep employing people in these communities."

'An online tax seems like a small price to pay for the greater good.'
The majority of doctors fear a new NHS service that allows home abortions after a remote consultation will lead to more vulnerable women being pressurised by abusive partners into having terminations.

Six in seven GPs are concerned that the controversial pills by post scheme, which allows abortion pills to be sent to a home after a phone or video call with a medical professional, could create such a risk.

Before last April, when the service was introduced due to coronavirus restrictions, women had to go to a clinic for a face-to-face consultation before an early abortion, before ten weeks gestation.

In the new survey, 82 per cent of the 1,000 GPs polled were worried about the possibility of abortion pills being falsely obtained for another person

Doctors fear 'coercion' from abusive partners as well as women using the pills after ten weeks, which is against NHS guidance

Pills by post was intended to be temporary, but Ministers are expected to announce whether it will become permanent later this year, after a consultation.

In the new survey, 82 per cent of the 1,000 GPs polled were worried about the possibility of abortion pills being falsely obtained for another person and 86 per cent were concerned about women using them after ten weeks, against NHS guidance.

The Care Quality Commission, which regulates health services, is aware of at least five incidents where women took home abortion pills later than ten weeks, three of them between 20 and 24 weeks.

Savanta ComRes conducted the GPs survey on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) and Christian Concern.

John Deighan, of SPUC, said: The risks of coercion are obvious as are the mental health implications for women of having to dispose of a terminated pregnancy themselves.

'The sad reality is that many more women will likely now be coerced into abortion from an abusive partner.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, added: These figures show clearly that medical professionals are deeply concerned about pregnant womens safety.

But Clare Murphy, chief executive of abortion provider BPAS, said: Medical opinion is strongly in favour of womens access to early medical abortion at home.

It has significantly reduced the gestation date at which abortions are performed, and has been particularly important for women in coercive relationships who cannot travel to a clinic without their abusive partner finding out.
The avalanche of Democratic demands for Cuomos ouster comes as the governor is facing an impeachment investigation in the state Legislature over the sexual misconduct accusations from six women, five of whom are former staffers to the governor. State Attorney General Letitia James is also investigating the claims as part of a separate independent inquiry.

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has urged men to play a bigger role in helping women feel safe following the death of Sarah Everard as he offered his condolences to her family.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that human remains found in woodland in Ashford, Kent belonged to the 33-year-old marketing executive after she went missing on March 3.

And United star Rashford - who was given an MBE last year after his successful campaign to ensure children were fed during the coronavirus pandemic - reacted to the news, describing it as 'heartbreaking' and something that 'should never have happened'.

Marcus Rashford urged men to play a role to make women feel safe after Sarah Everard's death

The Metropolitan Police confirmed human remains found in Kent belonged to Ms Everard, 33

'This is just heartbreaking, I'm so sorry,' he tweeted.

'This should have never happened. Men we have a role to play. To listen, to protect, and to allow women to feel safe at whatever time of day. I have sisters, nieces... just horrible. I'm sending my love to Sarah's family.'

England forward Rashford's comments come after becoming an influential member of society following his campaigns for free school meal funding for children from the Government for the last year.

He forced Prime Minister Boris Johnson into two U-turns over funding last year after it was originally withdrawn by the Government.

Rashford initially set up a petition for the cause which more than a million people signed, and more recently called for a review of the free school meals system across the UK after the poor standard of some food parcels delivered to some struggling families in England in January.

Rashford offered condolences to her family and said her death 'should never have happened'

The England star's comments came after a year in which he campaigned for free school meals

Ms Everard disappeared while walking home from a friend's flat in Clapham, south London to her residence in Brixton 10 days ago.

Wayne Couzens, 48, a firearms officer from Scotland Yard's elite Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was charged with her kidnap and murder on Friday night after more than three days of questioning by murder detectives.

Couzens is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Saturday.

Speaking outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave added Miss Everard's family had been told this 'most distressing news'.

He said: 'As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in woodland in Kent.

Charged: Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with the kidnap and murder of Ms Everard

'The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken. I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah.'

He said his 'thoughts and prayers, and those of the entire organisation' remain with Miss Everard's family 'at this awful time'.

He added: 'Specialist officers remain in constant contact with Sarah's family, and will continue to support them throughout the investigation and beyond.

'That investigation continues at a pace and we have hundreds of officers working round the clock to establish the full circumstances of Sarah's disappearance, and her murder.'

The marketing executive disappeared while walking home to Brixton, London, on March 3

'I would like at this stage to pay tribute to Sarah's family for their fortitude and forbearance through what can only have been the most intensely difficult few days. Our thoughts remain with them as this matter progresses.'

Her suspected kidnap and murder has caused anger over the safety of women on the country's streets.

Women across the UK have shared their experiences of violence and harassment they have and continue to experience.

A 'Reclaim These Streets' vigil was due to take place at Clapham Common bandstand on Saturday, but organisers have lost their legal fight after a High Court judged refused to overturn the police's ban citing Covid-19 rules.
A vial and sryinge are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken (Photo : REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/File Photo)

The White House is holding onto some doses of AstraZeneca Plc's COVID-19 vaccine so they can be given to Americans quickly if authorized by the U.S. health regulator, a top administration official said Friday.



AstraZeneca has produced doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, where it has yet to be approved. The vaccine developed with Oxford University has been authorized for use in the European Union and many other countries.



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Reuters reported this week that U.S. officials told the EU not to expect shipments of the shot from the United States anytime soon. [L1N2L92P1]



"We have a small inventory of AstraZeneca so, if approved, we can get that inventory out to the American people," White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeffrey Zients said in a Friday press call.



The New York Times reported this week that tens of millions of doses have already been produced in the United States and are sitting in production facilities unused.



AstraZeneca said in February it expects its vaccine could receive U.S. emergency use authorization at the beginning of April and could immediately deliver 30 million doses to locations around the United States.



The U.S. stance could jeopardize AstraZeneca's attempts to come closer to delivering on its contractual obligation with the EU of 180 million doses in the second quarter.



AstraZeneca told the EU earlier this year it would cut its supplies in the second quarter by at least half to less than 90 million doses, EU sources told Reuters, after a bigger reduction in the first three months of the year.



U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday the government will first give Americans COVID-19 vaccines, but any surplus would be shared with the world.



"We...want to make sure we have maximal flexibility, that we are oversupplied and over-prepared and that we have the ability to provide vaccines, whatever the most effective ones are, to the American public," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday.



"A number of countries... have requested doses from the United States and we have not provided doses from the U.S. government to anyone," she added.



The United States has been one of the world leaders in vaccine administration. It has distributed more than 130 million shots and administered nearly 100 million, according to federal data last updated on Thursday.



White House officials said on Friday that 65% of Americans over 65 years old have been given shots.


Drama series "River Where The Moon Rises" faces more controversies surrounding their production and re-filming concerns.

Recently, the KBS2 drama has been making it to the headlines because of talent fees and re-shooting issues, alongside Kim Ji Soo's Scandal.

"River Where The Moon Rises" Supporting Actors Faces Rough Time

In the news obtained by AllKPop.com, No Cut News cited that the production's current concerns caused worries among the supporting actors.

A representative from "River Where The Moon Rises" explained to the publication that the supporting actors failed to "write a contract and did not verbally discuss the payment, but there were too many articles published about the actors' re-filming with no guaranteed pay."

In addition, the drama official also mentioned that the supporting actors are having a rough time with the situation since they have "little to no say" regarding talent fees.

"So most of them gave up on the discussion because they are wary that their relationship with the production company might turn bad," the representative furthered.

However, "River Where The Moon Rises" production company, Victory Content, explained the reason behind the production woes.

They revealed that shooting the drama series was "too urgent and in haste."

With this, they were not able to "completely discuss" and "organize" the scenes.

"The current situation with the filming is too urgent, and in haste, so we did not get the chance to completely discuss and organize the episodes that the actors are to appear for the re-filming," the production company mentioned, adding that they asked the actors for their utmost "understanding" and patience on the said situation.

As for the talent fees, Victory Content revealed that they vowed to "settle the payment for the actors with relatively small appearances" and shared that they plan to pay the exact fee "around next week."

READ MORE HERE: WATCH: 'River Where the Moon Rises' Stars Kim So Hyun, Lee Ji Hoon, & More Display Their Funny & Playful Side on Set

The Waiting Game

Amid the production company's controversies and upcoming plans, rumors sparked that some of the "River Where The Moon Rises" cast are "waiting indefinitely" until they have been invited for a scene.

With this, they won't be able to attend or work with their other commitments.

"River Where The Moon Rises" to Re-Film Following Kim Ji Soo's Scandal

The said controversy follows after it was announced that the drama series would be re-filming after completing 95 percent of their episodes.

In the news obtained by RepublicWorld.com, a KBS representative explained that following Kim Ji Soo's scandal, the management has decided to re-shoot some parts; this includes episodes seven and eight.

Unfortunately, this means causing economic losses and "harming" from the production company.

The representative even called this stage a "difficult" one but looking forward to the end ongoing project successfully.

"River Where The Moon Rises" Lead Stars Decline to Seek Talent fees for Re-filming Episodes

Earlier this week, it was reported that some of the lead actors, including Choi Yu, Wang Bit Na, Ki Eun Se Hwa, and Lee Ji Hoon, who play the role of General Go Geon, refuse to get their payment for the episode's re-shooting.

TH Company, who handles Lee Ji Hoon, mentioned that his decision not to seek an additional fee for the re-shooting is his way to help the production.

ALSO CHECK: Cast of 'River Where the Moon Rises' Shows Loyalty and Dedication by Agreeing to Re-Shoot Drama Free of Charge
The court directed the tahsildhar in 2019 to conduct a survey and demarcate the petitioner's plot.  DC file photo

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Friday issued a bailable warrant against Hayathnagar mandal tahsildar Prameela Rani for ignoring its orders to appear before the court.

Taking a serious view of the obstinate attitude of tahsildar for not appearing in court despite twice being ordered to do so, Justice M. S. Ramachandra Rao issued a bailable warrant. He directed district authorities to produce the tahsildar before the court on March 19.

The High Court was dealing with a contempt case challenging inaction of the tahsildar in inspecting and marking boundaries of a plot at Sahebnagar village of Hayathnagar mandal in Ranga Reddy district.

The plot owner had approached High Court stating that revenue authorities had been stopping construction on his Plot No. 53 in Survey No. 7. However, authorities submitted that the petitioner's plot was on land belonging to the government, which is adjacent to Survey No. 7.

Following that, the court directed the tahsildar in 2019 to conduct a survey and demarcate the petitioner's plot. Even after lapse of two years, the orders had not been implemented. Hence, the petitioner filed a contempt of court case, leading to issue of the bailable warrant.
Mia Fitzpatrick and Aoibheann ORourke all dressed up for World Book Day at Ballydesmond National School. All photos by Sheila Fitzgerald

Wonderful characters from a diverse array of books leaped off the pages into the classrooms at Ballydesmond National School last Friday as children and staff celebrated World Book Day in style.

"We have been celebrating World Book Day in our school for many years. The children love it. It's a break from the routine of work and gives them the opportunity to foster a love of reading and books," teacher Ella O'Sullivan told The Corkman.

"The children had a wonderful time, we had everyone from Captain Underpants to Harry Potter and from cowboys to unicorns enrolling for the one day event. It is lovely to see the children get such enjoyment from books and reading," Ella said.

Although schools had only been open a few days, staff and parents pulled out all the stops to make the event extra special for the children, and while the senior classes were not in school, they were included as well. "It's certainly a unique occasion this year where half our classes had to celebrate World Book Day at home," Ella added.

Principal Pat Neenan reflects on the Margaret Fuller quote 'Today's readers are tomorrow's leaders'. "Reading is one of the most important skills a child can learn and in our school we go a long way in supporting this at every opportunity. Our annual World Book Day celebrations are a great testament to this. Although they were not in school, we asked 3rd and 4th class to recreate the cover of their favourite novel and send it to us remotely," Pat explained.

Niamh Cronin, who teaches 5th and 6th Classes, asked her pupils to 'Share a Story Today' where they made a recording of themselves reading passages from their favourite books.

Expand Close Happy smiles from Ksawery Siepak, Darragh Kelly, James OLeary, Jaiden Fleming and Jake Kelly on World Book Day at Ballydesmond National School / Facebook

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Whatsapp Happy smiles from Ksawery Siepak, Darragh Kelly, James OLeary, Jaiden Fleming and Jake Kelly on World Book Day at Ballydesmond National School

The children were eager to share their experiences of World Book Day with The Corkman.

Timothy Buckley (1st Class): "I picked Fantastic Mr. Fox because he is really smart and the book is very enjoyable".

Kerrie Cronin (1st Class): "I like Snow White because she is pretty and has nice clothes".

Bobby Howard (2nd Class): "I read a cowboy book because I love westerns, especially The Magnificent Seven. I want to be a cowboy in Texas when I grow up".

Mia Fitzpatrick (2nd Class): "I read a Roald Dahl book because he is one of my favourite writers and his stories are really good".

Eoin Kelly (2nd Class): "I like to read Dave Pickman books because they are funny and action packed. I'm reading The Midnight Gang about a boy called Tom, aged 10".

Cillian Healy (1st Class): "My book is called The Great Irish Farm Book. I like this because it has lots of facts and my Mam reads two pages for me every night".

Dillon Holt (2nd Class): "I like to read the Beano Annual 2021. I collect all the Beanos. All the stories keep me entertained. I got my first annual from my Dad on my 7th birthday".

Ericka Morse (1st Class): "I'm reading the 3rd Harry Potter book at home. Hermione is my favourite character because she is very smart".

* See more great photos of the event in the March 11th issue of The Corkman
Fukushima is famous for agriculture, and its coastal region was once one of the richest rice-growing areas (in Japan), Ryoichi Sato says, highlighting one of the prefectures prized assets.

Sato was forced to abandon his hometown of Odaka, part of Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture, for six years following the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters that devastated the region in March 2011, returning in 2017 to found a company called Kohbai Yume Farm.

Named after the kobai plum flower that used to be the towns symbol and combining it with the Japanese word for dream, the farming venture relies on smart agriculture, using machinery such as drones and information and communication technology to make up for a shortage of workers.

Ten years on from the 2011 triple disaster, agriculture in the region is tentatively getting back on its feet. While farming has resumed even in areas that had once been evacuated, reviving the market for Fukushima products  rice, cucumbers, peaches, flowers and beef among them  remains a formidable challenge.

While agriculture, forestry and fisheries account for just 2% of Fukushimas economy, agricultural land occupies about a tenth of the vast prefectures surface.

Following the 2011 calamity, cultivated areas decreased from more than 110,000 hectares to a little over 100,000. Vast swathes of land lay fallow for years, and even with the progressive reopening of the evacuation zone, agricultures revival has been slow. There simply arent that many farmers in the region.

Almost 82,000 people in Fukushima Prefecture relied on farming as their main source of income in 2010. A decade later, the number has fallen by 30,000  not only as a result of the evacuation but also because of an aging population, says Yumiko Utsumi of the prefectures Agriculture and Forestry Planning Division.

Signs of agricultural recovery are matched by those of prolonged decline. While the value of rice  one of the prefectures main crops  is closing the gap compared to the national average, certain crops havent recovered from the price collapse set off by the nuclear disaster. For example, after selling for as little as 222 per kilogram compared to a Japan-wide average of 406 per kilogram in 2011, Fukushimas famous peaches were being sold for 503 per kilogram versus 622 nationally in 2019.

And while more than 90% of Fukushimas agricultural production value has recovered from a 20% drop following the disaster, this prefecture-wide statistic conceals a bleaker picture in the 12 evacuated municipalities in the Soso district, part of Fukushimas eastern Hamadori region. Here, farming has resumed on a third of 17,000 hectares once tended by more than 10,000 people.

After March 2011, Keitaro Tanoi, a professor at the University of Tokyos Isotope Facility for Agricultural Education and Research, started making regular trips to Fukushima Prefecture to measure environmental and farmland contamination.

My research had always been based in the lab, but after the accident, my main task was to check radiation levels and explain what they meant to the public, Tanoi says.

Radiocesium, a radioactive isotope produced by nuclear fission, was released in large amounts by the explosions at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Cesium-134 has a half-life (a measure of the time it takes for radioactive atoms to lose half of their radioactivity) of two years, while cesium-137, with a half-life of 30 years, is the principal cause of contamination nowadays.

In the months following the nuclear disaster, high levels of radiation were found in products such as beef, leaf vegetables, mushrooms and bamboo shoots throughout Tohoku and the northern Kanto Plain. Tea leaves containing radiation above safety limits were discovered as far away as Shizuoka Prefecture.

However, it was somewhat fortuitous that the nuclear accident occurred in early March, when there were few crops in the fields, Tanoi says. Rice, for example, is planted in spring.
Representatives from NAFCU-member credit unions, including Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Schools First Federal Credit Union, and California Credit Union, Thursday joined members of the associations advocacy team to offer industry insights with House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif. During the videoconference meeting, the group discussed a number of key topics, including the various ways credit unions have helped their members, small businesses, and their communities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Leadership from California credit unions present during the meeting included:
It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
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A slate of four candidates is trying to unseat three of the longest-tenured board members of the San Antonio Independent School District in the May election  the result of a widening ideological rift between district administrators and the employees union.

The election will serve as an unofficial referendum on the way the school district is being run, as the challengers have sharply criticized SAISD leaders. The incumbents have fired back while touting the strides the district has made since Superintendent Pedro Martinez was hired in 2015.

Four of the seven seats on the board are on the May 1 ballot, representing districts 1, 3, 4 and 7. The contests for districts 1, 4 and 7 pit incumbents against candidates from the slate.

In District 3, Debra Guerrero, 54, who was appointed to the board in 2013, is stepping down to focus on her job with NRP Group, one of the largest developers in the U.S. Two candidates are vying to replace her.

On ExpressNews.com: Board races in San Antonio's Judson ISD have familiar faces, plus others new to politics

Election details To vote, residents have to register if they haven't already. The last day to register for this and other local elections is April 1. Early voting is April 19 to April 27. Election Day is May 1. See More Collapse

Members of the slate, organized under a coalition called The Schools Our Students Deserve, are campaigning on a platform that advocates for a democratic decision-making process that engages more students, staff and residents, better wages and working conditions for all staff, the use of schools as community centers to offer more wraparound services and a more culturally inclusive curricula.

They have been endorsed by the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, the largest union in the district, as well as the SAISD Student Coalition and several local groups focused on education and social justice. The unions political action committee has helped fund the coalition candidates campaigns.

But in the eyes of some incumbent trustees, the challengers have been more talk than substance, espousing ideals that threaten to undermine the districts recent progress.

It seems to me theyre acting like wolves in sheeps clothing and their goal is to undo the great things the district has been doing over the last five years and return to the status quo of 10 years ago, which was failing kids and was unacceptable for students and the community, said District 1 Trustee Steve Lecholop, who is running for re-election.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio school leaders cheer state funding extension - but some are nervous about strings attached

San Antonio Alliance President Alejandra Lopez, a former teacher in the district, said the coalition candidates have garnered the support of district residents and that they are set on realizing a positive vision for our district that is rooted in community and social justice, not on undoing progress.

As of mid-March, District 7 Trustee Ed Garza, 52, a former mayor of San Antonio and the longest-serving trustee on the board, was the only incumbent to have received official endorsements. He is supported by past board members, local politicians, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, and hundreds of district residents, he said.

District 1

In District 1, Lecholop, 39, is running for a third four-year term. A lawyer and former elementary school teacher in Baltimore, he was on the board when it hired Martinez  a move that he and other trustees have hailed as a catalyst for the districts recent improvements.

At the time, SAISD had about 38,000 students enrolled in schools deemed to have been failing by Texas Education Agency standards  more than half of the student population. Now that figure is below 8,000, Lecholop said. Since the 2017-18 school year, the districts accountability rating from TEA has jumped from a 74 to an 83, from a C grade to a B.

At the same time, SAISD improved its high school dropout rate and the percentage of graduates going to four-year colleges. The district has also signed more partnership agreements with outside entities, like nonprofits and colleges, than any other district in Bexar County. Those partnerships have helped SAISD manage struggling schools while making the district eligible for more state funding.

Lecholop said that while SAISD has built momentum for positive change in the past five years, the coronavirus pandemic has created new challenges  ones that ought to be handled by the trustees who have been involved in the process of fixing the district since the beginning.

I feel like were on a precipice where we cannot afford, and our students cannot afford, for the district to go backwards, for the district to revert to what it was before (Martinez) arrived, Lecholop said. Stable and consistent leadership is critical to navigate this ship through the stormy waters.

Lecholops opponent, Sarah Sorensen, 42, disagrees. In line with her coalitions platform, Sorensen said the board needs to be more transparent in its decision-making, especially in regard to the partnership agreements, which gives some control over certain schools to outside education organizations that parents and staff often know little about.

Sorenson, a former PTA president at Bonham Academy in SAISD and a former legislative analyst for the chair of the New York State Assemblys higher education committee, said she wants to help democratize SAISDs administration.

Im seeing this top-down decision-making with no transparency about why those decisions are being made, she said. I have that policy understanding and that deep commitment to public process, to engaging and working with community members, which is my strength and something we havent really had on the board.

District 3

In District 3, two candidates  one from the coalition  are looking to replace Guerrero.

Judit Vega, 42, a food and housing justice advocate and former health equity manager at the Metropolitan Health District, is campaigning with the slate. She helped launch Metro Healths Healthy Neighborhoods program and the City of San Antonios Stand Up SA initiative, aimed at violence prevention.

I feel like our school board does not really represent us who are from traditional inner-city neighborhoods, Vega said. I am embedded in the community, I have gone to SAISD schools and I am a parent and I can really represent the needs of the most vulnerable.

On ExpressNews.com: TEA: School districts can decide mask requirements, room occupancy limits for themselves

She said she wants to see the district invest more in wraparound support services for community members, offer more culturally-affirming courses and ensure that campuses are funded more equitably.

Also running is Leticia Ozuna, 54, an engineer and a trustee on the board of the San Antonio Water System. She served on the San Antonio City Council from 2012 to 2013. Guerrero, the incumbent, said she supports Ozuna in the race but hasnt officially endorsed her.

I have experience as a city councilwoman and as a principal engineer working through issues and building up alliances in communities to try to serve our objective of achieving solid student outcomes, Ozuna said.

If elected, she said, her goals would include supporting students academic and emotional recovery from the pandemic, looking for ways to provide students with more equitable access to the internet and adding more management partnerships to expand learning opportunities for students, especially with STEM-based curricula.

District 4

District 4 trustee and board vice president Arthur V. Valdez, 73, is running for a third term against Luke Amphlett, 37, a high school history teacher in SAISD and a union representative for Burbank High School.

Valdez, first elected in 2013, is a retired aircraft engineer who owns an engineering consulting company for airlines. He said he is proud of the current boards accomplishments, especially the $1.3 billion bond issue  the largest in San Antonios history  that voters approved in November to renovate SAISD schools and fund technology upgrades without raising local taxes.

People who know my district know exactly what I have done in the last eight years, and I will continue doing that. Valdez said. I want to make sure that the kids in my community, in my district, are successful.

But for Amphlett, the boards actions have been a string of terrible decisions, especially in the past five years. If elected, he would have to quit his job, which he said he is willing to do to put the district on a different path.

Our current boards entire focus on education is something that I disagree with. They have a technocratic approach  which leads to outcomes like college and career readiness and I fundamentally disagree with it, he said.

At the center of that approach, Amphlett said, is a fixation on performance metrics and a disregard for what is in the best interest of students and staff.

Our schools have just become places that produce a product, and the product isnt amazing students, its accountability scores that fit in with state standards, he said. The (goal) is to build the schools that our students deserve and our communities need, and were going to disagree about what that looks like and how we get there, but those disagreements arent things we should shy away from.

In September, he was put on administrative leave for four days after raising concerns about health and safety protocols in a faculty meeting. Administrators said he was being uncooperative after the meeting; the union disputed those claims.

Amphlett and Lopez, the union president, are married. She said she recused herself from the screening process for District 4 and that their relationship played no role in his candidacy or in any campaign finance decisions.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio school districts see remote learning stretching way into next year

Guerrero and Patti Radle, the board president, said much of the criticism from the candidates on the slate is misdirected, given that standardized tests like the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR exams, are required by the state.

I dont know who among us is happy about STAAR exams, Radle said. You might find all of us in favor of measuring progress, but right now progress is measured by STAAR and this is what weve been dealt.

She also noted that SAISD has been the most cautious school district in Bexar County in bringing students back to campuses for in-person learning and provided extensive coronavirus testing opportunities for its students and staff.

Guerrero echoed those points and slammed the coalition candidates for being part of a movement to discredit all of the accomplishments that the district had up to this point and added that the union, which represents about 2,300 SAISD teachers and staff out of 7,000 in all, has never wanted to be part of the solution for our district.

Lopez said that characterization is false and misrepresents the alliances goal of working collectively to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in district-level decisions.

It is disingenuous to shift the onus on us, Lopez said. They don't seem willing to engage in a meaningful authentic dialogue  not just with us, but the community as a whole  on a regular basis. ... That is something that is central to what we are offering, this idea that we can have active democratic participation in our school district.

District 7

In District 7, Garza is running for a fourth consecutive term. The former mayor and city councilmember now handles business development for a consulting firm in Hays County.

He said his priorities as a trustee will be to ensure that students recover academically and emotionally from the pandemic and that SAISD moves up from a B-rated school district to an A-rated district by TEA standards. Developing more management agreements with outside partners would put the district on the right track, he said.

My commitment is aligned with the board and superintendent, Garza said. Our focus really is on student academic success and continuing to form partnerships with community partners. Our schools are not going to be able to recover alone.

Running against Garza and with the coalition is Yasmin Parra Codina, 37, an administrative assistant at the University of Texas at San Antonio and a former coordinator for the nonprofit Education Investment Foundation affiliated with the San Antonio Housing Authority.

Parra Codina said she wants to get parents and community members more involved in district decisions, improve safety protocols on campuses and make the curriculum at all grade levels more culturally relevant.

We have to listen to communities  thats what they're asking for and people want to be involved, she said. We all ultimately want the best for our students and this is definitely an opportunity to give students the schools they deserve.
A container ship at Cat Lai New Port, HCMC. Photo by Shutterstock/withGod.

Vietnam posted a $665 million trade surplus with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the first two months of 2021, alongside an increase in both exports and imports.

Vietnams exports to the UAE rose 60 percent year-on-year $737 million, while imports increased 44 percent to $72 million, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Total Vietnam-UAE trade value surged 58 percent year-on-year during this period.
The Avian Migration Aerial Surface Space project takes advantage of thousands of images captured by astronauts to give people an appreciation of the migrations many birds undertake across the planet

Those who see Earth from the International Space Station often say it provides a new appreciation of our planet. The Avian Migration Aerial Surface Space project, or AMASS, takes advantage of thousands of images captured by astronauts to give people an appreciation of the migrations many birds undertake across the planet.

Also called Space for Birds, the project maps the routes taken by seven endangered or threatened bird species, highlighting along those routes habitat changes caused mainly by human activities. After more than four years, astronauts now have captured images of key locations along the migratory paths of all seven species. The Roberta Bondar Foundation sponsors AMASS in collaboration with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The foundation is a research and education effort started by Bondar, the first Canadian woman to fly in space.

"We look at environmental education as a way to get people to love something," says Bondar. "If they love something, they will want to protect it." She traveled to remote areas, taking photos on the ground and in the air of the birds and their environment, but knew that images from space could help people grasp the bigger picture.

The images are part of the space station's Crew Earth Observation (CEO) project, which supports a wide variety of research and education projects. AMASS began working with CEO in 2016, photographing locations along the North American migratory path of the Whooping Crane. The collaboration expanded in 2018 and 2019 when CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques flew aboard the space station.

"It has always been one of my passions to look at Earth from space," Saint-Jacques says. "Because birds are affected by what we do to the planet, this was a beautiful way for me to give a theme to my Earth observations. Seeing the span of migrations from space, to imagine birds flying these incredible distances, was awe inspiring."

Subsequent crews continued the work. Taking images is a popular activity on station, Saint-Jacques says, so it took little effort to recruit new crew members.

The seven species for the project, which Bondar chose in consultation with the United Nations Environment Program and US Fish and Wildlife Service, are the Curlew Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Lesser Flamingo, Piping Plover, Sprague's Pipit, Red Knot rufa species, and Whooping Crane.

The project plans to host exhibits and educational events, but during the pandemic, decided to create online story maps. These maps provide information about the biology and threats to survival for each of the species, as well as images, video, and maps of land use changes. The first completed story map covers the Lesser Flamingo.

In addition, CSA's Exploring Earth, an educational project using photos from space on an interactive map, is incorporating bird migration information. The map has photographs from space, information on each species, and resources for teachers. Users can learn about a species, its breeding grounds, migratory pathways, and overwintering areas.

Worldwide, some 1,500 bird species face extinction, and the disruption of migratory corridors represents a serious threat. Space images help bring attention to those threats.

"Space imagery shows the position of a habitat in the broader scope of the planet," Bondar says. "The overlapping of emotion and vision focuses people on conservation."

Taking photos from the space station presents unique challenges, including the speed at which the station moves - five miles per second - and the crew's busy schedule. "You have these little slivers of time going over a location and not a lot of time to prepare," Saint-Jacques says. "You're looking forward as the scene comes toward you pretty fast and have just a few seconds over that location and a few more as you look back flying away. Chasing the right frame is a bit of an art."

In addition, all the logistics must be in place, including identifying the target and having the correct camera lens, while also accounting for the amount of cloud cover and season.

But the effort is worth it. "The distances these birds fly instinctively is still mysterious to zoologists," Saint-Jacques says. "It takes humans immense technology to fly around the world, and birds just do it. I gained more respect for those animals, to see that the entire world is their environment."

Bondar notes that almost everyone has a camera these days, even if just on a phone, providing an accessible lens through which to view nature. "Photography can reconnect people to the natural world. From space, we can see entire migratory corridors and patterns we didn't even know existed. It's a view of the extraordinary feats of these birds."

For Saint-Jacques, one of the less tangible of the many benefits of space exploration is that new perspective. "The space station is a great testament to the unifying power of space exploration. Very quickly you feel that you are not a citizen of a particular country, but an Earthling. We share this planet with many other species, and we have the responsibility to be decent housemates."

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Britons are bracing for a washout weekend as heavy downpours and strong winds are set to hit parts of the UK and snow returns to the Peak District.

The latest battering of wet conditions comes as experts predict this month could be the UK's wettest March on record.

The UK is set for a chilly start to the weekend as a day of rain and cold gusty winds, with some winter hail showers, is forecast and parts of northern England wake up to a blanket of snow.

While those living in parts of the Peak District woke up to a sprinkling of the white stuff, other parts of the UK rose to find the sun peaking through the clouds before the weather is set to turn wet again.

Early rain and hill snow seen over parts of northern England and Scotland is expected to clear away eastwards this morning but colder conditions are here to stay.

The strong blustery winds in England today made flying a kite in Wimbledon, London, this morning very troublesome for this man

The snow has also made for dangerous driving conditions in the Lake District, as one van appeared to have smashed into a brick wall in Hartside, Cumbria

As Brits brace themselves for a wet weekend, residents in the village of Bretton, in the Peak District, woke to find a light dusting of snowfall as chillier conditions are set to remain throughout the day

The sun broke through the clouds at the marina in Gravesend, Kent, today ahead of a predicted day of rain and gusts of wind

The Met Office said another blustery day is expected with a mixture of sunny spells and showers, which may be heavy at times with hail in some places.

Those out and about today may feel quite cold and the same is due to continue into the night, with a touch of frost in some places.

Some showers are also expected in the early evening tonight which will eventually be confined to parts of northern, western and central UK.

The latest battering of rain and wind comes as it was revealed this month is set to be the wettest March on record.

According to The Mirror, March is to follow in the footsteps of February, which was the wettest on record due to a series of storms and weather warnings.

It is estimated parts of Scotland could see up to 4.64in of rainfall by March 24 and the UK is expected to see an estimated 2.5in over 12 days.

In Hartside, Cumbria, snow ploughs were out this morning battling to keep the roads clear as heavy snow continued to fall in the early hours

Snow is seen in the village of Bretton in the Derbyshire Peak District this morning as much of the UK wakes up to another cold day for rain and wind

As the UK braces for another chilly day, people ventured out for a snowy walk near Hawes, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park today

The snow also made for difficult driving conditions as this car attempts to make its way through the white stuff near Hawes, in the Yorkshire Dales

The Tan Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales National Park was surrounded by a dusting of fresh snow fall which appeared overnight

Wales is estimated to get up to 3.7in of rain and 3.6in are predicted for the north of England.

Several areas of the UK woke up to snow this morning, including parts of the Peak District and Cumbria.

In Hartside, snow ploughs were seen out battling to clear the snow as it continued to fall this morning and Cyclists were spotted braving the icy conditions.

As the snow makes driving conditions dangerous, a van also crashed into a brick wall in the Lake District. The vehicle appeared to have been left there for a few hours as snow had built up on the windshield.

The strong winds were out in force in Wimbledon, London, this morning as one mans attempts to fly a kite were hampered by the gusts and a runner was battered by the wind

Taking advantage of the strong gusts of wind, a man attempts to fly a colourful kite in Wimbledon, London, this morning

While the UK may be set for another day of downpours and blustery winds, residents in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, woke up to see blue skies breaking through the clouds this morning

Meteogroup forecast Sunday will have a largely dry and bright start to the day with early spells of sunshine but thick cloud cover will tend to build in from the west during the day.

There will be scattered showers across western areas and rain will spread into Northern Ireland and western Britain during the afternoon and evening.

And the cloud is set to continue into the beginning of next week, with mostly dry conditions and some sunny spells but with clouds building during the day - with a chance of a few showers developing.

Tuesday will be overcast and unsettled with thick cloud and outbreaks of rain which will be heavy at times and clear from the west to reveal bright spells later

As winds pick up across the UK, kite surfers in Scotland headed to Troon Beach, Ayrshire, to take advantage of the gusts

Kite surfers were spotted gliding above the sea at Troon Beach, Ayrshire, this morning as the waves below become choppy

Surrounded by an impressive background, kite surfers put on their gear for a day above the waves at Troon Beach, Ayrshire, as winds begin to pick up across the UK

Making the most of the milder weather conditions, one man was seen out for a morning job in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, but the effects of the recent downpours can still be see as he navigates his way around the puddles

And it was not just Britons who have been making the most of the glimpse of milder weather this morning, this robin was seen waiting to be fed in the morning sunshine in Playhatch, Oxfordshire, this morning

As Britons are set to be hit by showers and strong winds, five flood warnings have been put in place in the north of England, including in Keswick in the Lake District and the River Ouse at York, as well as Somerset.

Meanwhile, Ladbrokes has cut odds from 6/1 to just 3/1 on the wettest day of 2021 being recorded this weekend.

Elsewhere, it remains a 7/4 shot for this to go down as the wettest March on record.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: 'It looks like we're in for a record-breaking month for all the wrong reasons on the weather front.'

Later in the week temperatures are predicted to drop below zero as cold Arctic winds continue to batter parts of the UK, with Scotland seeing temperatures as low as 23F (-5C).
The Duchess of Sussex has made a formal complaint to Ofcom about Piers Morgan after he dismissed her account of suffering suicidal thoughts and experiencing racism at the hands of the royal family. Meghan complained to ITV bosses about the former co-host of Good Morning Britain after he said on-air that he didnt believe a word of her interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey when she laid bare her struggles. She raised concerns with the broadcaster about the effect Morgans comments may have on the issue of mental health generally and those attempting to deal with their own problems  and not about the former newspaper editors personal attack on herself.
Manchester United are reluctant to enter a bidding war for Erling Haaland this summer, with Manchester City emerging as favourites to sign the prolific Borussia Dortmund star.

United thought they had a deal tied up for Haaland in January 2020, after manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer flew to Austria for talks with his fellow Norwegian, but the Red Bull Salzburg striker made a 19.5million move to Dortmund instead.

City, Chelsea and Real Madrid will lead the chase for Haaland if the 20-year-old leaves Germany in the summer, having already scored 37 goals in 34 appearances for Dortmund and Norway this season.

Man City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are ready to make a summer move for Erling Haaland

The striker has scored 37 goals in 34 appearances for Dortmund and Norway this season

United are still interested in Haaland but will struggle to compete financially with their Premier League rivals in the current economic climate, especially because his 90m buyout clause can only be activated if the fee is paid in one instalment.

United are also wary of negotiating with the players agent, Mino Raiola, and his father, Alfie Haaland, after the breakdown of his move to Old Trafford 14 months ago soured relations between the camps.

It is a sign of Raiolas antipathy towards United that he is prepared to bury the hatchet with Pep Guardiola  their long-running feud dates back to Guardiolas fall-out with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Barcelona  and discuss a move to City, where Haalands father spent three years as a player.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are favourites to sign the prolific Borussia Dortmund star

It is understood that initial contact has been made between City and the Haaland camp, although Chelsea also have the resources to pull off one of the biggest transfer deals of the summer.

Solskjaer worked with Haaland at Molde and admitted recently he is still in contact with the player but said United need to be realistic about their transfer plans.

City, meanwhile, are attempting to rectify problems with an Etihad Stadium surface that Guardiola believes has hampered his side in recent weeks.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to lure Haaland to Manchester United in January 2020

The pitch was clearly a problem during last weeks 4-1 victory over Wolves and Citys groundstaff reseeded earlier this week.

Sportsmail understands the Premier League leaders, whose surface is the joint-oldest in the division with Burnleys, are planning to dig up and then rebuild the pitch this summer.

They are working to find a solution but the grass isnt good, Guardiola said. The weather conditions here in England are tough, but there are stadiums where the grass is good. We were in London against Arsenal, we were in Anfield, even in Old Trafford, and the grass was better than ours. We were in Budapest and the grass was incredible.

City were due to undertake an expensive overhaul of the pitch last year and did not book any summer concerts in preparation, but that was ultimately delayed as a result of the pandemic.

United wary of dealing with Haaland's agent Raiola (right) and father Alfie Haaland (left)

Phil Foden admitted a muddy top contributed to City finding playing out from the back tricky during the 5-2 win over Southampton on Wednesday.

Famed for his attention to detail, Guardiola demands exact measurements of grass length. When appointed, he asked for the Etihad and training ground pitches to stand 19mm high, in line with those he had experienced at Bayern Munich, before agreeing a compromise of 23mm to allow for rain and cold weather.

City have still managed to win 10 of their last 11 matches at home, only losing against rivals Manchester United last week. They can go 17 points clear of their rivals with victory at Fulham on Saturday night.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Tuesday, March 9

9:39 p.m.  A 37-year-old Edenville Township woman called 9-1-1 to report her mother's vehicle stolen out of Saginaw County. The deputy made contact with the 57-year-old Saginaw woman, who is currently in St. Helen. The woman said she was making a decision on what to do with the issue, because her 39-year-old Sanford son had possession of the vehicle. The woman was referred to Saginaw Police or the Michigan State Police for further assistance if she chose to report the vehicle as stolen.

9:28 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Jasper Township home to assist Child Protective Services with a 7-year-old girl having a bruise on her arm. Deputies made contact with the residents and forwarded all information obtained during the interviews to CPS.

7:59 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Homer Township location for a report of gunshots being fired in the area. A deputy checked the area and did not locate a source of the gun shots.

7:07 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Homer Township location to assist EMS with an unconscious man who was possibly overdosing on drugs. Upon arrival, EMS had the 21-year-old Mount Pleasant man awake and in stable condition. The man was transported to the hospital by EMS.

2:18 p.m.  Officers responded to a fraud report in the 3000 block of Whitewood Drive.

12:36 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of North Saginaw Road and Ashman Street.

9 a.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Jerome Township.

7:56 a.m  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Larkin Township.

7:34 a.m.  Officers responded to a drug possession in the 2100 block of Virginia Avenue.
For Subscribers Gov. Noem hires jet consultant to help South Dakota buy new aircraft

An out-of-state consultant has been hired for $195,000 by Gov. Kristi Noem's administration to help the state of South Dakota buy a new aircraft.
There are now at least one and a half million more EU citizens living in the UK than before Brexit, Home Office figures have suggested.

In total, 4.6million people have been granted the right to remain in the UK after Brexit by way of the Government's EU Settlement Scheme.

This is higher than the estimated 3.1million EU citizens in the UK before Brexit, according to the Times.

Of the total figure, 1.6million EU citizens that have applied for settled status are concentrated in London which amounts to 17 per cent of the city's total population.

In two boroughs, Newham and Brent, three in ten of their residents are EU citizens and the boroughs have more EU citizens than any other UK city, the Times reports.

The East of England had the second highest concentration with 420,580 applications which equates to 6.7 per cent of the region's population.

So far, 5.1million people have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme with 4.6million applications concluded.

Of these, 2.5million have been granted permanent leave to remain and 2million have been granted pre-settled status.

Those with this status will need to reapply after living in the country for five years to gain permanent residence.

The Times reports that only 3 per cent of applications have been refused, voided or withdrawn.

Immigration experts have previously criticised the quality of the Government's data - which makes it hard to determine how many EU citizens in the UK are taking up the scheme.

Around 700,000 foreign workers from across the world are believed to have left Britain during the pandemic between July and September, according to statistics from the Office for National Statistics published last month.

But British official figures show that EU citizens continue to move to the UK and that there is still net EU migration.

EU citizens and their families are asked to apply to a Home Office EU settlement scheme by June in order to carry on living and working in the UK now the Brexit transition period and freedom of movement has ended.

A total of 5.1million applications have been received since the scheme opened in March 2019

Those granted settled status will be allowed to stay in the UK for as long as they want and can also apply for British citizenship.

Usually, you would need to wait a year after getting settled status to apply for citizenship.

As of last month, the top nationalities to apply were Polish, Romanian and Italian which made up more than a third of the overall total.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove previously described the huge uptake in the scheme as a 'great advertisement' for the country as EU citizens choose to stay in 'unprecedented numbers'.
The former Assistant Garda Commissioner charged with heading up the new community safety pillar of the Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan has told the Fingal Independent that Balbriggan's youth and diversity brings with it challenges for the community but also opportunities.

Engaging with the town's youthful population, fostering integration among the town's diverse communities and creating safer public spaces for all are among the priorities of the new group established under the chairmanship of former Assistant Commissioner, Michael O'Sullivan.

In an exclusive interview with the Fingal Independent, this week, Mr O'Sullivan said when he was asked to take part he 'thought it was an exciting piece of work to be involved in. I think there's great opportunities in it for Balbriggan and I think even at a national level, in terms of learning'.

Asked what he knew about the town, coming into the role, he said: 'Certainly not as much as I know now. I obviously had some knowledge and there is certainly a difference between the perception (of Balbriggan) and the reality. The reality, I think, is that Balbriggan is a thriving town with great potential. It is the fastest growing town in Ireland.'

What makes Balbriggan unique, he said, is its young and diverse population which Mr O'Sullivan says 'presents its own challenges but also its opportunities'.

He explained how his group will go about their business, saying: 'The community is key to all of this and I say the community in the broadest possible sense, from my experience over the years. A key objective of this is to enhance community safety, wellbeing and integration through multi-agency collaboration and a multi-disciplinary approach.' He added: 'There is no one agency out there that will solve all the issues in a community.'

Mr O'Sullivan said: 'Whatever the issues are, this is a bottom-up community-based approach.'

Already, the group has identified a lack of resources, particularly around youth work, in the town and Mr O'Sullivan said that needs to be addressed.

He explained: 'Foroige in particular, need more resources to address issues among the youth.'

Balbriggan gardai are to get more youth resources in the short term, with the announcement that two new juvenile liaison officers are to be recruited to Balbriggan Garda Station soon.

Gardai, the Department of Justice, Fingal County Council and Foroige already have seats at the table in this process and other bodies like the local education sector and Balbriggan Integration Forum are soon to add their voices but Mr O'Sullivan says he wants to keep membership of the initiative open-ended and open to every voice in the community.

Engaging and supporting our young people has been identified as a key priority and breaking that down, Mr O'Sullivan said: 'You are talking about more youth workers, more youth programmes, access to youth services, access to safe open spaces for young people and more consultation with young people on outreach on youth activities.'

In terms of the integration of Balbriggan's diverse communities he said a lot of work was already ongoing but been paused because of COVID restrictions, particularly in-school programmes. He said the programmes that already exist that foster integration must be ready to 'hit the ground running' when that is possible and have to be added to by working with grassroots organisations working in those communities.

He said: 'There's a piece of work there to try to build trust and integration and community relations.'

Mr O'Sullivan acknowledges that there are forces at work in Balbriggan elsewhere that have an agenda against integration and have been selling a narrative about Balhbriggan that his work will seek to counter.

He said: 'There's a lot of discussion about that happening at a national level and the solution to it on a larger scale, about how this is dealt with is at a national level. I think the message from Balbriggan coming from all of us that are in a position of influence is positive. It's about opportunity. Balbriggan is no different in many ways from other provincial towns but every town has its unique characteristic.

'It's about managing perception and I think the communications part of that is critical. Because there is so much reliance at the moment on social media, particularly among the group that we are focused on (young people). Any of us that have kids, it's all about the social media.'

He added: 'Some of the platforms where this material is pedelled have their responsibilities but that is best dealt with at a national level.'

He added: 'Positive communication and giving the real message about Balbriggan is going to be key.'

He rejects the nay-sayers that say this attempt to address issues at the root of antisocial behaviour in Balbriggan won't work, saying: 'From a personal poiont of view, if I thought that this was a piece of work that wouldn't succeed, I wouldn't be doing it.'

He said that while change on the ground will be incremental, 'this is not a talking shop, we mean business'.

The said that ultimately though, the community in Balbriggan will decide whether the effort has been a success or not. The need for such a group grew out of the Our Balbriggan consultation process so the establishment of a group like this has been community driven and Mr O'Sullivan says he intends to keep it that way, with the needs of the community always paramount in what the group does.

In the end, his hope is that not only is the work a success but it can be used by other young towns across the country and abroad as a template for success.
The Kremlin reported on Friday that Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian noted with satisfaction that the ceasefire regime in the Karabakh conflict zone is holding and that the situation in the region remains by and large stable and calm.

In a statement, it said both Aliyev and Pashinian praised Russian peacekeeping forces that were deployed in and around Karabakh after the ceasefire agreement entered into force on November 10.

Also touched upon were issues relating to the unblocking of economic and transport links in the South Caucasus, the statement said, adding that the three leaders praised a Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani working group formed by them for that purpose in January.

The group co-headed by deputy prime ministers of the three states has held a series of meetings on practical modalities of opening the Armenian-Azerbaijani border for commercial and other traffic.

It was supposed to submit by March 1 a timetable of measures envisaging the restoration and construction of new transport infrastructure facilities. No such document has been made public so far.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said earlier on Friday that both Baku and Yerevan have taken a constructive approach to the work of the trilateral task force.

The truce agreement commits Yerevan to opening rail and road links between the Nakhichevan exclave and the rest of Azerbaijan that will presumably pass through Armenias southeastern Syunik province. Armenia should be able, for its part, to use Azerbaijani territory as a transit route for cargo shipments to and from Russia and Iran.

Zakharova declined to comment on Aliyevs recent threats to force Yerevan to open a transport corridor between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan. Aliyev also described Syunik as historical Azerbaijani lands.
The Right Rev. Morris Thompson, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, has announced he will retire after 12 years of shepherding the 17,000-member church.

Thompson said he will step down in November 2022, giving the diocese 19 months to nominate, discern, elect and seat his successor. The long lead time is in line with national church guidance.

"Over the past year, Rebecca and I have spoken frequently about retirement and what that looks like for us," Thompson, referring to his wife, wrote in a March 13 notice to the diocese. "We look forward to being active grandparents and staying close to the service in which God leads us. We love the good people of Louisiana with all the diversity from every corner of the diocese, and we look forward to seeing what is next for you."

Notwithstanding its statewide name, the diocese covers the 24 civil parishes in southeast Louisiana, including the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas. It counts more than 17,000 Episcopalians in 48 congregations and also oversees a conference center near Robert and 16 schools. The rest of the state makes up the Diocese of Western Louisiana.

Thompson, a native of Cleveland, Mississippi, and a Marine Corps veteran, was ordained a Southern Baptist minister in 1981. He subsequently changed denominations and became an Episcopal priest in 1991. He was dean and rector of Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, Kentucky, when the Diocese of Louisiana called him as bishop in 2009.
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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  JaMee Asberry scored 26 of her 28 points after halftime and Oklahoma State rallied from 15 down for an 89-80 overtime win over Bedlam rival Oklahoma in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday night.

Asberry made a pair of key 3-pointers late in the second half that helped close the deficit for the third-seeded Cowgirls (18-7). Oklahoma State advanced to a semifinal matchup with No. 2 seed and 17th-ranked West Virginia on Saturday.

The sixth-seeded Sooners (12-12) led 66-56 on Madi Williams layup with 5:28 left in the fourth quarter. The Cowgirls went on an 8-0 run and Asberry later made 3s on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to 71-70 with 2:08 left.

Natasha Mack made the second of two free throws to tie the game at 71 with 1:28 left and both teams missed on opportunities in the final minute. The Cowgirls pulled away with a 9-0 run in overtime and finished the game making 12 of their last 18 shots.

Mack had 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting and grabbed 16 rebounds. Lauren Fields added 12 points, Kassidy De Lapp scored 11 and Taylen Collins had 10.

Oklahoma had 8-0 and 9-0 runs in the second quarter to lead by as many as 15 points and go into halftime with a 36-23 lead.

Taylor Robertson had 24 points and Williams scored 22 for the Sooners, who are on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament selection on Monday. Gabby Gregory added 14 points and Skylar Vann scored 11.

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For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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Boyle native, Hilary Beirne has been honoured in New York for his achievements in Irish American affairs and his involvement in the city's St Patrick's Day Parade. On Monday, March 8th, 2021 Westchester County Board of Legislators in New York declared March 10th as "Hilary T. Beirne Day" as part of its celebration of Irish History and Heritage month in the county.

Westchester County is located just outside New York City and has a population of approximately one million.

Mr. Beirne, currently a leader in the St Patrick's Day celebrations in New York City, was presented with a Westchester County Board of Legislator Proclamation scroll to mark the occasion and the honour at a virtual meeting of the County Board on Monday evening. The Proclamation records Hilary's long and distinguished record of achievement in Irish American affairs in the New York region including his leadership role in the New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade, the oldest and largest civic parade in the world, and his role in establishing the Saint Patrick's Day Foundation which has been enormously successful in its mission to financially support the parade and provide education scholarships.

Mr. Beirne is active in Irish American affairs and recently joined a group of prominent Irish Americans in DC consisting of Congressional and White House representatives, U.S. Ambassadors, former Ambassadors, and academics on foreign policy as a member of the "Irish Ad Hoc" Committee to defend the Good Friday agreement post Brexit.

Mr. Beirne is the author of a position paper entitled "A Lost Opportunity for Ireland", concerning the Diaspora engagement by the government. This paper was published as part of citizenship papers at the March 1st conference on "Citizenship, Emigrants, and Voting Rights Post-Brexit".
FILE PHOTO: Vial and sryinge are seen in front of displayed AstraZeneca logo

By Francesco Guarascio

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has again angered the EU by scaling back deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines, but got a boost on Friday when the World Health Organisation dismissed fears that have prompted countries in Europe and Asia to suspend use of the shot.

The European Union has been much slower to start mass vaccination than neighbouring Britain because of a slower approval and purchasing process and repeated supply hold-ups.

EU regulators have dismissed scattered reports of blood clots in people who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine, but on Friday Thailand joined a handful of European countries in suspending use of the shot - the first and cheapest to be developed and launched at volume around the world.

An AstraZeneca document dated March 10, seen by Reuters and shared with EU officials, shows that the Anglo-Swedish drug maker expects to have delivered 30 million doses to the EU by the end of March - 10 million less than it pledged only last month, and only a third of its contractual obligation.

A company spokesman declined to comment, but a person familiar with the situation said there had been difficulties with international supply chains.

Industry executives have warned of manufacturing problems as countries try to protect their own supplies of vaccines, ingredients and the equipment to make, bottle and transport them.

Washington has told Brussels that it will not allow AstraZeneca shots made in the United States to be exported in the near future, Reuters reported on Thursday.

And last week Italy and Brussels blocked a shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines from Italy to Australia, in the first application of a mechanism that allows the EU to refuse export requests from vaccine makers that break EU supply contracts.

The company has acknowledged production problems in the EU, but also said it expected to ship some output to the EU from the United States.

Its contract pledges "best reasonable efforts" to meet a target of 300 million doses for the EU by the end of June.

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"NOT GOOD ENOUGH"

Brussels is increasingly frustrated.

"I see efforts, but not 'best efforts'. That's not good enough yet," EU industry commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted on Thursday.

Germany said it was talking to Washington about missing shipments of COVID-19 vaccines from the United States, noting that more than 30 countries including the United States were receiving vaccines made in the EU.

The EU programme has also been upset in the last two weeks by the reports of blood clots.

On Thursday, Denmark and non-EU members Norway and Iceland suspended their use of the vaccine. Austria and Italy have stopped using specific batches.

But on Friday the WHO said the vaccine was "excellent" and that no causal link had been established to the blood clots.

"It's very important to understand that, yes, we should continue to be using the AstraZeneca vaccine," spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a briefing. "All that we look at is what we always look at: Any safety signal must be investigated."

AstraZeneca said on Thursday it had found no evidence of increased risk of deep vein thrombosis in more than 10 million recipient records.

And the EU regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said on Wednesday that the number of clots reported in people who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine was no higher than in the general population.

Bulgaria said it would suspend use of the vaccine until it saw written guidance from the EMA, but German Health Minister Jens Spahn told reporters on Friday that his country was following the EMA guidance.

"Everything we know so far suggests that the benefits of the vaccine, even after every individual case reported, are greater than the risks, and that continues to be the case," he said.

Germany, the most populous country in the EU, is due to receive about 6 million doses from AstraZeneca by the end of April, the document seen by Reuters shows, with France getting 4.7 million and Italy 4.4 million.

"We are still in a phase of absolute scarcity," Spahn said.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio in Brussels, Thomas Escritt in Berlin and Tsvetelia Tsolova in Sofia; Writing by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Photographer Captures Stunning Images of Rare White Dolphin Casper in Monterey Bay

A rare white dolphin, dubbed Casper, has been delighting whale watchers in Monterey Bay, California. The striking swimmer has been known to the bay for over six years and is a firm favorite among marine mammal enthusiasts.

There are not a lot of areas where dolphins can be spotted close to shore. Its like the grand canyon off the bay, Nancy Black, owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch, told SFGate. Were always excited to point out Casper to everybody.

Eric Austin Yee, a naturalist with Discovery Whale Watch, confirmed that Casper, a Rissos dolphin, has been showing up for about six seasons, often with a pod comprising hundreds of dolphins. It has been exclusively here in Monterey Bay, said Yee, who saw Casper himself on March 3 and managed to snap several photos.

Yee shared images of the encounter in a Facebook post, captioned, Our 10AM trip had some amazing encounters today! We saw about a dozen Northbound gray whales, a humpback whale, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and Rissos dolphins. Casper the albino Rissos dolphin also made an appearance!

The white marine mammal was first photo-identified as a calf by local naturalists and biologists in 2014, swimming alongside an older female, presumed to be his mother, reports USA Today. Black first spotted Casper the following year.

Its rare to see a white dolphin, but not completely out of the ordinary, she said.

Monterey Bay Whale Watch caught incredible drone footage of the snow-white youngster swimming with peers in 2018.

Caspers pale complexion, the result of a lack of melanin pigment in the skin, can be caused by albinism, a congenital condition which also causes red eyes; or leucism, a genetic peculiarity passed down as a mostly recessive gene, according to the Dolphin Project.

Yee is uncertain whether Casper is an albino or leucistic, while Black claims it is the latter, as Caspers eyes are not red, though there remains some uncertainty.

With leucism, youll usually see more natural pigment on them, whereas with albinism its a pure white animal, Yee told SFGate. There are a few other dolphins in the world that are white with patches of pigment on them so we know for sure theyre leucistic, but on Casper we havent seen the patches.

Sadly, white dolphins, especially albinos, have shorter lifespans than their pigmented peers.

A lack of melanin can place white dolphins at risk of skin issues owing to sun exposure. Adds Yee, Also, being bright white in the ocean makes you highly visible, kind of being like a giant EAT ME sign, you are highly visible to predators.

Rissos dolphins typically prefer offshore waters where they can reach their prey of choicesquidat depths of 1,000 feet (approx. 300 meters). Yet, Monterey Bay has one of the deepest underwater canyons off the West Coast into which dolphin pods swarm to feast on spawning squid.

Sometimes well see Casper for a couple weeks in a large group with a thousand or more dolphins, or in subgroups within the same school, Black described. Nobody else has spotted Casper outside Monterey Bay.

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Burma Police Kill Three as Myanmar Protesters Launch Night Demonstrations Against Regime

One of two men shot dead by security forces on Friday night in Thaketa was taken to hospital.

Two people were shot dead by police in Yangon on Friday night and in the early hours of

Saturday, and another who was in critical condition after being shot in the head died later on Saturday, as thousands of city residents launched night-time protests against the regime together with their counterparts in other parts of the country.

Defying the militarys unjust rule, which includes an 8pm-4am curfew order and a ban on assembly, thousands of people in major cities took to the streets on Friday night, right after the beginning of stay-at-home hours.

Two men in Yangons Thaketa Township were shot dead on the spot at around 12.30am while besieging a police station as people demanded the security forces release three men detained by police after a sit-in protest on Friday night.

Along with the protests on Friday night, candlelight vigils for those killed by police and soldiers in violent assaults on anti-regime protesters over the past month were held in major cities across Myanmar, including Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Sagaing, Magwe, Myitkyina, Hpakant, Mawlamyaing, Dawei and Myeik.

In Yangon, candlelight vigils and nighttime protests were also held in Thaketa, Kamaryut (Hledan), Bahan, San Chaung, Kyimyindaing, Insein, Thingangyun, North Oakkala, South Oakkala, North Dagon, Hlaing Thar Yar and Shwepyithar townships.

In a video that went viral on Friday night, three young men were taken from a home in Thaketa and beaten by a dozen police, before being arrested. After the incident, residents poured onto the streets and marched to the police station, calling for the mens release. However, police responded with live rounds.

Ko Sithu, 37, suffered a fatal head shot and Ko Aung Aung Zaw, 41, was shot between the neck and shoulder, according to a Thaketa resident.

According to his uncle, Ko Sithu, a trishaw driver, actively participated in the campaign ahead of the 2020 general election for the NLD. Convoys of the three-wheeled passenger bikes, which are popular in Yangon, were a hallmark of the NLDs election campaign. With other trishaw drivers in his neighborhood, the young man staged anti-coup protests after the military regime overthrew the elected NLD-led government on Feb. 1.

We are unarmed civilians but are bullied and abused by those armed with weapons. Everyone has a family. I wish to see no more families suffer like us. My wish is they will stop shooting people, he said.

Three protesters in Hlaing Township were also injured in shootings by security forces when residents protested in response to police raids on the homes of elected members of Parliament in the constituency.

The three injured include a young man who was shot in the head and is in critical condition, according to the National League for Democracys Hlaing Township Information Committee. The partys township branch said security forces raided an NLD ward office and the home of an Upper House parliamentarian, breaking down doors. They then raided the home of a regional parliamentarian in Hlaing.

Since the Feb. 1 coup, millions of Myanmar people have protested against the military regime. Riot police and soldiers have fired on the crowds with live rounds, killing at least 75 people across the country.

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In a move that had numerous precursors to its ultimate implementation, the Biden administration has formally withdrawn a Trump administration rule on the definition of independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor announced Thursday it was withdrawing the rule that had been announced by the Trump administration's WHD in its waning days. The WHD first announced in February it was considering delaying the rule that was to go into effect in March, then delayed to May and now has withdrawn it.

Accompanying the several weeks of walking back from the Trump rule were withdrawals of various opinion letters that had used the proposed independent contractor rule as the basis. The Trump administration's WHD released guidance letters based on the proposed rule as late as just a few days before President Joe Biden took office.

The Biden administration is not proposing an immediate substitute, which means previous rules are back in effect. "Any commenter feedback addressing or suggesting such a replacement or otherwise requesting that the department adopt any specific guidance if the rule is withdrawn will be considered to be outside the scope of [the announcement]," the WHD said in its statement. "Withdrawal of the rule would allow WHD an additional opportunity to consider legal and policy issues related to the FLSA and independent contractors."

In reviewing the potential impact of the Trump administration's proposed rule on independent contractors, WHD said "it assumed that the rule would lead to an increase in the number of independent contractor arrangements, and acknowledged that some of this increase could be due to businesses reclassifying employees as independent contractors."

The agency also reviewed what the impact of that reclassification would be. "The reclassification of employees as independent contractors, or the use of independent contracting relationships as opposed to employment, decreases access to employer-provided fringe benefits such as health care or retirement benefits," it said in one section. Employee-sponsored retirement accounts would disappear with a transfer to IC status. A transfer of a worker to IC status results in higher tax liabilities as the IC is obligated to pick up employer components. And with the disappearance of health care benefits, commenters on the original proposed rule noted that such a shift "increases the prevalence of independent contracting (to) state and federal governments."

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In another passage aimed at the driving sector, but primarily for services such as Uber, the WHD said "research on drivers who work for online transportation companies in California and New York also finds that many drivers receive significantly less than the applicable state minimum wages."

Under the previous rule that is now back in place, the definition of a worker as an employee or independent contractor was shaped largely by earlier court decisions regarding "economic realities" tests. Quoting a legal case on the issue, employees are defined as "those who as a matter of economic realities are dependent upon the business to which they render service."

But as the WHD notes, the economic realities tests have several components, none of which are more important than others. The tests include such provisions as the level of control the employer has over the worker and the "degree of permanence" in the job. A July 2015 rule further clarified the definition.

But that rule was yanked by the Trump administration soon after Trump took office in 2017. It was replaced by a Trump administration economic realities test that took two of the provisions and elevated them to "core factors": an employee's degree of control over the work and the worker's opportunity to profit if he or she showed initiative and drive.

But as WHD said in a subheadline about the elevation of two of those standards under the economic realities test, "the rule's standard has never been used by any court or by WHD and is not supported by the [FLSA]'s text or case law."

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 2021 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Its hard to set those boundaries with yourself sometimes and say, I know this book is really exciting, but it can wait till tomorrow, sleep is more important, she said. Thats discipline, right? But I had never done it in that way, where its like, Its going to make you happier. Its not just good for you; its going to actually legitimately make you happier.

She said she found having a daily meditation practice helpful, and has stuck with it even after finishing the class. Meditation also helped her to get off social media.

I found myself looking inward. It helped me become more introspective, she said. Honestly, it was the best thing I ever did. (She later re-downloaded her social apps, including Facebook Messenger, and felt instantly overwhelmed.)

Tracy Morgan, a programming supervisor at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex in High River in Alberta, Canada, signed up for the class last June, as she was in lockdown with her children and husband.

Theres no reason I shouldnt be happy, she said. I have a wonderful marriage. I have two kids. I have a nice job and a nice house. And I just could never find happiness.

Since taking the course, Ms. Morgan, 52, has made a commitment to do three things every day: practice yoga for one hour, take a walk outside in nature no matter how cold it may be in Alberta, and write three to five entries in her gratitude journal before bed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that future expansions of eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine likely will happen by age group or health condition, and that offering general availability likely will be a final step in the process.

Fielding several questions on future eligibility, DeWine also said it likely will be a number of days before the state adds additional categories. DeWine lowered the eligibility age to 50 and up this week, a decision that took effect on Thursday.

I dont think were ready to open it up to everyone, DeWine said. I think when you do that youre basically saying were either that close to the end on the age or were saying we cant practically define groups that are more likely to die than others.

But we are moving a lot faster than we were, and thats because more vaccine is coming in to the state of Ohio. We anticipate to be sort of the same amount [of vaccine supply] for the next few weeks, but then in April at some point we would expect those numbers to go back up again even further. So, this is moving.

President Joe Biden has said COVID-19 vaccines will be available for every adult in the country by the end of May.

In conjunction with lowering the eligibility to age 50, plus adding those with Type 2 diabetes and end-stage renal disease, Ohio also on Thursday made it possible to use the states new vaccination sign-up website, gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov, to sign up for a mass vaccination site at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland.

Newly eligible because of his age, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted got vaccinated during DeWines televised briefing on Thursday. He received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to a spokeswoman, at Montpelier High School in Williams County, a building where Husted said he attended junior high school.
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As far as hikes go, this takes some beating. Ive joined a local hiking club on a nine-mile trek across Corfus remote, mountainous northeast and its summit is Mount Pantokrator, which, at 2,972 ft, is the Greek islands highest point.

Cypress trees poke through lush terrain fragrant with olive groves, fruits and cyclamen. We pick pears and wild strawberries; we sniff bay leaves and herbs. I even spy a praying mantis.

Trumping it all is the view from the rocky top. Opposite is Albania and mainland Greece, with only a shimmering mile-wide sliver of the Ionian Sea in between.

Idyllic: Paleokastritsa in Corfu. The island is the most northerly of Greeces seven Ionian Islands and is shaped like a scythe

On a good day you can see Italy too, says the hiking clubs president Stefanos. But its not a good viewing day. Sand blowing in from the Sahara obscures the view but, nonetheless, this geographical location is thrilling.

And now that Greece is keen to host us once we are allowed to travel again, hopefully from May 17, the thrill should be open to all.

Corfu is the most northerly of Greeces seven Ionian Islands and is shaped like a scythe, with Pantokrator at the tip of its curved top.

My base is the plush MarBella Corfu hotel, halfway down the islands 40 mile length, which clings to hills above the coastal village of Agios Ioannis Peristeron. There are 388 rooms but, somehow, it never feels crowded.

The hotel is ten miles south (a 15-minute drive) of capital Corfu Town, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, and is just the kind of place you dream of returning to after a hardcore five-hour hike.

During my stay last November, it earned the title of Top Greek Resort 2020 in the annual Greek Hospitality Awards.

I had gone to check out the hotels Covid-19 safety protocols, which will remain in place this year. Staff wear masks, hand sanitiser stations are round every corner and lifts can only be used by one bubble at a time.

In-room touchpoint items such as TV remote controls and hairdryers are sanitised and sealed, and the open-air design of the hotels entire ground floor  which comprises the reception area and main bar  would gain UK Chief Medical Officer Chris Whittys approval.

The capital of Corfu is Corfu Town, pictured, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Corfus strategic position between East and West has seen it fought over relentlessly. For five centuries it was occupied by the Venetians, French and British

Once you are in a swimsuit, this is all far from your mind. Thatched parasols shade sunbeds around its palm-fringed pools and beach. Next morning, I park my tired limbs on one such lounger, my toes within inches of lapping waves.

I have every intention of staying put, but then I see others taking out pedalos from the hotels watersports centre and think, why not? Afterwards, I join a stand-up paddleboard safari.

The hotels coastline is home to a protected underwater ecosystem called Posidonia Meadows, a vast expanse of rare, silvery seaweed rich in marine life. The seas so clear I can see this aquatic kingdom beneath my paddleboard.

After lunching on Greek salad, I return to the meadows with a snorkel. Theres a sweet spot thats teeming with so many fish that I feel almost set upon.

The view from the top of Mount Pantokrator which, at 2,972 ft, is Corfu's highest point

TRAVEL FACTS Seven nights half-board at MarBella Corfu with Jet2 (jet2.com) from 670 per person, including flights. The Corfu Hiking and Mountaineering Association (posk.gr) offers free hikes. For more information visit visitgreece.gr. Advertisement

Some are as teeny as a match, others the size of a mackerel. All are translucent with the occasional luminous coloured stripe. Corfus strategic position between East and West has seen it fought over relentlessly. For five centuries it was occupied by the Venetians, French and British.

Remnants of these times are still visible in Corfu Town, which is a 1.70 (1.50) half-hour bus ride away. Its beating heart is a pedestrianised maze of skinny alleys where laundry is hung high to dry.

Local guide Anna Vasilaki shows me around, explaining how the Venetians gave the town its cobblestones and pastel facades and how the French built the chi-chi cafe-lined arcade Liston.

What about the Brits? I ask. Ah, you gave us ginger beer! I buy a bottle from a bar in the town hall square.

Hit ITV drama The Durrells was inspired by author Gerald Durrells tales of living on Corfu and theres a statue of him near the towns old fortress. Rubbing his nose is supposed to bring good luck, says Anna. I cant resist a rub (and sanitise my hands afterwards).

Families at the MarBella who are keen to stick to their bubble can enjoy a new private away day. You are given a hire car, picnic and directions to a beautiful beach. I do the same and drive 20 minutes south-west to Issos, a wild, endless stretch of honey-coloured sand backed by dunes which I later learn was the setting for a chase scene in James Bonds For Your Eyes Only. Its the perfect spot to lay a towel and graze on the spanakopita (spinach and feta-filled Greek pastries) in my cool box.

Theres an ease about Corfu. Its got great beaches, great history, great hiking and nowhere is difficult to get to. And, crucially, Corfiots are keen to have us back.
The oversight agency for RFE/RL and other U.S. international broadcasters has condemned the Belarusian authorities' decision to heap further charges on detained blogger and RFE/RL consultant Ihar Losik and demanded his release.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) statement on March 12 cited "false charges" that have kept Losik in detention for more than 260 days.

"It's unacceptable that reporting on the Belarusian election cost a respected journalist his freedom," USAGM acting Chief Executive Officer Kelu Chao said in a statement. "Belarusian authorities should drop all charges against Ihar and immediately release him."

Losik was detained in June 2020 and accused of using his Telegram channel to "prepare to disrupt public order" and preparation for participation in riots ahead of a presidential vote in August that the opposition has said was rigged for Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Months of unprecedented protests have ensued and been met by thousands of arrests, brutal treatment of detainees, and a ruthless crackdown on media and journalists.

Losik's wife, Darya, said on March 11, citing a lawyer, that her husband had slit his wrists in front of an investigator and lawyer and restarted a hunger strike after learning of the new charges this week.

She said the precise wording of the new charges was unknown and demanded that Lukashenka explain why her husband has been in prison for nine months.

Losik, a 28-year-old consultant for RFE/RL on new-media technologies and a father of a 2-year-old daughter, ended a six-week hunger strike less than two months ago.

RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said after learning of the new charges that "All of us at RFE/RL are deeply distressed by todays new charges against Ihar, and his deteriorating health situation."

He added: "Journalism is not a crime and Ihar has been unjustly detained for far too long. Ihar and his family should not be tortured in this way.

Losik was slapped with charges in December 2020 that could result in an eight-year prison term.

In protest, Losik, who has been recognized as a political prisoner by rights activists, launched his initial hunger strike.

After ending that action in late January, a handwritten letter from Losik appeared in mid-February following news of a two-year jail sentence given to two journalists from Belsat, a Polish-funded news organization.

I have no illusion. I think itll be about five more years, and by that time I will have died. I no longer have any desire to do anything, Losik wrote. So much has already been done, and all for naught: Nothing influences anybody. Ill say it honestly: I doubt anything will change.

Western governments have refused to acknowledge Lukashenka as the winner of the August 9 vote, and imposed sanctions on him and his allies, citing election rigging and the police crackdown.

Lukashenka has refused to step down and says he will not negotiate with the opposition.
Cavalier House Books, a new and used general trade bookstore in Denham Springs, La., opened in 2009, but its roots go back to 2005, when John Cavalier and his future wife Michelle Cavalier started supplying local elementary, middle, and high schools with required-reading titles while they were still students at Southeastern Louisiana University. At first, they filled their pickup truck with orders off of 18-wheelers on the highway because they were not allowed to deliver to residential homes, and they shipped books out of a 12-sq.-ft. shed in the backyard of Johns parents house in Denham Springs, a bedroom community across the river from Baton Rouge. When things got busy, we would have palettes of books in the living room, John said.

Since then, the Cavaliers have expanded their wholesaling business and seen their store grow to become one of the most prominent bookstores in Louisiana, despite facing numerous challenges. Those obstacles included a devastating flood in 2016, which damaged much of the town, including the Cavaliers home, the bookstore, and their warehouse.

Still, John said, 2020 was uniquely challenging. We used to rely on school book fairs for a lot of our bookstore sales, and those didnt happen, so we saw a drop of 40% for the year in the bookstore business. The plunge was somewhat offset by an unexpected increase in sales to walk-in customers, as well as an explosion in online sales. As the year went on, John said, the store got much better at using social media marketing to drive online sales, and he was able to shift some school book sales online.

In 2018, the Cavaliers expanded into the distribution business. Following the closure of Forest Sales and Distributing, a book distributor outside New Orleans, they bought the companys customer database and sales history and launched the Looziana Book Company, a wholesale and distribution company for local and regional titles.

The wholesale and distribution business was really tough in 2020, John said. Many of the stores we sell to, particularly those in and around New Orleans, cater to tourists, and that business went off a cliff.

Overall, John said, sales for Looziana were down 80% for the year. To help bolster the distribution business in 2021, the company has signed four distribution deals for popular, locally published indie titles, including What the Sleepy Animals Do at the Audubon Zoo by Grace Millsaps and Ryan Murphy, a perennial local bestseller

Another challenge of the past year was coping with the politics in the Cavaliers hometown, which is conservative. It is so funny when I talk to colleagues from either coast about the things that they sell that are things we want to sell, he said, but we cannot because our customer base is vehemently opposed. He cited last years surge in sales, elsewhere, of anti-racist books and Barack Obamas A Promised Land. We have people who will actively turn the books around when we put them on display, he added.

Johns family goes back five generations in Denham Springs, and he said the biases of his neighbors has made him all the more determined to change their minds. In a lot of ways our store exists just to counter that bias, he added. I want to be the opposite of that. I call it my cultural transformation strategy, as in a be the change you want to see in the world sort of thing. I think for them its kind of like trying to unlearn riding a bike. But the more knowledge and empathy they have, the easier it will be to build bridges.

John is also extending his civic-minded leadership to the larger bookselling community. In January, he started a one-year term as board president of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, where he plans to standardize and streamline some of the organizations practices and work to make the group more inclusive. Last year, we opened up SIBA to anyone from the region who wanted to join, he saidso long as they have a professional interest in the book industry. Which meant we went from some 350 members to nearly 700. That means we now represent a much broader swath of the bookselling communityfrom trade bookstores like my own, to specialty retailers, online booksellers, and pop-ups. The book business is evolving, and we need to be more welcoming of these nontraditional business models.

This big-tent approach to bookselling is just what you would hope to hear from a man on a mission to make change.
The Jewish people who returned from Babylonian exile looked forward to the restoration of a Jewish kingdom. They expected a world dominating kingdom with a descendant of David on the throne and Jerusalem as its capital. But centuries had gone by. And they had been under the control of one world empire after another. They had to have been wondering if the promised kingdom would ever come.

But then Jesus came proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of God. And it raised the hopes of many people. Was the kingdom they had looked forward to at hand? Would Jesus lead a rebellion that would overthrow the Romans and establish a Jewish Kingdom?

Jesus did indeed come to establish the promised kingdom. But it was not the kingdom they were expecting. There is much that can be written about the kingdom Jesus established. But this article will be looking at one aspect in particular, the upside-down nature of that kingdom.

The Suffering Servant

Maybe the first hint of the difference that Gods kingdom would bring can be found in Isaiahs Servant poems, in particular the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This poem describes the servant as one who was despised, rejected, oppressed, afflicted, and killed for the sins of his people. He was a sacrifice who took the Lords punishment for the people upon himself.

But, in closing, God tells us what the outcome will be for this servant.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

This servant, who we understand to be Jesus, because of his sacrifice for others, was given a portion among the great, dividing the spoils with the strong. In what becomes a recurring theme in the Bible, it is the one who serves, or sacrifices, who becomes great in the kingdom of God.





Photo credit: Getty Images/Gordon Images

Winning by Dying

When Paul wrote his letter to the Colossian church it is likely that he had the passage from Isaiah in mind.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:13-15).

Jesus poured out his life unto death, bearing our sin. But in doing so he cancelled the charges against us, disarmed those who were against us, and triumphed over them by the cross. Jesus apparent defeat and humiliation on the cross was actually the defeat and humiliation of his, and our, real enemies. The forces of darkness that lead the world astray and held us captive.

It was in giving his life that Jesus gained the victory. And that is true for each of us as well. Paul, in Galatians 2:20, expresses that he has been crucified with Christ and now lives by faith in the risen Christ. He later adds, in Galatians 5:24, that all who belong to Christ have done likewise. It is by dying to self, crucifying the flesh, that we can have life in Christ and the victory that comes with that.

The Sermon on the Mount

The first hint in Jesus teaching of this upside-down nature of the kingdom comes at the beginning of what we know as the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. In the Beatitudes, Jesus declared several different types of people as being blessed, or happy. These are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek and merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers.

Our natural world looks at most of these people as being insignificant or undesirable. But Jesus says of them that theirs is the kingdom of heaven, inheritors of the earth, and children of God. The way that our world views people is not the same as the way that they are viewed by God. Those that our world looks down on are valued in the kingdom of God.

When one reads the Sermon on the Mount it is hard not to recognize that what Jesus teaches is often in contrast with what the world, or even the Jewish people, taught. Over and over he says, You have heard it said . . . but I say . . ..

People in the world act to be seen and applauded by others. In the kingdom we act secretly to be rewarded by God. Give to the needy, not to be seen by men, but by God. Pray and fast, not to be seen as religious by the world, but secretly to be seen and rewarded by the Father in heaven.

Dont worry about your life, food, and clothes. The world does that. Trust instead in your heavenly Father who knows what you need and will care for you. Dont judge others. Rather focus on your own faults. Enter by the narrow gate. Not by the wide road that most people take.

The Least Are the Greatest

Another passage that makes clear the upside-down nature of the Kingdom comes from Matthew 23:11-12. In this passage Jesus says that The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. This is in stark contrast with the way our world works. We look to the rich and powerful, the ones with the most influence, and call them greatest. But not so with Jesus and his kingdom.

Jesus demonstrated this least is greatest attitude when he washed his disciples feet in John 13:1-17. Jesus took on the role of a servant to wash the dirty feet of his disciples. And then told them that they should follow his example.

But Jesus greatest demonstration of this comes at the cross. The creator of the universe, greater than all but the Father, gave up his life for his creation. Rather than coming as the conquering king that so many expected, and the world would have understood, he came as the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. It is hard to imagine a greater role reversal than the creator dying on a rough Roman cross as a criminal. Yet that is what he did.





Photo credit: Unsplash/Milada Vigerova

Choosing the Foolish to Shame the Wise

The organizations of this world, whether nations or companies, look for the strong and wise to lead them and fill their positions of authority. We want competent and successful people leading us. Because those are the people who will help us to be successful and prosperous.

But things are different in the Kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 we find Paul sharing about the kinds of people God has chosen to be a part of his kingdom. And, for the most part, they are not the people we would have chosen. God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised thingsand the things that are notto nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Cor. 1:27-29). God did not choose the wise and strong. Instead, he has chosen the weak, the foolish, and the lowly. What is important in the Kingdom is not human achievement. Rather, it is what God is doing in the lives of people. God is at the heart of the kingdom, not humanity and our attempts at achievement.

Gods Power Perfected in Weakness

Paul was somewhat of an exception to the previous passage. As he expresses elsewhere (Phil. 3:4-6), he had a lot going for him. But he gave it all up for the privilege of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:7-8). Paul also suffered from a debilitating physical ailment that made it difficult to carry out his commission from God. And as he prayed for it to be removed, God spoke to him about strength and weakness. God told him that it was in Pauls weakness that Gods power would best be displayed (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

In the world, we celebrate human achievement. Climbing the tallest mountain. Winning a race. Earning a million dollars. Or any other newsworthy achievement. Those are the people we look up to. But it is not that way in the Kingdom. Instead, what is significant is what God is doing in the lives of people who are surrendered to him. As Paul would say, its not about me. Its all about God.

Upside Down

One of the most challenging concepts of the Kingdom of God is that what we celebrate as people on earth is often of little value in the Kingdom, and vice-versa. Jesus teaching, especially in the Sermon on the Mount, is at odds with much of human wisdom. Jesus establishment of his Kingdom through death rather that human strength is a foolish stumbling block to our world. The elevation of the weak and foolish as well as celebrating personal weakness and Gods power makes no sense to a world that celebrates power and wisdom.

The nature of the Kingdom of God is radically different than any human kingdom. All the human attributes that are valued in our world are of little account in the Kingdom. And the attributes valued in the Kingdom are typically discounted in our world. We will never, on our own, know or enter the Kingdom. It is only by the grace and mercy of God that we can be a part of his kingdom.

Photo credit: Getty Images/sultancicekgil

Ed Jarrett is a long-time follower of Jesus and a member of Sylvan Way Baptist Church. He has been a Bible teacher for over 40 years and regularly blogs at A Clay Jar. You can also follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Ed is married, the father of two, and grandfather of three. He is retired and currently enjoys his gardens and backpacking.
Hedge funds in Singapore are training interns as young as 16 years old to oversee the portfolios of billionaires moving to the city-state, Bloomberg reports.

In the case of high schooler Yi Ke Cao (whom the publication profiled), the now 17-year-old spent two weeks at $1 billion hedge fund Modular Asset Managment and quickly found herself inputting data into spreadsheets and attending meetings with wealth managers. The experience was intimidating, she admitted.

"I was a bit terrified; I didn't know how to react to them speaking to me, and I didn't know how to hold a conversation, but they were welcoming," Cao told Bloomberg. "I'm definitely more likely to consider it now."

Related: 5 Ways to Find, Train and Oversee the Ideal Intern

In truth, Cao is among a new wave of talent that Singapore has been recently promoting amid a shortage of local expertise in asset management. As more global hedge funds relocate to the country, the government has pushed firms to hire locals rather than depend on expatriates. Through various initiatives, it has also provided subsidies for asset-management courses and offered to cover as much as $75,000 in costs when global firms send local workers overseas.

According to Bloomberg, several hedge funds from Asia, Europe and the U.S. have moved to Singapore amid uncertainty in Hong Kong. In recent years, the special administrative region in China has suffered turmoil because of a government crackdown. Other firms have simply chosen to make Singapore their regional base.

Business Insider further points out that an increasing number of billionaires have made Singapore their second base of operations. Billionaire hedge-fund manager Ray Dalio, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and vacuum inventor James Dyson, for instance, have all set up offices in the city-state due to enticing incentives.

As a result, a handful of firms are now addressing Singapore's talent shortage in house by either converting interns or retraining executives. Quantedge Capital CEO Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin, for example, told Bloomberg that most of the firm's hires will come straight from internships. The process of securing a full-time offer, however, won't necessarily be easy  the firm's recent program recently hired just 10 interns out of a pool of 300 candidates. Of those 10, only three managed to transition into full-time employees.

Still, Zainul-Abidin said he believes Singaporean locals are well-prepared for the challenge. As he elaborated in his interview with Bloomberg, the country was once home to "graduates whod have the ability to join banks and big financial institutions because those were the names we were trying to draw into Singapore. Today, the nature of the job has changed."

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved

New Delhi: Joe Biden administrations announcement on Friday (March 12) stating that they are willing to reconsider the objections or adverse decisions to foreign workers on visas like H-1B, due to the three policy memos by the previous Trump administration, brought a sigh of relief for the Indian aspirants.

US visa is an official permission which allows a non-American citizen to enter the United States of America. It is a permit that grants its holder access to enter, travel and stay within the US for a short or indefinite period of time or shift permanently.

Foreign nationals, from over 156 countries, are granted a US visa in accordance with the US immigration laws and it is granted by the Consular Department of the US Embassy & Consulates.

The United States gives out over 15 nonimmigrant visas, including tourist visa, business visa, student visa, work visa, exchange visitor visa, transit or ship crew visa, religious worker visa, domestic employee visa and journalist & media visa.

US Business Visa A is meant for people traveling to the United States for business-related purposes like meeting business associates, attending educational, scientific, professional or business conferences, settling an estate or negotiating contracts.

US Tourist Visa is useful for people traveling to the United States for the purpose of tourism or meeting family and friends.

US Student Visa is meant for people traveling to the United States to obtain education. This type of visa is further divided into two categories, students seeking academic education should apply for F1 visa, while those looking to pursue vocational studies should apply for the M1 visa category. The candidates should apply for a student visa only after getting an acceptance letter from the concerned education institution.

US Work Visa is meant for people who wish to work temporarily in the US as a non-immigrant. As per the nature of job and specialization, applicants can choose the appropriate category of US work visa which range from H1B1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4, L1, L2, O, P and Q.

Exchange Visitor Visa is, J category, available for people who are traveling to the US to participate in an exchange program.

US Journalist and Media Visa is meant for journalists or representatives of the media who are traveling to the country to cover a story, incident or event.

Here are the steps to apply for a US Visa:

1. Decide the type of US visa that you need to apply for as per the purpose of your travel

2. Fill up the DS-160 form or the nonimmigrant visa electronic application form at the official website of the US Consular Electronic Application Center and submit it

3. Pay the application fee for US visa online through NEFT Print the confirmation page of DS-160 form

4. Log in to your profile and book an appointment for Visa Application Centre (VAC) and at the US Embassy or Consulate

5. Enter your passport number, 10-digit barcode number mentioned on your DS-160 confirmation page and the visa application fee receipt number

6. Complete your profile and choose a pickup location to receive your passport

7. Visit the Visa Application Centre to let the authorities take your photograph and fingerprints

8. Visit the US Embassy or Consulate on time for your interview along with all the required documents and appear for the interview

9. The US visa will be provided if you successfully clear the interview

10. Collect your passport from the pickup location
In a year that has seesawed between astonishing gains and brutal setbacks on Covid-19, few moments were as sobering as the revelation last month that a coronavirus variant in South Africa was dampening the effect of one of the worlds most potent vaccines.

That finding  from a South African trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot  exposed how quickly the virus had managed to dodge human antibodies, ending what some researchers have described as the worlds honeymoon period with Covid-19 vaccines and setting back hopes for containing the pandemic.

As countries adjust to that jarring turn of fortune, the story of how scientists uncovered the dangers of the variant in South Africa has put a spotlight on the global vaccine trials that were indispensable in warning the world.

Historically, people might have thought a problem in a country like South Africa would stay in South Africa, said Mark Feinberg, the chief executive of IAVI, a nonprofit scientific research group. But weve seen how quickly variants are cropping up all around the world. Even wealthy countries have to pay a lot of attention to the evolving landscape all around the world.
Shortly before 4:45 a.m., the 27-year-old told police he was sitting in his car in a garage in the 8100 block of South Green Street when he was shot in the abdomen. He was taken in serious condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
ED seeks documents from Amazon: Report

The Enforcement Directorate has recently asked Amazon.com Inc for information related to its operations in India, a global newswire reported on Friday. A senior agency source told the newswire that the ED continues to investigate the US e-commerce giant.

Last month, the source at the financial probe agency had said that the ED will examine the findings in a recent special report by the global newswire which revealed that the company has for years given preferential treatment to a small group of sellers on its India platform and used them to circumvent the country's foreign investment rules.

For several years, Amazon has been under investigation by the agency for possible violation of foreign investment rules. Such probes typically take years in India, and in most cases the details are not made public, the report said.

The special report by the newswire is based on internal Amazon documents dated between 2012 and 2019. It provided an inside look into the cat-and-mouse game Amazon has played with the Indian government, adjusting its corporate structures each time the government imposed new restrictions aimed at protecting the small traders.

On Friday, a source in the Enforcement Directorate was quoted as saying, "Obviously we have sought information (from Amazon)."

Asked specifically if the agency had sought documents from the company, the source said: "Information means information and documents."

The source declined to comment further on what type of documents have been sought, or if any company executive has been summoned for questioning, the report said.

An Amazon spokeswoman in India declined to comment on the matter, as per the report.

In the report published last month, Amazon said it is confident of its compliance with Indian law, adding that it "does not give preferential treatment to any seller on its marketplace", and that it "treats all sellers in a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner".

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.


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Digital Editor
Cynthia Nixon had choice words for Gov. Andrew Cuomo in light of the multiple sexual harassment allegations he is facing.

The Sex And the City star, who ran against Cuomo in 2018 for New York governor but lost in the Democratic primary, took to Twitter Friday to call out her former rival for 'sexual harassment charges' and 'avoidable nursing home deaths'.

Nixon hit out at the governor while calling on city Comptroller candidate Corey Johnson to denounce Cuomo. She was responding to a clip of Democrat Johnson saying that he supports an 'independent investigation' into the allegations against Cuomo but stopping short of asking for his resignation.

'I guess Cuomo still has one defender in the wake of - sexual harassment charges - avoidable nursing home deaths - unsafely built bridges - cover-ups galore - etc etc,' Nixon wrote.

Nixon continued: 'How much more evidence do you need @CoreyinNYC?'

The Sex And the CIty star, who ran against Cuomo in 2018 but lost in the Democratic primary, took to Twitter Friday to offer her criticisms of Cuomo while sharing a clip of city Comptroller candidate Corey Johnson

Nixon ran against Cuomo in 2018 but lost in the Democratic primary

Johnson would eventually release a statement on Friday calling for the resignation, just a few hours after Nixon's post.

On her Twitter, the Ratched actress has been extremely vocal of her condemnation of Cuomo. She has also shared a number of post from prominent Democrats calling for Cuomo's resignation.

'NY is about to get billions in pandemic aid to help schools, hospitals, businesses & more,' she said in a Wednesday thread. 'BUT...Andrew Cuomo gets to decide how its spent When the feds gave NY a billion to help schools earlier in the pandemic Cuomo took it to plug an unrelated budget gap.

'As NYs AG conducts an investigation into newly revealed cases of sexual misconduct, we cannot wait to address Cuomos years-long pattern of corrupt behavior  seen most starkly and tragically this last year in the nursing home scandal.

'Nursing home owners got immunity  Cuomo got millions in campaign cash  patients were sent back into homes with Covid  Cuomo tried to hide the exorbitant death toll  and then silence those seeking the truth.

Johnson would eventually release a statement on Friday calling for the resignation, just a few hours after Nixon's post

On her Twitter, the Ratched actress has been extremely vocal of her condemnation of Cuomo

'Andrew Cuomo has lost public trust. He cannot be relied upon to act in the best interests of everyday NYers over his own perceived interests & those of his donors During a pandemic, we cant afford to sit back & hope he makes the right choice, bc when he doesnt it costs lives.

Nixon closed her message with a callout to senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, demanding that they 'fight for their constituents.'

Schumer and Gillibrand called for Cuomo's resignation on Friday.

Schumer and Gillibrand, who serve as New York's two sitting senators, released a joint statement Friday afternoon, which read: 'Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct.

'Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.'

Pressure is growing on Cuomo as a seventh woman alleged sexual harassment in a first-person essay published in New York magazine on Friday. Cuomo pictured in Albany on Friday

Both had previously said an independent investigation into the allegations against Cuomo was essential.

Earlier on Friday, New York representatives Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined 12 of the 17 other New York Congressional Democrats also demanding that the Governor step aside.

Pressure is growing on Cuomo as a seventh woman alleged sexual harassment in a first-person essay published in New York magazine on Friday.

Additionally, 30 women spoke to the same publication claiming they experienced bullying while working for the Governor.
Police arrested 13 protesters after detaining a group of more than 100 in the Pearl District for hours Friday night into early Saturday morning.

Officers kettled the protesters, employing a controversial police tactic used to contain people within a perimeter. The practice has been at the center of multiple lawsuits and criticized by civil rights advocates and, to an extent, Mayor Ted Wheeler.

The protest was billed as a direct action march with no specified target, though an online poster included a U.S. Department of Homeland Security logo with a red line through it.

Shortly after the march began, police told the protesters they were detaining everyone within the kettle boundary for the investigation of a crime. Police did not immediately provide details about the alleged criminal conduct.

Sgt. Kevin Allen, a police spokesperson, later said there was reasonable suspicion that everyone inside the kettle perimeter had committed at least one criminal violation. Police also said demonstrators had smashed windows and blocked traffic by marching in the street.

Based on the size of the crowd and the resources PPB had in place, the incident commander felt it was the safest and least intrusive way to protect public safety and stop the criminal destruction, Allen said.

The detained demonstrators were identified and photographed before being released.

Those arrested are suspected of various crimes, including interfering with a peace officer, second-degree disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Two of the 13 were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center, and one 17-year-old boy was referred to the juvenile justice system. The others who were arrested received criminal citations and were released.

One of those arrested was suspected in an earlier window vandalism, police said. Officers found items such as a crowbar, hammers, bear spray, knives and a slugging weapon with rocks left behind in the kettle perimeter and reported people outside threw rocks and cans of beer at them.

The kettling of Portland protesters most recently garnered attention in January after two federal judges either dismissed or recommended throwing out civil suits  including one filed by the ACLU of Oregon  that challenged the police practice.

The cases, which stemmed from June 2017 demonstrations in downtown Portland, were thrown out despite heavy objection from community members to the tactic  and a critical report from Portlands police review office.

Wheeler, who serves as police commissioner, said in January he doesnt like how police have used the tactic during his tenure, but he didnt say the practice should be banned.

If kettling is to be used as a technique it has to be well-planned and well-trained for, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

What I think we should do is have an open conversation with all of our law enforcement partners and legislative leaders about which tools are appropriate and how to best use them, he said. Im not saying kettling should be off the table, but I think we should have a conversation about how we should use it as a tool and use it appropriately should we decide to use it.

Wheelers office, when reached for comment Saturday, did not specifically address the recent kettling, saying, Tactical decisions are made by the incident commander.

The Police Bureau engaged in extensive conversations, planning and training around a variety of tactics aimed at holding people who engage in crime, violence, intimidation and criminal destruction accountable, said Jim Middaugh, Wheelers spokesperson.

Oregon Rep. Maxine Dexter, a Portland Democrat, was among those who objected to the kettling.

I have been kettled when exercising my 1st amendment right to peacefully protest. It is frightening & feels very much like being aggressively detained. Last night it is reported this was done once again & protesters had to share their identities or be arrested. This is wrong. https://t.co/1aVW8AqJ6A  Maxine Dexter, MD (@doctormaxine) March 13, 2021

Journalist Suzette Smith and several other media members reported being included in the kettle, which spanned Northwest Marshall Street between 13th and 14th avenues.

Allen sent an email addressed to the media at 9:34 p.m., saying credentialed staff could leave the kettle perimeter at 14th Avenue and Marshall Street. Police also said anyone who was medically fragile or in need of medical attention could exit at that location.

But some members of the press, including independent journalist Maranie Staab, chose not to leave and reported being forced out of the perimeter by officers.

Smith, meanwhile, reported being escorted a block away after leaving the perimeter, leaving her unable to see the kettled group.

Among those arrested was independent journalist Alissa Azar, 29, whos suspected of interfering with a peace officer and second-degree disorderly conduct.

Azar told The Oregonian/OregonLive in 2020 she stands separately from the protest group and performs like a journalist, but the main reason she attends the protests is to document and highlight police brutality.

I am not necessarily someone that claims to be there objectively, Azar told the news organization.

Allen said Saturday that members of the press were offered a chance to leave if they wished as they were not being detained.

The group of journalists that stayed was escorted from the perimeter individually like the rest of the group, Allen said.

The mass detentions marked the second night in a row that police responded forcefully to protesters in Portland.

Officers from the U.S. Marshals Service and Federal Protective Service on Thursday fired tear gas, flash-bang and smoke grenades to push a crowd away from the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in scenes reminiscent of last summers nightly violent clashes outside and around the court building.

Two demonstrators were also arrested in a Pearl District protest two weeks ago. The demonstration garnered an estimated 150 people and left windows broken at several businesses as well as spray paint on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building.

-- Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding
Exclusive: AstraZeneca to seek U.S. authorization for COVID-19 vaccine this month or early next - sources

A vial and syringe in front of an AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken (Photo : REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

AstraZeneca Plc is preparing to file for U.S. emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine later this month or early April after accumulating enough data to judge the inoculation's efficacy, sources with knowledge of the ongoing clinical trial told Reuters on Friday.



The British drugmaker completed enrollment in its trial of more than 32,000 volunteers in January and now has data on at least 150 cases of COVID-19, two sources familiar with the trial told Reuters.



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The number of COVID-19 cases among those who got the vaccine versus infections in participants who received a placebo will show how effective the AstraZeneca shot was at preventing illness in those age 18 and over.



The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, has been authorized for use in theEuropean Union and many countries but not yet by U.S. regulators.



"The U.S. Phase III study results are necessary for the FDA's evaluation of an EUA request for our vaccine," a company spokeswoman said, without confirming trial details being reported by Reuters. "We expect data from our U.S. Phase III trial to be available soon, in the coming weeks, and we plan to file for emergency use authorization shortly thereafter."



Highly anticipated results from the U.S. trial could help settle safety concerns arising over reports of serious blood clots in some vaccine recipients that have led several nations to pause administering the vaccine.



A World Health Organization expert advisory committee islooking into the matter.



The data could also help determine what becomes of doses already sitting in U.S. warehouses awaiting approval. The New York Times reported on Thursday that some countries have been asking to procure doses of the vaccine not currently being offered in the United States.



AstraZeneca said in February it expects its vaccine could receive U.S. emergency use authorization at the beginning of April and could immediately deliver 30 million doses to locations around the United States.



In a Friday press briefing, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said the United States has a small inventory of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which it plans to keep and deploy to Americans should an EUA be granted.



The U.S. stance could thwart AstraZeneca's efforts to come closer to delivering on its contractual obligation with the EU of 180 million doses in the second quarter.



AstraZeneca told the EU earlier this year it would cut its supplies in the second quarter by at least half to less than 90 million doses, EU sources told Reuters, after a bigger reduction in the first three months of the year.














Outspoken Ghanaian media personality Afia Pokua who is widely known as Vim Lady has challenged the vice president of Ghana to introduce the Ramatu who the minority claims she is associated with as a second wife.

































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A post shared by OKAY 101.7 FM (@okay101.7fm)





According to the Vim Lady IF there is any Ramatu in the life of vice president, there is nothing wrong with that as he the vice president is a practical muslim who is eligible to marry at most four wives.Afia Pokua stressed that if there is any Ramatu, Dr Bawumia should do the needful by introducing her to Ghanaians.The former Multimedia journalist added that the vice president should not be afraid about his chances concerning the flagbearership position of the new patriotic party in 2024 and the propaganda around the said Ramatu.You are a Muslim so I dont understand you. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has not got swag at all because you are a Muslim and you are entitled to three wives. Even Christians in Ghana now get married to three, four or five women and also keep concubines.So Bawumia if there is a Ramatu show your face and show us that Ramatu. If there is any Ramatu that you are enjoying, enjoy her as long as there is no breach of contract enjoy it. If there is a breach of contract like what happened to the other guy and the documents come out, we will read the divorce petition, she on the egyaso gyaso show on Okay FM.The name of Ramatu popped up for the second time at the recent state of the nations address when the speaker of parliament introduced the wife of Dr Bawumia, Samira Bawumia. The minority then begun chanting that they want to see Ramatu Bawumia as well.VIDEOS BELOW-

Source: Okay FM/ghpage.com









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In what is claimed to be "the largest pretrial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death lawsuit in U.S. history," the far-left Minneapolis City Council has voted 13 to 0 to pay $27 million to the family of George Floyd. This happened as a jury is being seated in the criminal trial of Derek Chauvin, accused of third-degree murder, second-degree unintentional murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Floyd died of a cardiac arrest according to the coroner, after Chauvin subdued him using a knee on his neck, as he was trained to do, when Floyd resisted arrest for passing a counterfeit $20 bill.

It is hard to see this massive payout to the family of a career criminal who resisted arrest and died of a excited delirium as anything other than an attempt by the progressives on the council to influence to the jury to convict Chauvin. Paul Mirengoff also sees it that way:

Given its timing, the announcement looks to me like an attempt to prevent Chauvin from getting a fair trial, assuming there was ever any chance of him getting one in Minneapolis. But even if I'm wrong in saying that this is the city's motive, it is almost certainly the effect of its announcement.

Even the Washington Post, as Mirengoff observes, is troubled by the effect on the ability of Chauvin to receive a fair trial:

The settlement could have implications for the ongoing criminal trial of Derek Chauvin. ... As jury selection began this week, Eric Nelson, Chauvin's attorney, sought to block mention of any possible payout by the city to the Floyd family, arguing it would be prejudicial. ... [L]egal observers questioned if publicity over the settlement, which came on day four of jury selection, could result in a possible mistrial. "I think it's a potential disaster for Chauvin," said Mary Moriarty, former chief Hennepin County public defender. She said if she were Chauvin's attorney, she would request a mistrial. "The concern is that jurors will be aware that the city gave George Floyd's family a great deal of money," Moriarty said. "And I suspect the jurors will have a hard time avoiding the news, even if they try."

The council no doubt is worried about more riots if Chauvin is acquitted, as he well might be if jurors consider the scientific evidence of the cause of death. Chances of a fair trial have already been diminished by the obvious threat of retaliation against jurors should an acquittal be handed down. Even though their names have been kept confidential, media reports identify their occupations and other personal facts that could lead to identifying their names.

Another concern is the deification of Floyd. As the Star-Tribune notes:

... $500,000 of [the $27 million] will be used "for the benefit of the community around 38th and Chicago," where Floyd died. Mayor Jacob Frey's office quickly said he would approve it as well.

That intersection has been blocked off from traffic, at first with improvised barricades, and renamed "George Floyd Square" as a memorial to the career criminal who was imprisoned for, among other crimes, a home invasion robbery in which he terrorized a pregnant woman with a gun to her belly.



Floyd was depicted as an angel during one of his three nationally televised funerals (YouTube screen grab  cropped).

The rhetoric of Floyd's attorney, as well as city council politicians, is just sickening to me:

"This is a message that the unjust taking of Black life will no longer be written off as trivial, unimportant or unworthy of consequences," attorney Ben Crump said during a news conference Friday afternoon. (snip) "We know that no amount of money can ever address the intense pain and trauma caused by his death, for George Floyd's family and to so many people in our community who are grieving," City Council President Lisa Bender said. "Minneapolis has been fundamentally changed by this time of racial reckoning."

The railroading of Chauvin is a travesty. I cannot understand how the trial was not moved to a remote corner of the state where the possibility of rioters intimidating jurors would be diminished. This settlement will further prejudice the jury, as news of it will inevitably reach the jury. Daily crowds outside the heavily guarded courthouse increase the pressure on them.

It was the cowardly withdrawal of police from the Third Precinct police station and the early refusal to call out the National Guard  decisions that fall on the shoulders of Mayor Jacob Frey  that set off a nationwide wave of lethal riots that scarred cities across the nation. Notably, Detroit, where the mayor and police took strong action to prevent riots, was largely spared the destruction, so we know that it could have been prevented elsewhere, had Democrats running blue cities taken forceful action.

Correction: While George Floyd's toxicology report listed a high level of Fentanyl, his actual cause of death was excited delirium that caused cardiac arrest.
Mary Rushe, Eileens Mother and Eileen Rushe at the Four Courts, Dublin last Wednesday (3rd) following the settlement of her case against the HSE. Photo:Gareth Chaney / Collins

Management at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, have apologised to a local woman with terminal cancer over their failure to properly investigate and treat her condition.

35-year-old woman Eileen Rushe, from Termonfeckin, settled her case against the Health Service Executive last Wednesday, after the High Court heard her diagnosis could have been given a year earlier, meaning her cervical cancer could have been cured.

'Today's outcome is bittersweet, but the 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,' Eileen said outside the court. 'The apology from the HSE gives me and my family some closure and peace of mind, I believe that the apology will help me move forward and focus on being a mother to Seamus'.

Originally from Bettystown, Seamus is Eileen's 14-year-old son, whose father John died in 2017. Later that year, she had a cervical smear test, which was reported as having abnormalities, and recommended she be referred for further investigation.

Her GP referred her to the North East Regional Colposcopy Service at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk. She attended for colposcopy and a biopsy, and a follow-up plan for six months' time was put in place.

The following year, more tests were carried out and reported as showing abnormalities, but it was not until December 2018 that an MRI was carried out, which showed she had invasive cervical cancer stemming from a large tumour.

In her claim for damages against the HSE, her lawyers said her condition could have been diagnosed up to a year earlier.

In court, an apology was read from Fiona Brady, General Manager of Louth County Hospital Dundalk, on behalf of the colposcopy unit and the hospital.

Ms Brady offered her 'most sincere apology for the failings which occurred' while she was under their care.

'I understand this has had the most serious consequences for you and for that I wish to offer you and your family my heartfelt apologies,' she continued 'I appreciate that this has been a very difficult time for you and your family and I hope the resolution of the proceedings today gives you some comfort.'

Eileen has been a long-time supporter of the CervicalCheck programme, which in her case had worked and her smear tests had been read correctly.

However, there was a failure by the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk to properly investigate and treat her condition. If this had been done, her cancer could have been cured.

The court heard that if proper investigations and treatment had been carried out, she would have had a 95% chance of survival. Now, she is terminally ill and her prognosis is poor.

'Seamus is a rock to me, mature and intelligent. But he may also lose my guidance and my care as he makes his way through school and college to become the man I know he will be,' said Eileen, who went onto thank the HSE for its screening programmes and vaccines that save lives.'I want to encourage everyone to participate in any screening programmes available to them and to vaccinate their children, both boys and girls, against HPV'.

Brave Eileen began charting her first treatment for cancer on a blog in early 2019, and shared the highs and lows of her illness and treatment, from chemo to the all-clear in June 2019.

However, last October, she got the news every cancer survivor dreads, and was told her cancer had returned in an aggressive form and spread to her lungs and lymph nodes.

'My sister Siobhain was devastated understandably but had the sense to ask few questions like what was the prognosis, how long, what was the plan. They confirmed at this stage they don't talk about curing the cancer but controlling it (this broke me inside), they don't have a timeline but hoped months not weeks,' Eileen said.

'All I could think of is Seamus, a soon to be orphan apparently. I told family and friend what was happening and I was surrounded by love support from every area of my life. Every text message, prayer cards, caller, online comment and messages, present and notes continue to meant the world to me and lift me up in my darkest moment'.

Eileen is also a fantastic supporter of the Irish Cancer Society's annual Daffodil Day, and this year is appearing in their national campaign ads and was recently interviewed by Marty Morrissey.

'My son Seamus was one of the first boys to take part in the vaccine program. It is so important that we encourage all children to avail of the vaccines - they save lives,' Eileen says.

'I am delighted to be part of the Irish Cancer Society's new campaign to help us to remember our neighbours, friends, colleagues and family members currently living with cancer. It reminds us that no one has to go through cancer alone and that by supporting the Irish Cancer Society's great work we are helping those that need it most.'.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by her sister Siobhain Gibbons, as Eileen had to give up her job in Irish Life, and that now stands at 51,235 out of a 50,000 goal.

Her inspirational story gained a huge following appearing on TV, radio and printed interviews. Her story has impacted and touched the lives of many leaving a huge mark across the nation raising awareness for cervical cancer. Her blog Cervical Cancer is a Bitch can be found here https://cervicalcancerisabitch.com/

You can donate to Eileen's GoFundMe page on Cervical Cancer is a Bitch.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. High 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

Los Angeles, March 13 : Pop sensation Selena Gomez says her debut Spanish project Revelacion is meant to serve as "homage" to her Spanish roots.

"The project is really an homage to my heritage. A lot of my fan base is Latin, and I've been telling them this album was going to happen for years. But the fact that it's coming out during this specific time is really cool," Gomez told Vogue about the Extended Play (EP), as reported by People magazine.

In another interview to LA Times, the 28-year-old superstar revealed that while Spanish is her mother-tongue, it was frustrating, at times to record songs in the language.

"There's a lot of slang that I needed to learn. Spanish changes generationally as well as (geographically). Sometimes I was like, 'Wait! Hang on! I need to understand!' There would be moments where I would end the (recording) session because I would get so frustrated," she said.

"Not just trying to create an album from my basement, but making it sound authentic -- that's something that requires meticulous care. But now, I think I actually sound better in Spanish than I do in English," Selena quipped.
New Delhi, March 13 : The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) on Saturday unveiled 'India FinTech: A USD 100 Billion Opportunity' report. The report details the findings from the study that BCG and FICCI undertook to size the value-creation potential and identify imperatives for India's FinTech growth.

Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, FICCI said, "The FinTech industry in India has been growing at a fast clip. FinTech players are redefining the business models across different segments of financial services industry, helping improve service delivery and contributing to digital financial inclusion. This is a clear area of focus for us in FICCI and through our multiple initiatives, we will continue to promote this industry both in India and abroad." India's dynamic FinTech industry has 2100+ FinTechs of which 67% have been set up over the last 5 years alone. The total valuation of the industry is estimated at $50-$60 billion. The industry's growth has been undeterred by the pandemic, as it has seen the emergence of 3 new Unicorns and 5 new Soonicorns (USD 500Mn+ valuation) since January 2020.

The Fintech industry's strong growth is due to India's deep-rooted customer demand, diverse capital flows, strong tech talent and enabling policy framework. Over the next 5 years, India's FinTech industry is expected to continue its strong upward trajectory.

Prateek Roongta, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group India said, "We believe India's FinTechs are at the precipice of significant value-creation of USD 100 billion over the next five years. To actualize this potential, the industry would require investments to the tune of USD 20-25 billion till 2025. Consequently, the number of Indian FinTech Unicorns will more than double over the next few years." Ruchin Goyal, Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group India said, "The landscape will be defined by FinTechs that pursue their strategic play with deep, relentless discipline. Tomorrow's FinTech winners are expected to 'master the core' -- by innovating on product, user-experience or through deep-tech capabilities. India will also see the emergence of ecosystem orchestrators and multinational FinTechs, as it evolves into a global FinTech powerhouse." Another theme covered in this report is internationalization of Indian FinTechs. To develop a close understanding of the FinTech industry's multinational ambitions, BCG and FICCI conducted the BCG-FICCI FinTech survey 2021. The survey reveals that 39% of Indian FinTechs surveyed have a presence outside India and 73% of FinTechs surveyed are actively considering international expansion opportunities. South-East Asia was the most sought-after destination for international expansion, followed by North America.

Several Indian FinTechs are well-positioned to establish a global footprint owing to their transplantable business models and proven track record of success. To ensure that Indian FinTechs achieve their potential, all stakeholders -- FinTechs, Financial Institutions and policymakers -- have a role to play. The imperatives for stakeholders have been identified in the report.
Guest Column Can Friendly Persuasion Bring an End to Myanmars Deadly Stalemate?

Anti-regime protesters hold placards calling for the ASEAN to respect the votes of Myanmar citizens during a protest in Yangon on Feb. 23. / The Irrawaddy

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has spoken  though not as forcefully as many might have wanted to see. But optimists in the regional grouping believe its message was clear enough to sink in with the military junta in Naypyidaw.

However, the fact that Myanmar security forces still continue to use deadly force to quell pro-democracy demonstrators in many parts of the country certainly defies any optimistic view of the situation.

Yet, as far as people in the Thai Foreign Ministry are concerned, there is still a glimmer of hope that Myanmar could still step back from the brink of total anarchy. According to their reading, the message from ASEAN and statements from some of the more outspoken ASEAN leaders are unmistakable and the military-appointed foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin has been made to understand full well what the regional grouping and the world want to see happen in Myanmar  an end to violence and a release of detained politicians. A chairmans statement issued at the March-2 ASEAN foreign ministers meeting also expressed the groupings readiness to assist in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis.

But would ASEAN just sit and watch how the Tatmadaw, as the Myanmar military is known, will respond? Certainly not, at least as far as Thailand is concerned. For Thailand, the stake is too high to allow the current crisis in Myanmar to escalate.

Thailand and Myanmar share a common border stretching over 2,400 kilometers. Dozens of armed ethnic groups on the Myanmar side of the border have always been a security concern for Thailand while there is always a strong potential of a major influx of Myanmar people into Thailand in the event of full-blown violent conflicts.

Among the ASEAN countries, Indonesia might have seemed most eager in playing a mediating role on the outset of the crisis. However, its Foreign Minister Retno Marsudis attempted shuttle diplomacy which culminated in her trilateral meeting with Myanmars Wunna Maung Lwin and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai at Don Muang international airport on February 24 failed to produce any tangible result. Her earlier request to fly to Naypyidaw was also down. Meanwhile, leaders of Singapore and Malaysia have also been forceful and critical in their public statements on the violence in Myanmar.

Comparatively speaking, Thailand might have appeared more restrained in its formal reaction to the unfolding crisis in its immediate neighbor. In one of his few comments on the violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protests in Myanmar last week, Don stressed the importance of peace, stability and security in the region. He also expressed Thailands readiness, as a close neighbor and a fellow ASEAN member, to assist Myanmar in the pursuance of peaceful resolution for the benefit and interest of Myanmar people.

In doing so, trust is of vital importance, he said.

And the Thai foreign minister has good reason to believe that Thailand has gained enough trust with Myanmar to play a mediating role in resolving the crisis. But dont expect a repeat of the kind of Retnos shuttle diplomacy that we have witnessed.

Thai officials would love to point out that fact that Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing wrote to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to seek advice on democratic transition and the Thai leaders subsequent personal meeting with Wunna Maung Lwin are a good indication of the level of trust between the two leaders.

And they believe that trust between the two countries didnt just come overnight. Thailand and Myanmar have been engaged in years of dialogue and negotiations over border affairs. Of course, there were tense moments and contentious issues between them but throughout all those years both sides were always seen as being sincere toward each other. And what should not be ignored is that there has been a good rapport between Foreign Minister Don and his Myanmar counterpart dating back to their days as ambassadors.

In their meeting in Bangkok and subsequent conversations, Don reportedly impressed upon his Myanmar counterpart the need for an immediate end to the violent suppression of the pro-democracy protests. Continued violence would only lead to more casualties, worsen the economy, and isolate the country  not to mention the potential of the crisis escalating into an all-out civil war with ethnic groups joining the fray.

What Thailand has in mind is an atmosphere that is conducive to a mediation that would pave the way for Tatmadaw and the National League for Democracy to have a dialogue. But that means the Myanmar military will first have to hold its fire and come up with some kind of a goodwill gesture.

Someone needs to break the ice, a senior official of the Thai Foreign Ministry said.

Suspending the use of lethal force against the demonstrators and rolling back some of the draconian executive orders would be a good start. Releasing less prominent detainees would also send a positive signal. On the other hand, NLD and its supporters also need to be convinced that mediation is the only way out of the crisis.

While a sudden communication between top Tatmadaw and NLD leaders is something far-fetched, hopefully dialogue can start between lower-ranking representatives from both sides in a mediation process mutually agreed upon.

With daily street protests and mounting casualties, it may sound presumptuous to expect either side to agree to a dialogue at this juncture. However, Thailand and ASEAN believe that sooner or later it should dawn on them that a peaceful solution will be the only way out of the crisis.

NLD and the military should be able to walk together again on the path toward democracy as they once did, said the official, referring to how the Tatmadaw and the NLD managed to bury their hatchet that led to the first democratically-held general election in 2015 that propelled Aung San Suu Kyi and her political party to power.

There is no question that the Tatmadaw is having an upper hand in the current confrontation but it is conscious that it will have to pay a high price if the situation gets out of hand. And Thailand believes that getting Min Aung Hlaing and his comrades in arms to take a step back requires not more pressure but more friendly persuasion.

That explains why Thailand  unlike some of its more vocal ASEAN colleagues  is taking a more cautious approach in dealing with the situation in Myanmar, avoiding rhetoric that would alienate the regime in Naypyidaw. Prime Minister Prayut has made known his desire to see peace and democracy return to Myanmar and for Thailand to engage with the new regime to help with the process.

Its important that the Myanmar military must not be made to look weak or that it has to give in under pressure, said a senior official familiar with Thai communication with Naypyidaw.

While officially Thailand is leaning on ASEANs consensus as mentioned in the chairmans statement, it is also quietly pursuing its own path to try to get the two warring sides in Myanmar to avoid the worst-case scenario. Thailand now believes it has both the trust and an open line of communication with the new leadership in Naypyidaw, it sees an opportunity to play a role in defusing the potentially explosive crisis.

But it will be a role that may not generate many headlines. Officials at the Foreign Ministry are confident that given the very sensitive nature of the crisis at hand quiet diplomacy is a definitely a much more effective approach. Thailand, however, will also try to engage like-minded friends in ASEAN to help in the diplomatic endeavor.

Citing an old Thai saying pid thong lang phra (pasting gold leaf sheets on the back of Buddha statue  not claiming credit or showing off), they insist that Thailand is at its best in diplomacy when it plays behind-the-scenes role.

Dr Piti Srisangnam of the ASEAN Studies Center at Chulalongkorn University agrees that Thailand is in a position to help resolve the crisis in Myanmar and endorses its quiet diplomacy approach.

In delicate situation like this, you just dont say everything in front of the cameras. You need to pursue back-door diplomacy, he told Thai PBS World.

This article was first published by Thai PBS World.

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Can China Prevent Further Bloodshed in Myanmar?

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The leaders of Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Bulgaria are calling for talks among European Union leaders about the distribution of vaccines within the 27-nation bloc.

Austrian media reported Saturday that the five leaders wrote a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. That came after Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz complained on Friday that, even though the EU had agreed on distribution of the vaccines on a per-capita basis, some countries were receiving considerably more than others.

The letter asserted that if this system were to carry on, it would continue creating and exacerbating huge disparities among Member States by this summer. Officials elsewhere have noted that countries have wanted differing amounts of various vaccines and have not always taken up their full allocation.

Austria's health ministry  which is run by Kurz's junior coalition partner  was among those rejecting Kurz's criticism. Oe1 radio reported that its general secretary, Ines Stilling, said negotiations on distributing the vaccines had been balanced and transparent.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Catholic priest James Martin stands by retweet of post calling God 'Her'

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A Catholic priest has responded to criticisms from Christians who rebuked him for retweeting a post referring to God as Her and suggesting that using female imagery as a representation of God is theologically correct.

Fr. James Martin, who has developed a reputation as a progressive Catholic and serves as an editor at large for the Jesuit publication America magazine, wrote an article for International Womens Day titled, God is not a man (or a woman).

Martin began the piece by noting that he inadvertently caused controversy after he shared a reflection from the director of a campus ministry at a Catholic high school in Cleveland, Ohio, on social media on Feb. 28. In the reflection, Vickey McBride referred to God as Her.

Following accusations of heresy, apostasy, and blasphemy, Martin said that he considered leaving a comment asserting that I was simply reposting the summary from Catholic Women Preach. He ultimately decided not to because that would imply that I had a problem calling God Her. And I dont.

God is not a man, he declared. And while Jesus Christ was (and is) a man and invites us to call God the Father, that does not mean that God is male or that God is only masculine.

Vickey McBride Preaches for the Second Sunday of Lent https://t.co/bNtzzyrZ8gpic.twitter.com/lRvtoBmf32  CatholicWomenPreach (@CWP112716) February 27, 2021

Describing it as just as theologically correct to use feminine imagery about God as it is to use masculine imagery, Martin pushed back on the belief among most Christians that referring to God using female pronouns is contrary to our faith.

He claimed that it's damaging to envision God as solely one gender and argued that in predominantly patriarchal cultures, Christians have been conditioned to think of God as not only male, but exclusively male.

This has wide-ranging consequences for our theology, the way that we worship in common, how we pray on our own and the manner in which we lead our lives as Christians. It also has profound consequences for how we see women. If God is male, as the saying goes, then the male is God.

Martin attributed his views about the gender of God to a book titled, She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse, written by Sister Elizabeth Johnson, a Catholic nun who now works as a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Theology at Fordham University.

The book concludes that conceptions of God as an earthly monarch, to take just one image, gave rise to an oppressive and idolatrous image of God as a literal patriarch.

As Martin explained, Johnson pointed to several passages from the Bible when making the case that God is our Mother-Creator as much as Our Father.

She considers the maternal image of the God who gave you birth in Deuteronomy (32:18) which recurs in Isaiah, with God saying, Now I will cry out like a woman in labor/I will gasp and pant (42:14).

Martins contention that God is female is not the first time the Jesuit priest has attracted controversy. Earlier this year, Martin tweeted a picture of the Black Madonna painting with rainbow-colored halos surrounding Mary and Jesus as opposed to the golden halos in the original Black Madonna painting.

The website Life Petitions began circulating a petition urging the Jesuit Order to censure Martin for the tweet in light of the fact that the Black Madonna painting, also known as Our Lady of Czestochowa, is venerated and revered in Poland as representing the Virgin Mary, who is the patroness and protectress of the country. The petition gathered more than 22,200 signatures.

Martin, who is one of the most ardent supporters of LGBT advocacy within the Catholic Church, tweeted the altered picture of the Black Madonna when claiming that homophobia is rampant in Poland. Martin is not the only progressive who has referred to God using female pronouns.

After congressional Democrats unsuccessfully tried to convict former President Donald Trump of inciting an insurrection, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., one of the impeachment managers who worked to make the case against Trump, remarked that We could have called God herself and the Republicans werent going to be willing to convict.

Similarly, as the 117th U.S. Congress began its first session in January, Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., concluded a prayer by saying, Amen and awoman in an attempt to come across as gender-inclusive, as opposed to Amen. The word Amen has nothing to do with gender, it simply means so be it. Cleaver also prayed to the Hindu god Brahma instead of the Christian God.
A powerful car bomb in western Afghanistan killed at least eight people and wounded dozens more, authorities said Saturday, as the United Nations condemned attacks on civilians in the country

Herat, Afghanistan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Mar, 2021 ) :A powerful car bomb in western Afghanistan killed at least eight people and wounded dozens more, authorities said Saturday, as the United Nations condemned attacks on civilians in the country.

The blast targeted a police headquarters in the city of Herat around 10 pm on Friday, damaging dozens of houses and shops, Jailani Farhad, the spokesman for the Herat provincial governor, told AFP.

"The death toll from a car bomb in the city of Herat increased to eight, and 47 others are wounded," he said, adding that women, children and security personnel were among the dead.

The interior ministry spokesman, Tariq Arian, confirmed the death toll, adding that 54 had been wounded.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the blast in Herat had no links to their group.

However, the group's insurgents are active in the western province and have carried out recent attacks against Afghan government forces.

President Ashraf Ghani blamed the Taliban, adding in a statement the group "continued their illegitimate war and violence against our people" and "showed once again they have no intention for peaceful settlement of the current crises".

Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent months -- including a wave of assassinations against journalists, activists and civil servants, despite the launch of peace talks between the warring Afghan government and Taliban.

On Friday, the UN Security Council "condemned in the strongest terms the alarming number of attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan".

It comes as speculation is rife about the United States' future in Afghanistan after a two-decade military involvement in the country.

US President Joe Biden is wrapping up a review on whether to stick to an agreement with the Taliban negotiated by his predecessor Donald Trump who wanted to pull out the final US troops by May.

The Biden administration has signalled that it wants to take a hard look at Trump's deal and its repercussions for Afghanistan and regional stability.

Washington recently submitted a draft peace agreement to the authorities in Kabul and to the Taliban, including the creation of a "new inclusive government," according to a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that was revealed by Afghan media.

Russia has backed the initiative, as global powers ramp up efforts to secure a peace deal and end decades of war.
Los Angeles, March 13 : Actress Rachel Brosnahan plays a feisty female who battles not just enemies of the nation but also societal perceptions in her upcoming film "The Courier".

The actress, who courted global fame with her starring role in "The Marvelous Mrs Maisel", essays the role of Emily, a CIA operative involved in a dangerous do or die mission in "The Courier".

Brosnahan said: "I appreciated that Emily was a character who helped drive the action, and that (director) Dominic (Cooke) and (writer) Tom (O'Connor) wanted to figure out a way to include a female voice in the room, but didn't overlook the unique challenges that she would face as a woman at the time." Talking about the nuances of Emily and her cunning ways, she added: "To get what she wants, Emily must appear non-threatening. I think Emily believes that she's the smartest person in the room or at the very least, she has something valuable to offer." Brosnahan also spoke about the film's central theme as a reflection of what was happening in the sixties, as much as the face of global politics today.

"I think in my lifetime, the only real reference I have, and it's not even close to having nuclear weapons pointed at you, has been President Trump poking the North Korean bear since he got into office. I suddenly heard friends of mine in New York City talk about knowing where their nearest fallout shelter was." Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, and Jessie Buckley, along with Brosnahan, the film will be released in India on March 19 by PVR pictures.
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The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Saturday, arrived in Nigeria on a four-day official visit aimed at enhancing trade and improving the Nigerian economy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, who assumed duty on March 1 as the Director-General of the WTO, is also in Nigeria to express appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and hold talks on how to stimulate economic activities.

Speaking to journalists on arrival, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said the purpose of her visit was to see how the WTO could better assist Nigeria and her entrepreneurs on improving the economy.

On Nigerias share of trade in Africa, she expressed optimism that the country could use the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost trade and investment.

And to do that we have to improve our investments and add value to some of our products, because the AfCFTA is a unique opportunity for us to be able to engage commercially with other African nations to boost export.

When you boost exports, you create more jobs. We are also going to talk about the digital economy and how young people are accessing the internet for e-commerce, those are some of the issues and more activities we can create to support that, she said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, noted that it was a unique moment and opportunity to thank the world for supporting us to achieve this feat of having a Nigerian as the head of the WTO.

We have received a lot of support from many countries, we appreciate them. Her visit is specifically to start from home to say thank you to the president and Nigerians who supported her from home and in the Diaspora.

Tremendous support has gone into the process and we are grateful that she emerged, after a very thoroughly contested process as the D-G. It is a proud moment for Nigeria, for herself and also for women in the world, Mr Sani-Gwarzo said.

Schedule

According to the programme of the visit, on Monday, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala will be meeting Mr Buhari and the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, at the Presidential Villa, and later hold a meeting with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, and Minister of State, Mariam Katagum, at the ministry.

On Tuesday, the WTO DG will be meeting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, after which she will meet the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, among others.

She will proceed to a meeting with the captains of industry, which will be followed by a press conference at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Furthermore, on Wednesday, she will hold a meeting with the women entrepreneurs, SheTrade, and operators of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), followed by a press conference with some ministers.

A dinner and reception in honour of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala will hold at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, to round off the visit.

(NAN)
WORTH COUNTY, Iowa - A 37-year-old Northwood woman died in a one-vehicle accident Friday night.

The Iowa State Patrol said Michelle Runde was killed in an accident on Highway 65.

Authorities said her vehicle was northbound just north of Northwood when it left the roadway, went through a field and hit a machine shed.

The crash was reported at 9:30 p.m.
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.
A bushfire burning in Geraldtons south has been downgraded to a watch and act after election volunteers at Wandina Primary School had to leave their polling stations to evacuate their homes.

The alert is in place for people in the area bounded by Brellimos Drive, Eakins Crescent, and McDermott Avenue in Wandina, 6 kilometres south of Geraldton.

Residents in Geraldtons south have been told to evacuate as an out-of-control and unpredictable bushfire burns close to homes and schools in the suburb of Wandina.

The fire, which started near the intersection of Verita Road and Columbus Boulevard just before 11.30 am on Saturday, is moving slowly in a southerly direction.

It is contained but not controlled and a risk of burning embers remain for properties in the area.
In this Saturday, April 18, 2020 photo, mortician Cordarial O. Holloway, foreground left, funeral director Robert L. Albritten, foreground right, place a casket into a hearse in Dawson, Ga. In a Feb. 25-March 1, 2021 poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about 1 in 5 Americans say they lost a relative or close friend to the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Hugging loved ones. Shaking hands. Going to school. Grabbing dinner at a restaurant. Visiting elderly family members.

Most Americans didnt know this week last year was their last chance at normalcy. And while people have learned to adjust, the coronavirus pandemic has upended  and taken  millions of lives across the globe. Add the upheaval of a nations reckoning with racism and injustice along with a historic presidential election, and the pandemic year becomes more than about the virus. Its also the year racial, socioeconomic and health care issues have demanded attention.

The Associated Press was there  for all of it. From the day the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus a pandemic to the first clinical trial of a vaccine and chronicling the path to a new normal, here is a taste of AP's storytelling about every corner of the world as a jumbled, sometimes wrenching, year unfolded.

THE ECONOMY

From India to Argentina, untold millions who were already struggling to get by on the economic margins had their lives made even harder by pandemic lockdowns, layoffs and the loss of a chance to earn from a hard days work. Uncertainty became the order of the day.

In America, the most heavily hit were the front line workers who pack and deliver supplies, care for the sick and elderly, and keep streets and buildings clean. They are mostly women, people of colour and more likely to be immigrants. Mothers, in particular, have been disproportionally pushed out of the workforce in the U.S. as the pandemic leaves parents with fewer child care options and the added burden of navigating distance learning.

Meanwhile, small businesses around the world have been fighting for survival amid the economic fallout from the pandemic. AP journalists told the stories of those struggling businesses, which help define and sustain neighbourhoods. The stakes for their survival are high: The U.N. estimated that businesses with fewer than 250 workers account for two-thirds of employment worldwide.

In the U.S., millions fell into poverty and faced a holiday season with little money to buy gifts, cook large festive meals or pay all their bills. The struggles of low-income workers and the unemployed contributed to a weak holiday shopping season that dragged on the overall economy. By late last year, the economy had shed a shocking 22 million jobs after the pandemic struck.

The pandemic has also tested entrepreneurship and taught valuable lessons about surviving and innovating, whether its doing more business remotely, grabbing the opportunity to make a new product or sacrificing some business to cut costs.

Meanwhile, creatives in New York City, one of America's first virus hotspots, risked losing their restaurant jobs, which were a fallback given the city's pre-pandemic vibrant restaurant scene. As the city managed to reopen, AP told the stories of those who were awakening to navigate a strange new normal.

The AP also examined the cruel paradox behind containing the outbreak: Quarantines, travel restrictions and business closures have brought everyday business to a halt, shoving the U.S. economy into recession for the first time since 2009.

INEQUALITY AND INJUSTICE

As the coronavirus tightened its grip across the country, it cut a particularly devastating swath through an already vulnerable population: Black Americans.

It became evident in just weeks after the pandemic hit the U.S. that Black people were bearing the brunt of the virus, on health and economic fronts. A history of systemic racism and inequity in access to health care and economic opportunity made many Black Americans far more vulnerable to the virus.

The killing of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020 sparked protests against racial injustice. The nationwide unrest ignited by Floyd's killing underscored the glaring injustice Black people experience in America: The virus and police were killing them at disproportionate rates.

Racial inequality underlies rage and despair, especially because the unrest coincides with an economic and health calamity, one thats falling hardest on Black Americans  who are far more likely than white people to die of COVID-19. They work disproportionately in low-paying service jobs, which were slashed when restaurants and movie theatres closed as a health precaution and customers stayed away from hotels and airports.

The job cuts resulting from the pandemic recession have fallen heavily on lower-income workers across the service sector, while employees in higher-paying industries have gained jobs as well as income since early last year.

Meanwhile, bigotry toward Asian Americans in the U.S. was fueled by the news that COVID-19 first appeared in China. It spurred racist memes on social media that portrayed Chinese people as bat eaters responsible for spreading the virus and reviving century-old tropes about Asian food being dirty. And it didn't help that former President Donald Trump repeatedly called COVID-19 the Chinese virus.

HEALTH AND SCIENCE

Amid the chaos of the pandemics early days, doctors who faced the first coronavirus onslaught reached across oceans and language barriers in an unprecedented effort to advise colleagues trying to save lives in the dark. YouTube videos describing autopsy findings and X-rays swapped on Twitter and WhatsApp spontaneously filled the gaps, documenting the oral history of Italys outbreak as it unfolded.

As the virus continued to spread around the world, researchers exposed the frightening likelihood of silent spread of the virus by asymptomatic and presymptomatic carriers. The coronavirus is invisible to the naked eye, yet it is seemingly everywhere.

All the while, as deaths from the coronavirus relentlessly mounted into the hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of doctors and patients rushed to use drugs before they could be proved safe or effective. It wasnt until mid-June  nearly six months in  when the first evidence came that a drug could improve survival.

In Bronx, New York, almost no place has been hit as hard as Co-op City, the largest single residential development in the U.S. It houses one of the largest elderly communities in the nation and has a population that is more than 92% nonwhite.

Around the globe, teams of researchers raced to study the places and species from which the next pandemic may emerge. Companies also tested drugs that mimic the way the body fights COVID-19, hoping they can fill a key gap as vaccines remain months off for most people.

The U.S. mental health system was no exception to the outbreak as many providers struggled to continue treating patients amid the restrictions implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Residents at isolation hotels in New York were drained by the solitude, with one guest recovering from COVID-19 describing the loneliness as crippling.

In March 2020, an AP exclusive showed U.S. researchers in Seattle giving the first shots in the first test of an experimental coronavirus vaccine, leading off a worldwide hunt for protection even as the pandemic surged. The milestone marked just the beginning of a series of studies in people needed to prove whether the shots are safe and could work.

Today, more than 65 million people in the U.S. have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while nearly 35 million people have completed their vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Questions arose early on about the nations ability to adequately test for the virus and trace the contacts of those infected with it. AP found that most states were not meeting the minimum level of coronavirus testing suggested by the U.S. government, that the turn-around time to get test results was exceeding federal guidelines and that local health departments didnt have enough staffing to do adequate contact tracing.

Reporting from AP statehouses revealed that at least two-thirds of states were sharing the addresses of those who tested positive for the coronavirus with police and other first responders, and some of those were sharing the names. That created a potential chilling effect on people wanting to get tested.

As billions in federal money flowed to the states, AP found that some of the least-populated states with relatively few coronavirus cases were receiving an outsized share, even though the funding was designed to address virus-related expenses. In a federal loan program intended to help small businesses survive, AP found that large chains and franchises were poised to grab much of the money as soon as the program opened, previewing what actually happened.

Statehouse reporters also revealed that many governors own businesses were among the beneficiaries of the loan program. Meanwhile, AP reporting showed that hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers who had lost jobs during the pandemic fell through a gap in the governments jobless aid formula and found themselves ineligible for a crucial unemployment benefit.

The pandemic also affected how people cast ballots during a presidential election. Even as more states adopted voting by mail, AP reporting showed the process is viewed skeptically by Black voters because of historical disenfranchisement and distrust of government institutions.

Pandemic-related job losses and a rapidly spreading virus also were hurting voter registration efforts aimed at Latinos. Fears of the virus raised worries that local polling places would not have enough poll workers on Election Day. Amid concerns about Postal Service delivery of mailed ballots, AP obtained agency data showing some key presidential battleground regions had some of the slowest mail delivery in the country.

LIFE, BUT CHANGED

The pandemic cut a swath through the daily life of many human beings, changing everything from the way Muslims marked Ramadan  in the United States and across the world  to the methods that those left behind by COVID-19 deaths dealt with grief, with saying goodbye and with the notion of mortality.

Among the hardest-hit places of all was New York City, where AP journalists documented a 24-hour period during the metropolis' worst moments  in every corner of town.

Faces disappeared as protective masks went up  and quickly became a divisive political issue. Almost every corner of life took on a new, more fraught feeling, from the venerable U.S. Postal Service to how Halloween was perceived to the simple way that people connected. Even cash became something viewed with suspicion. Before anyone knew it, a dizzying pandemic spring had crossed an unsettling year and a pandemic winter was at hand  and still will be for more than a week.

In a world where suddenly less was happening in public, AP's visual journalists captured the imagery of a pandemic  sombre, harrowing and sometimes utterly empty:

Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began, reopened after authorities locked down the city for 76 days to stop the spread.

An AP photojournalist captured the coronavirus hefty toll on Manaus, one of the hardest hit cities in Brazil.

The passage of time took a toll on doctors and nurses who have been on the front lines of Italys coronavirus battle since the start.

AP visited the homes of 12 veteran families struggling to honour spouses, parents and siblings during a lockdown that has sidelined many funeral traditions.

Haunting images of New York City's almost entirely empty streets were captured from the back of a motorcycle.

The pandemic heightened the fragility of Barcelonas elderly working-class Poble Sec neighbourhood.

Peru experienced what officials called the most devastating hit to the country since 1492, when Europeans brought diseases like smallpox and measles to the Americas.

The AP spent several days in the coronavirus unit at St. Judes Medical Center in California and followed four nurses and their families after their shifts were over.

AND FINALLY: A GLOBAL PANDEMIC JOURNAL

From Saudi Arabia to New York to London, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, AP staffers reported from across the world on how the pandemic affected them in AP's yearlong Virus Diary series.

And around the world, as the pandemic's second year unfolds with trepidation and more than a little bit of hope, the coverage continues.

Follow Associated Press journalist Aya Elamroussi on Twitter at http://twitter.com/aya_elamroussi
New Delhi [India], March 12 (ANI): The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination has crossed 2.80 crores coverage, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday.



According to an official release, a total of 2,80,05,817 vaccine doses were administered in the country, as per the provisional report till 8 pm on Friday.

"These include 72,84,406 health care workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 41,76,446 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 72,15,815 front line worker (FLWs) who have taken the first dose and 9,28,751 FLWs who have taken the second dose, 12,30,704 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities and 71,69,695 beneficiaries more than 60 years old," the release said.

It added that a total of 18,40,897 vaccine doses were given till 8 pm today, the 56th day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination.

"Out of which 14,64,779 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 3,76,118 HCWs and FLWs received 2nd dose of vaccine as per the provisional report. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight," the Ministry added. (ANI)


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New York, March 13 : Neutralizing antibodies induced by the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines were significantly less effective against the SARS-CoV-2 variants first described in Brazil/Japan and South Africa, say researchers.

The team used their experience measuring HIV neutralizing antibodies to create similar assays for Covid-19, comparing how well the antibodies worked against the original strain versus the new variants.

"We were able to leverage the unique high-throughput capacity that was already in place and apply it to SARS-CoV-2," said researcher Alejandro Balazs from Massachusetts General Hospital in the US.

"When we tested these new strains against vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies, we found that the three new strains first described in South Africa were 20-40 times more resistant to neutralization, and the two strains first described in Brazil and Japan were five to seven times more resistant, compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 virus," Balazs added.

According to the study, published in the journal Cells, neutralizing antibodies work by binding tightly to the virus and blocking it from entering cells, thus preventing infection.

Like a key in a lock, this binding only happens when the antibody's shape and the virus's shape are perfectly matched to each other, the researcher said.

If the shape of the virus changes where the antibody attaches to it -- in this case, in SARS-CoV-2's spike protein -- then the antibody may no longer be able to recognize and neutralize the virus as well. The virus would then be described as resistant to neutralization, they added.

Currently, all approved Covid-19 vaccines work by teaching the body to produce an immune response, including antibodies, against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. While the ability of these variants to resist neutralizing antibodies is concerning, it doesn't mean the vaccines won't be effective.

"The body has other methods of immune protection besides antibodies," said Balazs.

"Our findings don't necessarily mean that vaccines won't prevent Covid, only that the antibody portion of the immune response may have trouble recognizing some of these new variants," Balazs added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/03/12

Director Son Won-kyung is one of the better known toy museum proprietors in South Korea. His toys have featured in multiple exhibitions in South Korea. The story as to how he came to this role is both convoluted and sad. Back when he was still a child, Son Won-kyung's father was often away from home, working in the United States leaving his wife and son behind. To compensate for his absence, Son Won-kyung's father wrote many letters and bought many toys for his son.

What starts out as a love letter to his father turns sad when Son Won-kyung's father petitions for a divorce. At this point the documentary goes in on patriarchal resentment. Son Won-kyung did not then, and still does not now, understand how his father could have betrayed his mother. Son Won-kyung looks at his mother in a new light, as a kind, self-respecting, self-sacrificing woman who for all her personal problems did not tell her son to hate his father.

"They Kill My Mother" works surprisingly well as a companion piece to "Welcome to X-world" with similar quintessentially Korean family dynamics but very different conclusions. Where "Welcome to X-world" featured director Han Tae-hee deriding marriage as an inherently patriarchal institution, Son Won-kyung resolves to do better. Throughout major life events his mother is proud of Son Won-kyung, who becomes a father himself and creates monuments to the toys he was given in place of love.

You might be wondering why this documentary is titled "They Kill My Mother" particularly as this is not an accurate translation of the Korean title. Well, that's because Son Won-kyung turns the latter part of the movie into a conspiracy theory about how the Kyunghyang Newspaper killed his mother. While Son Won-kyung's loss is lamentable, the argument he presents is not particularly persuasive. The whole focus comes off as rather petty, going so far as to cheapen his mother's image as a strong woman who triumped through adversity.

This questionable narrative decision isn't the only mistake novice filmmaker mistake Son Won-kyung makes. We are shown very many letters on-screen, but are never given enough time to really read any of them. The toys have the same issue. Every so often we get a collage of both the toys themselves as well as the weird artwork they inspire yet we only have a few seconds to admire them on-screen. "They Kill My Mother" is a movie badly in need of a pause button.

These structural issues are frustrating, but perhaps unavoidable. "They Kill My Mother" is such a labor of love, in every possible meaning of the word, it's hard to imagine that Son Won-kyung would ever consent to an editor seriously altering the work. Nevertheless "They Kill My Mother" really needed a more objective eye and a willingness to linger on the details. Among other things Son Won-kyung blazes right past the 2015 labor protests against then-president Park Geun-hye, an interesting event in its own right that badly needed more context aside from how it affected his toy exhibition.

Review by William Schwartz

___________



"They Kill My Mother" is directed by Son Won-kyung, and features Son Won-kyung. Release date in Korea: 2021/03/11.
New Delhi,a March 13 : The BJP is likely to field actor-turned-politician Khushboo Sundar from 'Thousand Lights' Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu.

A senior party leader said that Sundar will contest from Thousand Lights assembly constituency in Chennai.

"Her (Sundar's) candidature will be announced soon with the rest of the party candidates," he said.

Last year, Sundar had joined BJP after resigning from the Congress.

The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) on Saturday finalised names of party candidates for assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.

A senior party leader said that names for almost all the 17 seats that the is BJP contesting from Tamil Nadu have been finalised.

"Names for 17 Assembly constituency has been finalised. Names for remaining three seats will be finalised by tomorrow evening." he said.

He further stated that the names will be released soon.

Voting for the 234-seat Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held on April 6. The BJP is contesting the polls in alliance with the ruling AIADMK.

Names of candidates are being discussed in the CEC meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief J P Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah and other members of the committee.

Before Tamil Nadu, the BJP's CEC had finalised names of party candidates for Assam.

"Name of candidates for 19 seats in Assam have also been finalised," said another BJP leader.

The BJP has already announced name 73 candidates for Assam. The party is contesting on 92 seats of total 126 seats of Assam assembly.
SAGINAW, MI  Shaheen Development has four new move-in ready apartments in downtown Saginaw, within walking distance of restaurants, the farmers market and more.

The apartments are part of the firms new three-story, mixed-use development located at 218. S. Washington Ave., near Valeries Downtown, dawn of a new day coffee house, Erikas Flowers, and SVRC Marketplace.

Al Warr, director of development for Shaheen Development, gave MLive/The Saginaw News a tour of the building Thursday, March 11.

Its a great location downtown with the farmers market right across the street and the SVRC (Marketplace), he said. Its good to be somewhere where theres some energy.

30 See inside new Shaheen Development building in downtown Saginaw

The first-floor commercial space is now home to State Bank, which opened this month. The upper two floors of the new development house Goodridge Lofts, which will provide four new, one- and two-bedroom apartments. One-bedroom apartments offer 888 square feet of living space and start at $1,100 per month. Two-bedroom apartments offer 1,140 square feet of living space and start at $1,275 per month. The apartments feature granite countertops, wood cabinetry, all appliances, high-efficiency furnace and air conditioning, walk-in closets, private surface parking lot, and all utilities except electricity.

Construction began last summer. The apartments are move-in ready and all four units are available now.

Its also great to see this spot of vacant land used, Warr said. There are so few new developments downtown. I cant think of any new developments on Washington in the last decade or so.

The name, Goodridge Lofts, is an homage to Saginaws Goodridge brothers.

In naming the lofts we again looked back at the rich history of the Saginaw community and have dedicated the lofts to the Goodridge Brothers, who previously operated a photographic studio on this property in the 1800s, Warr previously told MLive. The Goodridge Brothers were a pioneering trio of African American photographers and we encourage anyone interested in their legacy to seek out the Castle Museum in Saginaw for more information.

For information on leasing a loft, call 989-799-5700 or send an email to leasing@shaheendevelopment.com.

Read more on MLive:

Saginaws Kaiser Dress & Co. offers eclectic mix of womens clothing

Local Eats: Saginaws The Bread Guy serves Neapolitan-style pizza every Saturday

St. Marys hospital renovation, expansion project on track for completion in fall 2021

More than 100 new residential units coming to Uptown Bay City will be move-in ready next year

See what businesses opened or closed in 2020 in Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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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

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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

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Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor"
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said on Saturday the AAP government's decision to install a charging point at every three kilometres will pave the way for making Delhi the "electric vehicle" capital.

He said the Delhi government has taken a lead across India in creating charging infrastructure for a smooth transition to electric vehicles.

"The move to have a charging station at every three kilometres will build confidence among people to go for EVs and pave the way for making Delhi the EV capital of India," a statement quoted the minister as saying.

The government has already floated a tender to build 100 public charging stations with 500 charging points at prominent locations. These will be operational by December, he said.

All buildings such as malls, shopping complexes, cinema halls, office spaces, hotels, restaurants, hospitals will soon have to set aside at least 5 per cent of their total parking capacity for EVs along with suitable slow EV chargers. This will also add an estimated 10,000 chargers in Delhi by December, the minister said.

"Also, we are in advance talks with several EV fleet operators to open up their captive charging stations for public use. This will add another 750 charging points at least for public use in Delhi by June," Gahlot said.

Also Read: Govt promoting renewable energy, especially in MSME sector, says Nitin Gadkari
Bondi Beach lifeguards are threatening to take Waverley Council to the Industrial Relations Commission, claiming they are paid significantly less than their counterparts at Cronulla and Coogee.

The United Services Union has accused the council, which employs lifeguards to patrol Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches, of failing to recognise and reward lifeguards for their vast contributions to Australian life.

A pay dispute between Waverley Council and its beach lifeguards has escalated, with the United Services Union claiming lifeguards are undervalued. Credit:Edwina Pickles

United Services Union general secretary Graeme Kelly said the starting wage for lifeguards at Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches was approximately $8500 less than a comparable beach lifeguards at neighbouring councils.

We have made clear to Waverley Council that we believe lifeguards should be getting paid significantly more than they currently are, he said.
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BEIJING  China raised the stakes in the international vaccine competition on Saturday, saying that foreigners wishing to enter the Chinese mainland from Hong Kong will face fewer paperwork requirements if they are inoculated with Chinese-made coronavirus vaccines.

The policy announcement, which covers foreigners applying for visas in the Chinese territory, comes a day after the United States, India, Japan and Australia announced plans to provide vaccines more widely to other countries. The four so-called Quad powers promised to help finance the production in India of at least a billion doses of coronavirus vaccine by the end of next year.

China is trying to increase the international appeal of its shots, even as scientists and foreign governments urge Chinese vaccine makers to be more transparent with their clinical trial data. Guo Weimin, a Chinese government spokesman, said that China had sent vaccines to 69 countries by the end of February and begun commercial exports to 28 countries.

Chinese state media organizations have also begun a misinformation campaign that questions the safety of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech shots and promotes Chinese vaccines as better alternatives.
Federal authorities on Friday charged a New Jersey man in a scheme to steal $7.8 million from the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, a company he once headed.

Caesar DiCrecchio, 60, of Vorhees, was accused of using some of those funds to pay $1.9 million in rent on his Stone Harbor house. He faces two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of aggravated identity theft, and four counts of tax evasion.

A second New Jersey man, Thomas Del Borrello, 42 of Sewell, was accused separately of using his position at United Check Cashing in Philadelphia to hide DiCrecchios identity on transactions that totaled more than $10,000. He faces eight counts of aggravated false filing of a currency transaction report and one count of aggravated failure to file a currency transaction report.

Both cases were filed in federal court in Pennsylvania.

Investigators said DiCrecchio exercised control over every aspect - including the expenditure of funds - of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, a large complex that works with restaurants and retailers. Some of the funds stolen were allegedly used to pay his friends and relatives or personal credit card purchases, authorities said.

DiCrecchio also allegedly attempted to evade federal income tax between 2014 and 2017 by failing to report more than $2.1 million in income, authorities claimed. He did not report income on the proceeds he allegedly stole from the Market and a car allowance, a pension allowance and more, authorities said.

Complexity will not hide crime from law enforcement, said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. Further, and as alleged here, nickel and dime theft  skimming small amounts here and there over many years  is just as illegal as stealing one large lump sum.

Authorities said DiCrecchio directed that the stolen funds be reflected as legitimate business expenditures in the Markets books: maintenance, snow removal, insurance, or legal fees.

DiCrecchio is represented by a public defender who could not be reached. No attorney was listed for Del Borrello.

Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com.
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Aphrodite Mastrantonis, a 91-year-old grandmother of four, has achieved another milestone.

Aphrodite became the 10,000th person to receive the COVID-19 vaccination at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC). The West Brighton health care faciility vaccinated its 5,000 individual in early February.

To vaccinate 10,000 people is tremendous and is a huge step forward toward a return to normalcy for our entire community, said president and chief executive officer Daniel J. Messina. You dont vaccinate this many people easily. It requires a true team effort that includes not just our dedicated staff at the hospital, but the thousands of people from our community who are rolling up their sleeves to protect themselves, and their loved ones.

Aphrodite Mastrantonis, left, after receiving her COVID-19 vaccination, administered by EMT Laurianne Cammarata. (Courtesy/Alex Lutz/RUMC)

Originally from Andros, Greece, Aphrodite came to the United States in 1959. Since the pandemic began more than a year ago, shes been living on Staten Island with her daughter, Pauline Mastrantonis-Thaten, who escorted her to the hospital.

A recipient of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Aphrodite will return to RUMC in three weeks to receive her second dose, completing her vaccination process.

Since the pandemic began, shes been watching the news in shock over the severity of the pandemic, so she is very relieved to feel safe now that she is vaccinated, her daughter said.

Since this all began, she has not been going out, and only sees her immediate family, including her four grandkids. After she has her second dose, she wants to begin going back to church, start to see more family and friends, and accept more visitors into her home.

Following her first dose of the vaccine, RUMC administration presented Aphrodite with a shirt celebrating her role as the 10,000th vaccine recipient.

To celebrate the 10,000 vaccination milestone, RUMC distributed cupcakes from Royal Crown Bakery to all vaccine recipients. (Courtesy/Alex Lutz/RUMC)

As she left the hospital, staff lined the hallway, applauding her as show of thanks for her decision to be vaccinated.

Outside RUMC, Aphrodite and her daughter were provided with cupcakes from Royal Crown Bakery with 10K on top. Over 400 cupcakes were provided and also distributed to everyone who received a vaccination.

RUMC has been vaccinating eligible individuals since mid-December.

On Feb. 8 , RUMC vaccinated its 5,000th individual, a 66-year-old woman who had undergone a successful liver transplant in the fall of 2020. RUMC also continues to care for individuals infected by the virus. Throughout January, COVID-19 inpatient census at RUMC fluctuated between the high 50s to low 70s. In February, inpatient volume steadily decreased, dropping into the 30s by the end of the month. Now into early March, inpatient volume continues to remain in the low 30s.

Sunday, March 14, will be the one-year anniversary of RUMC admitting its first COVID-19 positive patient. The patient surge would come quickly for the West Brighton hospital and by April 8, RUMC would be caring for 210 COVID-19 positive inpatients. Since last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic began, RUMC has treated and discharged more than 3,000 people affected by the virus. RUMC continues to provide long term and short term treatment to hundreds of recovered individuals though its comprehensive Post COVID-19 Care Center.
Last week marked the first anniversary of the very first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Ireland.

In the 12 months since, all our lives have changed, and are unlikely to go back to the way they were prior to March 2020.

Over 8,000 cases of Covid-19 have now been confirmed in County Louth since then and, tragically, the number that have succumbed to the virus here has climbed to well over 100 in that period.

The very first mention of Covid-19 did not appear in the pages of the Democrat until March 3 .

It was part of a small report on page 2 which, reporting the public health advice at the time, stated: the risk of catching coronavirus in Ireland is still low, but it rather ominously followed up with: however, this may change.

And change it did, as we all know now.

Come the Democrat edition dated March 10, Covid-19 had become the front-page story.

The paper splashed with Just how ready is Louth for Covid-19?. The story concerned local authority and business preparations for dealing with a potential pandemic (The World Health Organisation (WHO) still hadnt declared it as one yet).

The rather quaint matter of the postponement of Dundalks St Patricks Day parade was a key part of the same front page report that week. It seems rather trivial now, but at the time that decision was made with much difficulty and soul-searching.

On page two of the same edition, a foreboding report headlined Restrictions in place in local nursing homes would become painfully telling in terms of the tragedy that would unfold at nursing homes in just a short couple of weeks.

The terrible deaths of loved ones at Dealgan Nursing Home stands out starkly when I read this report now.

There is, in another reminder of how we didnt, and frankly couldnt see the massive impact Covid would go on to have on all our lives, a short report elsewhere on page two which says that registrations for that years Darkness Into Light run were now open with the event planned for May.

Nowhere in the piece does it mention that the planned run could possibly be cancelled due to coronavirus  it simply couldnt have seemed possible then.

Just one week later, on St Patricks Day, the mood had changed considerably.

I remember, as editor at the time, deciding to run a front-page editorial calling on everyone to stand up and be counted in the fight to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The piece included a dominant picture of the iconic Maid of Erin statue outside the courthouse in town.

It was an admittedly none-too-subtle patriotic attempt on our part to foster a sense of were all in this together.

Of course, as the year of Covid wore on, this steadfast cohesive approach has frayed somewhat around the edges, but tribute needs to be paid to the vast majority who have sacrificed so much to save lives.

It was felt be those of us in the newsroom that week that the seriousness of what was escalating around us needed to be reinforced.

The public health guidelines needed to be spelled out and the vital importance of looking after each other, while having to stay apart, was already very clear.

The back page that week led with the headline Shutdown as sport right across the country ceased entirely in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

From then on, rarely a week passed by without Covid or Covid-related stories dominating the front-page and the general news section within.

It was also around this time that the then editorial director for Iconic Newspapers  this titles owner  agreed to take up a role as editor of the Sunday Independent.

In his farewell address to staff, Alan English stated that we were now living through the greatest public health emergency in a lifetime.

Even then, as I think back, I thought that statement seemed slightly hyperbolic, but upon reflection, it was probably still some way short in addressing the full scale of the rapidly unfolding horror and the great difficulties that were still to come.

It seems, looking back at these Democrat editions one year on, that life has been placed almost entirely on hold.

While there have been chinks of light and easing of restrictions during the past 12 months, Covid-19 has dominated, and continues to dominate our lives and how wed like to live it. It has caused untold suffering and tragedy; and the fight goes on.

The front-page editorial in that March 17 edition included the line like any moment, this one will pass too. Life will return to its normal rhythms once again.

Remarkably, and sadly, that moment has not passed yet. We are still stuck in that moment, but we are nearing the end.

This time next year life will be better for all of us. Stay the course now and a brighter dawn will rise soon.
The total number of Covid infections and deaths in Florida has plummeted despite its high number of Kent variant cases, prompting quiet optimism from infection experts in the US.

Florida now leads the United States in confirmed cases of the Kent variant, which accounts for an estimated half of all new cases there, but has seen a staggering 75 per cent drop in total cases since early January.

This is despite dire warnings from UK officials here that the Kent variant is up to 70 per cent more contagious than prior strands, and new research suggesting it is twice as deadly, sparking fears that a variant surge could outpace vaccine rollouts.

The latest figures have eased those concerns as experts now predict the US state could avoid a fourth wave of the virus and could indicate the UK's outlook may also be better than previously predicted.

Florida leads the US in confirmed cases of the Kent variant with 690, while most other states have less than 100 cases of the strain. The 690 figure represents 0.035 per cent of the total 1,967,865 cases of coronavirus in Florida.

Concern about variants is still high in the UK and the Department of Health this week began surge testing of the public in Wandsworth, south London, after officials discovered the South African strain of the virus.

No10's top scientific advisers spooked the nation in January when they warned the variant was up to 30 per cent deadlier than older versions.

College students have descended on Florida for spring break with Fort Lauderdale beaches packed with maskless revellers. Florida is the B117 capital of the US but has declining cases

Florida leads US in variant cases, and Kent variant accounts for half of all new cases there

The dark line in this chart shows the seven-day rolling average of the new B.1.1.7 strain as a proportion of all new cases in Florida. The figures are estimates based on available data with the pink area showing the margin of error

The Kent variant dates back to September 2020, and was responsible for most of the second wave in the UK, while older variants from Wuhan and Spain caused the first wave.

So far in the UK, there have been more than 115,558 cases of the Kent variant since it first emerged in September.

A study found that the Kent variant led to 227 deaths in a sample of 54,906 UK patients  compared to 141 among the same number of similar patients who had the previous strains.

Because of this increased risk of death and the fact that the variant infects people faster, those who might have been considered relatively low risk before were at higher risk now.

This chimes with official Government guidance, which saw an extra 1.7million people added to the shielding list and advised to stay at home during the vaccine rollout.

But the situation in Florida means concerns the Kent strain could fuel a deadly third wave in the UK may not yet be warranted.

Florida leads the US with 690 confirmed cases of the B117 variant - but surveillance testing estimates that the true number of variant cases there is much higher.

Earlier this week, researchers estimated that B117 had reached more than half of all new cases in Florida, after accounting for just 4 per cent of cases a month ago.

But meanwhile Florida's case count has plunged, despite doomsday predictions about the state's lax restrictions on businesses, and large gatherings for Super Bowl LV in Tampa in early February.

What do we know about the Kent variant? Name: B.1.1.7 Where did it come from? The variant was first found in Kent and can be traced back to September 2020. Scientists noticed that it was spreading in November and it was revealed to the public in December. What makes it new? The variant has a series of mutations that change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main one is known as N501Y. This appears to make it better able to stick to the cells inside the body and makes it more likely to cause infection and faster to spread. How did that happen? Viruses, particularly ones spreading so fast and in such huge numbers, mutate all the time. To reproduce they basically force living cells to copy and paste the viral genetic code, and this can contain errors that lead to slightly different versions of the virus. Often these mutations make no difference but, if they make the virus stronger, they can stick around for further generations and become the norm. What can we do about it? Nothing much. People who catch the virus won't know which type they have, and it will still cause the same symptoms and illness. Officials can try to contain it by locking down the areas where it is most prevalent, but if it is stronger than other versions of the virus it will eventually spread everywhere and become dominant as long as people continue to travel. Will our vaccines still work? Yes, it's very likely they will. Scientists on SAGE are fairly sure the mutations the Kent variant carries do not significantly affect how well the immune system can handle it. People who have a vaccine modelled on an older version of the virus, or who have been infected with Covid-19 before, are likely to be immune to it. This is because the main mutations are only on one part of the spike protein, whereas the immune system is able to target various other parts of the virus. Advertisement

These concerns came as the state entered a third wave of infections which began gathering steam in November last year

Florida's latest COVID surge peaked on January 8 at 84 daily new cases per 100,000 population, but cases have steadily dropped and stood at 22 per 100,000 on Thursday.

Hospitalizations have also declined by half over the same period, as has Florida's test positivity rate, which is now at 4.88 percent. Deaths have also declined sharply.

'I think we just keep watching the data. If cases continue to drop in Florida despite circulating variants, maybe the variant won't be as bad as was predicted,' Suzanne Judd, a PhD epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Public Health, told DailyMail.com.

'This is why we have to avoid speculating on variants until we have the data,' she added.

'The good news from Florida is an encouraging sign for the rest of us. It doesn't mean America is out of the woods. But it does suggest we could emerge sooner than we thought,' wrote Andrew Romano for Yahoo News.

The more infectious variant, which swept across the UK at the end of last year before spreading across the world, is between 30 percent and 100 percent more deadly, a new study found.

Epidemiologists from the Universities of Exeter and Bristol said the data suggests the variant is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate among adults compared with previously circulating strains.

Robert Challen, from the University of Exeter, lead author of the study, said: 'In the community, death from Covid-19 is still a rare event, but the B117 variant raises the risk.

'Coupled with its ability to spread rapidly, this makes B117 a threat that should be taken seriously.'

Mutations of the virus have raised concerns about whether vaccines would be effective against the new strains, including the now-dominant Kent strain.

But research suggests the Pfizer jab is just as effective against the Kent variant of coronavirus as it was against the original pandemic strain, while other data indicates the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab has a similar efficacy against the variant.

Dr Simon Clarke, an expert in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said: 'It is now well established that the Kent variant is more transmissible; it has come to dominate in the UK and it is increasing in prevalence in other parts of the developed world.

'This increased lethality, in addition to the increased transmissibility, means that this version of the virus presents a substantial challenge to healthcare systems and policy makers.

'It also makes it even more important people get vaccinated when called.'

Earlier this week, the UK's chief medical officer warned a deadly third wave of coronavirus is inevitable as he defended England's ultra-cautious roadmap out of lockdown.

Professor Chris Witty argued 'all the modelling' suggests Covid infections will spike at some point after restrictions are eased, despite uptake of the vaccines being high.

He claimed it was 'perfectly realistic' that tens of thousands more Brits could be killed by Covid because the virus 'will find' people who either have not been vaccinated, or for whom the jab has not worked.

He pointed out that even flu claims up to 20,000 lives during a bad year.

But Professor Whitty made clear that because of the highly effective vaccines now in the arms of the most vulnerable, the scale of the next wave of the epidemic will be 'nothing like what we've seen over the course of this winter'.

More than 80,000 people have died since the second wave started gathering steam in September.

Professor Whitty maintained that slower was safer when it came to easing the curbs because it gives more time for the vaccine programme to get even wider coverage, telling MPs he would 'strongly advise' they stick to the cautious plan.

Batting away calls for lockdown to be loosened sooner, he warned: 'If you open up too fast, a lot more people die - a lot more people die... I think it's very easy to forget quite how quickly things can turn bad if you don't keep a very, very close eye on it.'

He warned against Number 10 unlocking too quickly and repeating earlier mistakes, adding: 'If you look at the history of this all around the world... Its full of leaders who wished they had acted quicker and then been more careful as they take things off.'
Tesla Inc is exploring an arrangement with Indian conglomerate Tata Sons' power generation unit, Tata Power, to set up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the country, CNBC-TV18 reported on Friday, citing sources.

Shares of Tata Power rose 5.5% to their best closing level since June 9, 2014 after the report, which comes as the Palo Alto-based electric-car maker gears up for an India launch later this year with plans to import and sell its Model 3 electric sedan in India.

Tesla will set up an electric-car manufacturing unit in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, according to a government document seen by Reuters.

The talks between Tata Power and Tesla are in the initial stages and no arrangements have been finalised yet, the report said.

The two companies were not immediately available for comment.

In January, the U.S. electric-car maker incorporated Tesla Motors India and Energy Private Ltd with its registered office in the southern city of Bengaluru, a hub for global technology companies.

Tata Motors Ltd, the carmaking unit of Tata Sons, last week denied any tie-up with Tesla, after media reports suggested the two companies were discussing a partnership.

Also Read: Daimler to recall 2.6 million Mercedes Benz cars in China due to software design issue
President Joe Biden walked into the East Room of the White House without a swagger. He came to deliver his first prime-time address to the nation - one given on the anniversary of the country shutting down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Much of that speech was about hope. It was about seeing a shaft of light at the end of a dark horror. It focused on time finally beginning to tick forward - and us with it - after a year in which that valuable, irreplaceable commodity had slipped away before our eyes.

The president didnt sound boastful as much as he sounded relieved.

When Mr Biden settled in behind the lectern and faced the cameras, he was wearing a mask, which he slowly removed. Wearing it was a display of pointed symbolism for all those who are ready to burn them as a sign of personal freedom. He was modeling best practices as a reminder to those who are simply at their wits end and have only the tiniest wisp of patience left in their pandemic arsenal.

His attire was polished and formal with his white French cuffs and his crisp pocket square. The sum of it evoked all of the institutional power and authority at his disposal to make things better. But he also made it plain that he was not speaking as a voice from on high, but as a voice that understands, a voice on common ground. The government is not a conspiracy; it is not complicit in a plot. We need to remember, the government isnt some foreign force in a distant capital, Biden said. No, its us. All of us. We the people. Biden pulled a bit of paper from his suit pocket. It was his daily schedule on which was written the number of Americans who have died of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus: 527,726 people. He didnt need to pull out that paper with such a flourish. But it was more symbolism. He carried that number - those people - with him as he moved through his routine. Each person who died was accounted for. Each death was part of Bidens day-to-day.

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His speech could have been full of boasting about how every American will be eligible for the vaccine by May 1, about the passage of the American Rescue Plan, and about the promise that if all goes well and the virus doesnt outrun the vaccination program or outsmart the scientists, it may be possible to gather with family and friends on July 4 and celebrate a hard-won freedom. But it was not. Those were a recitation of facts, not chest-thumping.

Biden got to the promises of his $1.9 trillion relief package in the second half of his speech. But before that, he talked about the weddings and the family reunions and the first dates that went missing over the past year.

He acknowledged the things that make so many Americans sad and heartbroken - losses they were, perhaps, too embarrassed to talk about because there were so many more terrible, deadly events unfolding.Its the details of life that matter, Biden said. And in those words, he recognized the loss of all of those little things that people might have shrugged off publicly but wept about privately. Before the president got to his historic legislative achievement, he spoke to the rise of hate crimes aimed at Asian Americans.

So many of them, our fellow Americans, theyre on the front lines of this pandemic trying to save lives and still - still - they are forced to live in fear for their lives just walking down the streets of America, Biden said. Its wrong. Its un-American. And it must stop.

So much of the speech was about us: the diverse backgrounds from which we come, the small joys and triumphs that define our lives, the need to bolster each others endurance for just a little longer. When he finally spoke about his Rescue Plan, it was less about what Democrats had pushed across the finish line without Republican support and more about a belief that government can do great things because the government is us.

National unity isnt just about how politicians vote in Washington, Mr Biden said.

He signed the American Rescue Plan - the legislation that would put money into the pockets of low-income and middle-class Americans, slash child poverty and provide financial support to states to help speed the administering of coronavirus vaccinations - earlier in the day. In the Oval Office ceremony, he delivered remarks that lasted barely two minutes. There would be time to celebrate with fellow Democrats later. He did not hold up the document for all to view his signature as his predecessor tended to do. This was just paperwork. The glory was in the heartland.

Hours later, as Biden spoke to the public about what the country had endured, he aimed to lift up a population, an entire country - not just the folks who supported him. (@TheWashingtonPost)

 Washington Post


New Delhi, March 13 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day visit to poll-bound Assam and West Bengal from Sunday where he will attend various poll related programmes.

In a statement, the BJP said that Shah will address two public meetings in Assam on Sunday.

"He will address public meetings in Margherita and Nazira. He will then leave for West Bengal," said the statement.

On Sunday evening, Shah will hold a road show in Kharagpur in West Bengal.

On Monday, Shah will address a public meeting in Jhargram in West Bengal after which he will address another public meeting in Ranibandh.

In evening, Shah will reach Guwahati to address the Town Hall programme.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy this morning followed by isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Japan will not take part in China's offer -- accepted by the International Olympic Committee -- to provide vaccines for "participants" in the postponed Tokyo Games and next year's Beijing Winter Games.

Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa said Friday that Japan had not been consulted by the IOC about the Chinese vaccines, and that Japanese athletes would not take them. She said the vaccines have not been approved for use in Japan. "We have been taking comprehensive anti-infectious disease measures for the Tokyo Games in order to allow participation without vaccinations," Marukawa said. "There is no change to our principle of not making vaccinations a prerequisite."

Announced by IOC President Thomas Bach on Thursday, the surprise deal comes as China faces mounting international pressure over the internment of at least 1 million Muslim Uyghurs, which has been labeled a "genocide" by several governments and human rights bodies.

The IOC has indicated it is a sports body and will not meddle in domestic issues in China. The IOC initially said it would not require athletes to get vaccines, but only encourage it. The deal with China puts more emphasis on getting vaccines to young, healthy athletes and others. The IOC has said it will pay for the vaccines but gave no indication of the cost or quantity.

Marukawa pointed out that the Olympics are being held as if vaccines are not available, relying on testing, masks, social distancing and keeping athletes in a "bubble."

Distribution of China's vaccine will be through international agencies or existing vaccine agreements countries have with China, Bach said.


The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and caretaker Minister for Finance, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has stated that the government will this year commence a new scheme that will provide eligible Ghanaians with low-interest loans to enable them to pay rent advance.



He said the scheme will be called the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS) and will initially be funded by the government with GH100 million.



Presenting the 2021 budget statement and economic policy on the floor of Parliament on Friday, March 12, 2021, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu added that the scheme will also receive additional investment from the private sector.



He said: "Mr Speaker, in partnership with the private sector, we will commence the establishment of a National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), with a seed of GH100 million. The scheme will crowd-in additional investment from the private sector, to provide low-interest loans to eligible Ghanaians to enable them pay rent advance".



Scheme



The scheme was first mentioned by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia last August at the official launch of the New Patriotic Party's election 2020 manifesto, in Cape Coast last.



At the time, the Vice President said the scheme will help young people with their accommodation problems.



He also stated that the government was also looking for a longterm solution for some of the issues in Ghana's housing market.



"While we continue to pursue longterm solutions to the development of the housing market, to address, in our second term, the short-to-medium term market failures in the renter-segment of the housing market, we will establish a National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS). In partnership with the private sector, the Scheme will provide low-interest loans to eligible Ghanaians to enable them to pay rent advance," he said.



"There are lots of young people who when they finish school, to rent accommodation is a big problem especially because of the demand for rent allowance which is sometimes up to two years demand. But someone who just finished school and is starting a job doesnt have that savings to pay all these huge demands for rent allowance. This shows a market failure because of what the tenants and the landlords want. This is why the government has decided to come up with this to bridge this market failure by setting up a National Rental Assistance Scheme."



Dr Bawumia also noted that the scheme will mainly serve people in formal employment who will be required to provide guarantors to access the funds.



He said the loans will be repaid on a monthly basis to match the tenure of the rent and will be insured to ensure sustainability.



The Scheme will target individuals (both in the formal and informal sectors) with identifiable and regular income. The rent advance loans will be paid directly into the bank accounts of landlords, who would have to register with the Scheme. Under this scheme, if you have a job and we can deduct regularly from your income under this scheme, the National rent assurance scheme will give you a loan to pay your rent allowance but it is to the landlord. You need to have formal employment.



He further noted that the government will also focus on providing low-income housing for low-income earners and put in place reforms within the Rent Control Department.



As part of our interventions, we will also implement the necessary regulatory, institutional, and operational reforms of the Rent Control Department, including the digitisation of its operations, to enhance delivery and make it better able to serve the changing needs of market players, including landlords and tenants. A new Rent Control Act has been drafted for review by Cabinet in this direction, he noted.

Source: graphiconline.com









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Senate Resolution 26, Authorize Senate lawsuit against governor for unlawful expenditures: Passed 20 to 14 in the Senate

To authorize the Senate Majority Leader to commence legal action on behalf of the Senate, challenging any action by the governor to spend money that has not been authorized in appropriation bills passed by the House and Senate. This relates to vetoes of provisions in House Bills 4047 and 4048 that would prohibit spending part of the states federal stimulus and coronavirus relief money unless two provision of two other bills are also signed into law (Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 4049). Those bills would transfer the authority of the state health department to close schools in an emergency to county health departments, and require legislative consent after 28 days to a governor's authority to maintain a state of emergency and issue executive orders. Under this resolution, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey would be authorized to sue the governor if the administration spends money without the legislative authorization required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

31 Sen. Kevin Daley, R - Attica, Y

32 Sen. Kenneth Horn, R - Frankenmuth, Y

36 Sen. Jim Stamas, R - Midland, Y

House Bill 4047, Override veto of coronavirus relief bill line items: Failed 60 to 49 in the House (2/3 majority required)

To override Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's line-item veto of $150 million in state aid for businesses afflicted by coronavirus epidemic lockdowns, and another $150 million for deposit in the state's unemployment insurance account to "offset expected exposure to state fraud and improper payments" during the epidemic.

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal, D - Saginaw, N

96 Rep. Timothy Beson, R - Bay City, Y

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth, R - Clare, Y

98 Rep. Annette Glenn, R - Midland, Y

99 Rep. Roger Hauck, R - Mount Pleasant, Y

Senate Bill 1, Limit state health department epidemic orders without legislative approval: Passed 59 to 50 in the House

To restrict emergency orders the state health department (the Department of Health and Human Service) may impose in response to an epidemic to 28 days unless an extension is approved by the Legislature. A state Public Health Code adopted by the Legislature in 1978 gives the department the authority to issue such orders. The bill would also require officials to disclose in such orders how any restrictions on gatherings protects public health, and all the information used in deciding to issue the emergency order.

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal, D - Saginaw, N

96 Rep. Timothy Beson, R - Bay City, Y

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth, R - Clare, Y

98 Rep. Annette Glenn, R - Midland, Y

99 Rep. Roger Hauck, R - Mount Pleasant, Y

Senate Bill 114, Allocate coronavirus epidemic relief dollars for businesses and more: Passed 66 to 44 in the House

To appropriate $150 million in state dollars for deposit into the state unemployment insurance benefit fund to offset exposure to fraud and improper payments during the coronavirus epidemic. The bill also appropriates $405 million state tax dollars for tax and fee relief to businesses afflicted by coronavirus lockdowns. These appropriations had been in another bill but were line-item vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal, D - Saginaw, N

96 Rep. Timothy Beson, R - Bay City, Y

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth, R - Clare, Y

98 Rep. Annette Glenn, R - Midland, Y

99 Rep. Roger Hauck, R - Mount Pleasant, Y

House Bill 4127, Revise procedure for clearing dead, moved or inactive voters from voter rolls: Passed 61 to 48 in the House

To revise the procedure specified in state election law to remove certain registered voters listed in the qualified voter file who haven't voted since 2000 or who have unknown dates of birth in the voter rolls, and do not respond to a mailing.

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal, D - Saginaw, N

96 Rep. Timothy Beson, R - Bay City, Y

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth, R - Clare, Y

98 Rep. Annette Glenn, R - Midland, Y

99 Rep. Roger Hauck, R - Mount Pleasant, Y

House Bill 4040, Facilitate school apprenticeship programs: Passed 107 to 3 in the House

To exclude registered apprenticeship programs created by unions and trade associations and offered in public schools from the law that imposes a licensure mandate on for-profit "proprietary trade schools" (barber colleges are an example).

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal, D - Saginaw, Y

96 Rep. Timothy Beson, R - Bay City, Y

97 Rep. Jason Wentworth, R - Clare, Y

98 Rep. Annette Glenn, R - Midland, Y

99 Rep. Roger Hauck, R - Mount Pleasant, Y

Senate Bill 106, Add new no trespassing posting option: Passed 20 to 14 in the Senate

To establish that a property owner can post his property to indicate that trespassing is prohibited by painting purple vertical lines at least 8 inches long, between 3 feet and 5 feet above the ground, on trees or posts not more than 100 feet apart that are "readily visible" when approaching the property.

31 Sen. Kevin Daley, R - Attica, Y

32 Sen. Kenneth Horn, R - Frankenmuth, Y

36 Sen. Jim Stamas, R - Midland, Y

Source: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Visit www.MichiganVotes.org.
American science historian and journalist Walter Isaacson was several years into researching his latest doorstopper when he had a eureka moment.

American science historian and journalist Walter Isaacson was several years into researching his latest doorstopper when he had a eureka moment.

He was at an academic conference in Quebec City. It was June 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic was still six months away.

The title subject of his book-in-progress, the University of California Berkeley biochemist Jennifer Doudna, would not be named the co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry until the fall of 2020.

"The biotech nerds, I realize, are no longer the outsiders," he writes in The Code Breaker, a fearsomely detailed and mammoth history of the CRISPR gene-editing tool that forms the foundation of the coming bioscience revolution.

"The CRISPR revolution and coronavirus crisis have turned them into the cool kids on the edge, just as happened to the awkward pioneers who once populated the cyber frontier."

CRISPR (pronounced crisper) is a simplified acronym for a feature of the DNA molecule in every living creature called Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

Doudna (pronouned DOWD-na), 56, vaulted to fame as the co-author of a 2013 scientific paper that showed how CRISPR-based technology could be used to edit, theoretically, any part of the human genome.

This advance paves the way for everything from eliminating disease to designing babies.

Doudnas key contribution was to explain the role of the single-stranded RNA molecule (the books "star molecule," Isaacson states several times) as the delivery mechanism for the scissors-like enzyme Cas9 to snip out targeted strings of DNA.

The messenger-like properties of RNA, it must be emphasized, are the same ones employed by the watershed Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

If your head hurts trying to grasp the previous few sentences, imagine several hundred pages of this stuff. A beach read The Code Breaker is not.

But for those endowed with sufficient curiosity and endurance, the book holds a fascinating, and truly groundbreaking, story.

Supplied photo Walter Isaacson combines impressive intellectual capabilities with narrative know-how.

That it is Isaacson who has chosen to tell it also signals its import. The 69-year-old former Time magazine editor has penned thick bestsellers on such disrupters as Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Leonardo da Vinci.

Few writers combine such impressive intellectual capabilities with so much narrative know-how. He keeps his chapters short, uses lots of subheads and includes many colour photos to counteract the difficulty of the material.

Isaacson makes it clear that Doudna did not emerge suis generis in the manner of, say, Einstein, who stunned the physics world with original ideas generated while working as a patent clerk.

She took a more conventional science route. It began at age 12 in the university town of Hilo, Hawaii, when a family friend gave her DNA molecule co-discoverer James Watsons landmark 1968 memoir The Double Helix.

In recounting Doudnas story, which involves equal measure of brains and ambition, Isaacson includes a primer on genetics from Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel through Francis Crick and James Watson.

He takes readers step by step along the path of how CRISPR came to be  admittedly a steep climb for non-biochemists and microbiologists.

More relatable is his account of the politics of elite science labs, something cleansed from Doudnas own 2017 memoir, A Crack in Creation.

Jeff Chiu / The Associated Press files Jennifer A. Doudna was presented with the 2020 Nobel Prize in chemistry for her work on the CRISPR gene-editing tool at a ceremony in Berkeley, Calif.

For even the top University of Manitoba researchers, politics involves never-ending fights for financial resources and grants. Apparently at Berkeley and Harvard, they dont need to sweat it. Money flows like water.

Modern science is a collaborative enterprise. Thus dozens of other high achievers feature in these pages. Isaacson revels in the competition, rivalries and resentments these all-too-human brainiacs faced in their race to fame and fortune. Everything from vicious competition and bad feelings to patent battles and lawsuits ensue.

Feminists will appreciate the book for its portrayal of women in a traditionally male domain, yet this aspect plays a smaller role than many might imagine.

Isaacson emphasizes the numerous ethical dilemmas posed by editing the human genome. While traditionalists believe that using CRISPR is like "playing God," some philosophers argue that not using it could one day be seen as unethical.

The final quarter of the book explores how Doudna and her colleagues work has laid the basis for various coronavirus initiatives. Isaacson would not have anticipated needing this section when he began.

Like the vaccines, The Code Breaker is an impressive achievement in a short time. Its subject and author both remind us what the human animal is capable of.

Morley Walker is a retired Free Press staffer.
A recent Government Accountability Office report found more than 80% of nursing homes were cited for infection prevention failures, including washing hands in between patients, before the pandemic. (Pixabay)
Mr Bradley said the system failure was obvious because statistics showed sexual violence was prevalent yet few perpetrators were ever prosecuted and punished.

Rule of law simply ensures or guarantees equality under the law - equal access and equal protection, Mr Bradley said. In relation to sexual violence, its not delivering that at all. The legal system has failed completely so it requires pretty deep reform.

Michael Bradley, who represented the woman before she died but does not represent her family, told The Sun-Herald he planned to speak about how the rule of law is failing.

The lawyer for the late woman who accused Attorney-General Christian Porter of raping her will call for deep reform of the legal system at the March 4 Justice protest on Monday.

March 4 Justice events are happening around the country on Monday after weeks of distressing allegations that include alleged rapes inside Parliament House, testimony from young people about assaults they experienced as teenagers, and a detailed allegation that Mr Porter raped a fellow debate champion in 1988 when they were both teenagers.

Mr Porter strenuously denies the allegation and said he never had a sexual relationship with the woman.

The protesters are calling for more action against gendered violence and sexual harassment and the promotion of gender equality. Mr Bradley is one of the speakers at the Sydney event, which will start at the Town Hall at noon, along with Indigenous businesswoman and community leader Marie Barbaric and journalist Jess Hill, author of See What You Made Me Do which was awarded the Stella Prize in 2020.

Mr Bradley said the current adversarial legal system placed the burden of the legal process on the complainant. He said this was inappropriate for cases of sexual violence because it was a crime where usually only the alleged offender and the complainant knew the truth and therefore cross-examination became about the defence trying to destroy the credibility of the key witness.

Rape survivors have spoken previously about the trauma of cross-examination, with one recently telling The Sun-Herald she found it the hardest part of her assailants trial. She also found it unfair that the defence did not have to lay out its own version of the truth.
 Flash

Sadiq Sanjrani, the candidate from the ruling coalition for the chairman of Pakistan's Senate or the upper house of the country's parliament, has been re-elected as the chairman of the Senate on Friday, Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah who presided over the session for chairman election announced.

Sanjrani secured 48 votes in the election, defeating the opposition's candidate for the position Yousuf Raza Gillani, who got 42 votes, Shah said, adding that eight votes were rejected because the voters did not stamp the ballot paper correctly.

A total of 98 members of the 100-seat Senate cast the votes to choose the chairman on Friday.

Sanjrani was elected as the Senate chairman on March 12, 2018, and his three-year term ended on Thursday. He will now remain as the chairman for another three years.

Gillani, the former prime minister of Pakistan, was nominated as the contender by the opposition.
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Irelands foreign minister has accused the UK of perverse nationalism and narrow-minded thinking in attempting to race ahead of the EU to reach a trade deal with Washington alone.

Calling for a more collaborative effort, Simon Coveney said that rather than competing for attention in Joe Bidens administration, Britain, the EU, the US and Canada should work together to come to a joint agreement.

In an interview with The Times, however, he also reiterated concerns about trust in the UK as a negotiating partner being weakened after the unilateral decision to extend the so-called grace period in the Northern Ireland protocol.

But addressing the prospect of a US trade deal  something desired by Brexiteers who argued for an independent trading policy  Mr Coveney claimed there was enough division and competition globally rather than creating more locally.

Rather than the EU and UK competing for attention in Washington, looking to be the first to do a trade deal, it makes sense for UK, EU and US and Canada to do one together, he said.

The idea that Britain can get there first is narrow-minded thinking, frankly. Its a perverse nationalism when actually Britain and the EU should work together as partners.

When pressed on his remark in a separate interview on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Mr Coveney appeared to soften his language, saying: I was asked a question about a transatlantic trade deal and I said I dont think it makes any sense for some in the UK to see this as a race to see who can get a trade deal with the US first.

He added: We should be looking at a transatlantic trade deal that involves the EU, the UK, the US and Canada and others if they want to be involved.

We all run economies that are based on very similar rules and structures and in my view a transatlantic relationship involving Britain should be a powerful one economically and globally.

His call for a joint trade deal is unlikely to be accepted by No 10, as Mr Johnson has often touted a transatlantic trade agreement between the UK and the US as a benefit of leaving the bloc and has previously said it will reflect the unique closeness of our two great nations.

Speaking after a damaging row between the EU and the UK over the Northern Ireland protocol, Mr Coveney also told The Times: It has reinforced an awful lot of the doubts in Brussels about whether or not this really is a British government we can rely on to be a trusted partner when it comes to implementing what has already been agreed.

Earlier this week, Brussels indicated it was ready to initiate legal action against the UK government over the decision to unilaterally extend the grace period for fully implementing the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit agreement.

The grace period  a temporary relaxation of checks for supermarkets and suppliers  was put in place to allow firms time to adapt to new trade barriers across the Irish Sea and was due to expire at the end of March.

Speaking on Friday, Boris Johnson told a virtual press conference on a visit to Northern Ireland that the protocol needed to be corrected.

You cant have a situation in which soil or parcels or tractors with mud on their tyres or whatever are prevented from moving easily from one part of the UK to another  its all one United Kingdom, he said.

The prime minister added: What I didnt want to see was loads of checks on stuff going from GB to NI in such a way as to interrupt trade and to confuse and irritate people.

I didnt want to see barriers to the circulation of sausages and tractors with mud on their tyres and all the rest of it, and nor did I think that would be necessary and I think thats why we put in the easements we have, because I think its sensible for there to be some balance in this and I think theres a commonsensical way forward and thats what we want to have.

In a separate interview, the cabinet minister Brandon Lewis admitted a tweet posted by the governments Northern Ireland Office claiming there will be no border in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Northern Ireland after Brexit had not stood the test of time.

He told the News Letter newspaper: That tweet has not stood the test of time very well and youve got to try to learn from those experience; youve got to fall down a bit to know how to get back up... Ill make sure that Im bearing those issues in mind when I tweet in the future.
by Bernardo Cervellera

As news of more targeted killings of demonstrators arrives, Italy observes a moment of witness and prayers for peace in Myanmar. Centred around the words of Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng, who begged the soldiers on her knees not to shoot at her "her people". The presentation given by AsiaNews editor Fr Bernardo Cervellera.

Rome (AsiaNews) - A meeting titled "In communion with Myanmar" took place online yesterday at 20.30. Over 1000 people from Italy, but also from other countries around the world, took part in the virtual gathering, organized by the publisher Emi. The event centred on the testimony of Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng, whose photo - praying in front of the soldiers in Miytkiyna so that they wouldn't shoot the crowd  became viral worldwide. The meeting was interspersed with prayers and testimonies from some PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) seminarians including two young Burmese. The conclusion was entrusted to Card. Matteo Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna. The editor AsiaNews also took part in the meeting, with the presentation that we publish below.

Meanwhile in Myanmar the demonstrations do not stop, but neither does the violence. Two other people were killed overnight in Tharketa, near Yangon, in front of the police station. They demonstrated with hundreds of others to demand the release of those arrested in recent days.

Since February we have been confronted with a familiar and yet new reality in Myanmar. The familiar reality is the coup attempted by the military, in an attempt to return the country to the era of the junta, which dominated unchallenged from 1962 to 2011.

In 1962, authoritarian and socialist Gen. Ne Win, carried out a coup d'etat and seized power by overthrowing the democratic government that had existed since 1948, the year of independence. In teh space of a few years, 250 missionaries were expelled. Only 11 remained, from PIME, my institute who had been there for over 10 years. The group included Blessed Clemente Vismara, the apostle of children.

Since then, despite ever changing names and definitions, the army has held the country in an iron fist. The testimonies we have published many times on AsiaNews tell of burned villages, destroyed churches, raped women, children forced to be slaves or child soldiers, nocturnal disappearances of opponents, mass graves: what the Rohingya will later suffer, all minorities have suffered.

In 1990 there was an attempt to hold free elections, won by the League for Democracy party, also led at the time by Aung San Suu Kyi. This party won them, but the junta did not recognize them and put Aung San Suu Kyi and his collaborators in prison, just like in recent weeks.

The isolated economy, the change in mentality in some quarters of the military leadership lead to some changes: a new constitution in 2008 - which guarantees 25% of the seats to the military together with some important ministries -, the release of the "Lady" and new elections in 2010. But they were so falsified that the population boycotted them.

Finally, in 2015 new elections are held, free and fair, which are won by the NDL. In November 2020 there were more elections, a landslide with 75% of the seats for the NDL. Since desires for change spreading among the military, the junta fears that this victory is the end of their power not only military, but also economic, given that all the resources of the country (oil, gas, agriculture, precious wood, mines, ... ) are in their hands, while the free market is in trouble. The coup is a matter of life or death for the military.

The response of the people

But they found themselves faced with an unprecedented and new reality: the peoples response to the dictatorship. Past attempts to overthrow the junta featured university students in 1988; the long lines of Buddhist monks in 2007. In recent weeks the strike for civil disobedience was launched first by doctors, then by health personnel; then by teachers and students; then again by bank employees, private firms, railway workers, dock workers. Consequently, the economy has ground to a halt.

The same Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of the new military junta, admitted that two thirds of the hospitals are not functioning; according to the UN, three quarters of state employees are on strike; a Burmese investigation channel claims that the strike has crippled all 24 ministries of the new government.

Strikes and demonstrations spread to several cities. Hundreds of thousands of people by day or by night invade the streets of Yangon, Mandalay, Myitkyina, Monywa, Pagan, Dawei, Myeik, Lashio, Taunggy. With signs that are often ironic or humorous - this is also a novelty - the population is calling for an end to the state and the release of political prisoners, first of all Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, under house arrest in the new capital of Naypyidaw since the first day of the coup.

The united ethnic groups

Another novelty is the multi-ethnic character of the demonstrations: a sign that the 136 ethnic groups of Myanmar can live together without the hard fist of the generals.

The country's multi-ethnicity has often been a ballast for national unity, even if the army - which stood as the guarantor of its unity - has always implemented the policy of divide and rule, giving weapons to one group, fighting another, intervening to "pacify". At the moment, however, the majority of ethnic groups are united against the coup and against the junta.

Many ethnic groups, especially the Chin, the Kachin and the Karen, are still not at peace and for years they have been waging war against the junta that has been robbing them of all the riches of the territory. Now they are thinking of joining forces to fight the army violence which terrorizes the population by killing the demonstrators.

The Church and the violence

Another important element is the participation of priests, seminarians, Catholic nuns in the demonstrations. Often, but a little less than in the past, there are also Buddhist monks and nuns with them.

There are bishops who explicitly support the demonstrations; others such as Card. Charles Maung Bo [1], president of the Burmese bishops' conference and archbishop of Yangon, who try not to blame the junta too much to leave a path of dialogue open. Many priests and faithful consider this position as "too neutral". However, he too denounces the killings and abuses.

The military response is increasingly violent.

To date, the army and police have killed at least 60 people; a third of them were young people under the age of 18, killed with lethal gunshots to the head in execution style or beaten to death. Then there are night disappearances and arrests, at least 2 thousand. Some of those arrested died in prison from torture. Three days ago Aung San Suu Kyi's adviser, U Zaw Myat Lin, was buried. Photos of his scarred corpse show the merciless torture he endured.

The stakes

Western countries immediately condemned the coup and imposed targeted sanctions against military leaders. The UN secretary general condemned the coup; the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva said the junta was carrying out crimes against humanity.

But a Security Council motion was stopped by Russia, Vietnam, India and China. The latter is suspected of supporting the junta - as it has done for many decades. It is true that for the first time Beijing has publicly denied offering any help to the generals. But it is also true that it had relations with the generals to ensure the safety of the pipeline that carries oil and gas from Myanmar to Kunming.

The countries of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) say that they do not intervene in the "internal facts" of a country and at the most they can "guarantee new elections" (just as the junta wishes).

All these fear that the "stability" guaranteed by the army will fail, without which there would be an avalanche of refugees and economic problems even in their borders.

But through the strikes, the civil disobedience, their unity, the people of Myanmar are telling the world that they will continue even risking their lives. Myanmar is the playing field for a game of vital importance for the entire world: between democracy and authoritarianism; between stability and human rights. But stability without the participation of the people is like keeping a skeleton in prison. And yet these protesters show that they are alive and they want to live.
COLUMBUS, OhioAs Ohios unemployment system continues to be swamped with bogus claims, Gov. Mike DeWine wrote President Joe Biden this week asking for a national, coordinated response to unemployment fraud.

While states are doing everything they can to administer the federal programs while maintaining system integrity, a state-by-state response is proving inadequate, DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted wrote in a letter to Biden dated March 10. This is not an Ohio problem  its a national problem that requires a national solution.

DeWine and Husted suggested that the reason that unemployment fraud is so widespread in Ohio and around the nation is because early on in the coronavirus crisis, federal officials prioritized distributing federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments as quickly as possible over catching scammers.

The federal government opted for looser requirements in favor of rapidly distributing funds, and while that decision is understandable, it compounded the fraud issue, DeWine and Husted wrote. With the benefit of several months of experience, weve now learned that in making it easy for people to apply for and receive benefits, the federal rules also made it easy for criminals to steal citizens information off the dark web and use it to scam the system.

The letter states that the wave of fraud is a sophisticated criminal enterprise that is commonly being run out of Russia, China and Nigeria.

Last year, Ohio paid out more than $330 million in fraudulent PUA claims, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which runs the states unemployment benefits program. More than half of the 1.4 million PUA claims filed in Ohio between April and December of 2020 were flagged as potentially fraudulent.

During the past few weeks, scammers have ramped up filings of bogus claims for traditional unemployment benefits in Ohio. Of the 128,161 initial claims reported last week, at least 19,000 have so far been flagged for potential fraud, according to an ODJFS release.

DeWine and Husted noted that the deluge of dishonest claims has created delays in processing legitimate claims, as states now have to spend time sorting out which are legitimate.

Even before now, most Ohioans have faced longer-than-usual wait times to get benefits, as the state has been inundated with an unprecedented number of claims because of the coronavirus crisis.

The letter states that scammers move state to state exploiting unemployment programs. When one state takes new anti-fraud measures, the criminals simply move on to other states with weaker safeguards.

ODJFS recently signed contracts worth a total of $10.6 million with Experian and LexisNexis, to help state officials better detect and prevent fraud.

State officials have declined to provide more specifics about the nature of the companies work with ODJFS. We do not want criminals to know what Ohio is doing to combat fraud, said department spokesman Tom Betti earlier this week.

Read the full letter from DeWine and Husted to Biden:
New EU regulations for administrators of sustainable funds, or those that invest based on financial, social, or governance (ESG) considerations, went into practice this week. These portfolio managers must also reveal specifics on how they spend. The EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Law, or SFDR for short, extends to all asset managers that collect funds in the EU, regardless of where they are based. As a result, the latest rules would have an effect on funds available to US investors.

Greenwashing

The laws are intended to discourage "greenwashing," or the marketing of funds that are merely superficially renewable. Capital managers in the EU must identify their funds as either non-sustainable, having assets with particular environmental or social characteristics, or contributing to a specific environmental or social target, among other things.

Capital administrators would have to report how they evaluate their firms across a variety of metrics, which will necessitate revisions to disclosures and publicity materials. Beginning in 2022, comprehensive disclosures must be given.

Nuveen's global head of responsible investments, Amy O'Brien, says her organization, which controls $1.2 trillion in assets, is deeply engaged with SFDR. "It's no longer all about disclosing ESG data; it's also about how you use it to accomplish unique ESG goals," she explains. The end result is that "the end investor has more power."

The new EU regulations arrive in the wake of a flurry of ESG-related regulations in the United States.

Related Article: "Actions Not Promises" Says NGOs After EU Allegedly "Failed to Protect the Seas"

Expanding Examinations

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that it will expand its examinations of fund managers to ensure that their shareholder statements are consistent with their strategies. It also examines how ESG funds vote in shareholder proxies on environmental issues to see if they are compliant with environmentally sustainable policies.

"Verifiable, reportable actions will constantly become in demand," says David Sand, chief impact advisor at Community Capital Management, a long-time sustainability investor. "We'd want to see standardization and people needing to prove" that their portfolios are long-term.

In addition, Morningstar said that beginning next month, it would begin collecting information on funds that describe themselves as green and making it available to consumers. Since several multinational investment managers sell almost equal portfolios in the United States and Europe, US clients can check Morningstar data on the European equivalent of their fund to see how well it adheres to the ESG mandate. According to Nuveen's O'Brien, "you'll see this [the effect on US investors] as early as next month."

Raising Concerns

Investors have been concerned about greenwashing in the mutual fund sector, particularly given the rapid rise in sustainable investments. The category has seen a surge in funding. According to US SIF, the trade body for the sustainable investing sector, U.S.-domiciled sustainable investments totaled $17.1 trillion at the start of 2020, up 42 percent from two years prior. This equates to about a third of all funds under administration in the United States.

Bryan McGannon, director of strategy and services for the US SIF, says, "The European guidelines are the first effort to go after greenwashing." "It will spark a controversy in the United States."

Firms will aim to set themselves apart by making more comprehensive disclosures on how they use ESG investing. Since too many businesses in the United States still provide funds in Europe, this could increase sustainable investment efficiency in the United States, comparable to how automakers increased their emissions when California implemented tougher standards than the federal government.

Impacts on the US

According to Jon Hale, global head of sustainability analysis at Morningstar, more U.S.-based investment managers are now publishing impact reports that outline proxy voting and participation, as well as the net impact of their portfolios. He describes it as an "emerging best practice."

Aside from the SEC, the Labor Department is trying to make the climate more favorable to long-term investing. The department also stated that it would not implement two notorious Trump-era guidelines that would have slowed the introduction of renewable funds, including one that would make it more difficult to incorporate them in 401(k) accounts. Since it administers and enforces the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or Erisa, which protects the needs of employee benefit plan members and their beneficiaries, the DOL is critical to America's retirement programs.

According to analysts, the flurry of new legislation allows fund managers to tread carefully. According to Ropes & Gray associate Josh Lichtenstein, "managers working to enforce the [EU] transparency criteria should try to make sure that any proposed disclosure on nonfinancial targets is not written in a manner that can cause problems for fiduciaries under the [Labor Dept's] approach to ESG."

ALSO READ: Biden First Day: POTUS Commits to 'Global Climate Initiative' as US Rejoins Paris Climate Accords

For more news update about Climate Action and similar topics, don't forget to follow Nature World News!

Equitable distribution of the coronavirus vaccine is the key to beating the pandemic, say the World Health Organization (Getty images)

The unequal distribution of COVID vaccines is the single biggest threat to ending the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

During his opening speech at Friday's media briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO director general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said that of 335 million doses of vaccine that have been administered worldwide, 76% of those are in just 10 countries.

"The inequitable distribution of vaccines remains the biggest threat to ending the pandemic and driving a global recovery," he said.

Out of the 10 countries that have carried out the most vaccines per 100 people, eight are classified as 'high income' by the World Bank. Serbia and the Maldives are the only two nations not on that list.

Ghebreyesus also warned that by stockpiling materials needed to produce vaccines, countries could be putting lives at risk across the world.

This chart shows the countries with the most COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people

"Manufacturing any vaccine requires a lot of supplies, including glass vials and plastic filters, and the raw materials needed to make them," he said.

"The sudden increase in demand for vaccine production has led to a shortage of these and other supplies, which is limiting the production of vaccines for COVID-19 and could put the supply of routine childhood vaccines at risk.

"Some countries have imposed legal restrictions on the export of critical supplies. This is putting lives at risk around the world."

Ghebreyesus called on all countries not to stockpile supplies that are needed urgently to ramp up production of vaccines.

He said: "In a global pandemic, no country can go it alone. We are all inter-dependent."

Watch: 23.3 million in UK receive first jab

Read more: All UK adults could be offered vaccine by May

And the director general urged nations not to see vaccines as the ultimate solution to the COVID crisis.

"No country can simply vaccinate its way out of this pandemic," he added.

Story continues

"We cannot end the pandemic anywhere unless we end it everywhere.

"The longer the virus circulates, the higher the chances that variants will emerge that make vaccines less effective."

By Friday more than 23 million people in the UK had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine - part of the biggest inoculation programme the country has ever launched.

World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Ghebreyesus has urged the world to pull together to fight the coronavirus pandemic (Fabrice Coffrini / POOL / AFP)

Read more: What you can and can't do under current lockdown rules

The government aims to offer a first vaccine dose to about 32 million people in nine priority groups by 15 April and the programme in England is now inviting those aged 56 and above to book appointments after the first four groups - those aged 70 and over, care home residents, healthcare workers and people required to shield - were offered a jab by mid-February.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi told MPs this week that although supply had been "finite" until now, the country would see a "big uplift" in available doses in the second half of March - amounting to tens of millions of jabs.

This would mean a "rapid increase" in the number of vaccines administered, he said.

Watch: Bristol University developing nasal spray vaccine
American Legion Post 199 is accepting applications from boys interested in attending the 85th annual session of the American Legion Illinois Premier Boys State at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston June 12-18.

The program is designed for high-school-aged boys of outstanding qualifications in character and leadership to attend an educational program of government instruction. To be eligible for the program, boys must have completed their junior year of high school and have at least one semester of high school remaining. Additionally, due to the cancellation of the program in 2020, boys who are seniors who would have been elibible for the 2020 session may sign up for the 2021 session. The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a separate, but similar, program for young women called Girls State.
County library to unveil story walk project in Vanderbilt

The Otsego County Library is hosting a ceremony Saturday to formally open the latest story walk project.
In early July, Tony Hawk and Catherine Goodman, rounded up their six children, Riley Hawk, 28, Spencer Hawk, 21, Miles Goodman, 21, Keegan Hawk, 19, Calvin Goodman, 18, and Kadence Hawk, 12, for a road trip across the western United States in an R.V.

In the beginning of the pandemic, it became pretty clear that the kids were so desperate to get out, Ms. Goodman said. The two-week road trip consisted of stops in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Colorado  all states that the family had never explored.

Mr. Hawk and Ms. Goodman, who married in 2015, are no strangers to travel. Prepandemic, Mr. Hawk, the professional skateboarder, would spend half of the year traveling for work, which included attending skate competitions, fund-raising events, and shooting commercials, and Ms. Goodman, a theater and film producer, would often join.

Quarantine offered the family, who is usually dispersed across different states, the opportunity to be under one roof at their home in Encinitas, Calif. The pandemic has granted us more time and pushed a much more consistent schedule for us, said Mr. Hawk, noting that his previous extensive schedule meant always being on-call and flying to different places at the drop of a hat. It was all a little too hectic and it was really hard to carve out quality time with the kids.
HIQA Inspectors visited St Oliver Plunkett Community Unit last December during the second outbreak of COVID-19 in the HSE run nursing home, which claimed the lives of four residents, according to a report published last week.

The unannounced inspection took place on December 8 during the outbreak which saw more than 15 residents and 15 staff testing positive for the virus, with four residents dying with the COVID-19 virus.

The report stated that the earlier outbreak during the first wave of the pandemic in April/May 'had been well-managed and well-contained' and only two staff and no residents contracted the virus.

At the time of the inspection, the outbreak was confined to St Cecilia's Unit, while St Gerard's Dementia Unit remained COVID free.

The findings of this inspection showed that this was 'a good service, which was going through a difficult period as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The centre was supported with extensive involvement of public health and specialists in infection prevention and control. It was evident that all parties were working together to ensure the safety of the residents was maximised.'

The inspector found that the residents were 'well cared for and enjoyed a good quality of life' although their opportunities were 'significantly curtailed' by COVID-19 out break.

The reported noted 'good interactions between staff and residents, particularly in the dementia unit'.

'It was evident they had established relationships of trust and staff knew the residents well and were responsive to their needs.'

However, because of the outbreak, the majority of residents in the other unit spent time isolating in their room. The inspector spoke with a number of residents, some of whom had recovered from the virus, and the feedback was unanimously positive about the care and support that they had received from staff while they were unwell with the virus.

'For example some residents who had recovered from COVID-19 told the inspector that they did not even know they were unwell until they got moved into the isolation area as they were asymptomatic. However they were keen to emphasise that they were very well looked after by staff while there and were grateful of the support they received to recover and how they were encouraged to take short walks in the room to maintain their mobility.'

The report outlined how 'despite the challenging times, the staff morale was good and the residents who spoke with the inspector were optimistic regarding the future, telling the inspector that they were coping well and looking forward to a return to normality. Residents told the inspector that staff had time to listen to them and always ensured that they could maintain contact with their loved ones through video calls or window visits. 'Residents were accepting of the limitations and were very appreciative of staff's efforts to maintain their safety saying that 'they could not be better'; however some also said that life had changed, that these were 'miserable lonesome times' and that they missed their loved ones.'

Many of the staff who spoke with the inspector empathised with the residents and acknowledged that the residents' lives had changed significantly as a result of the outbreak. Staff reported how the centre was much more quiet as there were no group activities, and that they missed the usual 'buzz' that characterised the place. Some staff became visibly emotional when talking with the inspector and mentioned that the loss of some residents due to COVID-19 was still difficult to accept.

However, staff were quick to mention that when they came on duty they left those thoughts behind, put on a smiling face and did their best to cheer up the residents and provide them with reassurance and a listening ear.

The report looked at the centre's contingency plan and found there was 'robust and heightened oversight of service provision'.

It noted that 'as part of contingency plan, a number of staff had been redeployed from the community services to ensure appropriate staffing levels were maintained at all times. On the day of inspection additional staff trained in infection prevention and control had been redeployed for the sole purpose to supervise staff practices, the donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand hygiene.'

'Rosters showed that throughout the outbreak staffing levels had been maintained and, when required, had been enhanced to ensure that residents' healthcare needs were met and that residents were safe.'

It was also observed that the centre continued to rely heavily on agency staff but arrangements were in place to ensure the agency staff only worked in the designated centre and participated in the fortnightly staff-testing programme.

Records showed that staff had attended mandatory training and relevant infection prevention and control training. All staff confirmed to the inspector that their temperature was monitored twice daily, but there were no records to support this.

While the inspection was overwhelmingly positive, it found that the premises was 'non-compliant' as the communal shower/bathrooms in the St Gerard's dementia unit did not meet the required standard and there were no television in some rooms in St Cecilia's unit at a time when residents were spending a lot of time self-isolating.

The report also found that improvements were needed in the area of infection prevention and control, that furnishing and fittings were showing signs of wear and tear that made them difficult to clean, that waste bins weren't correctly labelled and uses. There were also issues around the keeping of records relating to cleaning, staff temperature checks and hand hygiene.

The management of St Oliver's responded by outlining the steps they had taken to rectify these issues.
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Residents angered by police conduct, warning shot, amid neighbourhood drug arrest

PHUKET: Residents in the Saphan Hin community on the outskirts of Phuket Town have railed against police conduct in arresting a drug suspect, which included shoving a 64-year-old woman over after an argument over her taking photos of the arrest, and firing a warning shot into the air in the middle of a small residential street to prevent the suspect from fleeing.

policecrime

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Saturday 13 March 2021, 12:40PM

Local residents are angry over how the police conducted themselves during the arrest. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Local residents are angry over how the police conducted themselves during the arrest. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Ms Chamoi points to where she was sitting when the altercation with the police officer started. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The commotion began when plainclothes officers arrived in the narrow street Saphan Hin Soi 6 on Thursday (Mar 11).

The officers arrived in three vehicles, one a black Isuzu SUV without licence plates, prompting local residents to gather around to see what the visitors wanted.

The officers took one suspect into custody, but not without firing a warning shot into the air.

While the commotion continued, one officer approached a 64-year-old woman, who asked to be named only as Ms Chamoi, who was sitting in front of her home taking photos of the situation unfolding.

The officer thought she was recording the arrest on video, Ms Chamoi said.

The officer was angry, so I took a photo of him. He then took a photo of me and started taking photos of other people in the street, she explained.

After an exchange of words, the officer angrily shoved Ms Chamoi in the chest, causing her to fall backwards onto a parked motorbike.

Right now I still feel pain in my legs. The police did this incorrectly. Police can take pictures of people, but why cant the public take a picture of the police? He [the officer] threatened to sue me, but I never broke the law, Ms Chamoi said.

[I/we] Would like the [police] supervisors to train and take care of their subordinates so they do not do things like this, especially with local residents who have not done anything wrong. We must respect each other, and they must remember that local residents are people too, she added.

One local resident was outraged by the firing of the gun into the air.

This community had hundreds of people, children as well as adults. If someone fires a gun into the air, where do they think the bullet goes? It doesnt just disappear. It could fall onto someones head, he said.

If someone dies, will the officer be held responsible? Police need to be trained to not do this. People in our community do not accept it, he added.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Pornsak Nuannoo responded to the incident yesterday (Mar 12), saying that officers were only doing their duty.

The officers already had two drug suspects in custody and had arrived in the street to arrest a third, he explained.

However, the suspect attempted to flee as local residents started crowding around the police officers vehicles, he said.

At the scene, they shouted [for the suspect] to stop, but the suspect immediately tried to run away. The officer fired a single shot into the air for the crowd to disperse and the officer managed to arrest the suspect, he added.

This team of investigators has a long history of continuous drug arrests in the past and has never had a complaint [against them]. With this arrest, and with other drug-prone areas in Phuket, when the officers arrive there is often a problem with the public and sometimes they [the officers] are even surrounded, Maj Gen Pornsak noted.

The authorities understand this problem, and we are trying to do our best, he said.
Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr., one of America's leading theologians and president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, warns all Christians that the demand to "pivot" and abandon the faith will "undoubtedly come." He urges Christians to stand by God's grace.

In light of the recent news about Bethany Christian Services (BCS)- the nation's largest Protestant adoption and foster care agency - finally catering to LGBTQ couples due to cultural and political pressures, Dr. Mohler diagnosed that there is "a near total restructuring of society."

"The moral revolution is now firmly established in the Democratic majorities in Congress and in the White House, where President Biden is proudly leading the charge for what are presented as LGBTQ rights," wrote the theologian.

"The consequence is a legislative agenda designed to coerce Americans into the celebration of the LGBTQ agenda," he stressed.

Mohler also quoted more examples from the past years which shows the gradual encroachment of the LGBTQ agenda using legislative pressures from state authorities.

"In recent years, cities like Philadelphia or states like the Commonwealth of Massachusetts anathematized these Christian charities, informing them that if they refused to serve the LGBTQ community, they would no longer be allowed to continue as a ministry. As soon as same-sex marriage was legally approved in Massachusetts, the state took action to coerce that state's largest adoption and foster care agency, Catholic Charities - simply because the Catholic charity refused to contradict Catholic teaching. Catholic Charities made the choice to remain Catholic in conviction, and Massachusetts made the choice to serve the LGBTQ demands - even at the expense of losing an historic child care provider."

The case of Bethany Christian Services, according to Mohler, is more crucial because it "marks a national policy change." He added that the adoption agency's surrender to the demands of the LGBTQ movement at the national level is "total and unconditional."

"They capitulated and abandoned their core Christian convictions in order to stay open for business," Mohler sadly noted.

Mohler chose to highlights BCS's case in his commentary considering how it may soon affect Christians and churches' cultural and political stances.

"We cannot miss this-this is a textbook case of failure to lead and to maintain conviction. Bethany hired a polling firm to decide how much latitude they really had to pivot. They did take the pivot, and they had the polling data to help them decide whether or not to hold fast to the Bible," was his assessment.

In response to the "serving children shouldn't be controversial" statement made by someone from BCS, Mohler maintained that it is "no minor doctrinal dispute" as it's also about whether or not children will be placed in "God-designed and God-ordained environments."

"There is no middle ground between the moral revolution and biblical orthodoxy," said Mohler.

After BCS' surrender and "pivot" from its Biblical understanding and definitions of "family" and "parents," Mohler warns that more "moral revolutionaries" will come with their rhetoric leading to their grand end of "absolute dissolution of Christianity in the United States."

"Christians must understand this: Pressure is mounting on all fronts and it will confront every single Christian institution, school, congregation, denomination, and ministry. Period."

With that said, Mohler challenged every Christian and every Christian ministry to decide where to stand with a reminder that there'll be a day of reckoning.

"Will we pivot or will we hold fast to faithfulness and the hope of the gospel?" he asked then added, "Let me be clear as to where I and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary stand: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
By Ali Sawafta and Nidal al-Mughrabi

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - The Palestinian Authority and the Arab League on Saturday condemned the Czech Republic's opening of a diplomatic office in Jerusalem as a violation of international law.

Prague opened a Jerusalem branch of its Israel embassy, which is located in Tel Aviv, on Thursday.

The inauguration was attended by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, two weeks after Israel sent 5,000 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Czech Republic under a "vaccine diplomacy" programme that later came under legal scrutiny and was frozen.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called Prague's move "a blatant attack on the Palestinian people and their rights, a flagrant violation of international law," and said it would harm peace prospects.

In Cairo, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement: "The legal status of Jerusalem will be affected by the decision of one country or another to open representative offices. East Jerusalem is an occupied land under the International law."

Underlining that the Jerusalem office was not an embassy, the Czech Foreign Ministry said it was meant to strengthen Prague's strategic partnership with Israel and improve services for Czech citizens there.

"The establishment of the office has no impact on the will of the Czech Republic to further develop political and economic relations with the Palestinian Authority," it said.

Jerusalem's status is one of the thorniest issues in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel annexed the eastern part of the city in a move not recognised internationally, and regards all of Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinians seek East Jerusalem, which Israel captured along with the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 Middle East War, as the capital of a future independent state.

Babis described Israel as a "strategic partner" and hailed the new office as a "milestone in our co-operation."

Story continues

Only two countries have full embassies in Jerusalem: the United States - after former U.S. President Donald Trump broke with decades of U.S. policy to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel - and Guatemala.

Although it formally supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Czech Republic was named in an International Criminal Court pre-trial decision last month as one of the countries supporting Israel's argument that the court should not investigate war crimes in the Palestinian territories.

Babis said on Thursday that "the Czech Republic doesnt consider Palestine to be a state, therefore the court has no jurisdiction over it.

(Additional reporting by Stephen Farrell, and Jason Hovet in Prague, Writing by Maayan Lubell, Editing by Angus MacSwan and Timothy Heritage)

Sarah Harding has said she was told by a doctor she will probably not be alive next Christmas.

The Girls Aloud star revealed last August that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which had spread to other parts of her body.

In an extract of her memoir titled Hear Me Out, which was published in The Times, Harding wrote: In December my doctor told me that the upcoming Christmas would probably be my last.

Read More

I dont want an exact prognosis. I dont know why anyone would want that.

Comfort and being as pain-free as possible is whats important to me now.

Harding said she is trying to live and enjoy every second of my life, however long it might be.

I am having a glass of wine or two during all this, because it helps me relax, she added.

Im sure some people might think thats not a great idea, but I want to try to enjoy myself.

Im at a stage now where I dont know how many months I have left.

Who knows, maybe Ill surprise everyone, but thats how Im looking at things.

Harding also revealed she had sepsis while she was being treated for cancer in hospital.

She said she was put into an induced coma and was put on a ventilator.

Even once I was off the ventilator, I couldnt speak properly, she said.

All I could do was make noises that sounded like a chimpanzee trying to communicate.

Harding said publicly revealing her diagnosis was scary but was also the right thing to do.

She said the support she has received has been incredible, adding: Ive been inundated with lovely messages from my fans. Im grateful beyond words for that.
MANY of us will have heard the stories of cryptic pregnancies  the phenomenon whereby women do not become consciously aware of their pregnancy until the last weeks of gestation, or in some cases until they give birth.

While rare, its completely possible for someone to be unaware they are pregnant until they go into labour.

Here, we talk to three Cork women who have experienced cryptic pregnancies, also known as stealth pregnancies.

Knocknaheeney native Emma Healy was seven months into her pregnancy when she realised she was expecting her daughter, Brooke.

The nail technician had been lying in bed watching RTEs hit series Love/Hate when she could feel something kick in her stomach.

I remember the morning very well, I was relaxing watching TV. My grandmother was out on the landing hoovering and I felt something move in my stomach, Emma recalled.

I pulled back the covers and I saw my stomach raise on one side. I called my nan and told her to look. She told me to go straight to the doctor.

Worried and in a frenzy, Emma rushed to the doctors as soon as she could. On arrival at the GPs surgery, she took a pregnancy test straight away.

I was panicking at this point, the nurse did two tests and, yes, both were positive. I was in shock because I really had no idea.

I was then told a baby doesnt move at the start of a pregnancy so I began to panic again because at this point I didnt know how long I was gone.

My doctor then came in and examined me and said he could feel the shape of the baby while pressing in my stomach, she explained

Soon after, Emma went to Cork University Maternity Hospital for an emergency scan as medics were unsure of how long she had left of the pregnancy. They found she only had two month to go!

Despite being overwhelmed with the prospect of welcoming a child into the world in a matter of weeks, Emma says it was the best news she has ever received

Everything at this point was so over-whelming I didnt know how I was feeling. Myself and Brooks dad had gone in for the scan to be told I was seven months pregnant, I couldnt believe it.

I was shocked, but shocked in a good way. I was over the moon. It was honestly one of the greatest moments Ill always remember.

Whilst the first seven months was plain sailing for the mum of one, Emma says her experience of giving birth was a little less straightforward.

I felt no sickness as such, until the end of my pregnancy. I suffered with high blood pressure, so I was at high risk and also I had protein in my urine and pre-eclampsia.

I was kept in hospital a week before my due date as my blood pressure was dangerously high.

It wasnt long before doctors came to the decision to induce me for my own safety.

Emma adds: In the end, everything happened so quickly  just like my pregnancy. We had no time and it only took me seven minutes to push her out! This has to be one of the fastest pregnancies and fastest deliveries ever.

I didnt even have the benefits of the anaesthetic, but I still will say it didnt hurt as bad as I thought it would. It was one of the greatest moments, she said.

Emmas daughter Brooke is now seven years old and attends Sundays Well Girls National School. Taking after mum, shes never far from a sliotar and wears her St Vincents club jersey. with pride.

Proud mum Emma, says the two of them are the best of buddies.

Shes growing up to be my best friend and her character is something else. I hope she never changes. She makes everyone laugh and I love that about her.

She is 100% my saving grace. I wouldnt change her for the world, she said.

******

Shellie Buckley with son James. She was 30 weeks gone and about to sit her Junior Cert when she discovered she was pregnant with him.

Being pregnant and not knowing it is one thing, but imagine finding out youre pregnant at 15 and just about to sit your Junior Cert.

Well, thats exactly what happened to Shellie Buckley and her pregnancy with son, James.

Mallow native Shellie was 30 weeks into her pregnancy when she realised she was expecting. She had an anterior placenta so was unable to feel any kicks for most of the pregnancy.

My body was in such denial, my period stayed and I didnt grow a bump. I just gained a little weight, recalled Shellie.

One night I was at home watching TV in my room and all of a sudden I started to feel kicks.

I texted my friends to tell them my suspicions. Sure, they thought I was being stupid, saying if I was pregnant I wouldnt be feeling kicks already.

Turns out I was 30 weeks gone. It was terrifying as I was only 15 with my Junior Cert a few weeks away.

I was only a size six, but I went up to an eight. I didnt have any bump at all until a few days after I confirmed the pregnancy and it was all of a sudden there and very round, Shellie explains.

With no other major symptoms, she carried on as normal studying and even sat her Junior Certificate exams.

At the 25-week mark of her pregnancy, she had fainted at school and was brought to the doctors  but they didnt detect that she may have been pregnant.

With no complex issues throughout her nine months, Shellies labour also came easy. She says: It was about six hours of active labour and ten minutes pushing. James was born a very healthy 7lbs 7oz.

The staff in CUMH were so lovely, calm and reassuring. They kept me comfortable at all times and I took all the pain relief.

Her son James is now nine years old and happily attending Newmarket Boys National School.

Big brother to two younger siblings, Shellie says James has the patience of a saint and a heart of gold.

Hes always thinking of other peoples feelings and does the best he can to make everyone around him happy. Everyone he meets always comments on what a lovely, mannerly child he is.

Whilst getting pregnant in her teens was not in her plans, proud mum Shellie says it made her the woman she is today.

Ive heard over the years that motherhood isnt for the weak because its the hardest thing youll ever do, but motherhood took a weak little girl heading in the wrong direction and made me the strong woman I am today.

Having my own mother as a guide and a role model is why I can be very proud of where my children and I have got today, she said.

******

With no more than five weeks notice to get organised before she welcomed her second daughter into the world, Linda Raymond says she got the shock of her life when she realised she was expecting.

The Ballyphehane native, who is mum to two girls, Lily, 7, and Harlow, 2, decided to get a pregnancy test at her local chemist as a precautionary measure just over seven years ago.

Linda Raymond and Lily Wallace Raymond. She found she was pregnant five weeks before due date

Not in her wildest dreams did she think she would see two blue lines appear after using it.

I was at home one day and I just felt weird and felt a bit sick, Linda recalled.

Something was telling me to get a pregnancy test. I always had irregular periods so I thought nothing of it. I remember doing the test and sat in the bathroom for about 20 minutes.

I came out and told my partner to sit down so I could tell him the news. We were very shocked but excited.

The test read 3-plus weeks, so I thought I was only a couple of weeks gone. It was around 8pm, my partner rang his sister to get another test, just to confirm it, and it did, she explains.

Linda then went on to make an appointment with the doctor and got her blood pressure checked. Thankfully, everything was OK and there were no issues.

She then proceeded to an appointment at CUMH for further check-ups. On this visit, she was in for another huge shock when she was informed of her current situation.

The doctor called me in to lie down on the bed for a check up, and she felt around my tummy, and I will never forget it for as long as I live  she turned around and said Girl, if I was you Id go and pack your bags, youre nearly due, your 36 weeks pregnant!

My jaw nearly hit the floor. I had five weeks to organise everything before Lily arrived, Linda said.

The 28-year-old mum-of-two says shes very grateful for friends and family who helped her get everything together at the time.

Seven years later, Lily is happily attending Bunscoil Chriost Ri, Turners Cross.

While shes not learning online, shes either singing or dancing or else watching her favourite Tik Toc stars, she says.

Proud mum Linda says Lily and her younger sister Harlow are the greatest blessings in the world.

I literally cant imagine what my life would be like if I didnt have children. Its the best feeling in the world to hear someone call you mam. I wouldnt change a hair on their heads.

The bond we have is something else. Theyre both growing up so fast, I dont know where the years went. Every day is a blessing, she said.
As per highly placed sources, Gandhi will be joining RB as Regional Marketing Director, Health, South Asia.

Dilen Gandhi has moved out as Sr. Director and Category Head Foods, PepsiCo India. Gandhi has over 17 years of experience in Marketing and Sales. In the past he has been associated with Procter & Gamble and Gillette.

Confirming the development, a PepsiCo spokesperson said, "Over the last 4 years, Dilen has played an integral part in driving growth and category leadership for PepsiCo Indias foods portfolio. His efforts steered the food business to become one of the fastest growing verticals. The company would like to thank Dilen for his many contributions and wish him the very best for all his future endeavours.

Anshul Khanna, a home grown talent who has been with PepsiCo for over 18 years takes over from Dilen as Senior Director Marketing  Foods Category. Anshul in his last role, was the Senior Director, Global Brands Marketing, based out of Dublin (Ireland), the spokesperson added.

Gandhis market experience spans ASEAN, Middle East and Africa having with varied roles in commercial marketing, P&L management and brand strategy across multiple product categories. Gandhi holds an MBA in Marketing from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies.

As per highly placed sources, Gandhi will be joining RB as Regional Marketing Director, Health, South Asia.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
One year ago, a Black medical worker was shot and killed by police officers in Louisville, Ky.

Her name was Breonna Taylor.

Ruell Branch, 18, a freshman at Syracuse University and co-founder of the Cuse Youth Black Lives Matter movement, uses his voice to make sure her name as well as other unarmed Black victims of police brutality are not forgotten.

On June 12, with the help of his father and co-founder Shakira Neal, Branch held a rally of over 1,000 residents of Syracuse to protest the death of George Floyd, who was killed after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds on May 25, 2020.

Astrophysics and activism: Ruell Branch's passion of physics and social justice propels him to become a force of nature tackling universal problems.  https://bddy.me/3dsTVHV Posted by Syracuse University on Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Ruell Branch had not always seen himself as a leader. He once dropped out of his public speaking course in high school. His father describes him as an introverted person. But, when things began to come to a boil that summer, Craig Branch sensed something different in his son.

I had a planned speech, Ruell Branch said. And I knew what I wanted to say. But, as I got up there, it kind of just faded away because of nervousness. I kind of had to think on the spot what I really wanted to say. And I think in the moment it just all came together.

(To) see my son with a big bullhorn, walking down...leading chants with a passion to where his throat was hurting, said the elder Branch. That gave me chills.

We didnt think it was going to get that big

The Cuse-Youth BLM movement started as a group chat between Branch and a handful of friends at Henninger High School.

Soon, other kids from different schools around the district started to join, growing the movement from four to 200 in a week.

When they created an Instagram page, they saw interest spike to 2,000 followers in hours.

I was surprised because it was an impulsive decision for me and my friends, Branch said. We didnt think it was going to get that big...It was a really warm feeling.

What separates the Cuse-Youth BLM movement from other advocacy groups is the age of its members.

It was really the first time that has ever happened, Branch said. Usually...majority of the time, theyre older, 20s, 30s. Theres not a lot of groups that have a group like us, or a movement like us ran completely for high schoolers.

The Branch family has discussed how to pass the torch of activism to younger high school students.

They could be the forefathers of this great movement, Craig Branch said of his son, who used money he earned working at Cold Stone Creamery to make t-shirts that read I am not dangerous on the front and I am in danger on the back. He handed them out for free at the protest in June.

The significance of the peaceful youth protest took on new meaning after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

I think most reasonable people would understand that, if a group of brown men and women marched on Capitol Hill that day, the results and outcome would have been horrifically different, Branchs father Craig said. Weve seen it even at a peaceful protest here. There was more police presence here, in Syracuse, New York...than there were at Capitol Hill that day.

A long way to go

After graduating from Henninger High School last June, Ruell Branch is in his second semester at Syracuse University, studying physics.

SU has had its fair share of racial incidents around the campus. #NotAgainSU has pushed the university to respond to these incidents. As of now, Branch feels the university has taken the right steps in correcting these issues.

Theyve been making freshmen take diversity classes and inclusion and things like that, Branch said. I feel like thats a step in the right direction, but its a long way to go.

As a Syracuse native, Branch isnt a stranger to systemic racism. I-81 is a reminder that the city of Syracuse has its work cut out to make change for the better.

Unless you know, or have read about this, you would think nothing of it, Craig Branch said. You would just think that its I-81. But, it was done to hurt minorities.

Branch recalled how his father describes the South Side of Syracuse.

When you drive around the South Side of Syracuse, you dont really see any grocery stores, Branch said. Its mainly corner stores. But, when you go to the other side...They have a rich community. Its safer to live out there compared to the other side.

Craig Branch is proud of the role model his son has become in the community.

Just like these little young black girls can see Kamala Harris in the White House, and these young black boys can see Barack Obama as a president, Craig said. They can see this young, handsome man, studying physics, talking about astrophysics, maybe working for NASA, coming from Syracuse, the inner-city, not a privileged background.

Ruell Branch takes pride in this.

I really take pride in making sure that my little brother has somebody that he could look up to...knowing that me doing the right thing, going to college, getting good grades and doing stuff for the community, Branch said. I want him to be able to look up at me and think, Thats my brother.

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SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Some prisoners who helped fight the destructive Oregon wildfires last year could be released early.

KOIN-TV reports Gov. Kate Brown commended adults in custody who "bravely fought these wildfires and helped prevent further destruction and loss of life across the state," according to the March 5 letter provided to the news outlet.

The governor in the letter said these adults in custody should be rewarded and acknowledged for their contribution to this historic firefighting response.

Marion and Polk county district attorneys say they're opposed to the early release of violent offenders who helped fight the fires.
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)  Early Sunday, when clocks spring forward for the start of daylight saving time, Nevada state Sen. Joe Hardy hopes it will be one of the last times residents have to change their clocks.

He wants to hitch Nevada's fate to California, which is trying to set the sun on twice-yearly clock changes.

Hardy, a Boulder City Republican who works as a physician when not in the Legislature, said research on the health effects of clock changes prompted him to introduce a bill to stop the practice in Nevada.

A number of U.S. states want Congress to change the Uniform Time Act, which prohibits states from using daylight saving time year-round.
Its true, the jubilant Kelly green river that each year frolics down King Street as the St. Patricks Day Parade has this year gotten the pandemic nix.

Still, in Charleston, Irish eyes have ample reason for smiling.

The city, which lays claim to a long, rich Irish heritage, continues to gather more steam, as more Irish and Irish American residents call Charleston and South Carolina home.

Its a notion of particular delight to this columnist, whose Irish lineage is plainly evident from her byline alone. And, even with Charleston's deep Celtic roots, growing up, I don't recall much local celebration of them. To wit: On St. Patrick's Day, my family's house was the only one on our downtown block festooning its wrought iron gates with the words Erin go Bragh.

The Irish diaspora

According to the Consulate General of Ireland in Atlanta, there are these days more than 600,000 people in South Carolina who lay claim to Irish or Scots-Irish descent.

And the Irish have long been the architects of our city, literally and otherwise. St. Michaels Church was built by the expat Sam Cardy. Charleston County Courthouse was designed by another, architect James Hoban.

Four other Irish South Carolinians signed the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution. Then there was Capt. Florence OSullivan, the namesake of Sullivans Island. A lucky seven Charleston mayors boast Irish blood, too, among them John P. Grace in the early 1900s and Joseph P. Riley Jr.

A new honorary consulate

The South Carolina-Ireland connection proved sufficiently impressive to compel the Consulate General of Ireland in Atlanta to recently create an Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Charleston, which has responsibility for South Carolina.

In December, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States Dan Mulhall and Consul General Ciara OFloinn welcomed Honorary Consul Brian Duffy, an Irish American Charlestonian.

Duffy, a trial lawyer and shareholder at Duffy and Young LLC, will operate the consulate out of his offices at 96 Broad St., working with Pam Jones in the role of administrative manager. The building now proudly bears a medallion designating it as an honorary consulate.

According to OFloinn, the move represents a strengthening of the significant historic and contemporary ties between Ireland and South Carolina.

In South Carolina, there is one of the highest proportions of Irish people (in the United States) and that includes people of Irish, Scots-Irish, Ulster-Scots descent, she said.

She notes there is also a growing number of Irish companies in the state, among them Mergon Corp., CHR Americas, Brook Software Solutions and Applegreen.

Those links have always been there ... but in the last decade, they have really grown into something more concrete as well," she said.

The Consul General confirmed high enthusiasm on Duffys appointment.

Hes fantastic in the sense that he brings together his strong Irish heritage, knowledge of Charleston (and) his activism in the Irish community," she said.

According to O'Floinn, the first aim of the new honorary consulate is to deliver the best possible consular services to the Irish community in South Carolina, providing information around travel, passports and visas, while also helping people in difficulty. At the same time, it will serve as a platform to support Ireland's relations with South Carolina.

Duffy is up for the task. South Carolina is becoming more of a global player, he said, citing the expansion of business in cities such as Greenville and Myrtle Beach. The honorary consulate in South Carolina was a natural one for the Southeast region because of all the Irish citizens who have come here of late.

According to O'Floinn, another goal is to connect with new communities in the Southeast, such as the African Americans who have Irish heritage and an interest in affinity. One of the government's priorities with our new diasporas strategy is to look at that in the broadest and most inclusive sense, she said.

Diaspora today

Today, Irish citizens are sufficiently ubiquitous in Charleston to merit an active Facebook page, Charleston Irish, which connects the Irish and shares events and news.

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At the College of Charleston, there is now an Irish and Irish American Studies program. Its core is an undergraduate minor combining cultural, historical and social studies of the Irish in Ireland and in the United States.

According to the program's director, Joe Kelly, there is a healthy appetite for it, with many students taking the class to explore their Irish heritage. Others enroll because it is about the Irish and they think it will be fun, he said.

They are likely correct, as it also presents community events (currently on pandemic hiatus), such as the popular Celtic Night at the Music Hall and Irish House Concert Series, which hosts visiting Irish musicians at the Colleges Blacklock House.

Another of Kelly's initiatives, the Irish Oral History Project, is gathering stories for the Lowcountry Digital Library at the College's Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library, thereby preserving memories of the Irish American experience that may otherwise be lost to history.

The Charleston Irish Scene

There is a support system as well, with organizations working to support, promote and celebrate local Irish and Irish Americans.

There is the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Hibernian Society, which operates from its grand Hibernian Hall on Meeting Street. In 1985, The South Carolina Irish Historical Society was founded by U.S. District Judge Patrick Michael Duffy and restaurateur Tommy Condon.

The three organizations came together to commission the $2.4 million South Carolina Irish Memorial to honor those who crossed the ocean to Charleston. On a concrete pier at the end of Charlotte Street, jutting over the harbor, a 30-by-24-foot granite map of Ireland rests.

In 2005, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LOAH) Our Lady of Knock, Division I, Charleston was founded by Virginia Frederick. The group will host their second annual "Hooley: Shamrocks, Saints and Song for Feast of The Most Holy Trinity" This free, family-friendly event on May 30 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Town of Sullivan's Island Gazebo and Park features Irish music, as well as Irish service providers who share their offerings.

Then, there is all that arts and culture, much of it waiting to resume on the other side of the pandemic. Along with the colleges events and the city's annual parade, to name a few, there are diversions like the annual Lowcountry Irish Fest musical gathering, performances and study via Celtic fiddle goup Na Fidleiri, house concerts and more by Carroll Brown Music and lessons with Hungry Monk Music.

In March, Celtic harper Abigail Kent and singer Lara Brooksbank of the band Voxie released a Celtic music album, "Between the Distance," which is receiving recognition from the world of traditional Irish music and beyond, including praise from Sean Laffey in Irish Music Magazine.

There's Irish dance, too. Abbey Wood runs Legacy Irish Dance Academy with her husband Brent Wood, having offered instruction in places like Savannah, Augusta and Jacksonville.

According to Wood, the governing body of the international organization, which is set up for competitions, is based out of Dublin, and requires repeated certification to ensure instructors are hewing to standards and reflecting Irish culture.

This past year, the Woods decided to focus on Charleston with their own studio here, steeling themselves for the financial risk of starting a business mid-pandemic. Since then, their enrollment has doubled, with 90 percent of the parents of her students coming to Charleston from someplace else with a local culture in Irish dancing.

All these companies come in, and the parents come from other areas, she said. Even if they didn't dance themselves, they're aware of it, and they sign their kids up.

There is a host of pubs, of course, and did I mention the Charleston Hurling Club? That's certainly quite the feather in our Irish cap.

St. Patrick's Day paused

With the parade off the table this year, we'll instead stay home, indulging in house-made corned beef from Teds Butcherblock. Well crack open a can or two of store-bought Guinness. (If it was good enough for my Guinness connoisseur of a father, who was known to assess a frothy pint or two while at my folks' home in Connemara, it will do the trick for us.)

Well watch Flight of the Doves, the 1971 film about two orphans in search of their grandmother in the West of Ireland. I first saw it as a kid at a matinee showing at the Riviera Theater, a memorable first glimpse at the terrain, and I now share it with my daughter.

In a 2019 column, Irish Times film correspondent Donald Clarke asserted that, despite its flaws, the film should be a national institution. In it, a St. Patricks Day parade blares out a crowd-pleasing song, You dont have to be Irish to be Irish," which he deems it an earworm of epic proportions featuring many races and ethnic origins who bellow out this hymn to the flexibility of Irish identity.

We'll also check out a program of virtual events on March 16 and 17 presented by the Consulate General of Ireland in Atlanta, which are accessible via dfa.ie/irish-consulate/atlanta/. Then, we'll fire up Seoda, Culture Irelands five-day online festival of Irish artists March 17-21, which is available on Culture Ireland's YouTube channel.

And, as my mother did on our Charleston gate, we'll be sure to trumpet "Erin go Bragh."
Rome, March 13 : Shops, restaurants and schools will be closed across most of Italy on Monday, with Prime Minister Mario Draghi warning of a "new wave" of the coronavirus outbreak.

For three days over Easter, April 3-5, there will be a total shutdown. Italy, which one year ago imposed one of the first national lockdowns, is once again struggling to contain the rapid spread of infections.

The country has reported more than 100,000 Covid-related deaths, Europe's second highest tally after the UK, the BBC reported.

Italy's vaccination campaign has been hit by delays, as has been seen elsewhere in the European Union.

Last week the government in Rome blocked the export of 250,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia in a bid to address shortfalls of vaccines.

Elsewhere, Bulgaria, Denmark and Norway have all paused the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine over fears it causes blood clots.

The World Health Organization said on Friday there was no indication this was true, stressing that countries should not stop using the vaccine.

From Monday, schools, shops and restaurants will shut in more than half of Italy, including the two most populous regions containing Rome and Milan.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
CARSON CITY, Nev.Nevada legislators are considering a bill, SB164, which would empower police to stop arresting, imprisoning and deporting sex trafficking victims. The legislation would enable law enforcement to refer survivors to services. And it would likely decrease sex trafficking by making it safe for survivors to cooperate with law enforcement on prosecutions of sex traffickers.

Currently every state, including Nevada, conflates sex trafficking and sex work. Despite the fact that trafficking survivors are victims of a violent crime, police and prosecutors in Nevada frequently arrest, charge, incarcerate and deport trafficking victims for prostitution.

In my few years of counseling, I have met at least five people who've directly identified [themselves] as trafficking victims who've been arrested for prostitution, even though they were definitely not doing it by choice, Stephanie, a clinical professional counselor who works with sex trafficking survivors in Nevada said. I have also met minors who tell me that they've ended up in juvenile detention centers for prostitution even though, by definition, these minors are unable to consent and therefore trafficking victims. This is hardly unusual.

By treating them as perpetrators, the criminal justice system not only gravely wrongs victims but creates an unnecessarily adversarial relationship that makes prosecuting traffickers vastly more difficult.

Law enforcement and prosecutors claim that arrests, prosecutions, incarceration and deportations "save" victims.

But Stephanie says police breaking down survivors doors with guns drawn to arrest them causes further trauma. The state deports many victims at this point. Others, prosecutors send to jail, causing many to lose custody of their children. When they come out, theyre saddled with criminal records that force them into sex work.

Law enforcement and prosecutors also say victims are collateral damage in the war on traffickers, despite the fact that psychologically scarring, deporting and incarcerating a case's best witness isnt generally the most effective way to prosecute a perpetrator. Indeed, many sex trafficking victims are so isolated from their support systems that the only person they have to call to bail them out after police arrest them is their trafficker. Its no wonder then that prosecutors complain about victims being uncooperative.

I was arrested a few times at age 18, author and sex worker Ava Green said. In one of those arrests my trafficker was arrested for pimping. He coerced me not to testify against him.

When it comes to sex trafficking, the media and anti-sex worker organizations promote stories about kidnapping victims chained to radiators. In reality, sex trafficking most closely resembles domestic violenceand its victims should be treated in the same manner. It would be unthinkable to handle the "rescue" of battered wives by way of raiding their homes and hauling them off to jail or deporting them. Quite to the contrary, they are by standard practice offered shelter and resources.

Perhaps the fallacious portrayal of actual trafficking perpetuated by anti-sex worker entities is part of why in the vast majority of trafficking cases, prosecutors charge victims with prostitution and never charge anyone with trafficking. One illustrative example is the high-profile massage parlor sex trafficking raid that netted billionaire Robert Kraft. Police made zero sex trafficking arrests in that case, but prosecutors charged four women with prostitution and levied thousands of dollars in fines against them.

SB164 addresses these harms by giving police discretion in whether to arrest potential victims and allowing prosecutors to drop charges against any suspected victim of human trafficking. It would also exempt victims from mandatory HIV testing so they could avail themselves of private testing to avoid an automatic felony for testing positive.

Victims would be newly eligible for services and funding set aside by the health department for victims of violent crime.

This would keep victims out of jail and prisons. It would make it possible for victims to enter new lines of work without criminal records. It would reduce the psychological trauma of violent raids and arrests. And it would repair the relationship between the criminal justice system and sex trafficking victims which should lead to more successful prosecutions of sex traffickers and less sex trafficking.

The Sex Worker Alliance of Nevada is asking Nevadans to support the bill by voting in this public opinion poll and/or submitting a letter in support to be included as an exhibit when the meeting to discuss the bill is scheduled. To get an update on when the meeting will happen, to write a letter, or to attend and give testimony, email [email protected].

Image by Jody Davis from Pixabay
Canada geese stand on the bank as a woman rows past, through the early morning mist, at Onota Lake in Pittsfield. The city has been named a great place to work from remotely because of the quality of life and the cost of living.
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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.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 23:01:42|Editor: huaxia

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The newly-selected Prime Minister of Libya Abdul Hamid Dbeibah checks an exhibition stand during the National Conference on Coronavirus Pandemic in Tripoli, Libya, March 13, 2021. The conference kicked off here on Saturday with the aim of gathering medical and scientific experts that have been working against the pandemic in the country and discuss efforts against the epidemic. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua)

TRIPOLI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The newly-selected Prime Minister of Libya Abdul Hamid Dbeibah stressed on Saturday the need to initiate a vaccination campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dbeibah made his remarks during the National Conference on Coronavirus Pandemic, which kicked off Saturday with the aim of gathering medical and scientific experts that have been working against the pandemic in the country and discuss efforts against the epidemic.

Dbeibah stressed importance to vaccinate all the population in Libya, including migrants, regardless of legal residence status.

The new prime minister said that great effort was made and large amounts of money were spent by the authorities fighting the pandemic, but without good results.

Dbeibah called for more efforts to rise awareness against the virus.

According to the National Center for Disease Control, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Libya so far is 143,643, including 130,625 recoveries and 2,348 deaths.
ONE of the many benefits of higher education  aside from higher incomes, lower unemployment, better health and reduced social inequality  is that it inoculates individuals against authoritarianism. More education leaves one less inclined to support autocratic leaders who enforce a strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

Opinion

ONE of the many benefits of higher education  aside from higher incomes, lower unemployment, better health and reduced social inequality  is that it inoculates individuals against authoritarianism. More education leaves one less inclined to support autocratic leaders who enforce a strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

Authoritarianism undermines the foundations of democracy, as we saw during the Trump presidency. But it is not just in America where authoritarianism is a threat. Under our system of parliamentary democracy, leaders of majority governments wield enormous power, held in check between elections largely by past customs and norms of behaviour. The cabinet of the governing party serves as a last line of defence against an untethered authoritarian leader.

Anyone who has not noticed Brian Pallisters strong authoritarian streak has not been paying attention. The premier prefers legislation to negotiation and confrontation to conciliation. His repeated attacks on the press ("Rosemary, to be fair, you havent come up with a single idea") have become a signature move. He even threatened to sue the Winnipeg Free Press over a factually correct story about taxes owing on his Costa Rican property.

Pallisters flagrant disregard for the basic rules of democracy are a frontal assault on our democratic system of government. This was on full display last spring when he shut down opposition questioning of the budget. His excuse? The questions were "dull and repetitive." Kelvin Goertzen, falling in line with the authoritarian move of his leader, chided the opposition to ask "better questions." This sort of behaviour belongs in a banana republic, not a parliamentary democracy.

Last fall, Pallister introduced 19 mystery bills into the legislature, keeping them secret from the people whose very lives they will affect. His reason? The opposition wasnt nice to us. It shows a stunning contempt for Manitobans.

Pallisters authoritarian streak surfaced again in his legislative agenda. Instead of entering into collective bargaining with public-sector workers, he simply eliminated bargaining over wages with Bill 28, the Public Sector Sustainability Act. When Bill 28 was challenged in the courts, its provisions were ruled unconstitutional. His response? He doubled down with Bill 9 and even more draconian restrictions to collective bargaining. This, too, will likely be struck down by the courts.

Canadians are fortunate to still have a robust legal system that stands as a bulwark against authoritarianism. But this government continues to push against the ramparts.

Bill 33, which undermines university governance, is also destined to be struck down in the courts. Why? The provisions it contains were already ruled unlawful by the courts in Ontario. The Student Choice Initiative of the Ford government gave the minister the power to decide how university student fees are collected. It is not public money. These are fees collected on behalf of a democratically elected student government, for initiatives decided upon by elected student representatives.

Its effect in Ontario was a dramatic defunding of student groups. That served a useful political purpose for the Ford government: the silencing of critics. The courts ruled this was an unlawful interference with internal university governance.

With the introduction of Bill 33, Mr. Pallister is indicating he knows better than the democratically elected student government how things should be run. That is one hallmark of an authoritarian. There are others.

During collective bargaining last fall between faculty and the University of Manitoba, Pallister and Finance Minister Scott Fielding intervened, dictating the financial terms they wanted with a threat to cut funding to the university otherwise. The settlement reached contained a salary freeze, the third in five years.

But that was not enough for Pallister, and he followed through on his threat to cut funding from the university.

The dictionary definition of extortion is to obtain something, especially money, through force or threats. Threats and intimidation are another hallmark of an authoritarian government.

The suppression of dissent by opponents is a further authoritarian hallmark. Bill 67, that criminalizes protest and curbs Indigenous sovereignty, checks that box. Demonizing opponents is another authoritarian power move. Here, one need only turn to the Pallister press conferences, where the targets of his attacks are legion: organized labour, the public sector, university faculty, the media, opposition members, the federal government, the city of Winnipeg, First Nations, the Metis, even Halloween. That box is checked, too.

Pallisters untethered authoritarianism leaves an enormous mess for his successor to clean up. There are the growing lawsuits; the need to rebuild bridges with the many groups he has alienated.

But perhaps most importantly, Manitobas Progressive Conservatives will need to explain this. They have stood by passively while the premier has made a mockery of our democratic institutions. Why should they ever be trusted with elected office again?

Scott Forbes is the president of the Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations.
Qatar early this month sent a shipment of oil to its neighbor UAE for the first time since 2017, the year both countries fell out.

Tanker tracking data, according to Bloomberg news website, show early this month, Qatar shipped some 700,000 barrels of oil to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Qatar, a tiny oil producer, according to OPEC, exports around 500,000 barrels per day of oil and condensate.

The shipment followed January agreement between Qatar on one side and Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain on the other to thaw ties.

The Saudi-led group severed ties with Qatar in 2017 over accusation that Doha sponsored terrorism. The gas-rich country vehemently rejected the accusations.

The US and Kuwait helped broker the normalization of ties and lifting of the sea, air and ground blockade imposed by the quartet on Doha.
Louisiana forestrys $1.5 billion in losses from hurricanes last year was double the amount of revenue the industry generates annually, according to an LSU AgCenter forestry expert.

Michael Blazier, LSU AgCenter forestry specialist, said the damage would be more if lost revenue, infrastructure damage and lost production during the storms are considered.

Blazier, speaking during a virtual forum this week, said Hurricane Laura's Aug. 27 hit inflicted damage to 800,000 acres of timber in 22 parishes, with the worst in Vernon Parish. The resulting loss in saw timber, about 3 million board feet, could have supplied 25 sawmills for a year, he said. The AgCenter previously estimated damage from Laura at $1.1 billion.

Hurricane Delta just aggravated the situation, he said, adding that the Oct. 9 storm caused the most timber damage to Winn Parish.

Blazier said wildfires will be a big concern this year because of all the downed timber.

Dave Cupp of the Walsh Timber Co. said harvesting downed trees is a slow, dangerous job. Most of the industry has moved to mechanization, he said.

You just dont see anybody on the ground anymore, he said.

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He said the fallen timber has numerous quality issues, and much of it has been rejected by mills.

Cupp said downed saw timber is good for only about four to six weeks, and downed trees that could be used for lumber are salvageable for three to four months. Whatever has occurred now is probably going to be it. Its too old now.

He said the closing of a mill at DeQuincy left a big void for selling timber in southwest Louisiana.

Cupp said mills further north had all the inventory they needed after the storm. Converting the trees to wood chips to be used as fuel for power generation would have been possible, he said, but low natural gas prices make that unfeasible.

Robbie Hutchins, LSU AgCenter area forestry specialist, said damage estimates for the 2020 hurricanes did not include urban forestry areas.

Ricky Williams, state forester for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, described several federal programs that are available to help restore forests. He said the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Forestry Association also have resources to help.
(Natural News) A leading politician in Canada is suggesting that the government should seize private hospitals and their resources supposedly to help fight against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-spokesman of the far-left socialist party Quebec Solidaire (Solidarity Quebec), made this suggestion in a Facebook post written in French from late January. He has served as his partys spokesperson and as a member of Quebecs parliament, the National Assembly, since 2017.

Nadeau-Dubois expressed outrage when he was able to get an appointment to get a Brazilian butt augmentation from a private clinic within days after calling, while intensive care units in public hospitals all across the French-speaking province are supposedly overwhelmed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The politicians office reportedly called several private clinics. In every single one, he was offered appointments within days. In one large private clinic within the Montreal metropolitan area, he was even assured that it would use its own surgical room for the operation.

This particular clinic said that it was not incentivized to cancel or delay elective surgeries unless the government tells us otherwise.

Nadeau-Dubois used this experience to recommend that the provincial government seize every single private healthcare institution in Quebec. This will supposedly lighten the burden public hospitals are dealing with.

Nadeau-Dubois Facebook ends with a call for the private sector to finally help Quebec in the war effort.

The crisis we are experiencing is exceptional, and it requires exceptional measures. Quebec Solidaire proposes requisitioning the private healthcare sector in the fight against the pandemic. Private clinics urgently need to be integrated into the public health network. All private medical resources (clinics, surgical rooms, staff, equipment) that are deemed necessary in the fight against COVID-19 must be put at the service of our collective fight against the pandemic. The time has come for the private sector to contribute to the war effort. Lives depend on it.

Pierre-Guy Veer, writing for the Foundation for Economic Education, a libertarian and pro-free market think tank, argued that this will only make Quebecs healthcare situation even worse.

One has to wonder whether [Nadeau-Dubois] has even skimmed through Quebecs administration of the healthcare system since it was nationalized some 50 years ago, wrote Veer. Since the deep cuts of the mid-1990s under [former Premier] Lucien Bouchard, the nominal budget for healthcare has multiplied by a factor of 3.7, increasing five percent per year.

And yet, waiting lists hardly budge.

Veer noted that in the Canadian Medicare-for-all system, a person has to wait an average of 371 days before he can see a family doctor, and people are on six-month-long waiting lists for elective surgeries in public hospitals.

This situation is not present in private hospitals, and Veer argued that seizing private operating rooms or even taxing the private sector is unlikely to shorten waiting times.

Canadian lawmakers would be wise to emulate the private sector, not co-opt it, wrote Veer. By utilizing markets, the private sector has shown it can lower both wait times and costs  something Canadas Medicare-for-all system has failed to deliver.

Quebec Solidaire calls for postponement of cosmetic surgeries during lockdown

This is not the first time Nadeau-Dubois and Quebec Solidaire have expressed outrage over the fact that private clinics are still operating.

Earlier in January, the party, along with the Quebec College of Physicians, called for all cosmetic surgery clinics to shut down for the duration of the provinces lockdown. (Related: Canadian government erecting a network of COVID detainment camps and isolation sites to incarcerate those who dont cooperate with medical tyranny.)

The College of Physicians argued that it is unconscionable for the province to continue performing elective procedures such as breast implants and facelifts while the public health system is overwhelmed by the pandemic.

Nadeau-Dubois took a more radical tone with regards to this issue.

It is completely unacceptable in the middle of an acute crisis in our healthcare system that rich people are able to buy themselves a medical procedure, and it is a waste of very precious resources that that private system is able to work as usual, he said during an interview with CBC News.

The Quebec Solidaire co-spokesman went further than the college. He argued that not only should cosmetic clinics shut down, but all private clinics and hospital departments that are offering non-urgent medical procedures.

The government should make sure all our medical resources in Quebec are in the service of our collective effort to fight the pandemic, he said.

Our intensive care units are on the brink of collapse right now, thats what the front line workers are telling us, he added.

Echoing the statement he would make later regarding the private healthcare sector, he called on the provincial government to requisition all private nurses, equipment, rooms and doctors that are not taking part in the regions fight against COVID-19.

Learn more about how Quebec, the rest of Canada and other places around the world are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

FEE.org

CBC.ca
In Metabase, dashboards are pages where you can organize charts and text cards in a grid. For the basics, check out our docs on creating dashboards. This article covers high-level concepts around what makes a great business intelligence dashboard, and includes some tactical advice around how to make the most of the tools Metabase provides.

Well cover:

The purpose of BI dashboards

Business intelligence dashboards should help inform decisions. There are different kinds of dashboards  youll often see them broken down into analytical, strategic, and operational dashboards  but the purpose of every dashboard should be to monitor your actions and their effects. Much like gauges on the dashboard of a car, they should give you feedback on the actions you take: if I step on the accelerator, how fast am I going now? The idea for a BI dashboard is to get feedback on whether you made the right call, or if theres an action you need to take, meaning the dashboard should capture a relationship between your teams actions and the effects of those actions. How is our pricing strategy performing? Did that campaign we launched bring new users? Of those new users, how many converted?

Well get into the presentation of your dashboards - how the dashboard looks - but first you need to determine which questions your dashboard should answer.

Which questions should your dashboard include?

Define the decisions first, then gather the data to inform them

Tailor the questions you include to decisions your audience can act on. For example, if youre building a dashboard for a team, talk to them about the decisions they need to make every day/week/month, and include questions that capture the actions they take, as well as the effects (or targets) of those actions. If the team has already defined the metrics or KPIs theyre responsible for, then your job will be to help figure out the best way to represent those metrics on the dashboard.

Does a similar dashboard already exist?

If youre asking these questions, chances are other people are too. Search your Metabase to check if questions and dashboards that address your needs already exist. If they do, and you see room for improvement, reach out to the maintainer to share your ideas. If you find a similar dashboard that doesnt quite suit your needs, you can duplicate it and customize it to your use case (for details on how to duplicate a dashboard, see how to create a dashboard).

Tailor your dashboard to a cadence

Often the data you include in your dashboard will have a natural cadence (for instance, accounts may be settled daily, weekly, and so on). Another way to think about cadence is to determine how often people will consult the dashboard; that is, how often people will have to make or reevaluate the decisions the dashboard informs. Will people view this dashboard daily, or once a month during a planning meeting? Once you define that frequency, it helps people see relationships between the data if the questions you include are relevant, critical signals for the same time granularity. If you add a date filter to your dashboard, you can set a default time span for all the questions in the dashboard; but its easier to compare charts if theyre all showing data with the same time resolution, such as weekly or monthly.

Prefer GUI questions to native questions

Where possible, compose questions using the query builder or notebook editor to get the benefits of the action menu, and to let people who dont know SQL use your questions as jumping off points for further exploration. The notebook editor lets you add custom expressions and do joins, so you might find you dont need SQL like you thought you did. Alternatively, you could also write a query in SQL, save it as a question, then use that saved question as the starting point for a GUI query, where you could filter, summarize, and group data  or even include custom columns.

Pay attention to context

Where will people view this dashboard? On a TV? At their desk? On a phone? Make sure you see the dashboard as it will be seen, and adjust accordingly. The major consideration here is whether the screen is fixed, as that fixed screen real estate limits the number of questions you can include. But outside a fixed-screen scenario, you can include as many questions as you want. Youll often see articles recommending to limit visualizations to some number. Thats useful as general advice if you take it to mean you should be selective about what to include. The important part is to make sure those charts are legible, and its better to have a dashboard that requires some scrolling than to omit relevant and critical signals.

Tune for speed

We wrote an article on how to make dashboards faster, but its worth reiterating here. The easiest way to make dashboards load faster is to ask for less data. Sometimes you really do need a lot of data, but if youre including historical data, how far back do you really have to go? And do you have to load it every time someone consults the dashboard, or can you leave it up to the viewer to broaden the date filter, or to dive down into a particular question? You can also break up a dashboard into multiple dashboards to reduce the number of items that need to load on a single one.

Be precise with titles and descriptions

You can significantly improve a dashboard just by touching up its documentation. For example, compare Customer orders to Global L7 average daily count of customer orders. And fill out the descriptions to all questions on your dashboard. For larger dashboards, you can use text cards to title sections of your dashboards. Anticipate questions and add text cards that address those questions (e.g., explaining deviations in the data: outages, product releases, major sales or marketing campaigns, and so on). Consider including contact info and links to related questions, dashboards, and other relevant documents or websites.

Adding filters and making dashboards interactive

Add filters to your dashboard

Adding filters on your dashboard allows you to scope multiple charts to a particular time period, location, ID, or other category. People can click on an individual question to filter its results, but adding a filter at the dashboard level allows them to see relationships between charts when they apply different values to the filter. And if you include a filter on your dashboard, try to make the filter applicable to most or all of the cards on the dashboard. That is, only include cards with fields that you can wire up to that filter.

Fig. 1. Where possible, have dashboard filters applicable to all cards on the dashboard.

If a selection in one filter should impact the options for another filter, then you should link the filters. That way, if the first filter is applied, the options for the second will be limited. For example, if you have both a state and city filter, filtering the dashboard for California should limit the city filters options to cities in California.

If you want to get fancy, you can even set things up to make clicking on a chart filter the dashboard - see our article on cross-filtering.

Fig. 2. Where possible, prefer the trends visualization to the number visualization to show the percent change.

You can also add filters to dashboards with SQL questions, including using field filters to create smart dropdown menus.

Create and link multiple dashboards

If your dashboard starts filling up with questions, consider breaking it up into multiple dashboards. You can customize click behavior on dashboard cards to link to other dashboards, questions, or URLs (which incidentally is especially useful for SQL questions that dont benefit from the action menu). For example, if one of your cards is a trend, you could link that card to a dashboard that digs into the data around that metric. Breaking up dashboards into multiple dashboards can reduce loading times, as you can defer to the audience to determine if they want to know more (i.e., load more data). In addition to customizing click behavior, you can use text cards to incorporate links to related dashboards, questions, or other relevant sites.

Dashboard visualization best practices

Once youve gathered and documented your questions, its time to arrange and fine-tune the dashboard.

Arrange items to communicate their relative importance

Which cards should go where and why? On the dashboard grid, importance degrades top to bottom, and either left to right or right to left, depending on your audiences primary language. I.e., youll probably end up putting your most important cards at the top left. You can also emphasize importance with size. If you can, keep cards above the fold  that is, visible in a browser window on a laptop without making people scroll down, though not at the expense of shrinking cards to the point of illegibility.

Group cards that cover similar subject matter. You can use text cards as spacers, or as section titles or description and commentary.

Look for opportunities to add more useful information

Metabases visualizations take care of a lot of the best practices for information design and visual literacy  they do their best to make Edward Tufte proud, communicating maximum info with minimal ink. But even though Metabase charts come junk-free out of the box, you should review the visualization settings to see if you can add additional context. For example, theres a lot you can do with the a bar chart. A simple goal line on a bar or line chart, or conditional formatting on a table, can provide meaningful answers to questions like: are these values good? Expected? On target?

Fig. 3. A simple goal line can add important context to a chart.

For instance, instead of simply displaying a number, you could additionally show how its gone up or down over time. Lets say you want to include the number of orders for the last week; instead of displaying that as a plain number, you could instead group it by a time dimension and set the visualization to a Trend. That way people will get to see the value in the context of the previous number  did the value improve or worsen?

Fig. 4. Where possible, prefer the trends visualization to the number visualization.

You can also adjust the color of the trend arrow (green for good, red for bad), so numbers that you want to go down (like churn) and numbers that youd like to go up (revenue) can both get green arrows.

Pick the right visualizations for the job

Well cover how to pick the right visualization for each question in an upcoming article, but in general the advice here is to avoid mistaking a good looking, colorful dashboard for one thats informative. A lot of BI articles (and were guilty of this at times as well) will display dashboards that showcase multiple different visualizations types: bar charts, gauges, pie charts, scatter plots, and so on. We do this because 1) they look cool, and 2) our goal is to demonstrate what the product can do, which is different than the goal of getting feedback on your decisions. Often what you really need is just a mix of time series and tables.

Fig. 5. An example KPI dashboard using the sample dataset.

The example KPI dashboard in figure 5 is nothing flashy, but it packs a lot of info. The dashboard groups and color-codes related cards (green for order data, blue for user data, purple for product data), gives viewers a sense for how our current weekly performance compares with the previous three months (so it doesnt have to load data for the entire year), includes trend lines and goals, and includes cross-filtering, so viewers can click on a category in the bar chart to update the category filter.

Even with a humble table there are opportunities for polish: make sure the sorting and column order makes sense, button up the label headings, and apply conditional formatting to make it easier to read the data.

What to do with your great new dashboard

Now that you have a handsome, informative dashboard, its time to share it.

Set up subscriptions to your dashboard

This is the push in the push and pull of analytics. You can send the results of a dashboard via email or Slack.

Pin the dashboard to a collection

When youre ready to signal to the rest of your team that youve got a really solid dashboard they should look at, add it to the relevant collection and pin it. To learn more, check out keeping your analytics organized.

Share via a public link or embed

You can also share the dashboard via a public link, or in an iframe, which you can embed in your website or app. See our article on Embedding charts and dashboards.
Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei had called for a reset in ties with the US after falling foul of former president Donald Trump, but the Biden administration has listed his company as a potential national security threat

US regulators on Friday listed Huawei among Chinese telecom gear firms deemed a threat to national security, signalling that a hoped for softening of relations is not in the cards.

A roster of communications companies thought to pose "an unacceptable risk" to national security included Huawei Technologies; ZTE; Hytera Communications; Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Dahua Technology.

"This list is a big step toward restoring trust in our communications networks," said Federal Communications Commission acting chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

"This list provides meaningful guidance that will ensure that as next-generation networks are built across the country, they do not repeat the mistakes of the past or use equipment or services that will pose a threat to US national security or the security and safety of Americans."

The five Chinese companies that provide communications equipment or services were on a roster compiled by the FCC and the Homeland Security Bureau as per US law.

Huawei chief and founder Ren Zhengfei last month called for a reset with the United States under President Joe Biden, after the firm was battered by sanctions imposed by Donald Trump's administration.

In his first appearance before journalists in a year, Ren Zhengfei said his "confidence in Huawei's ability to survive has grown" despite its travails across much of the western world where it is maligned as a potential security threat.

The comments came as the firm struggled under rules that have effectively banned US firms from selling it technology such as semiconductors and other critical components, citing national security concerns.

Insisting that Huawei remained strong and ready to buy from US companies, Ren called on the Biden White House for a "mutually beneficial" change of tack that could restore its access to the goods.

Continuing to do so, he warned, would hurt US suppliers.

Founded by Ren in 1987, Huawei largely flew under the global radar for decades as it became the world's largest maker of telecoms equipment and a top mobile phone producer.

Story continues

That changed under former president Donald Trump, who targeted the firm as part of an intensifying China-US trade and technology standoff.

Trump from 2018 imposed escalating sanctions to cut off Huawei's access to components and bar it from the US market, while he also successfully pressured allies to shun the firm's gear in their telecoms systems.

Ren also has had to deal with the December 2018 arrest of his daughter, Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, on a US warrant during a Vancouver stopover.

Meng, 49, faces fraud and conspiracy charges in the United States over alleged Huawei violations of US sanctions against Iran, and separate charges of theft of trade secrets.

gc/jh
Gov. Greg Abbott's move to reopen Texas and end the mask mandate has Colorado considering Texan tourists in its marketing efforts.

Shockwaves of Abbott's controversial March 2 decision to basically restore Texas to pre-pandemic ties reached throughout the U.S. Some people started eulogies for Texas as a whole. Colorado worked to make sure Texas visitors are aware the Lone Star State's stance doesn't fly there.

MASK UP, HOU: Here's where you still have to wear a mask in Houston

9News, a Denver-based television station, reported the Colorado Tourism Office took note of Abbott's decision and is working to send a message to Texans traveling there for Spring Break. The office launched the "Do Colorado Right" campaign in markets that have already shown interest in traveling to the Centennial State.

"There is a concern suddenly that the law is changing in Texas around mask-wearing," Cathy Ritter, director of CTO, told the station.

CTO did not disclose how much was spent on the marketing effort but told MySA the videos feature local celebrities to help reinforce the message.

"The 'Do Colorado Right' campaign is a multi-month in-state and out-of-state campaign which shares safe travel tips and encourages travelers to avoid behaviors that could compromise our winter season," a representative for the department said in an email.

Colorado uses color-coded system to determine restrictions on a county-by-county basis, but masks are still required throughout.

Colorado isn't the only place worried that Texans will mess things up.

MEANWHILE: Gov. Greg Abbott recommends masks days after deeming actual mask mandate unnecessary

On Tuesday, Chicago updated the emergency travel order to make Texas and Nebraska "orange" states, which denotes a higher risk category.

The designation means Texas tourists must quarantine for 10 days or have a pre-arrival negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before arriving, according to news station 5 Chicago.

States are moved up to orange if there is the rolling seven-day average exceeds 15 cases a day or 100,000 residents, according to the report.

Behave yourselves out there, Texas.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
Study provides new details on the fate of spilled oil in the marine environment, effectiveness of chemical dispersants

MIAMI--A new study lead by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science demonstrates that under realistic environmental conditions oil drifting in the ocean after the DWH oil spill photooxidized into persistent compounds within hours to days, instead over long periods of time as was thought during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This is the first model results to support the new paradigm of photooxidation that emerged from laboratory research.

After an oil spill, oil droplets on the ocean surface can be transformed by a weathering process known as photooxidation, which results in the degradation of crude oil from exposure to light and oxygen into new by-products over time. Tar, a by-product of this weathering process, can remain in coastal areas for decades after a spill. Despite the significant consequences of this weathering pathway, photooxidation was not taken into account in oil spill models or the oil budget calculations during the Deepwater Horizon spill.

The UM Rosenstiel School research team developed the first oil-spill model algorithm that tracks the dose of solar radiation oil droplets receive as they rise from the deep sea and are transported at the ocean surface. The authors found that the weathering of oil droplets by solar light occurred within hours to days, and that roughly 75 percent of the photooxidation during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred on the same areas where chemical dispersants were sprayed from aircraft. Photooxidized oil is known to reduce the effectiveness of aerial dispersants.

"Understanding the timing and location of this weathering process is highly consequential. said Claire Paris, a UM Rosenstiel School faculty and senior author of the study. "It helps directing efforts and resources on fresh oil while avoiding stressing the environment with chemical dispersants on oil that cannot be dispersed."

"Photooxidized compounds like tar persist longer in the environment, so modeling the likelihood of photooxidation is critically important not only for guiding first response decisions during an oil spill and restoration efforts afterwards, but it also needs to be taken into account on risk assessments before exploration activities" added Ana Carolina Vaz, assistant scientist at UM's Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies and lead author of the study.

###

The study, titled "A Coupled Lagrangian-Earth System Model for Predicting Oil Photooxidation," was published online on Feb 19, 2021 in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. The authors of the paper include: Ana Carolina Vaz, Claire Beatrix Paris and Robin Faillettaz.

The study was supported by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI): C-IMAGE III (Center for the Integrated Modeling and Analysis of the Gulf Ecosystem) and RECOVER 2 (Relationship of Effects of Cardiac Outcomes in ?sh for Validation of Ecological Risk).
[March 12, 2021] Bell announces offerings of Canadian MTN Debentures and US Notes

This news release contains forward-looking statements. For a description of the related risk factors and assumptions, please see the section entitled "Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" later in this release.

MONTREAL, March 12, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Canada (Bell) today announced the public offering in Canada of Cdn $1.55 billion aggregate principal amount of MTN Debentures in two series pursuant to its medium term notes (MTN) program (the Canadian Offering). The Cdn $1.0 billion 3.00% MTN Debentures, Series M-54, will mature on March 17, 2031, and will be issued at a price of Cdn $99.914 per $100 principal amount for a yield to maturity of 3.010%. The Cdn $550 million 4.05% MTN Debentures, Series M-55, will mature on March 17, 2051, and will be issued at a price of Cdn $99.690 per $100 principal amount for a yield to maturity of 4.068%. The MTN Debentures are being publicly offered in all provinces of Canada through a syndicate of agents. Closing of the offering of the MTN Debentures is expected to occur on March 17, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. The MTN Debentures will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BCE Inc. Bell also announced today the public offering in the United States of US $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of Notes in two series (the US Offering). The US $600 million 0.750% Series US-3 Notes will mature on March 17, 2024, and will be issued at a price of US $99.953 per $100 principal amount for a yield to maturity of 0.766%. The US $500 million 3.650% Series US-4 Notes will mature on March 17, 2051 and will be issued at a price of US $99.728 per $100 principal amount for a yield to maturity of 3.665%. The Notes are being publicly offered in the Unites States through a syndicate of underwriters. Closing of the offering of the Notes is expected to occur on March 17, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BCE Inc. Bell plans to apply the net proceeds from the Canadian Offering and the US Offering to the redemption, in whole or in part, of its Cdn $1,700,000,000 principal amount of 3.00% MTN Debentures, Series M-40, due October 3, 2022. Bell plans to use any net proceeds from the offerings not used for such purpose for the repayment of short-term debt. The closings of the offerings of each series of MTN Debentures and Notes are not conditioned on any of the others. The MTN Debentures are being issued pursuant to a short form base shelf prospectus dated November 16, 2020 and a prospectus supplement dated March 11, 2021, which prospectus supplement was filed on March 11, 2021 by Bell with the various securities regulatory authorities in all provinces of Canada in connection with the renewal of Bell's MTN Program. Bell will file a pricing supplement relating to this issue with the securities regulatory authorities in all provinces of Canada. On March 11, 2021, Bell also entered into a dealer agreement under which certain dealers have agreed to act as agents with respect to future offerings of the MTN Debentures, including the contemplated offering of the Series M-54 MTN Debentures and Series M-55 MTN Debentures. The MTN program enables Bell to offer up to Cdn $6 billion of MTN Debentures from time to time util December 16, 2022.



The US Offering is being made in the United States pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated March 12, 2021 to Bell's short form base shelf prospectus dated November 16, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an effective shelf registration statement on Form F-10. The Notes are not being offered in Canada or to any resident of Canada. The MTN Debentures have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (U.S. Securities Act), 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 U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act).

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Copies of the short form base shelf prospectus and the prospectus supplements relating to the offering of the Canadian MTN Debentures and the US Notes filed with securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States, respectively, may be obtained from the Investor Relations department of Bell Canada at Building A, 8th floor, 1 Carrefour Alexander-Graham- Bell, Verdun, Quebec, H3E 3B3 (telephone 1-800-339-6353). Copies of these documents are also available electronically, as applicable, on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval of the Canadian Securities Administrators (SEDAR), at www.sedar.com, or on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, administered by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements relating to the expected timing and completion of the proposed sale of the Notes and proposed sale of the MTN Debentures, the intended use of the net proceeds of such sales and other statements that are not historical facts. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events, and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are presented in this news release for the purpose of giving information about the proposed offerings referred to above. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The timing and completion of the abovementioned proposed sales of the Notes and the MTN Debentures is subject to customary closing terms and other risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the proposed sale of either series of the Notes and/or of the MTN Debentures will occur, or that it will occur at the expected time indicated in this news release. About Bell

Founded in Montreal in 1880, Bell is Canada's largest communications company with more than 22 million residential, business and wireless customer connections across every province and territory. With a goal to advance how Canadians connect with each other and the world, Bell provides the most extensive broadband wireless and wireline networks, innovative mobile, TV, Internet and business communication services, and the country's premier television, radio, out of home and digital media brands. Bell is committed to the highest environmental, social and governance standards, reflected in our unparalleled community investment, leadership in international standards compliance and strong performance on sustainability indices including the Global Compact 100 Index, the FTSE4Good Global Index and the Jantzi Social Index. The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative confronts the challenge of mental illness by raising awareness and reducing stigma, including through the annual Bell Let's Talk Day, and funding for community care, research and workplace programs nationwide. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca. Media inquiries: Marie-Eve Francoeur

514-391-5263

marie-eve.francoeur@bell.ca

@Bell_News Investor inquiries: Thane Fotopoulos

514-870-4619

thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bell-announces-offerings-of-canadian-mtn-debentures-and-us-notes-301246733.html SOURCE Bell Canada

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Moradabad, March 13 : | A case has been registered against 21 SP workers including Samajwadi Party (SP) National President Akhilesh Yadav for allegedly assaulting mediapersons in Moradabad.

Meanwhile, another case has been registered against two journalists on a complaint by SP District President Jai Veer Singh Yadav.

The first case has been registered against the SP chief and 20 others at Paakbada Police Station in Moradabad on a complaint filed by Awadhesh Parashar, national president of the Indian Press Aliveness Association. The complainant alleges that during a press conference held on behalf of former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on March 11, some journalists asked personal questions that made Yadav livid.

An angry Yadav allegedly asked his security personnel and SP workers to thrash the journalists. During the 'attack' a number of journalists suffered injuries, some of them serious injuries.

Meanwhile, a case has also been registered against mediapersons Fareed Shamsi and Ubaidur Rehman on a complaint filed by SP district head Jaiveer Singh Yadav. In the complaint, Yadav alleged that two persons who said they were journalists tried to break into the security cordon of the former chief minister when they were prevented by security guards.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 05:55:13|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, March 12 (Xinhua) -- New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday reiterated that he is not going to resign despite mounting pressure for him to do so and start of an impeachment inquiry from the lower house of New York state legislature.

Speaking at a news conference, Cuomo said he would like to "let the review proceed. I'm not going to resign."

Cuomo denied sexual harassment allegations against him by multiple former female aides.

More than ten House Democrats from New York on Friday urged Cuomo to resign, saying he has lost the confidence of the people of New York.

Scores of New York State legislators also joined the chorus and issued a joint letter on Thursday calling for Cuomo's resignation.

NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on Thursday said the judiciary committee under the assembly has been authorized to initiate an impeachment investigation into Cuomo.

The investigation team is tasked to examine allegations of misconduct against Cuomo, who has held the position of New York governor since January 2011.

The investigation will focus on the alleged cover-up of nursing home deaths from COVID-19 in the state and allegations by several women of sexual harassment and improper conduct, said a report by WIVB.com citing Bill Conrad, a member of the NYS Assembly.

"The committee will have the authority to interview witnesses, subpoena documents and evaluate evidence, as is allowed by the New York State Constitution," said a statement by Heastie.

Heastie said the impeachment investigation will interfere with the independent investigation being conducted by NYS Attorney General Letitia James, who is charging an independent investigation into sexual harassment allegation against Cuomo.

James said on Thursday that "Today's action by the New York state legislature will have no bearing on our independent investigation into these allegations against Governor Cuomo. Our investigation will continue."

Winning his third term in November 2018, Cuomo has not made public statement on the latest development and he recently said "there is no way" for him to step down over sexual harassment allegations. Enditem
Around 1,700 employees at parent company Woowa Brothers and its branches at home and overseas will receive between W20 million and W50 million worth of stock options. Food delivery drivers who have worked for more than a year will get between W2 million and W5 million worth.

Kim Bong-Jin, who founded Korea's largest food delivery app Baedal Minjok, will give W100 billion worth of stock options and other bonuses to all of staff by tapping into his own pockets (US$1=W1,132).

The stocks will be valued at the closing price of 105.95 euros on March 2 on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, where Germany's Delivery Hero is listed. Delivery Hero agreed to buy Woowa in December 2019 and completed the takeover on the day.

But the stocks will not be handed over to staff until three years later under the contract with Delivery Hero.

Kim will also give W1 million in cash to delivery workers who have worked for less than a year, while 830 temporary workers will get W1-1.5 million per person.

Woowa Brothers said the purpose of the bonus is to "express our gratitude to our employees, who formed an essential element of our company's growth, and to cooperate further to share the fruits of our future growth."

Earlier, Kim and his wife Sul Bo-mi pledged to donate half of their total wealth of more than W1 trillion to charity under the Giving Pledge started by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet.

Woowa clarified that the bonus is not part of the Giving Pledge. "I want to offer my personal gift to express my heartfelt gratitude for all of those who worked hard as we face a bigger challenge by branching out into Asia," Kim said.

He leaves for Singapore later this month to oversee Delivery Hero's Asian business operations.
It came when we least expected it, she said. Oh, my goodness, it was a blessing. I know it was for me. They didnt make us jump through hoops. They told us ways how to use the money and they tried to help everybody who applied.
Mizuho Bank suffered its fourth system glitch in two weeks Friday, dealing a serious blow to the management of one of Japan's top banks that has a history of troubling customers with technical problems.

The latest glitch affected foreign currency-denominated remittances for corporate customers in the country. Around 300 transactions were delayed for about four to five hours due to hardware trouble that occurred at 11:40 p.m. on Thursday at its data center, the unit of Mizuho Financial Group Inc said.

The glitch has also affected overseas remittances, but details are still being investigated, the bank said, adding both issues were resolved by 7:45 p.m. Friday.

"We take it very seriously that troubles have occurred in quick succession and sincerely apologize," Mizuho Bank President Koji Fujiwara said at an urgently arranged press conference.

On Feb 28, Mizuho suffered a glitch that affected over 4,300 automated teller machines nationwide, while 5,244 bank cards and books were stuck inside the devices and not returned to their owners. Its systems were overwhelmed when updating the status of fixed deposit accounts and processing other transactions.

All of its ATMs were back up and running by the next day.

AirAsia set to reinstate all 40 domestic routes in Thailand from April

NATIONWIDE: AirAsia is set to resume operations on all 40 domestic routes in Thailand from April, signifying a solid return to pre-COVID-19 performance levels for the airline. These include 14 regional routes from its hubs across the nation.

transporttourism

By The Phuket News

Saturday 13 March 2021, 12:56PM

AirAsia Thailand Chief Executive Officer, Santisuk Klongchaiya, said: We are very encouraged by the pent-up demand for air travel in Thailand and very proud to be part of the tourism industry revival in the country. AirAsia has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and we are very pleased to be able to increase our flight services in view of the improving situation.

"Our recent promotion #FlyRuaRuaPass received an overwhelming response that was beyond our expectation, with all 80,000 travel passes available for sale snapped up in just 48 hours. To cater this spike in demand, we will be operating all of our 40 domestic routes across the Kingdom from April, both direct to and from Bangkok (Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi) and domestic cross-regional connections from our hubs in Chiang Mai and Phuket. Flight frequency and seat capacity will also return to 100 percent of the levels operating prior to the second wave of COVID-19 infection."

From 1 April 2021, AirAsia will be increasing frequency on popular routes, such as from Don Mueang to Chiang Mai with 13 daily flights, Phuket (11 daily flights), Hat Yai (eight daily flights), Surat Thani (six daily flights) and 5 daily flights to Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani respectively. AirAsia will also reinstate five routes from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai, Nan, Phuket, Hat Yai and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Stephanie Miner is no friend of Andrew Cuomo.

A onetime top Democratic official in New York and a former mayor of Syracuse, Ms. Miner has spent years criticizing the governors polarizing leadership style, even mounting a bid to unseat him in 2018. But as Mr. Cuomo fights for his job, facing growing calls by Democratic lawmakers to resign over allegations of groping and sexual harassment, Ms. Miner isnt quite ready to push him out.

We have this culture now of purity tests where theres this instant gratification  are you on the right side or the wrong side? said Ms. Miner, who wants to wait for an independent investigation into the accusations, which she believes is the best way to address broader problems of sexual harassment in Albany. The answers and the solutions need to be more nuanced.

Democrats are now confronting a highly fluid, still-developing situation in New York, with many voters appearing to share Ms. Miners caution about swiftly expelling the governor. The gravity of the allegations increased this week when The Times Union of Albany reported a new accusation against Mr. Cuomo: that when he was alone with a female aide in the Executive Mansion last year, he closed a door, reached under her blouse and began groping her. He has denied that he touched anyone inappropriately.

Support for Mr. Cuomo among Democratic politicians in New York has fallen away. On Friday evening, the states senators, Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, and Kirsten Gillibrand, called on him to resign, hours after most of the other Democrats in New Yorks congressional delegation urged him to step down. A day earlier, state Democratic officials took the first step toward potentially impeaching Mr. Cuomo.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and also serves on the committees of Appropriations, Armed Services and Veterans Affairs. Before joining the Senate in 2010, he served as West Virginias 34th governor.
(CNN)  At the height of a luminous career in genetics, Ron Davis, professor of biochemistry and genetics at Stanford University in California, switched to researching a disease that many of his colleagues had never heard of.

Prior to that shift seven years ago, his breakthrough work had led to dozens of patents and laid the groundwork for the Human Genome Project, revolutionizing modern biology by giving scientists a complete map of all genes in the human species.

But when his son Whitney Dafoe, then in his 20s, came down with myalgic encephalomyelitis -- better known as chronic fatigue syndrome -- he was left bedbound, unable to speak, and unable to eat solid food.

After moving in with his parents 10 years ago, Dafoe, now 37, has made little progress in getting his old life back.

Davis did what he does best -- turning to science and rallying several Nobel Prize-winning colleagues in his latest quest.

This time, he means to cure ME/CFS, which affects between 836,000 and 2.5 million Americans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency estimates the disease affects 17 and 24 million people worldwide.

Its symptoms include brain fog, muscle pain and what's called post-exertional malaise, in which simple acts like taking a shower leave someone bedbound for days.

Davis shares his journey in his new book, "The Puzzle Solver," co-written with journalist Tracie White and released in January.

During the global pandemic, Davis' search for a cure for ME/CFS could also shed new light in understanding why some Covid-19 long haulers have stayed sick for more than a year.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

CNN: You had a pioneering career as a geneticist. Why did you decide that you needed to focus all of your attention on one particular disease?

Ron Davis: I had no choice. My son came down with it, and we started seeing multiple doctors. Many of them didn't know what he had, and it took several years for him to get diagnosed. Those doctors were not very optimistic about the likelihood of getting him well.

It's really hard to treat these patients, since doctors don't have any research to base anything on. Doctors really just have their own experience and trial and error trying to help them. I felt we have to understand this better. There's a lot wrong with people who have this disease.

If there were great scientists and a lot of money doing it, I probably wouldn't have changed fields. But when I looked into how much money is spent (The National Institutes of Health awarded $15 million in ME/CFS research grants in 2019), and how many researchers there are, it was appalling. There's almost no money spent on it, and very few serious researchers had worked on it.

CNN: Many people with Covid-19 develop longer-term symptoms that mirror ME/CFS, such as fatigue and brain fog. What can we learn from studying Covid long haulers alongside ME/CFS patients?

Davis: We're trying to set up to do that. It would appear that certainly some Covid long haulers do have ME/CFS. It's not a surprise. A very large number of viruses can trigger ME/CFS.

There's some evidence that the previous SARS virus could trigger ME/CFS, and also MERS could trigger it, but that's not well documented. It wouldn't at all be surprising because the symptoms look exactly like ME/CFS.

I don't know that anybody has tried to measure post-exertional malaise in Covid long haulers. To some extent, you can actually figure that out by just talking to the patients, asking them, "What happens if you overexert yourself?" The worry I have in these long haulers is that they're seeing physicians that don't know anything about ME/CFS. It's a common disease, but it's not taught in medical school in general.

CNN: What advice would you have for Covid-19 long haulers so that they can stave off longer, more harmful effects?

Davis: Know when you're at your energy envelope limit. And don't ever exceed it for any reason. Be serious about it. I see so many patients that decide, "I'm going to go do this and I know I'll crash now but pay later."

You may get right back to where you were before, but then again, you might not. Crashing may be what keeps many of the patients sick. I've talked with one patient who recovered after about five years and was trying to explore what she did to make herself recover. She said, "I just got fanatical about it and decided I must never exceed my energy envelope. After a year of never crashing, I got over it."

There's no good evidence that being physically active will help you.

CNN: How or when would you expect Covid-19 symptoms to convert into an ME/CFS case?

Davis: My guess is that it occurs during the infection.

You will try to push yourself as you'll get a little bit better from the virus, which is causing your problems. And you're hoping you'll get better, when you push yourself a little bit, but I think that just sinks you deeper and deeper into it.

It's possible that people who have Covid, if they just rest a little longer, maybe they'll get over it. But you know, if you are fatigued after a major infection like the flu or any major viral infection, my suspicions are that fatigue is ME/CFS.

I think it's a useful thing to think about because it indicates that there is a good chance you'll get over Covid-19 if you rest enough.

CNN: The book tells the story of your son being an adventurous young man photographing wildlife in the Galapagos and studying Buddhism in the Himalayas. How is he now?

Davis: He's been bedbound for quite a few years now. He can't eat, so he's tube fed. He can't drink, so he has a port in his upper chest where we hook an IV in every day with one or 2 liters of saline.

He can't talk, so it's hard to communicate with him. He's gotten a little bit better. We've been giving him Abilify (a drug that can help balance certain natural chemicals in the brain). That seems to help him. We're guessing that it helps to elevate dopamine. There's some literature on it increasing dopamine. I'm very convinced that it helped my son.

We tried an awful lot of stuff that didn't help. He just continued to become more sensitive to stimuli.

Basically, his brain has just enough energy to keep him alive and nothing to spare.

CNN: He has a more extreme form of illness. Has studying him taught you a lot?

Davis: We did a study on severely ill patients that we're still working on, and one idea we got from the study is that severe patients are likely to have what's wrong with them be more easily detectable. Doctors say they do their tests on some patients and there's nothing wrong with them. You just need to go to the more severe patients where you're sure to find something.

There's actually a heck of a lot wrong physically wrong with them. It's a little overwhelming. That's why it's taking so long for us to analyze all the data. About a third or so of the metabolites (small molecules in the blood involved in metabolism) are more than two standard deviations away from normal (meaning that the abnormalities are very likely due to disease rather than random chance). And the more we look, the more we find.

We just received a $1 million grant to do this and more in Covid patients as they progress through the course of their disease, some of them becoming long haulers.

CNN: Do you think it's possible that there will be a commercially available diagnostic blood test for ME/CFS in the next few years?

Davis: Yes. We have a test that's called the nanoneedle, which we've been working on. What's nice about the nanoneedle assay (this new test) is that every patient that we've had (over 50 last year) show a positive test. And we've done the equivalent number of tests on healthy controls. And they're all negative. Most diagnostic tests have some level of false positive, false negative. So far, this is at zero.

Now it's possible that this test just tells you that they're not healthy, but that itself would be extremely helpful. Even if it isn't specific for the disease, it might be actually quite useful because this just says something's wrong with this person, so don't give up on them. We can make it easy to do and cheap, probably within a couple of years, provided we get funding.

This story was first published on CNN.com A Stanford scientist's quest to cure his son could help unravel the mystery of Covid-19 long haulers
They went public with their romance in January, and they moved in together earlier this month.

And Demi Sims gushed that she's 'all about the fairy tale' when quizzed over her relationship with Francesca Farago in a clip from Sunday night's episode of TOWIE, shared exclusively with MailOnline on Saturday.

The TV personality, 22, was asked if she thought she was going 'a bit quick' with her Too Hot To Handle star girlfriend, 27, but she said she likes 'taking things quick' in her relationships.

TOWIE EXCLUSIVE: Demi Sims claimed she's 'all about the fairy tale' as she was quizzed over whether her relationship with Francesca Farago is going 'a bit quick' on Sunday night's show

Speaking with her sister Chloe and friends Harry Derbidge, and Amy Childs at a bar, Harry claimed: 'The only thing I'm worried about is Demi getting married before me, she's on a roller-coaster.'

Demi simply quipped: 'Listen Harry, you snooze you lose, if I get married before you.'

Harry claimed he was 'so happy' for Demi, and suggested: 'I think you've actually met The One.'

Amy stepped in and asked: 'Dem, do you think it's a bit quick? I'm not judging!'

Whirlwind romance: Demi and Francesca went public with their romance in January, and they moved in together earlier this month

Quizzing: Speaking with her sister Chloe and friends Harry Derbidge, and Amy Childs, Harry (pictured) said he was 'so happy' for Demi, and suggested: 'I think you've actually met The One'

Demi was honest with her thoughts on the matter, admitting: 'I like taking things quick, I like finding out about someone and their heart, and I'm just all about the fairy tale to be honest'.

Chloe then chimed in to ask if Francesca, who hails from Canada, knew anything about Essex, and Demi said: 'Not at all, she doesn't have a clue.'

Her sister then said: 'I think she's going to have a bit of a culture shock.'

Thoughts: Amy (pictured) stepped in and asked: 'Do you think it's a bit quick? I'm not judging!'

Smitten: Demi was honest with her thoughts, admitting: 'I like taking things quick, I like finding out about someone and their heart, and I'm just all about the fairy tale to be honest'

Demi recently moved into a new home in London with girlfriend Francesca, and gave fans a glimpse of the flat via Instagram on Tuesday.

In the video, Demi scanned the room which features a spacious lounge area and heads outside to their balcony which was fitted with several seating areas.

The Too Hot To Handle star jetted over to the UK last month and styled her pet as a service dog as she travelled with him.

Francesca took to Instagram to document her transatlantic journey with her four-legged friend, who was carried onto the plane in a Christian Dior tote bag.

Concerns: Chloe asked if Francesca, who hails from Canada, knew anything about Essex, and Demi said: 'Not at all, she doesn't have a clue' and Chloe said she might have 'culture shock'

Loved up: Demi recently moved into a new home in London with girlfriend Francesca, and gave fans a glimpse of the flat via Instagram on Tuesday

Romeo, who in January was flown by Francesca over to Cancun, Mexico  where she'd enjoyed an extended 'work' trip with Demi  was shown wearing a black vest emblazoned with the words 'service dog' as they embarked on their journey.

According to Gov.uk, only travellers arriving in the country with guide or assistance dogs are permitted to travel with them in aircraft cabins.

The site states that British travel companies 'usually recognise guide or assistance dogs trained by organisations that are members of either: Assistance Dogs International [or] International Guide Dog Federation'.

States ADI on their site: 'Assistance dogs partnered teams which are not trained by a program accredited by ADI or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) are currently assessed on a case-by-case basis by the individual airlines.'

Home sweet home! In the video, Demi scanned the room which features a spacious lounge area and heads outside to their balcony which was fitted with several seating areas

In the bag: The Canadian beauty took to Instagram to document her transatlantic journey with her four-legged friend, who was carried onto the plane in a Christian Dior tote bag

Francesca shared on Instagram that she endured 'three weeks of paperwork' to bring her dog into the country.

Francesca, who was left behind in Mexico by Demi as she readied herself for the big move, had previously expressed concern about being able to get Romeo into the UK.

However, she appeared to have had all issues ironed out by the time she was seen embarking on her journey, which saw her departing from New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport to fly to London's Heathrow Airport.

MailOnline contacted a representative for Francesca Farago for comment at the time.

'Cu soon baby': The Too Hot To Handle star has reunited with her TOWIE star girlfriend Demi as she prepares to settle into a new life in London

Francesca was joined by friend Chris on the journey to the UK, where the brunette beauty told her Instagram followers she will remain before jetting off to Los Angeles on receiving her US visa  while she'll also spend some time in Toronto.

She explained how she initially wanted to fly to England with her new flame following their romantic 'work' trip, but had to complete 'three weeks' of paperwork in order to travel with Romeo.

On her journey over to the UK, Francesca took part in a Q&A with her followers on her Instagram Stories, revealing her travel plans and speaking about her romance.

Telling all: Francesca also took part in a Q&A, during which she spoke about her isolation plans

When asked if she would isolate on arrival to the UK, she said: 'Yes for 10 days, but we are able to get another Covid test after 5 days and don't have to isolate anymore :). We also needed a negative test to fly and are getting one right when we land!'

Elsewhere, she was asked how she and Demi met, and responded matter-of-factly: 'She slid into my DMs.'

In January, the blonde and her TOWIE star girlfriend shocked their fans on social media as they got their names tattooed on each other's bottom and wrist, just days after going public with their relationship.

The Only Way Is Essex returns on Sunday at 9pm on ITVBe and will be available on the ITV Hub.
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Around 1.8 million envenoming snake bites happen around the globe yearly, taking roughly 94,000 lives. In tropical regions, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, snakebites are regarded as a primary cause of death, mainly among farmers who confront snakes in their fields.

Approaches Taken to Combat Snakebites

The World Health Organization reacted to this by initiating a technical plan to shrink snakebites in 2030 by 50%. A crucial purpose for achieving this goal is enhancing relevant scientific studies.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University including other international research team has lately developed a resourceful simulation model foreseeing snakebites, established on a superior understanding of relations between snakes and farmers.

The motive of the model is to deduce the likelihood of snakebites happening in certain areas, for instance in tea fields against rice fields at various months of the year, days, and hours. The research is established upon substantial data and study from Sri Lanka, where around 30,000 envenoming snake bites take roughly 400 lives every year.

Read More: Terrifying Nature: Snakes Shove Their Heads Into Bodies of Living Frogs to Swallow Their Organs

The 6 Species of Snakes

It concentrated on 6 species of snakes, some listed among the top venomous on earth (Ceylon krait, hump-nosed, cobra, common krait, Russell's viper, and saw-scaled viper) complementing them with farmers who grow the three most popular crops in the region: rubber, rice, and tea.

Hence, for instance, the model envisage that during February and August, the bites of Russell's viper peak in rice fields, while rubber plantations in April and May is preferred by hump-nosed viper.

The model also indicates that in the southeastern region of the researched spot, the highest number of snakebites are caused by Russell's viper, one of the worlds most deadly snakes, while in other parts of this region, the most common kinds of snakebites are that of the less-lethal hump-nosed viper.

The research was conducted by Doctor Takuya Iwamura, presently at Oregon State University and Eyal Goldstein school of zoology at Tel Aviv University, and Dr. Kris Murray of Tropical Medicine in London and the School of Hygiene and the Imperial College London. Other participants are scientists from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Lancaster University. The paper was released in February 2021 in Neglected Tropical Diseases PLOS.

Behavior of Both Humans and Snakes

"We developed an interdisciplinary model (a first of its kind) which involved the behavior structures of both sides - humans, and snakes, recognizing risk components at several places and times. and also warning against them. For instance, the model can distinguish between high-risk and low-risk regions. A distinction that can be seen is twice the amount of snakebites per 100,000 lives" explained Eyal Goldstein.



Doctor Murray revealed that both humans and snakes go about their routines at various times of the day, in different kinds of environments and different seasons - the model catches all this to foretell clashes between snakes and people in places where farmers are busy. Aggressiveness of different snake species was then taken to assess how possibly a clash is to result in a bite.

RELATED ARTICLE: Snakes Develop Ability to Resist Their Own Venom, Study Reveals

For more news, updates about snake bites and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Phnom Penh, March 13: A lady police officer was photographed breastfeeding her child while on duty in Cambodia this week. The picture went viral and her superiors compelled her to issue a public apology for "offending" the dignity of her office and women in general. The cop was also forced to sign an agreement stating she won't repeat the act. This has triggered an outcry on social media with people calling for protection of women's rights in Cambodia. Gilu Josephs Breastfeeding Photo-Shoot: What Do Real Mothers Think about Breastfeeding in Public?

The picture of Sithong Sokha breastfeeding her child while on duty has gone viral on social media platforms. Later, it emerged that she was publicly shamed by her seniors for her act and told to apologise, according to a report of news agency Reuters. The treatment of Sokha sparked public outrage and drew divided official response. Does Breastfeeding Really Tire You Out? Here's How Nursing Your Child Could Dip Your Energy Levels and Make You Sleepy!

Picture of Sithong Sokha Breastfeeding:

really know what law that she would be face with when she give your baby #breastfeeding in public--promising not to do it again if not "if i do not follow my promise, i would take responsible in the face the law"  pic.twitter.com/qi935U7KCm  Mech Dara (@MechDara1) March 10, 2021

Sithong Sokha Made to Apologise:

"It is disturbing that the officer was originally encouraged to apologize for offending the dignity of her office and women and made to sign a contract agreeing to discontinue her behaviour," 39 civil society groups said in a statement. "For women's rights in the workplace to be realised, it is paramount that childcare equipment and facilities, and breastfeeding breaks with pay, are made easily available to all working mothers," they added.

Cambodia's Women's Affairs Ministry, initially, remained silent on the incident. It later wrote an open letter in support of the lady officer. However, the response was not welcomed fully because the ministry said breastfeeding in public could be seen as "affecting the values and the dignity of Khmer women." Earlier this week, a senior Interior Ministry official also wrote an open letter, saying she was "extremely dismayed" at the treatment of Sokha.

"She did not express any sexiness in the photograph in order to attract attention like some online vendors," Chou Bun Eng, a secretary of state, said. Following the outcry, according to Reuters, the police said the officer was not reprimanded for breastfeeding in public. The police said the lady officer was scolded because she shared her picture while on duty.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 13, 2021 01:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Hong Kong: 47 COVID-19 cases detected

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 47 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 43 are locally transmitted and four are imported.

Among the local cases, four have unknown sources of infection while 35 are linked to URSUS Fitness in Sai Ying Pun.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centres Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said that more than 10 cases have preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. Among them, six are unlinked cases, including a kindergarten student and a primary school student.

Dr Chuang also explained how the centre handles a situation where COVID-19 cases are detected at schools.

Usually if the children are younger, the compliance for wearing masks may not be good, so for the students of kindergartens and childcare centres or pre-schools, playgroups, etc, if they have confirmed cases, we may have to put some of the students under compulsory quarantine.

For those older children, if they can wear masks without close-contact activities, we'll ask them to undergo testing.

Dr Chuang pointed out that the centre did not issue a quarantine order for students of Kellett School.

We have discussed whether to quarantine the students or issue a compulsory testing notice for them because their ages are borderline - nine or 10.

After clarification, we understand that they wore masks during classes and there were not many social activities, only teaching by teachers. We have not placed them under quarantine but asked them to get tested instead.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Tanzania's prime minister, Kassim Majaliwa, on Friday refuted rumors circulating for almost a week now that President John Magufuli is ill, saying he is "healthy and continuing with his duties as usual."

Majaliwa, who spoke during the Islamic Friday prayer in southern Tanzania, urged Tanzanians to ignore reports that their leader was ill.

The prime minister did not elaborate on the president's whereabouts or explain why he has not been seen in public for nearly two weeks, amid rumors that he has contracted COVID-19 and was outside the country for treatment.

Majaliwa said he had spoken with Magufuli by phone and assured Tanzanians that he is well.

The prime minister's remarks were the first official statement by the Tanzanian government about Magufuli's absence from public view amid widespread rumors that he is ill. The 61-year-old leader last appeared publicly on February 27 during an official function at the statehouse in Dar es Salaam, the country's business capital.

Various international media outlets have reported on Magufuli's public absence and his reported transfer to a hospital outside the country. Neither his spokesman, Gerson Msigwa, nor government spokesman Hassan Abbas has responded to media inquiries.

Tanzanias government has not publicly reported cases of COVID-19 infection since May 2020, when it recorded 509 infections and 21 deaths among the East African country of 60 million people.

Magufuli has promoted prayer and steam inhalation as an antidote to the coronavirus, and he has disparaged new vaccines as dangerous.

If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, then vaccinations for AIDS would have been brought, tuberculosis would be a thing of the past, vaccines for malaria and cancer would have been found, he said in January.

This report originated in VOA's Swahili Service
Davy Groups ultimate sale price is likely to be far below its estimated value before the fallout from a bond scandal sent the company into a tailspin over the last two weeks.

Reputational damage, the ouster of key senior personnel, a large share overhang and fear of undisclosed problems at the investment firm have seriously depressed the probable size of the bids in the coming firesale, according to industry sources.

Some believe the final price for Davy could fall below 200m  less than h alf of the top-end valuation of 400m suggested by some before the Central Bank fined and reprimanded the firm for breaking regulations in a 2014 private client bond deal.

At that price Davy would be worth only slightly more than its nearest rival Goodbody, which agreed a 138m sale to AIB two weeks ago after being valued at 155m by Bank of China in a failed deal last year.

Read More

Davy confirmed on Thursday night it was putting itself up for sale rather than try to survive as an independent entity through an unrelenting storm of negative publicity and disruption unleashed by its exposed misconduct.

The board appointed investment bank Rothschild to manage the process on behalf of Davy.

Bank of Ireland (BOI) is believed to be a leading contender to acquire the firm. A deal would reunite the two after Davy management executed a management buyout for more than 300m in 2006.

A BOI-Davy tie-up is also seen in financial and political circles as a quick and tidy fix to a knotty problem at Ireland's largest stockbroker and private wealth manager.

A deal would create symmetry between the two pillar banks and bring Davy under the cultural influence of BOI chief executive Francesca McDonagh, an outspoken proponent of upright corporate behaviour. However, if BOI managed to land Davy at a steep discount, it would be a much better piece of business than the one recently negotiated between AIB and Goodbody.

BOI would be buying back a highly profitable old asset at a lower price, while AIB is taking Goodbody back at more than five times the 24m it got when it was forced to sell the stockbroker to Fexco in 2012.

Yet the value of Davy is in some doubt following the forced departures of senior figures such as CEO Brian McKiernan and deputy chairman Kyran McLaughlin. For a commodity business like a stockbroker, the strong and deep relationships are the source of operating leverage and profitability.

Several other potential buyers have been reported in recent days, including Swiss wealth management firm Julius Baer.

Irish Life was on the shortlist of bidders for Goodbody and might consider a run at Davy, although it is believed the company, which is owned by Great West Lifeco, is not in a hurry to put in a bid.

It is understood that major institutional investors and corporate clients had made their concerns known to the firm over the course of the week, possibly prompting movement by the board towards a sale.

Institutional shareholders have been applying increasing pressure to corporations in recent years to raise governance and social responsibility standards not only for themselves, but for their service providers such as Davy.

One fund manager source said corporations that have relationships with Davy would be asked to account for themselves at annual shareholder reviews.
Washington:

US President Donald Trump will visit storm-ravaged Texas on Tuesday, the White House said, even as the administration ramps up its response to the most powerful hurricane to hit America in 13 years.

Hurricane Harvey left a trail of destruction as it swept through Texas on Sunday, pummelling the region with heavy rains and claiming at least 5 lives since making landfall on the US Gulf Coast.

We are coordinating logistics with state and local officials, and once details are finalised, we will let you know, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

We continue to keep all of those affected in our thoughts and prayers, she added.

US President Trump took to Twitter Sunday to indicate he was monitoring Tropical Storm Harvey, which continues to wreak havoc on the Texas Gulf Coast after being downgraded from a hurricane.

The US president praised the great coordination between all levels of government and great talent on the ground.

He also said he will visit Texas as soon as that trip can be made without causing disruption to the ongoing emergency response.

He continued to closely monitor the situation in Texas and held a video teleconference with top officials from Camp David, where he is spending the weekend.

Participants in the call included the Vice President Mike Pence and Chief of Staff John Kelly.

President Trump continued to stress his expectation that all departments and agencies stay fully committed to supporting the Governors of Texas and Louisiana and his number one priority of saving lives, said a read out of the video conference.

The President and Vice President continue to extend their thoughts and prayers to those affected and recognise the many volunteer and faith-based organisations dedicating time and efforts to helping fellow Americans, it said.

Trump has already declared major disaster in the state of Texas.

Meanwhile the National Weather Service called the flooding in Texas unprecedented as the State experienced a record breaking 50 inches of rain in parts of Texas.

The breadth and intensity of this rainfall are beyond anything experienced before.

Catastrophic flooding is now underway and expected to continue for days, the service said in a statement.

Later yesterday, Trump held a second Cabinet meeting on Hurricane Harvey to shore up response and recovery efforts, according to the White House.

The storm has hammered Texas since Friday, when it first made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane.

The federal government has 5,000 people on site in Texas and Louisiana, where the storm continues to bring torrential rains and flooding.

Trump, who spent Sunday morning praising the federal governments response to Harvey in a series of tweets, continued to stress his expectation that all departments and agencies stay fully committed to supporting the Governors of Texas and Louisiana and his number one priority of saving lives, the statement reads.

Vice President Mike Pence in a tweet yesterday emphasised the White House statement that Trumps top priority is saving lives.

@POTUS stressed all depts & agencies stay committed to supporting Govs of Texas & Louisiana & his number one priority of saving lives, Pence wrote on Twitter, including a readout of the teleconference the two held earlier.

The statement adds that Trump reminded everyone that search and rescue efforts will transition to mass care, restoring power, providing life-sustaining necessities for the population that sheltered in place, and economic recovery.

He also urged those impacted by the storm to continue to heed the instructions of State and local officials.

Earlier Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott heaped praise on the federal governments response to Hurricane Harvey, and Trump convened administration leaders to discuss the recovery from the storm that battered the Texas coast over the weekend.

Their efforts came as it became clear that the situation was bad and could possibly get much worse. Amid dire warnings, Abbott praised the response to the crisis. The monster storm has claimed 10 lives so far.

The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said recovery efforts would take years.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Migrants are seen after crossing the Rio Bravo river to turn themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol agents to request for asylum in El Paso, Texas, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on March 4, 2021. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)

Bidens Rhetoric, Rollback of Trump Orders Driving Spike in Illegal Border Crossings: Expert

President Joe Bidens words and his rollback of former President Donald Trumps immigration restrictions are the primary reasons behind a spike in illegal crossings at the United States southern border, an immigration expert said.

Its driven by Bidens rhetoric, his rollback of Trump administration restrictions at the border, Andrew Arthur, resident fellow in law and policy for the Center for Immigration Studies, told The Epoch Times.

Biden, who campaigned in part on rescinding Trump immigration orders, not only halted construction of the wall at the border, but ended the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols, which forced many asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their claims were heard.

In addition, the administration has signaled to individuals who are considering coming to this country that its policies are much different from the Trump administration, Arthur added. So all of those things put together are really the reason why were seeing this increase.

The number of crossings along the southern border in February alone was over 100,000, recently released federal data shows. Thats despite a week of freezing weather, and doesnt include the 26,000 who evaded capture, Jaeson Jones, a former Texas Department of Public Safety captain, told The Epoch Times.

Historically, spikes in migration have happened in the summer, when the weather is more favorable for traveling. The spike doesnt bode well for the upcoming months. It was the highest number of apprehensions in 14 years for the month of February, according to Border Patrol numbers Arthur analyzed.

In a chart from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tracking encounters, the blue line representing this fiscal years apprehensions is trending above the line representing the sharp increase seen in fiscal 2019, when 60,781 illegal crossings in October spiked to 144,116 in seven months.

In a chart tracking the number of apprehensions by Border Patrol agents along the southern border of the United States, the numbers for fiscal year 2021 (blue) are trending above those seen in fiscal year 2019 (orange). (CBP)

Some of the apprehensions are of people who try crossing again after being ejected following an initial attempt. For example, agents saw about 75,000 unique individuals out of over 100,000 apprehensions in February, Troy Miller, the senior official performing the duties of CBP commissioner, told reporters on a call this week.

Biden administration officials, including Miller, have said the recent spike is due to economic and social instability in the countries where migrants are coming from, the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent inclement weather events.

So if you put all those issues together, youre going to see folks are looking for a better way of life, Miller said.

Still, a top border official in a briefing on March 10 acknowledged Bidens policies may be driving the surge.

Surges tend to respond to hope, and there was a significant hope for a more humane policy after four years of pent up demand, Roberta Jacobson, the administrations southwestern border coordinator, told reporters at the White House in Washington.

Officials have insisted the border isnt open, but their policies and Bidens rhetoric on the campaign trail and since then is undermining those claims, Arthur told The Epoch Times.

Unless the administration and Congress act by amending existing immigration law and reimposing restrictions, the crisis could easily get worse, he added.

That the numbers are so high so early is a harbinger of bad things, he said.

Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.

Kuttawa Man Charged with Meth Trafficking

By West Kentucky Star Staff

KUTTAWA - A Kuttawa man was arrested Friday afternoon on DUI and drug charges.The Lyon County Sheriff's Department said they began investigating drug activity by 46-year-old James Michael Howard on Monday, March 8. They say he had methamphetamine and intended to sell it.The investigation led to the seizure of drugs, electronics, containers and a vehicle. A district judge issued a warrant for Howard's arrest and he was taken to Crittenden County Detention Center.Howard is charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (more than 2 grams of methamphetamine) and DUI 2nd offense, along with possession of meth and drug paraphernalia.The Sheriff's Department said Howard was on probation for previous meth-related offenses and a previous DUI conviction.
The Tennessee Department of Education announced applications are open for all Tennessee public schools to apply for the new cohort of trauma-informed schools.

In Tennessee, there are currently 73 schools that have earned this designation, which recognizes schools for their emphasis on implementing trauma-informed strategies to provide critical supports for students.

The deadline for schools to apply is March 31.

Find the online application here and additional information here

"Every student has a story, and by approaching students through a trauma-informed lens, schools are better equipped to provide the academic and nonacademic supports needed to help each and every student reach their unique potential, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. Through participation in the trauma-informed schools cohort, schools across Tennessee will have the opportunity to receive trainings and resources around this critical work so schools can provide essential supports to help students be successful.

Schools implementing trauma-informed approaches have seen improvements in school climate, attendance, and teacher satisfaction, while seeing a reduction in suspensions and expulsions, stress for staff and students, and more.
BRIDGEPORT  Police are asking for the publics help identifying a suspect in a bank robbery Friday afternoon.

The holdup alarm was activated at the Chase Bank on Main Street at 3:51 p.m., Detective Michael Fiumidinisi said.
Jenny Morrison has opened up about the 'exhaustion and isolation' she suffered as a new mother when her husband Scott Morrison was away on Prime Ministerial duties.

Ms Morrison, 53, was speaking about her experiences of peri-natal depression after the couple's girls Abbey and Lily were born 14 and 12 years ago.

'When our daughters arrived, Scott was travelling to Canberra for parliament and feelings of exhaustion and isolation began to creep in,' she said.

Jenny Morrison (left) said 'feelings of exhaustion and isolation' were an issue for her as a mum when Scott would travel to Canberra for parliament

The Morrisons at Government House, from left: Lily, Jenny, Scott, Abbey and Scott's mother Marion

Ms Morrison, a former registered nurse, spoke to while visiting the Gidget Foundation, a group formed to help new mums with their emotional wellbeing, The Daily Telegraph reported.

'I learned that it is so important to reach out for help, say "yes" when that help is offered and to talk to others,' Ms Morrison said.

'Thankfully I had a wonderful doctor, a great group of friends and family to help me. Knowing that you're not alone can be the first step in managing peri-natal anxiety and depression.'

Scott and Jenny Morrison have been married 31 years.

They met when they were just 12 years old when their families both had a day at Luna Park, despite both growing up in Sydney's Sutherland Shire.

They officially started dating at 16 and got married at 21.

But their marriage was not without its struggles - the couple have spoken about their years long battle to have a child.

Now Mrs Morrison has spoken about the difficulties of being a new mum.

The Gidget Foundation was named after Louise 'Gidget' Blacker, a Sydney mum who took her life while suffering postnatal depression.

Post-natal depression is a condition one in six women experience up a year after a birth, while one in 10 mothers suffer antenatal depression during pregnancy.

Peri-natal depression is a term used to cover all types of depression associated with pregnancy and being a new mum. It can also reoccur during and after subsequent pregnancies.

Mrs Morrison said that many new parents 'don't where to turn to for support.'

Jenny Morrison got through her peri-natal depression with the help of her doctor, family and friends

Jenny Morrison (pictured centre) with women from peri-natal support group The Gidget Foundation

Gidget Foundation CEO Arabella Gibson said requests for help have dramatically increased during Covid.

She explained the foundation has seen a 122 per cent increase in demand.



Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Gidget Foundation 1300 851 758
Dulquer Salmaan, the popular actor is all set to play a police officer in Salute, the upcoming Rosshan Andrrews movie. The promising first look poster of Salute, which was revealed recently, had set social media on fire. Now, Dulquer Salmaan has revealed the name of his character in the cop film.

The actor-producer recently took to his official social media pages and shared a new poster of Salute in which is he once again seen in the police uniform. "Meet Aravind Karunakaran  #Salute," Dulquer Salmaan wrote in his post. The highly promising second poster of the Rosshan Andrrews starrer is now winning the internet.

Dulquer Salmaan's close friends from the film industry, including Prithviraj Sukumaran, are also highly impressed with the second poster of Salute. "Looking the real deal brother man! ," Prithviraj commented on the post. "@therealprithvi thank you superstar! You paved the way ," Dulquer replied to the Lucifer director's comment.

As per the latest reports, Dulquer Salmaan is playing a young police officer in Salute, which is said to be a unique cop story. As reported earlier, the talented actor is playing the first full-fledged police officer role of his career in this much-awaited project. Expectations are riding high on the project after the release of the promising posters.

Bollywood actress Diana Penty is appearing as the female lead opposite Dulquer in Salute. Manoj K Jayan, Lakshmi Gopalaswami, Saniya Iyappan, and Alencier Ley Lopez play the other pivotal roles. Bobby-Sanjay, the National award-winning duo has penned the cop thriller. Santhosh Narayanan, the popular musician has been roped in to compose the songs and original score for the Dulquer Salmaan starrer. Aslam K Purayil is the director of photography. Cyril Kuruvilla handles the production designing. Salute is bankrolled by Dulquer Salmaan's home banner Wayfarer Films.

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SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative (QLHC), the sponsor of the I-SPY COVID Trial, announced that apremilast (Otezla), made by Amgen, has been dropped for futility. Apremilast was chosen for testing in the I-SPY COVID Trial because it is a phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor hypothesized to blunt the cytokine storm that accompanies critical illness associated with COVID-19.

The I-SPY COVID Trial is a phase II, open label, adaptive platform trial being conducted in critically ill COVID-19 patients who are receiving high flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation. The trial was designed to rapidly screen agents to find those with the best chance of reducing time to recovery (defined as reduction in oxygen demand) by approximately 50% and reducing risk of death. The I-SPY COVID Trial identified the initial agents for the study through a unique partnership with the COVID R&D Alliance, and apremilast was the first agent identified and approved to go forward through this mechanism.

QLHC discontinued testing of apremilast (Otezla) in the I-SPY COVID Trial because, after 67 patients enrolled, the agent met the predefined futility criterion, defined as at least 90% probability that the hazard ratio for time to recovery is less than 1.5 compared to the control arm. The data from apremilast patients were compared to those from 133 patients concurrently randomized to the control, which included backbone therapy (consisting of dexamethasone and remdesivir). Patients assigned to the apremilast arm received backbone therapy in combination with 30 mg twice daily of apremilast for up to 14 days. Based on a near final analysis, there is a low probability that the addition of apremilast to backbone therapy reduces time to recovery, and there is no indication that it reduces mortality. As a result, the Data Monitoring Committee recommended closing the arm.

Dr. Karl Thomas, an I-SPY COVID Trial co-investigator and chaperone (PI) of the apremilast arm, and an associate professor of medicine at Wake Forest University (Winston Salem, North Carolina), commented, "The I-SPY COVID Trial suggests that adding apremilast to backbone therapy did not impact recovery in patients critically ill with COVID-19 when compared to those receiving backbone therapy alone."

"While we were disappointed that apremilast did not succeed in altering the clinical course of critically ill COVID-19 ARDS patients when added to dexamethasone and/or remdesivir, we were glad to know this quickly and to move on to other agents that might be more effective for this particular group of patients," continued Dr. Paul Berger, a professor of medicine at Sanford Health in South Dakota and co-principal investigator for the apremilast arm of the I-SPY COVID Trial.

"While Amgen is also disappointed that apremilast did not meet the predefined, high treatment effect required in this trial for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who are in the ICU or have a high oxygen need, as compared to the control, we appreciate the ability of the I-SPY COVID Trial investigators to generate meaningful data rapidly," said Elliott Levy, senior vice president of R&D strategy and operations, Amgen. "We all worked as a team to quickly execute the study and would like to take this opportunity to thank the study participants."

"The investigators and the many individuals involved in this study are truly grateful to Amgen for proactively engaging with the I-SPY COVID Trial," said Laura Esserman, founder and co-principal investigator of the I-SPY Trials and director of the Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center at UCSF. "By contributing a successful commercial drug to the trial for rigorous evaluation in the critical care setting, Amgen demonstrated the industry commitment to partnering and leveraging an adaptive platform study design to accelerate research and help combat the global pandemic."

About Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative

Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative is a 501C(3) charitable organization established in 2005 as a collaboration between medical researchers at University of California, San Francisco and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Our mission is to integrate high-impact research with clinical processes and systems technology, resulting in improved data management and information systems, greater access to clinical trial matching and sponsorship, and greater benefit to providers, patients and researchers. Our goal is to improve and save lives. Quantum Leap provides operational, financial, and regulatory oversight to the I-SPY Trials. For more information, visit www.QuantumLeapHealth.org.

About the I-SPY Trials

The I-SPY Trials were designed to rapidly screen promising experimental treatments and identify those most effective in specific patient subgroups based on molecular characteristics (biomarker signatures). The trial is a unique collaborative effort by a consortium that includes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), industry, patient advocates, philanthropic sponsors, and clinicians from 20 major U.S. medical research centers. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative is the trial sponsor and manages all study operations. For more information, visit www.ispytrials.org.

SOURCE Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative

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http://www.quantumleaphealth.org



Scientists have been working for more than a century to decipher the Antikythera Mechanism, which is a 2,000-year-old device used by ancient Greek's to calculate astronomical positions.

Now researchers at University College London (UCL) believe they have solved the mystery of the 'world's oldest computer' by building a digital replica with a working gear system at the front - the piece that has eluded the scientific community since 1901.

Using a combination of X-ray images and ancient Greek mathematical analysis, the team decoded the design of the front gear to match physical evidence and inscriptions etched in the bronze .

The digital result shows a center dome representing Earth that is surrounded by the moon phase, the sun, Zodiac constellations and rings for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

Lead author Professor Tony Freeth (UCL Mechanical Engineering) explained: 'Ours is the first model that conforms to all the physical evidence and matches the descriptions in the scientific inscriptions engraved on the Mechanism itself.

'The Sun, Moon and planets are displayed in an impressive tour de force of ancient Greek brilliance.'

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Researchers believe they have solved the mystery of the 'world's oldest computer' by building a digital replica with a working gear system at the front. The center dome is Earth surrounded by the phase of the Moon and its position in the Zodiacthen rings for Mercury, Venus, sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn

In 1901, divers looking for sponges off the coast of Antikythera, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, stumbled upon a Roman-era shipwreck that held the highly sophisticated astronomical calculator.

The Antikythera Mechanism has since captivated the scientific community and the world with wonder, but has also sparked a more than century long investigation into how an ancient civilization fashioned such an incredible device.

The calculator's gears and face form the motions of the planets and sun, phases of the lunar calendar and positions of Zodiac constellations, along with special Earth events like the Olympic Games.

At the time there were only five known planets and the Greek's positioned the Earth as the center of the universe, which was all taken into account by UCL when making their model.

The team used a combination of X-ray images and ancient Greek mathematical analysis to build its digital replica

In 1901, divers looking for sponges off the coast of Antikythera, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, stumbled upon a Roman-era shipwreck that held the highly sophisticated astronomical calculator. Only about one third of the Mechanism has survived, and is split into 82 fragments

Researchers say the mechanism may have displayed the movement of the sun, moon and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn on concentric rings.

The team began their work where Michael Wright, a former curator of mechanical engineering at the Science Museum in London, had left off.

Wright built the first workable system at the front that calculated planetary motions and periods, with a coaxial pointer display of the Cosmos, proving its mechanical feasibility  but failed at making it fully operational.

However, only about one third of the Mechanism has survived, and is split into 82 fragments that has played a part into why the device has been difficult to decipher.

The largest fragment, known as Fragment A, shows features of bearings, pillars and a block, while Fragment D features a disk, a 63 tooth-gear and plate.

Researchers say the mechanism may have displayed the movement of the sun, moon and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn on concentric rings. Pictured (bottom) are the images captured using X-ray data

The largest fragment, known as Fragment A (a-h), shows features of bearings, pillars and a block, while Fragment D (i-l) features a disk, a 63 tooth-gear and plate. Images m-p are digital reconstruction of both pieces of how they original fit 2,000 years ago

Now that the team has an idea how the Mechanism was constructed, the next step is to 'prove its feasibility by making it with ancient techniques. Pictured is the digital construction of the front gear system

Previous work used X-ray data in 2005 to uncover thousands of text characters hidden inside the fragments.

Inscriptions on the back cover include a description of the cosmos display, with the planets moving on rings and indicated by marker beads.

What as the Antikythera Mechanism used for? From a few words deciphered on the twisted, corroded fragments of bronze gears and plates, experts guessed the relic was an astronomical instrument. But much more remained hidden out of sight. After more than a decade's efforts using cutting-edge scanning equipment, an international team of scientists has now read about 3,500 characters of explanatory text - a quarter of the original - in the innards of the 2,100-year-old remains. They say it was a kind of philosopher's guide to the galaxy, and perhaps the world's oldest mechanical computer. Advertisement

And this is what help the UCL team reconstruct the device.

Two critical numbers in the X-rays of the front cover, of 462 years and 442 years, accurately represent cycles of Venus and Saturn.

When observed from Earth, the planets' cycles sometimes reverse their motions against the stars and the variable cycles must be tracked over a long period in order to accurately predict their positions.

Ph.D. candidate and UCL Antikythera Research Team member Aris Dacanalis, said: 'The classic astronomy of the first millennium BC originated in Babylon, but nothing in this astronomy suggested how the ancient Greeks found the highly accurate 462-year cycle for Venus and 442-year cycle for Saturn.'

Using an ancient Greek mathematical method described by the philosopher Parmenides, the UCL team not only explained how the cycles for Venus and Saturn were derived but also managed to recover the cycles of all the other planets, where the evidence was missing.

Ph.D. candidate and team member David Higgon explained: 'After considerable struggle, we managed to match the evidence in Fragments A and D to a mechanism for Venus, which exactly models its 462-year planetary period relation, with the 63-tooth gear playing a crucial role.'

Professor Freeth added: 'The team then created innovative mechanisms for all of the planets that would calculate the new advanced astronomical cycles and minimize the number of gears in the whole system, so that they would fit into the tight spaces available.'

The Antikythera Mechanism was named after the southern Greek island off which it was found, in a mid-1st century BC shipwreck, discovered first in 1901 in the Aegean Sea. Location of the shipwreck pictured

Now that the team has an idea how the Mechanism was constructed, the next step is to 'prove its feasibility by making it with ancient techniques,' added co-author, Dr. Adam Wojcik (UCL Mechanical Engineering).

'A particular challenge will be the system of nested tubes that carried the astronomical outputs,' he continued.
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Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged in the name of France that Ali Boumendjel, a lawyer and activist for the National Liberation Front (Front de Liberation NationalFLN), was tortured and murdered by French General Jacques Massus paratroopers in 1957, during the Algerian war. His execution was made to look like a suicide.

Portrait of Ali Boumendjel [Source: Wikimedia Commons]

Macrons statement was published on March 2 by the Elysee Palace. The same day, Macron met with Boumendjels grandchildren. During the Battle for Algiers, Boumendjel was arrested by the French army, placed in solitary confinement, tortured and then executed on March 23, 1957, the statement read.

Boumendjel was born in 1919 and was the son of a Kabyle schoolteacher, a Berber ethnic group in the Kabylia region of northern Algeria. In 1946, he joined Ferhat Abbass Democratic Union of the Algerian Manifesto, and became one of the main lawyers for the Algerian nationalists. He joined the FLN in 1955, the year after the start of the Algerian war, while working for the Shell oil company.

The criminal colonial war waged by French imperialism left half a million people dead in Algeria. Out of 10 million Algerians, France detained 3 million in internment camps. Twenty-five thousand French soldiers died in the war and over 60,000 were wounded. Of the 1.5 million French soldiers involved in the war, most of them young conscripts, many returned traumatised by the crimes they had seen or committed.

Boumendjel was arrested on 9 February 1957, during the Battle for Algiers, an urban guerrilla war against French police and paratroopers in the Algerian capital. Detained and tortured for a month in various places in the Algiers region, he was murdered 43 days after his arrest, on March 23, 1957. He was thrown from the top of the sixth floor of a building in El Bair on the orders of Commander Paul Aussaresses. The Elysee press release recalls that in 2000, Paul Aussaresses himself confessed to having ordered one of his subordinates to kill him and to make the crime look like suicide.

During the same period, Maurice Audin, a young mathematician and activist of the Stalinist Algerian Communist Party (PCA), and supporter of Algerian independence, was detained and tortured in the same building before being executed by the French army. In 2018, Macron admitted that Audin was tortured and murdered by the French state.

Macrons admission of Boumendjels assassination follows a report by historian Benjamin Stora. Commissioned in July 2020 by Macron to draw up a fair and precise inventory of the memory of colonisation and the Algerian War, Stora submitted his 160-page report in January. In his report, Stora formulates various recommendations to be implemented for a possible memorial reconciliation between France and Algeria.

In fact, Macron is trying to whitewash the crimes of French imperialism during the Algerian War. The Elysee statement continues: No crime, no atrocity committed by anyone during the Algerian War can be excused or concealed. They must be looked at with courage and lucidity, with absolute respect for all those whose lives they tore apart and whose destiny they shattered.

Macrons recognition of the French states crime in Algeria is a cynical and empty political manoeuvre. In January, Macron refused to apologise for French crimes in Algeria. There would be no repentance or apology either for the colonisation of Algeria or for the bloody eight-year war (1954-1962) that ended 132 years of French rule, he said. The Elysee added that Macron would instead participate in symbolic acts.

Moreover, Macrons gesture will have no legal consequences for the officers who led the repression in Algeria, including Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the far-right National Front (since renamed National Rally). They were protected and exonerated by the state.

To claim that this cynical and empty action could erase or forgive the enormous crimes of French imperialism in Algeria is an insult to the workers and oppressed masses of the former colonial countries. Moreover, the gesture of the president of the rich did not win any significant response in the Algerian or French population. Pariss hollow reconciliation action is in fact directed toward the Algerian regime, which was shaken by mass protests in 2019-2020, and is part of a strategy to dominate the north African region.

As Macron makes his symbolic confession about the assassination of Boumendjel, he is himself moving towards a far-right policy by promoting anti-democratic measures and militarism. In Europe, his government is pursuing a policy of herd immunity toward the coronavirus that has devastated Europe. In Africa, he is intensifying the imperialist wars launched by his predecessors to defend the geostrategic interests of French imperialism.

For France, relations with Algeria are essential not only for the profits of major French companies, especially due to its oil and gas resources, but also for the waging of war in the Sahel. France launched this war with its intervention in northern Mali in 2013, following the 2011 war in Libya.

Paris has relied on the support of the Algerian regime to fight the war. Algeria allowed French warplanes to use its airspace to bomb Mali, with which Algeria shares a 1,300-kilometre desert border.

In 2013, Socialist Party Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius explicitly thanked the Algerian regime for allowing French flights over its territory, and for closing their border with Mali to trap militias in Mali hostile to Paris interests.

This highlights how, since Algerias formal independence, the bourgeois nationalist regime of the FLN has integrated itself into the camp of imperialism to defend the local bourgeoisies interests, while playing a central role in exploiting the Algerian working class and repressing class struggles.

Macrons hypocritical acknowledgement of French imperialist crimes comes amid mounting social opposition against war and social inequality across the region and in France itself, as part of a radicalisation of the working class on a global scale.

Since February 2019, Algeria has been rocked by social anger and the Hirak protest movement against the FLN regime and the army. This movement is part of an international resurgence of class struggle against social inequality and imperialism. Mali has also seen several demonstrations in recent months to demand the withdrawal of French troops. Anger is erupting in Mali against the official lie that Frances aim is to protect the population from jihadist terrorist networks threatening to conquer Mali.

In this context, Macrons acknowledgement of Frances assassination of Ali Boumendjel is an effort to dull workers anger on both sides of the Mediterranean, in Europe and in the Maghreb. The way forward to stop further imperialist crimes, such as the assassination of Boumendjel, is to unite and mobilise the international working class against capitalism and war on an international socialist perspective.
The Duchess of Sussex has written to Buckingham Palace demanding to see any documents, emails or text messages relating to the bullying complaint against her, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

A senior Palace aide had accused her of 'unacceptable behaviour' towards two personal assistants and undermining the confidence of a third. The Palace has now launched an inquiry into the claims.

But in a clear indication that the Duchess is preparing to fight back against what she has termed 'a smear campaign', a senior Palace source confirmed that her office had 'written to request the evidence'.

The Duchess of Sussex has written to Buckingham Palace demanding to see any documents relating to the bullying complaint against her

In response, the Queen has passed the request to the Prince of Wales, whose closest aides are now conducting a search of files.

News that Meghan is gearing up for a battle with the Palace to defend her reputation comes as:

The Queen, 94, will go ahead with planned engagements this week to continue the 'business as usual' approach taken since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave their bombshell interview to Oprah Winfrey;

Meghan's friend Janina Gavankar joined the fightback by alleging that one of the PAs had been fired for 'gross misconduct' and did not leave because of bullying;

Omid Scobie, the co-author of the Sussexes' biography Finding Freedom, said he had seen an email from Meghan asking staff to correct a story that she had made the Duchess of Cambridge cry;

Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation announced it would be supporting several charities including Mind, the mental health charity, Colour of Change, an American civil rights organisation, and PressPad, which seeks to improve diversity in the media;

It emerged in a former post on Meghan's blog The Tig that she knew all about the 'pomp and circumstance surrounding the Royal Wedding and endless conversation about Princess Kate'  seeming to contradict her claim that she had little knowledge of the Royal Family before she met Harry;

The Palace said issues of race that emerged in Harry and Meghan's interview  particularly the suggestion that a member of the family raised questions and concerns about the colour of their unborn son's skin  would be taken seriously and addressed privately.

Allegations of Meghan's bullying behaviour has drawn fury from the Sussexes.

The accusation first came to light earlier this month when an email sent by Jason Knauf, the couple's then press secretary, was leaked to The Times newspaper.

The Queen and Prince Charles attending the 2019 Braemar Highland Games

Written in October 2018 when the Sussexes were still living at Kensington Palace, Mr Knauf 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 [Name redacted] 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.'

The email was sent to Simon Case, then the Duke of Cambridge's private secretary and now the Cabinet Secretary, after Mr Knauf's conversations with Samantha Carruthers, the head of HR at the Palace.

In his email, Mr Knauf said Ms Carruthers had 'agreed with me on all counts that the situation was very serious'.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey

He added: 'I remain concerned that nothing will be done.'

Buckingham Palace has said it is 'clearly very concerned' about the allegations, adding: '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.'

But the Duchess's spokesman hit back saying she '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'.

The Palace had hoped that any investigation would be a private matter, but that looks less likely now that friends of the Duchess have seemingly been sanctioned to defend Meghan in public.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not respond to a request to comment.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 69F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 53F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Bold Britons no longer get red-faced when talking about previously taboo subjects such as politics, money and sex, according to a new study.

Instead, more than half (58 per cent) of Britons say they will argue about politics with friends - something once considered a strictly 'off-limits' conversation.

Money, another previously no-go zone, is also up for discussion, with 54 per cent saying they would open-up about their finances with friends and family.

Even the topic of sex, often considered the most taboo of subjects, is also now up-for-discussion.

More than half of Britons (52 per cent) say they would talk about sex to anyone from partners, friends and family, to complete strangers.

Bold Britons no longer get red-faced when talking about previously taboo subjects such as politics, money and sex, according to a new study. Pictured: A library image of a woman covering her mouth with her hand

The research, commissioned by digital bank Zopa, looked into how the way Britons talk with each other has changed over the past year.

The data shows 54 per cent see religion as an everyday subject for a conversation, while 44 per cent have confessed in public to their most embarrassing moments.

Bodily functions are also a talking-point for more than a third (36 per cent) of Britons.

And Britons are apparently more likely to brag about their wealth, with almost half (47 per cent) happy to disclose their salary, more than a quarter (26 per cent) happy to speak about their savings and 28 per cent happy to reveal the amount they have racked up on a credit card.

Those aged from 45 to 59, so called Generation X, are the most open about money.

Over three quarters (78 per cent) say there is nothing wrong with talking about money, and they are closely followed by 72 per cent of 16 to 29 year olds.

Lockdown has had a positive impact on the way that we discuss money with our partners with four in ten (41 per cent) saying that staying in and spending more time with each other over the last year has meant we are more open to discussing finances.

Nine in ten Brits say they are completely honest with their other half about their finances (92 per cent).

This is in stark contrast to couples of the past with half of Brits saying previous generations never talked about money.

Britons are apparently more likely to brag about their wealth, with almost half (47 per cent) happy to disclose their salary, more than a quarter (26 per cent) happy to speak about their savings and 28 per cent happy to reveal the amount they have racked up on a credit card. Pictured: Library image of friends talking on a sofa

This increasing openness seen over the past 12 months seems likely to last with over half (54 per cent) of couples planning to continue having money conversations in the future.

Over a third (34 per cent) admit they will talk about money most days.

In fact, it appears that people are more likely to check their credit score rather than looking at holiday options with Zopa recording a five-fold increase in those using its credit rating tool, Borrowing Power, since the first lockdown.

Clare Gambardella, Chief Customer Officer at Zopa, which has its own credit rating tool, Borrowing Power, said: 'It's encouraging to see people tackling difficult conversations more openly, especially when it comes to their finances.

'We have seen more and more of our customers sharing their money stories and have seen first-hand that this openness can help people feel more confident about their finances.'
(Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Department of Defense from forcing American investors to divest from Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp on the grounds the company has ties to China's military.

The Defense Department, under the Trump administration in mid-January, added Xiaomi and eight other firms to a list that requires Americans to sell their interests in the firms by a deadline. The restrictions were set to go into effect next week.

Xiaomi in late January filed a complaint in a Washington court seeking to be removed from the list, calling its inclusion "unlawful and unconstitutional" and arguing it was not controlled by the People's Liberation Army.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington, D.C., said on Friday that the court "concludes that defendants have not made the case that the national security interests at stake here are compelling."

The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, a Xiaomi spokesperson welcomed the ruling and called the designation of Xiaomi as a Chinese military company "arbitrary and capricious."

"Xiaomi plans to continue to request that the court declare the designation unlawful and to permanently remove the designation," the spokesperson said.

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Sonya Hepinstall and Gerry Doyle)
EDWARDSVILLE  A Granite City woman faces multiple forgery charges for a series of checks written in February.

Billie J. Cottle, 28, of the 100 block of Troeckler Lane, Granite City, was charged with six counts of forgery, all Class 4 felonies.

The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department.

According to court documents, on March 9 Cottle allegedly tried to cash a series of altered checks totaling $420 made out to Salvation Army  Billie Cottle.

Bail was set at $75,000.

Other felony charges filed March 11 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Dontray Love, 27, of St. Louis, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 1, non-probational felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. According to court documents, on March 5 Love allegedly was found to be carrying a loaded Ruger semi-automatic handgun in his motor vehicle without a valid concealed carry or Firearm Owners Identification Card. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Duncan Q. Barfield, 20, of Flora, Illinois, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Oct. 30 Barfield allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen 2003 Nissan Altima. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Bianca J. Crockett, 31, of East St. Louis was charged with retail theft over $500, a Class 3 felonies. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Oct. 1 Crockett allegedly took clothing valued at more than $300 form the Alton JC Penney store, 150 Alton Square Mall Drive. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Breanna M. Cruise, 25, of Alorton, was charged with retail theft over $500, a Class 3 felonies. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Sept. 30 Cruise allegedly took clothing valued at more than $300 form the Alton JC Penney store, 150 Alton Square Mall Drive. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Marco A. Oseguera, 42, of Collinsville, was charged with retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Jan. 7 Oseguera allegedly took a DeWalt impact driver valued at less than $300 from Farm and Home Supply, 2600 Homer Adams Parkway. It was noted he had a prior conviction for burglary in 2016 out of St. Clair County. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Jacqueline D. Moore, 36, of Alton, was charged with retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On March 10 Moore allegedly took miscellaneous toys valued at less than $300. It was noted she had a prior conviction for retail theft in 2017 out of Madison County. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Kameron M. Lederer, 33, of East St. Louis, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 14 Lederer allegedly was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla when he attempted to flee from an Alton police officer, reaching speeds of more than 21 miles above the posted limit. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Robert P. Frank, 26, of Medora, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 5 Frank allegedly was driving a 2019 GMC Acadia when he attempted to flee from an Alton police officer, reaching speeds of more than 21 miles above the posted limit. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Brandy S. Blaine, 45, of Alton, was charged with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented to the Alton Police Department. On Feb. 22 Blaine allegedly did more than $500 damage to a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. Bail was set at $15,000.
Christian Halls family members and their lawyers will march on Sunday in East Stroudsburg, calling for justice for the 19-year-old who was killed by Pennsylvania State Police in December.

Hall was having a mental health crisis and needed help when he was shot on the Route 33 southbound overpass to Interstate 80, his mother Fe Hall and lawyer Ben Crump said in February, when it was announced that Crump and fellow lawyer Devon Jacob would be filing a federal lawsuit.

Crump is known for high-profile civil rights cases, including representing the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Video taken from a car with a view of the overpass appears to show Hall with his hands up prior to being shot.

Hall, who may have been considering suicide according to Crump, had a gun with him. He put it on the ground when ordered to do so, the Pennsylvania State police said, but later became uncooperative and retrieved the firearm and began walking towards the Troopers. According to the PSP news release, he pointed the gun in their direction, and the troopers fired at him.

The 20-second video that Crump shared shows Hall being shot and falling to the ground, but does not show any approach he may have made toward police before they opened fire.

The fatal shooting is under investigation by state police and the Monroe County District Attorneys Office.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro should also investigate, attorney Devon Jacob said. Nearly 200,000 people have signed a petition on Crumps website demanding the same  but Shapiro can only investigate if the local DAs office refers the matter to him.

We stand with Gareth and Fe Hall in calling for Monroe County District Attorney David Christine to move the case to the State Attorney Generals Office for an independent investigation of the facts, the Monroe County NAACP said in a statement. We also want to see a policy change for future cases involving law enforcement that would trigger an automatic transfer to the AGs office for an independent review of cases involving deaths of any unarmed citizens.

In addition to making an attorney generals investigation standard, the local NAACP also called on the state government to provide funding to employ mental health crisis specialists within all regional law enforcement agencies.

Law enforcement officers should also receive specialized and consistent training related to de-escalation techniques when encountering unarmed citizens, including those dealing with mental illnesses, the NAACP said. We are also asking that law enforcement policies concerning citizen engagement be reviewed and revised to mandate non-lethal methods be utilized unless deadly force is the only resort if not already the standard.

When necessary, troopers are allowed to use reasonable force, which is defined as the amount of force reasonably believed by the trooper to be necessary under the totality of the circumstances to affect an arrest; defend oneself or another from bodily harm; or to prevent escape, suicide, or the commission of a crime, said Ryan Tarkowski, communications director with the Pennsylvania State Police.

According to the PSP use of force policy, troopers are authorized to use deadly force in certain arrest scenarios, as well as to protect themselves or another from what they reasonably believe to be an imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.

All cadets get some mental health and de-escalation training, while negotiators with Special Emergency Response Teams receive additional and ongoing de-escalation training, Tarkowski said. De-escalation is sometimes the subject of in-service training.

The cadet training comes in the form of a four-hour session called Identifying Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness in the Community/Using Listening and De-escalation Techniques. Taught by a director at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, the instruction covers seven areas: identifying signs and symptoms, mental health problems in the United States, mood disorders and psychosis, developing an action plan for mood disorders and psychosis, the differences between hearing and listening, how to use and practice active listening skills, and key elements of verbal de-escalation.

Two additional hours are spent on mental health law, covering topics such as voluntary and involuntary commitment.

A 2020 update to cadet instruction added four sessions totaling eight hours on de-escalation and communication.

The course was designed to begin building a cadets communication skills early on in training and culminate with assessments of a cadets communication/de-escalation skills during scenario-based exercises, Tarkowski said. The teachings focus on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, decision-making skills, ways to display empathy, improving active and reflective listening skills, multi-cultural awareness, and implicit bias issues.

Related: How outrage over police-involved deaths brings rare look at use-of-force policies in PA

Masks and social distancing are required for the march in East Stroudsburg, which starts at 2 p.m. from Dansbury Park.

A GoFundMe campaign organized by Halls aunt, Nicole Henriquez-Otero, has raised more than $22,000 for funeral expenses, mental and grief counseling for our family and to assist our family in the days to come, as we continue to seek justice for Christian.
Beijing:

Downplaying Indias announcement of a mutual agreement to disengage in Dokalam, China claimed its soldiers continued to patrol the area and said India had withdrawn its troops on Monday.

China also remained silent on its plans to build a road, which sparked the prolonged standoff in the Dokalam area near Sikkim, and said it would make adjustments with the situation on the ground.

As the Indian statement on mutual expeditious disengagement went viral on social media and among Chinese journalists, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying sought to highlight the withdrawal of Indian troops to dispel impressions of a climbdown by Beijing.

On the afternoon on August 28th, India has pulled back all the trespassing personnel, equipment to the Indian side of the boundary, she said.

Chinese personnel on the ground have verified this. The Chinese side will continue to exercise its sovereignty, uphold territorial integrity in accordance with the historical conventions, she said, stonewalling questions about India?s announcement of mutual disengagement of troops.

The Chinese side, Hua added, continues to patrol the Dokalam area.

She also declined go into questions on whether there was any mutual understanding between the two countries to resolve the standoff.

However, after repeated questions, she said, I can tell you that China will make adjustments with the situation on the ground. She did not elaborate.

Hua was also conspicuously silent about whether China would proceed with the building of the road in Dokalam, which was the prime reason for the standoff.

India wanted the status quo to be restored to withdraw its troops.

Bhutan, which claimed sovereignty over the area, had lodged a diplomatic protest to China on June 28.

Troops of the two countries have been locked in a standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the disputed area.

India wanted the status quo to be restored to withdraw its troops.

Indian troops intervened to stop Chinese troops from building the road close to the strategic Chicken Neck, the narrow corridor connecting Indias mainland with its North East.

India said Chinas road building also violated the 2012 agreement between the Special Representatives of India and China to resolve the boundary issue. The agreement referred to the strategic tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan.

Developments in Dokalam come days of ahead of the September 3-5 BRICS, (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in the Chinese city of Xiamen.

So far, none of the leaders of the five-member bloc, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have announced their visits.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More than a thousand disposable face masks have washed up on remote Lord Howe Island since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking fears for marine life and sea birds.

Early reports from Clean Up Australia Day a week ago also suggest face masks and other pandemic-related litter have emerged as a big problem on the mainland.

Marine rangers Caitlin Woods and Sallyann Gudge count face masks that have washed up on a Lord Howe Island beach. Credit:Justin Gilligan

Lord Howe Island Marine Park manager Justin Gilligan said a community-wide effort had recovered 1112 face masks from the islands beaches and rocky headlands in the second half of last year.

The material would wash in depending on the prevailing wind and swell, Mr Gilligan said. We had a bit of wild weather during the La Nina winter, with lots of onshore winds and swirl from different sides of the island so the masks and debris would wash up both the lagoon side and ocean side.
I have some sympathy with folks losing the head over vaccine procurement.

My father (86) got his first shot of the vaccine 10 days ago. As we waited in frustration on an appointment for my mother, a sprightly 84, I lost the head. Needless to say, stoic as ever, she did not. Then the call came and relief gave way to celebration. My panic was pointless.

But its hard to stay calm with wild allegations of incompetency and unfairness flying around.

These include claims the EU has made a bags of vaccine procurement and that Ireland could have and should have opened the cheque book to get more vaccines quicker.

The amateur procurement experts insist Malta, Denmark and Germany secured vaccines that could have been ours.

Yet when I research these accusations, they turn out to be exaggeration or distortion.

So I advise a sceptical attitude to fairy stories, as Micheal Martin put it, of a magic vaccine tree. Ireland hitched its wagon to the EU. I firmly believe that morally and strategically this was correct. I also believe the EU strategy, despite its knockers, is well-founded.

Before I defend it Ill make two points.

First, from the beginning I warned that every country was on a learning curve, and we wouldnt know until the end who did what right. This is not the end and its still too early to make judgments.

Lets see how all this plays out before we decide who, if anyone, messed up.

Read More

Second, does anyone remember the global scramble for PPE? Every government calling every contact they knew in China in a chaotic auction for gear  some of which was unusable  through emergency contacts that turned out to be unreliable?

Lessons were learned. We would not repeat the PPE mistake for vaccines. We would go all in as one giant market of 450 million people rather than competing against each other.

Anything else was madness and anyone who thinks Ireland should be running around manufacturers with a blank cheque is off their head.

The EU strategy was based on sound principles of solidarity and fairness.

First, six months ago no one knew which company would deliver a vaccine first, so we placed advance orders with six different manufacturers. In the rollercoaster of approval announcements, Ireland has bought enough doses to vaccinate the country at least twice over.

But no, they all cant be delivered tomorrow.

Trust me, the people complaining today we didnt buy enough vaccines will be complaining in six months we bought too much.

Second, there would be no auction. The Commission negotiated the same price for every country. Third, size doesnt count. Every country gets their deliveries fairly on a pro-rata basis.

Fourth, the EU is a global good neighbour. Unlike the UK and US, the EU is exporting vaccines to poor countries. Lets not apologise for having the integrity others lack.

Remember too that manufacturers need to import materials to make the vaccines. Closing borders is not a solution that will end well and our long-term geopolitical reputation matters. Wars have started over less.

Fifth, the EU engaged in what Frances Fitzgerald MEP described to me as a massive public-private partnership, by investing 2.9bn in production facilities and 1bn on research.

In addition, Ms FitzGerald explained the EU is working with manufacturers to help them source production materials from chemicals to vials.

And finally, there would be no rush on approval. The European Medicines Agency reviewed the trials as rigorously as ever. When the anti-vaxxers get going, this will be vital.

These were all good decisions.

But what about the UK?

I say: Well done, Boris. He took a gamble. He rushed approval, went big on Astra Zeneca early and is conducting a population-wide experiment by delaying the second dose of the vaccine. This may work out, although with most of those second doses still not delivered, the long-term outcome remains uncertain.

As I say, dont judge until the end.

If we did any of that and it went wrong, the Tribunal Of Inquiry would run for 100 years. Whats gone wrong then? Well, in one way, not a whole lot.

From a mundane perspective, all we are experiencing is desperate frustration as the solution gets tantalisingly close. Manufacturers producing billions of doses from scratch in months isnt a shambles. Its a miracle.

Its possible the EU dropped the ball on the AstraZeneca contract. I feared last summer taking out Phil Hogan during the negotiations was a mistake. But weak politicians persist in appeasing mobs, whatever the cost.

At a more profound level I think of Hannah Arendts observation that: Every organisation of men, be it social or political, ultimately relies on mans capacity for making promises and keeping them.

It is the breaking of promises that has upset everyone. We made promises we couldnt keep because manufacturers made promises they couldnt keep. Had I been present at the creation of our vaccine strategy Id have warned against the error of over-promising.

Managing expectations is all about under-promising. So now I offer the counsel of my always sensible mother, who turns off the radio every time she hears someone demanding clarity. Forget the clarity search. One day this will end, but which day is not for anyone to say. Help is coming. The vaccines are on the way. So sit tight, and dont lose the head.

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This will be the second year without our traditional St Patricks Day parades but there are still a great number of events taking place to mark our national day

While there may be no physical parades taking place across Cork this St Patricks Day, Cork County Council have announced details of a number of virtual St Patrick's Day activities, including the greening of many public buildings along with a range of local events marking our National Day, many of which are supported by the local authority.

In addition, many local groups have arranged their own events, also taking place online. And all of these are in addition to a national series of events.

"St Patrick's Day is poignant this year, as our usual parades and street celebrations are reimagined for a second year," Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, said. "This past year has proven we are adaptable and innovative, we are a community that cares and looks out for one another, and while the battle to beat this virus continues, we find new ways to mark special occasions.

"The creativity of our local communities is as always outstanding."

Across the county, landmark buildings and monuments set to light up green include Cork County Hall, Macroom Town Hall, Carnegie Hall in Millstreet, Carrigaline Bridge, Midleton Library, the Kindred Spirit Sculpture, Midleton Court House, Youghal Clock Gate Tower and Youghal Town Hall.

Mallow Castle and Spa House too will be shining green while Mallow Town Hall will be festively decorated for the occasion.

In Fermoy, the Fermoy International Choir are producing a video performance of 'My home in Fermoy' sung by international members of the local community in traditional costume, while the Fermoy Musical Society's offering will feature children from local schools.

In Kinsale, a best shopfront competition on Facebook is encouraging business owners to decorate their window in advance of the special day. Kinsale Town Hall will also be illuminated green for the occasion.

In Macroom, the Lee Valley Enterprise Board is providing lighted shamrocks in the Town Square and Main Street and erecting new flags in the Castle Gates and Town Hall, while businesses in Macroom are set to decorate their windows with a St. Patrick's Day theme.

A Macroom St. Patrick's Day Virtual Celebration 2021 video will showcase the town, telling a St. Patrick's Day story, with special tribute paid to frontline workers.

St Patricks Day Greetings from Macroom's Twin Towns; Bubry and Marcallo Mayors and from the President of the Woodland String Band in Philadelphia are also anticipated.

In West Cork, Skibbereen Heritage Centre has been hard at work digitising burial registers for West Cork graveyards, bringing the number of burial records on its database to over 32,000, a great resource for those interested in local history or genealogy, and too for our large Diaspora tracing Irish ancestry this St. Patricks Day.

The Heritage Centre has also made available video tours of some of the Cork County Council graveyards in the West Cork area. These short films give a brief history of each graveyard alongside some of the stories of those buried in them, as well as a 'virtual tour' of the monuments.

See also www.corkcoco.ie
The coronavirus pandemic has a significant impact on global ethnic processes. The closure of borders between countries slowed down the mass migration of the Middle Eastern and North African residents, which is characteristic of recent years. However, the process was not stopped but transformed. Moreover, new problems and challenges emerged, Ekaterina Vinnik, an analyst of Vestnik Kavkaza, said in the Natsvopros program on Vesti.FM radio station.

The expert emphasized that the pandemic hit the refugees harder than other groups, as it deprived them of the opportunity to resettle in more favourable living conditions. One of the hardest-hit groups is undoubtedly migrants and refugees around the world. The ongoing military conflicts and difficult economic situation in many source countries of migration, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and 2020, darkened by Covid-19, proved to be incredibly difficult for people seeking refuge and work in safe countries, " the expert said.

In Europe, unprecedented measures were taken to reduce the number of arrivals, including of migrants and refugees: by mid-June, 6% of airports, 25% of land cross-border crossings and 9% of maritime borders were closed. As a result of restrictive measures, the number of irregular arrivals decreased by 85%, that is, to the levels of 2009, Ekaterina Vinnik noted, adding that some of the refugees still managed to arrive in Europe.

Restrictions have not become an ultimate obstacle for people fleeing war and disasters in their own countries. In 2020, about 460,000 people applied for residence in the EU (compared to 670,000 in 2019). The largest number of applications was registered in January and February, before the beginning of the pandemic, and the least from March to June 2020. Citizens of Syria and Afghanistan - 64,000 and 48,000 applicants respectively - constituted the main flow of refugees, the analyst of Vestnik Kavkaza noted.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, more refugees arrived from Tunisia, as the socio-economic situation in the country has deteriorated significantly. If in previous years the majority of migrants leaving the country for Europe were single people in search of work and a better life, then in 2020 whole families fled from Tunisia. According to human rights groups, the number of Tunisian migrants in 2020 increased fivefold compared to 2019, she said, pointing out that more than 50% of migrants announced their decision to move to Europe due to the pandemic.

There is, however, an inverse tendency for migrants to return to their home country. For example, a record 860,000 Afghan citizens returned home from Iran. The reason for this was the economic problems provoked by the US sanctions and exacerbated by the pandemic. Nevertheless, according to the UN Refugee Agency, many of the returnees are going back or further, as soon as the situation improves, Ekaterina Vinnik said.

In the United Arab Emirates, there is a problem with labour migrants, who are stuck in the country due to travel restrictions. As of May 2020, about 200,000 Indians and 60,000 Pakistanis had to leave the Emirates, but they could not, finding themselves in a difficult situation with no means of subsistence,  the analyst of Vestnik Kavkaza said.

Thus, despite some temporary slowdown in migration amid the pandemic, global trends have not changed significantly, but the general conditions have worsened. Human smugglers activity is on the rise, internal migration has peaked (in Syria, for example), and refugee camps around the world have become major hotbeds of tension. Migrants, especially from the Middle East and North Africa, are still some of the most vulnerable people on the planet, not losing hope to find happiness in other countries,  the expert concluded.
A woman has died after she was pulled out of the water in Sydney Harbour.

Police and ambulance crews rushed to the Elizabeth Bay marina about 7.10pm on Saturday after reports that a woman had been pulled unconscious from the water.

Witnesses and paramedics performed CPR on the 57-year-old woman but she died at the scene.

A short time after the Elizabeth Bay incident, a woman was injured in an explosion on a boat moored at Newport in northern Sydney.

The boat, moored at the Royal Motor Club Broken Bay in Newport, was extensively damaged and later sank - with the woman assisted by a bystander at the scene in the nick of time.

The woman, 54, was believed to have been sleeping inside the cabin of the boat when the explosion occurred.

She was later taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition, with officers at the scene finding her with lacerations to her body.

The boat (pictured above) following the explosion on Saturday night in Newport, on Sydney's northern beaches

The boat later sank - after the woman was assisted by a bystander at Newport, on Sydney's northern beaches

Locals at Newport, on Sydney's northern beaches, said their 'whole houses shook' while the explosion reportedly heard from Church Point to Mona Vale.

A representative from the Northern Beaches Local Area Police Command at Dee Why confirmed officers and emergency services were at the scene.

' The incident was between 7.30pm and 8pm, with police and emergency crew attending the scene,' the source told Daily Mail Australia.

A tweet from Fire and Rescue NSW later confirmed the incident.

'A boat has exploded on Sydneys Northern Beaches. Firefighters are working with ambulance to treat at least one injured person. Crews are setting up lighting to asses the scene,' the tweet read.

There were amazing scenes when a boat exploded at Newport's Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay on Saturday - with a woman onboard

Bondi resident Roberta Corvino was having dinner at nearby The Newport at the time of the explosion.

'We suddenly heard a bomb, it really big. We thought there was fireworks, not an explosion in the ocean,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Fellow diner Ryan Dawson didn't know what to think after hearing the explosion.

'Everyone just suddenly went quiet and it was like - oh what was that,' he said.

'And then sirens were going (off) everywhere. It was a bit scary, the fact it was just a boat.'

Will Burgess added 'we were just sitting having a few drinks and then all of a sudden there was a loud explosion, which was kind of vibrating the table.'
GPs are once again reporting the worrying trend of an increase in the number of people being referred for coronavirus tests.

The daily case number rose to 646 yesterday amid warnings another surge will curtail next month's easing of restrictions.

It comes as fears grow that a rise in cases in recent days may be a signal of complacency which could trigger another increase in spread before the Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out to more at-risk groups in the coming weeks.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned yesterday that progress made between now and April 5 will determine what level of loosening of restrictions will be possible.

The numbers illustrate "the dangers of the UK variant", he said.

He added that "with a week to go to April 5, we will announce and tell people what we are planning to do".

"We have already said that we are going to look at construction, outdoor activity and quality-of-life issues for people," he told RTE News.

"We are all agreed now that we must proceed cautiously. There is no point in opening up and having to close again."

Counties which have the highest 14-day incidence are Longford, Offaly, Dublin and Meath. The counties with the lowest incidence are Leitrim, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry and Sligo.

There were 10 more deaths reported yesterday among people aged between 41 and 83 years, bringing the death toll to 4,518 so far in the pandemic.

One year on from the first Covid-19-related deaths here, a new international meta-analysis of global studies shows that intensive care mortality from Covid-19 has continued to fall since the start of the pandemic, but the improvement is slowing and may have plateaued.

The study by Professor Tim Cook, a consultant in intensive care medicine in Bath, England, published in the journal Anaesthesia, pointed to an analysis in July 2020 which concluded that overall mortality of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units had fallen from almost 60pc at the end of March 2020 to 42pc by May, a relative decrease of one third.

This new research shows that, in studies up to October 2020, intensive care mortality has fallen again to 36pc.

Thus, while the situation is still improving, the pace of progress has slowed substantially.

The authors said that in the last few months, several studies have clarified which treatments do and do not provide benefit in the intensive care management of Covid-19.

Steroids, particularly dexamethasone, were shown in early June to improve survival in patients who are oxygen-dependent or receiving mechanical respiratory support.

The drugs including hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, lopinavir and remdesivir have been shown to have no clear mortality benefit.

They also note that management of Covid-19 has also likely evolved over the year with changes in approaches to oxygen therapy, fluid therapy and management of blood clotting.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital here has fallen to 344, with 87 in intensive care.

However the number of patients in hospital is still the same as it was in November.

The Irish Cancer Society said that due to hospital restrictions on visitors, more people than ever want to die at home.

It is looking to recruit more nurses to meet the increasing demand for its night nursing service.

Requests for the free service for patients being cared for by family and friends in their homes surged by as much as 76pc in Kildare, 70pc in Wicklow and 60pc in Dublin.

Separately, new figures showed the huge backlog of non-Covid care which is building up as hospitals are obliged to put many services on hold.

There are now nearly 877,000 people waiting to see a specialist or receive care,

Figures show a 56pc increase in the number of patients waiting for hospital pain treatment since pandemic began.

More than 1,700 are now waiting longer than a year for treatment - more than a three-fold increase since February 2020, according an analysis of figures by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA)

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association pointed to chronic pain as a debilitating condition that requires timely access to care.

However, this care is being delayed for more than 5,300 currently, with over 1,700 waiting longer than a year for treatment.
The educators union in Worcester sought an emergency school committee meeting, trying to push back the start of hybrid learning as few teachers and staff members have been vaccinated for COVID-19, officials said Friday.

Worcester students with high needs and New Citizens Programs students are slated to return to classrooms on Monday for the start of hybrid learning following a year of remote classes during the pandemic. But, K-12 employees only just became eligible to get a vaccine. Because the states vaccine supply is much smaller than demand, it has been hard for some eligible residents, including educators, to secure a vaccine appointment.

The Educational Association of Worcester on Wednesday asked for an emergency meeting with the Worcester School Committee, seeking to revise the plan for in-person learning, according to union President Roger Nugent.

The timing is awful because educators have just started being eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots, said Nugent. If the city begins to increase in-person learning after the April break, that will allow for school employees to receive at least one vaccine shot and give us more time in general to plan and prepare for a successful and safe return to our schools.

The committee has not responded to the request, according to the EAW.

Mayor Joseph Petty, the chairman of the school committee, said the committee could not accommodate the unions request because there needs to be 48 hours notice before a public meeting.

I know were all doing the best we can to get everybody back safely, Petty said. Were going to try to get the vaccines, try and coordinate that as much as we can, get the teachers back. I think Roger Nugent is doing the best he can. At the end of the day, well probably have a good result working together.

The union sees educator vaccines as an important layer of protection in the schools.

Educators want to be back in the classrooms with their students, but we all want this to come about in a way that does not put families at unnecessary risk, said Nugent.

However, the CDC has said that teacher vaccinations are not required for safe in-person learning. Other mitigation efforts, like masking and distancing, have been considered effective.

Following the group that starts hybrid learning on Monday, other students are returning March 29 for in-person learning two days a week.

Were ready to go, Petty said. This will be a good test for us. A small number of kids are coming back. Well get this up and running and well see if we have any challenges and we bring back everybody hybrid at the end of the month.

Superintendent Maureen Binienda had said earlier this year that she wanted all employees vaccinated before in-person learning. As coronavirus-related health metrics improved in Massachusetts, the school committee then voted on the March dates to start hybrid learning. The vote happened before educators were deemed eligible for the vaccine.

Some educators on Thursday were able to secure appointments to get the vaccine at state-run sites. Others, however, spent hours waiting online to find no appointments available.

The state gets 150,000 first doses of vaccine every week, not enough to keep up with all the residents currently eligible, which now includes educators in addition to senior residents and people with at least two co-morbidities.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is requiring five days a week of in-person learning for elementary and middle school students by April 5 and 28, respectively. Worcester intends to seek a waiver to delay that process, likely by a few weeks.

Related Content:
ALBANY  As pressure grows for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to step aside, members of the State University of New York board of trustees are standing by their chancellor, James Malatras.

Malatras, a longtime adviser to the embattled governor, helped draft the state's report on COVID-19-related nursing home deaths that was found to have undercounted victims and, as a result, he is now a subject of an investigation by the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office.

Malatras was a key figure in Cuomo's COVID-19 task force before accepting the position as head of the sprawling 64-campus university system in August.

SUNY spokesman Leo Rosales said the trustees believe Malatras has been committed to the chancellor role since taking the helm and has changed the institution for the better. At a time when campuses across the nation remain closed, his policies, such as mandated weekly testing for all students and staff, have kept SUNY's doors open.

"This immense responsibility takes 100 percent commitment which the Chancellor has delivered repeatedly," Rosales said in an emailed statement. "Even with his other duties on task forces and teaching, the Chancellor has shown up traveling over 13K miles to 45 campuses in just six months to keep our students safe and learning, and he will continue to do the job daily without hesitation or distraction. This is what matters to the SUNY community.

The nursing home report concluded that the greatest surge in deaths resulted from infected workers and not the states policy requiring homes to accept patients who had tested positive for the contagious respiratory illness.

The Wall Street Journal last week reported that Malatras and two other top Cuomo aides were responsible for altering the numbers provided by the state Department of Health, excluding nursing home patients who died in hospitals in an apparent attempt to make the death toll connected to the facilities seem less severe.

In an unrelated press appearance last week, Malatras denied changing any figures in the report.

As with many reports, there were back and forth with structure, citations and other language during the process. But to be clear, I included the fatalities data provided by the New York State Department of Health, which I did not alter and change," he said. "So Im going to leave it at that.

Many lawmakers saw the report as covering for the governor, who had lobbied for extraordinary executive powers during the pandemic as well as corporate immunity for hospitals and nursing homes included in the 2020-21 state budget. Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa, who is also accused of amending the report, privately apologized to lawmakers for withholding the data, saying the administration "froze" over a federal inquiry into the nursing home deaths.

Malatras and other top aides "were willing to suppress life and death information" in order to protect the interests of the governor and his corporate donors in the nursing home and hospital sector, according to Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim, a vocal critic of Cuomo who chairs the state Assembly's Committee on Aging.

Democrats who control the state Legislature on Thursday commenced an impeachment investigation into the governor, focusing on the nursing home report and allegations that he sexually harassed at least six women.

As more details emerge, "SUNY will become the embarrassment of the country," Kim said. "If (Malatras) had any sense of dignity, he would do the right thing for the students of the state of New York and step aside."

A former Cuomo aide who is among the women accusing the governor of sexual harassment has said Malatras tried to intimidate her on Twitter when she spoke in 2019 of a toxic work environment for women on the second floor of the Capitol, where executive offices, including the governors, are located. Lindsey Boylan wrote on Twitter, While @jimmalatras was head of @RockeffelerInst, the second floor asked him to defame me online after I spoke up about a toxic work culture.

In the tweet referenced, Malatras referred to someone "Twitterbombing about life on the 2nd floor to get some attention for unrelated political purposes."

A spokesperson for SUNY said Malatras' tweet was not directed at Boylan.

Malatras' appointment to the SUNY post after former Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson stepped down last summer was widely perceived as an expansion of Cuomo's control.

Malatras' academic leadership experience was limited. After more than a decade in government, he served two years as president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government, a SUNY-funded think tank, and became president of SUNY's Empire State College in May 2019.

United University Professions, the labor union that represents faculty and staff on SUNY campuses, last summer passed a resolution calling for a nationwide search and for the board to make every effort to ensure the next chancellor was from an underrepresented community of color. In its seven-decade history, SUNY has had 19 chancellors: 16 white men, two white women and Clifton Wharton Jr., the lone African American to serve in the post.

At the suggestion of Cuomo confidant Larry Schwartz, the SUNY board chose to forgo a nationwide search and install Malatras, which prompted faculty to take a vote of no confidence in the board.

Trustees cited the immediate financial and public health challenges facing SUNY in the wake of the pandemic, which they argued required them to act swiftly. In Malatras, they saw a crisis manager with the Albany connections who could cut through red tape and get things done.

In Barron's, trustee Stanley Litow defended the board's "break from tradition" in selecting Malatras without interviewing other candidates, observing that Cuomo "turned to him to help manage the overall effective statewide response to the pandemic where he worked closely with all agencies, especially those in health and economic development areas."

Most of the SUNY trustees either declined to comment on Malatras' role in the nursing home scandal or did not respond.

Litow, a professor at Columbia and Duke universities who serves on the SUNY board, was supportive of Malatras in the wake of the revelations.

"He says that he didn't alter or change what the New York State Health Department (data) provided, so I certainly take him at his word," Litow told the Times Union. "I think he's done a great job as chancellor."

Christine Fogal, president of the Faculty Council of Community Colleges and another board member, said, "I believe in due process and have no comment until after an investigation is completed."

The SUNY trustees include a number of Cuomo loyalists who are former high-ranking members of his administration, including former top health adviser Courtney Burke and Robert Duffy, Cuomo's first-term lieutenant governor. Its board also includes Camille Joseph Varlack, Cuomo's recently appointed chair of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics and a former high-ranking staffer in Cuomo's office.

SUNY leaders say they are confident that Malatras will fight for increased state funding in the budget for the public university system.

Malatras' pull on the second floor was apparent at the start of the semester when many SUNY schools were experiencing a sharp spike in coronavirus cases. According to Cuomo's executive order and subsequent guidance from the state Department of Health, campuses were required to suspend in-person activities once 100 people or 5 percent of the on-campus population tested positive within a two-week period.

Under Malatras, SUNY inferred from the guidance that only cases occurring within a predetermined, static two-week window should be counted, which enabled campuses to remain open well beyond the 100-case threshold.

It was a standard not used in any of the state's other reopening guidelines, which consider infection rates within rolling two-week periods. The decision drew criticism from public health officials, who said it was an unhelpful way to count infections from an epidemiological point of view.

United University Professions President Fred Kowal declined to comment for this story.

Aaron Major, a sociology professor at the University at Albany and president of the university's UUP chapter, said Malatras is more accessible and responsive to faculty concerns than his predecessor was.

But, he said, Malatras' involvement in the nursing home report underscores the need for leadership at SUNY that is independent of the executive branch.

"We have consistently made the argument that it's problematic that not just the chancellor but also many campus presidents are all political appointees," Major said. "It's helpful to have a degree of independence from the governor's office so that everything doesn't rise and fall based on who is in office."

This article has been updated to correct Aaron Major's job title.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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Married At First Sight bride Joanne Todd is set to have her heart broken on Sunday's explosive commitment ceremony.

In a recent trailer her TV 'husband' James Susler reveals that he has fallen for another woman within the social experiment.

The mother-of-three appeared to take the opportunity to lean on her fellow MAFS bride Belinda Vickers on Thursday ahead of the shock twist airing.

Shrugging it off: In a teaser for Sunday night's episode of Married At First Sight, Joanne Todd's TV husband James Susler reveals that he has fallen for another woman in the experiment. And on Thursday, it appears the mother-of-three leaned on her fellow MAFS bride Belinda Vickers

During their walk, Jo, 39, leaned on Belinda, 30, before they picked up the pace and jogged their sorrows away.

For the casual occasion, Joanne donned some navy tights with leopard-print and nautical stripped panels on the side.

She teamed them with a black and white singlet by Under Armour and matching plain cap and sneakers.

Meanwhile, Belinda went for a more feminine look, sporting pink tights with the word 'girl' printed on them and a white crop top.

Girl power: For the casual occasion, Joanne donned some navy tights with leopard-print and nautical stripped panels on the side. Meanwhile, Belinda went for a more feminine look, sporting pink tights with the word 'girl' printed on them and a white crop top

Belinda wore her long curly hair in braided pigtails, and wore a baby pink Adidas hat to shield her face from the sun.

In between getting their heart rates up, the girls stopped and looked to be having a very deep and meaningful chat.

Belinda stood by her friend, as Jo seemed to wipe her eyes with her hands.

Emotional moment: In between getting their heart rates up, the girls stopped and looked to be having a very deep and meaningful chat. Belinda stood by her friend, as Jo seemed to wipe tears from her eyes

Jo and her on-screen groom James gave fuelled rumours their TV marriage is over after they were both spotted cosying up to other people in the past week.

It is unclear what the status of Joanne's relationship with her husband James currently is.

Although, the pair were spotted packing on the PDA during a loved-up date in Sandringham last week, just four days after James was seen kissing a mystery blonde at Bond nightclub in Melbourne, which was the same week photos emerged of Jo getting cosy with another man.

The other man? Last week, photos emerged of Jo getting cosy with another man. According to The Wash, the other man was Joe Donaghy, a customer at Joanne's barbershop, and that's where the pair met, before a 'flirtation' arose between the two

Just friends! A pal of Jo and Joe insists that the pair were 'really close ' but not romantically involved with one another

According to The Wash, the other man was Joe Donaghy, a customer at Joanne's barbershop, and that's where the pair met, before a 'flirtation' arose between the two.

However, a source tells Daily Mail Australia that the rather friendly pictures are not what they seem and insisted the pair were simply 'really close friends.'

'One hundred percent not true. Joe is like her best mate,' the friend claimed.

Meanwhile, during James' wild night out, the millionaire was also seen chatting to former bride Stacey Hampton.

A close friend of James has since revealed the mystery woman he was kissing was just a friend and that 'it was all a bit of a fun really'.

What's going on? It is unclear what the status of Joanne's relationship with her husband James currently is. Although, the pair were spotted packing on the PDA during a loved-up date in Sandringham last week

This all comes after Channel Nine dropped a trailer for the upcoming week so MAFS that saw James confessing to the cast and experts: 'I'm in love with another woman.'

'Is it someone in the experiment?' Joanne asked, to which he replied: 'Yes.'

Married At First Sight continues on Sunday from 7pm on Channel Nine
Syracuse, N.Y.  One drawback to receiving unemployment benefits is that you usually have to give some of it right back to the government.

But the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Joe Biden on Thursday provides relief for struggling Americans who were facing an unwelcome tax bill because of the unemployment benefits they received during the coronavirus pandemic.

Normally, the federal government treats unemployment benefits as it does most other income. It taxes them.

But the American Rescue Plan makes the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits a person received in 2020 federally tax-free. For married couples who file jointly, each individual receives an exemption on the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits, for a total of $20,400.

Any unemployment benefits above $10,200 (for individuals) and $20,400 (for couples) are still subject to income tax.

The exemption applies to households with adjusted gross incomes of less than $150,000 last year. AGI is generally your income before most deductions. (The income limit is the same for individuals and couples.)

Households with incomes greater than $150,000 must pay income taxes on all their unemployment benefits. There is no phase-out schedule for those making more than $150,000, like there is for the $1,400 stimulus payments also included in the act.

The exemption applies to all unemployment benefits received in 2020, including the extra benefits provided by Congress to assist people who lost their jobs because of the pandemic. It does not apply to any unemployment benefits received after Dec. 31, 2020.

The tax break provides welcome relief for millions of Americans hit hard by the pandemic. Forty million Americans received a total of more than $580 billion in unemployment insurance last year, according to the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank.

The exemption could save a person $1,000 or more, depending on their tax rate, the foundation said.

The IRS has not yet issued guidance on how to claim the exemption, however. So if you have not filed your 2020 tax return yet and you received unemployment benefits last year, you might want to hold off until the guidance is issued.

It is likely that the IRS will establish a procedure for handling returns with income from UI, the Century Foundation said. If you are able to follow that procedure, it will probably speed the processing of your return. So waiting to hear what the IRS announces could actually mean that you get your refund faster.

If you have already filed your 2020 tax return, youll probably have to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to claim the exemption. But again, you might want to wait until the IRS issues its guidelines.

If you had taxes withheld from your unemployment benefits by the state, youll likely receive the exemption in the form of a larger refund.

New York taxpayers will still have to pay state income taxes on their unemployment benefits, unless the state Legislature changes the law to include the exemption.

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
Its that time of year again.

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 14.

Clocks are turned forward an hour at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., meaning we lose an hour of sleep if we wake up to an alarm set for Sunday morning.

The benefit? Sunrise will be an hour later, just before 7 a.m. in Massachusetts, instead of around 6 a.m. As the days continue, the evenings will continue to be brighter.

Some seek to keep us in this time.

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey is among a bipartisan group of senators who seek to make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the country.

Extra sunshine in the evenings not only puts a spring in our step and offers the perfect reason to get outside, but it also positively impacts consumer spending and shifts energy consumption, Markey said. Studies have found year-round Daylight Saving Time would improve public health, public safety, and mental health-- especially important during this cold and dark COVID winter. I am proud to have co-authored the provision of the 2005 law that extended Daylight Saving Time by several weeks, and I am now proud to sponsor the Sunshine Protection Act to add an extra hour of sunshine for the full 365 days a year.

Other senators who introduced the bill include: Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse, of Rhode Island; Republican Marco Rubio, of Florida; Republican James Lankford, of Oklahoma, Republican Roy Blunt, of Missouri; Democrat Ron Wyden, of Oregon; Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, of Mississippi; and Republican Rick Scott, of Florida.

Americans lifestyles are very different than they were when Daylight Saving Time began more than a century ago, Whitehouse said, of the practice that dates back a century. Making Daylight Saving Time permanent will end the biannual disruptions to daily life and give families more daylight hours to enjoy after work and school.

Benefits of keeping the clocks forward span from economic to safety, lawmakers say.

A 2015 study by the Brookings Institution suggests that keeping the clock forward - allowing for more daylight in the evenings - could reduce robberies by 27 percent.

A study by the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Safety Research suggests it could reduce the number of car crashes by better aligning daylight hours to standard work hours, and increasing visibility for commuters.
SPRINGFIELD  The New England Patriots have donated some 30,000 medical masks to Hampden County educational, medical and nonprofit organizations, directly from Gillette Stadium.

The contributions came after Patriots Foundation President Joshua Kraft asked Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni to help figure out who in the area needed personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.

In these challenging times, my family and the Patriots Foundation are committed to providing people with a sense of security and support, Kraft said. We are committed to helping people maintain their lives by ensuring access to protective face masks. Its a privilege to be able to work with our good friend DA Gulluni and to provide this donation to the many organizations in Western Mass.

Gulluni assigned his Community Outreach and Engagement Team to determine which organizations needed masks and how many. Over the last few weeks, team members picked up the masks at the Patriots home stadium and delivered them locally.

The donations include 7,500 units each for Chicopee Public Schools and the Center for Human Development. The remaining masks were distributed to the Springfield Housing Authority, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, the New North Citizens Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County, Roca, the Key Program Inc., Way Finders, Holyoke Pediatric Associates, ServiceNet, Sunshine Village, Commonwealth Care Alliance, Womanshelter/Companeras, Holyoke Health Center, Youth and Young Adult Homeless Program, Christian and Brians House, Western Mass Network to End Homelessness, Mason Square C-3, Hope for Recovery Peer Recovery Center and Gandaras Peer Recovery, Springfield.

The New England Patriots Foundation has really stepped up and has been a substantial resource for organizations across the state to help protect some of the most vulnerable in society during the pandemic, Gulluni said. We quickly discovered there is a huge need here locally and are grateful to play a small role in assisting so many great organizations as they continue to navigate as best they can in providing critical services in a very difficult environment.

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"The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc, but we have another pandemic that is wreaking more havoc; that is the disinformation pandemic," the president said in remarks to ATV Noticias.

For that reason, the Head of State deemed as important for citizens to stay alert, not to believe everything they hear, and always gather more information.

"What is behind the disinformation campaign? Behind that, there is a crisis of values, a terrible moral crisis," he warned.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  A candidate for a governorship in southern Mexico has been confirmed as the nominee of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors Morena party despite nationwide protests over the fact two women accused him of rape .

Candidate Felix Salgado has not been charged; the statute of limitations ran out on one case and the other is still being investigated. But intense protests spawned by the accusations forced the party to hold a second poll to determine whether Salgado, already the nominee, should continue in the race.

The party announced late Friday that Salgado had won the second poll in Guerrero state for the nomination in the June 6 elections.

Morena said in a statement that the people of Guerrero have made a decision. We are obliged to respect it.

Lopez Obrador was stung by protests against his administration over his refusal to break with Salgado. The president said the issue should be left up to voters in Guerrero, and claims it is being brought up by his foes, the conservatives.

Salgado was the focus of many protesters in Mexico on International Women's Day on Monday.

Lopez Obrador also descried the protests as imported concepts, copies of those in other countries.

Salgado has not spoken directly about the accusations, but his lawyer has denied them.

Salgado, who goes by the nickname Toro, or Bull," is a former federal legislator and mayor of Acapulco who has been been known for questionable behavior in the past. He was filmed scuffling with police in Mexico City in 2000.
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. President Sarkissian held a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and discussed the situation in the country and the ways for surmounting the political crisis.

In this context, early elections of parliament were discussed as a solution, the presidency said in a news release.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
The author, based on whose copyright violation complaint, a Mumbai court ordered police to register an offence against actor Kangana Ranaut has said he will fight against "brazen infringement" of his intellectual property rights. A case of alleged cheating was filed against Kangana by Mumbai police on Friday on a local court's orders after Ashish Kaul, the author of 'Didda: The Warrior Queen of Kashmir' accused her of copyright violation.

"I have embarked upon a new journey of my life against white-collar crime, blatant and brazen infringement of my intellectual property and for justice," Kaul said. "After trying my best to run across various police stations, I approached Metropolitan Magistrate, Bandra under Section 156(3) of CrPC, seeking direction to the Mumbai police to register an FIR against Kangana Ranaut and others for infringement of copyright amounting to criminal breach of trust and cheating," Kaul said.

Kaul told PTI that he went to court after a "tumultuous fortnight of coming to terms" that people with power and money trample on the rights of content creators by misrepresenting and manipulating the letter and spirit of the law. "This is a fight for every content creator who comes to this city with talent, sweat on their brows, and belief in the slogan of "Aatmanirbharta". The outcome of this fight will determine if a common man, who cant afford high-profile lawyers and is scared of walking into a police station will get justice against these white-collar robbers," Kaul said.

"In this New India, propelling on self-reliance and the prime minister's vision and call of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, justice will be done and not delayed. The law shall see the accused appropriately sentenced for their crimes," Kaul said.

Kaul said he had sent an email about the storyline of his book to Kangana, and she used some part of the story in a tweet while announcing her movie without his permission. "Is it believable by any stretch of imagination that a story and a book are usurped by a renowned actor-turned-social activist?" he said.

Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda

Kangana and producer Kamal Jain will join hands to bring back the franchise after 2019's Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. In February, the duo met for a meeting to discuss the story with legendary writer Vijayendra Prasad. "Discussions with @KanganaTeam and legendary writer #VijayendraPrasad as we begin the journey to our next project The Legend of Didda," Kamal Jain wrote on Twitter.

The sequel will reportedly tell the true story of Didda, who was the Queen of Kashmir and defeated Mehmood Ghaznavi twice. Despite being struck by polio in one leg, she was one of the greatest warriors.

Discussions with @KanganaTeam and legendary writer #VijayendraPrasad as we begin the journey to our next project The Legend of Didda. pic.twitter.com/EroqbclGgI  Kamal Jain (@KamalJain_TheKJ) February 25, 2021

(With PTI inputs)
Just yesterday Joe Biden signed into law one of the most progressive relief packages in the history of the United States, but only because some guy from West Virginia told him he could. The most powerful guy in Washington right now isnt the Joe you think it is. Senator Joe Manchin, long one of the most conservative members of the Democratic caucus has found himself the beneficiary of a 50/50 Senate. Democrats cant afford any defections if they want to pass their agenda and that gives Manchin a ton of juice.

There are other moderates in play as well, like Kyrsten Sinema and her thumb, but the focus has fallen heavily on Manchin. Every statement, every Sunday show appearance is instantly and exhaustively dissected for any hint on what Joe might be thinking. He threw his weight around to get the stimulus package needlessly reduced by insisting on a means test for the $1,400 direct payments and was among several Democratic senators who refused to support including a 15 dollar minimum wage. The Democrats need Joe Manchin and he knows it.

The next battle will be over the filibuster. Manchin came out early and often in favor of preserving the antiquated relic of senate procedural nonsense, but there are signs he might be cracking. As the rule currently stands all it takes to put a screeching halt to a vote is the mere threat of a filibuster. Theres no requirement to actually take the floor and speak continuously. One reform floated, short of abolishing the filibuster entirely, is to make it hurt. Make legislators actually filibuster instead of sending an email to the party leader. Force the party in opposition to keep 41 votes in the chamber and speak in order to delay the vote. Its amazing how much more amenable to compromise the opposing party becomes when faced with the prospect of actual work. If Manchin supports reforming the filibuster in could open the door for H.R.1/The For The People Act, a sorely needed bill of democratic reforms designed to thwart Republican efforts at voter suppression.

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A roofing company and its director have been fined 75,000 for what a judge described as gross negligence and slipshod practices which led to the death an employee.

Director Stephen Heaney pleaded guilty last month, on behalf of Ballymena-based H&M Engineering and Roofing Specialists (NI) Ltd, to the corporate manslaughter of Hugh Thomas Jack four years ago.

The 52-year-old also admitted failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, failing to make appropriate risk assessments, failing to plan and supervise work safely, failing to take suitable measures to prevent a person from falling and failing to report to health and safety authorities within a reasonable time of Mr Jacks death.

Mr Jack, a 59-year-old, died after an accident at a property he was working on in Carryduff on December 3, 2016.

Downpatrick Crown Court was told that he and two other roofers arrived at the site shortly before 8am on the day in question.

Fifteen minutes later, Mr Jack stepped on sheeting at the peak of the building that suddenly gave way, with the father-of-five falling 20 feet to the ground.

A post-mortem examination found he had died from multiple injuries caused by the accident.

The court heard the sheeting gave way because the fixing screws at one end of it had been removed and the unsecured sheeting could not carry his weight when he stood on it.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive NI (HSENI) found there were no fall protection measures, safety netting or edge protection in place.

The roller door to the building was also locked, preventing colleagues from reaching Mr Jack quickly.

A HSENI investigator said control measures for working at height had not been followed.

He added the death could easily have been prevented if adequate planning and safety systems had been put in place.

The court was told that in 2014, a company with a similar name and with Mr Heaney as a sole director was served with a prohibition notice in Scotland over a lack of safety measures.

Defence QC Frank ODonoghue apologised on behalf of Mr Heaney to the family of Mr Jack, some of whom listened to the hearing by remote link.

He told the judge: I want to express the remorse my client feels for what has happened. He is fully cognisant of the effect this has had on the family.

None of these men, who are all hard-working men, ever went out with a thought in their heads to cause each other a risk or harm. They are all experienced roofers and cladders.

This was a dreadful accident and my client has to accept his burden in terms of the shortcomings of the risk assessments and method statements prepared by him in relation to these works.

Judge Miller QC said the risk of death to Mr Jack was high, foreseeable and avoidable. He told the court a health and safety risk assessment document prepared by Mr Heaney had not been shown to the roofers, and had it been shown, it would have been plainly inadequate.

The judge also noted that a safety net and harness should have been installed before any work got under way.

The defendants company fell well short of the appropriate health and safety standards. The risk extended to all three men and any one could suffered Mr Jacks fate, he said.

I am satisfied this is a case of gross negligence and slipshod practices.

He also referred to victim statements from Mr Jacks family, who spoke of the love they had for him and the devastating pain of his untimely death.

One son said: I couldnt believe that my idol and role model would not be there to see me grow as a man.

A daughter who was 11 at the time of her fathers death added: I was his baby girl. I feel like I have missed out on a great part of my life growing up with no daddy. We had a special bond and that was taken away from me. My daddy was the man I loved so much.

Mrs Jack wrote: I feel like I am waiting on him to walk in through the front door. It is so hard to believe and accept the heavy sadness and loss.

Imposing the 75,000 fine, the judge said he wanted to emphasise that no fine of this court is intended to place a value on the life of the deceased.

He added: Whilst nothing this court says or does can ever restore the deceased to his family, I wish to express the sincere sympathy of the court to Mrs Jack and her family.

The first instalment of 15,000 was originally due to be paid by July 1, with the remaining balance to be paid in instalments on the same date over the next four years.

However, as an immediate payment of 10,000 was available to the court, Judge Miller said the first instalment would be reduced to 5,000.
New Delhi: In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal and Indore, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday (March 13, 2021) said night curfew might be re-imposed in the two districts from Sunday or Monday.

A surge of case has been witnessed in Indore and Bhopal and has become a matter of concern.

Chauhan said during a review meeting on Friday due to the coronavirus situation in the state. Look at the rise in infection cases Tough measures will be taken to flatten the curve. Night curfew might be clamped in Bhopal and Indore from Sunday or Monday, he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Truck movement will continue from Maharashtra, but people will undergo temperature check: Madhya Pradesh CM. Also, awareness programs are being carried out for cities reporting over 10 cases.

The CM said people coming to the state by air, trains and roads from neighbouring Maharashtra, where there is a surge in COVID-19 cases, should be thermally scanned. Chauhan also instructed officials to ensure COVID-19 rules and guidelines are strictly followed by people to prevent the spread of the virus.

On Friday, 603 new COVID -19 cases were reported in Madhya Pradesh. Indore, the worst-hit district in the state by the pandemic, saw 219 new cases, taking the caseload there to 61,642, Bhopal witnessed 138 fresh cases, which pushed its total count to 45,079.
Man Charged with Teacher's Murder Appears in Court

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A motion hour was held in McCracken Circuit Court for a man charged with murdering a local teacher.The Circuit Court Clerk says an attorney for Kelvin Richardson asked the judge if he could visit the defendant in person instead of virtually. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for March 23.In August, a trial date was scheduled for May 3, 2022.Richardson is accused of fatally shooting Carrie McCord, a local special education teacher, in her yard on May 12, 2020. At the time of his arrest, officers found a .357 handgun they say he used in the shooting.Richardson was released from prison on parole and assigned to Keeton Correctional Center in Paducah in February 2019. Detectives said Richardson told them McCord had tried to help him adjust to life after being released from prison, but she later took out a protective order against him after he began causing problems for her.He is charged with first-degree murder, fleeing or evading police, possession of a handgun by a felon, and violation of a protective order.On the Net:

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Ciaran Meagher of the Salmon Leap in Leixlip, Co Kildare. Photo: Fergal Phillips

Publicans are increasingly serving takeaway pints and cocktails, with customers aged in their 60s even popping along for a tipple.

Despite the Taoiseachs request in January to forget about takeaway pints during Level 5 lockdown, it seems this request has now been long forgotten by many.

Many pubs across Ireland are welcoming customers for takeaway drinks. According to some publicans, their very survival depends on the takeaway trade, which is not illegal.

Ciaran Meagher, of the Salmon Leap in Leixlip, Co Kildare, told the Irish Independent as there was no legislation to prevent it, he felt perfectly within his rights to operate a takeaway service.

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There was a mindset that the people who wanted takeaway drinks were the 18 to 25-year-old demographic, that they wanted to mix in a crowd, but that isnt the case, Mr Meagher said.

Sixty-year-old women are customers. Two 50-year-old friends order wings and Guinness. They hadnt seen each other for four months.

Its the elongated process of the third lockdown. People are tired, theyve had enough.

Martin hasnt mentioned takeaway pints since the throw-away manner at the start of the third lockdown in January.

We were very compliant. We stopped for two weeks after the announcement but it was clear there was no law brought in.

As long as customers are not staying on the site, its the same as off-licence sales.

Mr Meagher said that although there hasnt been an issue, there remained a proportion of the population who consider takeaway pints a taboo.

Martin didnt want the gatherings but they dont seem to be happening this time, he said.

The amount of lads who have home bars now is ridiculous. We could get five or six phone calls looking for kegs to drink at home.

Isnt it preferable to have a takeaway or delivery?

The 79 Inn in Ballyfermot, west Dublin, is also open for takeaway pints, cocktails and food. Landlord Eamonn OShea says his bar is able to provide full safety measures and a good service to takeaway customers.

Mr OShea, who hails from a pub family, said the long closures had been devastating on his family.

My mam, my dad and myself work in the trade, he said.

The worst part is the opening and closing. If we had a deadline that we could work towards, it would be a lot better.

We want to keep going  we want and need to be open. The payments from the Government are grand but we cant keep going on it  they barely keep us going.

We want to keep our staff and we want to be able to offer them a future.

My family own three pubs and two of them are still closed but this pub is where I work and I decided we were going to open.

Were not too mad about selling drinks without food, so its mainly food. But we do sell takeaway pints in a container with a lid on but customers have to drink away from the pub. And they cant drink on the street  its meant to be taken home and drunk in the home. I agree with all that.

We would follow any safety protocols to just open.

The Government doesnt seem to know whether it is coming or going.

We need help to survive. We have full-time staff with families and mortgages. The trades like ours are not just full of young people.

And the 350 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a lot of money from the Government  but if you have a mortgage and family to support, its not enough.

Its hard opening up and closing, staff coming off and going on PUP and then we cant even guarantee them stability in their job.

If we had a member of staff looking to get a mortgage, what would we do?

Theyd be looking for a job elsewhere. Theres no stability. That will improve with the vaccine but we cant keep waiting.

A Garda spokesman said: The sale of takeaway alcohol from licensed premises is not currently a penal regulation and therefore not an offence.

Under current Covid-19 restrictions, cafes, bars, restaurants, and pubs may only sell food or drink, including intoxicating liquor, for takeaway.

Liquor licensing laws say consumption of takeaway alcohol must take place 100 metres from where the drink was purchased.


First-Year Oxford Student Dies Friday

by Isaiah Poritz | Mar 6, 2021 | News | 16

A full obituary will be posted later as we collect stories from family and friends.

First-year Oxford student Yide Dave Zhang died unexpectedly on March 5, according to a March 6 email sent to Oxford College students by Oxford Dean Douglas Hicks.

Zhang studied from his home in Suzhou, China during the fall semester but came to Oxford in the spring. Hicks wrote that the University will announce a memorial tribute in accordance with current gathering policies at a later time.

Students who would like support during this time can attend two group sessions at the Oxford Student Center today: the first at 1 p.m. and the second at 2 p.m. The Director of Counseling Services Gary Glass and Oxford College Chaplain Lyn Pace will lead the session.

Together as the Oxford community, let us also support one another, especially those in our community who were close to Dave, Hicks wrote.

Counseling and support services are available to the Emory community, Hicks noted. Students may reach Counseling and Career Services, which can help students navigate tragedies, by calling (770) 784-8394. Students can also find support at the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life located in Room 224 of the Oxford Student Center or can contact the chaplain at (770) 784-8392.

))))))))

on March 9, 2021 at 12:44 am

I want to know what happened to Dave.

Julianne on March 9, 2021 at 2:19 am

what happenedplz tell us more

anon on March 9, 2021 at 12:23 pm

Really upset to see this kind of brash writing. There is a better way to write about students passing away. This is really disrespectfully written and ridiculously impersonal

Dawn Song on March 9, 2021 at 2:30 pm

Please report what happened!

aya on March 9, 2021 at 8:55 pm

plz tell us what happened! we all worry about!

Gabriel on March 10, 2021 at 7:37 pm

Report what happened! Look up the rest of the articles describing Emory students deaths  Two Students Killed in Bangladesh, Emory Student Dies in Pool, Emory Student Hit by Car How come this is Emory Student Dies without an explanation? What are you covering up? This is a student, a friend, a son. Do not disrespect a life especially one that was lost. The blame is not on this writer but rather on Emory. Shame on you for allowing life to pass away and then not tell the rest of the student body about it. Students deserve to know. We dont want your BS Emory forward emails, give us information regarding a fellow Emory student. Shame, shame, shame on all of you for letting this happen and then hiding the story from other students.
Meghan Markle will use the furore over her interview with Oprah to launch a political career which could take her all the way to the White House, if rumours circulating around Westminster last week turn out to be accurate.

One senior Labour figure  a veteran of Tony Blair's Downing Street administration with strong links to Washington  claimed to The Mail on Sunday that Ms Markle, 39, was networking among senior Democrats with a view to building a campaign and fundraising teams for a tilt at the US Presidency.

Last night, a source close to the Duchess of Sussex declined to comment, but the couple have made little secret of their political beliefs.

One senior Labour figure claimed that Meghan Markle (pictured last year), 39, was networking among senior Democrats with a view to building a campaign and fundraising teams for a tilt at the US Presidency

During the US election last year they levelled a thinly veiled attack on Donald Trump by urging voters to 'reject hate speech', which a spokesperson for the couple described as 'a call for decency'. Trump himself declared that he was 'not a fan' of Meghan, 39.

A source said: 'The Blairite, internationalist and Democratic party networks are buzzing with talk about Meghan's political ambitions and potential backers.'

Last year, a friend of the Duchess told Vanity Fair magazine that one of the reasons she did not give up her American citizenship when she married into the Royal Family was to allow her to keep open the option of entering Washington politics.

US constitutional experts responded that she would have to renounce her title if she wanted to hold public office in the States, because it would cut across the US oath of allegiance.

Buckingham Palace tried to distance the Royal Family from the remarks made during the US election by issuing a statement saying that 'the Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family' and describing his comments as 'made in a personal capacity'.

The source added that the presumption was that the Duchess was eyeing 2024, when President Joe Biden will be 82 and deciding whether he wants to run for a second term.

During the US election last year the couple levelled a thinly veiled attack on Donald Trump by urging voters to 'reject hate speech'

If she made it to the White House, Meghan would be the first female US President  succeeding where Hillary Clinton narrowly failed four years ago

If she made it to the White House, Meghan would be the first female US President  succeeding where Hillary Clinton narrowly failed four years ago  and the second non-white occupant of the Oval Office after Barack Obama.

She would also be following in the footsteps of President Ronald Reagan, who was a Hollywood actor for four decades before switching to politics. During the 2020 campaign, the Duchess addressed the When All Women Vote Couch Party, the organisation co-founded by Michelle Obama to encourage participation in elections.

Meghan's friends have previously encouraged speculation about her political ambitions  describing her rise from modest beginnings as 'the embodiment of the American dream'.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a COVID-19 and storm preparedness roundtable in Belleair, Fla., on July 31, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

DeSantis: To Contemplate Further CCP Virus Lockdowns Is Insane

On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized President Joe Bidens remarks about the possibility of reinstating COVID-19 lockdowns in the United States if people are not vigilant.

To even contemplate doing any type of lockdown, honestly its insane, said the Republican governor.

DeSantis vowed to protect his state from possible Washington mandates.

Thats not gonna happen in the state of Florida, DeSantis said, referring to lockdowns. Were gonna continue doing what works, but under no circumstances would we entertain anything of the sort.

Supporters of former President Donald Trump gather along Southern Blvd near Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Feb. 15, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Even if we devote every resource we have, beating this virus and getting back to normal depends on national unity, Biden said on Thursday, in his longest speech as president so far.

And national unity isnt just how politics and politicians vote in Washington, what the loudest voices say on cable or online. Unity is what we do as fellow Americans. Because if we dont stay vigilant and the conditions change, then we may have to reinstate restrictions to get back on track. And, please, we dont want to do that again, he said.

Last month, DeSantis pushed back against a report about a potential CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus-related domestic travel restriction for Floridians, calling the idea unconstitutional.

President Joe Biden speaks about the CCP virus pandemic in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 26, 2021. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

And I think its an absurd report that they would be doing that. I think it would be unconstitutional, it would be unwise and it would be unjust, DeSantis said at a press conference on Thursday.

Texas on Wednesday lifted its statewide mask mandate enacted in mid-2020 while also loosening several other restrictions on businesses meant to control the spread of the CCP virus.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, announced last week in an executive order (pdf) the State of Texas is working toward removing restrictions on businesses and having them operate again at full capacity.

We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent, the governor said last week, while also warning Texans that COVID-19 has not disappeared, but the mandates implemented to control the pandemic are no longer needed.

Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 79F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
By Steven Rogers, 03/12/2021



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Angela and Michael

Kalani and Asuelu

Elizabeth and Andrei

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Tiffany and Ronald

Steven Rogers is a senior entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and been covering the reality TV genre for two decades.

: Happily Ever After?'s Season 6 premiere date has been announced by TLC, which has also revealed the cast will include several returning Season 5 couples.The sixth season of : Happily Ever After? will premiere Sunday, April 25 at 8PM ET/PT on TLC.In addition, the network will also air new episodes of : Pillow Talk, the companion show which features alums offering commentary on each week's Happily Ever After? episode as they watch it in bed, on Sundays at 11PM ET/PT beginning April 25.Both : Happily Ever After? and : Pillow Talk will also be available for viewing on discovery+, the new streaming service TLC's parent company launched in January.The three : Happily Ever After? Season 5 couples who will be returning for the new season are Angela Deem and Michael Ilesanmi Kalani Faagata and Asuelu Pulaa , and Elizabeth Potthast and Andrei Castravet In addition, TLC has also announced that Tiffany Franco and Ronald Smith , who previously appeared on Season 1 of : The Other Way, will be part of : Happily Ever After?'s Season 6 cast.According to the network, : Happily Ever After?'s sixth-season cast will also include three other couples that will be announced "soon."Based on the prior history, at least some of the remaining couples are presumably currently appearing on Season 8 of , which is currently airing in the Sunday night timeslot : Happily Ever After? will take over in April.Below are TLC's summaries of what : Happily Ever After? viewers will see unfold with each of the announced Season 6 couples during the new season.Angela, a 54-year-old Hazlehurst, GA, and Michael, a 32-year-old from Nigeria, were eager to continue their life together after they finally tied the knot in Nigeria. Unfortunately, their wedding bliss was followed by sad news concerning Angela's mother's health.Angela quickly rushed back home and shortly after her mother passed, Angela found herself alone to deal with the grief and stress of the pandemic without Michael.Driven to live a healthier life for her grandchildren and husband, Angela decides to undergo weight loss surgery despite Michael's strong disapproval. Although Angela's health is her priority, Michael's desire to have children is at the forefront of his mind.Married life has had its fair share of rough patches for Kalani, a 32-year-old from Washington, UT, and Asuelu, a 25-year-old from Samoa. With Kalani's feelings of doubt caused by a long history of family conflict, the couple is working through some tough challenges.They are hoping for a fresh start and begin looking for a house. Asuelu thinks that living on their own, away from Kalani's family, will help their relationship, and Kalani is willing to give it one last try.Meanwhile, Kalani's sister Kolini comes to stay with them for a few weeks and questions their decision to buy a house, knowing how rocky their marriage has been over the years. Kalani opens up to Kolini about her and Asuelu's intimacy issues and that she feels that they are more like roommates than husband and wife.Three years into married life, Elizabeth, a 30-year-old from Tampa, FL, and Andrei, a 34-year-old from Moldova, continue to move forward as a family with their daughter Eleanor.Much to Elizabeth's relief, Andrei is finally ready to give up being a stay-at-home dad and start working. But to get started, Andrei will need help from Elizabeth's father Chuck and Elizabeth's siblings have strong opinions about him getting into business with their dad, in any capacity.Later on, the whole family travels to Maryland for a family reunion and Chuck hopes it will bring everyone together, but the drama ensues.The last few months have taken a toll on single mom Tiffany, a 29-year-old from Frederick, MD, and she feels like her 31-year-old husband Ronald, who is still living in South Africa, hasn't stepped up enough emotionally or financially.Tiffany stresses to Ronald that she is tired of carrying the financial burden in their relationship and that if Ronald wants to see his family he needs to start contributing. Ronald is furious that Tiffany would behave this way and thinks that she is spending money on herself instead of for their relationship.Adding to those challenges, Ronald worries that his Visa will be denied, in which case he would want the family to move to South Africa. Tiffany is not on board with this plan and does not know what will happen if his visa is not approved.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
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It was another eventful week in the small-cap oil and gas sector.

88 Energy Ltd (LON:88E) announced that drilling had begun for the Merlin-1 exploration well in the North Slope area of Alaska. The drill rig began drilling the well at 03:38 on March 10, it said.

It detailed that initially the well will be drilled to 1,500 feet at which point surface casing and blow-out preventer will be installed. This is due to take a week, before drilling then resumes down to a maximum target depth of around 6,000 feet. That phase of drilling will last for three to five days.

Westmount Energy Ltd (LON:WTE) expected the start of operations for the next well at the Canje block, offshore Guyana. The company, in a statement, noted an announcement by Guyanas Maritime Administration Department, that the Stena Carron drillship will begin drilling operations at the Jabillo-1 wellsite on 10 March.

Jabillo will be the second of three exploration wells scheduled for the Exxon-led Canje block this year. It is described as a 1bn barrel prospect, in the Late Cretaceous basin fan system.

United Oil & Gas PLC (LON:UOG) spudded the ASD-1X exploration well in the Abu Sennan Licence in Egypt.

The ASD-1X well will test a number of stacked reservoir targets, primarily Abu Roash C and E whilst the G reservoir is marked as a secondary target. The well is located to the north-east of the producing Al Jahraa Field. This is the second well in the 2021 campaign and follows ASH-3 which in February impressed with expectation-beating results.

Genel Energy PLC (LON:GENL) told investors that the Sarta-3 well has begun production. It sees the Sarta field, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, now producing more than 10,000 barrels of oil per day.

The company, in a brief statement, said it expects production volumes to increase from the two current production wells through the optimisation of the fields production facilties.

Earlier in the week, Genel noted the latest payments received from the Kurdistan Regional Government for oil sales made in January.

It received a total of US$23.9mln in net payments  comprising US$10.9mln for its share of the Tawke field, US$6.5mln for the Tawke override, US$2.6mln from its stake in the Taq Taq field and US$1.5mln from the Sarta field.

Aminex PLCs (LON:AEX) joint venture partner Ara Petroleum is going to shoot 3D seismic at the Ruvuma project ahead of the Chikumbi-1 well programme. As well as assisting preparations for the well, the acquisition of a high-resolution 3D seismic survey is of primary importance for the preparation of the field development plan, the company said.

Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd (LON:COPL, CSE:XOP) raised 14mln through a share placing with the proceeds earmarked for its new North American assets, which are being acquired in the Atomic Oil & Gas deal. The company yesterday, after the close, launched a bookbuild process for the funding which this morning was confirmed as closed.

COPL highlighted that the share sale process was oversubscribed. Some 4.3bn new shares are being sold to institutional investors and high net worth private investors/family offices. The shares are priced at 0.32p per share.

Diversified Gas & Oil PLC (LON:DGOC) chief executive Rusty Hutson said he was exceptionally pleased with the resilience of the companys business model, as it released full-year results for 2020.

Earnings (adjusted EBITDA) rose by 10% to US$301mln (217mln) for the year, bolstered by hedge cash settlements of US$145mln which significantly offset lower gas prices during the year. It reported a US$23mln net loss, versus US$99mln in net income in the prior year. Revenue, including the hedge income, totalled US$553mln marking an 8% increase on 2019s tally.

DGOC achieved a new company record for production, with the 2020 exit rate measuring around 100,000 barrels oil equivalent per day which is some 18% above the volume at the end of 2019.
The family of George Floyd, the Black man who died while being arrested by a white police officer in Minneapolis, has reached a $27 million "wrongful death" settlement with the Minnesota city, lawyers for the family announced Friday.

AFP

The settlement is the "largest pre-trial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death case in US history," the lawyers said in a statement.

AstraZeneca Says 'No Evidence' Of Higher Blood Clots Risk From Vaccine

UK-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca insisted on Friday its coronavirus vaccine was safe, after some countries suspended its use in response to concerns about a potential link to blood clots.

AFP

"An analysis of our safety data of more than 10 million records has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country" from the jab, a company spokesperson said.

Gunmen Abduct 30 Students From School In Northwest Nigeria

Gunmen have attacked a school in northwestern Nigeria and kidnapped at least 30 students just weeks after a similar attack in the region, authorities said Friday.

AFP

The latest abduction took place late Thursday night at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna state, police said.

Wuhan Market Most Likely Origin Of Covid-19 Pandemic, Says WHO Delegation

The Wuhan wet market is still the most likely hypothesis for the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to members of a World Health Organization (WHO) delegation to China.

AFP

Zoologist Dr Peter Daszak, president of NGO EcoHealth Alliance which works in the field of zoonotic disease, said the team had identified a viable conduit between the wet market in Wuhan and to regions where the closest relatives of Covid-19 are found in bats, reported Evening Standard.

Commercial Buildings In Delhi To Set Aside Space For EV Charge Points

Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain announced that all commercial and institutional buildings with a parking capacity of more than 100 vehicles will be directed to set aside 5 per cent of the total vehicle capacity for electric vehicles and install suitable EV charging points with a minimum output of 3.3 KW on the premises.

Tata Nexon EV (Image: Tata Motors)

Jain said this is being done so that people get adequate infrastructure to charge their vehicles. In the first phase, we aim to install 500 charging points at 100 locations.

Gautam Adani World's Biggest Wealth Gainer So Far In 2021

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani has achieved a remarkable milestone amid the Covid-19 pandemic, as he added the highest wealth to his fortune in the world, as per the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

BCCL

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index showed that so far in 2021, Adani has added $16.2 billion, taking his total net worth to $50 billion. With this surge in his wealth, Adani is now the 26th richest person in the world.
When Thomas Hogg finished his term as mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in June 2016, he was described as a role model for young people.

UUP councillor Mark Cosgrove said of the outgoing first citizen: "You've shown what hard work and dedication can achieve; you have set the template for incoming mayors to follow."

Alliance's Billy Webb added: "You acted as a representative of the entire borough... I know you have succeeded in that, and acted as a fantastic ambassador."

How the mighty fall.

Just five years ago, some people were even talking about the young Fermanagh-born politician as a potential future leader of the DUP.

Apart from his tireless civic duties, for which he was awarded an MBE by the Queen herself in 2016, the 32-year-old former Portora Royal School pupil served his country on a tour of Afghanistan with B Company 2 Royal Irish the following year.

The first mayor of the new 'super council' merger of Antrim and Newtownabbey was held in such high esteem, he was even invited to the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May 2018.

Now, he's a convicted sex offender, exiled in London, having fled his north Belfast home following a death threat delivered by the South East Antrim UDA.

There's no going back, either physically or figuratively, from being found guilty of inciting a schoolboy to take part in sexual activity.

Reservist Lance Corporal Thomas Hogg MBE is now on the sex offenders' register for seven years having been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay 1,000 in compensation to a young man who was three months shy of his sixteenth birthday when he rejected Hogg's drink-fuelled advances.

The former DUP golden boy's sentencing at Belfast Laganside Court, and the events leading up to it, have stunned many of the citizens of the borough he used to serve, as well as fellow councillors from various parties who had previously praised his work as a promising - and regularly delivering - politician.

Read More

The upward trajectory began back in 2012 when Hogg was appointed chairman of the newly formed Young Democrats branch of the North Belfast DUP Association, a group for young people aged between 14 and 30 that was launched at City Hall.

Aged just 23, he was first elected to council, representing the Macedon area, in 2011, and subsequently served as mayor on two occasions.

Between those terms as first citizen, he spent four months on the battlefields of Afghanistan, and has previously indicated he may have suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of his experience.

It all began to fall apart, however, when Hogg was convicted of drink driving in Belfast in May 2018.

For that offence he was handed a 12-month driving ban, fined and suspended from his civic duties for five months.

The DUP also suspended him for eight months - but worse was to follow.

It was alcohol, he said, that had played a part in the shameful episode that brought him before District Judge Peter Magill, remotely from London, for sentencing on Friday morning.

His barrister Mark Farrell QC described what had happened as "a moment of madness which will have catastrophic consequences for Mr Hogg", whose address was previously given as the Ballysillan area of north Belfast.

During his earlier trial, the court was told how Hogg had targeted the victim at a function in September 2019.

He had offered to perform a sexual act on the 15-year-old boy and asked him to perform a similar act on him.

Hogg had only met the teenager for the first time at a public event attended by other young people the previous week.

The boy, whom the judge noted was half Hogg's age, vehemently rejected his suggestion and informed police.

Mr Farrell told the court that his client had been "befuddled and stupefied to a certain degree by alcohol".

He also argued that, apart from the drink-driving conviction, Hogg had a previous clear record.

Moreover, the defendant had achieved political office and performed "valuable" public service.

"He could have gone on to great things given his young age (but) his political career is now behind him. That lies in ruins," his barrister said.

The conviction and subsequent sentence has also jeopardised Hogg's new career with a wealth management firm in the City of London financial district, where he earns a 30,000 annual salary.

Hogg, who resigned from the council and the DUP when it emerged that he was facing child sex charges, will not have any of his former party colleagues rushing to his defence.

If anything, it's the reverse now that the case has concluded, with senior DUP members preparing to ask the Queen to strip their one-time rising star of his treasured MBE.

According to the Cabinet Office, an honour can be withdrawn, in a process known as forfeiture, for a variety of reasons, including being "found guilty of a criminal offence, behaviour which results in censure by a regulatory or a professional body, or any other behaviour that is deemed to bring the honours system into disrepute".

Attempting to coerce a minor into a sex act will qualify you for such ignominy; Hogg will be barred from making any future reference to having been awarded the honour in the first place.

Hogg was a young man with a bright future.

Now he's officially a paedophile, with few friends and an awful lot of time to reflect on what he has done.
By Yiming Woo

PARIS (Reuters) - Dozens of show business workers are occupying theatres in at least nine cities in France to demand President Emmanuel Macron's government reopen cultural venues and end a months-long halt to performances because of the coronavirus pandemic.

At the Odeon Theatre on the Left Bank in Paris, the sit-in entered its eighth day on Friday as protesters rejected an additional financial support for cultural venues and artists pledged by the government a day earlier.

Sleeping bags, inflatable mattresses and donated food are laid out in the 19th-century theatre's ornate hall and velvet-lined balconies, while the 54 protesters share a single shower.

"We've got everything we need to sit tight for several days," said comedian Jennifer Catelain.

"We started with polite petitions, then peaceful protests, we occupied venues for a day here and there, but we were not listened to. So we decided to step it up, stay a little longer in a place that is emblematic."

Theatres, cinemas, art galleries and other cultural spaces have been shut since October when France was put into its second full lockdown. Much of the economy reopened in mid-December but cultural venues, like bars and restaurants, remained closed.

The protesters, among them actors, theatre workers and students, say there is no reason to keep cultural venues closed when social distancing measures can be imposed.

They have been demanding an opening date as well as an extension to special unemployment benefits for actors, musicians and other show business workers who work on short-term contracts, known collectively as "intermittents du spectacle".

The government on Thursday promised an extra 30 million euros in financial aid and made sick leave and maternity leave more widely available for intermittents during the crisis.

However the protesters said the response did not go far enough - and for now the public appears on their side.

"They have no choice when it seems they have no other solution, said Paris resident Beatrice Philippe.

(Reporting by Yiming Woo; Editing by Richard Lough and Mark Heinrich)
Over 47,500 Ukrainians vaccinated against COVID-19 since launch of campaign

Most vaccine shots so far have been administered in Donetsk region (4,654 people), while the lowest number has been reported in Chernihiv region (756).

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter
Teton County Reporter

Previously the Scene editor, Billy Arnold made the switch to the county beat where he's interested in exploring Teton County as a model for the rest of the West. When he can, he still writes about art, music and whatever else suits his fancy.
Pruitt: As we consider what models to offer our families ... school size, the number of kids that opt in are all considerations for how we support our campuses. Are we looking at models of students to come back five days a week or four days a week? We are looking at models that are similar to our elementary model where we have students in shifts. With a large school depending upon how many students elect to come back for in-person learning, we may be able to put those number of students in two different groups, whereby allowing them to come to school at least twice a week. ... These are some of the considerations that are being explored in the joint task force.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday in his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat condemned the ongoing violence by self-styled Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singhs followers. He reiterated that the government wont tolerate any sort of violence in the name of faith.

I had said it in my address at the Red Fort that violence in the name of faith will not be tolerated whether it is communal belief systems, following a particular political ideology, whether it is allegiance to a person or customs and traditions. No one has the right to take law into their hands in the name of faith, Modi said in his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat.

PM Modi also hailed Muslim organisation Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind, saying its volunteers had recently cleaned 22 temples and two mosques affected by floods in Gujarat, setting a fine and inspiring example of unity.

He noted that India is a land of diversities which are not limited to cuisine, lifestyle and attire but can be seen in every walk of life.

Gujarat saw devastating floods recently. Many people lost their lives. When the waters receded, there was so much filth everywhere.

That is when, in Dhanera in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat, volunteers of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind cleaned 22 affected temples and two mosques in a phased manner, Modi said in his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.

He said the Jamiat volunteers came together and toiled collectively.

The volunteers of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind set a fine, inspiring example of unity for cleanliness. If this committed effort towards cleanliness become inherent to us, our country will certainly take our nation to greater heights, the prime minister underlined.

In his 30-minute broadcast, he pointed out that India has a rich cultural heritage, spanning thousands of years, and in this context, talked about the festivals which are replete with diversity.

When we look at our cultural traditions, social customs, historical events, there would hardly be a day left in the year which is not connected with a festival, he said.

ALSO READ | Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi praises Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind for cleaning temples in Banaskantha after Gujarat floods

He said the Indian festivals follow the almanac of nature and there is a direct connect with nature. Many of our festivals are linked straightaway with farmers and fishermen.

He mentioned festivals like Samvatsari, celebrated by the Jain community yesterday, as also Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Navaratri in Gujarat, Durga puja in Bengal and Eid-ul-Zuha. He extended his greetings to the nation regarding these occasions.

The festival of Samvatsari is symbolic of forgiveness, non-violence and brotherhood, Modi said.

Kshama Veerasya Bhushanam, that is, forgiveness is the adornment of the brave. The one who forgives is valiant. And Mahatma Gandhi always said, that forgiveness is the quality of great men, Modi said.

He also quoted Shakespeares play The Merchant of Venice, saying it explained the importance of forgiveness as it spoke about Mercy is twice blest, It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. It means the forgiver and the forgiven both stand to receive divine blessing.

Referring to Ganesh Chaturthi, he said this mega festival stands for unity, equality, integrity and honesty. My heartiest greetings to all of you on the occasion of Ganeshotsav, Modi said.

Onam, which is mainly celebrated in Kerala, showcases the rich cultural heritage of the state and gives the message of love and harmony, awakens new hopes and aspirations, and gives new confidence to the people, he said.

Festivals like Navaratri in Gujarat and Durga puja in Bengal are tremendous tourist attractions, he added.

In this series of festivals, Eid-ul-Zuha will be celebrated in a few days from now. Heartiest felicitations and best wishes to all countrymen on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha, the prime minister said.

He said festivals are symbols of faith and belief and in the New India, we should transform them into symbols of cleanliness as well.

Public cleanliness must be insisted upon not just in our homes but in our villages, towns, cities, states and in our entire country ? cleanliness has to be inextricably linked to our festivals, Modi said.

ALSO READ | Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi says those who take law in their hands won't be spared

(With PTI inputs)

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Alabama senators on Thursday delayed action on a bill that would curtail the powers of the governor and state health officer in a pandemic or other health emergency.

The proposal by Republican Sen. Tom Whatley of Auburn would require legislators to get involved to extend a public health emergency past 120 days. It would also require the governor to sign off on orders of the state health officer.

The proposal is one of a number of bills introduced in the wake of the COVID-10 pandemic to rein in the power of the governor and the state health officer to issue orders. Republicans in favor of the bill said there needs to be checks on the executive power, while a Democratic senator argued it would inject politics into health decisions.

If we had to wait on this Legislature, we probably would be all dead, Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro.

Singleton claimed some Republicans didnt believe in mask-wearing until several senators became ill.

Whatley said Thursday that he still has additional work to do on the bill.

President Pro Tempore Greg Reed, R-Jasper, said lawmakers are trying to find a balance.

Weve gone for a year now that the Legislature has not had an opportunity to engage because theres no statutory option for us to do so, Reed said.

Related: State lawmakers want to change the way Alabama handles future lockdowns
On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued leading officials in Travis County and Austin for refusing to rescind their local mask mandates, after Governor Greg Abbott lifted Texass statewide mask mandate along with other coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday. Announcing that Texas was 100 percent open, Abbott allowed businesses, including bars, restaurants, shopping centers and stadiums, to operate at full capacity.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (Source: Twitter / @KenPaxtonTX)

The governor claimed Texas is in a completely different position than it was last year. However, the end of restrictions comes less than a month after a devastating winter storm, from which residents are still recovering. Abbott announced his decision as Houston reported the presence of every COVID-19 variant of concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined the variants spread more easily and quickly than the wild type.

The executive order lifted nearly all coronavirus restrictions. It stated that no jurisdiction could enforce mask requirements in public areas unless the area was experiencing a certain hospitalization rate. Currently, masks can only be mandated in localities where the proportion of those with COVID-19 who are hospitalized exceeds 15 percent.

Public health officials in Travis County and Austin said they will continue to enforce safety measures. They were joined by officials in Round Rock, which reinstated a mask mandate until April 29. Other cities, including Houston and San Antonio, have continued to require masks in city buildings and public transportation hubs.

In a tweet, Paxton said, I told Travis County & The City of Austin to comply with state mask law. They blew me off. So, once again, Im dragging them to court. [Austin Mayor Steve] Adler will never do the right thing on his own. His obstruction wont stop me from keeping TX free & open!

Paxton issued a letter Wednesday to Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Adler, giving the pair an ultimatum. Paxton threatened to sue if restrictions were not lifted by 6:00 p.m. that day.

We have already taken you to court under similar circumstances. You lost. If you continue to flout the law in this manner, well take you to court again and you will lose again, Paxton said.

Local officials refused to comply, stating mask mandates were a critical public health policy during the pandemic.

[Travis County] Judge Brown and I will fight to defend and enforce our local health officials rules for as long as possible using all the power and tools available to us, the Austin mayor said Thursday in a statement. We promised to be guided by the doctors, science and data as concerns the pandemic and we do everything we can to keep that promise.

Judge Brown stated that Paxton was failing to make public health and safety a priority.

I will continue to listen to our public health authority, medical professionals and the CDC who have consistently said masks save lives, Brown said in a statement. Brown told the Texas Tribune that the decision to continue the local mask mandate came from the countys health authority.

I listen to doctors, not to politicians like our attorney general, Brown said.

Paxtons lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges Texas has brought against local officials. In January, Paxton blocked an effort by Travis County and Austin to restrict in-person dining around the New Year. Paxton also prevented El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego from closing nonessential workplaces during a surge of infections.

Abbott and Paxtons actions are reprehensible and socially criminal. Eager to show corporations that Texas is business friendly, Texas state officials have led other states in relaxing coronavirus restrictions. Texas was among the first states to reopen nonessential workplaces last summer. Hospitalizations increased dramatically afterward. Such policies caught the attention of billionaire Elon Musk, who threated to move Tesla production to Texas if California officials didnt allow his factories to stay open.

Texas has reported more than 2.3 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and approximately 45,000 deaths. As of March 10, only 9 percent of Texans have been fully vaccinated. Texas ranks among the lowest in the US for vaccinations, and the average weekly number of doses administered decreased from last month.

Health experts warn lifting the mask mandate could lead to another surge, threatening what little vaccination progress has been made, particularly with the presence of more-infectious variants. Because none of the vaccines available have been approved for children under 16, almost a quarter of the population, nearly 100 percent of Texas adultsapproximately 22 million peoplewould have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.
The Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) has welcomed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akfuo-Addos decision to facilitate the establishment of an Open University in Ghana.



According to GRASAG this announcement answers years of advocacy by the Graduate Students Association. In a statement signed by Heartwill Selasi Tamekloe, President of GRASAG, it noted that upon a successful establishment of the University, Ghana will join the league of countries running Open Universities including India, Israel and the United Kingdom.



In the epoch of COVID-19, an Open University will facilitate virtual enrolment, lecture delivery, certification and will ensure affordability. Physical contacts and stress will be minimised. An Open University will contribute to increasing Ghanas Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio currently which stands at 18.8%.



As the official mouthpiece of the research fraternity of the country, we assure the government of our unflinching support, readiness, and willingness to ensure that this idea is realised. The association has lessons to share from its experience running webinars and online conferences, the statement said.



Open University



President Akufo-Addo, during his first State of the Nation Address for his second term, promised the establishment of an Open University in the country.



Sixty-four (64) years after independence, we still do not have the critical mass of tertiary education graduates that is required for our socioeconomic transformation. Currently, Ghanas Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio stands at 18.8%, which, albeit very low, is still one of the highest in Africa. We must, therefore, introduce measures to increase consciously the proportion of our population with relevant tertiary education to accelerate the transformation of our country.



Our target is to increase the ratio from the current 18.8% to 40% by 2030, focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields, with emphasis on engineering. This will be achieved by significantly increasing enrolment in existing public and private universities and through the establishment of an Open University, the President said.



Appeal



Meanwhile GRASAG has also appealed to the President and the Ministry of Education to extend the laptop distribution programme to graduate students. This, according to the association, will enhance our role as partners in national development through research and practice, and also enable our members benefit fully from the services of the Open University and other webinars.



President Akufo-Addo has announced that Government is facilitating the acquisition of 280,000 laptops for members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concern Teachers (CCT) this year. Moving forward, the Minister for Education will soon detail an action plan for the implementation of the National Teacher Policy.

Source: peacefmonline.com









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She is currently in a relationship with chef Emilio Vitolo Jr.

But on Friday, Katie Holmes was spotted stepping out solo in New York City for an errands run.

The 42-year-old actress wore a pair of jeans with a floral blouse during her fashionable outing.

Looking good: She is currently in a relationship with chef Emilio Vitolo Jr. But on Friday, Katie Holmes was spotted stepping out solo in New York City for an errands run

The mother of one chose a baggy pair of denim bottoms with sneakers.

Katie chose a floral high-neck blouse with puffy sleeves; she wore a tan colored handbag.

She wore a two-tone patterned mask from Barriere with small framed sunglasses, with her brunette hair pulled back.

The Dawson's Creek star opted to go makeup free for her casual outing.

Chic: The 42-year-old actress wore a pair of jeans with a floral blouse and a funky black-and-white Barriere face mask during her fashionable outing

Later in the day, she was seen enjoying some quality time with her boyfriend Emilio Vitolo Jr., 33, in Manhattan's downtown area.

The pair looked inseparable as they headed for dinner and matched in white tops as Holmes swapped her denim bottoms for linen trousers for their evening out.

Meanwhile, the NYC-based chef wore a long sleeve white shirt, shorts and a bright red baseball cap.

Inseparable: Later in the day, she was seen enjoying some quality time with her boyfriend Emilio Vitolo Jr., 33, in Manhattan's downtown area

The lovebirds were first spotted together on Tuesday, September 1 on a date at Mediterranean restaurant Antique Garage in Soho; the duo were laughing and smiling at each other.

On Sunday, September 6, the duo confirmed their romance with a hot and heavy make out session at Peasant Restaurant in Manhattan; the actress sat on his lap as they kissed each other passionately.

Since then, they've been seen on multiple occasions together with major PDA.

Outfit change: The pair looked inseparable as they headed for dinner and matched in white tops as Holmes swapped her denim bottoms for linen trousers

Katie was previously dating Jamie Foxx; they were first linked in 2013 hand-in-hand through Malibu, but they kept their relationship private throughout the years.

The couple finally split after they took their relationship public last year at the Met Gala.

Prior to coupling up with Foxx, Holmes was married to Hollywood icon Tom Cruise.

Moved on: Katie was previously dating Jamie Foxx; they were first linked in 2013 hand-in-hand through Malibu, but they kept their relationship private throughout the years

The couple began their whirlwind courtship in 2005 and were married in seven weeks.

Katie filed for divorce in 2012, which was finalized after only ten days.

She and Cruise had welcomed their daughter Suri in 2006, who now spends her time with Katie, who has primary custody.
File photo taken on May 18, 2020 shows a logo in front of AstraZeneca's building in Luton, Britain.(Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

Dozens of countries so far have suspended or limited the roll-out of AstraZeneca vaccines after isolated reports of recipients developing blood clots. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that there was no reason to stop using those vaccines, which were developed with the University of Oxford.

The WHO stressed that no causal link has been established between the vaccine and clotting. "We've reviewed the data on deaths. There has been no death, to date, proven to have been caused by vaccination," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters at a briefing in Geneva.

Early on Tuesday, Austria stopped using a batch of AstraZeneca vaccine while it investigated death from clotting and a case of pulmonary embolism.

Local media reported that a 49-year-old nurse in Zwettl, a town northwest of Vienna, died of severe coagulation disorders after receiving the vaccine. Another nurse, 35, from the same city, developed a pulmonary embolism after receiving a dose from the same batch. Currently, she is recovering.

Soon after reports of possible links between AstraZeneca shots and blood clotting and pulmonary embolism, several other countries including, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, and Thailand suspended the use of that vaccine temporarily.

According to BBC, at least five million people in Europe had received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as of Wednesday and of the figure, 30 cases of blood-clotting events have been reported.

In a statement on Thursday, AstraZeneca said it had found no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in safety data from more than 10 million records.

"In fact, the observed number of these types of events are significantly lower in those vaccinated than what would be expected among the general population," a spokesperson for AstraZeneca said.

Europe's drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency, has also stressed on Thursday that there was no indication the vaccine was causing blood clots.

Despite the suspension by some countries, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Poland, meanwhile, said they would continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine and have sought to reassure their citizens of the benefits of getting vaccinated.

The vaccine produced by AstraZeneca has not been authorized by the U.S. health regulator, but the White House on Friday said it will hold onto some doses so that once approval is obtained, they can be distributed quickly.
Iran received a large shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Cuba on Thursday.

A total of 100,000 Soberana 02 doses from the Latin American country were delivered to Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

The first dose of the vaccine will be administered to 100,000 people in Iran as part of the third phase of its trial. Iran and Cuba are also working to develop a vaccine together that could be ready by April, according to the outlet.

Iran has been one of the hardest hit countries in the region by the coronavirus and has been registering several thousand infections per day for several months. The Islamic Republic began administering vaccine doses in February. Some Iranian media outlets have accused the government of giving out the vaccine based on personal connections as opposed to health considerations.

Iran and Cuba enjoy friendly relations in part because both states are adversaries of the United States. Iran is also close with Venezuela in the Western Hemisphere for similar reasons.
(AP) - An announcer for a live stream of an Oklahoma girls high school basketball game cursed and used a racial slur against one team as the players kneeled during the national anthem.

The incident occurred Thursday before the Norman High School-Midwest City quarterfinal game in Sapulpa as The Star-Spangled Banner began to play. The broadcasters told their listeners on the NFHS Network stream that they would return after a break. Then one, apparently not realizing the audio was still live, used an expletive and the epithet as the Norman players kneeled.

Theyre kneeling? (Expletive) them, one of the men said. I hope Norman gets their ass kicked ... (Expletive) (epithet).

Matt Rowan, the owner and operator of the streaming service OSPN, told The Oklahoman he was the person who made the racially insensitive remarks. Rowan apologized Friday and blamed his use of racist language on his blood-sugar levels.

I will state that I suffer Type 1 Diabetes, and during the game my sugar was spiking, Rowan said in a statement. While not excusing my remarks, it is not unusual when my sugar spikes that I become disoriented and often say things that are not appropriate as well as hurtful. I do not believe that I would have made such horrible statements absent my sugar spiking.

The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association and NFHS Network each issued statements apologizing for the comments.

While we are currently investigating the incident, this crew will not be doing any more games for the remainder of our championships, OSSAA director David Jackson said. This kind of behavior will never be tolerated by anyone representing the NFHS or OSSAA.

The NFHS Networks said in a statement that it was "sickened" and "outraged" by the comments, apologized and immediately cut ties with the third-party production crew that was involved.

We also deeply apologize to the students, their families, and the entire community for having such ignorant and hurtful comments expressed during the broadcast, the statement added.

Kneeling during the anthem during U.S. sporting events has become a familiar way for athletes to express themselves, often protesting racial or social injustice. Norman High School Superintendent Nick Migliorino said the school district supports the students' right to freely express themselves.

We condemn and will not tolerate the disgusting words and attitudes of these announcers, Migliorno said. We will do everything in our power to support and uplift our team and everyone affected by this incident.

Migliorino said the OSSAA hired the announcers and that the district would use another live stream service for the remainder of the state tournament.

State public schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister also released a statement, saying the comments cannot be tolerated.

The remarks made were sickening and vile," Hofmeister said. "My heart aches for the young female athletes who were subjected to this hateful and disgusting tirade.
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New Delhi, March 13 : A murder accused who fled from Delhi with his family in a car was intercepted by the UP Police at Lucknow-Agra highway after the Delhi Police provided input that the accused is carrying his dog in the car.

Mukesh (35) was arrested along with his accomplice Jiten for the murder of a 22-year-old maid who died falling from the 4th floor of Mukesh's residence at Subhash Place in Northwest Delhi.

According to police, a PCR call was received at 1.15 a.m. on Saturday that a girl had fell from 4th floor of a house in Shakurpur. The police reached the spot immediately.

The victim was identified as Reshmi, a resident of Jharkhand. She was taken to the hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Identities of the suspects were established by analysing CCTV footages. It was revealed that prime suspect Mukesh lifted her on his shoulders and abandoned her at a nearby place.

Thereafter, he alongwith his family and accomplice fled the spot, after spreading sand over the blood lying at the spot. They also carried a dog with them in the car.

On the basis of technical surveillance, it was found that the prime suspect Mukesh alongwith his accomplice Jiten, was going to his village - Mirzapur in Darbhanga district in Bihar.

"Subsequently, a dedicated team was deployed to nab the absconding accused persons from Lucknow-Agra Highway. The team acted swiftly and in coordination with the UP Police, succeeded in intercepting the suspects and arrested the main suspect Mukesh and his accomplice Jiten from Lucknow-Agra Highway near toll plaza," said Usha Rangnani, DCP North West Delhi.

During preliminary investigation, it was revealed that Mukesh works as an agent who supplies maid and servants to various households. The victim came to the residence of Mukesh a few days back for placement purpose and apparently some argument happened between the victim and the accused over payment.
Emergency employees work at the side of the crashed Soviet-built An-26 two-engine turboprop at the airport of Kazakhstans largest city, Almaty, Kazakhstan, on March 13, 2021. (Vladimir Tretyakov/AP Photo)

Kazakh Military Plane Crash in Almaty Kills 4

ALMATYAn An-26 military aircraft flying from the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, crashed while landing in Almaty on Saturday, killing four of six people on board, the Central Asian nations emergencies ministry said.

Russias Interfax news agency said citing a source that the plane belonged to Kazakhstans border guard service, part of the National Security Committee.

According to preliminary data, four people have been killed, two people have been hospitalized with injuries, the emergencies ministry said in a statement.

Emergency employees work at the side of the crashed Soviet-built An-26 two-engine turboprop at the airport of Kazakhstans largest city, Almaty, Kazakhstan, on March 13, 2021. (Vladimir Tretyakov/AP Photo)

Photographs from the site showed the plane turned over and on fire. Videos posted online also showed plumes of smoke rising from the crash site and visible from a nearby highway.

The cause of the crash wasnt immediately clear.

The An-26 was designed in the 1960s and built in great numbers for both civilian and military use. Hundreds have remained in service in former Soviet nations and other countries around the world.
Security forces in Myanmar have shot dead at least seven people protesting against last months military takeover.

Four deaths were reported in Mandalay, the countrys second-biggest city, two in Pyay, a town in south-central Myanmar, and one in Twante, a suburb of Yangon, Myanmars largest city.

Details of all seven deaths were posted on multiple social media accounts, some accompanied by photos of the victims.

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The actual death toll is likely to be higher, as police apparently seized some bodies, while some of those injured in the crackdown suffered serious gunshot wounds that doctors and nurses working at makeshift clinics will be hard-pressed to treat.

Many hospitals are occupied by security forces, and as a result are boycotted by medical personnel and shunned by protesters.

The independent UN human rights expert for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said on Thursday that credible reports indicated security forces in the Southeast Asian nation had so far killed at least 70 people, and cited growing evidence of crimes against humanity since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Other unofficial but carefully compiled tallies put the total number of deaths since the coup at around 90.

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Saturdays killings did not faze demonstrators in Yangon who crowded a commercial area past the official 8pm curfew to hold a mass candlelight vigil and to sing about their cause.

The mostly young protesters rallied at an intersection where they usually gather for daytime protests.

After-dark rallies were also held in Mandalay and elsewhere.

Reports on social media also said three people were shot dead on Friday night in Yangon, where residents for the past week have been defying the curfew to come out onto the streets.

Two deaths by gunfire were reported in Yangons Thaketa township, where a protest being held outside a police station was dispersed.

Expand Close Police arrested several protesters and dismantled their barricades in Yangon (AP) / Facebook

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A crowd had gathered there to demand the release of three young men who were seized from their home earlier on Friday night. Photos said to be of the bodies of two dead protesters were posted online.

The other reported fatality on Friday night was that of a 19-year-old man shot in Hlaing township.

Police had been aggressively patrolling residential neighbourhoods at night, firing into the air and setting off stun grenades in an effort at intimidation.

They have also been carrying out targeted raids, taking people from their homes with minimal resistance.

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In at least two known cases, the detainees died in custody within hours of being taken away.

Another possible indication of heightened resistance emerged on Saturday with photos posted online of a railway bridge said to have been damaged by an explosive charge.

The bridge was described in multiple accounts as being on the rail line from Mandalay to Myitkyina, the capital of the northern state of Kachin. The photos show damage to part of a concrete support.

No-one took responsibility for the action.

In Washington on Friday, President Joe Bidens administration announced it is offering temporary legal residency to people from Myanmar, citing the militarys takeover and ongoing deadly force against civilians.

The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions.

Ms Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party led a return to civilian rule with a landslide election victory in 2015, and an even greater margin of votes last year.

It would have been installed for a second five-year term last month, but instead Ms Suu Kyi and President Win Myint and other members of the government were placed in military detention.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed condolences to the family of those who died as a result of the An-26 plane crash in Almaty. He ordered to conduct a thorough investigation of the accident.

I express my condolences to the families and friends of the soldiers killed during the plane crash at the Almaty airport. I wish the victims a speedy recovery, he wrote on Twitter.

Tokayev also said that the clarification of the An-26 tragedy causes will be carried out on his order. The president demanded such incidents not happen again in Kazakhstan.
Many visitors have disregarded the regulation of wearing face masks in public places for COVID-19 control and prevention at the Huong Pagoda Festival taking place in My Duc District, Hanoi.

The Huong Pagoda Festival, one of the greatest Buddhist festivals in the northern part of Vietnam, has been reopened from Saturday after the local authorities previously decided not to organize the annual opening ceremony of the festival this year for fear of COVID-19 transmission.

Since the early hours on Saturday morning, people started crowding the venue.

The Peoples Committee of My Duc District set up three checkpoints at the entrances to the locale.

The organizers of the festival also constantly required visitors to comply with the 5K recommendations, which stands for "Khau trang" (face mask) - "Khu khuan" (disinfection) - "Khoang cach" (distance) - "Khong tu tap" (no gathering) - "Khai bao y te" (health declaration) in Vietnamese, by the Ministry of Health via loud speakers.

However, many people appeared to turn a deaf ear to those reminders.

A man lowers his face mask during his visit to the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi, March 13, 2021. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

At numerous venues inside the Huong Pagoda complex, many visitors were spotted maskless.

Many people do not wear face masks. I think the organizers should check, remind, or punish them so that others can feel more secure during the pilgrimage, said Vu Quang Tien, a visitor from northern Bac Giang Province.

People visit the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi, March 13, 2021. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

In addition, few people spared some minutes to fill in the online health declaration forms, which can be simply done by using their smartphones to scan the quick response (QR) codes placed at different spots for visitors convenience.

According to Nguyen Ba Hien, head of the management board of the Huong Pagoda complex, the festival welcomed about 30,000 visitors on the opening day.

People take boats to visit the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi, March 13, 2021. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Hien said the organizers were aware of the negligence to COVID-19 safety measures among a number of visitors.

However, they had yet to punish any cases over the thought that punishing people during their pilgrimage is quite inappropriate.

We simply remind them [to wear face masks]. Theyll all immediately put face masks on, said Hien.

A woman walks past a paper pasted on a pillar with QR codes for online health declaration at the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi, March 13, 2021. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A maskless man washes his hands with sanitizer during his visit to the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi, March 13, 2021. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A man lowers his face mask while making offerings at the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi, March 13, 2021. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A man visits the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi, March 13, 2021. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A man lowers his face mask during his visit to the Huong Pagoda Festival in Hanoi, March 13, 2021. Photo: Vu Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: Shooter: First-rate Action Thriller

R | 2h 4min | Action, Drama, Thriller | 23 March 2007 (USA)

Bob Lee Swagger is the name of the character Mark Wahlberg plays in 2007s Shooter. Swaggers the hero of a long series of books by author Stephen Hunter. Nicknamed Bob the Nailer, hes an ex-Marine corps sniper with 391 kills and supernatural quick-draw abilities to rival the Sundance Kid. Bob Lees dad Earl, basso profundo-voiced and similarly gun-talented, was a lawman, and has a whole series unto himself.

Hunter appears to cater to a very specific readership demographic: namely Southern gun owners. One has to assume from the tone of the books that Hunter himself has a certain nostalgia regarding the gothic aspects of the Jim Crow era, with Antebellum undertones. Its the same atmosphere that was excellently portrayed in 1988s Mississippi Burning.

Though theres no outright pornography, the books have a certain salaciousness that brings to mind the AC/DC lyric, Dirty deeds and theyre done dirt cheap, and while much therein is morally reprehensible, Bob Lee and Earl are true, upstanding heroes, bordering on caricature of the strong, silent type. Both have high moral standards, and were Marine veterans of the Vietnam and World War II, respectively. The books are also exceptionally well-written potboilersimpossible to put down once you start reading.

Thats the Books, Heres the Movie

Shooter is an exhilarating, big-budget, military-and-law-enforcement-flavored action thriller about political corruption and betrayal on the one hand, and Bob Lees Marine corps integrity on the other, starting with Bob out in the bush, sniping bad guys on a black op-gone-wrong in Ethiopia.

When the mission is derailed by an unmarked helicopter gunship attacking his sniper hide-site, resulting in the death of his best friend and spotter, Donnie (Lane Garrison), Bob Lee returns home, furious at the military and governmental double-crosses. He retires, and holes up on a mountaintop in Arkansas, with lots of guns and a dog that fetches beer out of the fridge.

Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) at his Arkansas mountain home in Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

When Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover) shows up and requests Bobs assistance as a sniper-defense consultant to the Secret Service to prevent a possible long-range shot at the president, Bob initially turns the offer down. But when the Colonel plays the patriot card: Do we allow America to be ruled by thugs?Bob cant resist. As Bob later explains his knee-jerk patriotic tendency,  I aint real proud of it. And I aint ashamed either.

(LR) Danny Glover, Elias Koteas, Mark Wahlberg, Rade Serbedzija, and Jonathan Walker in Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

Bob is then subsequently double-crossed again, and framed in an assassination conspiracy involving dirty cops, a dirty-as-they-come Senator (Ned Beatty), the Colonel, and some higher-ups in the FBI. Hes forced to go on the lam, while trying to uncover the evildoers and bring them to vigilante justice.

Excellent Supporting Cast

Shooter is arguably the movie that put Michael Pena on the map. Here he plays irrepressible rookie FBI agent Nick Memphis, who Swagger disarms and smacks into the middle of next week.

Agent Nick Memphis (Michael Pena), in Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

When reviewed by his superiors about letting Swagger get away and asked if hes embarrassed, he replies, I dont feel embarrassed. A Force Recon Marine Scout Sniper disarmed me three weeks out of the academy. If anything I feel lucky to be alive. Swagger later recruits Memphis as his spotter.

Agent Nick Memphis (Michael Pena, L) and former Marine gunnery sergeant Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg), in Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

Kate Mara plays Sarah Fenn, the ex-wife of Swaggers deceased spotter Donnie, a former nurse trainee who quit because she couldnt bear the sight of blood. Swagger runs from the law with a bullet in his chest to her doorstep, saying (regarding the shotgun shes about to pull on him) Look, if youre going to do it, just get it over with. I aint got nowhere else to go.

Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) on the run from the FBI, in Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

Forced to face her fears, she comes through splendidly. In the books, this section had a salacious twist, but its thankfully deleted here, and while Mara and Wahlberg have strong chemistry, its righteous. She of course becomes Swaggers exploitable Achilles heel.

Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) and Sarah Fenn (Kate Mara), in Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

Thirdly, former drummer of The Band, Levon Helms, plays a legendary gunsmith codger with a sly penchant for suddenly grabbing peoples hands without their permission, doing a warp-speed massage of the muscles, bones, and tendons, ascertaining in milliseconds whether that hands handled guns, and to what degree.

Wrap Up

The corrupt politics and cynicism are rancid and disheartening; There aint no Sunnis and Shia, no Democrats or Republicans; theres just haves and have-nots, snickers Ned Beattys Senator Meachum.

Senator Meachum (Ned Beatty, L) and Colonel Johnson (Danny Glover), in Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

For sheer action, power, combat, military spec ops coolness of the Recon Marine sort, however, Shooter is tremendous boy fun with its big-bore rifles, sidearms, improvised field surgery, and Killer Egg (MH-6 Little Bird) gunships.

Bob Swagger (Mark Wahlberg), in a winterized sniper ghillie suit apprehended by FBI agents, in Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

Although the later chase sequences and vehicle destruction mayhem are standard, and the one-guy-against-many-trained-killers is almost comic-book levelthats the nature of Bob the Nailer. Hes the baddest, and boys appreciate that one guy who can prevail against all odds to an almost superhuman degree.



With so many of Stephen Hunters Bob Lee books out there, Im amazed more havent yet been made into movies by now.

Movie poster for Shooter. (Paramount Pictures)

Shooter

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Danny Glover, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Elias Koteas, Ned Beatty, Rade Serbedzija, Jonathan Walker

Running Time: 2 hours, 4 minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: March 23, 2007

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Mark Jackson is the senior film critic for The Epoch Times. Mark has 20 years experience as a professional New York actor, a classical theater training, a BA in philosophy, and recently narrated the Epoch Times audiobook, How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World: https://www.thespecterofcommunism.com/en/audiobook/

Rotten Tomatoes author page: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critic/mark-jackson/movies
Would be residents of the new Respond operated estate at Maudlins Brook in Duleek can't move into their homes due to COVID, a local councillor has been told.

Cllr Stephen McKee says that 30 families are very upset that they can't open their front doors as the homes are not regarded as 'emergency accommodation'.

He told the area council meeting that it was unfair on the people who had been 'left in limbo' by the decision.

He had raised the issue before at council level and was told there was no issue with people moving into the homes as they were deemed essential.

'It's a shame, they are perfectly good homes and people can't move in. I understood social housing was allowed under currect guidelines,' he said.

Director of Services Fiona Lawless said she would talk to the housing section in the council and see what the problem was with people moving in.

Cllr Sharon Tolan said Shepherd's Lodge in Bettystown was similiar.
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Spectacles and theatrics are essential ingredients of Indian elections and our leaders never fail to deliver them. Most leaders, however, also see to it that such elements only add to the colour of the electioneering process and do not impact the democratic process adversely.

But the reports emanating from West Bengal of late have not been confidence-inspiring ones. Instead, they do the opposite. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that four to five men attacked her in Nandigram where she is contesting the Assembly election. She suffered injuries to her leg and neck. The picture of the woman chief minister with bandage and visuals of her describing the body pain went viral instantly, igniting passions all over the state. Her allegation that there was no security detail to protect her accentuated the situation.

That version, however, underwent a substantial change the following day when she explained what happened the previous day. There was no mention of an attack nor a conspiracy. But by then, the state had witnessed a series of clashes between her followers and those of the BJP which has emerged as the principal opposition to her party, the Trinamul Congress, this time around. There was also an attempt to blame the Election Commission of India that has virtually taken over the states administration and shifted the state police chief and his deputy recently.

Fair and free elections where citizens vote peacefully and elect their representatives and rulers are one of the seminal pillars of a functioning democracy. Every institution of the state has a responsibility towards ensuring it; more so for politicians in power. Every election is fought in a highly charged atmosphere and party cadres would miss no chance to pounce on their opponents. It is for level-headed leaders to ensure that the ultimate goal is to create an atmosphere where every voter and her choice are respected. It is unfortunate that the West Bengal chief minister did not think through it before going public with a conspiracy theory.

In a democracy, people make their choices after processing the information they receive. It is imperative that all those who are duty-bound to protect democracy and its institutions also ensure that the right information reaches the people and the wrong and fake do not. It is only in such a background that their decision would further the cause of democracy. Igniting passion based on religion or ideology or peoples love for their leaders is easy but swaying peoples opinion by good governance is not.

Politicians of all hues must be willing to place themselves for public scrutiny of what they have done or not done in the past while going to people seeking votes. Nothing should allow this process to be bypassed, for it will colour the very exercise and drain it of meaning. There must be no shortcuts to power.

The latest events send a reminder to the Election Commission, too: it is entering a minefield in the following days and no amount of caution and preparedness would be excessive in the conduct of the elections.
When the first lockdown in March last year was announced and Robert Lawson had to all but give up teaching English in Malaga, he turned to his lifelong passion of music to help get him through.

However, not satisfied with just picking up the instruments - namely the guitar, drums and mandolin that he already had at home in Riogordo - he set about making new ones.

The musician admits that he had "never made an instrument before" and in fact woodwork was not a subject he excelled at as a schoolboy. "I think it took me about a year to make a tea tray for my mum at school," he confesses.

Unperturbed by his early failures, Robert started experimenting with bits of wood he had lying around the house and he started to produce prototypes of dulcimers.

Inspired by little-known, yet "mythological" Irish musician Michael O'Shea, who he first stumbled upon in the late 1980s in the UK, Robert set about making his very own instruments.

Robert Lawson emulates the only known photo of his hero, Michael OShea, for his Bandcamp webpage as a tribute. / SUR

According to Robert, O'Shea made a sitar-style instrument with a wooden door he had found in a skip while travelling through Germany. He went on to appear on Irish television and record an album of improvised music with his homemade instrument, which he christened Mo Chara - meaning 'my friend' in Irish.

Robert, 52, says he has now made around 12 dulcimer or zither-style instruments of varying sizes. In terms of criteria, he says, "I wanted them to be smallish and portable but able to be played." All of the instruments are made out of wood and are of "simple, cheap construction".

Piano tuners

By a stroke of luck, Robert's Dutch friend Corne, who has a piano restoration business up the road from Riogordo in Colmenar, offered Robert the use of his workshop as well as some professional tips and piano tuners, which helped to "finesse" Robert's efforts. "Piano tuners are very hard to come by, unless you happen to have a friend who restores pianos," Robert laughs.

Some of the creations have names, including 'Big Blue' whose name speaks for itself - and Brazilian - due to the green flag-shape in the middle.

Robert has also been busy recording the music he makes on his instruments and as it's improvised, he says that some of the tracks include sounds of his cats meowing or dog barking in the background.

He uploads them onto a page he has on a website called Bandcamp, which is an online platform where artists can create their own online store to promote and sell their music.

Last month Robert contacted BBC radio 6 presenter Stuart Maconie and was amazed when one of Maconie's assistants replied. "It all happened really quickly," Robert explains.

The presenter was interested in playing one of Robert's tracks on his radio show, Freak Zone, which showcases underground and experimental music.

His moment of fame came on Sunday 28 February. "It's like a door you've been knocking at for years suddenly opens," Robert explains. Since then the musician says that he has already been contacted by other radio stations as far afield as the USA and Australia.

Although his English classes are beginning to pick up again, Robert has plans to continue with the improvised music scene and the instruments. He says he'd like to start workshops, especially with children. "Improvised music works better when people don't come along with the baggage of what music should sound like," he explains. "So that is why doing workshops with children is ideal."

Robert is no stranger to improvised music, having got into it in his late teens, when he was asked by a teacher to accompany a dance therapist who was working with a group of people with special educational needs. "It was the perfect place to do it. None of the participants were at all judgmental," Robert explains.

Fast forward a few years and Robert is the founder of the Riogordo improvised music festival, which has been taking place very year for about eight years. Robert hopes to play some of his new instruments when the festival can get going again.

Robert jokes that while making and recording the instruments has kept him busy over the last year, it may also have been his answer to "a mid-life crisis." Some people, he says, "buy big motorbikes, so at least this is a lot safer," he adds, laughing.
Photo: The Canadian Press People raise their hands with clenched fists while others hold up mobile phones with LED lights on, during a candlelight night rally in Yangon, Myanmar Saturday.

Security forces in Myanmar on Saturday again met protests against last months military takeover with lethal force, killing at least four people by shooting live ammunition at demonstrators.

Three deaths were reported in Mandalay, the countrys second-biggest city, and one in Pyay, a town in south-central Myanmar. There were multiple reports on social media of the deaths, along with photos of dead and wounded people in both locations.

The independent U.N. human rights expert for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said Thursday that credible reports indicated security forces in the Southeast Asian nation had so far killed at least 70 people, and cited growing evidence of crimes against humanity since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Reports on social media also said three people were shot dead Friday night in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, where residents for the past week have been defying an 8 p.m. curfew to come out on the streets.

Two deaths by gunfire were reported in Yangons Thaketa township, where a protest being held outside a police station was dispersed. A crowd had gathered there to demand the release of three young men who were seized from their home earlier Friday night. Photos said to be of the bodies of two dead protesters were posted online. The other reported fatality Friday night was of a 19-year-old man shot in Hlaing township.

The nighttime protests may reflect a more aggressive approach to self-defence that has been advocated by some protesters. Police had been aggressively patrolling residential neighbourhoods at night, firing into the air and setting off stun grenades in an effort at intimidation. They have also been carrying out targeted raids, taking people from their homes with minimal resistance. In at least two known cases, the detainees died in custody within hours of being taken away.

Another possible indication of heightened resistance emerged Saturday with photos posted online of a railway bridge said to have been damaged by an explosive charge.

The bridge was described in multiple accounts as being on the rail line from Mandalay to Myitkyina, the capital of the northern state of Kachin. The photos show damage to part of a concrete support.

No one took responsibility for the action, but it could serve a two-fold purpose.

It could be seen as support for the nationwide strike of state railway workers, who are part of the civil disobedience movement against the coup.

At the same time, it could be aimed as disrupting the ability of the junta to reinforce its troops in Kachin, a state whose residents have long been at odds with the central government. The Kachin ethnic minority fields its own well-trained and equipped guerrilla force, and there has been outrage in Myitkyina at security forces killing of anti-coup protesters there.

The prospect of sabotage has been openly discussed by some protesters, who warn that they could blow up a pipeline supplying natural gas to China. They see China as being the juntas main supporter, even though Beijing has been mildly critical of the coup in its public comments.

In Washington on Friday, the Biden administration announced it is offering temporary legal residency to people from Myanmar, citing the militarys takeover and ongoing deadly force against civilians.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the designation of temporary protected status for people from Myanmar would last for 18 months. The offer of temporary legal residency applies to people already in the United States. Mayorkas said in a statement that worsening conditions in Myanmar would make it difficult for those people to safely return home.

The Feb. 1 coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions.

Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party led a return to civilian rule with a landslide election victory in 2015, and an even greater margin of votes last year. It would have been installed for a second five-year term last month, but instead Suu Kyi and President Win Myint and other members of the government were placed in military detention.
Alaskans can now buy raffle tickets for a chance to hunt the state's big game, like this musk ox, seen here near Nome.
When the Duchess of Sussex complained to Oprah Winfrey about a tearful row with her sister-in-law, she described it as a dramatic 'turning point' that would eventually see the Sussexes walking away from their Royal roles altogether.

'Everything changed,' she said, claiming it marked the beginning of a 'character assassination'.

So, what actually happened between the two women that could possibly have sparked what is now being called 'Crygate'?

In unravelling this question, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the row in the run-up to Meghan's wedding was just one of a series of flashpoints that doomed the relationship from its earliest days.

Indeed, there are claims that the Cambridges have been at the heart of Meghan's unease not just with Palace life, but with her and Harry's place within the Royal Family. And, sadly, there has been a simmering anger between the two brothers.

The Duchess of Sussex complained to Oprah Winfrey about a tearful row with her sister-in-law (pictured together at a Westminster Abbey for a Commonwealth day service) prior to her wedding

First, though, what about the flowergirl row?

At the fitting for Charlotte were Meghan, Kate, designer Clare Waight Keller, two assistants from the Givenchy fashion house and Melissa Toubati  Meghan's aide, who later quit after just six months in the role.

The dress intended for Charlotte didn't fit. Fraught conversations ensued about how, with little time left, this could be rectified. Amid the stress, tears were shed. That was unfortunate, but what followed was more damaging  at least for Meghan.

Many months afterwards, it was reported that it was Kate, who'd given birth to her third child just days before the fitting, who had been 'left in tears', although details remained vague.

Yet Meghan sees it very differently and claimed last week that 'the reverse was true'. She suggested there was evidence to support her claim.

Referring to her sister-in-law simply as 'Kate', rather than the more formal 'Catherine', which the Duchess prefers to be called in public, Meghan continued: 'She was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologised, and she brought me flowers and a note, apologising She did what I would do if I knew that I hurt someone.'

Meghan magnanimously told Oprah Winfrey that she has forgiven Kate. But sources have told this newspaper that the apology was not the end of the matter.

A door was said to have been slammed in Kate's face and those flowers thrown in Meghan's bin.

The upset intensified.

Meghan is said to have grown increasingly suspicious that pro-Kate Palace aides had leaked the 'Kate cried' version of the story to the Press.

As the source put it: 'Meghan became obsessed.

'She couldn't let it go and would tell anyone who listened. She demanded that staff speak out to correct the story  and became frustrated when they didn't.'

Clearly this festered. Meghan returned to the subject three times with Oprah.

Princess Charlotte and the Duchess of Cambridge outside St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle

If, on the other hand, the Duchess of Cambridge did not believe she had been in the wrong during the fallout, why would she apologise?

Perhaps she was simply trying to calm the issue. As another Royal observer told The Mail on Sunday: 'Clearly, Meghan didn't grasp that very British concept of saying sorry even if you don't truly believe it was entirely your fault.'

Petty as it may seem, the row over Charlotte's dress signified a much deeper schism between the brothers, one that had started many months earlier.

But once their wives fell out, there was no going back.

One sore point was the running of Harry and William's joint philanthropic charity, The Royal Foundation. The brothers differed on how one aspect, wildlife conservation, ought to be carried out.

Harry preferred a 'hands-on' approach, whereas William was more interested in empowering local communities to carry out the work themselves.

Then, with William increasingly involved in meetings about matters of state in preparation for being King, Harry realised, as he later said, that they were 'on different paths'.

This had long been a source of irritation and eventually anger to Harry, 'the spare', as Diana had affectionately referred to him.

Harry had more freedom, of course, but it came at a price. A source said: 'When jobs or causes came up, Harry had the last pick. That must have been an unwelcome reminder that he was less important than William.'

The Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Sussex on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2018

Into this scenario came Meghan.

While she and Harry lived in the smaller Nottingham Cottage within Kensington Palace, the Cambridges had the vastly superior Apartment 1A.

One source said: 'It was clear Meghan thought Kate could have done more to include her.'

For example, a courtier told of one day when, by coincidence, Meghan and Kate both wanted to go shopping in nearby Kensington High Street. Kate went ahead in her Range Rover on her own, rather than inviting Harry's then girlfriend along with her.

If such an incident was difficult for Harry and his soon-to-be fiancee, worse was to come  at least in his eyes.

It has been suggested that the ever-cautious William  now assuming an increasingly important role in family affairs  had a frank conversation with Harry, saying he was concerned at the speed of his romance.

For Harry, this was unwelcome and meddling advice.

Meghan is said to have grown increasingly suspicious that pro-Kate Palace aides had leaked the 'Kate cried' version of the story to the Press

In February 2018, three months before his wedding to Meghan, the 'Fab Four'  as they were then dubbed  gave what was to be their first, and only, group interview.

In a panel discussion about The Royal Foundation, they described the fractures in their working relationship with extraordinary candour.

When asked about any family disagreements, William answered: 'Oh, yes.' Harry chimed in: '[They are] healthy disagreements.'

Pressed further, Harry said: 'I can't remember, they come so thick and fast.' Had these disagreements been resolved? William replied: 'We don't know.'

He added: 'We've got four different personalities and we've got the same passions to make a difference, but different opinions. I think those opinions work really well.

'Working as a family does have its challenges and the fact that everyone is laughing shows they know exactly what it's like. We're stuck together for the rest of our lives.'

Or not, as it happens.

It's easy to have some sympathy for Meghan and Harry, given the circumstances. They had to share office staff with William and Kate, and there was competition over which causes they could champion and which didn't clash with the interests of more senior Royals.

Courtiers, too, made it clear that there was a finite budget from Duchy of Cornwall coffers and, as lower-ranking Royals, they were entitled to less of it.

One major difference between the brothers was that while William had come to terms with the death of his mother and had accepted the media interest in his life, albeit begrudgingly, Harry never could.

He tended to see everything as a battle with the Press. He often drew parallels between Meghan and his mother.

Then came a pre-wedding row with the Queen's dresser Angela Kelly over a tiara, which led Harry to infamously declare: 'What Meghan wants, Meghan gets.' And, of course, the Charlotte dress incident. But still, family bonds remained firm.

Prince Charles walked Meghan down the aisle. She has said the Queen tenderly let her share her blanket during a joint official engagement a month after her wedding. Yet Meghan told Oprah that once she was married 'everything started to worsen'.

In a bid to gain independence, the Sussexes established their own court and moved out of Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Yet 20 miles down the M4 wasn't far enough. Soon, the Sussexes were looking much further afield.

A lengthy stay in Canada prompted discussions that led to their permanent move to the US.

The Mail on Sunday  the first newspaper to reveal the froideur between Meghan and Kate  understands that Harry's rift with his brother was the driving force behind his decision to quit Britain for a 11 million mansion in California.

Walking away and unable to fulfil as many Royal duties as before ensured the Sussexes slipped further down the pecking order.

This became brutally clear at the Commonwealth Day service in March last year, when the Sussexes, who by now had stepped down from Royal duties, were told they must take their seats at Westminster Abbey.

They were no longer allowed to wait for the Queen's appearance and walk in together with Her Majesty and other senior Royals.

Graciously, and to appease the clearly discomfited Sussexes, William and Kate took their seats early, too, and diplomatically did not join the procession as planned.

But the awkward body language between the four Royals was plain to see.

Further humiliation came for Harry later that week when a tape recording emerged revealing he had been pranked by a radio DJ pretending to be environmental activist Greta Thunberg and in an unguarded moment he said then President Donald Trump had 'blood on his hands' over his involvement in the coal industry.

By now, Harry's signing up to his wife's outspoken socially aware agenda was obvious. Indeed, of all the allegations aired to Oprah, by far the most hurtful is the accusation of racism.

This was based on a single anecdote relayed by the Sussexes about an unnamed member of the Royal Family speculating about the skin colour of their as yet unborn son, Archie.

This toxic claim  casting aspersions against all senior Royals  forced the Duke of Cambridge to hit back last week, saying they were 'very much not a racist family'.

Of course, William is key to mending bridges with his brother.

A source said he will 'reach out' to Harry and has been in 'meaningful conversations' with the Queen and the Prince of Wales about how to move forward.

The Queen has spoken to Harry in the past week, according to one source, and both Charles and William will do so in the coming weeks.

While most of Harry's public ire has been directed at his father  'I feel let down', he told Oprah with faltering voice  sources believe that William, who might have persuaded Harry to stay, pushed when he could have pulled.

All the same, one insider remains cautiously hopeful of a reconciliation, saying: 'The brothers were so close for so long and that must count for something.'

As for Meghan's claim to Oprah that she was insufficiently supported by Palace staff, courtiers remember a different reality  one in which a group of young, progressive and hard-working aides were drafted in to help the Sussexes as Meghan adjusted to Palace life.

They included the hugely respected Samantha Cohen, an Australian mother-of-three and former aide to the Queen. And Americans Jason Knauf and Sara Latham. Hardly stuffy 'men in grey suits'.

A test of the success of any reconciliation between the one-time Fab Four will come in July.

On what would have been their mother's 60th birthday, William and Harry are due to unveil a long-overdue statue in memory of Diana.Each is said to be 'committed' to the occasion.

Both princes have many admirable qualities.

Neither, though, is blessed with acting skills.

So if last year's so obviously uncomfortable performance at the Commonwealth service is anything to go by, the look on the brothers' faces as they stand next to Diana's statue will tell the world whether or not they are back on track.
Good evening, my fellow Americans. Tonight I would like to talk to you about where we are as we mark one year since everything stopped because of this pandemic. A year ago, we were hit with the virus that was met with silence and spread unchecked - denials for days, weeks, then months that led to more deaths, more infections, more stress, and more loneliness.

Photos and videos from 2019 feel like they were taken in another era - the last vacation, the last birthday with friends, the last holiday with extended family. While it was different for everyone, we all lost something a collective suffering, collective sacrifice, a year filled with the loss of life and the loss of living for all of us, but in the loss, we saw how much there was to gain in appreciation, respect and gratitude.

Finding light in the darkness is a very American thing to do. In fact, it may be the most American thing we do, and that is what we have done. We have seen front-line and essential workers risking their lives, sometimes losing them to save and help others; researchers and scientists bracing for a vaccine; and so many of you, as Hemingway wrote, being strong in all of the broken places. I know its been hard; I truly know.

As I've told you before, I carry a card in my pocket with a number of Americans who have died from COVID to date; its on the back of my schedule. As of now, total deaths in America 527,726. Thats more deaths than in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and 9/11 combined. They were husbands, wives, sons and daughters, grandparents, friends, neighbors, young and old. They leave behind loved ones unable to truly grieve or to heal, even have a funeral, but Im also thinking about everyone else who lost this past year to natural causes by cruel fate of accident or other disease. They, too, died alone. They, too, leave behind loved ones who are hurting badly.

President Joe Biden takes off his mask to speak about the COVID-19 pandemic during a prime-time address from the East Room of the White House

You know you've often heard me say before I talk about the longest walk any parent can make is up a short flight of stairs to his childs bedroom to say I'm sorry I lost my job, can't be here anymore, like my dad told me when he lost his job in Scranton. So many of you had to make that same walk this past year; you lost your job, you closed your business, facing eviction, homelessness, hunger, the loss of control, maybe worst of all the loss of hope.

Watching a generation of children who may be set back up to a year or more because they have not been in school because of their loss of learning. Its the details of life that matter the most, and we miss those details, the big details and the small moments, weddings, birthdays, graduations; all of the things that needed to happen but didn't - a first date, the family reunions, the Sunday night rituals, its all exacted a terrible cost on the psyche of so many of us.

For we are fundamentally a people who want to be with others to talk, to laugh, to hug, to hold one another, but this virus has kept us apart. Grandparents havent seen their children or grandchildren; parents havent seen their kids; kids havent seen their friends. The things we used to do that always filled us with joy have become things we couldn't do and broke our hearts. Too often, we've turned against one another. A mask, the easiest thing to do to save lives sometimes, it divides us. States pitted against one another instead of working with each other; vicious hate crimes against Asian Americans who have been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated.

At this very moment, so many of them - our fellow Americans on the front lines of this pandemic trying to save lives - and still, still they are forced to live in fear for their lives just walking down streets in America. Its wrong, its un-American, and it must stop.

Look, we know what we need to do to beat this virus; tell the truth, follow the scientists, the science, work together, put trust and faith in our government to fulfill its most important function, which is protecting the American people - no function more important. We need to remember the government isnt some foreign force in a distant capital; no, its us, all of us. We, the people.

For you and I, that America thrives when we give our hearts, when we turn our hands to common purpose, and right now, my friends, we are doing just that, and I have to say, as your President, Im grateful to you. Last summer, I was in Philadelphia, and I met a small-business owner, a woman, and I asked her, I said, 'What do you need most?' Never forget what she said to me. She said, she looked me in the eye, and she said, 'I just want the truth, the truth, just tell me the truth.'

Think of that. My fellow Americans, you are owed nothing less than the truth. And for all of you asking when things will get back to normal, here is the truth: The only way to get our lives back, to get our economy back on track is to beat the virus. You have been hearing me say that for - while I was running and the last 50 days I have been President, but this is one of the most complex operations we have ever undertaken as a nation in a long time.

Thats why Im using every power I have as President of the United States to put us on a war footing to get the job done. It sounds like hyperbole, but I mean the war footing, and thank God we are making some real progress now. In my first full day in office, I outlined for you a comprehensive strategy to beat this pandemic. We have spent every day since attempting to carry it out.

Two months ago, a country - this country didn't have nearly enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all or near all of the American public, but soon we will. We have been working with vaccine manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson to manufacture and purchase hundreds of millions of doses of these three safe, effective vaccines, and now at the direction and with the assistance of my administration, Johnson & Johnson is working together with a competitor, Merck, to speed up and increase the capacity to manufacture new Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which is one shot.

In fact, just yesterday I announced, and I met with the CEOs of both companies, I announced our plan to buy an additional 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines. These two companies, competitors, have come together for the good of the nation, and they should be applauded for it. Its truly a national effort, just like we saw during World War II. Now because all of the work we've done, we will have enough vaccines for all adults in America by the end of May.

Biden said the US would be heading towards normality by July 4 when families and friends will be able to celebrate Independence Day in 'small groups'.

Thats months ahead of schedule, and we are mobilizing thousands of vaccinators to put the vaccines in ones arm, calling active-duty military, FEMA, retired doctors and nurses, administrators - and to those who administer the shots. And weve been creating more places to get the shots. Weve made it possible for you to get a vaccine at nearly one - any 1 of 10,000 pharmacies across the country, just like you get your flu shot.

Were also working with governors and mayors in red states and blue states to set up and support nearly 600 federally supported vaccination centers that administer hundreds of thousands of shots per day. You can drive up to a stadium or a large parking lot, get your shot, never leave your car and drive home in less than an hour.

We've been sending vaccines to hundreds of community health centers all across America located in underserved areas, and weve been deploying and we will deploy more mobile vehicles from pop-up clinics to meet you where you live so those who are least able to get the vaccine are able to get it. We continue to work on making at-home testing available. And weve been focused on serving people in the hardest hit communities of this pandemic: Black, Latino, Native American and rural communities.

So what does all this add up to? When I took office 50 days ago, only 8% of Americans - after months, only 8% of those over the age of 65 had gotten their first vaccination. Today, that number is 65%. Just 14% of Americans over the age of 75 50 days ago had gotten their first shot. Today, that number is well over 70%.

With new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, that came out on Monday, it means simply this: Millions and millions of grandparents, who went months without being able to hug their grandkids can now do so. And the more people are fully vaccinated, the CDC will continue to provide additional guidance on what you can do in the workplace, places of worship, with your friends, as well as travel.

When I came into office, you may recall, I set a goal that many of you said was that kind of way over the top. I said I intended to get 100 million shots in peoples arms in my first 100 days in office. Tonight, I can say were not only going to meet that goal. Were going to beat that goal because weve actually on track to reach this goal of 100 million shots in arms on my 60th day in office. No other country in the world has done this. None.

And I want to talk about the next steps for thinking about. First, tonight, Im announcing that I will direct all states, tribes and territories to make all adults, people 18 and over, eligible to be vaccinated no later than May 1. Let me say that again. All adult Americans will be eligible to get a vaccine no later than May 1.

Thats much earlier than expected. Let me be clear, that doesnt mean everyones going to have that shot immediately, but it means youll be able to get in line beginning May 1. Every adult will be eligible to get their shot. And to do this, were going to go from a million shots a day that I promised in December before I was sworn in, to maintaining, beating our current pace of 2 million shots a day, outpacing the rest of the world.

Secondly, at the time when every adult is eligible in May, we will launch with our partners new tools to make it easier for you to find the vaccine and where to get the shot, including a new website that will help you first find the place to get vaccinated and the one nearest you. No more searching day and night for an appointment for you and your loved ones.

Thirdly, with the passage of the American Rescue Plan - and I thank, again, the House and Senate for passing it - and my announcement last month, I have a plan to vaccinate teachers and school staff, including bus drivers. We can accelerate massive nationwide effort to reopen our schools safely and meet my goal that I stated at the same time of about 100 million shots - of opening the majority of K through 8 schools in my first 100 days in office. This is going to be the number one priority of my new Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

Biden was also criticized for taking credit for the vaccine rollout that began under Trump

Fourth, in the coming weeks, we will issue further guidance on what you can and cannot do once fully vaccinated to lessen the confusion, to keep people safe, and encourage more people to get vaccinated.

And finally, fifth, and maybe most importantly, I promise I will do everything in my power. I will not relent until we beat this virus. But I need you, the American people, I need you. I need every American to do their part. Thats not hyperbole, I need you.

I need you to get vaccinated when it's your turn and when you can find an opportunity and to help your family, your friends, your neighbors get vaccinated as well. Because heres the point. If we do all this, if we do our part, we do this together, by July the 4th, theres a good chance you, your families and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day.

That doesn't mean large events with lots of people together, but it does mean small groups will be able to get together. After this long, hard year that will make this Independence Day something truly special where we not only mark our independence as a nation, but we began to mark our independence from this virus. But to get there, we cant let our guard down. This fight is far from over. As I told the woman in Pennsylvania, Ill tell you the truth.

On July 4th with your loved ones is the goal. But a goal - a lot can happen. Conditions can change. The scientists have made clear that things may get worse again as new variants of the virus spread. Weve got work to do to ensure that everyone has confidence and the safety and effectiveness of all three vaccines.

So my message to you is this. Listen to Dr. Fauci, one of the most distinguished and trusted voices in the world. Hes assured us the vaccines are safe. They underwent rigorous scientific review. I know theyre safe. Vice President Harris and I know theyre safe. Thats why we got the vaccine publicly in front of cameras so, for the world to see so you get to see us do it. The first lady and the second gentleman also got vaccinated.

Talk to your family, friends, your neighbors, the people you know best who have gotten the vaccine. We need everyone to get vaccinated. We need everyone to keep washing their hands, stay socially distanced, and keep wearing the mask as recommended by the CDC, because even if we devote every resource we have, beating this virus and getting back to normal depends on national unity.

And national unity isn't just how politics and politicians vote in Washington and what the loudest voices are saying on cable or online. Unity is what we do together as fellow Americans, because if we dont stay vigilant and the conditions change, then we may have to reinstate restrictions to get back on track. And please, we dont want to do that again. We've made so much progress. This is not the time to let up. Just as we were emerging from a dark winter into a hopeful spring and summer is not the time to not stick with the rules.

Ill close with this. We've lost so much over the last year. We've lost family and friends. We've lost businesses and dreams we spent years building. We've lost time, time with each other. And our children have lost so much time with their friends, time with their schools, no graduation ceremonies this spring. No graduations from college, high school, moving-up ceremonies.

You know, and there's something else we lost. We lost faith in whether our government and our democracy can deliver on really hard things for the American people. But as I stand here tonight, were proving once again something Ive said time and time again to the - probably tired of hearing me say it. I say it to foreign leaders and domestic alike. Its never, ever a good bet to bet against the American people.

America is coming back. The development, manufacture, distribution of vaccines in record time is a true miracle of science. It's one of the most extraordinary achievements any country has ever accomplished. We also just saw the Perseverance rover land on Mars, stunning images of our dreams that are now reality, another example of the extraordinary American ingenuity, commitment and belief in science and one another.

And today I signed into law the American Rescue Plan, a historic piece of legislation that delivers immediate relief to millions of people, includes $1,400 in direct rescue checks, payments. That means a typical family of four earning about $110,000 will get checks for $5,600 deposited if they have direct deposit, or in a check, a Treasury check.

It extends unemployment benefits. It helps small businesses. It lowers health care premiums for many. It provides food and nutrition, keeps families in their homes. And it will cut child poverty in this country in half, according to the experts. And it funds all the steps Ive just described to beat the virus and create millions of jobs.

In the coming weeks and months, Ill be traveling, along with the first lady, the vice president, the second gentleman and members of my Cabinet to speak directly to you, to tell you the truth about how the American Rescue Plan meets the moment. And if it fails in any place, I will acknowledge that it failed, but it will not; about how after long, dark years, one whole year, there is hope and light of better days ahead.

If we all do our part, this country will be vaccinated soon, our economy will be on the mend, our kids will be back in school, and we'll have proven once again that this country can do anything, hard things, big things, important things.

Over a year ago, no one could have imagined what we were about to go through, but now we're coming through it. And it's a shared experience that binds us together as a nation. We are bound together by the loss and the pain of the days that have gone by. We are also bound together by the hope and the possibilities in the days in front of us.

My fervent prayer for our country is that, after all we've been through, we'll come together as one people, one nation, one America. I believe we can and we will. Were seizing this moment in history, I believe, will record we faced and overcame one of the toughest and darkest periods in this nations history, the darkest we've ever known.

I promise you we'll come out stronger with a renewed faith in ourselves, a renewed commitment to one another, to our communities and to our country. This is the United States of America, and there's nothing, nothing, from the bottom of my heart I believe this, theres nothing we can't do when we do it together.

So, God bless you all. And please, God, give solace to all those people who lost someone. May God protect our troops. Thank you for taking the time to listen. I look forward to seeing you.
Google had announced just earlier this month that it was working on speeding up the release cycle of Chromes updates to four weeks, up from the current six-week period. This decision was taken keeping an eye on improving security, speed and stability of the browser.

Now, Microsoft has decided to do the same and is going to adjust the release cycle of the Microsoft Edge browser to match Google Chromes.

As contributors to the Chromium project, we look forward to the new 4-week major release cycle cadence that Google announced to help deliver that innovation to our customers even faster, Microsoft said in a blog post on Friday.

Also Read: Google to speed up Chrome's release cycle to four weeks

This upgraded release cycle will go into effect with Edge 94 which is expected to be launched by September. Google has also promised to make the switch with Chrome in Q3 and move to Chrome 94, but unlike Microsoft, Google has not given a specific month for this shift to happen.

Like Google, Microsoft is also going to offer enterprise customers an option to opt for longer release cycles under the Extended Stable schedule. Under this, there is going to be a new release every eight weeks. However, enterprises will have to opt for the Extended Stable schedule since the four-week cadence is going to be the default, Microsoft has said.

Also, Edge is not the only Chromium-based browser thats moving to a four-week release cycle. Brave plans to match this new schedule as well.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
The doctor who was working with high-risk COVID patients at Brisbanes Princess Alexandra Hospital when she became infected had not yet received her first COVID-19 inoculation.

This was despite 1615 other PA Hospital staff already receiving their first jab.

The Queensland government has defended its vaccination program after confirming a doctor working in a COVID-19 ward at Princess Alexandra Hospital has not been inoculated.

But the doctor wasnt alone. Queenslands Deputy Health Officer, Dr Sonya Bennett, said on Saturday other doctors working in the states COVID-19 wards were also yet to be vaccinated.

The Phase 1a [inoculation]  where there are doctors who are actively caring for COVID patients  is not yet complete, Dr Bennett said.
Eritrea releases 21 female Christian prisoners amid accusations of church attacks in neighboring Ethiopia

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Eritrea has freed 21 female Christian prisoners but the country's forces stand accused of attacking churches in the troubled Tigray region of neighboring Ethiopia.

The women, all reportedly young mothers, had been held in an island prison on the Red Sea since last August.

They were arrested in 2017 after a series of raids on underground churches by the Eritrean authorities. Many of their husbands were conscripts, leaving their children without anyone to care for them, human rights group Release International reports.

They are the latest Christians to be freed from prison in a string of unexpected prisoner releases over the past half year.

Last month, 70 Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds were freed, and another 27 last September. In total, 171 Christians have been freed since last August.

There are still around 130 Christians in Eritrean prisons and an unknown number of Army conscripts locked up for practicing their faith. A further 150 Christian prisoners are believed to be detained by the Army, but little is known about them, Release said.

Although the charity has given a cautious welcome to the prisoner releases, it warns that this good news is being overshadowed by attacks on churches in Tigray by Eritrean forces.

A massacre in the sacred city of Axum killed an estimated 800 people, including many priests and church members.

The attack involved the Church of St Mary of Zion in Axum, which Ethiopians traditionally believe is home to the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments.

Eritrea has denied involvement in the fighting in Tigray, but local witnesses have reported troops in Axum identifying themselves as Eritrean. They also claim to have seen Eritrean forces hoisting their flag and distributing Eritrean identity cards to Ethiopians under their control.

"Despite the prisoner releases in Eritrea, these horrific church attacks suggest it's far too soon to suggest a change of heart toward Christianity," said Release CEO Paul Robinson.

"The attacks on churches in Tigray are appalling, and Eritrea continues to hold many senior pastors who have been detained indefinitely  some for up to 17 years.

"Until all are set free and the killing of Christians stops it's too soon to talk of lasting change.

"Any such change would have to be proven by giving full freedom of religion to all Eritrea's citizens."

Local Release partners believe the prisoner releases might have been carried out in order to curry favor with Ethiopia's prime minister, who is a Christian.

"Our partners believe Eritrea is trying to extend its influence in the Horn of Africa," said Robinson.

Release International partner Dr Berhane Asmelash believes the assault on Tigray churches is more about power than religion.

"Religion is power. Every village has a church. The church is the center of the community. Remove the church and the community will be left without leaders," he said.

"The Eritreans believe if they kill the priests and leaders, they can easily manipulate the people. So wherever they go, if they see a priest they will kill him."

Originally published at Christian Today
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TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  Senate Bill 97 honors Indiana's rich history of successful popcorn production. The bill designates popcorn grown in Indiana as the official state snack.

Indiana and Nebraska are the top two leading states for popcorn production in the United States, according to Senate Bill 97.

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, Indiana planted 94,000 acres of popcorn and harvested 93,000 acres and 2016.

That was an increase from 2015 where Indiana planted 85,000 acres and harvested 83,000 acres.

Two companies within the WLFI viewing area play an important role in Indianas successful popcorn production.

Were lucky to be in a great location to grow corn seed, said Jay Hulbert. Indiana is one of the premier hybrid corn seed production areas in the world.

Jay Hulbert is the President and CEO of Ag Alumni Seed, located in Romney.

Were an odd little business, said Hulbert. We are a not-for-profit affiliate of Purdue University and were Indians foundation seed company.

Hulbert is pleased with the Ag Alumni facility and what the operation is able to do for popcorn production.

Were a leading breeder, producer, and marketer or hybrid popcorn seed, said Hulbert. Weve come to specialize in hybrid popcorn seed, which has become over 90% of our business since about 1995

We breed new popcorn hybrids and we test them across the Corn Belt and in various international locations, said Hulbert. Then we produce seed and market it to popcorn companies.

Once the seed is marketed to popcorn companies, the companies create contracts with farmers to grow the popcorn.

In order to create the best hybrid, Ag Alumni is constantly testing the performance of each hybrid.

We typically develop and test several thousand new hybrids every year and then only a couple of those make it through to the marketplace, said Hulbert. Were always breeding popcorn hybrids with higher yields.

Ag Alumni Seed works closely with Gutwein Popcorn, located in Pulaski County.

Were a family business my dad started it in 1998, said the Gutwein Popcorn Plant Manager, Tyler Gutwein. We process and package popcorn.

Tyler says they have contracts with 13 growers. The growers are able to grow the popcorn for the Gutweins to use.

We supply the seed to them, which a portion of that comes from Ag alumni, said Tyler Once it's harvested, they bring it in here, we condition it, clean it and package it."

The Gutwein family also farms, where they're able to take part in growing popcorn on their farmland.

Tyler's brother, Lance, takes care of planting and harvesting.

"We farm three thousand acres. We usually have about 500 acres of beans and the rest is popcorn, said Lance.

Lance said the moisture for popcorn has to be just right.

You want the moisture to be a lot dryer than field corn, said Lance. You want to try to be around 14% or 15%.

After the popcorn is harvested, its not processed immediately. In order to get the moisture where they want it, the popcorn is stored in grain bins.

"It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months to get it conditioned to the right moisture, said Tyler. "Once it's conditioned, we bring it into the plant and it runs through the cleaning equipment and then it can be packaged.

So new crop in the fall can take up to three months until it's ready to go, said Tyler.

I remember when we first started we were packaging two-pound bags of corn by hand and then selling it, said Tyler. To see where weve come now is really amazing.

Tyler said hes been happy with how much the business has continued to grow.

While looking ahead to the future, Tyler knows Gutwein Popcorn will continue to provide high-quality popcorn to customers.

"We would like to continue to grow, said Tyler. However, we don't want to lose sight of what we do here. We produce high-quality corn."

Each November, the USDA NASS conducts a survey in cooperation with Purdue University. The most recent survey indicates 2020 was a record year for popcorn production in Indiana.

The USDA NASS report indicates that Indiana planted 94,000 acres of popcorn in 2020, which is up from 75,000 acres planted in 2019.

At this time, Senate Bill 97 has passed the Senate. The bill has been referred to a committee in the house.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  Philippine National Police officer in charge Guillermo Eleazar said on Saturday he ordered the relief of the intelligence unit chief of the Calbayog City police for requesting a list of lawyers representing individuals from an alleged "communist terrorist group, which was identified in the request as "CTG".

In a March 12 letter that went viral, Police Lieutenant Fernando Calabria, Jr. asked the Office of the Clerk of Court in Calbayog for the names of legal counsels of CTG personalities. He said he made the request in compliance with higher PNP offices, a claim which Eleazar denied.

Eleazar said in a statement, PNPs top officials did not issue any order pertaining to that, and will never tolerate such unprofessional method of information gathering.

The court confirmed receipt of Calabria's letter on Friday, but no action has been made by them on the request, Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka earlier said.

Eleazar noted as soon as he was informed about the request, he ordered a probe into the matter. He said initial findings show that Calabria did such a thing to come up with a comprehensive report on the communist insurgency situation in Calbayog. The PNP official added the pressure of crafting a detailed report prompted him to commit a serious breach of policy.

In view of these initial findings and in consultation with our Chief PNP, Police General Debold M. Sinas, I have already directed the relief of PLt Calabria as the Chief of the Intelligence Unit of the Calbayog City Police Station, Eleazar said.

Out of line

Lawyers groups have condemned the letter, with Integrated Bar of the Philippines President Domingo Cayosa saying it is improper, deplorable, and alarming.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra shared their sentiments, noting the attempt to profile legal professionals representing militant groups and suspected rebels totally out of line and completely bereft of any statutory or legal basis.

Eleazar apologized to those affected by the incident as he assured members of the legal community that it is not and will never be the policy of the Philippine National Police to run after or even inflict harm on lawyers and members of the judiciary while performing their sworn duty.

Denial not enough

Eleazars denial that PNPs high-ranking officials had nothing to do with profiling of lawyers is not enough, National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) President Edre Olalia said in a statement Saturday. Olalia insisted that a credible and independent inquiry on this is warranted.

For DOJs part, Guevarra said the agency has no authority to interfere with the intelligence work of law enforcers. But Guevarra assured members of the bar the DOJ will oppose and call out any activity that is in violation of existing laws or established policies or unnecessarily endangers the security of certain classes of persons, most especially lawyers.

Sixty-one lawyers, judges, and prosecutors have been killed under the Duterte administration, according to an independent tally released by the Free Legal Assistance Group early this week. The lawyers' group said 26 (or 43%) of these killings are "deemed work-related.
Mumbai, March 13 : Ditching the idea of spending a whopping amount on pedigreed pets, several Bollywood celebrities are giving shelter to stray animals in their homes.

IANS has listed a few names in Bollywood who have adopted the policy:

John Abraham

Image Source: IANS News Image Source: IANS News

John, who is an ardent animal lover, adopted a stray dog in 2016 and named her Bailey. Just like her pet parent, Bailey is also an Instagram star and has an account on the photo-sharing website, which goes by the name Bailey & Sia, (Bailey's pup) Abraham. John had reportedly adopted the three-month-old pup, who was rescued from the streets by an animal adoption agency.

Alia Bhatt

Image Source: IANS News Image Source: IANS News

Alia is a cat lover. She had three cats -- Edward, Sheeba and Juniper. Of these, Sheeba passed away in January. The actress and her mother Soni Razdan had even mourned the death of their furry friend on social media.

Madhuri Dixit Nene

Image Source: IANS News Image Source: IANS News

Madhuri adopted a stray puppy and named it Carmelo Nene in 2019. She adopted it on her son Arin's birthday. This was not the first time the actress adopted a stray. Her dog Riya was also adopted. In 2013, she had rescued seven puppies on the set of a reality show.

Raveena Tandon

Image Source: IANS News Image Source: IANS News

Raveena has always voiced her mind against animal cruelty. She adopted a cat and named it Puma. The adoption story is very interesting, as Raveena has tweeted a video of the cat that came under her car in 2019 but survived. The actress then adopted the animal.

Sonu Sood

Image Source: IANS News Image Source: IANS News

Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood and his son Ayaan adopted a stray dog in March and named it Naruto. He made the announcement on social media, along with a picture of his son holding the new member of the family. He shared that his son adopted "this stray puppy who was all alone on the streets of Alibaug".

Sunny Leone

Image Source: IANS News Image Source: IANS News

Sunny, an ardent dog lover, had adopted Lilu, an Indie dog from an animal shelter five years ago.

Kapil Sharma

Image Source: IANS News Image Source: IANS News

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma adopted a labrador Zanjeer in 2014 when he was doing "Comedy Nights With Kapil". According to reports he brought Zanjeer home after the animal was abandoned. Kapil met Zanjeer at his friend's place, whose wife ran an NGO, and also took care of abandoned animals. Zanjeer passed away in 2018.

-- Syndicated from IANS

In 2012 Geoffrey Moore tweeted, Without big data analytics, companies are blind and

deaf, wandering out onto the Web like deer on a freeway. [1]

Fast forward a decade and a lot happened in the 2010s to deliver sight and sound. The storage industry brought innovation to solve the petabyte+ data challenge, the analytics software/toolkits ecosystem rapidly matured, and chip manufacturers delivered accelerated compute to glean insights from the ever-growing troves of data.

But the quest for better insights is never over. In fact, the constantly increasing volume of data is forcing us to take analytics into hyperdrive. For the enterprise to stay competitive in 2021, they must continue to innovate. Below I describe four big data analytics trends Im seeing, along with some suggested solution features to look for.

Apache Spark will continue to dominate the big data world

The classic data scientist is known as a badass; give her Apache Spark software with a Jupyter notebook and get out of her way. Apache Spark, a unified analytics engine for large-scale data processing, is now the Kleenex of big data analytics and data engineering. Its ubiquitous  universities offer classes for it, every Hadoop deployment is leveraging it, the new Spark 3 operator brings native GPU capabilities plus S3 integration. Everyone needs to gear up for the Spark tsunami.

However, a fair amount of thrash in this space causes confusion. Major vendors are forcing businesses to shift to the cloud and dump Hadoop File System (HDFS) for object storage. And a ton of other dedicated solutions are sprouting up to deliver engineered Spark solutions.

The real challenge is figuring out how to easily bridge from Spark on YARN technology to the next-generation Spark on a Kubernetes implementation -- without major disruptions to the existing environment. Businesses must also take into account that Spark is just one of many applications they need to support their analytics pipeline.

What to look for? The goal is a solution that simultaneously improves efficiency, agility, elasticity while cutting costs and improving data exploitation capabilities. Ideally, this solution will let data scientists tap into existing data stores without having to move to the cloud or re-platform the data. On the application front, businesses will look to avoid vendor lock-in with multi-version, open-source Kubernetes support without dependencies on Hadoop or YARN.

Stateful application modernization

App modernization is still red hot, and usually peoples minds go straight to the microservices cloud native apps. But over the past 18 months, Ive seen a radical shift in the open source, ISV, and even the monolithic analytics vendor space (think Splunk, Cloudera, and SAS). Businesses are now choosing to embrace the modernization of their applications to be deployed via container-native infrastructure. These traditionally stateful and data-centric workloads are looking to become more cloud-like by improving the efficiency of at-scale deployments and by gaining the elasticity and agility needed to deploy anywhere  in minutes.

The challenge is figuring out the right modern home for these stateful applications. Data science and analytics are a team sport, so these applications will need to share data and models, while orchestrating hand-offs across the analytics lifecycle.

What to look for? Businesses are going to quickly need staff that can do more than just spell Kubernetes, but there are no-coding answers to this problem. They will need to look to leverage a container platform that can support (and hopefully is validated with) all these applications and can deliver data at petabyte scale. Businesses will also need to make sure their solution is based on open-source Kubernetes with proven hybrid-cloud capabilities so they can quickly move these workloads between on-prem and the public cloud.

Solving for app dev and data-intensive workloads

When I go camping, my Swiss army knife is always on my belt, but as the adage goes, a jack of all trades is a master of none. Therefore, I also pack a hammer and hatchet for when the specialty need arises. Im noticing this same thing from the container offerings. You may have already invested in a technology that is particularly good from the app developer perspective and are now trying to stretch that tool to new spaces.

The challenge is that we all want to minimize solution providers, so we optimistically believe our vendors when they advocate for us to use their tools for things they arent natively designed to do. Stateful apps are a different beast -- running petabyte scale analytics is very different from running microservices web search. The scale of 100s or 1000s of clusters and/or hosts per cluster has fundamentally different requirements.

What to look for? Use the right tool for the right job. Dont be afraid of co-existing multiple platforms to complement your existing solutions and address your varied use cases to deal with scale, performance, and data gravity issues. On the data side, validated CSI drivers is a great start, but you may need a dedicated or integrated high-performance, scale-out data store.

The edge is here, and you need to solve for both data AND security

Weve been reading about the billions of edge devices and IoT trends for years now, and Im seeing more solutions that have actually operationalized data analytics from edge to cloud. In its simplest form, organizations are bridging their data center with the public cloud, others have brought tens of geo locations together, and others are able to collect data from millions of streaming devices -- even in orbit. Following this trend, analytics are continually becoming more automated and distributed as they move towards the edge points of data creation. This creates a complex matrix of analytic edges that themselves are composed of interconnected workloads that come and go, interacting with each other over physical and logical limitationsmuch like todays web interactions.

Businesses face two inherent challenges in edge analytics. First, how do organizations seamlessly bring together data from the many edges, multiple clouds, and on-prem -- while still providing a single, no-silo view of all the data? Secondly, how do businesses liberate analytics to exploit the data across a secure matrix that has no intrinsic attested identity?

What to look for?

Data: A solution that can deliver a common data fabric for all the enterprises data on a global scale means faster time to value, better governance, and lower cost. Look for data platforms with proven petabyte scale, hardened enterprise feature set, and proven capabilities (like a global namespace and auto data-tiering) to deliver data from edge to cloud.

Security: A solution that can establish trust in the fluid, interconnected data landscape. Strategies of yesterday to develop trust amongst workloads, like perimeter-based secrets management, are just a band aid that works in the near-term but wont scale. This strategy will leave the business vulnerable to attacks on the application estate that spans beyond the four walls of the data center. Instead, businesses need to look for technologies that can employ Zero Trust security to fully unlock their analytics over the next decade.

Take analytics to hyperdrive in the 2020s

Data will continue to be nothing without insights. Businesses cant stand still  they will look to the 2020s as the decade to take their analytics to hyperdrive.

If youre looking to learn more on this topic, please join me for HPEs upcoming event  HPE Ezmeral\\Analytics Unleashed. Well be speaking with analysts, conducting live demos, and discussing the analytics journey with three of our clients who have delivered solutions ranging from a virtual wallet program, robotic drive for ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems), and data science as-a-Service.

[1] @geoffreyamoore. Twitter, 12 Aug. 2012, 7:29 p.m., https://twitter.com/geoffreyamoore/status/234839087566163968?s=20

____________________________________

About Matthew Hausmann



Matts passion is figuring out how to leverage data, analytics, and technology to deliver transformative solutions that improve business outcomes. Over the past decades, he has worked for innovative start-ups and information technology giants with roles spanning business analytics consulting, product marketing, and application engineering. Matt has been privileged to collaborate with hundreds of companies and experts on ways to constantly improve how we turn data into insights.
Every Memorial Day weekend, a crowd gathers at Lands End in San Francisco to stand in ceremony beside the gray, shell-pocked bridge of the heavy cruiser San Francisco, which served valiantly at the desperate naval battle of Guadalcanal during World War II.

Chief Petty Officer Richard Jongordon, known to his shipmates as Chief Johnny, stood with his fellow sailors to the last man  which turned out to be him.

Among 1,200 men who fought aboard the "Frisco" in the great sea battle of Nov. 12-13, 1942, against a vastly superior force of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Chief Johnny is believed to have been the last survivor, and was definitely the last among the 50 who regularly attended the ceremony.

Jongordon, who always gave the opening remarks at the Memorial Day ceremony, died March 6 at a hospice facility in Alamo near his home at Rossmoor in Walnut Creek. He died of natural causes, said his daughter, Cidnee Lusk. He was 98.

"Chief Johnny was a national treasure," said John McKnight, president of the USS San Francisco Memorial Foundation. "He inspired generations of sailors and veterans through both his actions during his years of service, and the remarkable life he lived afterward."

Postwar life included many years as founder and owner of the Neptune Society of Northern California, an Emeryville cremation service. But the accomplishment he was most proud of was the creation of the monument at Lands End, which was built after Chief Johnny, among others, found the remnants of their heroic ship's bridge in a Mare Island scrap yard.

The memorial contains the names in brass of all 100 sailors and seven Marines who died in the battle, and is inscribed with a stirring commendation by Commander-in-Chief Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"I talk to people out there every year, and they are immensely moved by it," said McKnight, who organizes the ceremony, usually attended by a crowd of 300. "They stare at the names on the plaque and they stare at that piece of ship and the look on their faces is hard to describe, and then comes Chief Johnny to tell stories about that night of battle."

Richard Gordon Johnson  he later legally changed his last name to Jongordon  was born Dec. 6, 1922, in Wheaton, Minn., where he grew up on a farm, the second-oldest of eight children. He shined shoes in town, starting at age 5, and also worked in a butcher shop  anything to help his family through the Great Depression. At age 17, he dropped out of high school to join the Navy, an impulse that required a waiver signature from his mother.

Because he was a farm kid who had worked in a butcher shop, he was a mess specialist, organizing and distributing three meals a day aboard the Frisco, a 588-foot treaty cruiser with a displacement of 11,000 tons. Chief Johnny turned 19 on Dec. 6, 1941, and one day later he was aboard the Frisco while it was docked at Pearl Harbor. It was a sitting duck as the bombers flew overhead, but they were intent on the ships at anchor.

Saved from destruction, the Frisco left the yard Dec. 14, 1941, to serve in the War in the Pacific and at the Battle of the Coral Sea before multiple actions in the long battle of Guadalcanal. It was in a task force of U.S. Navy vessels that headed off an enemy fleet intent on bombarding the U.S. Marines who had landed. A gunbattle at close range ensued after midnight.

Chief Johnny's main duty was getting the meals out, but when all hands were ordered to battle stations, he was enlisted as a medic in the confusion.

"I was trying to find the men who were wounded. They were scattered all up and down the decks," Chief Johnny recalled in an oral history. "The men dead, we could not help, but the wounded needed attention immediately. In this dark night a flashlight in my hand would have been great."

The communication and electrical systems were shot out. Chief Johnny went below deck in the pitch black darkness to look for survivors and found himself in water up to his waist. A crew stacked mattresses against the shell holes and secured them with tables from the mess hall.

The ship took 45 major hits, but the crew saved it. For its valor, the Frisco received the Presidential Unit Citation and was sent home to Mare Island for major repairs.

By late February 1943, when the Frisco returned to the War in the Pacific, the bridge was left behind for scrap. The Frisco saw action during the landings at Okinawa and Iwo Jima.

It was preparing to support the planned invasion of Japan when the war came to an end. The Frisco was awarded 17 battle stars, making it one of the most decorated warships of World War Two. Chief Johnny was involved in all 17 of its battles.

Chief Johnny left the Navy in 1947 and returned to his original name of Richard Johnson, until he decided the business world was lousy with Richard Johnsons. So he legally changed his last name to Jongordon.

He entered business in San Diego, with Prudential Insurance. He also developed custom homes in Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County) before finally making his way to the Bay Area to enter the mortuary business, by starting the Neptune Society, and expanding to the San Francisco Columbarium, along with a chain of crematories.

"Richard really disrupted the industry back in the day when cremation was considered a disposal service," said Frank Rivero, owner of Pacific Interment Service. "He was the first person to offer direct cremations without any frills, saving families a ton of money. He had a lot of guts to take on the funeral industry. A smart guy and a good guy, too."

In 1978, he married Felicia Mehler, whom he met on a blind date. They lived in Concord, San Francisco and Lafayette before moving to Rossmoor 12 years ago. Then, as always, he told stories about the war with great flourish. The bell from the San Francisco is in the Marines' Memorial Club in San Francisco, and he could tell stories about that, too.

"He was without a doubt a most unusual man," said Lusk, oldest of his four daughters. "He was always thinking of a new way to do things. That started when he was a boy during the Great Depression and continued on to when he was in the war. He finagled a handmade coffee machine so that sailors always had hot coffee."

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Felicia Jongordon of Walnut Creek; daughters Cidnee Lusk of Goodyear, Ariz., Lia Trocano of Sebastopol, JoJo Youngs of Kailua, Hawaii, and Pamela Ellis of Pleasanton; stepsons Kenneth Mehler of Half Moon Bay and Brian Mehler of Long Beach; sisters Mary McGowen of New York Mills, Minn., and Alice Durham of Nixa, Mo; brother Carl Marxen of Minneapolis; 12 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

The USS San Francisco Memorial Foundation's ceremony will be virtual this year, with a special program dedicated to the life of Chief Johnny. Donations in his honor may be made to the USS San Francisco Memorial Foundation.

This article is written by Sam Whiting from San Francisco Chronicle and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
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New Delhi: India, Australia, Japan and the United States on Friday (March 12, 2021) during the Quad Leaders' Summit pledged to strengthen their cooperation and said that they strive for a region that is free, open, and unconstrained by coercion.

According to the joint statement 'The Spirit of the Quad' released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the four countries stated that they are united in a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"We have convened to reaffirm our commitment to quadrilateral cooperation between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific," the official release said.

It added, "We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga during the first Quad Leaders Summit collaborated to strengthen equitable COVID-19 vaccine access for the Indo-Pacific, with close coordination with multilateral organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and COVAX.

PM @narendramodi, along with Prime Minister of Australia @ScottMorrisonMP, Prime Minister of Japan @JPN_PMO and President of U.S.A. @POTUS participated in the first Leaders Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework virtually today. PM remarks: https://t.co/dotNPH7cnG pic.twitter.com/DhbNtLYbsN  Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) March 12, 2021

The four countries also recalled that their joint efforts toward this 'positive vision' arose out of an international tragedy, the tsunami of 2004.

"Today, the global devastation wrought by COVID-19, the threat of climate change, and security challenges facing the region summon us with renewed purpose. On this historic occasion, the first-ever leader-level summit of the Quad, we pledge to strengthen our cooperation on the defining challenges of our time," the press release read further.

United in our fight against COVID-19, we launched a landmark Quad partnership to ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines. Indias formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, US & Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2021

During the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Leaders' Summit, the US, Australia, India and Japan also said that together, they commit to promoting a free, open rules-based order, rooted in international law to advance security and prosperity and counter threats to both in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

"We support the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity. We commit to work together and with a range of partners. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEAN's unity and centrality as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," said the joint statement.

Speaking at the First Quad Leaders Virtual Summit. https://t.co/Ypom6buHxS  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2021

It added that 'full of potential', the Quad looks forward to the future and seeks to uphold peace and prosperity and strengthen democratic resilience, based on universal values.

The four leaders also pledged to respond to the economic and health impacts of COVID-19, combat climate change, and address shared challenges, including in cyber space, critical technologies, counterterrorism, quality infrastructure investment, and humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief as well as maritime domains.

Our discussions today on vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies make the Quad a positive force for global good and for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2021

The joint statement said that the four countries will continue to prioritize the role of international law in the maritime domain, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and facilitate collaboration, including in maritime security, to meet challenges to the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas.

Live TV
Tucker Carlson has once again set the military in his sights and fired back at the Pentagon after he was berated by military leaders for comments he made about changes in the Defense Department to attract more women into the armed forces.

The changes include updating grooming standards allowing for a wider range of hairstyles to be admitted as well as redesigning flight suits to fit better for those who are pregnant.

But Carlson did not appear to appreciate the changes and slammed what he called 'woke generals' after they criticized him for comments made earlier in the week when he said the changes 'made a mockery of the U.S. military.'

Carlson said on his Fox News show on Friday night: 'We were almost rattled. Then we realized if the woke generals treat us like they've treated the Taliban, we'll be fine. Twenty years later, the Taliban are still here. Maybe we ought to promise the Pentagon that we'll get rid of traditional gender roles on this show. Change the pronouns, defeat the patriarchy, and all that. Then theyd send us millions in unmarked $100 bills as a reward.'

A war of words between Fox News' Tucker Carlson and the military is continuing

Army chiefs mounted a quick defense in response to Carlson's comments including the most senior enlisted member of the Army, Sergeant Major Michael Grinston

Grinston tweeted out more pictures of female recruits in various pursuits of their Army life

Carlson outraged senior military officials and veterans with his remarks on Tuesday as conservative host railed against the promotion of two female generals that were becoming combat commanders and the recently updated guidelines for maternity flight suits and permissible hair styles.

General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost of the Air Force and Lt. General Laura J. Richardson of the Army were nominated to lead two of the military's combatant commands.

'So we've got new hairstyles and maternity flight suits. Pregnant women are going to fight our wars. It's a mockery of the U.S. military,' Carlson said.

'While China's military becomes more masculine as it has assembled the world's largest navy, our military needs to become, as Joe Biden says, more feminine, whatever feminine means anymore, since men and women no longer exist Again, this is a mockery of the U.S. military and its core mission, which is winning wars,' he added.

Military leaders were quick to mount a defense of women in their ranks including the Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston

Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, General Joseph Martin, made a strong statement for women

Others online also tweeted their support for women in the military including this platoon of female paratroopers

Tucker Carlson on Thursday night doubled down on his earlier criticism of military priorities

Expectant mother and Air Force Capt. Beatrice Horne with the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron helps the Air Force test out a new maternity flight suit in January

On Thursday Carlson doubled down on his stance.

'Maybe pregnant women make the best pilots,' he said.

'As the Department of Defense measures everything, there's got to be extensive research on this question.

'If the Pentagon can show pregnant pilots are the best, we will be the first to demand an entire air force of pregnant pilots.'

Military leaders were quick to mount a defense of women in their ranks.

'Women lead our most lethal units with character,' tweeted Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston.

'They will dominate ANY future battlefield we're called to fight on. @TuckerCarlson's words are divisive, don't reflect our values. We have THE MOST professional, educated, agile, and strongest [noncommissioned officer] Corps in the world.'

'Anyone willing to put on the bomb suit is welcome on my team,' he later tweeted.

'Women are an integral part of our force. We could not complete the mission without them,' tweeted Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, General Joseph Martin.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby relayed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's 'revulsion' at Carlson's remarks.

'I would hope that in the reaction he's seeing, and hopefully in our reaction here today, that he'll realize the mistake he made and express some regret about the manner in which he essentially demeaned the entire U.S. military, and how we defend and how we serve this country,' he said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed 'revulsion' at Carlson's remarks

Senior Airman Clare Slater aims her M9 gun at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, in 2018

Full Tucker Carlson segment responding to the DOD's criticisms of his show:



"If the Pentagon can show that pregnant pilots are the best, we will be the first to demand an entire air force of them."



"The U.S. military is not a vehicle for achieving equity." pic.twitter.com/kK2mZBWrOr  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 12, 2021

The Air Force in 2019 removed flight duty restrictions on pregnant women, in part to deal with a pilot shortage. After complaints from pregnant aviators that their uniforms did not fit, the service branch began testing maternity flight suits earlier this year, a development touted by Biden in his remarks.

Carlson accused Biden of forgetting that the military was designed to fight wars, and said the Commander In Chief was instead using the armed forces as a sign of his 'wokeness'.

'Finding the most effective military pilots or infantry officers or seal teams is not his priority, it's not even close to his priority,' Carlson said.

'Identity politics is Joe Biden's priority, it's all that matters.

'You see this attitude throughout the U.S. Government as well as in the corporate world.

'Key positions filled based on the basis of physical appearance, without any reference to ability or experience.'

Marine Corps recruit Kylieanne Fortin, 20, goes through close combat training at Parris Island

Carlson said it was fine it you worked for a bank, which was only beholden to its shareholders.

'It is not fine if you are only job is to protect the United States from people who want to kill the rest of us,' he continued.

'That is the worst kind of dereliction of duty. Yet, it's happening right now.'

Tucker Carlson on Tuesday night mocked efforts to recruit and retain more military women

Tucker Carlson doesnt think women can serve in the military. Pretty bold words from a frozen food heir who couldnt be bothered to serve himself.



pic.twitter.com/424Wr7rfTz  VoteVets (@votevets) March 11, 2021

Van Ovost on Thursday addressed the Women's Air and Space Power Symposium

John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, condemned Carlson's words on Thursday

Carlson mocked the military for what he termed its 'woke' obsession with recruiting women

On Thursday the Pentagon took the unusual step of issuing a press release condemning Carlson's words.

'Press Secretary Smites Fox Host That Dissed Diversity in U.S. Military,' they titled their article, which quoted John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman.

Kirby described 'the diversity of our military' as 'one of our greatest strengths' and acknowledged that 'we still have a lot of work to do to make our military more inclusive, more respectful of everyone, especially women.'

He continued: 'But what we absolutely won't do is take personnel advice from a talk show host or the Chinese military.

'Now, maybe those folks feel like they have something to prove. That's on them.

'We know we're the greatest military in the world today, and even for all the things we need to improve, we know exactly why that's so.'

Senator Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs in Iraq, joined the condemnation, tweeting: 'F*ck Tucker Carlson.'

Duckworth mocked Carlson by pointing to his 2006 performance on the television show 'Dancing With the Stars,' which resulted in him being quickly eliminated from the competition.

'While he was practicing his two-step, America's female warriors were hunting down Al Qaeda and proving the strength of America's women,' she tweeted.

'Happy belated International Women's Day to everyone but Tucker, who even I can dance better than.'

Senator Tammy Duckworth led the criticism of Carlson's remarks

Duckworth was a Black Hawk pilot before losing both her legs in combat in Iraq

Army Gen. Paul Funk, head of Training and Doctrine Command, tweeted on Wednesday that female service members are 'beacons of freedom' who 'prove Carlson wrong through determination and dedication. We are fortunate they serve with us.'

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston also tweeted on Wednesday that women 'lead our most lethal units with character. They will dominate ANY future battlefield we're called to fight on. @TuckerCarlson's words are divisive, don't reflect our values.'

John B. Richardson, deputy commanding general of Fort Hood, tweeted: 'Mothers in uniform fight & win our nation's wars. Fathers in uniform fight & win our nation's wars.

'Soldier is not a gendered noun. America's army is made up of countless mothers and fathers. Being a parent (& being pregnant) does NOT negatively impact on our nation's defense.'

Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott Stalker, the top enlisted leader at U.S. Space Command, released a video message on Thursday denouncing 'drama TV.'

He urged soldiers to 'get back to work' and 'remember that those opinions were made by an individual who has never served a day in his life.'

His comments also infuriated military women.

Amy McGrath, a former fighter pilot who challenged Mitch McConnell for his Kentucky senate seat in November, tweeted: 'Hey

@TuckerCarlson, I've logged 20 years in the Corps, 2000 flight hours, 3 combat tours, 3 kids delivered on active duty. How about you?'

Carlson later responded to their criticism.

'You hear politicians like Tammy Duckworth say it's unpatriotic to question the Pentagon unless you have served in the military yourself. You haven't earned that right.

'Really?' he asked.

'Could only cops talk about police brutality? If you haven't been elected to office, are you allowed to criticize Congress?

'They're not making a real argument, they are trying to silence dissent.'

Carlson also ridiculed the Pentagon press statement about him, accusing the military leadership of coordinating an assault on him.

'The DOD even issued a news release attacking us,' he said.

''Press secretary smites Fox News host' - like we are a hostile foreign power.

'We suspect this is one they may actually win: they have got a manpower advantage.

'Since when does the Pentagon declare war on a domestic news operation?'

Carlson concluded that the incident was 'deeply worrisome' for the country.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has criticised the most unfortunate manner of Boris Johnsons visit to Northern Ireland.

The UK Prime Minister arrived in Belfast on Friday, but snubbed a meeting with Ms McDonald and Sinn Fein that was requested to discuss legacy issues and the fallout from Brexit.

Stormonts deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill declined to meet the Prime Minister at all after the request was denied.

However, Mr Johnson did meet with First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster.

Expand Close Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with First Minister Arlene Foster during a visit to the Lakeland Forum vaccination centre in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland (Charles McQuillan/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with First Minister Arlene Foster during a visit to the Lakeland Forum vaccination centre in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland (Charles McQuillan/PA)

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Ms McDonald said: I have to say that the manner in which this visit was planned and conducted was really most unfortunate.

We have for some time now been seeking a meeting with Boris Johnson.

We have very substantial and important matters to discuss with him.

The British government is in default in respect of key commitments that it has made.

Unfortunately he has not facilitated that meeting.

He did meet with the leader of the DUP, who suggested that we might cooperate in a photo-op in Belfast, but that was never going to happen.

We have serious business to transact with Boris Johnson, so we will be reaching out to Downing Street again, and seeking that meeting without further delay.

Expand Close Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves following a visit to the Lakeland Forum vaccination centre in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland (Charles McQuillan/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves following a visit to the Lakeland Forum vaccination centre in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland (Charles McQuillan/PA)

Ms McDonald said Mr Johnson was trying to evade his responsibilities over investigating legacy killings in Northern Ireland and the implementation of the Brexit protocol.

She said: Its not a case to me being disappointed.

The facts are that we have serious matters to deal with.

Youll have seen today that the Council of Europe have reopened the case of the killing of Pat Finucane.

We have very serious issues in respect of legacy, dealing with the past.

Serious commitments entered into by the British government not more than a year ago, in respect of those matters and we expect them to be delivered.

We also want to discuss with him the matter of the protocol, the manner in which he has behaved in respect of that.

She added: I certainly think that the British government, and the British Prime Minister is trying to evade his responsibilities.

I think thats for sure.

I know that there are serious matters that we have agreed and that have not been delivered, and I am absolutely determined that the British government will act in good faith and will measure up to the commitments that they entered into with us just over a year ago.

As you can imagine, meeting with the leader of the DUP, the manner of the visit today gives a very clear signal as to what the priorities of Boris Johnson are.

I am saying that he needs to reorientate his efforts and his approach and recognise that he will not get away with bad faith actions.

I wonat be meeting Boris Johnson today. @MaryLouMcDonald & I have a long standing request to meet the British PM to discuss commitments his govt have reneged on & also his reckless and partisan approach to the Irish Protocol. He did not facilitate the meeting request.  Michelle OaNeill (@moneillsf) March 12, 2021

On Friday, Mr Johnson joined Health Minister Robin Swann, the Ulster Unionist Party leader Steve Aiken and Mrs Foster at a vaccine centre in Lakeland Forum in Enniskillen, which is in her Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency.

In a statement, Ms ONeill said: Mary Lou McDonald and myself have a long-standing request to meet with the British Prime Minister to discuss a number of commitments which he and his Government have reneged on in the New Decade New Approach over this past year, and also his reckless and partisan approach to the Irish Protocol.

He did not facilitate the meeting.

I have no plans to meet with him today.
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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews Out of Intensive Care

The Australian state of Victorias head of government, Premier Daniel Andrews, has been moved out of intensive care at Melbournes Alfred hospital after fracturing a vertebrae in a fall last week.

Andrews slipped on wet stairs at a Mornington Peninsula holiday rental while getting ready for work Tuesday morning.

He fractured the T7 vertebrae in the middle of his spine and broke several ribs in the fall.

He was initially treated at Peninsula Private Hospital but transferred to Alfred Trauma Centre in Melbourne after specialists assessed an MRI scan.

The Alfred Hospital has confirmed he will move from the intensive care unit into a ward on Saturday.

The director of the intensive care unit, Associate Professor Steve McGloughlin, said Andrews was in good spirits.

Mr Andrews is comfortable and doing well, he said.

McGloughlin confirmed there are no plans to operate on the premiers injuries at this stage.

The premier wrote on Twitter and released a statement thanking the team at Alfred Hospital for their care and professionalism.

Like all our health professionals, they are the best of Victoria, the statement said.

Heartfelt thanks to the entire team at @AlfredHealth for taking such good care of me. Were so very grateful, Andrews tweeted on Wednesday.

Andrews could be off work for up to three months.

Acting Premier James Merlino said he spoke to Andrews by phone on Thursday morning.

It was great to touch base with him, make sure hes okay. It was great to hear his voice, Merlino told reporters.

This is quite serious but hes in the best place, getting the best care at Alfred (and) all the love and support of his family.

I look forward to his recovery and returning to the job but at the moment, his complete focus needs to be on his recovery.

By Liz Hobday
The Ford EcoSport owned by Mary OKeeffe and shell of the Dacia Duster SUV are removed from the scene of the tragedy at Dromdeer in February

Gardi have said they are keen to speak to people who may be able to assist in their ongoing investigation into the death of Mary O'Keeffe in February.

The body of the 72-year-old mother of three from Dromahane was found in the back of a burning car in a forest area at Dromdeer East, Doneraile on the afternoon of Thursday, February 4.

Michael Leonard (62) of Hillcrest, Glenosheen, Kilmallock, Co Limerick has been charged with the murder of Mrs O'Keeffe.

Fermoy-based garda crime prevention officer John Kelly said gardai have already spoken to a number of people as part of their comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms O'Keeffe's death.

He said that the wooded area was a popular spot for people out walking and getting exercise.

"If you are coming in from Mallow along the N73 towards Mitchelstown you turn left at Skenakilla Cross by the old Griffin's Pub and head in the direction of Doneraile. Drive past the Country Clean premises and take the first right turn into forestry at Dromdeer," said Sgt Kelly.

"There is a loop going through the forestry that is used a lot by people taking exercise, perhaps even more so since we went into lockdown," he added.

Sgt Kelly said that in light of conversations they have already had with people gardai were particularly keen to talk to a lady who was out walking with two young children in the vicinity of the woods around lunchtime on the day in question.

"We would also like to speak to the male driver of a silver or grey type hatchback car or jeep who was also seen in the area around that time. It may be the case that they are somewhat reluctant to come forward as they could have been beyond their individual 5km limits. If that is the case we will be sympathetic to them," said Sgt Kelly.

"In a more general sense, we would be interested in speaking to anyone who was in the vicinity of the forestry on Thursday, February 4 whom we have not already been in contact with. They may have even a small piece of information that could be helpful to our ongoing investigation," he added.

Anyone with information that may be of assistance is asked to contact Gardai in Fermoy on 025 82100 or the garda confidential line on 1800 666111.
Councillor Bernard Moynihan has called for Bank of Ireland buildings to be transferred to local communities so they can be used as post offices; hubs for driving licence renewals; and as tourist offices

The Bank of Ireland should transfer branches it is planning to close back to local communities, so they can be used as local hubs to operate as post offices; centres for renewing driving licences and tourist-information booths.

Cllr Bernard Moynihan made the call following last week's announcement by the bank's chief executive, Frances McDonagh, that several bank branches in Cork, including those in Kanturk, Millstreet and Mitchelstown, would be shut as part of a programme of nationwide closures. At the same time, the bank announced that an agreement had been reached with An Post to carry out some of the functions that are currently happening in bank branches.

The Fianna Fail representative has also called for the proposed six-month transition suggested by Bank of Ireland - to allow the banks to close and transfer their business to local post offices - to be extended to two years.

"We need to look at this as an opportunity to re-imagine the provision of services in rural Ireland," he said.

Cllr Moynihan said he was writing to Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, Junior Minister Sean Fleming and head of Bank of Ireland Retail to make the case for an extended transition period, as well as for converting buildings to be left empty by the departing bank branches to community use.

He is also going to have an online meeting with the Chamber of Commerce in Kanturk to discuss the issues arising from the impending closure.

"We have a big enough problem with derelict buildings in towns like Kanturk as it is," he said. "We can't let the bank building become another derelict building."

According to Cllr Moynihan, post offices in towns like Kanturk may not be large enough to cope with the volume of business that will follow from the closure of the local Bank of Ireland branch.

"There are queues down the street there as it is," he said. "Since the pandemic began, their parcel business has increased dramatically, so they're extremely busy."

Cllr Moynihan also pointed out that the closure of the bank branches being brought into force doesn't take into account the poor broadband and mobile coverage in rural areas such as north Cork. Another factor not considered was the top-heavy security being used to access online accounts, which could further deter those already uncomfortable with doing their business online, he said.
Washington: The Biden administration on Friday (March 12) said it is willing to reconsider the objections or adverse decisions to foreign workers on visas like H-1B due to the three policy memos by the previous Trump administration which now have been rescinded.

The move is expected to come to the rescue of a large number of Indian IT professionals who were having a tough time during the previous Trump administration due to various policies and memorandums on non-immigrant work visas, in particular H-1B.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Friday announced "it may reopen and/or reconsider adverse decisions" on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, made based on three rescinded policy memos.

USCIS said it will generally use its discretion to accept a motion to reopen filed more than 30 days after the decision, if filed before the end of the validity period requested on the petition or labour condition application, whichever is earlier, and the decision was based on one or more policies in the three rescinded H-1B memoranda.

On June 17, 2020, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum 602-0114, which officially rescinded two prior policy memoranda. First titled "Determining Employer-Employee Relationship for Adjudication of H-1B Petitions, Including Third-Party Site Placements," that was issued on January 8, 2010; and second "Contracts and Itineraries Requirements for H-1B Petitions Involving Third-Party Worksites," issued on February 22, 2018.

On February 3, 2021, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum 602-0142.1, which officially rescinded PM-602-0142, "Rescission of the December 22, 2000 'Guidance memo on H1B computer related positions'," issued on March 31, 2017. Both Policy Memorandum 602-0114 and Policy Memorandum 602-0142.1 state that they apply to "any pending or new [H-1B Petitions], including motions on and appeals of revocations and denials of H-1B classification."

USCIS said a petitioner may request that it reopen and/or reconsider adverse decisions based on the three rescinded policy memos by properly filing Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, accompanied by the appropriate fee.

In addition, USCIS has the discretionary authority to accept and consider untimely motions under certain circumstances as explained in the form instructions and permitted by regulation.

"Petitioners who received an adverse decision on an H-1B petition based on the now-rescinded policy memoranda should consider whether there is time remaining in the validity period requested on the previously filed H-1B petition and the relevant labour condition application," USCIS said.

USCIS will generally process motions based on filing order, and consistent with current policy guidance, the federal agency said.

Meanwhile, a US group opposed the move of the Biden administration to reverse some decisions of the previous administration with regard to H-1B visas on Thursday. The group asserted that the implementation of the guidelines by the previous administration would reduce abuse of the H-1B visa program and will in turn protect the American working class.
Michael B. Jordan and his costar Chante Adams proved they have the necessary chemistry to pull off their romance while filming a scene from A Journal For Jordan on Friday.

The 34-year-old Black Panther actor and the 26-year-old Roxanne Roxanne star were spotted out in New York City filming a scene showcasing their romantic connection as they crossed a busy street.

Also on set was legendary actor Denzel Washington, who was returning to the director's chair for the first time since his 2016 Oscar winner Fences.

On-screen lovers: Michael B. Jordan, 34, and Chante Adams, 26, were spotted out in New York City on Friday as they filmed a scene from Denzel Washington's film A Journal For Jordan

Michael's costume created a casual look with a charcoal wool jacket over a burgundy polo shirt.

He had on a set of light blue dad jeans with white Asics trainers featuring baby blue accents.

Chante was bundled up in a long black overcoat with a thick, furry collar.

It was cinched tight around her waist to highlight her hourglass figure.

Casual: Michael's costume created a low-key look with a charcoal wool jacket over a burgundy polo shirt

Dad chic: He had on a set of light blue dad jeans with white Asics trainers featuring baby blue accents

Stylish: Chante was bundled up in a long black overcoat with a thick, furry collar. It was cinched tight around her waist to highlight her hourglass figure

The actress wore a chic pair of flared black jeans culminating in a set of square-toed black leather boots.

Chante wore her lustrous raven locks styled straight across her collar.

She and Michael put on a loved-up display as they smiled vibrantly while crossing the street and locked their fingers.

The two were also seen chatting during the scene, with the Fantastic Four star leaning against a light post.

Back in black: The actress wore a chic pair of flared black jeans culminating in a set of square-toed black leather boots

Playing the part: She and Michael put on a loved-up display as they smiled vibrantly while crossing the street and locked their fingers

But the two were working amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, so they had to take appropriate safety measures between takes.

Michael was seen walking with a black cloth mask over his face, while Chante was forced to wear a less-protective plastic face shield, presumably to prevent her makeup from being disturbed.

A Journal For Jordan was first announced in 2018, with Denzel Washington signing on to direct later that year.

The film is an adaptation of Dana Canedy's memoir A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor, published in 2008.

The memoir and film focus on a journal that the writer's late husband, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, left for his infant child before being deployed to Iraq, where he was killed in 2006.

The book and film also honed in Canedy's rise to become the senior vice president and publisher of Simon & Schuster, making her the first Black American to lead a major publishing imprint.

Moving past tragedy: The film is an adaptation of Dana Canedy's memoir A Journal for Jordan, about a journal her late husband left for their child before he was killed while fighting in Iraq

The boss: Denzel, directing his fourth feature, was spotted sitting unassumingly next to some sidewalk landscaping during the low-key shoot

Denzel was spotted sitting unassumingly next to some sidewalk landscaping during the low-key shoot.

This is the fourth feature the Oscar-winning actor has directed, following 2016's Fences, 2007's The Great Debaters and 2002's Antwone Fisher.

He's been keeping busy amid the pandemic after completing work on an adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tragedy Of Macbeth, with Frances McDormand starring as Lady Macbeth.

The film is directed by her husband Joel Coen, who's best known as half of the Coen brothers directing team when he's working with his brother Ethan.
Hong Kong: Discharged patient tests positive

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Hospital Authority today announced that a patient who was discharged from Queen Elizabeth Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19.

Another patient who had stayed in the same cubicle has been classified as a close contact and is required to be quarantined.

The authority said the hospital was informed by the Centre for Health Protection on March 12 that the 34-year-old female patient had tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

The patient was admitted to the hospital on February 28. She received an admission screening COVID-19 test according to established procedures and the test result was negative at the time. She was discharged on March 4.

Since the patient had stayed at the hospital before the onset of symptoms, the hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing.

The authority said the staff working in the ward concerned were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment and no high-risk procedures had been performed during that period. Therefore, no staff member has been classified as a close contact.

The patient is a nurse of the Department of Medicine & Geriatrics at Kwong Wah Hospital who last worked on February 16.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

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Microsoft chief Brad Smith has criticized Google's 'monopoly' over search engines at a a Congressional antitrust hearing.

On Friday, Smith addressed lawmakers about Google's role in gutting the media industry's advertisement revenue.

He told the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee media organizations are being forced to 'use Google's tools, operate on Google's ad exchanges, contribute data to Google's operations, and pay Google money,' according to excerpts of his testimony published by Axios.

Smith lauded the role news organizations play in defending democracy and contended that the 'internet gutted the already ailing local news business by devouring advertising revenue and luring away paid subscribers.'

Google has since hit back back at Microsoft, accusing it of trying to 'divert' attention over its high profile hacks on Exchange emails.

Addressing lawmakers on Friday at a House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee on news, Microsoft President Brad Smith was due to fire a shot at Google, telling representatives that media organizations are being forced to 'use Google's tools, operate on Google's ad exchanges, contribute data to Google's operations, and pay Google money,

The comments came amid a heated battle of words over efforts in Australia and elsewhere to require digital services to negotiate payments for news content.

Google and Facebook have resisted mandatory payments, while Microsoft has taken a more collaborative stance.

Tensions between Microsoft Corp and Alphabet-owned Google have been simmering for a while but the rivalry has become unusually public in recent days as executives from both firms have been put on the defensive over competing crises.

In Microsoft's case, they suffered two high profile hacks in a short period of time. In the first hack on Microsoft, the same allegedly Russian hackers who compromised the Texas software firm SolarWinds Corp reportedly took advantage of Microsoft's cloud software to break into some of the company's clients.

In a second cyber attack, disclosed on March 2, allegedly Chinese hackers abused previously unknown vulnerabilities to vacuum up emails from Microsoft customers around the world.

Google on Friday took aim at Microsoft, accusing its technology rival of 'distraction' for siding with governments seeking to force tech platforms to pay media organizations for news content

In his letter, Smith lauded the role news organizations play in defending democracy and contended that the 'internet gutted the already ailing local news business by devouring advertising revenue and luring away paid subscribers'

Google senior vice president of global affairs Kent Walker took more shots at the company's rival in a blog post, saying of Microsoft: 'They are now making self-serving claims and are even willing to break the way the open web works in an effort to undercut a rival'

Google senior vice president of global affairs Kent Walker took more shots at the company's rival in a blog post, saying of Microsoft: 'They are now making self-serving claims and are even willing to break the way the open web works in an effort to undercut a rival.'

Walker added, 'This important debate should be about the substance of the issue, and not derailed by naked corporate opportunism.'

Microsoft has lobbied for other countries to follow Australia's lead in calling for news outlets to be paid for stories published online, a move opposed by Facebook and Google.

'News today is part of the technology ecosystem, and all of us who participate in this ecosystem have both an opportunity and responsibility to help journalism flourish,' Smith said.

Backers of Google and Facebook have claimed that mandatory payments for news links would fundamentally change the way the internet works and ultimately be detrimental to free online services.
on Friday defended its vaccine saying that there was "no evidence of an increased risk" of blood clots, and European and UK medicines regulators have each said the link between the vaccine and blood clots has not been confirmed and that rollouts should continue.

According to CNN, after a group of European countries -- including Denmark, Norway and Iceland -- suspended use of the vaccine on Thursday, Thailand's Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, canceled plans to publicly get the shot on Friday and the country also delayed its rollout.

"An analysis of our safety data of more than 10 million records has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca," the company said in a statement.

"In fact, the observed number of these types of events are significantly lower in those vaccinated than would be expected among the general population," it added.

Bulgaria has become the latest country to suspend use of the vaccine on Friday pending investigations into safety. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov ordered a halt to all inoculation using the Covid-19 vaccine until the European Medicines Agency "rejects all doubts" about the vaccine's safety, according to a government statement.

The news outlet further reported that the moves came in response to reports of blood clots in a few inoculated people in Denmark, including one fatality. Denmark was the first country to take the precautionary measure, announcing a 14-day break while authorities investigated further.

However, a number of nations -- including Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Mexico and Nigeria -- stood by the shot and reassured citizens of its safety.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Thursday that it did not recommend suspending use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, stating that there is "no indication" the vaccine caused the blood clots in the people who received the vaccine. The agency told countries they could keep rolling out the shot while investigations take place.

"The vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while the investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing," the agency said as quoted by CNN.

The UK's medicine regulator -- the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) -- also issued a statement Thursday reassuring the public that the vaccine is still safe and that "people should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine."

CNN reported that real-world data has also shown that the vaccine is having a significant impact in reducing Covid-19 hospitalizations.

A single dose of the vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalization from Covid-19 by more than 80% in people aged over 80, data from Public Health England showed earlier this month. The vaccine is given in two doses, though countries differ in how far apart they are spreading those shots.

The news outlet reported that concerns about the vaccine's safety nonetheless come at an awkward time for AstraZeneca, with disputes over its supplies to the EU still unresolved. After announcing it would pause the vaccine, Denmark's health authority said Thursday the country would now receive approximately 900,000 fewer doses of the shot.

"The fact that AstraZeneca is once again downgrading the number of doses delivered to the EU and thus Denmark is, of course, both unsatisfactory and a serious challenge," Ole Jensen, deputy director at the Statens Serum Institut, said, as quoted by CNN.

Polish officials also announced on Friday that AstraZeneca will reduce the number of vaccine doses delivered 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.)
Union Home Minister will be on a two-day visit to poll-bound and from Sunday where he will attend various poll related programmes.

In a statement, the BJP said that Shah will address two public meetings in on Sunday.

"He will address public meetings in Margherita and Nazira. He will then leave for West Bengal," said the statement.

On Sunday evening, Shah will hold a road show in Kharagpur in

On Monday, Shah will address a public meeting in Jhargram in after which he will address another public meeting in Ranibandh.

In evening, Shah will reach Guwahati to address the Town Hall programme.

--IANS

ssb/rt
Global evangelist Luis Palau dies from lung cancer at 86

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Luis Palau, the notable preacher and Argentina native, known for leading massive outdoor evangelist gatherings, has died at age 86 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

In an email sent to supporters on Thursday, Palaus children explained that he died earlier in the morning, having been recently moved to hospice care.

It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that we share with you that Dad passed away early this morning. He died suddenly and very peacefully, just as he had hoped. Mom and the family are doing well, they stated.

This is hard news, but Luis is experiencing the beauty of the Lord face to face. Love to you from the family. Well share more news and updates in the days ahead.

The Palau family added that while it's too early for details on a memorial service, they plan to have a small, private service here in Portland that will be streamed online in the near future.

The family has also launched a memorial website that includes an official obituary and allows people to leave comments in appreciation of the late evangelist.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1934, Palau moved to the United States in 1960 to engage in ministry work, eventually headquartering the Luis Palau Association in Portland, Oregon.

Palau was known for gathering large numbers of people for outdoor revival events that include music and preaching, often cooperating with local congregations.

In 2015, for example, Palau brought together more than 1,000 New York City churches to organize around 60,000 people in Central Park for an evangelism event.

In 2010, Palau held an event celebrating 50 years of ministry at the Oregon Convention Center, which was attended by Portland Mayor Sam Adams and contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman.

In 2018, the same year that the autobiographical film "Palau the Movie" was released depicting the evangelist's life story, Palau announced that he had lung cancer.

To me, the first thing you do is cry, Palau stated in the announcement. I think, 'oh wow, I can be gone in a few months,' and one silly thought that came to mind is that I won't be able to pick up the phone and talk to the boys and hear their voice and talk to my wife.

"So everything is ready, and if the Lord wants to take me home in the next two months or two years, then I'm ready."

Palau continued to battle over the next couple of years. The evangelist reported in February 2020 that he was actually feeling quite well, with the disease being kept at bay.

On March 1, Palaus son, Andrew, announced on the Luis Palau Facebook page that his fathers health had worsened and he was being transferred to hospice care.

We dont know exactly how much time we have left with Dad, but the end seems near, the son noted in the Facebook announcement.

He is in good spirits and not in pain. We know this is probably hard for you to hear. Please know that the entire family is so thankful for your encouragement, prayers, and friendship.

In a message emailed to ministry partners not long before his death, Palau said, "God is good," and he had "no major regrets."

"There is nothing better than serving Him and sharing His Good News Gospel," said Palau. "Dont ever forget that truth. God delights in using you. He takes pleasure in your service. He is smiling down on you."

Palau is survived by his wife, Patricia, sons Kevin, Keith, Andrew, and Stephen, daughters-in-law Michelle, Gloria, and Wendy, sisters Matilde, Martha, Catalina, Margarita, and Ruth, brother Jorge, and 12 grandchildren.
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For a small group of young immigrants who were pitched a dream of gaining U.S. citizenship through military service, even a call home can jeopardize their status and flag them to the FBI.

That's life for more than 100 would-be Americans who enlisted under the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest program. Started as a way to woo talented youths from other countries who could fill key military skill gaps, it has now become a drawn-out limbo fraught with security Catch-22s for those waiting months or years for background screenings to clear.

"What's the big deal? Yes, I talk to my mom [back in China]," said Sen Li, one of the non-citizens aggressively recruited for MAVNI. He has taken the oath of enlistment, but has been waiting more than five years for a shipment date to basic training.

"Basically, they failed me because they think I have foreign contacts."

His Chinese parents are the foreign contacts.

Read Next: Retired Two-Star Opens Up About Mental Health Crisis That Ended His Career

Another MAVNI recruit from Jordan, who asked that his name not be used, said he signed up for the program and officially enlisted in 2015. His plan to go on active duty and become an AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship mechanic was derailed by an FBI counterintelligence interview in 2017.

He said he told the agent that he had a sister in Jordan who worked for a medical school professor. The school, as in most foreign countries, falls under the Ministry of Education. That was a red flag for the FBI, which screens for signs of foreign government influence, even from an ally such as Jordan.

His shipment to Basic Combat Training was put on indefinite hold due to the FBI flag.

"They're rejecting me for the same reasons they hired me," the recruit said in disbelief, referring to the fact that MAVNI sought out educated foreign nationals, many with advanced degrees. "This is a disaster."

MAVNI's Rise and Fall

MAVNI was begun with urgency as a pilot program in 2008 to bring in recruits with medical aptitudes and language skills in Pashto, Arabic, Farsi and Urdu, which were needed for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The program was later expanded, and a total of about 10,800 people joined before MAVNI recruiting ceased in 2016. It effectively ended in 2017 amid intensified scrutiny over immigration and security risks, despite praise for its contributions to national security from top military leaders.

About 1,000 MAVNI recruits were in the pipeline in 2017 without a clear way forward to military service or back to their nations of origin, but that number has dwindled as their initial contracts expired.

In a 2017 statement, the Defense Department said that the department was "working diligently and with all deliberate speed to complete all background investigations for the MAVNI population."

Citing privacy concerns and ongoing class-action lawsuits, the DoD won't say how many MAVNI recruits are still awaiting completion of background investigations or which services they signed up for, but legal advocates put the number at about 100  all in the Army.

The other services took in far fewer MAVNI recruits than the Army, and those who served have either completed their obligations or transferred to the reserves.

A spokesman for Army headquarters, Lt. Gabriel Ramirez, said the service continues to vet remaining MAVNI applicants in accordance with existing procedures and guidelines.

"The Army is committed to completing this mission expeditiously and meanwhile continues to ship qualified MAVNI applicants to training upon completion of their background screening," Ramirez said.

But lawyers for the MAVNI recruits dispute that there have been any recent shipments to training.

For this report, Military.com interviewed eight of the MAVNI recruits still in the pipeline -- five from China, and one each from Cameroon, Bangladesh and Jordan. All have been waiting more than five years for background investigations to be completed.

They have been able to secure periodic two-year extensions on their visas while they wait on completion of the background investigations, but their unclear status makes it difficult to find jobs to support themselves. One said he was now living in Brooklyn and working at a McDonald's.

A soldier holds an American flag prior to the start of an oath of citizenship ceremony in the General George Patton Museum's Abrams Auditorium at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Sept. 19, 2018. (Photo by Eric Pilgrim)

The Biden administration has moved aggressively on immigration reform by freezing funding for the southwest border wall; easing restrictions on asylum seekers; and acting to reunite separated migrant families. But an overhaul of the stalled MAVNI program has taken a back seat thus far. Congressional action on behalf of these recruits had also stalled, though lawmakers are already petitioning Biden to take fresh steps.

Baffling Background Checks

The Jordanian recruit and Nick Chen, another MAVNI recruit from China, said they can understand the military's concern about bad actors possibly infiltrating the ranks, but are baffled by the endless background investigations that have turned up nothing more incriminating than the fact that they have relatives overseas.

Chen said he was attending college in Maryland on a student visa when he heard about the MAVNI program, which sought foreign recruits for their language and other special skills and promised a quick path to citizenship.

"My interests and the Army's interests merged perfectly," he said. "I felt active would be a good opportunity for me."

But though he signed up for active duty in 2016, he has yet to receive approval to report for basic training.

"I can't go to basic training because of this messed-up background check that's still going on," Chen said. His anxiety only increased when he received notice from the Army in 2019 about a massive data breach that exposed the records of thousands in the MAVNI program.

Chen said he feared being deemed a security risk and being forced to return to China.

"I'm kind of, like, afraid to go back to my home country because the Chinese government will know who I am," he said. "They'll see me as a traitor. It would be dangerous for me and my whole family, as well. I'm stuck in the middle. The only thing I can do right now is wait for a final decision from DoD."

He holds out hope that the Biden administration will ease restrictions on the MAVNI program and allow him to serve in the Army.

"If I didn't want to do that, why would I wait these five years?"

Previous attempts in Congress to break the background investigation stalemate and possibly restart MAVNI have gone nowhere, but Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., has pledged to renew the effort.

"This is a policy issue the Biden administration will have to act on, and if there's congressional action needed to support it, we will do that," McCollum, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, told Military.com in a March 1 statement. "People affected by this made a commitment to our country, and the Trump administration betrayed them. Our nation broke its word to these dedicated service members."

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and the Defense Department "should certainly be pressed to address the people whose lives are caught in limbo," she said.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who now chairs the Airland Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has called in the past for speeding up the citizenship process for those in the MAVNI program and other immigrant troops. She renewed her support in a letter to Biden on Jan. 20, his inauguration day.

"Immigrant service members possess critical skills that enhance military readiness, strengthen national security and protect our homeland," Duckworth said.

Advocates for MAVNI reform are also present in Biden's Cabinet.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, in a Veterans Day address in 2019 when he was running against Biden in the Democratic primaries, said priority should be given to overhauling and renewing MAVNI.

Buttigieg, a Navy Reserve veteran of Afghanistan, said MAVNI recruits deserve a sure path to citizenship "because if you are willing to risk your life for this country, then it is your country, and we ought to honor that and acknowledge that."

The two million-member American Legion has also supported MAVNI and a sped-up path to citizenship for all immigrant troops.

In a May 2018 resolution, the Legion's National Executive Committee noted that MAVNI troops "lend critical language and medical skills to our country's defense."

In a Feb. 23 letter to Biden, Legion National Commander James W. "Bill" Oxford urged the issuance of an executive order "authorizing the reinstitution of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Naturalization at Basic Training Initiative and reopening all USCIS field offices abroad for servicemembers and deported veterans."

MAVNI's Reserve Loophole

In another strange twist to the MAVNI program, some recruits have been able to become naturalized citizens even as background investigations continued.

A MAVNI recruit who asked that her name be withheld said she completed a bachelor's degree and a master's at the University of Texas in environmental science on student visas.

She signed up for the Army Reserve in MAVNI in December 2015 and is still waiting for her background check.

She said she periodically checks with Army Recruiting Command. "But I'm told they haven't received the results yet. They don't give reasons for why it takes so long. They say it's protected information, and we can't share it.

"They just want us to go away, that's my feeling," she said. "I think we need justice. It's not only for myself but for others in MAVNI."

To her surprise, she was able to become naturalized as a citizen in 2018, even though she had been told that her application for citizenship was being held up because of the background checks.

"I was lucky," she said. "I don't know how this happened. I don't know why my citizenship package got through."

U.S. Army Spc. Jun Cho with the 262nd Classification and Inspection Company, Delaware National Guard, gains his citizenship in Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2021. (Alyssa Lisenbe/U.S. Army)

Others interviewed by Military.com said the woman gained citizenship through a quirk in the system that allows MAVNI recruits who signed up for the Reserves to be naturalized, while those who signed for active duty cannot do so until they get a final ruling on their background checks.

Cyril Zhang, who came to the States from China in 2010 and received an economics degree from the University of Colorado in 2015, signed up for active duty in the Army under MAVNI in November 2015.

"I wanted to be a soldier. I never thought I would have an opportunity to do this. I thought I could contribute. It would have been an honor," he said.

Zhang said he received his date to ship to basic training October 2016. "Then, they told me that because I was In MAVNI and because there are investigations, I can't go. It was very bizarre."

In 2018, he underwent a counterintelligence review with the FBI.

"I never got any feedback" on the results of the FBI interview, he said. "After that, I was told to just keep waiting and keep in touch with recruiting in Boulder [Colorado]. Now, it's 2021, and it makes me feel really helpless. I don't really know what to do."

He said he can't be naturalized outside of the military because he signed up for active duty, rather than the Reserves. "The weird part for me is, literally, I don't even know what information they're looking for [in the background investigations]. That's the part that has me really concerned. There's silence; there's nothing."

Charges of Broken Promises

The military's enthusiastic embrace of MAVNI at its start was abruptly cut short by an act of violence: the 2009 Fort Hood, Texas, mass shooting by Maj. Nidal Hassan, an Army Medical Corps psychiatrist born in the U.S. Thirteen were killed and 30 more wounded in the attack, and the MAVNI program was suspended shortly thereafter.

The program resumed in 2012 under tighter vetting procedures; and in 2014, it was extended for another two years after winning praise from military leadership.

In 2012, then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno invited Sgt. Saral Shrestha, who was naturalized through the MAVNI program, to his Pentagon office for congratulations on winning the service's "Best Warrior" competition. Later that year, Shrestha, originally from Nepal, was voted the Army's "Soldier of the Year."

Adm. Eric Olson, then head of U.S. Special Operations Command, said at the time that the MAVNI program was "operationally critical" to the military's needs.

However, as immigration increasingly became a hot-button political issue, the Obama administration closed the MAVNI program to new recruits in 2016. The Trump administration clamped down even harder, with tighter screening of those who had already been accepted.

A counterintelligence review by the FBI is now required, on top of the Military Security Suitability Determination and the Service Scope Background Investigation.

In a July 2017 memo, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned of "espionage potential" from foreign-born recruits.

"Those in the MAVNI program and other foreign-born recruits may have a higher risk of connections to foreign intelligence services," he said.

However, in a session with defense reporters in October 2017, Mattis said he was looking for ways to salvage the MAVNI program despite its suspension.

"We are taking the steps obviously to save the program, if it can be saved, and I believe it can," he said.

That same month, the Pentagon changed the naturalization policy for MAVNI enlisted troops. Before then, enlistees could apply for citizenship a couple of days before basic training and before a complete security screening. Under the new rules, personnel were required to serve honorably for 180 days and complete full background checks before an application for naturalization could be approved.

The first Navy sailors to participate in the MAVNI program are issued the oath of citizenship by Stacey Summers, branch chief from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Chicago field office. (US Navy photo/Scott Thornbloom)

In May 2020, six currently serving MAVNI soldiers filed suit in federal district court in Washington, D.C., charging that the Defense Department broke the promise of citizenship for service dating back to the American Revolution by imposing the 2017 restrictions over fears of espionage.

The soldiers in the Samma v. Department of Defense lawsuit, filed on their behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union, won in district court in February. The Justice Department is now considering whether to appeal, according to ACLU lawyer Scarlet Kim.

However, Kim told Military.com that the case would not affect background investigations for MAVNI recruits who have yet to proceed to basic training.

Despite fears of espionage cited by the DoD, a 2017 Rand Corp. report commissioned by the Army to investigate security risks associated with MAVNI found that "there are no publicly available reports of MAVNI recruits engaging in terror, sabotage or espionage-related activities."

Immigration lawyer Margaret Stock, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who drew up the original proposal to create the MAVNI program in 2008, said she knows of no instance of a MAVNI recruit being deported as a security risk.

Stock said the enhanced background checks grew out of the DoD "beating the drum that all of these [MAVNI] people were dangerous."

"They made them fail the background checks based on foreign ties. It was considered derogatory to have foreign parents; everybody was considered to be a security risk," she said. "It was like, 'OK, you're an immigrant. Of course, your parents are foreigners. Therefore, you failed the background, [but] we'll give you a chance to rebut the accusation you have foreign parents.' It's a giant mess, and it's still going on."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: Immigrant Soldiers Sue to Become US Citizens, Saying DoD Broke Its Promise
GENEVA: The United States on Friday (March 12) condemned Chinas abuse of ethnic and religious minorities, including what it called crimes against humanity and genocide in Xinjiang against Muslim Uighurs and severe restrictions in Tibet.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who meets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Alaska next week, is due to raise the treatment of Uighurs, US officials have said.

China rejects US charges that it has committed genocide against Uighur and other Muslims in the remote western region, where activists say more than 1 million are held in internment camps.

We condemn Chinas abuse of members of ethnic and religious minority groups including crimes against humanity and genocide in Xinjiang and severe restrictions in Tibet, Mark Cassayre, US charged affairs, told the UN Human Rights Council.

Chen Xu, Chinas ambassador to the UN in Geneva, did not refer directly to Xinjiang in a speech saying that his country opposed the politicisation of human rights issues.

Live TV

Cuba, speaking on behalf of 64 countries including China, said Xinjiang is an inseparable part of China and urged states to stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs by manipulating Xinjiang-related issues, (and) refrain from making unfounded allegations against China out of political motivations.

Britains ambassador, Julian Braithwaite, told the forum: We remain deeply concerned by the extensive and systematic human rights violations in Xinjiang, including credible reports of forced labour and forced birth control.

China says the complexes it set up in Xinjiang provide vocational training to help stamp out Islamist extremism and separatism. Allegations of forced labour and human rights violations are groundless rumour and slander, the Chinese foreign ministry says.

Cassayre and Braithwaite raised concerns about Hong Kong, where 21 activists are to remain in custody after a court on Friday (March 12) rejected requests by some for bail.

The charges against a total of 47 opposition figures represent the most sweeping use yet of Hong Kongs new security law, which punishes what it broadly defines as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

We condemn Hong Kong authorities detention of democratic activists for exercising their rights and freedoms and call for their immediate release, Cassayre said.
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

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Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

Latest on scandal over improper storage of Armenian soldiers bodies, more on COVID-19, Jun. 1

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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

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USAID helps UN World Food Programme support displaced people in Armenia

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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

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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"
An instructor shows a holster at a gun concealed carry permit class put on by "USA Firearms Training" in Provo, Utah, on Dec. 19, 2015. (George Frey/Getty Images)

Idaho House Approves Bill Letting Some Staff Carry Guns at School

House lawmakers in Idaho have passed a bill that would let some school employees carry concealed firearms without the need for school board permission.

In a 5218 vote on March 11 approving the measurecalled House Bill 122 (pdf)lawmakers moved to expand the ability of school staff members to carry weapons on school grounds, which under current law requires a nod from the school board.

While some Idaho school boards already allow staffers to carry, Rep. Chad Christensen, a Republican who sponsored the bill, said it shouldnt be up to officials to make determinations about constitutional rights.

I know in the past this has been an issue about local control, Christensen said, according to Idaho Ed News. I dont like any government to restrict our constitutional protections. This is a Second Amendment issue. For me, the Second Amendment right doesnt stop at the door of a school.

If the provisions of the bill become law, the carrier would be required to inform the schools principal and the district superintendent. Those school officials may share the information with the school board, but the identities of the employees carrying weapons would have to remain confidential.

Backers of the bill say it would help protect kids in schools in the event of an active shooter scenario by providing an extra line of defense. Greg Pruett of the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, who backed the bill, said its unlikely police can get to the scene of an active shooting in time to prevent a gunman from taking lives.

If [this bill] can save 10 lives, five lives  its worth it, Christensen said.

Some opponents argue that the requirements for getting an enhanced concealed-carry permit in Idaho are minimal and not rigorous enough to allow someone to carry a gun around children.

State Rep. Marc Gibbs, a Republican who said he owns several guns, more than my wife would like, and is a supporter of Second Amendment rights, told the Idaho Statesman that he opposed the bill because he believes more qualifications should be included for those who plan to have a gun in schoolsnot just knowing how to load and shoot a firearm.

Others, such as state Rep. Sally Toone, a Democrat who taught in public schools for decades, say the decision should be up to local school boards.

Those are elected officials from our communities, Toone told local outlet KTVB in an interview. I dont think as a state we should be overstepping what those local elected officials already have the right to do.

I dont think it is carte blanche, that it gets to go everywhere, Toone said. Our schools are a very sacred place, they carry our next generation.

The measure must still clear the Senate and get the governor to sign off before it can become law. While theres little indication yet whether Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, will sign the bill, last March, he signed House Bill 516, which expanded Idahos permitless carry laws to allow nonresidents of Idaho to lawfully carry a concealed firearm for self-defense within city limits without a permit.
Mar. 12INDIANAPOLIS  Michigan's Juwan Howard made his postseason coaching debut Friday.

However, Howard didn't make it to the end of it as he was ejected in the second half of Michigan's Big Ten tournament quarterfinal win at Lucas Oil Stadium following a fiery argument with Maryland coach Mark Turgeon.

With 10:44 left in the game, Howard and Turgeon exchanged words and had to be separated during a media timeout. Howard had to be held back by the coaching staff as he was hit with two techs and tossed from the game. Turgeon also received a technical.

According to Howard, the heated exchange all started when Turgeon was yelling at him for being out of the coaching box when he was walked toward midcourt and was trying to talk to the officials about the play before the stoppage.

"My version, because there's always going be so many versions  my version, his version  but at the end of the day, I'm going to tell you the truth how it all happened," Howard said after the 79-66 win that puts Michigan in Saturday's Big Ten tournament semifinals. "I noticed that (Galin) Smith went for an offensive rebound and it went off his hands last, but the referees called the ball out of bounds and I think it was their possession. I'm like no, that's not how I saw it. So, I was out of the coaching box and I went down to explain it was off of Smith. I mean, it's tough to communicate when it's loud and also you have a mask on.

"Turgeon saw that I was out of the box. He's telling the referee look at my feet, I'm out of the box, and I'm like, 'Come on, man. This is what we're doing today? You're worrying about my feet being out of the box?'"

Howard and Turgeon jawed back and forth, but tempers flared when Turgeon took a couple quick steps toward Howard and he took offense to it.

"He said to me, 'Juwan, I'm not going to let you talk to me. You don't talk to me ever again,' and he charged at me," Howard said. "And that right there, I don't know how you guys were raised, but how I was raised by my grandmother and also by Chicago, because I was raised by Chicago, I grew up in the South Side, when guys charge you, it's time to defend yourself, especially when a grown man charges you.

Story continues

"That right there, I went into defense mode and forgetting exactly where I'm at, because that's not the right way how to handle the situation when you come at and charge someone. I didn't charge him, so when he charged me, I reacted, and I reacted out of defense. That's it. Words was exchanged, and then I got tossed. That's the story."

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According to Turgeon, Friday's kerfuffle was a culmination of simmering tensions between the two sides.

"I've been doing this for 34 years and I've called the conference office, called the commissioner about what transpired in the first two games," said Turgeon, who didn't specify what the issue was. "And I said I wasn't gonna take it in the third game. So I stood up for my team, I stood up for me. There's a rumor out there I said something about the banner. All I said is, 'Don't talk to me. Don't talk to me.' Nothing about a banner. Never backed down. I just stood there and said, 'Don't talk to me.'

"The commissioner of the league, the league was well aware of what's transpired in the first two games and they'll handle it from here. I thought I was as professional as I could try to be in the moment standing up for myself, 34 years of doing it the right way and for Maryland basketball. That's all I did, just stood up for myself and my program and said 'Don't talk to me,' and it escalated."

Howard said he never heard from the league office about Turgeon's concerns following the two regular-season meetings between the teams and didn't sense friction building.

During a postgame interview with Big Ten Network, Michigan assistant coach Phil Martelli acknowledged there was friction in the first game but no problems in the second encounter.

In the Dec. 31 win at College Park, there was four technicals called in the first half  one on each team's bench, one on Turgeon and one on freshman center Hunter Dickinson, who flexed and glared at Maryland's bench several times. Then in the Jan. 19 rematch in Ann Arbor, there were three technicals assessed in the second half  one on Maryland guard Darryl Morsell after he was upset with an official for not calling a foul when he was hit in the face on a layup and one on both benches.

Sophomore wing Franz Wagner and senior guard Chaundee Brown both said they didn't know what was said. They were both walking in the other direction and toward the Michigan bench when verbal altercation occurred.

The Wolverines responded after the ejection, rattling off a 14-5 run to build a 13-point lead that never dipped below six points over the final seven minutes.

"We just knew we had the game in the bag and basically we just wanted to do that for him," Brown said. "We know that he always has our back and we have his back."

Howard said he wasn't pleased with his actions and apologized to his team afterward.

"That's now the way you handle situations like that under adverse moments. Can't let your emotions get the best of you," Howard said. "I love how our guys stepped up and supported their coach, because they know I'm always gonna support to them. But I'm going to always take ownership when I'm wrong and admit when I'm wrong. That's not the right way how to handle that situation."

During an interview on BTN, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren said the incident was reviewed and there will be no further action after Howard's ejection.

Slam dunks

Senior guard Eli Brooks returned to the starting lineup after suffering a left ankle injury in last weekend's regular-season finale at Michigan State.

According to Howard, Brooks was a game-time decision and didn't practice leading into Friday's game. He finished with 16 points and made four 3-pointers in 36 minutes.

"I think those couple airballs explain to guys that I was not telling you a story or I'm not telling you the truth about Eli didn't practice," Howard said. "While his teammates the last few days have been preparing to play, he didn't have any rhythm. I was trying to keep him on a minutes restriction, but Eli is a competitor. He's a warrior. He figures it out. We just need more Elis like that in basketball because this kid is special."

... Senior forward Isaiah Livers played a season-low 15 minutes and was scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting, with four of those shots coming from 3-point range. It was the first time Livers finished a game without a point since Michigan's Sweet 16 loss to Texas Tech two seasons ago.

"He was giving his best to the game and trying to affect the game in any kind of way possible," Howard said. "Now we're going to do our best to look at film and see what is best to move forward to help Isaiah be ready for the next game."

jhawkins@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @jamesbhawkins
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Model London Goheen and her husband Reece Hawkins welcomed their first child together - a baby boy named Stone - on Sunday.

And days after his arrival, Tammy Hembrow's ex Reece shared a beautiful picture holding his new son in his arms.

'The day Stone Hawkins was born,' the doting dad, 25, captioned the picture.

Scroll down for video

'The day Stone Hawkins was born': Tammy Hembrow's ex Reece Hawkins (pictured) shared an adorable photo holding his newborn son Stone the day model wife London Goheen gave birth

In the heartfelt photo, Reece was seen cradling the little tot in his arms as he lovingly stared into his eyes.

Two days after birthing the baby boy, who was born on March 7, proud new mother London shared a sweet photo of her breastfeeding the newborn in hospital.

'We love you baby Stone & being your mama forever is going to be so much fun, I PROMISE,' she wrote.

'Our sweetest gift is finally here. Stone Hawkins, was born Sunday 03/07/21.

'Our sweetest gift is finally here': London Goheen (pictured) shared a sweet photo breastfeeding her newborn baby boy on Wednesday as the couple finally revealed their son's VERY unique name to fans as 'Stone'

'The whole experience was unexplainable. Ive never felt stronger in my entire life, 34 hours in labor was unexpected & crazy hard... but the feeling of him on my chest made each & every pain all completely worth it!' she said of her birthing experience.

London also praised partner Reece in the announcement: 'So thankful for my husband being there and supporting me throughout this whole journey, youve truly been my rock!'

Reece - who is the ex-fiance of influencer Tammy Hembrow - is already a proud parent to two children shared with Tammy; son Wolf, five, and daughter Saskia, four.

'Stone Hawkins, was born Sunday 03/07/21': The proud parents revealed they have called their son 'Stone' in the post and were excited for their life ahead as a family

Plenty to celebrate: London and Reece revealed their baby news in September, just weeks after announcing their engagement

London and Reece revealed their baby news in September, just weeks after announcing their engagement.

The brunette accepted a ring from luxury jewellers Tiffany & Co, which was believed to be valued between $15,800 and $26,200.

The proposal took place at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort in Port Douglas.

Reece has been dating the Texas-born beauty since mid-2018, after announcing his split from Tammy after five years of dating.

Married: The Instagram star, 25, let the cat out of the bag that he was now a married man when he casually referred to his fiancee, as his 'wife' on Instagram

'We married': After being flooded with questions about his marital status, Reece finally responded to a fan's comment: 'We married. We will have a proper wedding after COVID [love heart emoji]

Was this the day they got married? On December 2, a heavily pregnant London uploaded a photo of herself posing in a frilly white mini dress that could have easily passed for a casual wedding ensemble

In December 2020, it was revealed that the pair had secretly married after he referred to London as his 'wife' on social media.

After being flooded with questions about his marital status, Reece finally responded to a fan's comment: 'We married. We will have a proper wedding after COVID [love heart emoji].

It's unclear when the couple got married exactly, but an Instagram photo of London wearing white at the time could well be a hint.

On December 2, the heavily pregnant brunette uploaded a photo of herself posing in a frilly white mini-dress that could have easily passed for a casual wedding frock.
Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events with Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger.

Q. The federal recovery bill will send $10.2 billion to state and local governments in New Jersey. Do we need that much, or will a good share of it be wasted?

Julie: There are virtually no strings attached to this funding. For property taxpayers in NJ, this should be good news, assuming county and local governments are held accountable for how they spend this money.

Mike: Its good news if used responsibly. Lets hope its used for its supposed purpose  COVID relief. Lets give the taxpayers a break so they dont have to plug the budget holes, and lets invest in ways to make us better prepared for the next crisis.

Q. The bill would offer monthly payment to needy families with children, cutting child poverty in half. Do people realize what a big deal that is? What effect will it have on New Jersey cities?

Julie: This is an enormously huge deal. Decades of evidence shows that when you help people who have been left behind by the economy, the benefits are tremendous and long-term. It will not just help these children immediately but will have consequences long after the funding is gone and they are adults.

Mike: I hope youre right, but direct government assistance has not ended the cycle of poverty in America before and wont now. FDRs New Deal and LBJs Great Society programs both dramatically increased government assistance to attack poverty. Theyve alleviated much suffering for the poor in this country, but they certainly havent ended the cycle of poverty, nor will this. Poverty will end when better educational opportunities are available for all, no matter their familys financial means or zip code. Education empowers like nothing else. Its easy for the powers-that-be to hand out checks. Its harder to challenge the public education system where it fails kids.

How much the U.S. has been spending per-capita on children vs seniors, per @urbaninstitute's long-running "Kids' Share" report https://t.co/41BgAZfEoD pic.twitter.com/7NOr78kwW8  Catherine Rampell (@crampell) March 12, 2021

Q. Gov. Phil Murphy, like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is under fire over an early directive that forced nursing homes to accept Covid patients from hospitals and forbid them from testing those residents for the virus. Republicans held a hearing on this last week, but Democrats and the Murphy administration boycotted it. Is the nursing home disaster going to damage Murphy in November?

Julie: It will damage Governor Murphy if the public focuses on it. So far, there is no evidence of that happening or of anyone on the Republican side being able to effectively focus the public on it.

Mike: This was one of the most consequential decisions of the Murphy Administration, so the Republicans should ask questions. Im surprised Democrats wont join them. We need to get away from the gotcha politics of COVID. If the governors office made a mistake here, which would be completely understandable given the rapidly unfolding situation, lack of knowledge of the virus and lack of guidance from the CDC, admit it and move on. Our goal shouldnt be to excoriate people for mistakes but to prevent them from happening again.

An unflinching, nuanced story from three great reporters. I am sharing this screenshot for no reason in particular. https://t.co/Jqbfwsbjd3 pic.twitter.com/Yl89f8iE1i  S.P. Sullivan (@spsullivan) March 7, 2021

Q. Half of the workers in the states nursing homes are not vaccinated, due largely to reluctance to take it. Should nursing homes be empowered to require that as a condition of employment?

Julie: It should be a condition of employment but the shortage in existing nursing home staff probably makes that impractical at the moment. Caregivers in nursing homes do some of the most backbreaking, meaningful work in the world. It takes a certain kind of person to want to care for the most vulnerable among us. I wish those who are reluctant to take the vaccine truly consider the danger in which they are putting themselves and the elderly by not protecting themselves as effectively as possible.

Mike: I am 100% pro-vaccination and feel everyone should get one. Government shouldnt mandate them, but private employers would have the right to do so where the health and safety of residents and other employees are on the line. Since many nursing homes are also paid through Medicare and Medicaid, the government could make it a requirement of a facility that receives a large amount of federal or state resources.

Its not enough to praise our essential workers  we have to protect and pay them.  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 19, 2020

Q. In Washington, the House passed a sweeping voting rights bill as Republicans in state legislatures across the country moved to impose sharp new restrictions. Will this die in the Senate, or will Democrats make their move to end or reform the filibuster?

Julie: The filibuster, which I have long opposed during both Republican and Democratic majorities, has only ever been used to kill civil rights legislation. It would only be fitting if it were eliminated or neutered in service of civil rights legislation like this voting rights bill. At some point, senators like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema can either chase chimeral senate bipartisanship or get rid of the filibuster and pass policy that the vast majority of Americans on both sides of the aisle support.

Mike: I dont like the federalization of the election system. Part of our election security is the decentralization of our system down to the county level. However, Republicans have made a huge mistake inviting this legislation by curbing access to voting in so many states, much of which was predicated on Trumps lie that the election was stolen. Lets let people vote and try to win the war of ideas.

Q. Finally, the Andrew Cuomo death watch. A sixth woman came forward this week, claiming he reached his hand under her blouse and groped her. How high does the number have to go before he quits? What advice would give him?

Julie: Governor Cuomo should have quit long ago and its not just because of the harassment. Attention is finally turning to the brutal ways that he and his staff retaliated against at least one woman who dared to speak up about wrongdoing. Disgraceful tactics like leaking selectively redacted, confidential information to damage this woman have only made her politically stronger because the public hates bullies who use their power to silence survivors of workplace toxicity. I hope that this shines a spotlight on the horrific ways toxic politicians and their enablers go after women who do nothing more than tell the truth, because it doesnt just happen on the east side of the Hudson River. My advice to Cuomo would be to apologize without condition, by name and in detail, to every woman he has wronged. And then I would advise him and other men like him to find a good therapist and another line of work.

Andrew Cuomo is done like yesterdays lunch. https://t.co/dcFucg8wvo  Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) March 12, 2021

Mike: His apology last week looked like a hostage video. The Cuomo team is circling the wagons and has put all its effort to delay any decision until the Attorney Generals investigation is complete. Her report will break him or give him a lifeline.

Julie: Im glad you raised that point, Mike. At least Cuomos accusers are getting a truly independent investigation. Here in NJ, similar investigations into workplace toxicity have actually been conducted by attorneys literally on the payroll of the accused. And then those same attorneys have used NDAs and threats of litigation to cover up wrongdoing.

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Ahmednagar : , March 13 (IANS) The Maharashtra Police have arrested a senior journalist, editor and author, Balasaheb J. Bothe-Patil, the alleged key conspirator in the brutal killing of a Nationalist Congress Party leader, Rekha Jare, on November 30, 2020, officials said here on Saturday.

Bothe-Patil, who was absconding for over three months, was finally traced to his hideout in Hyderabad, from where he was arrested, said Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police, Manoj Patil, who personally supervised the case.

Earlier, Ahmednagar-based Bothe-Patil -- serving a leading Pune-based media house -- had sought anticipatory bail from the Ahmednagar Sessions Court and the Bombay High Court (Aurangabad bench), but both pleas were rejected.

According to the police, Jare (39), the President of NCP's Yashaswini Mahila Brigade, was driving along the Pune-Ahmednagar Highway with her mother Sindhutai S. Waikar, son Kunal and friend Vijayamala R. Mane, on November 30 last year.

That evening, they were accosted by two motorcycle-borne persons who forced the vehicle to a stop near the Jategaon Phata on the highway. A huge altercation followed before the assailants slit Jare's throat before speeding off.

Initially, it was suspected to be a case of intense road rage, but police investigations made the chilling revelation that it was a well-planned contract killing, sending shockwaves in the political and media circles.

Within a fortnight, police teams fanned out across the district and its surrounding areas to nab a total of seven persons, including Feroze R. Shaikh (26) of Rahuri, Dnyaneshwar S. Shinde (24) of Shrirampur, Aditya Cholke (25) of Kolhar, Sagar Bhingardive (31) of Khedgaon, and Rishikesh Pawar (23) of Pravaranagar.

After their sustained custodial interrogation, the accused spilled out the alleged involvement of Bothe-Patil, who has finally landed in the police net. The police are probing the exact motive behind Jare's killing.
In mid-March last year, staff members at an assisted-living community in Ridgefield realized that Fred Marchionnas week-long cold symptoms had gotten much worse.

The cough and a runny nose that the 88-year-old retired businessman had suffered all week and downplayed to his family, had now descended into his chest. His breathing grew more labored, a sign of pneumonia.

It was clear on Friday March 13th that Marchionna needed medical help.

That was the day when much of normal life throughout the United States ceased. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, and amid pressure over the shortage of testing capacity for the new coronavirus, he declared, I dont take responsibility at all.

In Connecticut, 2,000 people applied for jobless benefits that day, signaling an abrupt recession. The Department of Public Health reported that among the dozen Connecticut residents with COVID-19, most were middle-aged or younger.

Marchionnas eldest son, Michael, had last visited on Wednesday, the day before Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossings closed to outsiders. He just seemed to be getting worse, Michael recalled this month.

That Friday night, Fred struggled to catch his breath. An ambulance crew arrived and rushed him the 7.7 miles to Danbury Hospital.

Emergency room staff including Dr. Paul Nee gave Marchionna a coronavirus test. An infectious disease expert, Nee was on the lookout for the next COVID-19 patient, a week after Connecticuts first confirmed case appeared in that same hospital.

Lynn Ecsedy, Michaels sister, met her father in the hospital Emergency Department that Friday night.

By Sunday, the test report came back showing Marchionna was positive for COVID-19. His breathing was becoming more difficult. The virus was going about its deadly business.

The hospital staff gave Fred oxygen therapy. When that didnt help he was put on comfort care, because his living will prohibited intubation  a ventilator tube down his windpipe to keep him breathing on a machine.

Marchionna has not been identified until now and his family has not previously spoken about his case.

The cascade of dire symptoms continued. When Lynn came back to see him on Monday the 16th, he was able to speak, but just barely.

The governor

Connecticuts first case was reported on March 6, a New York resident who worked in Danbury and Norwalk hospitals. Now, top government and medical officials were preparing for the worst.

We just knew that New Rochelle, then New York City was the hot spot and it was coming our way, Gov. Ned Lamont recalled recently. We had talked to Phil Murphy, he said of the New Jersey governor, and it was coming his way.

Working the phones to the White House, which Lamont described as pretty dysfunctional, led to little help. They kept talking about it in terms of states. We said its a not a state, its a region. This is a contagion that knows no borders.

Information on the virus was still scant.

What you dont know can kill you and we didnt know a lot, Lamont said in his State Capitol office. And there werent many people you could go to. Lets face it. There was no PPE stockpile. Washington D.C. was, on a good day, AWOL, and generally negative...or youre getting absolutely wrong-headed signals that were dangerous.

Lamont started working with the northeast-region governors, whose chiefs of staff, including Paul Mounds in his office, set up close contacts. Lamont was terrified that hospitals would get overwhelmed. He wondered, Are we going to have gurneys sitting in the hallways?

Just days earlier, experts such as Dr. Albert Ko at the Yale School of Public Health and Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases were saying the general public didnt need to worry about wearing masks. That changed quickly, worsening the shortage at hospitals.

If I couldnt get the masks, you couldnt get the nurses in and if you cant get the nurses in, whos going to take care of people? Lamont said.

He and other governors in the region launched daily news conferences that included medical experts as guests.

You cant pretend you know the answers, Lamont said, looking back on those briefings. But you have to tell people why youre thinking about it, and if you change, why you changed. I think people gave all the governors a little bit of the benefit of the doubt, because we were thinking out loud together.

The doctors

Dr. Michael F. Parry, chairman of infectious diseases at Stamford Hospital, saw it coming from Asia in early January. By February, he called for town-hall style meetings with staff to discuss the new pneumonia working its way across the Pacific Ocean to Washington State.

We talked about the kind of ER management to observe in case we ran into someone from overseas and if you happened to see a patient from China and hes febrile and short of breath, Parry recalled of the telltale fever and signs that COVID was working into patients lungs.

By the first week of March, the hospital was stocking up on supplies and establishing a coronavirus protocol.

Parry, who turns 76 this month, came back from semi-retirement for the pandemic. Stamford Hospital saw its first case around the time Fred Marchionna was diagnosed in Danbury Hospital.

The shortage in COVID tests limited their availability to patients with symptoms. Results could take a week.

Our percentage of positive tests was about 50 percent. The need for PPE was intense, Parry recalled. Nursing home populations were heavily infected.

At Danbury Hopsital, Dr. Nee and his colleagues established procedures for treating people with COVID-19. Daily conference calls tracked N95 masks, gowns and gloves. The staff started planning what could happen if a major outbreak occurred. Testing simply wasnt available.

We werent sure whether we were preparing on the hospital level, Nee said, And on the 6th, it hit us like an unexpected left hook.

All of that was on Nees mind one week later when he spoke with Ecsedy after Fred Marchionna arrived from Ridgefield Crossings.

The patient

Most weeknights in the year following the death of his wife, Beverly, Fred Marchionna would get a visit from Michael, an aerospace-software engineer who worked nearby. They would watch some of the early news on TV, chat about the day for 15 or 20 minutes, then walk to the elevator for dinner downstairs.

Michael would exchange pleasantries with his fathers table mates, then head home for his own dinner in Southbury with his wife, Laura.

A longtime employee and executive at PerkinElmer, Fred Marchionna was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Washington, D.C. He met Beverly Wheeler when they were students at the University of Maryland, in the early 1950s  when she was dating someone else.

After serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Marchionna joined RCA, working on that companys radar division in southern New Jersey. In 1965 the family moved to Connecticut, where Fred took a job at PerkinElmer, one of the regions major employers.

He loved model trains, science fiction and gadgetry, rising in the company to business administrator, focusing on large-scale planning, including the construction of the companys Danbury headquarters, and working on its best-known project: the Hubble Space Telescope.

Fred and Beverly lived in Bethel, Newtown, Cornwall and New Milford, where Fred ran the annual holiday train show. They raised four children: Michael, now 65; and Lynn, Susan and James. In 1973, Fred was endorsed to fill a vacancy on the Newtown Board of Finance. After retiring from PerkinElmer in 1988, he soon became the office manager for a Waterbury law firm.

In their New Milford ranch house, chock-full of dozens of antique clocks the couple collected, Fred had a perfect set-up: a full basement for his wood shop and elaborate, L-shaped model-train layout. An accomplished woodworker, Fred presented each of his four children with handmade Shaker-style, slant-top secretary desks as marriage gifts. The first grandkids got custom, hand-hewn oak rocking horses, for family heirlooms.

But by 2016 or so, Beverly was developing some age-related health issues and Fred became worried about their future.

Michael took some of the tools and trains when Fred and Beverly moved into a one-bedroom unit at Ridgefield Crossings on busy Route 7. His parents didnt have to worry about cooking or keeping up a property, and could enjoy each others company in what would become the last year of Beverlys life.

On Monday, March 9, 2020 just four days after the first anniversary of his mothers death at age 86, Michael noticed that his father had cold symptoms.

I generally didnt see him over the weekend, but he was coughing and his nose was running more than normal, Michael said. By Wednesday it was escalating. Lynn, 64, visited her father that night, watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, then a nature show.

He kept coughing, but said its just a cold, Lynn recalled Friday.

She told him she was worried. He didnt want to see the staff nurse. That generation didnt really want to talk about things like that, she said.

On Thursday, Fred called Michael to tell him not to come by after work. Management had put the facility in lockdown as part of Lamonts early round of executive orders, limiting visitors in long-term care facilities.

Michael worried about the outbreak. He was scared that healthcare workers from Norwalk and Stamford could bring the virus to Ridgefield Crossings vulnerable elderly population of 138 residents in the three areas of the complex: assisted living, memory care, and rehabilitation.

The chief of staff

Paul Mounds had just been promoted to Lamonts chief of staff at the end of February. A former aide to U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1, then a legislative liaison in the State Capitol under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Mounds remembers a blur of meetings that week, as Marchionnas illness emerged.

On Saturday the 7th, while his wife and parents took him out to Ruths Chris steakhouse to celebrate his 35th birthday, Mounds kept looking down at his cellphone to track events the day after Lamont joined Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton to announce the states first COVID case.

By 9:30 Sunday morning, Mounds and Josh Geballe  who as Lamonts chief operating officer would emerge as the governors point man in the COVID crisis  were meeting with state health officials, Lamont adviser Jonathan Harris, and Bob Clark, Lamonts chief legal counsel, to discuss strategy. They mapped out drafts of emergency declarations.

On Monday March 9, as Fred Marchionna was showing the first signs of his infection, Lamont got on a call with a dozen other governors and the White House.

That week was a real trial by fire, Mounds recalled, with Lamont engaged in back-to-back meetings with staff, leading lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and corporate CEOs.

It was frantic, Mounds remembered. There was no playbook for this. Its so easy to overthink. Its so easy to underthink. Its hard to calmly think. I couldnt catch my breath. There were life-and-death situations and we didnt know how rampant COVID was in our state. The good thing was, we had leadership in our commissioners and we were rowing in the same direction. But there were so many unknowns.

The death

Lynn stayed overnight with her father that Friday night at Danbury Hospital. Family visits were not yet barred but were supposed to last for just an hour. He was really very quiet and pretty much slept the whole night, she said.

She recalled being masked up and likely exposed to the virus. An antibody test later indicated that she was never infected. Her father was finally admitted around 4 a.m. and she stayed another few hours, getting home to Brookfield at around 9.

Michael visited on that Sunday, the day the test came back, and Lynn was there the following day. Their father was able to talk but was sleepy. He was very, very tired, but he knew I was there, Lynn said. I told him I loved him.

The nursing staff gave Lynn his blood oxygen-level readings, announcing when he reached the level at which a patients condition was dire enough to normally go on a ventilator.

The hospital was very nice to let us visit, Lynn said. I dont know if there was anything they could have done for him.

But in the pandemic, they could not remain with their father.

Marchionna was taken to the seventh floor, to a comfort-care area near the intensive care unit, a signal to the family that their father was dying. The hospital staff arranged for a brief video visit for Fred with Lynn and Michaels younger sister, Susan, in North Carolina.

James, their younger brother, was supposed to drive down from Vermont on the 17th, but Lynn doesnt know if he did. They havent talked about it.

Frederick H. Marchionna died at 10:24 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020  Connecticuts first COVID fatality. The state would not learn of his death until well into the following afternoon.

Dr. Nee phoned Lynn to say her father had died. His death certificate lists acute respiratory distress, pneumonia and COVID-19 as the causes of death.

Soon after, all visitors were prohibited at Connecticut hospitals. Im sure its been very difficult for the hospital staff, Lynn said. The staff has been filling in for families. She doesnt know if anyone was with Fred when he died.

The announcement

On the day after his father died, Michael Marchionna began showing his first symptoms of COVID: massive aches across entire muscle groups, as if his entire body were cramping up. Symptoms lasted for about five days, with a couple days of slight fevers. He rated the pain level at eight out of 10.

That afternoon, Lamont stood on the north steps of the historic State Capitol, and solemnly announced the states first COVID fatality. I regret to inform you that weve had our first Connecticut fatality.... And the first death is not unexpected, but its a shock. Its a shock because it makes this so real for all of our families. Our hearts go out to that man and his family.

Lamont called for a moment of silence. Our hearts go out to all the families across the state of Connecticut and our great state.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal issued a statement acknowledging the death of Marchionna, though not by name, offering his thoughts to the family.

This tragic death demonstrates the critical need for more robust federal action to fight this insidious deadly epidemic, he wrote. Swift, strong federal action  a true medical surge  must include more tests, ventilators, personal protective equipment, and other vital supplies.

For Nee, it was the start of a cascade of infections. He was from a facility that was hit hard, the physician said of Fred Marchionna. The state Department of Public Health reports that 29 residents at Ridgefield Crossings died from COVID-related causes by the end of 2020.

As we reflect on the past year, we first honor the fond memory of this resident, as we do for his fellow, beloved members of our community who have passed during the global pandemic, said William Crawford, executive director of Ridgefield Crossings, in a statement on Friday. We will never forget those we lost due to the pandemic and look toward the future with immense hope that the worst of the global spread of COVID-19 is far behind us.

Theres been a lot of tragedy, Dr. Nee said. But there are a lot of people we saved who got very sick. We prevented moms and dads from dying. We all do our best every day at the hospital. Everyone has become so much closer, the nurses, the technicians.

As of Friday 7,765 Connecticut residents had died with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, well more than half of them 80 or older. A memorial service is being planned for Fred Marchionna on April 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Southbury.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken serious note of the Madhya Pradesh Police's failure to arrest a BSP MLA's husband accused in the two-year-old murder case of Congress leader Devendra Chourasia, and directed the state's DGP to arrest him immediately.

The top court also took "serious note" of the alleged harassment of a judicial officer by the Damoh Superintendent of Police and asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to enquire into the allegations levelled by the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ).

The ASJ, who is conducting a trial in the cases involving Govind Singh, the husband of BSP MLA Rambai Singh, has arrayed him as an accused in the murder case under section 319 of CrpC (Power to proceed against other persons appearing to be guilty of offence).

The judge had noted in his February 8 order that he is being pressured by the Damoh SP and his subordinates.

A SC bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and M R Shah noted that despite a non-bailable arrest warrant against Govind Singh, he has evaded arrest. "The rule of law must be preserved," the bench added.

"We accordingly order and direct the Director General of Police of the State of Madhya Pradesh to immediately ensure the arrest of the second respondent (Govind Singh) and report compliance by filing a personal affidavit in this Court," the bench said.

It said the judicial officer has claimed that the accused, who are "highly influential political persons", have raised false allegations against him, and he applied for transfer of the pending case which was dismissed by the District Judge.

The bench was hearing pleas by Somesh, son of Devendra Chaurasia, and the state government seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Singh in another case.

The pleas claimed he was involved in several murder cases while on bail.

The top court said that the ASJ has apprehended that he may be subjected to an "unpleasant incident" in the future.

"We take serious note of the manner in which the Additional Sessions Judge, Hata, who is in charge of the criminal case, has been harassed by the law enforcement machinery in Damoh.

"We have no reason to disbelieve a judicial officer who has made an impassioned plea that he was being pressurized as a result of his orders under Section 319 of the CrPC," the bench said in its order on Friday.

The bench said the DGP shall also enquire into the allegations against the Damoh Superintendent of Police and a notice shall be issued to the SP, returnable on March 26.

The top court said the facts of the case indicate that despite the registration of an FIR on March 15, 2019, wherein Somesh has alleged that Govind Singh was complicit in the murder of his father, no steps have been taken by the investigating authorities to arrest him.

"On the contrary, it was the Additional Sessions Judge who was constrained to arraign the second respondent (Govind Singh) under Section 319 of the CrPC,? the top court said.

It added that the ASJ has noted in his order that though he was taking action in compliance with the directions issued by this court, he was being obstructed.

The top court directed that adequate security be provided to the ASJ and listed the matter for further hearing on March 26.

It said though the State had moved the High Court for cancellation of the bail granted to Singh, it has failed to apprehend him.

The Madhya Pradesh government submitted that a warrant of arrest was issued against Singh, and now a proclamation under Section 82 of the CrPC on March 4, with an award of Rs 10,000.
Though he didnt make his spring training debut until Friday, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has no doubt hell be in the lineup on Opening Day.

Bogaerts, who has dealt with shoulder soreness throughout camp, was 0-for-2 with a groundout and a strikeout in two at-bats against the Rays on Friday but came out of the appearance feeling healthy. It wasnt always clear that Bogaerts would be ready in time to face the Orioles on April 1, but barring any setbacks, thats the plan.

I will be completely ready, Bogaerts said. I feel completely ready right now. Im looking forward to being in the lineup on Opening Day.

Bogaerts began experiencing the discomfort at home in Aruba before flying to Fort Myers for the beginning of camp. The Red Sox shut Bogaerts down for a few days before restarting his progression.

Bogaerts took batting practice and participated in infield drills throughout the week before starting at designated hitter against Tampa Bay. He also threw to first base during infield drills on a back field.

I was a little bit nervous once I came down here because I knew back at home, I couldnt throw or anything like that, Bogaerts said. It affected some of my workouts. I didnt expect it to heal this quick.

Bogaerts will start at DH again Saturday against the Braves and could make his first start at shortstop early next week. Bogaerts said he thinks hell be ready to play defense in a game by Tuesday, but the Red Sox might take him along more slowly.

Xander has some ideas, we probably have some others, said manager Alex Cora. Here, the goal is for him to be ready for Opening Day. On that plan, were all on the same page.

Related links:

Xander Bogaerts injury: Boston Red Sox star dealing with shoulder soreness, but should be ready for Opening Day

For Boston Red Sox to contend in 2021, these 7 players must perform | Chris Cotillo (MLB Notebook)

Boston Red Soxs Alex Cora admits baseball is tough to watch sometimes, had conversation with Theo Epstein about changes

Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox top prospect, cleared to return to workouts, all baseball activities

Boston Red Sox lineup: Xander Bogaerts, Hirokazu Sawamura make spring debuts vs. Rays

Boston Red Sox notebook: Marwin Gonzalez (2 homers) won MVP of the day; Michael Chavis not an option in outfield; Xander Bogaerts to DH vs. Rays
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Tanzanias President John Magufuli is in the country and working hard in his office, his prime minister has said, scotching rumours about his whereabouts and health.



Tanzanians be calm, your president is there, in good health, he is working, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said.



He was speaking at Friday prayers at the main mosque in Njombe town in southern Tanzania.



There has been speculation that President Magufuli is suffering from Covid-19 and receiving hospital treatment in Kenya.



He [President Magufuli] has loads of files. Now when he stays there [in his office] going through documents," Mr Majaliwa said, You say: He is ill, let him appear. Following your own schedule or according to his work plan?



The president has his own work schedule and cant appear under your directions.



Mr Majaliwa did not provide any further evidence to support his statement.



The government has been accused of downplaying the impact of coronavirus in the East African nation.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Mar, 2021 ) :Karim Benzema saved Real Madrid for the second week running on Saturday, his two goals dragging his team to a 2-1 win over struggling Elche in La Liga.

After Benzema's late equaliser salvaged a draw against Atletico Madrid last weekend, the Frenchman came up trumps again, a brilliant shot flying in off the post in the 91st minute to snatch a crucial home victory at Valdebebas.

Real Madrid move five points behind Atletico in La Liga although Diego Simeone's team can restore their advantage to eight by beating Getafe later on Saturday.

Barcelona, who are six points back, face bottom club Huesca on Monday.

Benzema recovered from injury just in time to play Atletico and his three goals since have earned his team four points in seven days, while also denying Atletico a crucial win.

After heading in the equaliser against Elche, Benzema delivered a special winner, catching the ball in the air with a superb shot that found the far corner.

"It was a beautiful goal and it won us three points, so I'm happier than ever," he said.

Sergio Ramos returned from a knee injury to make his first appearance since January, although the defender came off shortly after an hour, meaning his availability for Tuesday's Champions League game at home to Atalanta is perhaps not guaranteed.

Eden Hazard, who has also been out since January, came off the bench in the second half and could play in midweek, when Madrid will start with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.

Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were rested, perhaps with that game in mind, but both were needed by Zidane before the end.

Madrid were the better team in the first half but there was hardly a chance to show for it, the only real opening falling to Benzema at the back post as Fede Valverde released Vinicius Junior down the right but his cross bounced awkwardly for Benzema, who shot wide.

Both sides wanted penalties early in the second half, with Elche's Ivan Marcone fortunate to be awarded a free-kick when he looked more culpable in a tangle with Ramos.

Then Ramos escaped punishment for a challenge on Guido Carrillo.

Shortly after, Elche took the lead. Ramos shielded his eyes as if struggling with the sun and the corner found Dani Calvo, who climbed above Raphael Varane to head in off the crossbar.

Ramos, Isco and Fede Valverde made way for Modric, Kroos and Rodrygo, and 10 minutes later Madrid were level. Modric collected a short corner and swung a cross into the back post, where Benzema nodded in.

There were 17 minutes left to find a winner but it came in injury-time. Benzema scooped the ball up to Rodrygo on the edge of the area. He cushioned it back to the striker, who caught the ball in the air with a brilliant shot that flew in off the far post.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
San Francisco, March 13 : Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said on Saturday that he is "appalled" by the ongoing acts of hate crime against Asian-Americans and the Asian community globally.

"Racism, hate and violence have no place in our society. I am united with the Asian and Asian American community in standing against this injustice," Nadella said in a tweet.

His comments came after US President Joe Biden on Thursday condemned what he called "vicious hate crimes" targeting Asian-Americans since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying such acts must stop.

A new study has found that there was nearly a 150 per cent surge in anti-Asian hate crimes across major cities in the US in 2020, while overall hate crimes fell by 7 per cent.

The study, titled "Report to the Nation: Anti-Asian Prejudice & Hate Crime", has been conducted by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism (CSHE) at the California State University, San Bernardino.

In his first primetime speech as US President, Biden said that there have been vicious hate crimes against Asian-Americans, who have been "attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated" during the pandemic.

"At this very moment, so many of them, our fellow Americans, they're on the frontlines of this pandemic trying to save lives, and still, they are forced to live in fear for their lives just walking down streets in America," he said while addressing the nation.

"It's wrong. It's un-American and it must stop," he added.

Several other US lawmakers have condemned the hate crimes against Asian-Americans.

"I want to condemn the violence happening against Asian-Americans in the strongest words possible," said Congressman Donald M Payne.

"Hate and violence have no place in America. These attacks are cowardly attempts. We need to come together as a country and that includes all Americans," he added.

In a statement, Microsoft said that the company "is united with the Asian community globally and is committed to taking action to help confront racial injustice".
Amsterdam Police

AMSTERDAM -The man found bleeding on a street after being shot in the head has died, city police said Saturday.

Police said they can now confirm the shooting that occurred in the early morning hours Friday will be classified as a homicide. The victim, identified by police Saturday as Ricardo M. Lopez, 37, succumbed to his injuries while at Albany Medical Center.



Police said Lopez was last living at a Church Street, Amsterdam, address before he was discovered severely injured on Hibbard Street at about 2 a.m.



The investigation is ongoing and investigators from Amsterdam Police, State Police Major Crimes and the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office are assisting in the continued process of interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence.



The public is encouraged to contact Amsterdam Police with any information including home surveillance from the Hibbard Street area during the night in question at 518-842-1100 or by email at infopd@amsterdampd.com. All sources will remain anonymous.
'Going strong': Punjab 'Pind' replaces tractors as farmers gear up for long haul

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 13: Bracing for long haul, farmers protesting against the three central farm laws have now started constructing brick houses, 'mini village' or Punjab pind near Delhi's border. These houses can be easily seen when one moves a few kilometres ahead of the protest site at Singhu border.

"These houses are strong, permanent just like the will of the farmers. 25 houses have been built by us so far. We plan to build 1000-2000 similar houses in the coming days," Kisan Social Army leader, Anil Malik told ANI.



"If the temperatures increase, we will place coolers in the vicinity for comfort. We hope that the Centre withdraws these farm laws," he said.

For over three months, the three Delhi border points at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur have transformed into townships occupied by thousands of farmers from different parts of the country, mainly Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.

Despite several rounds of talks between the government and the farmer unions, the two sides have failed to reach an agreement, and the farmers have refused to budge until the three laws are repealed.

Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

Farmers' Protest: Complaint filed before Delhi court seeking FIR against Kangana Ranaut

The protesting farmers, on the other hand, have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

While a resolution was reached on two of the four demands -- rollback of rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning -- in January, a decision on repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP continues to be stuck in limbo.

YASHWANT SINHA JOINS TMC and more news | Oneindia News

The fight against the laws was one cause that seemed to have resonated with a large number of farmers throughout the nation, cutting across religious and caste barriers.
Actor Karan Singh Grover came into prominence at the 2004 Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest and then as one of the most popular actors that year in Ekta Kapoors Kitni Mast Hain Zindagi. Over the years, Karan has turned into a personality to be reckoned with, especially on the small screen. Hes married to the hot and sexy actress Bipasha Basu.

Ahead of his entry in the well-known franchise Qubool Hai, which is all set to stream soon, Karan speaks to us about himself, wife Bipasha Basu, his web shows...

Excerpts:

Q Why did you exit Kasautii Zindigii Kay? It couldnt be COVID because you went to shoot for Qubool Hai.

I did not fear for myself but it was important for me to quit the show because if I went to the sets and, god forbid, if anything happened to me, I would be bringing the virus home. And I did not want Bipasha to get that virus. It was just a precautionary measure.

But I got covid while shooting in Serbia for Qubool Hai and had to stay back there for about 14 days after the shooting had gotten over!

Q How was it for Bipasha when you got COVID?

Bipasha was worried, as anyone else is about COVID-19. When I was in Serbia shooting for Qubool Hai, she also called up the embassy to help me with my stay as well as treatment out there. She is somebody whos always very careful and organised, and though I was being taken care of by the doctors, Bipasha would make a chart regarding the timely routine of medicines I needed to take. Shed also speak to the doctors, which was very helpful as I couldnt to do it, and then send me regular voice notes to keep me updated. I am blessed to have her.

Q Why did the makers prefer to shoot Qubool Hai in Serbia in these times?

Probably because Serbia is not only cheaper for shooting but also has picturesque locations. There is no humidity out there although the climatic conditions were extreme, with temperatures hitting zero-degree Celsius.

Nevertheless, audiences will love to watch the new and wonderful scenic locations. So despite everything it was worth shooting there.

Q Why did Bipasha not join you for the trip?

Yes, usually both of us go together to places either of us is shooting at. This time, owing to COVID-19, she chose not to come along. Also, we had 1214-hour long shooting schedules, which would have gotten her bored.

Bipasha has minor gastric issues sometimes. Its a normal problem. Shes very sensitive, especially to the change of climatic conditions.

Q What have you got on the films front?

Right now, I am not shooting any films. But I have one called Dangerous waiting to release on an OTT, though it was supposed to release in the theatres. That being said, I have been aspirational about entertainment medium, not just about working on the big screen. I believe its important to serve good content to our audiences.
WABASH VALLEY (WTHI) - Every year the National Weather Service has an entire week of preparedness tips to keep you safe during times of severe weather.

Next week March 14th to March 20th is Severe Weather Preparedness Week for the entire state of Indiana. Each day the N.W.S. in Indianapolis will discuss everything from safety to the response of recovery if a severe weather disaster would occur.

Here is the list of discussions the N.W.S. will have on each day:

Sunday: Kick-Off: Discuss partners' roles in severe weather.

Kick-Off: Discuss partners' roles in severe weather. Monday: Severe Weather Outlooks and Watches: Partners' roles at the outlook and watch stages of an event.

Severe Weather Outlooks and Watches: Partners' roles at the outlook and watch stages of an event. Tuesday: Warnings: Taking action when warnings are issued (Statewide Tornado Drill Day).

Warnings: Taking action when warnings are issued Wednesday: Response: Partners' roles in responding to disasters (real-time response).

Response: Partners' roles in responding to disasters (real-time response). Thursday: Recovery: Partners' roles in the recovery process (days/weeks/months after the disaster).

Recovery: Partners' roles in the recovery process (days/weeks/months after the disaster). Friday: Weather-Ready Nation: How we are working to build a Weather-Ready Nation.

Weather-Ready Nation: How we are working to build a Weather-Ready Nation. Saturday: Wrap-Up: Importance of preparedness and action during threatening hazards.

Tuesday, March 16th will be an important day. This is when the Statewide Tornado Drill will occur. The N.W.S. will issue Test Tornado Warnings between 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM Eastern Time.

Outdoor warnings sirens will go off. TV test crawls will come across your television. And all N.O.A.A. Hazardous Weather Radios and all Emergency Alert Systems or E.A.S. will sound.

This test is very important to make sure all systems are ready for severe weather.

*This test may be postponed to Wednesday, March 15th if weather conditions warrant it.

For full information about Severe Weather Preparedness Week for the State of Indiana, go to www.nws.gov/IND.

The biggest takeaway from Severe Weather Preparedness Week is that you and your family know exactly what to do during times of severe storms.
Four Nepalese men were arrested here on Saturday for possession of 2.5 kg of unprocessed uranium, police said.

A house in Boudha area was raided, based on a tip-off, and four persons were found hiding 2.5 kg of Uranium 238, officials said at a press briefing.

This is perhaps the first time that arrests have been made in connection to uranium smuggling, they said.

The arrested -- two aged 20 years and two aged 40 years -- will be charged under the Explosives Act.

Uranium 238 is a natural occurring metal. Its enriched form can be used to generate electricity and in nuclear weapons. Processed uranium costs about USD 150 million per kilogram.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Kolkata, March 13 : BJP Lok Sabha member Locket Chatterjee on Saturday met veteran Trinamool Congress MP Sisir Adhikari, the father of newly-inducted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, at his residence in Contai in East Midnapore.

Earlier, senior Adhikari had been removed as East Midnapore district president of the Trinamool Congress and was given the portfolio of the chairman of the Trinamool district core committee. He was also divested of the post of chairman of Digha-Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA).

Sources in the BJP said that Saturday's meeting was just a courtesy call by the saffron MP before the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Contai on March 20. It was also learnt that she had a sumptuous lunch with the Adhikari family at their residence -- Shantikunj -- along with others.

Nandigram is a stronghold of newly-inducted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who had won from the high profile seat in 2016 and became a minister in the Mamata Banerjee-led state cabinet.

Suvendu Adhikari had joined the saffron brigade in December last year. The rebel Trinamool leader had claimed earlier that he will defeat Banerjee by over 50,000 votes in Nandigram. On January 1 this year, Suvendu Adhikari's brother Soumendu Adhikari had also joined the BJP after being removed as the Contai Municipality administrator.

A bowl of shamrocks will be presented to US President Joe Biden on St Patricks Day (Niall Carson/PA)

A bowl of shamrocks will be presented to US president Joe Biden on St Patricks Day.

The Taoiseach will hold a virtual meeting with his counterpart in Washington DC on Wednesday.

Discussions are expected to cover combating Covid-19 and driving recovery; and shared global challenges, including climate change.

The meeting will also allow Micheal Martin to thank President Biden for the USs ongoing support for the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Martin said: My visit is an opportunity to highlight how our mutually beneficial trade and investment relationship leaves both our economies well-positioned to bounce back quickly.

I look forward greatly to meeting President Biden, who has a very special connection with Ireland, and to bring him greetings from Ireland on this his first St Patricks Day in office as president.

I will thank him personally for his unstinting support for Ireland over many years, including in recent times for his support in helping to secure a positive outcome in the Brexit negotiations, as we face into the task now of making those new arrangements work well.

The Taoiseach will also meet Vice-President Kamala Harris as well as House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

He will meet members of the US Congress Friends of Ireland Caucus, who mark their 40th anniversary on St Patricks Day.

On Monday, Mr Martin will deliver a virtual address to the Washington-based Brookings Institution.

That evening, he will speak at the US launch of a new book about the Kennedys and Ireland: From Whence I Came: The Kennedy Legacy, Ireland & America.

On Tuesday, the Taoiseach will attend virtual round table events hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Ireland, and the IDA.

All events will be conducted from Government Buildings.
Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, says state governors have given their support to financial autonomy for state assemblies and judiciary...

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, says state governors have given their support to financial autonomy for state assemblies and judiciary.





The development comes four days after the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) protested at the national assembly over the non-implementation of financial autonomy for state assemblies.

In May, President Muhammadu Buhari signed an executive order granting financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the country.

But the president suspended the gazetting of the order after meeting with governors in June, 2020.





Speaking after a meeting with Ibrahim Gambari, chief of staff to the president, some governors and a delegation of States Legislators Conference at Aso Rock, Tambuwal said the relevant stakeholders will meet next week to finalise the framework for the implementation of the financial autonomy.

According to him, the meeting was called at the instance of the president.

We are here to meet the chief of staff on the instruction of Mr President and you can see that the leadership of the Speakers Conference of the States of the Federation is here ably led by the Chairman. It is all about [Executive] Order 10, which has to do with the independence, financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary at the state level, a statement quoted him as saying.





So, it is a continuous meeting and we are going to meet next week Thursday when we hope to finalise on the framework and modalities of implementing the autonomy of the state legislature and the judiciary.

By next week Thursday we will be meeting to finalise the framework. We are all in support of it by the grace of God.
Associated Press

The largest warship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances, the latest calamity to strike one of the countrys vessels in recent years amid tensions with the West. The blaze began around 2:25 a.m. and firefighters tried to contain it, the Fars news agency reported, but their efforts failed to save the 207-meter (679-foot) Kharg, which was used to resupply other ships in the fleet at sea and conduct training exercises. The vessel sank near the Iranian port of Jask, some 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) southeast of Tehran on the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz  the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Courtesy of CreditDebitPro



By David A. Tizzard




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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
The pandemic laid bare the flaws in the government rating system.

The state health inspections do little to penalize homes with poor records of preventing and controlling infections. From 2017 to 2019, The Times found, inspectors cited nearly 60 percent  more than 2,000  of the countrys five-star facilities at least once for not following basic safety precautions, like regular hand washing. Yet they earned top ratings.

In San Bernardino, Calif., inspectors wrote up Del Rosa Villa for four different infection-control violations. It kept its five stars. Ninety residents at the 104-bed facility have contracted the coronavirus, and 13 have died.

Del Rosa Villa officials didnt respond to requests for comment.

Life Care Centers of Kirkland, Wash., the first nursing home in the United States to have documented coronavirus cases, was found in 2019 to have weak infection controls, despite its five stars. State inspectors wrote it up for failing to consistently implement an effective infection control program.

Thirty-nine of the facilitys residents have died from Covid-19. The home has 190 beds.

Leigh Atherton, a Life Care spokeswoman, said that citation was the only lapse in infection control that inspectors had identified over 32 previous visits. She said the home quickly fixed the problem.

Forty-One Deaths

If the rating system worked as intended, it would have offered clues as to which homes were most likely to have out-of-control outbreaks and which homes would probably muddle through.

That is not what happened.

The Times found that there was little if any correlation between star ratings and how homes fared during the pandemic. At five-star facilities, the death rate from Covid-19 was only half a percentage point lower than at facilities that received lower ratings. And the death rate was slightly lower at two-star facilities than at four-star homes.

A facilitys location, the infection rate of the surrounding community and the race of nursing home residents all were predictors of whether a nursing home would suffer an outbreak. The star ratings didnt matter.
Sending shockwaves across Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has demanded its USD 1 billion back from the debt-ridden economy led by PM Imran Khan. The middle-eastern country has set Friday as the deadline day for Pakistan to return the whopping USD 1 billion amount which it had loaned from UAE. According to reports, the amount had been deposited with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and has now reached its maturity.

As per several reports, top Pakistani officials have made repeated attempts to reach out to the Crown Prince, seeking an extension in time to return the loan. Islamabad has cited its debt-ridden economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason behind the delay in the return of the loan amount. According to the World Bank estimate, amid the COVID pandemic, Pakistans real GDP growth is estimated to have declined from 1.9 per cent in FY19 to -1.5 per cent in FY20.

Pakistan's debt continues to rise

Last year, Pakistan had managed to pay back part of a loan secured from Saudi Arabia after its all-weather friend - China - had come to Imran Khan's rescue. With China's help, Pakistan paid back USD 1 billion out of the USD 3 billion loan it had secured back in 2019 to avoid default on international debt obligations.

As per reports, Islamabad had sought Beijing's help to return USD 1 Billion to avoid any adverse impact of the partial withdrawal of the Saudi lifeline. In October 2018, Saudi Arabia had agreed to provide $6.2 billion worth of financial package to Pakistan for three years.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the foreign debt and liabilities of Islamabad have increased by USD 3 billion till December 2020. Till December, external debt and liabilities totalled USD 115.7 billion compared to USD 112.7 billion till June end. As per reports, the Imran Khan-led government has received USD 6.7 billion in gross foreign loans itself in 2020-21, which includes a new loan from Beijing worth USD 500 million.
Former make-up mogul Napoleon Perdis and his family used to own opulent homes around the world, including a mid-century compound in Palm Springs coveted Movie Colony, a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, a Double Bay villa and an apartment in New York. Now theyre all gone.

A modern day dandy with a head full of make-up, nail polish and a wardrobe of designer clothes - often in vibrantly coloured leathers - Perdis was hard to miss. He accessorised with a Hermes man bag so enormous it made a Birkin look like a change purse. But it all went with the territory.

He was one of the worlds top 10 make-up artists, with shows at New York Fashion Week, his own program on The Discovery Channel and an exclusive partnership with the Primetime Emmys. Whether he was purring into Melbournes Bourke Street Mall in a tank or emerging from a private plane in Brisbane for an airport reception, it seemed Perdis had only one gear: Over The Top.

Napoleon Perdis is now based in Athens, which is in the middle of an extended COVID-19 lockdown. Credit:Bill Georgoussis

But all that changed in January 2019 when his eponymous brand called in the administrators with estimated debts of $22 million in Australia alone. Former Witchery executive Henry Lee and Daigou Queen Livia Wang took control of the company. Perdis empire collapsed as he presided over his very own Bonfire Of The Vanities.
Editor's note: Marianne Schnall is a journalist and the author of "What Will It Take to Make a Woman President? Conversations About Women, Leadership and Power" and the founder of Feminist.com and What Will It Take Movements. At the onset of the pandemic, she created COVID Gendered, a digital newsletter and online platform that looks at how this crisis is affecting women, girls and other marginalized communities. The opinions expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN.

(CNN)  On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic. One year later, the world is still struggling with the myriad ways it has impacted our lives and created hardship for so many -- especially women and girls, Black, indigenous and people of color and other marginalized communities.

In addition to the medical, economic and social devastation that the pandemic has caused -- including the staggering loss of over 500,000 lives in the United States -- throughout the year we have seen many alarming trends in the pandemic's effects on women and girls, all of which are exacerbated for women of color: spikes in domestic violence; a departure of more than 5.4 million women from the workforce due to layoffs or the challenge of caretaking with kids out of school; millions of girls being taken out of school worldwide; and 47 million more women being pushed into extreme poverty due to the economic fallout, according to estimates from the United Nations.

Despite the challenges and inequities of the past year, we did still celebrate important milestones for women, which are worth noting as we celebrate Women's History Month: the historic election of Kamala Harris as the first woman, first Black and first South Asian vice president; the transformative impact of Black women organizers and voters; the efficacy in the handling of the pandemic by women-led countries; and the women heroes on the front lines of this pandemic -- from healthcare and essential workers to caretakers and scientists at the forefront of vaccine development.

At a time when the world is realizing the vital perspectives and leadership of women, which includes the long overdue recognition of the powerful and essential influence and leadership of women of color, now is the time to be proactive to ensure their rights are protected, their needs are met, and that they are supported during these challenging times.

With this in mind, I reached out to a diverse selection of global women leaders, asking them to share their views on where we've made progress in fighting the effects of the pandemic on women and girls, as well as where we need to focus our efforts.

Although the pandemic has starkly laid bare the many cracks in our systems, it has also given us a unique opportunity to rebuild in more equitable and just ways -- with women's leadership at the helm, which would benefit us all across many divides.

The ongoing story of women's history is being created every day and depends on what we do now, collectively, in every moment. As Michelle Nunn, president of international humanitarian organization CARE, put it: "As we move forward, we must respond to the acute needs of women and girls, but we must also invest in them as leaders for our recovery and re-building."

Here is what she and other women leaders had to say:

Tarana Burke: Survivors showed up for each other

At the start of the pandemic, it became clear immediately that women were going to do what needed to be done, and that's show up for our elders, our families and each other. We saw this within our own communities of survivors of sexual violence. We pivoted to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and expanded our catalogue of healing resources.

The mental, emotional and financial cost of being a survivor was high before the pandemic, and we knew that the disparities would widen along the lines of gender, race and class. "Identifying The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Survivors of Color" -- a joint report we co-published in November with FreeFrom and a brilliant team of researchers -- confirmed that survivors of color are especially at risk of facing pronounced food and housing insecurity during this pandemic. In addition, they are more likely to experience financial insecurity, are at greater risk than White survivors of halting their education and have the greatest risk of falling behind on multiple bills.

Even as we see cases fall and the number of vaccinations rise, these findings still ring a loud and serious alarm.

We need a series of actions that will repair the damage and move us forward. This includes addressing economic abuse in the Violence Against Women Act; creating paid and protected leave for survivors; building capacity by supporting survivor-led initiatives to end sexual violence and investing in housing, health care, child care and programs that prioritize both cisgender and transgender women and girls.

Survivors will always find a way to show up and advocate for one another -- that is how our movement began -- but if we want to heal as a nation, we need elected leaders and public officials to show up for us, too.

Tarana Burke is the founder and executive director of me too. International, a global movement working toward eradicating sexual violence by shifting culture, policies and institutions.

Melinda Gates: In one year, decades of progress toward gender equality were erased

A year after Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, hope is finally on the horizon as hundreds of millions of safe, effective vaccines reach people's arms. But not everyone is seeing the glimmers of a better tomorrow.

This disease, like so many others, has exploited pre-existing inequalities -- particularly when it comes to gender. In the US and around the world, women have been disproportionately harmed by the pandemic's social and economic impacts. In one year, decades of progress toward gender equality were erased.

But in addition to exploiting old inequalities, the pandemic is also creating new ones. Right now, vaccines are reaching people in high-income countries much faster than people in low-income countries. The UN reported last month that more than 130 countries still hadn't received a single vaccine dose. As long as the pandemic goes on, it will continue to devastate women's lives. And the pandemic won't be over until it's over for everyone, everywhere.

The hard-won gains we've made against Covid-19 would not be possible without the heroic work of health care workers around the world, 70% of whom are women. During Women's History Month, we can honor these women on the front lines by coming together as a world to insist people everywhere -- regardless of who they are, where they live, or what they can afford to pay -- have access to vaccines.

Melinda Gates is co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, founder of Pivotal Ventures, and best-selling author of "The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World."

Opal Tometi: We haven't yet made women and girls a priority

We know that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will be felt in communities of color long after vaccines have been distributed and the disease itself is under control. We have seen increases in unemployment, evictions and suicides, and we know that it's largely because the pandemic has exacerbated existing societal inequalities and amplified systemic failures. This is even more true with a gender lens, and for the experiences of women and girls in communities of color during the pandemic.

Despite the amazing achievement of having more women in political and community leadership than ever across the country, which gives us plenty of hope, there is still work to be done. As a society, we have not made women and girls a priority, and that's become clear during this pandemic.

A recent study by feminist humanitarian organization VOICE found that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to alarming increases in domestic and sexual violence. Women and girls have been burdened with more childcare responsibilities, and we have disproportionately lost our jobs and access to healthcare. As we work to contain the virus and speed the recovery of the economy, it is imperative that we prioritize the needs of women and girls. We must make sure that their access to critical resources for health and wellness, as well as their access to employment, stays free and unrestricted.

Opal Tometi is co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter and founder of the new media and advocacy hub, Diaspora Rising.

Sarah Eagle Heart: Indigenous women have been leading the way

Indigenous women are key leaders in their communities and in the world because of our cultural foundation of holistic and collective problem solving. Indigenous women organized during the pandemic as we often have to protect our sisters, family, region and Mother Earth. Yet we continue to fight for visibility and resources. Further investment in this narrative and healing work is essential to all of us. We funded traditional helpers and healers because we understand that in a post-Covid world, those that safeguard and sustainably cultivate our traditional medicines like elderberry, nettle and wild bergamot will be critical to ensuring collective healing in the future.

During the pandemic, indigenous women built healing and distribution centers, as well as registered voters changing the tide for leadership in America. Our fellow Allie Young, co-founder of Protect The Sacred, distributed personal protective equipment with the nonprofit group CORE and supported voter registration efforts across the Navajo Nation spanning across New Mexico and Arizona. Allie also organized Ride to the Polls, which was a group of young voters on horseback riding to polling stations. Navajo Nation had historic voter turnout in 2020.

The pandemic shed light on systemic racism in health care systems, justice systems and states where mask mandates were not enforced. Movement leaders and allies following the death of George Floyd lifted up their indigenous brothers and sisters by stating, "Black and Indigenous" over and over, educating the world on the systemic racism in the justice system. We are supporting one another because we understand that standing in allyship makes us stronger.

Sarah Eagle Heart is the co-CEO of the Return to the Heart Foundation, an indigenous-led grantmaking organization.

Dr Carissa F. Etienne: We need as many women in leadership as we have on the front lines

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, women have been on the frontlines of the battle to defeat it, and as a result, have been more likely to be exposed to the virus. Globally, 70% of health care workers are female, as are the majority of health facility staff. In Latin America and the Caribbean, nine out of 10 nurses are women. But despite their vital contributions, women are under-recognized and under-represented in positions of leadership.

About one quarter of the health ministers in Latin America and the Caribbean are female, and only 25% of executive positions in hospitals are held by women. An estimated 1% of global leaders are women and 14% are parliamentarians.

Governments must take bold actions to transform systemic gender inequalities and strengthen health systems with a gender perspective. They must place the care economy at the center of recovery and ensure women's leadership across society. The rights, health and well-being of women must be at the core of our public health actions.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) has long championed the essential role of gender equality in determining health and social protection. It is time to challenge the entrenched gender norms and inequality that have held women back. Now more than ever, women's leadership is essential to recover from Covid-19 and rebuild a sustainable and healthy future.

Dr. Carissa F. Etienne is the director of the PAHO and regional director for the Americas of the WHO.

Reshma Saujani: It's time for Marshall Plan for moms

Mothers are getting crushed in this pandemic. The last year has shown that when structures like school and childcare come crumbling down, it's moms who are left holding the bag. We are the ones being asked to juggle Zoom school, housework and caregiving with full-time jobs. We have sacrificed our sleep and deferred our dreams. Individually, our mental health is suffering: Many of us have gone from hanging on by a thread to free falling. I read a statistic recently that gave me chills: During the pandemic, there has been a 41% increase in heavy drinking by women. That means more than four drinks in one sitting. The same study from RAND showed only a 7% increase among men.

Nationally, our hard-fought gains toward gender parity have vanished. More than 30 years of progress in women's labor force participation have been erased overnight. Millions of us have been pushed out of the workforce, either because we lost our jobs or our circumstances made it impossible for us to keep them. The latest jobs report shows that it is women of color who have been hit the hardest. Our paid labor at work has been replaced by unseen, unpaid labor at home.

A woman who used to work with us at Girls Who Code, Loraya Harrington-Trujillo, is one of these moms. She recently chose -- if you can call it a choice -- to leave a job she loved at a tech startup. At the start of the pandemic, she was keeping her head just barely above water, working remotely while caring for two kids under 5 and elderly parents who live with her. Her father has Parkinson's disease, and her mother was his primary caregiver. But when kindergarten started up for her oldest at a school where pandemic-impacted scheduling kept changing at the last minute, the combination of that unpredictability and her mom getting sick, too, pushed her over the edge. No amount of flexibility offered at work could change that she had more than a full-time job on her hands at home. And only she could do it.

For too long moms have been treated as America's safety net. And we collectively say no more. As we build America back better, we demand that we build motherhood back better: By making it possible for us to work and have kids. By ensuring we have jobs to go back to. By valuing our work both in and outside the home, once and for all.

That is why we need a Marshall Plan for Moms, a 360-degree plan that gets women back to work, not in a few decades but a few months. It is a growing movement that calls for direct payments to moms; passing legislation like paid leave, affordable childcare and pay equity; retraining programs to ensure women can fill the jobs that exist and safely reopening schools five days a week. A national crisis requires bold solutions, and that is what the Marshall Plan for Moms is all about.

Reshma Saujani is the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology while teaching girls confidence and bravery through coding, and the founder of the Marshall Plans for Moms movement.

Fatima Goss Graves: This Women's History Month, let's remember women fuel America

Women's History Month traditionally celebrates all that women have done -- past tense -- but this year we are celebrating all that women continue to do. In the last year, women -- especially women of color -- have shown up for us as essential workers, as voters, as caregivers and beyond.

We've seen how women fuel our country and yet, we've also witnessed that when their collective well-being is an afterthought, all of us are harmed. No one prospers when states escalate attacks on reproductive freedom, or when institutions from our schools to the media continue to fail survivors of sexual violence. Our entire nation suffers deeply when women are forced out of work and not paid equally, and when our care infrastructure collapses.

The last year has been a case study of what happens to the country when women are constantly forced to prove our individual resilience and our perseverance in the face of adversity -- enough is enough. We need future-forward policies, laws and culture change that lead us into safety, security, dignity and freedom.

Fatima Goss Graves is the president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, which fights for gender justice in courts, public policy and society, and cofounder of the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund.

Jennifer Klein: A government-wide commitment to gender equity, needed more now than ever before

On International Women's Day, President Joe Biden signed an executive order establishing the White House Gender Policy Council to ensure that the policies of the Biden-Harris administration rest on a foundation of dignity and equity for women. This is not just a council. It is a government-wide commitment to gender equity, which is needed more now than ever before.

Women everywhere are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. And, as is so often the case, Covid-19 is hitting the poorest and most marginalized women the hardest. In the US, more than 30 years of progress in labor force participation has been eviscerated. Women, who already shouldered a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities, are taking on even more, filling in as teachers and childcare providers and caring for sick and aging loved ones.

Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law Thursday, which will bring immediate relief to American women and their families. The plan will provide vital economic relief by providing $1,400 checks to 85% of households and make transformative investments that will lift 11 million people out of poverty.

It will also make a historic expansion of the child tax credit that will benefit 66 million kids across the country and cut child poverty in half. The plan further helps working families who are having to juggle childcare and work by providing the necessary resources to safely reopen our schools. In the weeks to come, the administration will lay out additional plans to build back better -- to remedy longstanding barriers so that our economy works for everyone.

Jennifer Klein is a co-chair of the White House Gender Policy Council.

Michelle Nunn: The pandemic's secondary effects are a battleground

After more than a year, there is no escaping the impacts of Covid-19 on our communities. And without question, around the world, this pandemic has only exacerbated the social and economic inequities facing the most vulnerable and marginalized among us, most often women and girls.

CARE, the international humanitarian organization I lead, is continuing to provide the basics to stop the spread by building water stations, providing hygiene kits and empowering millions of women to share accurate public health information through our village savings program.

Critically, we are combating the secondary effects of the pandemic that hit women and girls hardest, like job loss and hunger. Sadly, we know for every month of lockdown, we can expect about five million more cases of gender-based violence. Data also shows more girls entering child marriage and dropping out of school.

CARE is now mobilizing for a fast and fair vaccine distribution. Our goal is to help vaccinate 100 million people starting with 275,000 health care workers, 70% of whom are women. It is our strong belief that none of us are safe until all of us are safe.

As we move forward, we must respond to the acute needs of women and girls, but we must also invest in them as leaders for our recovery and re-building. Investing in women and girls is not just the right thing to do; it is the best and most pragmatic way to advance human development and security around the world. This transformational moment calls upon us to not only continue to advance gender equality, but to accelerate it.

Michelle Nunn is the president and CEO of CARE USA, an international development organization that works around the world to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice.

Kimberle Crenshaw: We have to build back more than "better"

Although the pandemic did not create the social, financial and political inequalities that define life for Black women, it laid bare intersectional oppression more drastically than any moment in recent history. And as the African American Policy Forum's "Under The Blacklight" series has made abundantly clear, the virus posed a disproportionate and deadly threat to Black women and girls. After all, in a country whose systems are fundamentally defined by racism and White supremacy, Black womanhood itself becomes a pre-existing condition.

Cases like that of Dr. Susan Moore expose the stark precarity of Black women's lives in America. Dr. Moore -- a Black physician -- recognized in real time the discrimination she faced, advocated for the remedies that could have saved her life and exposed the failures in her care to a national audience. Still, days later, she became another of the nearly 80,000 Black Americans who died from the virus in the past year.

The fact that Black people are twice as likely to die of Covid-19 than their White counterparts should be an alarm that vaccine rollout and public health systems must be re-imagined and designed to address. In a year of so much tragedy, I gain some optimism from the fact that our collective consciousness is now anchored in outrage from the lives we have lost. And from that outrage, we can begin to build back -- not just "better," but otherwise.

Kimberle Crenshaw is the co-founder and executive director of the African American Policy Forum, professor of Law at UCLA and Columbia, and host of the podcast Intersectionality Matters!.

Arianna Huffington: Too many women feel like they're being forced into an impossible choice

Within this pandemic, and the global economic crisis it's caused, there is a separate crisis for women that threatens to set back all the gains women have made going back decades. Women were already paying a higher price than men for our culture of stress and burnout, but now there is an even more urgent need to address the deepening gender inequality.

I am hopeful because the depth of this crisis is forcing an acknowledgment that a return to "normal" is not enough. The pandemic is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine how we integrate work and life to create a more equitable and inclusive culture. At Thrive Global, we're partnering with companies to do just that with our Working Families program, a work-life integration solution that creates more harmony, more equity and less stress both at home and at work for working women and mothers.

Right now too many women feel like they're being forced to choose between being successful in their careers and successful in their roles at home. Getting the economy running again isn't enough. Our new normal has to be a better normal for women -- and the generations of girls who will rise to be our future leaders.

Arianna Huffington is the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, whose mission is to end the stress and burnout epidemic and unlock human potential.

C. Nicole Mason: We haven't made enough progress. We need these key policies to get there

Unfortunately, we have not made significant progress at fighting the effects of the pandemic on women and girls. Despite modest job gains in February, women are still down more than five million jobs since the start of the pandemic.

Because women are often the primary caregiver in families, schools and daycare closures have hit them particularly hard, forcing them to leave the workforce.

To chart a path for women and a full recovery, we must first get the pandemic under control, reopen schools and then get women back to work. For women who will not be able to re-enter the workforce because of caretaking responsibilities or the lack of available jobs, we must ensure that they have continued economic support. And for those women who will not be able to return to their former jobs, we should invest in education and training for jobs and sectors with higher wages and upward mobility opportunities.

Other key investments for women to ensure they can re-enter the workforce and sustain employment include childcare and paid sick leave.

C. Nicole Mason, PhD is the president and CEO of the Institute for Women's Policy Research, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that engages in research and dissemination to shape public policy and improve the lives and opportunities of women from diverse backgrounds.

Ai-jen Poo: After this crisis within a crisis for women, this is what gives me hope

The pandemic was a crisis within a crisis for women in the US. Women were immediately forced to make impossible choices, and it revealed just how much -- absent a real infrastructure to support our caregiving responsibilities -- we were holding it all together by a thread.

When care workers are underpaid, without benefits like paid sick leave, and unprotected at work, the care economy is in crisis: And that was before the public health crisis shut down our child care centers, schools and nursing homes. Our care workforce -- disproportionately composed of Black and other women of color, including many immigrant women -- continues to support us through the pandemic without access to a safety net or decent wages, while their own families need them too.

What gives me hope is that as we rebuild the economy out of the worst economic crisis of our lifetime, we have the opportunity to rebuild the care infrastructure, from unjust systems that have devalued women, especially Black women, to one that puts their safety and well-being front and center. Our society and economy have been built on the contributions of women: paid and unpaid, visible and invisible. We have the chance now to build a care economy that recognizes all of that work and supports all of our families, with quality jobs for care workers, too.

Ai-jen Poo is executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, director of Caring Across Generations and a co-founder of Supermajority, a women's equality organization made up of women from all backgrounds, races and ages.

Elizabeth Barajas-Roman: Women's funds recognize the status quo is killing us

During the pandemic we have seen incredible innovation and ingenuity in the way that women's funds and gender equity funders have addressed both the urgent needs of their local communities as well as investing in long-term policy solutions.

Women's funds are not only hyper local, but they are also part of an ecosystem that includes national and global foundations working together through a dynamic network. They are uniquely positioned as both philanthropic institutions and advocacy organizations. Over the past year, this design allowed women's funds to move money up to nine months faster than traditional philanthropy to where people were hurting most. They were also able to shape policy and funding recommendations to effectively address the challenges of a post-Covid reality, like securing private-public support for workforce flexibility, universal access to high-quality, affordable childcare and early childhood education.

While we remain hopeful that the demonstrable impact the women's funding sector has had on the lives of women and their communities during the pandemic will trigger long overdue investment in solutions led by marginalized genders. With the vaccine rollout, we are already hearing clamor to return to status quo. And the status quo is killing us.

We know that Black, Latina and Native American women tend to have higher rates of pre-existing conditions that are associated with increased risk for severe cases of Covid-19, compounded by the lack of health insurance and higher rates of poverty. We must do better. We must invest in women- and girls-of-color-led efforts that address the complexity of their lives.

We must remember that single issue solutions are fragile. Now is the time to build something that lasts. Now is the time to invest in women's funds and the women's funding sector. The roadmap to recovery must include racial and gender transformative policymaking. The only way to respond and rebound effectively from the Covid-19 crisis is to ensure women are heard and empowered to design and implement programs and policies that are mapping an inclusive economy built on racial and gender equity and justice.

Elizabeth Barajas-Roman is the president & CEO of the Women's Funding Network, a philanthropic network of more than 120 women's funds and foundations devoted to gender equity and justice.

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner: Moms run this economy, period

Many women were hanging by a thread before the pandemic, in no small part due to decades of insufficient investment in our care infrastructure, and now that thread is unraveling altogether. In fact, since the pandemic began, women -- particularly moms and women of color -- lost nearly 1 million more jobs than men. This puts women's labor force participation at a 30-year low, with more than a quarter of women aged 25 to 44 pushed out of the labor force because they are without access to affordable childcare.

This has been a huge setback for families, for gender and racial equity, for businesses, for our economy and our country.

Families like Jessica's, in Hawaii, are trying to make ends meet. Jessica lost her small business after her kids' childcare closed. She then got her real estate license so she could return to the workforce; but she still couldn't find affordable child care. Her family has depleted their savings and is relying on SNAP.

Tami in Kansas was forced to take unpaid leave during the pandemic to recover from open heart surgery. She returned to work but soon after had to take more unpaid leave when her children's schools closed.

Now more than ever, we are all realizing just how important moms are to the economy; that's why Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell recently raised the importance of finally building a care infrastructure to lift our economy, like other industrialized nations have done. There's no time to waste.

This is a time of tremendous urgency but also of hope: We can finally build a care infrastructure that spans generations to lift our families and economy, including universal paid family/medical leave, universal childcare, universal long-term care, and raise the minimum wage. These policies would help address the extreme emergency that many women, moms and families are facing -- especially Black, indigenous, people of color moms who are experiencing compounded health and economic harms -- and also help us build a future toward fair wages for everyone.

We can, and we must, build bridges to opportunity and create avenues for everyone to thrive. Some of those bridges to opportunity are being built right now with this week's passage of the American Rescue Plan, which will significantly lift families and the economy and is a great start toward the transformational, permanent and universal change we need. It's time to address the foundational values and systems we've neglected building for far too long. Now is the time to get this important work done.

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner is the executive director/CEO and co-founder of MomsRising, a million-member organization that takes on the most critical issues facing women, mothers and families by educating the public and mobilizing massive grassroots actions.

Monica Ramirez: These migrant women deserve a safety net

Our work is to help support and elevate migrant women. So many migrant women in our nation have been deemed essential. They have put their lives on the line to keep this country running, and their sacrifice has not been met with the protections they deserve.

Aside from the real danger they face during this crisis from the possibility of contracting and dying from Covid-19, they have also shouldered the fear of being among the hundreds of thousands of women who have lost their jobs. There is no safety net to catch these women. Missing work means the inability to sustain their families. Migrant women are experiencing both the risks of being essential workers and the challenges of high unemployment rates, becoming more vulnerable to different forms of violence and to the difficulties of meeting basic needs.

Amidst these challenges, however, I also have hope. Women are organizing and building power together to create a world that invests in and listens to migrant women, women of color and their families. We must follow their lead: the lead of the women and girls who may not be visible to some, including the Latinx women, Black and indigenous women in rural America. If we do this, our country stands the chance of seeing real transformative change as we rebuild from this pandemic.

Monica Ramirez is the founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women, co-founder of The LatinxHouse and founding principal of She Se Puede.

Yifat Susskind: This pandemic has been a wake-up call about resilience

When hurricanes ravaged Central America in the midst of pandemic last November, indigenous women there sprang into action, distributing food and medical supplies and sheltering those who lost their homes in the storms. But they didn't stop there. They used that process of aid delivery to strengthen the community for the long-term, leveraging their credibility as first responders to bring their communities' demands to local government.

This model for saving lives and transforming communities will put us on a path to the future we need as we strategize how to end and recover from this pandemic.

One of the greatest lessons of global feminist organizing -- that we all need to embrace now -- is the need to put care at the heart of everything we do as a society.

To ensure this phase of our pandemic response reflects the reality of interconnection across borders, we need to reject nationalistic impulses that hoard medical breakthroughs for the wealthiest countries and insist on an international vaccine distribution to keep all people healthy, no matter where they live.

Surviving the next pandemic also means enacting long-needed policies now, like universal health care, child care and parental leave here at home. We need to robustly increase resources for international aid and health systems, and for the caregivers -- largely women and girls -- who sustain communities worldwide.

We need to treat the pandemic not as a one-time emergency that will soon be behind us, but as a wake-up call to cultivate the resilience we need for the future.

Yifat Susskind is the executive director of MADRE, an international human rights organization and women's fund that partners with community-based, women-led organizations on the frontlines of war, climate breakdown and their aftermath.

Teresa Younger: What real investment in women and girls looks like

With Covid-19 we saw a total breakdown of economic support and lack of a social safety net by the government, but we also saw philanthropy respond quickly to significantly increase and distribute funding to help communities meet essential needs such as housing and food. However, it's still not nearly enough.

The pandemic shone a light on so many of the injustices and inequalities that we have in our society, and it's critically important to recognize that women have been disproportionately impacted. In particular, women of color and women of low-income are too often underpaid and undervalued; yet they are the very people holding our society together, on the frontlines of our public health crisis and heading households.

There's an estimated 65 million women and girls of color in the US, and total philanthropic giving is about $5.48 for each woman or girl of color. In 2018, this accounted for just 0.005% of the $66.9 billion given by foundations. There is hope and opportunity in investing in women. Be as committed as we are in supporting grantee partners such as The MS Black Women's Roundtable, value and fund organizations by and for women and girls of the color that are leading and are at work in every part of this country to create a more just society for all.

Teresa C. Younger is the president & CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, whose mission is to build women's collective power in the US to advance equity and justice for all.

This story was first published on CNNcom, "Women have taken a staggering Covid hit. Now they offer the best hopes for the future."

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As Cambodia deals with its most serious COVID-19 community transmission, economists and observers are doubtful if the economic rebound expected this year will happen.

The Cambodian economy registered a contraction of 3.1 percent in 2020, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The ministry, at the time, had hoped for the economy to recover this year and predicted GDP growth of 4 percent.

But, as of this week, the Ministry of Health recorded 712 locally-transmitted cases in Phnom Penh and ten other provinces, with the current outbreak more than doubling the countrys entire case count before February 20.

The new outbreak  which sadly resulted in Cambodias first COVID-19 death  has resulted in the shuttering of schools in certain provinces and districts, a travel ban in Preah Sihanouk and a work-from-home directive by the government.

Ky Sereyvath, who heads the China Study Center at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the government should contain the virus outbreak as soon as it can to alleviate impacts that could be felt by the economy.

If the outbreak situation prolongs, I believe that our economy cannot make a rebound this year, Ky Sereyvath said on Friday.

The academic said the authorities should consider a month-long hard lockdown to control the spread of the current outbreak, after which the country could hopefully return to normalcy.

By June or July, if we can keep it under control and bring back a better situation, the Cambodian economy could expect to grow between 1 to 2 percent, he said.

Chheng Kimlong, director of the Asian Vision Institutes Centre for Governance Innovation and Democracy, said the outbreak would hurt local consumption, the service sector, and export production.

Exports could be disrupted, making it possible that the 2021 growth could be lower than the Ministry of Economy and Finances forecast, Chheng Kimlong said.

The countrys foreign debt increased by 17 percent last year, from $7.5 billion in 2019 to $8.8 billion by the end of December, according to the Finance Ministry.

But, to save the private sector from large-scale collapse, Kimlong urged government to consider another fiscal intervention: further tax breaks to keep businesses and the private sectors afloat.

The state needs to do whatever possible, Kimlong said. The revenue collection could drop in the short term but it will save enterprises and businesses from going bankrupt, which would make the situation worse.

Finance Ministry Spokesperson Meas Soksensan could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Ken Loo, secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturer Association in Cambodia, said the current outbreak was adding stress to the private sector.

We continue to stay vigilant, Ken Loo said. Of course, we are more worried now than before but all factories [are] still operating as usual.

The outbreak and a work-from-home order have resulted in near-deserted streets in Phnom Penh and Preah Sihanouk province. Fear of the virus has already cost Voeun Sivorn, a chicken vendor in the coastal province, her daily income.

The chicken vendor recently took a $25,000 loan to build rental rooms at her home in Prey Nob district.

It used to be quiet but this is even eerier and extremely quiet, Voeun Sivorn. If it keeps dropping, I fear [my business] will fall to zero soon.

How can I not be fearful? I am very scared but I cannot stop as I have the bank loans to repay, she said.

Asian Vision Institutes Chheng Kimlong said a prolonged outbreak could spell further trouble for the likely-distressed microfinance sector.

The situation brings an additional burden to indebted individuals, meaning they face the additional burden of earning little income to repay the debts, Chheng Kimlong said.

For the economic recovery to take place, it would take a lot more than just controlling the current outbreak, said Miguel Chanco, a senior Asia analyst with consultancy firm Pantheon Macroeconomics, such as an effective vaccination program.

Much will depend on how quickly international travel returns to normal, which will be crucial for the recovery in tourism, and this will depend both on the pace of vaccination domestically in Cambodia, as well as in its key markets for tourism, such as in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Korea, he said.
Former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr.'s investigation into Donald Trump's finances is heating up.

Vance already has Trump's taxes and recently hired a renowned prosecutor.

Some DOJ veterans expect potential charges before the end of the year, when Vance retires.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

After a months-long battle with Donald Trump over his closely held tax returns, the Manhattan district attorney's office may finally be in the end stages of its wide-ranging investigation into the former president's financial dealings.

Trump has repeatedly refused to release his tax returns. But in February, prosecutors notched a major victory when the Supreme Court forced Trump to hand over thousands of pages of his financial information to the DA's office.

The DA's investigation is examining whether Trump or his businesses falsely reported the value of properties for tax and loan purposes, which would violate New York law. In the weeks since prosecutors obtained his financial records, the investigation has ramped up significantly, according to media reports and two former prosecutors who spoke to Insider.

"They mean business now," one source told The New Yorker's Jane Mayer. The person believed Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.'s investigation had stagnated while Trump was in office and prosecutors were fighting a court battle to get his taxes. But now, the source told Mayer, prosecutors' questions have become "very pointed - they're sharpshooting now, laser-beaming."

"It hit me," this person added. "They're closer."

The clues are there. Vance announced Friday he wouldn't run for re-election. The move was widely expected, since Vance, who held the DA post since 2010, hasn't raised funds ahead of this summer's primary. His final day will be in December, and a former top deputy told Insider he believes Vance will want to make charging decisions before he leaves.

Story continues

"Vance started the investigation," Daniel R. Alonso, now a partner at Buckley LLP, told Insider. "I'm sure he is absolutely pressing to have a decision made on whether to prosecute anyone, whom to prosecute, and for what charges, by the end of the year."

Jeffrey Cramer, a longtime former federal prosecutor who spent 12 years at the Justice Department, echoed that view and told Insider it wasn't surprising that the investigation's pace picked up after the Supreme Court ruling.

"You need documents and tax records to prove these cases. That's how they rise and fall," he said. "It's not witness testimony and emails; those things give context to the money. But this case is all about following the money, so it comes down to the tax records, which prosecutors now have full access to."

Representatives for Trump and the Trump Organization didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment for this story.

Vance recruited a veteran prosecutor who worked on organized crime cases

Vance is likely personally involved in the details of the Trump investigation, according to Alonso. Eight candidates are vying to be his successor, though, and Alonso said there's "significant concern" in New York's legal community that not all of them are "qualified to oversee a case of this magnitude."

While virtually all of the candidates have criticized Trump at one point or another, they have mostly focused on local affairs in their campaigns. At a candidate forum in January, they demurred when asked how they'd handle the Trump case and largely avoided injecting political considerations into it.

In the meantime, Vance has set up an experienced team of white-collar prosecutors, including several of his own top officials. He also made the unusual decision in February to hire Mark Pomerantz, a former federal prosecutor who worked on organized-crime cases before joining the law firm Paul, Weiss as a white-collar criminal defense lawyer.

"The team was in very good shape," Alonso said of Vance's office. "But the fact that Pomerantz agreed to come into the case strikes me as an indication that there is definitely something substantial there to investigate."

ProPublica reported in October 2019 that documents showed Trump appeared to keep two sets of books for his properties, suggesting potential financial fraud.

In November 2019, Mother Jones published an investigation that found that Trump might have fabricated a loan to avoid paying $50 million in income taxes. And The New York Times reported in 2018 that Trump used a series of dubious tax schemes to shield a $413 million inheritance from the IRS.

In 2019, an IRS whistleblower came forward and alleged that there were "inappropriate efforts to influence" the agency's mandatory audit of Trump's taxes. And late last year, The Times published another bombshell investigation showing that Trump paid just $750 in income taxes in 2016 and 2017.

Mark F. Pomerantz in 2008. Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Cramer pointed to Pomerantz's previous experience prosecuting organized crime cases - he secured the 1999 conviction of the mob boss John Gotti's son - and said it could prove particularly useful to Vance's office as it scrutinizes the Trump Organization.

"Obviously Trump wasn't running an organized crime outfit. But there are some similarities, depending on how the enterprise, which is the Trump Organization in this case, was structured," Cramer said.

He noted, however, that Pomerantz's main value likely lies in his private sector experience.

"If you look at any of the good defense lawyers in the country, most of them are former prosecutors," Cramer said. "Prosecutors make good defense lawyers because they know both sides of cases. They can wear different hats and that's critical in helping put together a strong case."

That said, Alonso cautioned that Vance may choose to not bring charges against Trump at all.

"In investigations of accounting fraud, usually prosecutors suspect, and might even believe, that the CEO has the requisite knowledge and intent, but can't always prove it," Alonso said.

The precise scope of Vance's investigation is unclear, but court filings suggest the office could be examining whether Trump and the Trump Organization broke New York state tax laws by manipulating property values to obtain favorable tax rates and loan terms.

Donald Trump, Allen Weisselberg, and Donald Trump Jr. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Now that the Supreme Court has cleared the way for prosecutors to get Trump's taxes, investigators have access to a potential treasure trove of information about the complex world of Trump's business activities.

The tax returns themselves, as well as the communications about them, are at the very heart of the probe. Vance hired FTI, a forensic accounting firm, to help pore over the data. Alonso said it could take some time.

"In the main part of the investigation, which is about valuations and about potential tax, bank, and insurance fraud, from what we know in the public record, they need to analyze those millions of pages of documents that they picked up from Mazars," Alonso said, referring to Trump's accounting firm. "That's not something that's done overnight."

By the end of the investigation, Alonso said, prosecutors will have a variety of paths to choose from depending on what they find.

"It might be that they charge the Trump organization itself, or one of its affiliated companies," he said. "It might be that they charge the CFO Allen Weisselberg if he doesn't cooperate. It might be that they charge one of the Trump children who helps manage the company. Or it might be that they charge a different executive. Or it might be nobody, at the end of the day."

"If they can't prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt, they shouldn't be charging," he added.

'You'd better grab yourself some good lawyers'

In other parts of the investigation, prosecutors appear to be dotting I's and crossing T's.

Ralph Mastromonaco, an engineer who worked on Trump's Seven Springs estate in upstate New York - the valuation of which is under scrutiny from prosecutors, according to the Wall Street Journal - was subpoenaed by Manhattan prosecutors in recent weeks. But he told Insider that everything he supplied to prosecutors was already in the public record and filed with the local township of Bedford.

John Dean, President Richard Nixon's former White House counsel whose testimony about the Watergate scandal led to Nixon's resignation, said Friday he believed Vance's office could bring charges against Trump in just a matter of days.

Donald Trump. Getty

Dean based his observation on a Reuters report that said Trump's former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, was going to meet with Manhattan prosecutors for the seventh time.

Cohen pleaded guilty to several felonies stemming from investigations into Trump by the Manhattan US attorney's office and the special counsel Robert Mueller. He testified to Congress in 2019 that Trump repeatedly inflated or deflated the value of his assets for loan and tax purposes, respectively, and he has extensively cooperated with prosecutors.

In a Friday morning tweet, Dean wrote that based on "personal experience as a key witness I assure you that you do not visit a prosecutor's office 7 times if they are not planning to indict those about whom you have knowledge. It is only a matter of how many days until DA Vance indicts Donald & Co."

Cramer emphasized that the precise timeline of the DA's investigation is still hard to gauge.

"But when the Manhattan DA's office has your tax returns and they're bringing in hired guns like Pomerantz who specialize in this type of work," he said, "You'd better grab yourself some good lawyers."

Read the original article on Business Insider
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As Covid-19 cases see a sudden spike in the country, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in its latest strongly worded circular, has said passengers will be de-boarded if they don't wear masks properly inside aircraft or don't follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. "If a passenger violates protocol despite repeated warnings, then the passenger will be treated as 'unruly passenger'," the aviation regulator's order issued today said.

The aviation regulator said some travellers undertaking air journey don't adhere to Covid-19 protocols, which essentially involves wearing of masks properly i.e. not below the nose, during all times of the journey from entering the airport for departure to exiting the airport after arrival. "It has also been noted that some passengers after entering the airport do not wear masks properly and also do not maintain social distance while being in the airport premises," it said.

The aviation regular has ordered that "passengers shall wear masks and maintain social distancing norms at all times during air travel". The circular also says that "masks shall not be moved below the nose except under exceptional circumstances".

Also read: Ban on international passenger flights extended till March 31

The DGCA said CISF or other police personnel deployed at the entrance of the airport must ensure that no one is allowed to enter the airport without wearing a mask, the circular suggests. The airport director or terminal manager must also ensure passengers wear masks properly and maintain social distance within the airport premises. "In case any passenger is not following COvid-19 protocol, they should be handed over to security agencies after proper warning. If required they may be dealt as per the law," the circular suggests.

The DGCA has said the failure to not follow these guidelines could lead to de-boarding of the passenger. Those not following the guidelines despite repeated instructions should be treated as "unruly passengers" and strict actions should be taken against them, said the DGCA.

The latest DGCA guidelines comes as the country has seen a sudden spike in coronavirus cases. India's coronavirus graph rose to 1,13,33,728, with 24,882 new cases in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 death toll surged to 1,58,446, with 140 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, pushing the death rate to 1.40 per cent. India has recorded 2,02,022 active COVID-19 cases as of March 13.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state, with a total of 22,82,191 COVID-19 cases. Out of these, 1,11,724 people have succumbed to the contagion whereas 21,17,744 people have been discharged. The state has 52,723 active cases as of March 13, 2021. States like Punjab, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are also contributing maximum to India's rising COVID-19 cases.

Also read: Pilots, cabin crew won't fly for 48 hours after vaccination: DGCA
More than 715 refugees from around the world who expected to start new lives in the United States have had their flights canceled in recent weeks because President Biden has postponed an overhaul of his predecessors sharp limits on new refugee admissions.

Agencies that assist refugees poised to enter the country were notified by the State Department this week that all travel would be suspended until the president sets a new target for admissions this year.

Each year, the president must set a cap on the number of refugees that the United States will admit. Former President Donald J. Trump lowered that number to a historic low of 15,000 for the current fiscal year and placed new restrictions that effectively excluded most applicants from Muslim and African countries.

As a result, tens of thousands of people who have already completed the complex process for resettling in the United States have been stranded abroad, often in overcrowded refugee camps where many have been waiting for years.
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SANTA FE  A proposal to eliminate fees for copying public records  whether in print or electronically  cleared a Senate committee on a 4-2 vote Friday.

The legislation, Senate Bill 388, would change a provision in the Inspection of Public Records Act that allows for the charging of $1 a page or the cost of a digital storage device when providing public records in response to a request.

Sen. Michael Padilla, an Albuquerque Democrat and sponsor of the bill, said the goal was to let the sunshine in and ensure the cost of copies isnt a barrier to obtaining public records.

The proposal passed the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee and is set to head next to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It will have to move quickly to reach final passage before the session ends March 20.

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UL has come under the spotlight as students had a street party

Being a teenager is not something that can be described easily.

If it was JD Salinger wouldn't be held in such high esteem. The ineluctable fact is that youth holds more magic and mystery; more tragedy and triumph than any other period of life because the power of imagination has not been dulled by a thousand days 'chained to the mirror and the razorblade'.

Youth is a commodity. It is a poem. It is running on a road you've never ran on at 4 a.m., not knowing where you're going to end up, or laughing until you grab your stomach with someone whose thoughts you can read by virtue of a whole summer spent together.

It is, in the words of the great Bard, wasted on the young. It is also in the news at the moment because of a party in Limerick. The party was a big one, on the street, in an estate mainly occupied by students.

That same week I spoke to hundreds of pupils during their weekly Friday assembly. I was blown away by their creative work; from animated videos made to their art. The fire of creativity burnt bright before my eyes.

Those children will grow up to become students and one hopes they will be able to grasp just how amazing they are and run with that feeling through their lives and careers.

Reading about the UL students getting suspended and brought, tail between legs, before the courts, for their part in the street party, gave me cause to pause.

We all need to take our judgemental mind with a quarry load of salt these days.

Cast your mind back to when you were 18, 19 or 20.

Did you make any mistakes? Did you make those mistakes, again and again, over the course of say a college year, or a summer?

Did you know what was right or wrong?

I spent pretty much every night of every summer of my late teens, early twenties either in a friends' house or at a party.

OK, my circumstances may have been a bit different to most as my family lived in a different continent and I was staying with a family member, but that incredible urgency to live life to the limit and damn the consequences was surely not unique to me.

Everyone makes mistakes when they are young. It is a time when we have incredible energy coursing through our veins, we are possessed by forces beyond our control and we often end up acting impulsively and recklessly.

Chatting with some young college going people about the UL party and its fall-out, they all said, 'sure, what would you do?'

Many students see nothing wrong in pairing up with their house-mates in a bubble, which pairs up with another house. Recent reports of spikes in cases among students are not surprising. The need to be social is felt most keenly in those nascent teenage years. They are formative years when people find out who they are.

The students who attended the party, singing Come On Eileen till their throats ached did so because that was how they expected college life to be. Many couldn't wait to leave their homes and taste some freedom.

Wouldn't it be a terrible shame if these same youths were left to feel guilty, or even worse, prosecuted, for being young and to have that shadow legacy over them for the rest of their lives?

This is exactly what has been happening and it is another tragic and unintended consequence of a pandemic which causes so much hurt every day to people who are ultimately just trying to live their lives.
A gym, cafe and hotel on Brisbanes southside are at the centre of an urgent contact-tracing operation after an infected doctor working on a COVID-19 ward, who had not been inoculated, visited them on Thursday, sparking Queenslands latest coronavirus scare.

The doctor was strongly suspected to have caught the highly contagious UK strain of COVID-19, which will be confirmed on Sunday.

West Ends Morning After cafe on Vulture Street, which was visited by the PA Hospital doctor on Thursday. Credit:Tony Moore

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and state Health Minister Yvette DAth confirmed the doctor had not yet been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Early on Wednesday morning, the doctor worked with two patients who both had the UK strain.
Alibaba, which is Chinas largest online shopping portal, in on the radar of Chinese authorities over concerns of its reach into the daily finances of ordinary Chinese people.

China has denied that it was planning to hit e-commerce giant, Alibaba with a fine of $1 billion for allegedly violating monopoly rules as authorities have been pressurizing the countrys vast technological sector. Alibaba which is Chinas largest online shopping portal has been clashing with authorities in recent months over concerns of its reach into the daily finances of ordinary Chinese people.

On the other hand, the markets regulator has denied that it had been planning to fine the company for anti-competitive behavior as reported by the Wall Street Journal. In addition, 12 other Tech firms including giants such as Tencent, Baidu and ByteDance for flouting monopoly rules.

Tencent has been fined $77,000 for its investment in 2018 in online education app Yuanfando without seeking government approval for the deal, the State Administration for Market Regulation commented. On the other hand, the giant Baidu would be paying the same amount for its acquisition of consumer electronics maker Ainemo under the radar in 2014. Premier, Li Keqiang stated that anti-monopoly rules would be strengthened and the disorderly expansion of capital would be prevented.

Also Read: Quad virtual summit begins: Vaccine cooperation, Indo-Pacific charter on agenda

Also Read: Tamil Nadu assembly elections: BJP to release candidate list; Dy CM files nomination

Analysts believed that such fines signals the strong domination of the Communist Party over the countrys tech landscape. Alex Capri, a senior fellow at the National University of Singapores business school said, These penalties send a message: the economy and everything within it must comply with the States directive. The ongoing squeeze on Alibaba depicts that leadership is ready to thwart the ambition of big tech firms in a runway internet sector.

However, Chinas expansionist policies in the SSC and its growing domination is highlighted in its foreign policies that it espouses. Both at home and at outside, she aims to make a point of the growing prowess of the Communist Party. Gen Deepak Kapoor (retd) puts forward the view that,  Some aspects of the Ladakh imbroglio stand out. The policy of two steps forward, one step back has been followed by China all along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) while gradually creeping forward over the last 50 years. This is unlikely to stop, considering the aggressive and expansionist approach adopted by China as its power grows . Its actions in the South China Sea (SCS), East China Sea (ECS) and towards Taiwan are clear examples.

It is no doubt that a number of ASEAN countries are affected by the Chinese expansionist designs in the SCS. Not only that, China has refused to implement the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision on Scarborough Shoal is indicative of a clear breach of the rule of law and countries must collectively resist subversion of the UN Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) by China.

Gen Deepak Kapoor (Retd) adds, It is interesting to note that India has spent a whopping Rs 20,776 crore on emergency purchases to meet the Ladakh challenge. In such a scenario, India has to orchestrate its actions both at the international and domestic levels. At the international level, a consensual approach with like-minded nations is essential to thwart Chinese expansionist designs. Thus, the impetus being given to Quad and its deliberations are a step in the right direction. The Quads consensus on observing the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region and resisting any unilateral actions to change quo would be keenly watched .

Also Read: YSRCP Parliamentary party leader opposes VSP Privatisation : to raise the issue with Parliament
Its time for the Pallister government to stop telling Manitobans how many COVID-19 vaccines it could do if it had more supply and start getting the tens of thousands of doses sitting in freezers into peoples arms.

Its time for the Pallister government to stop telling Manitobans how many COVID-19 vaccines it "could" do if it had more supply and start getting the tens of thousands of doses sitting in freezers into peoples arms.

Over the past week, the province has administered an average of only 2,129 doses per day. Thats a far cry from the 19,000 daily doses the province claims it could do if it had enough vaccines from the federal government.

According to the province's own data, its not a lack of supply thats preventing Manitoba from ramping up operations.

As of Friday, Manitoba has administered a total of 99,842 shots since mid-December, about 63 per cent of the 159,220 doses it has received so far. That doesnt include an additional shipment of 20,500 doses of Moderna vaccine expected this week, not yet included in the provinces figures. When those numbers are included  and when the 11,507 doses administered by First Nations are added (the province keeps track of those separately)  111,349 doses out of 179,720 received have been administered. Less than two-thirds of doses received have been injected, and the federal government is sending Manitoban nearly 100,000 more doses over the next two weeks.

The province is expecting more than 200,000 doses in March and even more is projected for April.

TRIBUNE MEDIA TNS The province has administered an average of only 2,129 doses per day over the past week, a far cry from the 19,000 daily doses the province claims it could do if it had enough vaccines from the federal government. (Brad Horrigan / The Hartford Courant files)

What's the holdup?

With Manitobas decision to delay second doses for up to four months, theres no longer a need to ensure doses are available for future appointments. Last month's global supply disruption is over; vaccines are now pouring in. Manitoba has moved to a just-in-time delivery system. So why is the province still doing only about 2,000 jabs a day when it has the supply to do far more (and claims it has the capacity to do triple)? Health officials should be emptying the freezers.

No one from government has provided a clear answer. Instead, officials keep repeating talking points that the only factor preventing them from ramping up immunizations is a lack of supply. It makes no sense when there are tens of thousands of doses sitting in freezers with more shipments on the way.

Even after multiple announcements last week that all provinces would see at least a doubling of their supply in the coming weeks, there was no evidence this week of a ramp-up of Manitoba's operations.

On Monday, 1,826 doses were administered; Tuesday, 2,032. The number increased slightly to 2,998 Wednesday but fell again Thursday to 2,059.

Wheres the "firehose" vaccine rollout Premier Brian Pallister assured Manitobans weeks ago was in place?

CP There are thousands of doses sitting in freezers in Manitoba with more shipments on the way. (Evan Vucci / The Associated Press files)

Theres little doubt all these vaccines will eventually end up being used. But the slow pace of the rollout is a problem. Its not just a "hiccup," as Pallister calls it. Every week that goes by where a third or more of the provinces supply is sitting in freezers is another week of delay that could have prevented death or serious illness.

Delaying vaccines also slows down reopening plans. The more the province drags its feet on immunizations, the longer businesses and not-for-profits remain closed, or can operate only with restrictions. Many are facing insolvency.

The province should be administering at least 5,000 to 6,000 doses a day by now between its supersite clinics, focused immunization teams and pop-up clinics. It should be doing even more next week when doctors offices and pharmacies are expected to start providing injections. Manitoba needs to dole out an average of 6,149 doses a day to meet its latest goal of 172,182 jabs over the next 28 days. Right now the province is doing about a third of that.

It's still working with a squirt gun.

Meanwhile, case numbers and the test-positivity rate are starting to creep up again.

"Were in a bit of race," chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Friday. "Were in a race to get Manitobans vaccinated."

Unfortunately, it feels more like a walkathon than a race right now.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
Stimulus: President Joe Biden has pushed through a $1.9trn package of spending even as an overall EU response has sputtered. Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP

The European Union's pandemic recovery fund has run into early trouble, with the bloc's executive arm judging that most of the national spending plans submitted so far still need work to get approved, raising the risk of delays in disbursements to some of the region's battered economies.

Germany's submission is among those deemed to fall short of expectations, with southern European nations including Greece and Spain having the strongest plans, according to officials familiar with the discussions who asked not to be identified.

Some countries haven't made proposals at all yet, and others are way behind, they said.

A Commission spokeswoman said that staff are in "intensive dialogue" with member states with the aim of making disbursements starting from mid-2021, but that "it is also essential" that these plans meet the key objectives of the fund.

The slow progress with the 750bn fund threatens to slow the region's recovery. For money to be distributed this summer as planned, proposals need to be cleared in April and some countries risk missing that deadline.

It highlights how the EU is lagging behind other advanced economies. The bloc is already struggling to step up coronavirus vaccinations and extended lockdowns mean its running at only about 95pc of its pre-pandemic output.

Read More

In contrast, the US this week passed President Joe Bidens $1.9trn (1.6trn) fiscal stimulus package that will see cash reaching citizens' bank accounts within days. The EU economy is only likely to reach its pre-pandemic size in 2022, a full year after the US.

The national spending plans are subject to approval by the Commission and a weighted majority of EU member states. The disbursements are contingent on the money being used to finance investment for climate-friendly projects and digital transformation, as well as on structural economic overhauls in areas including the labour market and the pension system.

The recovery fund was passed last year in tortuous negotiations by the 27 member states, with the final agreement for a fund backed by commonly issued debt, a first for the bloc, reached only on condition that this is a one-time tool.

Still, the Commission sees it as a test case for a permanent future funding facility, according to one official.

The European Central Bank has long said the region needs a permanent fiscal capacity to smooth out economic divergences.

Some nations back that view, while some wealthier countries fear it would lead to their taxpayers repeatedly providing financial support to weaker economies.
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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"
LONDON: Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, has complained to Britain's media regulator about broadcaster Piers Morgan and his comment that he did not believe a word she had said in her landmark interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Morgan, a former tabloid editor and CNN presenter, left his high-profile job on ITV's "Good Morning Britain" this week after a backlash against his comments on the interview, in which Meghan revealed she had felt suicidal while living as a royal in Britain.

In an interview that has shaken Britain's monarchy, Meghan, who married Prince Harry in 2018, said the royal family had also rejected her pleas for mental health support.

The morning after the interview was aired on U.S. television, Morgan said on "Good Morning Britain", among a torrent of other criticisms, that he did not believe a word Meghan had said. In a Tweet, he called her "Princess Pinocchio".

Monday's programme attracted more than 41,000 complaints to Britain's media regulator Ofcom, the second highest in its history, which announced an investigation. Media reports said the couple had also complained to broadcaster ITV.

"We can confirm receipt of a standards complaint made on behalf of the Duchess of Sussex," a spokesman for Ofcom said on Friday, in reference to Meghan's official title.

Meghan and Harry have clashed repeatedly with Britain's media, particularly the tabloid newspapers which they have accused of bigotry and invading their privacy.
A Wexford poet is looking forward with excitement to the launch next week of her first collection of poetry called 'Redress', published by Revival Press in Limerick.

Anne McCarry, a native of Kilmore living in Wexford town, writes under the pen name A.M. Cousins. She embarked on a MA in Creative Writing course in UCD with the original ambition of writing the perfect short story but was seduced by poetry and has been under its spell ever since.

Anne joined the writing course as a mature student after the birth of her first grandchild in 2013 and she won the prestigious FISH poetry prize in 2019 for a poem called 'Not My Michael Furey'.

Her poems have appeared in The Stinging Fly, the Irish Times New Irish Writing, Poetry Ireland Review and can also be found online on poethead.wordpress.com.

Her work was Highly Commended in the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Competition in 2015 and 2016. She also writes memoirs and local history essays which she reads on Sunday Miscellany on RTE Radio 1.

She is married to Brendan McCarry and they have two daughters and a growing band of grandchildren.

There are endorsements on the back cover of the book by the Wexford-based poet and editor Margaret Galvin and the acclaimed writer Dermot Bolger as well as the poet Grace Wells who will launch the book via Zoom on Friday, March 19.

Ms. Galvin wrote that Anne's poetry 'addresses a diverse range of topics and themes from the personal, public and historical spheres' and said 'in poem after poem, she demonstrates the honed skilfulness that has earned her an array of literary awards.'

Dermot Bolger said her 'astute poems are sure-footed, superbly crafted, grounded in earnest wisdom, shot through with insight and written with perceptive compassion, anger at injustice and a humane clear-sightnedness that is the hallmark of a unique voice.'

The front cover is taken from a print made by Anne's eldest daughter Jessica McCarry a few years ago.

The book is now available to pre-order on the Limerick Writers Centre Facebook page.

The following poem called Phantom, which is taken from Redress, examines the conflicted feelings of an adoptive mother.

Phantom

The time we brought you home -

that first night when you woke

in the small hours and refused

the teat of your brand new bottle,

clamping your mouth shut only

to open it to wail inconsolably -

I was sorely tempted to hold you

to my breast but feared you would

pull away and search the shadows

for a glimpse of her ghost.

The next night was little better -

the crying woke the house

and we moved from room to room,

I rocked and sang and kissed,

cajoled, then wept along with you -

I thought you might have sensed

that a hundred miles away,

a young woman - in a single bed,

in a single room - breasts bound,

her bleeding staunched,

nursed her phantom child.
TORONTO - NDP MP Heather McPherson says Canada's heritage committee has decided to summon Facebook Inc. chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to testify.

Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. NDP MP Heather McPherson says Canada's heritage committee has decided to summon Facebook Inc. chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to testify before it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Susan Walsh

TORONTO - NDP MP Heather McPherson says Canada's heritage committee has decided to summon Facebook Inc. chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to testify.

She says Zuckerberg would likely be asked about regulating online hate speech, Facebook's ability to self-police content on its platform and the company's effect on the Canadian news industry.

Zuckerberg could also be grilled over Facebook's February decision to stop Australian users from viewing or sharing news stories, which it reversed days later.

A legal summons is a relatively rare move by a parliamentary committee that compels a witness to appear and if refused can eventually lead to a declaration of contempt.

In a statement Friday, Facebook Canada said only that Kevin Chan, its global director and head of public policy, will appear at a committee meeting later this month.

Zuckerberg and Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg ignored a summons from the House of Commons ethics committee two years ago to testify on their company's Cambridge Analytica scandal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2021.

Facebook funds a fellowship that supports journalism positions at The Canadian Press.
A sod-cutting ceremony has been held for the construction of a 13.6-kilometre cocoa road at Senchi to Woramponso communities in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region.



The ceremony took place on Thursday, March 11, at Senchi in the Effiduase/Asokore Constituency.



The road which also links other adjoining communities like Odurokrom, Nyanfa and Duababawa cocoa farming communities is awarded on contract to Capitol Construction Limited under the Ghana Cocoa Road Project.



The project is being funded by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and works will be completed within a year.



More road projects



The project is aimed at improving road networks in remote cocoa areas as well as creating a congenial environment to promote the livelihood of cocoa farmers.



In his remarks at the sod-cutting ceremony attended by chiefs and community members, MP for the area, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie said the road construction would improve the movement of vehicles in the area.





He expressed the challenges associated with lobbying for the road for several months saying it is now approved and has appeared on the cocoa roads budget for the contractor to commence work.



Today, we all have a huge sigh of relief by the cutting of the sod to begin the construction of the Asokore town roads, he said.



I remain committed to improving the lives of the people and we will see more of such projects going forward, the lawmaker said as he announced a number of road projects in the constituency expected to be executed by the Akufo-Addo-led government.



Timely intervention



42-year-old Ama Maanu is a cocoa farmer and has lived in the Senchi Community for over 25 years.



She tells dailymailgh.com that the project when completed will go a long way to improve her livelihood.



This road has been a headache to some of us. We find it difficult to cart our produce for sale and this affects us heavily. With the start of this road project, such a situation will be thing of the past and I thank the MP for this initiative, she said.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The United States is restoring aid to Houthi-held parts of northern Yemen to help meet the region's critical needs, the US special envoy for the war-torn country confirmed Friday.

The announcement comes nearly a year after the Trump administration suspended $73 million in US humanitarian aid to northern Yemen, citing concerns the Iran-aligned rebels were interfering with the distribution of humanitarian supplies.

Aid organizations called on the Biden administration to restore the funding, warning that failure to do so would worsen whats already considered the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Even before the outbreak of civil war in 2014, Yemen was the poorest country in the region. Today, roughly 80% of the population requires humanitarian assistance to survive, the United Nations estimates.

Just today, the US restored humanitarian assistance and funding in north Yemen to help meet the regions critical need, the US special envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, said at a virtual event hosted by the Atlantic Council.

President Joe Biden has made ending the civil war in Yemen a foreign policy priority. Last month, he announced an end to US support for the Saudi-led coalitions offensive operations in Yemen, and appointed Lenderking, a veteran diplomat, as part of his push for peace between the Saudi-backed government and the Houthis.

Lenderking returned this week from a 17-day visit to the Gulf region that included stops in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan that were aimed at bringing the parties closer to a cease-fire, the State Department said.

Biden also reversed the Trump administrations foreign terrorist designation of the Houthis, which aid organizations warned could make it difficult for them to deliver aid in rebel-run parts of the country.

In recent weeks, the Houthis have stepped up their cross-border attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including its Aramco oil facilities, and have renewed their offensive on the oil-rich province of Marib.

Lenderking on Friday said the United States has a plan for a nationwide cease-fire that been before the Houthi leadership for a number of days, adding that the Biden administration is waiting for a sign of responsiveness from the rebels.
SHELTON  The captain of the Echo Hose Fire Company and another volunteer member  who is also a Trumbull police sergeant  have been suspended in connection with an alleged sexual assault that occurred in September.

Echo Hose Capt. John Scollin and volunteer firefighter Matthew Perkowski were suspended this week pending an internal investigation, according to Shelton Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Michael Maglione.

Maglione said action was taken as soon as we became aware of this.

Maglione and other Shelton officials said they were not aware of the alleged incident until they were contacted this week by Hearst Connecticut Media.

According to a Shelton police report obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media, a woman who knows Scollin accused him and Perkowski of sexually and physically assaulting her on Sept. 6.

In the report, the woman accused Scollin of assaulting her outside the Echo Hose firehouse before they went to Perkowskis Shelton home where she said both men physically and sexually assaulted her.

Scollin and Perkowski, who have not responded to requests seeking comment, have not been charged and the woman declined to pursue the case.

During the initial investigation, Shelton officers notified the Trumbull Police Department about Perkowskis alleged involvement in the incident, the report stated.

Trumbull police conducted an internal investigation that resulted in Police Chief Michael Lombardo suspending Perkowski for 15 days. When reached by Hearst Connecticut Media, Lombardo said he could not comment on a pending personnel matter, saying only that the incident had occurred outside of Perkowskis role as a police officer.

Perkowski appealed through a union grievance, but the Trumbull Police Commission unanimously upheld the suspension on Jan. 21, calling the accusations against the officer abusive and reprehensible.

Following the vote, Commission Chairman Ray Baldwin read a five-paragraph statement, saying Perkowski clearly violated the Trumbull Police Departments Code of Conduct and demonstrated a callous disregard for the health and well being of another person.

Baldwins comments reflected the feelings of the entire commission, he said.

Had this case come before us without a prior discipline by Chief Lombardo for a 15-day suspension, this commission, in all likelihood, would have imposed a much more substantial punishment, Baldwin said.

Perkowski has since appealed his suspension to the state Board of Mediation and Arbitration, according to a statement from his attorney, Gregory Cerritelli.

Sergeant Perkowskis conduct, which he freely admitted to, was entirely off-duty and in no manner a concern to the Trumbull Police Department, Cerritelli wrote in the statement. I am deeply offended by the notion that the TPD believes it could regulate the manner in which its members have consensual, off-duty, sexual intercourse. If this is the standard for conduct unbecoming, then every police officer in this country should be deeply concerned. I welcome the adversarial hearing before the SBMA.

Police report: Woman said no multiple times

According to the Shelton police report, obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media through a Freedom of Information Act request, the alleged incident occurred during the early-morning hours of Sept. 6, 2020.

In the report, Shelton Detective Richard Bango wrote that he was among the officers who were called to Griffin Hospital in Derby where the woman was being treated around 5:30 p.m. Sept. 6.

Bango said he interviewed the woman and photographed numerous injuries, including bite marks on her breast, lower torso and buttocks, bruises on her face, knees, shins and buttocks, cuts on her lips and a scratch along the center of her back, the report stated. Bango said medical reports also listed bruising on both inner thighs.

In a recorded interview with Bango, the woman said Scollin began calling and texting around 1 a.m. Sept. 6, saying he had been drinking and asking to see her to have sex, the report stated.

When Scollin showed up at the womans home, she said he was very intoxicated like she has never seen him before, according to the report. He began getting aggressive by kissing her and trying to take her clothes off in the street, Bango wrote in the report.

The woman said she agreed to drive Scollin to the Echo Hose firehouse where she parked on the side of the building, the report said. Over the next two hours inside her car, the woman said Scollin had her do weird things that she has never done before, according to the report.

According to the report, the woman said it started to cross the line when he began slapping her during sex.

The woman said she felt like he was trying to hype himself up, but she did not like it, so she was telling him to stop, the report stated.

However, the woman said Scollin began slapping her increasingly hard, pulled her hair and threatened to choke her until she passes out while forcing her to perform a sex act, according to the report.

Scollin then suggested going to Perkowskis house for a threesome, but the woman said absolutely not, according to the report. However, the woman said she agreed to drive Scollin to Perkowskis home, the report said.

The woman said she had never met Perkowski before and again refused to have a threesome when they arrived, the report said. Scollin told her she needed to apologize to Perkowski because the two men had been drinking earlier and he had left to go see her and she needs to make this up to Perkowski, the report stated.

Once inside the house, the woman said she agreed to have sex with Scollin, though Perkowski, who she said was also drunk, eventually joined them, the report said.

When the woman refused to have sex with Perkowski and attempted to leave, she said Scollin picked her up and put her on his friends lap, the report said.

The woman said Scollin told Perkowski to hit her, encouraging his friend to repeatedly slap her harder, the report said.

Perkowski slapped her so hard that she fell off him and she could not hear out of her left ear, Bango wrote in the report. A medical exam later revealed the woman suffered a ruptured left eardrum, the report said.

The woman said the two men continued to sexually assault her, the report said. According to the woman, she said no multiple times during the sex, but they were two big guys and they ignored her and made her do things, the report stated.

No charges filed

When he asked if she wanted to press charges, Bango reported the woman began to cry and said she cant follow through.

On Sept. 11, Bango said a rape crisis counselor contacted him and said the woman decided to pursue a sex assault complaint. But two days later, Bango said the woman changed her mind and requested police not pursue the complaint, though she agreed to talk to Trumbulls internal affairs investigator about the incident.

In his report, Bango said he consulted with the Derby assistant states attorney who informed him that because the alleged physical assault occurred during the alleged sex assault, the matter would only be pursued if the woman pressed charges. Shelton police closed the case on Sept. 17.

William Dunlap, a professor of criminal law at Quinnipiac University School of Law, said prosecutors routinely file charges in domestic violence cases without the victims cooperation, but doing so in a sex assault is much less common.

Theres no legal rule that you need the victims cooperation in a sex assault prosecution, its strictly a practical matter based on the need to deny that there was consent, he said.

The issue of consent is rarely a factor in violent attacks, but is frequently a defense in sex crimes, he said.

In domestic violence cases, the defendant would never get on the stand and say, She asked me to break her jaw, Dunlap said. But it is a defense in sexual assault cases, and without the victim denying that there was consent its very difficult to get a conviction.

Another reason for not prosecuting without the victims cooperation is a desire to give sex assault victims, usually women, some element of control over the circumstances, he said.

Its done in the interest of giving them a little autonomy, Dunlap said. The trial itself is further trauma, and getting on the witness stand for a hostile cross examination can be devastating and it subjects them to all sorts of things.
Panaji, March 13 : A 45-year-old passenger from Bhatkal in Karnataka, who had arrived in Goa on Saturday from Dubai by air has been detained and 2.1 kg gold has been seized, an official statement issued by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said.

"The accused Akbar Abubakar has been detained. 18 gold biscuits weighing 2.1 kg worth Rs. 97 lakh has been seized from him," the statement said.

"He had travelled to Goa's Dabolim international airport from Dubai by air," the statement added.
The race to replace state Sen. John Blake officially begins today.

Democrats likely will choose state Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton, or Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-112, Blakely, as their nominee in the 22nd Senate District, even though Lt. Gov. John Fetterman still hasnt scheduled a date for the special election to replace Blake. A Fetterman spokeswoman said Friday he probably will set the date Monday.

Everyone expects the special election will coincide with the May 18 primary election.

Republicans still havent announced their nominating process. Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak appears to be the frontrunner for their nomination.

Democrats know they have to win. They cant afford to lose another seat in a traditionally Democratic region, even if former President Donald Trump attracted a lot of Democrats to register and vote Republican over the last four years.

They hold a huge voter registration advantage in the 22nd  Democrats, 57.1%, Republicans, 31.18%, other parties and independents, 11.72%.

Democrats trail Republicans in Senate membership 27 to 20 with one independent, former Democratic Sen. John Yudichak, and two vacancies. (One vacancy, Blakes, is a traditionally Democratic seat, the other, that of the late Sen. David Arnold in Lebanon County, is a traditionally Republican seat.)

With Yudichak independent and acting less like a Democrat all the time, the Democrats cant afford to lose more ground if they ever hope to regain the Senate majority.

Assuming Arnolds seat remains Republican, that would give Republicans a 28-20 edge and a Republican winning Blakes seat would make that 29-20.

Some of the local and state Democratic Partys historic roots lie in this seat.

No less than future Gov. Robert P. Casey Sr. once represented the 22nd. His 1962 election as a 30-year-old newcomer kick-started his political career, but he never ran for the seat again.

In 1966, a brash Casey decided he was ready to lead the state and ran for governor.

As Casey lost the first of four tries for governor, a Republican won his seat.

Arthur Piasecki, a former Scranton city treasurer and director of supplies in Republican Mayor William Schmidts administration, surprisingly defeated attorney James Haggerty, 53,325 to 51,161. (Haggerty, a close friend of Caseys, was part of the family that owns The Times-Tribune.)

At that point, the county Democratic machine was fractured a bit after the 1962 death of legendary County Commissioner Michael Lawler, a powerhouse in local, state and federal politics.

John Davies, the former Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons public address announcer and a longtime observer of local politics, said Haggerty won the primary election against attorney John E.V. Pieski. (Two lesser Democratic candidates also got some votes, but Haggerty and Pieski led the way with Haggerty beating Pieski by more than 2 to 1.)

In 1966, the Vietnam War had begun taking its toll on Democratic politicians, Davies said, but cable TV pioneer Milton Shapps defeat of Casey in the gubernatorial primary angered a lot of local Democrats, who sat out the November election. It probably didnt hurt Piasecki that his last name resembled Pieskis, Davies said.

Back then, ethnic-related voting happened a lot more and Piasecki and Pieski both had Eastern European-sounding names.

Piasecki lasted one term. In 1970, he got thumped pretty solidly by this guy named Robert J. Mellow from Blakely.

You may have heard of him. Mellow, a month short of 28 when he won the seat, won reelection nine times before retiring in 2010 and ending up in a federal prison. No need to rehash that.

Blake won the seat in 2010. He defeated some better-known big-name Democrats  former Commissioner Joe Corcoran, Jim Wansacz, Chris Doherty and Chuck Volpe.

Thats how Democratic the seat has been over the years.

All the major Democrats wanted it.

The state General Assembly has 203 representatives, but only 50 senators.

Often, hiring for state jobs goes through the state senator, though Mellow was better known for that than Blake.

The pool of candidates isnt nearly as deep this time.

Flynn only won election to his House seat in 2012, and Mullins won his first term in 2018.

Neither really has distinguished himself yet as a legislator.

Flynn feels like the favorite from everyone weve talked to, but hes a Scranton guy and the committee members in the rest of the county might feel differently about handing the seat to him. After all, a Midvalley guy has held the seat since Mellows first election.

Midvalley voters really rallied around Blake in 2010 and Mellows old-timers helped him, but Blake also benefited from the better-known names splitting up the vote.

Committee voters are a different breed. Theyre more the hardcore Democratic voters, so who knows which way this goes, but it says here the nomination is Flynns to lose.

As for the Republicans, Chermaks name keeps coming up the most, though one poll raised the name of former county first assistant district attorney Gene Talerico, who hasnt publicly said anything about running. Attorney Dominic Mastri has said he wants consideration as the candidate and the names of people like former Commissioner Laureen Cummings, perennial candidate Joe Albert and Afghanistan war veteran Earl Granville have come up too. Granville lost the 8th Congressional District primary election last year.

The race could get expensive to win.

Democrats will surely go all out to hold it.

If Republicans think they can win it, they will, too.

Considering how well Trump did up here, expect a battle royale.

BORYS KRAWCZENIUK, The Times-Tribune politics reporter, writes Random Notes. bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; BorysBlogTT on Twitter.
Abu Dhabi, March 13 : Skipper Sean Williams's unbeaten 106 and his unbeaten eighth wicket partnership of 124 with Donald Tiripano (63 batting) helped Zimbabwe avert an innings defeat against Afghanistan and take the second Test into the fifth day here at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Saturday. Zimbabwe were eight runs ahead of hosts Afghanistan with 266/7 wickets at stumps.

Zimbabwe, who were forced to follow on, looked down and out at 142 for seven wickets. However, Williams and Tiripano defied the Afghans for 42.4 overs.

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan picked five wickets for 105, but failed to find support from the other bowlers.

Resuming the fourth day at 24 without loss in their second innings, Zimbabwe lost a couple of quick wickets at 44 and 46 before Williams and Tarisai Musakanda (15) added 55 runs for the third wicket with the left-handed batsman being the dominant partners.

The 34-year-old Williams witnessed regular fall of wickets as his team's batsmen failed to put up any resistance.

Sikandar Raza, the top-scorer from first innings, too failed to get going and was dismissed by Rashid for 22.

Williams hit nine fours and a six in his 190-ball stay. During his 164-ball stay Tiripano hit 11 boundaries.

Zimbabwe had made 287 in the first innings, with Rashid picking four for 138. The leg-spinner who is playing his fifth Test match has a chance to achieve his second 10-wicket haul of his career. He just needs one more wicket for that feat.

Zimbabwe had won the first Test by 10 wickets.

Brief scores: Afghanistan: 545/4 declared; Zimbabwe: 287 all out and 266/7 wkts (S Williams batting 106, D tiripano 63 batting, R. Khan 5/105)
Dancing With The Stars pro Gleb Savchenko is going toe to toe with his estranged spouse Elena Samodanova.

The 37-year-old fired back a response to Samodanova's December filing, and is now seeking spousal support as well as joint legal and physical custody of their two daughters as of March 2.

Per the documents obtained by People, he is also bidding to block the court's ability to award spousal support to Elena, additionally requesting she foot the bill for his attorney fees.

Spousal support: DWTS pro Gleb Savchenko, 37, has filed his response to estranged wife Elena Samodanova's December petition, now requesting spousal support and joint legal and physical custody of their daughters

The couple announced their split in November, after 14 years of marriage and the pair share Olivia, 10, and Zlata, three.

'It is with a heavy heart that I tell you my wife and I are parting ways after 14 years of marriage. We still intend to co-parent our wonderful children together who we love so dearly, and we will strive to continue to be the best parents that we can to them,' he wrote in a post.

Elena  who filed for divorce first  accused Savchenko of 'ongoing infidelity,' initially requesting spousal support, joint legal and physical custody of the kids, and his ability to be awarded any spousal support.

A nasty back and forth between the pair ensued, each of them slandering the others name with accusations of infidelity on both sides.

Less than a month after the split, he was seen packing on the PDA with his new girlfriend Cassie Scerbo on a Mexican vacation and she was seen locking lips with DWTS alum Vlad Kvartin.

It's over: Gleb announced the split via Instagram, Elena telling People just a day later that he was guilty of 'ongoing infidelity'

Just partners: Prior to the divorce filing, Gleb was fielding rumors that he had cheated on Elena with his DWTS pro Chrishell, the Selling Sunset star later confirming she was dating another pro Motsepe (the pair recently split); pictured November 2

Prior to the divorce he was fielding cheating rumors with his dance partner Chrishell Stause, before she confirmed her romance with another pro Keo Motsepe, Gleb claiming that Elena was behind the rumors all along.

Elena continued to accuse Gleb of being unfaithful, going live on Instagram and saying he had many extramarital affairs and had left her with no income.

She told People the day after he publicly announced their split: 'Gleb's ongoing infidelity and a recent inappropriate relationship has created turmoil in our marriage and absolutely torn our family apart.'

Gleb vehemently denied all claims he was unfaithful, trying to set the record straight in a tell-all conversation with ET in late December.

'I've never actually cheated on her. Never, ever, ever. This whole thing, it was her trying to set it up,' he shared, also claiming that she was the unfaithful one and that she was 'mentally abusive' towards him.

Bitter feud: Elena accused Gleb of 'ongoing infidelity,' adding in an Instagram live that he had left her with no income, prompting him to speak out on her 'mental abuse' towards him and infidelity; pictured March 2019

New love interest: He has been linked to actress Cassie Scerbo since December; pictured February 2021

The Russian pro claimed she had previously told him: 'After this divorce, I'm gonna skin you. I'm gonna take everything you have, even your kids, and make you walk back to Russia where you come from,' him adding 'Those were her exact words.'

He said the turning point in the marriage came in early 2020 when she would 'constantly lie' about her whereabouts.

Gleb said he caught her numerous times on at-home cameras slipping on suggestive clothing despite telling him she was heading to work, only to return home at 4AM 'completely drunk.'

Her camp responded to ET: 'Gleb has had affairs with former dance partners -- and who knows who else. Playing the victim is gross negligence on his part and he should perhaps watch what he says before Elena decides to meet him at his level and release everyone's names.'

On Friday she suggestively posted a photo of her lovingly holding what appeared to be a man's hand. She captioned the post 'hold my hand,' adding the hashtags 'happiness, happylife, connection and move forward.'
Successive governments have sided with the minority conservative opinion, which on important occasions has reframed and reconstituted the identity of the community only as a religious minority. This top-down construction of identity has had an important connotation in reference to the identity structure of Indian Muslims, as religious identity continued to occupy a place of priority and as a result came to be asserted more often. Insofar as Muslims continue to manifest personal laws as an indispensable part of their socio-religious identity and as a part of their right to live as a religious minority, an abrupt transition from personal laws to the Uniform Civil Code, politically, remains inexpedient.

The Muslim community in the postcolonial Indian state has arguably asserted a minority identity with a tinge of separateness. This separateness has remained the quintessential result of the external definition of Muslim identity, with an emphasis on religious aspects (Bader 2020). However, Muslim identity in itself has emerged as a resultant phenomenon of top-down construction of identity as a minority identity through the actions and policies of the state and the bottom-up construction of identity as other at the societal level through the competing claims advanced in response to other identity claims (Roy 2007). However, this construction does not emerge as the product of any abrupt eruption, but has evolved over time in a contingent and cumulative manner, reinscribed and reiterated at different periods of time (Williams 2012). The political developments and changes in political environment which include a renewed presence of religion in the political sphere, in the form of right-wing assertions and the often close relationship between Hindu revivalism and the Congress in the past and Hindu assertion and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contemporaneously, has manifested an overarching capacity to make for a difficult relationship between Muslims and Indian nationalism. More so, with the emergence of BJP on the political scene, and the right-wing assertions that have followed, carried an inherent tendency to shape an antagonistic Muslim political identity. The identity composition that has been constructed with religious identity occupying a priority, thus, has not experienced much restructuring, but has instead been reinforced by political developments in the subsequent years.

This paper forms an attempt to understand how this construction has been reinforced and crystallised on successive occasions, while personal laws were being considered an indispensable aspect of their group identity. As has been argued that Muslim identity has been externally defined with an emphasis on religious aspects, religious identity continues to occupy a place of priority in the discrete identity structure of the community (generally called as salience hierarchy). The argument follows then, that unless the identity structure is restructured and religious identity moves down the ladder, the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) carries an inherent threat of major resentment from the Muslim community, since members may consider it a threat to their religious and minority identity.
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Spring training continues for the Boston Red Sox on Saturday as the club hosts the Atlanta Braves at JetBlue Park. Boston has a 6-5 record in Grapefruit League play.

Saturdays game is on NESN+. A live stream is on fuboTV.

Martin Perez will start for the Red Sox opposite Ian Anderson. Bostons No. 6 ranked prospect, Jay Groome (12th-overall pick in 2016), will make his spring training debut. Reliever Darwinzon Hernandez also is scheduled to pitch for the first time in a Grapefruit League game this spring.

Boston is in the midst of nine straight games before its next off day (March 18). The Red Sox then will close out their Grapefruit League schedule by playing 12 straight games before breaking camp on March 30. Opening Day is scheduled for April 1 against the Orioles at Fenway Park.

Boston Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves (Spring Training 2021)

Start time: 1:05 p.m. EST

Pitching probables: LHP Martin Perez vs. RHP Ian Anderson

TV channel: NESN+

Live stream: MLB.tv (subscription required)

Radio: WEEI 850 AM

Heres what the rest of the Red Sox 2021 spring training broadcast schedule looks like:

Sun., Mar. 14 | @ Twins | 1:05 p.m. EST | TV: NESN | Live stream: fuboTV

Fri., Mar. 19 | vs. Rays | 1:05 p.m. EST | TV: NESN | Live stream: fuboTV

Sun., Mar. 21 | vs. Pirates | 1:05 p.m. EST | TV: NESN | Live stream: fuboTV

Wed., Mar. 24 | @ Orioles | 1:05 p.m. EST | TV: NESN | Live stream: fuboTV

Thur., Mar. 25 | vs. Twins | 1:05 p.m. EST | TV: NESN+ | Live stream: fuboTV

Sun., Mar. 28 | vs. Twins | 1:05 p.m. EST | TV: NESN | Live stream: fuboTV

Tue., Mar. 30 | vs. Braves | 1:05 p.m. EST | TV: NESN | Live stream: fuboTV

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London: Britain urged its citizens on Friday (March 12) to leave Myanmar or, if they are unable to exit the country, to stay at home, saying violence was rising after the army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in a February 1 coup.

The move comes a day after a rights group said security forces killed 12 protesters and as the lawyer of deposed leader Suu Kyi ridiculed new bribery allegations against her.

"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises British Nationals to leave the country by commercial means unless there is an urgent need to stay," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Political tension and unrest are widespread since the military takeover and levels of violence are rising."

Britain has condemned the violence in Myanmar and has called for the restoration of democracy, signalling earlier this week that it was exploring additional sanctions on the country.

Live TV
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP)  The Ethiopian government is disputing charges of ethnic cleansing in the Tigray conflict, calling allegations by the United States unfounded."

Nothing during or after the end of the main law enforcement operation in Tigray can be identified or defined by any standards as a targeted, intentional ethnic cleansing against anyone in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Saturday.

That is why the Ethiopian government vehemently opposes such accusations.

Allegations of ethnic cleansing amount to a completely unfounded and spurious verdict against the Ethiopian government, it said, accusing Washington of overblowing things out of proportion.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted Wednesday that ethnic cleansing has happened in western Tigray, the first time a top official in the international community has openly described Tigray's alleged atrocities as such.

Blinken told the foreign affairs committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that the U.S. is seeing very credible reports of human rights abuses and atrocities that are ongoing in Tigray, a region in the north of Ethiopia that is the base of a party that dominated Ethiopian politics for decades before the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The leaders of that party, known by its initials TPLF, are in hiding as federal forces and their allies  including fighters from Eritrea  hunt down fighters loyal to the local administration in Tigray.

The conflict began in November, when Abiy sent government troops into Tigray after an attack there on federal military facilities.

No one knows how many thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict.

While Ethiopia's government says a federal investigation of the alleged crimes is underway, critics say the government cannot effectively investigate itself. They want an international probe, ideally led by the United Nations. The latest government statement suggested an openness to a probe featuring outside groups.

Story continues

If necessary, the statement said, the government will conduct joint investigations with the relevant bodies from the international community, including the African Union.

Blinken has urged Abiy, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his efforts to make peace with neighboring Eritrea, to end hostilities in Tigray. Eritrean troops as well as fighters from Amhara, an Ethiopian region bordering Tigray, need to come out, Blinken said in his testimony Wednesday, adding that the region needs a force that will not abuse the human rights of the people of Tigray or commit acts of ethnic cleansing, which weve seen in western Tigray. That has to stop.

Accounts of atrocities by Ethiopian and allied forces against residents of Tigray have been detailed in reports by The Associated Press and by Amnesty International. Ethiopias federal government and regional officials in Tigray both maintain that each others governments are illegitimate after the pandemic disrupted elections.

Humanitarian officials have warned that a growing number of people might be starving to death in Tigray. The fighting 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.

The humanitarian situation in Tigray remains extremely concerning, with conflict continuing to drive population displacement and reports of some villages being completely emptied, the U.N. humanitarian office said in its latest assessment. Disruptions in basic services, such as communications, banking services and electricity, continue to pose serious challenges to humanitarian efforts, while putting people further at risk.
While money may not be the fuel forever, however, it certainly is the currency for meeting your needs for new experiences. Hence, Imagine how life would be if you could make money while travelling the world? Can one really make travelling, a career option?

Most people secretly dream of travelling the world and living a nomadic life and exploring the beautiful places that are often seen in pictures and videos. But there are two main problems in following this dream, money and time.

Most of the people relate travel blogging with keeping an online travel blog updated or publishing your crazy adventures on your personal website, rather than an actual career option from which you can earn good money and make a good living.

Building a career in travel blogging is not an easy task and takes a lot of time and patience. But still, it can be a good career option if you are passionate to thrive in this role.

However, when you say you are a travel blogger, the majority of the people don't take you seriously, but the truth is that a travel blog can be an actual profitable business. Here are some ways you can earn money while travelling:

Freelance Writing Work

The biggest source of income during the initial period of writing blogs is freelance writing work. At first, you won't get paid well but you could establish yourself and later can charge more with the experience. The right target audience is, perhaps, the most important thing to promote your blog and get people to read your blog.

Sell Your Travel Pictures And Videos

Try to click good pictures or make videos while you are travelling as you can sell these to sponsors as a package and earn more money. Try to learn the required skills to create good quality picture and video content.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing is a process of recommending or promoting other people's or company's products and services and earning a commission if readers buy them. Having affiliates and recommending products builds trust and paying opportunities, even if you are just starting out.

Social Media

At the moment, there are a lot of travel bloggers in competition to be listed on 1st page of Google search. Though there are innumerable blogs available on the internet, very few of them contain good quality content. Promoting your blogs on social media platforms not only helps in managing a decent fan following but also in increasing earnings dramatically.

Placing Ads

Ads do make your site annoying but they are necessary. Ad revenue is generally based on traffic and the biggest networks require at least 50k page visits per month. It can be a good source of income too.

Also Read: Attention Job Seekers: The Most In-Demand Jobs To Watch Out For In 2021
Watching Biden's first official address to the nation on Thursday night, I was reminded of nothing so much as the lifelike carved wooden Indians that, beginning in the 19th century, used to grace the sidewalk in front of the tobacconist's store. While they advertised a product, as actual Native Americans, they were nothing but blank fakes. They certainly weren't the real thing  and in 2021, there's nothing real about Biden.

You can still find lots of these "cigar store Indians" for sale online, many of them new, so I guess they haven't yet been canceled. They operated as a reminder to customers, many of whom used to be illiterate, that tobacco originated with the Native Americans. The product was so alien to Europeans that, when Native Americans first gave it to them as a gift, they threw it away, as they didn't know what to do with it.

We've taken quite the journey when it comes to tobacco over the last couple of centuries, but we're just starting the journey with our newest cigar store Indian. Why do I say that? Because that's what our President reminded me of on Thursday. Animated? Not really! Expressive? Hardly! Wooden would be the better descriptor.

We Americans haven't yet figured out what to do with Biden. Do we treat him as we would a cherished but mentally dimming granddad? Do we empathetically excuse his lack of grasp of the basics of his job? Do we ignore his lack of engagement? Do we start making noise about trotting out the doctors and getting him examined?

It was strange watching our wooden Indian speak, totally without facial expression, totally unaware that he was glibly lying, totally without guile, and seemingly sincere in his effort to do his job persuading us about the great things he was doing for us. He ignored all other issues than the one, COVID, that he was single-mindedly addressing. He lied again and again but did so with a sincerity indicating that he didn't grasp the meaning of his own speech.

I couldn't help comparing Biden's usefulness to those figures back in the old days. They attracted people into the store. They were a successful gimmick. Biden has a similar purpose. He's an empty vessel, out front, where everyone can see him. He doesn't engage with his audience, any more than those wooden figures could.

The real powers in the White House can dress him up and then do whatever they do to make sure he's awake. They can train him to read the Jumbotron teleprompter he apparently needs as the words slowly scroll by.

He does his part, for sure. He reads a script, slowly, precisely, as he's been trained. It's a script clearly written by someone else. But you can see it's all hollow. You know he's not fully grasping what he's saying. You know because he can lie without even blinking.

His statements indicated that when he took office, there was basically no vaccine. That the dissemination of all those millions of doses was because of him. He didn't even acknowledge Operation Warp Speed, or the 100,000,000 doses Trump bought from the various companies. The distribution platform was not what he set up; it was Trump's. Joe took all the credit.

Biden also went to great lengths to be gracious about us maybe getting to have the 4th of July with our family. He seemed unaware that the family has been in close contact for a while now, in most of the country.

Finally, Biden pushed the narrative of white supremacists beating on Chinese-Americans, because, I guess, they're all Trump-followers who blame the Chinese (or other Asians) in this country for the virus. Too bad that every single video I've seen of Asians being beaten up features a person with distinctive non-white skin color, closer to mahogany, in fact, as the aggressor.

Being able to lie without blinking, without a tell, can indicate several things. In Biden's case, the most obvious choices are that he's a psychopath who has no conscience at all or he is a person who doesn't know what is real anymore because of dementia.

It's no wonder the powers in the White House haven't trotted Joe out for even a pre-scripted news conference. They can't trust him to stick to the script. They want their cigar store Indian, and he works so well in that role that it's hard to remember that he isn't actually made of wood. If he were, he'd probably be Pinocchio, with his nose grown ten feet out in front of him.

Image: Cigar Store Indian by Glen Edelson. CC BY 2.0.
Breonna Taylor's mother has filed complaints against six Louisville Metro Police officers for their role in the fatal shooting of the black emergency medical technician in March of last year.

Taylor, a 26, was shot eight times by police as they served a no-knock warrant at her Louisville, Kentucky apartment on March 13, in the middle of the night.

Taylor's mom, Tamika Palmer, submitted the complaints on Monday, asking the police department's Professional Standards Unit to 'investigate misinformation provided by officers before and after the raid', according to WDRB.

The officers named are Sgt. Kyle Meany, Det. Anthony James, Det. Mike Nobles, Sgt. Amanda Seelye, Det. Mike Campbell and Lt. Shawn Hoover.

Breonna Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, has filed complaints against six Louisville Metro Police officers for their role in the the fatal shooting of the black EMT in March of last year

Taylor, a 26, was shot eight times by police as they served a no-knock warrant at her Louisville, Kentucky apartment on March 13, in the middle of the night

Det. Mike Campbell and Det. Mike Nobles are two of the officers named in the complaints

WDRB reports that the Professional Standards Unit have already conducted investigations into most of those officers and the roles they played in the raid that left Taylor dead.

Three of them were reportedly disciplined.

But, in the complaints, Palmer alleges that 'key witnesses were not interviewed, illegal activity was covered up and that investigators tried to deceive the public'.

Palmer's lawyer, Sam Aguiar, told WDRB: 'When you compare what was done with versus what was supposed to be done [during the investigation], it's absolutely egregious.

'This [the complaints] hopefully forces Louisville Metro Police Department to look into the allegations, to force these officers to come in and give a statement regarding the allegations and to hear specifically why they deviated from all of these policies.'

In September of last year, the city of Louisville, agreed to pay Palmer and other members of Taylor's family $12 million in a wrongful death settlement.

The Louise Metro Police Department also vowed to reform police practices.

Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was shot eight times by police as they served a no-knock warrant at her Louisville apartment on March 13, 2020, in the middle of the night. Her boyfriend Kenneth Walker (seen left) shot an officer in the leg believing they were being robbed

Earlier this week, Palmer celebrated the fact that prosecutors dropped a criminal case against her daughter's boyfriend.

At the time of the botched raid, Taylor was sleeping inside her apartment with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, 28.

Walker said the officers didn't announce themselves and he believed someone was attempting to break into their apartment.

He grabbed his gun and fired one shot, striking Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly in the leg. Mattingly and two other officers then returned fire and Taylor was killed as she lay in bed.

Walker was subsequently charged with assault and attempted murder. Those charges were dropped in May last year, but prosecutors left open the opportunity to revisit the charges against Walker if new evidence surfaced.

However, this week, the criminal case was officially closed and Walker was cleared.

Almost a year on from the deadly shooting, Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, told NBC of the painful anniversary, 'I don't even know the difference between the days anymore.'

Speaking to NBC, Palmer said she was 'eternally grateful' for the Black Lives Matter protesters who kept Taylor's memory alive and demanded justice in her name

However, she said she was relieved to hear that prosecutors had permanently closed a criminal case against Walker on Monday, calling the motion 'long overdue' and insisted he never should've been charged in the first place.

Speaking to NBC, Palmer said she was 'eternally grateful' for the Black Lives Matter protesters who have kept Taylor's memory alive and demanded justice in her name.

'There's so many people who never even met her,' Palmer tearfully began, 'but they learned of her and they came to stand for her because what happened to her wasn't right  I can never say thank you enough.'

None of the officers involved in Taylor's death have been criminally charged after a grand jury failed to lay murder charges in September.

Palmer told NBC she lamented the fact that 'nobody has been held accountable' for her daughter's death and she vowed to continue fighting until somebody is.

Last summer, amid national racial injustice protests triggered by the police killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day, Taylor's name also became a rallying cry for those marching, demanding 'Justice for Breonna'

Walker shot Lt. Jonathan Mattingly, who remains on the force

'Just knowing who Breonna was - she didn't deserve that,' she said of the EMT's death. 'I've had one job and that's to protect my kids. So how do you not continue to fight.'

The decision to drop criminal proceedings against Walker came on Monday.

A motion from Walker's attorney asking for the permanent dismissal said Walker 'acted in self-defense and that he did not know that police were on the other side of the door.'

Jefferson Circuit Judge Olu Stevens' order on Monday dismissed the 2020 indictment against Walker with prejudice, meaning it can't be reconsidered.

Mattingly recovered from the leg wound and remains on the Louisville police department.
Sonipat: The Haryana police in Sonipat district halted construction work of 'pucca' houses being built by farmers on Singhu border, two FIRs have been filed against the farmers at the Kundli police station on Friday (March 12, 2021).

The construction work was halted after complaint filed by NHAI and Kundli municipality officials. As per police, two different complaints were filed from different departments.

Construction of the houses has been stopped for the time being.

Meanwhile, the farmers protest at the borders of the national capital has entered 106th day, they have started building 'pucca' houses (permanent structures made of bricks) at the Singhu border as the summer season approaches.

Karamjit Singh, who looks after the media cell of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), told IANS that farmer leaders from Punjab held a meeting on Friday and discussed constructing 'pucca' houses at Singhu border.

"On Friday, farmer leaders from Punjab discussed constructing 'pucca' houses at Singhu border. The meeting revolved around ways to protect farmers at the border from the scorching summer. There are four houses in all being built at the border, but their number is likely to increase. All these houses will be two-storeyed," he was quoted as saying.

For building these brick houses masons have been called all the way from Punjab.
For Subscribers Gov. Noem hires jet consultant to help South Dakota buy new aircraft

An out-of-state consultant has been hired for $195,000 by Gov. Kristi Noem's administration to help the state of South Dakota buy a new aircraft.
Well it's not often you hear about these occurrences, but for the first time in the history of the CAPE Exam.. one teacher's class was able to secure the top 10 spots in one particular subject.
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 79F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Britons have today been warned that the prospect of taking foreign holidays this summer is looking increasingly 'remote'  despite the UK's vaccination drive.

Families have been told to prepare for a 'summer of fun' in Britain, with plans announced for 20,000 fans to watch the FA Cup final on May 15 without social distancing.

But despite this significant step towards normal life, officials are concerned that the slow rollout of vaccinations in Europe could 'hit summer holidays' for Britons.

Ministers are worried about an acceleration in Covid-19 cases across Europe, with infection rates rising in France and Germany and Italy entering a new lockdown.

Brits are expected to be allowed to travel again from May 17, when Boris Johnson's third stage of his lockdown exit plan is set to come into force.

But one official told the Sunday Times: 'The EU vaccine chaos could hit summer holidays. If Italy is in lockdown and barely anybody has been vaccinated and coronavirus is rife, then the prospect of popping over for two weeks on the Costa del Sol or camping in the Dordogne seems remote.'

Britons are set to be the most popular holidaymakers in Europe this summer thanks to the UK's vaccination drive. Pictured: Holidaymakers sunbathing on Praia da Dona Ana in Portugal

A cabinet minister added he 'wouldn't guarantee' that foreign holidays would go ahead this year.

Those who remain in Britain may experience a significant step towards normal life, however, with ministers set to hold 'pilot' events for the reopening of football stadiums, nightclubs and theatres next month.

The events, starting with the FA Cup semi-finals and the world snooker championships on April 17, are expected to use a combination of pre-admission Covid testing and social distancing to allow the return of crowds  and give the battered economy a much-needed boost.

The Prime Minister will then receive a report on the results of the pilots, before giving the green light to the end of all restrictions on June 21.

Last night, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said Ministers were working 'flat out' to get people 'back to enjoying what they love'.

Whitehall sources said between 10,000 and 20,000 people could be admitted to football stadiums if they can demonstrate a negative Covid test, with fans being allowed to travel together to the matches.

The Premier League is planning to allow fans to attend games during the final two rounds of matches this season, with supporters allowed into stadiums from May 17.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said that to ensure all 20 clubs were able to play a home game with fans present, a round of fixtures would be shifted to May 18-20, with the final round of games now on May 23.

A comedy club and nightclub in Liverpool will also be used in the pilot, with revellers allowed to dance in a non-socially distanced way if they can provide evidence of a negative test result.

Brits are expected to be allowed to travel again from May 17, when Boris Johnson's (pictured in Belfast on Friday during a visit to the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute For Experimental Medicine at Queen's University) third stage of his lockdown exit plan is set to come into force

It has not been decided whether masks will also be required.

The Government will work with event organisers and local authorities to monitor the effects of holding more than a dozen events this spring as part of the Events Research Programme, which will also include theatre productions, live music, weddings and conferences. The settings will range from small indoor venues with a capacity of 200 people to large outdoor venues such as Wembley Stadium.

A source said Mr Dowden was working closely with the Covid Certification Review, a cross-Government assessment of the practicality of issuing certificates confirming an individual's Covid test and vaccine status.

The source said: 'The testing plans are still being examined, but the likelihood is that we will use lateral flow tests which take just half an hour to give a result.

Holidays back on: Spain set to launch vaccine passports Sunny Spanish holidays could be back on for Britons within weeks as the tourism minister revealed a vaccine passport system was planned for the middle of May. It comes after Greece announced plans to reopen to holidaymakers from mid-May and Cyprus said it would welcome fully-vaccinated Britons from May 1. But those hoping to jet off for the Early May bank holiday are set to be barred by UK authorities because Boris Johnson has said he won't allow overseas leisure travel until at least May 17. Spain's tourism minister Reyes Maroto told a radio station on Wednesday: 'We could be in a position to start implementing the digital passport (when the tourism fair FITUR starts on May 19).' Under the Government's roadmap for England, this would mean that holidaymakers could fly freely to Spain - providing they had their jabs and the country hadn't be added to the dreaded 'red list' from which entry to the UK is banned over Covid variant fears. However, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps did sound a note of caution on Wednesday, saying there was no cast iron guarantee that holidays abroad may be allowed from May 17. Advertisement

'Testing will largely be delivered through the community testing network, with results validated by the event organisers before ticket-holders are let in to the venue.

'Entry will be subject to a negative test result.

'They will also be tested afterwards to ensure any transmission of the virus is properly monitored.

'To build up the evidence base, a number of pilots will include spectators and fans not socially distanced under carefully controlled medical supervision.'

Decisions on the number of spectators allowed into the pilot events will be subject to discussions with event organisers and local authorities. Theatre director Sir Nicholas Hytner and businessman David Ross, the co-founder of Carphone Warehouse, will act as advisers to the ERP.

Mr Dowden said last night: 'These test events will be crucial in finding ways to get fans and audiences back in safely without social distancing.

'We will be guided by the science and medical experts, but will work flat out to make that happen. We want to get the people back to enjoying what they love and ensure some of our most important growth industries get back on their feet.

'These are important steps towards the safe and special summer we all crave and that I'm fully focused on delivering.'

It comes as Britons are set to be the most popular holidaymakers in Europe this summer thanks to the UK's vaccination drive  but only if they are allowed to travel.

The UK started 2021 as the continent's Covid pariah, with coronavirus infections and death levels soaring above its European neighbours.

But now as the country storms ahead of rivals with the vaccine rollout  with all adults now expected to have received their first jab by early June  Brits could be courted by struggling tourism agencies and boards across Europe.

A boost in supply of the vaccine means all adults could be vaccinated a month before the Government's original July goal and two months ahead of the EU.

Turkish tourism bosses this morning announced they would welcome in Brits this summer if they have been given a vaccination.

It came as it emerged that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is set to take Portugal off of the travel ban 'red list', paving the way for summer holidays there.

Sunny Spanish holidays could also soon be allowed as the country's tourism minister revealed this week that a vaccine passport system was set to come into force.

And Greece also announced plans to reopen to holidaymakers from mid-May and Cyprus said it would welcome fully-vaccinated Britons from May 1.

The UK's largest tourism firm TUI announced a 500 per cent rise in bookings the day the Prime Minister announced May 17 as the date for which Brits would be allowed to travel abroad without isolating on their return.

And Thomas Cook saw a rise of 25 per cent in enquiries about Cyprus after the country said it would welcome vaccinated Brits even earlier.

Travel firms are courting British tourists by offering flexible booking and touting falling Covid rates across the continent.

President of tourism body VisitPortugal Luis Araujo told CNN it was not too early for Brits to start booking their holidays.

He said: 'They should book immediately. We need to build trust with tour operators and travel agents.

Last night, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said Ministers were working 'flat out' to get people 'back to enjoying what they love'

'If we don't have this proactive reaction in terms of booking or asking for travel, then everything will take longer to recover. What we need now is mobility.

'And we need it now because each day that passes is a day we lose.'

Mr Araujo was keen to point out that Portugal's rapidly falling infection rate and 'clean and safe' stamp system of hotels, bars, restaurants and museums comply with health regulations mean the country will be able to welcome tourists back imminently.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will take Portugal off the list of 33 Covid-hotspot countries on Monday, it is understood.

It means the ban on direct flights into the UK will be lifted and arrivals from Portugal will not have to go into quarantine at hotels for 11 days upon landing.

The country has already said it aims to reopen to Britons who can show proof of vaccination or a negative test from mid-May.

Portugal was placed on Britain's red list due to its historic links with Brazil, where a feared new strain of Covid was discovered.

However, Britons will be unable to go there for holidays until at least May 17  the earliest international travel can get underway under the Government's official roadmap for lifting lockdown.

On Tuesday, Greek tourism minister Harry Theocharis said the country would be open on May 14 to international tourists who are vaccinated, have antibodies or can show proof of a negative Covid test.

Addressing the ITB Berlin trade show, Mr Theocharis said: 'Our only ambition is to ensure Greece is open to allow anybody who wishes to visit to be able to do so.'

He added that all holidaymakers will be subject to random testing.

It is thought tourists will be able to enter restriction-free after their first jab and children will need to arrive with a negative test. But the final details are still being sorted.

Greece joined Cyprus which announced a similar proposal for British tourists last week.

The Cypriot deputy tourism minister Savvas Perdios said on Thursday: 'We have informed the British government that from May 1 we will facilitate the arrival of British nationals who have been vaccinated ... so they can visit Cyprus without a negative test or needing to quarantine.'

Revealing Turkey's relaxation measures, a source told The Sun: 'Turkey is ready and willing to let the British come in as soon as possible, and as safe as possible'

Greek tourism minister Harry Theocharis said the country would be open on May 14 to international tourists who are vaccinated, have antibodies or can show proof of a negative Covid test

Millions of Britons visit Spain, Greece and Cyprus each year to escape to sunny beaches and their tourism industries, ravaged by Covid, rely heavily on British support.

In a single summer month, nearly 10 million Britons can land in Spain, and Brits provide more tourists than any other country.

Nearly four million British tourists normally visit Greece each year, contributing more than 2 billion to the economy.

And in Cyprus, more than a million Britons visit each year - more than from any other country - and the tourism industry accounts for 13 per cent of the Cypriot economy.

Arrivals and earnings from the sector plunged on average 85 per cent last year.

It comes amid discussions around EU Covid certificates intended to free up travel in the continent.

Draft documents indicated that any certificate must prevent discrimination against those not vaccinated by including information on whether people have been tested or have recovered.

The European Commission is expected to release its final proposal for Covid 'green digital certificates' next week, with southern countries reliant on tourism hoping they will open up this year's summer season.

But they ran into opposition from countries including Germany and Belgium, which said vaccination is neither obligatory nor currently available to all those willing to accept it.

While the proposal aims to 'facilitate free movement' during the pandemic, it says any proof of vaccination must not discriminate against those who refuse the shot or cannot get inoculated.

It remained unclear how this would work in practice, as member states would still need to decide how people who did not have evidence of vaccination would be treated if they wished to cross frontiers.

The draft also leaves it up to the 27 member states to make a call on waiving travel restrictions only for those vaccinated with shots authorized for the whole bloc by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), or also for people who received jabs allowed unilaterally by specific countries.

Hungary and Slovakia have already bought the Russian Sputnik vaccine despite it not being authorised by the EMA.

The agency has recommended four Western vaccines for use so far.

With competing goals for the proposed Covid certificates, EU leaders - much criticised for a slow vaccination roll-out - are expected to have a heated discussion on the proposal later this month.
Last-minute dash to hairdressers as people fill restaurants for last hurrah before lockdown.

Rome's restaurants and bars are full today as friends and families gather to meet up for a last meal or aperitivo before the Lazio region goes into lockdown on Monday 15 March.

Hairdressers and barbers are also doing a roaring trade, with some of them deciding to open on Sunday, before they are forced to close their doors next week due to the latest covid-19 measures.

There is heavy traffic towards the coast near Rome where restaurants are fully booked as people enjoy the warm sunshine, and the capital has postponed this weekend's traffic-free Sunday.

Police are monitoring the situation in coastal areas and parks as well as in Rome's main shopping streets, with the city recently banning mini-markets from selling alcohol after 18.00.

The area around the Trevi Fountain and a section of the central Via del Corso were closed to pedestrians late on Saturday afternoon, reports Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Since last night there have even been reports of queues and people emptying supermarket shelves - with yeast suddenly back in demand - despite the fact that food shops will remain open as normal when Rome becomes a zona rossa on Monday.

Photo La Repubblica
The World Health Organisation squarely endorsed AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine on Friday, as Thailand joined a number of smaller European countries in suspending use of the shot because of sporadic reports of blood clots among recipients.

Bulgaria also joined Denmark, Norway and Iceland, which all stopped using the vaccine on Thursday. Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia stopped using certain batches.

"Until all doubts are dispelled..., we are halting inoculations with this vaccine," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said.

His health minister, Kostadin Angelov, said a 57-year-old woman had died of heart failure 15 hours after receiving an AstraZeneca shot, but urged those already inoculated to stay calm.

"We do not have any official data that proves a causal connection," he said.

That line was reinforced by the WHO, which is keenly aware that AstraZeneca's shot is by far the cheapest and most high-volume launched so far, and set to be the mainstay of vaccination programmes in much of the developing world.

Spokeswoman Margaret Harris said the vaccine was "excellent".

"It's very important to understand that, yes, we should continue to be using the AstraZeneca vaccine," she told a briefing. "All that we look at is what we always look at: Any safety signal must be investigated."

The EU regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said on Wednesday that there had been 22 reports of embolisms from blood clots among 3 million people who had received the vaccine - no more than in the general population - but Bulgaria said it wanted to see that guidance in written form.

'THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED'

Experts point to the difficulty of putting risks in perspective for a wider public that may be spooked by negative headlines.

In Sicily, where two people died shortly after being vaccinated, the regional health administrator said 7,000 inoculation appointments had been cancelled as a result.

Silvestro Scotti, a family doctor in Naples and head of the Italian Federation of General Practitioners, said he had been bombarded all day with inquiries from people nervous about getting the AstraZeneca shot.

"The crazy thing is that, even if the correlation between the vaccine and blood clots were proved, it would be a rate of 0.007 out of a thousand," he said.

"To give an example: the birth control pill, which is used widely and doesn't worry anyone, has a proven risk rate of 0.6 in a thousand. Even in the worst-case scenario, the risk/benefit ratio for this vaccine is extraordinarily favourable. That needs to be explained to people."

The WHO's Harris said 268 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from various developers had been administered worldwide without being shown to have caused a single death.

In France, where distrust of vaccination is long-established, only 43% said they trusted the AstraZeneca shot in a Harris Interactive poll conducted on March 11-12, while 55% said they trusted Covid-19 vaccines in general.

Germany has also had to contend with substantial scepticism, to the extent that Health Minister Jens Spahn suggested that the AstraZeneca shot be given to the police force and army, after some health and other frontline workers baulked at receiving it.

However, German authorities' main concern has been lack of supply, rather than lack of acceptance, as social and economic restrictions to limit transmission take their toll.

One doctor administering vaccinations in Berlin said recipients were now asking far fewer questions about the vaccine than two weeks ago.


Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  Days after former state Rep. Patricia Billie Miller was sworn in as a state senator, the governor on Friday set April 27 as the date for a special election to determine her replacement in the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Miller was sworn in Monday as the state senator for the 27th District, taking the place of Carlo Leone, who became an adviser to the head of the state Department of Transportation earlier this year. Before winning a special election this month, Miller represented the state Houses 145th District for 12 years.
With more than 50 online learning modules, the Visa Practical Business Skills platform addresses the needs at various stages of the business lifecycles

The resources are available in English for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Vietnam to increase global accessibility.

SMBs are the backbone of our economy. It is crucial to empower SMB-owners with knowledge, skills, and access to services that support them in rebuilding  or starting  stronger, digitally-enabled businesses, said Dang Tuyet Dung, Visa country manager for Vietnam and Laos. Practical Business Skills is part of Visas commitment to provide resources and knowledge to help drive inclusive, sustainable, and equitable economic growth for entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities here in Vietnam and around the world.

SMBs account for more than 90 per cent of global businesses and are the source of 50- 60 per cent of global employment. With the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic approaching, the SMB community needs support to continue adapting, as their contribution to their communities and the global economy cannot be overstated.

Businesses that can adapt to changes and seize the opportunity are the ones that will thrive in this new environment.

A recent survey showed some interesting trends in Vietnamese consumers online behaviour following COVID-19. 63 per cent of consumers continue to order food online, 67 per cent continue online shopping, while 44 per cent said they will not revert to shopping in physical stores once they buy products online.

Businesses that can adapt to changes and seize the opportunity are the ones that will thrive in this new environment.

Practical Business Skills is built on Visas global expertise in financial education and offers growth-minded entrepreneur tools to help start, manage, and expand a business. With more than 50 online learning modules, the platform addresses the needs at various stages of the business lifecycles.

Visa is committed to providing resources that enable SMBs to grow and bounce back from COVID-19. As a company that enables digital payments at nearly 70 million merchant locations around the world, the companys priority is to help SMBs thrive at every step.
Vietnamese YouTube content creators are unhappy about an announcement from Google about a deduction of up to 30 percent from their earnings from the platform.

On March 11, the Vietnamese YouTuber community shared the email from Google. Content producers on YouTube who are not based in the US will be subject to a withholding tax from their monthly earnings of up to 30 percent. This will be implemented from early June 2021.

All YouTube content creators using monetization will have to declare tax to Google prior to May 31, or they will see their earnings deducted by 24 percent.

Google cited Chapter 3 of the United States Internal Revenue Code as saying that Google has the responsibility of collecting tax information, withholding tax, and reporting to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when creators join the YPP (YouTube Partner Program) and earn revenue in the form of royalty fees from viewers in the US.

The announcement from Google has caused a tumult among the Vietnamese YouTuber community, except the large channels joining the Multi-Channel Network. Many YouTubers have complained on forums that they dont know how to declare tax. Others have shared tricks for tax declaration which could help them avoid tax.

Meanwhile, Doan Nam, the administrator of a group on sharing experiences in creating YouTube content with more than 50,000 members, said the new policy wont affect Vietnamese people living in Vietnam and those having YouTube channels with ad income from views in Vietnam and non-US countries.

The YouTubers affected by the new policy will be Vietnamese living in Vietnam that have YouTube channels with views in the US; Vietnamese YouTubers living and working in other countries which have taxation agreements with the US (India, for example) with YouTube channels that get ad revenue from US views; and Vietnamese people living in the US.

If YouTubers dont declare information, Google will automatically deduct 24 percent of total revenue worldwide.

"All monetizing creators on YouTube, regardless of their location in the world, are required to provide tax info. Please submit your tax info as soon as possible. If your tax info isnt provided by May 31, 2021, Google may be required to deduct up to 24 percent of your total earnings worldwide, the notice from Google reads.

Vietnams MCNs such as Metub, POPS, Yeah1 and Dien Quan all have given detailed instructions to all YouTubers.

YouTube content production has become a hot job in Vietnam, as it can bring a very high income.

Phuong Nguyen
Chandigarh:

A special courtroom has been set up in the Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, where Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been lodged since his rape-conviction, for the pronouncement of the quantum of punishment on Monday.

Special CBI court judge Jagdeep Singh, who delivered the guilty verdict in the 2002 rape case against the Dera chief on Friday, will be flown in by a special helicopter for the sentencing.

The helicopter will land on the helipad near the jail on the outskirts of the Rohtak city, IG (Rohtak Range), Navdeep Singh Virk said on Sunday.

A special courtroom has been set up on the instructions of the high court within the jail and proceedings will be carried out there, which are expected to be conducted at around 2:30 in the afternoon tomorrow, he said.

ALSO READ | Ram Rahim sentencing today: Delhi Police debunks rumours of schools being closed

Once beaten, twice shy Haryana Police is ready to take every possible action to avoid repetition of Panchkula violence and a shoot at sight order could also be implemented if Dera followers resort to lawlessness.

Will implement shoot-at-sight orders if anti-social elements try to harm self or others, will take strong action according to the situation, news agency ANI reported Rohtak DC as saying.

ALSO READ | Ram Rahim case: SIT to examine substance found in Dera cavalcade

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Dozens of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) students on Saturday blocked the institutions gate to protest fuel price increment at most filling stations in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The protest was to express their dissatisfaction over the transportation hike in the university community. The transportation hike arose as a result of fuel price increment in the country.

Earlier on Friday, some students challenged transporters who were forcing them to pay N70 as transportation fee for places that used to be N50.

As a result of the confrontation, some students were harassed and briefly detained by security officials of the institution.

Undeterred by this move, the students returned to the campus gate on Saturday morning with placards.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards include: N212 per litre is insane. #BuhariMustGo, and No to fuel hike. #BuhariMustGo among others.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Kazeem Israel said the protest was to condemn any attempt to increase PMS pump price.

It is public knowledge that PPPRA released a document yesterday stipulating the price of PMS at #212, and, oil marketers all over adjusted the price to same almost immediately. Fortunately, after criticism from different angles and as a result of the balance of force, PPPRA pulled down the document announcing new fuel price just to make it appear as if it never happened in the first instance.

As we are gathered here today, the message we are passing to the Federal Government is for them to know how resolute and determined we are as students to resist any form of increment, Mr Israel, the Zone D spokesperson of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said.

We know that there is definitely a plan by the Federal Government to increase PMS pump price as contained in the signal which was sent to Nigerians yesterday. As students, we condemn any attempt to increase PMS pump price as that will be the most senseless, inhumane and retrogressive policy to be thought of at this crunching economic period, he said.

Another protester, who simply identified herself as Salvation, said she joined her colleagues because directly or indirectly, the increase in fuel pump is going to affect me as a student, I must, however, together with others concerned citizens, resist the hike. Imagine me spending over #200 on transportation when fuel price was #165 per litre. How much will I spend now?

A final student of computer science and activist, Olowolafe Dunsi, said the governments attempt to increase fuel price is unreasonable

The increment or attempted increment can never be justified. It is rather saddening that at a period when governments of the world are planning to alleviate the suffering condition of their people owing to the harrowing effects of the pandemic. (The) Nigerian government has increased pump price more than thrice and is still attempting to do more.

At this point, we must ask ourselves what exactly do we have a government for? This is exactly why we are here today.

PREMIUM TIMES on Friday reported that the PPPRA on Thursday evening announced an increment of petrol to N212 per litre. Following public outrage, the statement announcing the hike was pulled down on its website.
 Flash

The second batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine purchased by Hungary arrived in Budapest on Thursday.

The shipment was welcomed at the Liszt Ferenc International Airport by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, and Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Qi Dayu.

"This (the Chinese vaccine) is a good vaccine. I was inoculated with it." Orban said at the welcoming ceremony, appealing to Hungarians to register for the vaccine against COVID-19.

Orban added that if the delivered vaccines were to be administered in the days to come, Hungary would remain in the European vanguard in terms of the inoculation rate.

For his part, Qi said that solidarity is the best weapon to overcome this global challenge and that the vaccine cooperation between China and Hungary is a vivid embodiment of the solid friendship between the two countries and peoples.

The Hungarian government has been enriching its vaccination program with Russian and Chinese vaccines to fight the third wave of the pandemic in the country. So far, it has gained access to vaccines from five producers, namely Sinopharm, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V.

Hungary, the first European Union member state to buy and authorize the use of Chinese vaccines, started to administer the Sinopharm vaccine on Feb. 24.

Orban received an injection of the Sinopharm vaccine on Feb. 28, two days after Hungarian President Janos Ader opted for the Chinese vaccine.

The first batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine purchased by Hungary arrived in Budapest on Feb. 16.
Dozens of protesters kicked and threw rocks at a minibus carrying Argentine President Alberto Fernandez on Saturday as he visited an area devastated by forest fires, TV footage showed.

As he left a community center in the town of Lago Puelo in the southern Patagonia region, Fernandez had to take refuge behind a wall of people as a crowd of demonstrators pushed toward him and his delegation.

The protesters later stopped the bus carrying the president, punching and kicking it and throwing stones that broke windows in the vehicle, according to footage broadcast by the TN network and the newspaper Clarin.

Fernandez sought to downplay the violence, saying it was the work of a small number of people.

"I am sure that this violence was not taken part in by the people of Chubut nor by those who inhabit our beloved Argentina," he wrote, referring to the province the surrounds the town.

With few police on hand, the crowd managed to halt the president's bus and other vehicles in his entourage for several minutes, with some protesters throwing themselves against the hood of Fernandez's vehicle.

Once it was freed, several other vehicles snaked their way through the crowd and sped away with the presidential bus.

Clarin reported that the demonstrators were angry over mining projects in Chubut province, which is part of Patagonia, and with the provincial governor.

The fires that have blazed through Patagonia for days have claimed one life, while 11 other people are reported missing, officials said Friday.

Dozens of people have been evacuated from the path of the advancing flames, and around 200 houses have been destroyed.

The government said some towns were left without water or power.

The fires, which authorities suspect were started deliberately early this week, have reached several towns near the foothills of the Andes mountains, and have consumed about 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of forest, media reported Saturday.

The charred body of a rural dweller, reported missing since Tuesday, was found near the town of El Maiten, they added.

mr/gm/dw/jm/mtp
Mamata Banerjee slams Centre, says vaccinating all citizens before December 2021 is just a hoax

Faulty ventilators will have to be replaced; won't allow experiments on patients: Bombay high court

Amid raise in COVID-19 cases, all anganwadi centres shut in Punjab

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Chandigarh, Mar 13: Punjab Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Saturday instructed to close all anganwadi centres till further orders in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases in the state.

The social security, women and child development minister said ration and other material will be distributed door to door through anganwadi workers and helpers, so that nutritional support to beneficiaries is not affected.

North-East got its respect only after advent of PM Modi's government in 2014: Smriti Irani

Thirty-four more fatalities due to COVID-19 were reported in Punjab on Friday, taking the death toll to 6,030, while the infection count climbed to 1,94,753 with 1,414 new coronavirus cases in the state.

In January, the Punjab government had announced that all anganwadi centres for children and other beneficiaries across the state would reopen from February 1. The centres were closed earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The leaders of the 'Quad' nations -- India, Australia, Japan and the United States will hold an in-person summit later this year said the United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Friday (local time).

Speaking at a White House Press briefing, Sullivan said that the leaders summit -- attended by US President Joe Biden, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga -- focussed on the challenges posed by China.

"The four leaders did discuss the challenge posed by China and they made clear that none of them had any allusions about China. Today was not fundamentally about China--much of the focus was on pressing global crises," Sullivan said.

He added, "The leaders also agreed that they would meet in person by the end of the year and they launched a set of working groups including a technology group that would help set standards in key technologies like 5G... The is a critical part of the architecture of the Indo-Pacific and today's summit also kicks of an intensive stretch of diplomacy in the region."

The alliance also discussed the navigation in the East and South China Seas, North Korea as well as the coup in Myanmar were among the numerous topics during the very first meeting at such a level, the adviser added.

"During the meeting, the leaders addressed key regional issues including freedom of navigation and freedom from coercion in the South and East China Seas, the DPRK nuclear issue and the coup and violent repression in Burma," Sullivan said.

"Today is a big day for American diplomacy -- this summit is a big deal for the president and the country. We are looking forward to the work ahead," he added.

During the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the four leaders - the US, Australia, India and Japan - stressed for a free, open and rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is "anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion".

In a joint statement, the leaders said: "We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific. We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion."

"Today, the global devastation caused by COVID-19, the threat of climate change, and security challenges facing the region summon us with renewed purpose," they said. The Quad is a strategic forum comprising India, Japan, Australia and the United States of America, held its first-ever head of states meet virtually on Friday.
The Duchess of Sussex kept quiet when her best friend became embroiled in a racism row  despite saying after the death of George Floyd in the US that the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing.

Meghan Markle remained silent when Canadian fashion stylist Jessica Mulroney was accused last year of racist bullying and abusing her white privilege to threaten the career of a black social media influencer.

Sasha Exeter alleged that Mrs Mulroney took personal offence when she asked bloggers to use their platform to advance the Black Lives Matter movement and that private messages between the pair had left her paralysed with fear.

Jessica Mulroney (left with Meghan Markle) was accused last year of racist bullying

Mrs Mulroney apologised but lost TV presenting roles in Canada and the US.

She was also dropped by sponsors for breaching diversity and equality standards.

Reports at the time claimed that Meghan was mortified but she and Mrs Mulroney appear to have remained close.

In September, Mrs Mulroney wrote on Instagram that Meghan had checked up on me every day, adding: Im going to tell this once and for all. Meghan is family.

The Duchess of Sussex kept quiet when her best friend became embroiled in a racism row  despite saying after the death of George Floyd the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing

In another posting ahead of Meghans interview with Oprah Winfrey last week, she praised the Duchess, who is godmother to her daughter.

I dont know that anyone has ever had to deal with the pressure, the politics and the press like this woman, she wrote.

In the face of it all, I have never seen her waver from kindness, empathy and love.
A meeting was held at the (BJP) chief JP Nadda's residence in New Delhi on Friday to discuss the strategy and finalise candidates for the upcoming assembly election for two states--Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and Union Territory Puducherry.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at the meeting which continued till late 1:00 am on Saturday.

BJP National General Secretary BL Santhosh was also present in the meeting which started at 7:30 pm and where the leaders discussed the party's strategy for the polls.

Kerala BJP Co-Incharge, CN Ashwath Narayan said it was a preliminary meeting to discuss the final candidates for Assembly polls

"The election committee will finalise the names tomorrow," he added.

Tamil Nadu BJP president L Murugan said "All names of the candidates will be announced tomorrow by the parliamentary committee after the meeting."

Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be held in a single phase on April 6. Counting of votes for all four states and one Union Territory will take place on May 2.

(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.)
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. Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen said on Friday that PM Narendra Modi will visit Dhaka to attend golden jubilee celebrations marking Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Momen informed that "during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka, no pending bilateral issues between Bangladesh and India will be addressed. " He asserted, "We're overjoyed that he'll be here. It exemplifies diplomatic sophistication and accomplishment at its pinnacle."

PM Modi to visit Bangladesh on March 26

Momen affirmed that it will be Prime Minister Modi's first trip outside of India during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from the heads of Dhaka, PM will also visit the remote areas of the country, he added. On March 26, Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive in Dhaka. He is scheduled to visit the Hindu temples in Satkhira and Gopalganj's Orakandi the next day. He will also visit Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's tomb in Tungiapara to offer prayers.

Representatives from other countries will also be present on the occasion

The Bangladesh government will hold a 10-day program from March 17 to March 26 to commemorate the country's golden jubilee of independence and the centenary of Bangabandhu's birth. The event will also be attended by the heads of state and government of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Last year, PM Modi was supposed to attend the centennial celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth anniversary. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, his visit was cancelled.

Last week, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met his Bangladeshi counterpart, AK Abdul Momen, along the sidelines of the 'Mujib Borsho' in Dhaka. During the meet, the two countries reviewed the progress of their bilateral ties and discussed the "360-degree partnership." The two countries also strengthened their resolve to work together more closely in sea-level connectivity in the region. EAMs visit to Bangladesh follows the Prime Minister-level virtual summit held between both nations on December 17, 2020.

(with inputs from ANI)
LONDON  Thousands of people gathered in south London on Saturday for a vigil in tribute to Sarah Everard, the 33-year-old marketing executive whose killing has touched off a national reckoning over violence against women, despite police warnings that the event would be unlawful.

As darkness fell, a growing crowd chanted Shame on you! and How many more! In what became a rally against gender violence, some clapped their hands and others held tea lights or signs that read End Violence Against Women and She Was Only Walking Home.

The event, in Clapham Common, near where Ms. Everard was last seen on March 3 on her way back from a friends house, had drawn small groups at first, with people gathering in silence around a memorial where flowers had been laid. Earlier, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, was among those who placed flowers at the memorial.

Several women were arrested at the event and handcuffed by the police, in scenes that drew outrage from a wide spectrum ranging from feminist organizations to conservative politicians.
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But, he said, all indications are that OLeary and her family were in bed when the fire broke out. Experts agree that the legend of a cow kicking over a lantern midmilking and setting an entire city ablaze is almost certainly fiction, though no one can say as much with any definitiveness because the official inquiry into the fire was never able to determine the cause.
One of two men who subjected four young people to, what a judge has described as a "terrifying assault" in a house has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison with the final two years suspended.

John McDonagh (25) of 24, Brookfield, Ballinode was sentenced on Monday for the aggravated burglary of 61 Glencarrig Estate, Ballinode, where he and co accused Kaelem Sweeney (18) of 63 Garavogue Villas were armed with blades and made threats to kill.

Sweeney, who was aged 17 at the time also pleaded guilty to the aggravated burglary in which the three young men and one young woman were told they would be killed if they reported the incident to gardai and had the knives brandished at them.

Judge Francis Comerford commended the victims for their 'fortitude' in making statements to gardai despite these threats and for later attending bail hearings in relation to McDonagh where they were required to give evidence.

Sweeney has been remanded on continuing bail to November 16th next at which point Judge Comerford indicated he may consider a fully suspended prison sentence, depending on Sweeney's engagement with the Probation Service and results from continuous urinalysis.

Before sentencing, Judge Comerford said aggravated burglary was a crime of "particular aggression" and said, "one would assume it would attract imprisonment."

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The court had heard earlier evidence in that Ms Ellie Hurd had been preparing to go to bed at 5am on the morning in question when the door was pushed open by the defendants. She was pushed to the ground and in the course of the burglary where cash and a bottle of whiskey was taken.

McDonagh used a kitchen knife and Sweeney a Stanley blade to cause damage to the property while also pointing them directly at the victims and making threats.

Judge Comerford noted that though the men were wearing latex gloves, indicating a degree of planning, the aggravated burglary was one which was done with an air of arrogance through alcohol and drugs.

It was noted that McDonagh lived nearby so was not as calculated as a crime which was committed by someone who travelled across the country to target a house.

Along with being sentenced for the aggravated burglary, McDonagh received a concurrent five and a half year prison sentence, again with the final two years suspended, for a second burglary offence later that day at 27, Brookfield, Ballinode.

McDonagh entered the home of Kalem Lenihan and took a 32 inch TV, a playstation and Nintendo Switch, and threatened to kill him if he contacted gardai.

Judge said he wasn't forgetting the five victims in sentencing

While affording Kalem Sweeney and John McDonagh some opportunity for rehabilitation in his sentencing, suspending part of McDonagh's sentence and, indicating a possible fully suspended sentence for his co accused, Judge Francis Comerford said he was not forgetting about the five victims.

"In affording some measure of opportunity in rehabilitation I'm not for a moment forgetting the five people here, who were put in real terror and are completely blamelessly, to live a couple of houses down from someone and ended up being terrorised in a most extreme way, I'm fully conscious that's the reality of theses offences."

After sentencing, Judge Comerford told the court he commended the young people for the way in which they dealt with the crimes, for reporting them to gardai, and for subsequently giving evidence at bail hearings.

In her Victim Impact Statement that was outlined at the sentencing hearing, Ms Hurd detailed that the crimes that were committed herself and her friends, Conor MacManus, Dillon Henry and Niall O'Dowd meant it was, "a day we will never forget".

"What these people did to us will always play a part in our lives. We will always live in fear that they will come again."

She said she believed her depression and anxiety increased because of what happened and said she is constantly looking behind her back.

"The fear I live each day is unexplainable. Nobody will realise what we went through. I have sleepless nights, missed work."

She added that her life was "crippled with fear" and the crime had harmed her whole outlook on life.

Mr Lenihan said to this day he was still in fear to leave his house and cannot get what happened out of his head and only sleeps for four hours per night. He said he was at a loss of approximately 1,500.

Taking Ms Hurd's statement into account, Judge Comerford described it as, "very reasonable" and said Ms Hurd attributes the impacts on her life to what happened and the judge accepted this was "absolutely the fault of Mr McDonagh and Mr Sweeney."

"It's a serious impact, as well, taking into account the impact on the other men, they were put in fear, Ms Hurd indicates the impact to them."

During the course of the aggravated burglary Ms Hurd was knocked to the ground twice, firstly when the men pushed the front door open and again outside the house.

McDonagh pushed her, she fell on to the ground and while there he came up to her face, pointed the knife at her and told her to "shut up".

He also issued a threat to all four young people not to call gardai or they would be dead, and waved the knife at them all. One of the young men had woken up during the burglary to a knife at his throat.

While sentenced for the two burglary offences [one aggravated], all other matters pertaining to McDonagh were taken into consideration, including, making a threat to kill, criminal damage to the house and criminal damage to a car, unauthorised taking of a car, and threatening to kill Kalem Lenihan.
Guns, drugs, knuckle dusters and cash have been seized from a western Sydney home, with four men charged as part of a sweeping police operation into the citys cocaine supply.

NSW Police found more than 86 grams of cocaine, 300 rounds of ammunition and several weapons at a Bankstown unit on Friday evening.

A sawn-off shotgun was seized by police from a western Sydney unit on Friday. Credit:NSW Police

The police raid came after officers searched a car on Cambridge Avenue in Bankstown about 6pm on Friday afternoon, where they found eight grams of cocaine and five grams of cannabis.

Two men, aged 19 and 22, were arrested and taken to the local police station before a home on Weigand Avenue in Bankstown was searched under warrant.
(Newser)  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called Friday on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign, the AP reports, adding the most powerful Democratic voices yet to the movement to replace the governor in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment and groping. "Confronting and overcoming the COVID crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct," New York's two US senators said in a joint statement. "Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign."

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Both senators had earlier said an independent investigation into the allegations against Cuomo was essential. A majority of state lawmakers had already called on Cuomo to resign, and more than half of New York's Democratic congressional members joined those calls Friday. The governor's growing list of detractors now covers virtually every region in the state and the political power centers of New York City and Washington. Despite his political isolation, Cuomo said Friday that he would not step down. Also Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki declined to say whether President Biden believes Cuomo should resign. She said every woman who has come forth about harassment by the governor "deserves to have her voice heard, should be treated with respect and should be able to tell her story."

(Read more Andrew Cuomo stories.)
People take part in a candlelight gathering in Yangon, Burma, March 12, 2021. (Still image taken from video obtained by Reuters via Reuters)

Six Killed in Protests in Burma as US, Allies Vow to Restore Democracy

At least six protesters were killed by security forces in Burma (also known as Myanmar), witnesses and media reported, as activists marked the anniversary on Saturday of a student whose killing in 1988 sparked an uprising against the military government.

Family members of Aung Than, 41, who was killed during a raid by security forces cry at their home in Thaketa, Yangon, Burma March 13, 2021. (Stringer/Reuters)

Three people were killed and several injured when police opened fire on a sit-in protest in Mandalay, Burmas second-biggest city, two witnesses told Reuters. Another person was killed in the central town of Pyay and two died in police firing in the commercial capital Yangon overnight, domestic media reported.

The security forces initially stopped the ambulance from reaching the injured people and only allowed it later, a 23-year-old protester in Pyay told Reuters, asking not to be named for fear of retribution.

By the time they allowed it, one of the injured became critical and he later died.

The deaths came as the leaders of the United States, India, Australia, and Japan vowed to work together to restore democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.

More than 70 people have been killed in Burma in widespread protests against a Feb. 1 coup by the military, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group has said.

Saturdays protests erupted after posters spread on social media urging people to mark the anniversary of the death of Phone Maw, who was shot and killed by security forces in 1988 inside what was then known as the Rangoon Institute of Technology campus.

His shooting and that of another student who died a few weeks later sparked widespread protests against the military government known as the 8-8-88 campaign, because they peaked in August that year. An estimated 3,000 people were killed when the army crushed the uprising, at the time the biggest challenge to military rule dating back to 1962.

Aung San Suu Kyi emerged as a democracy icon during the movement and was kept under house arrest for nearly two decades.

She was released in 2008 as the military began democratic reforms. Her National League for Democracy won elections in 2015 and again in November last year.

On Feb. 1 this year, the generals overthrew her government and detained Suu Kyi and many of her cabinet colleagues, claiming fraud in the November elections.

The coup in Burma, where the military has close ties to China, is a major early test for U.S. President Joe Biden.

His administration described a virtual meeting with the Indian, Japanese, and Australian leaders on Friday, the first official summit of the group known as the Quad, as part of a push to demonstrate a renewed U.S. commitment to regional security.

As longstanding supporters of [Burma] and its people, we emphasize the urgent need to restore democracy and the priority of strengthening democratic resilience, the four leaders said in a statement released by the White House.

A spokesman for the junta did not answer phone calls from Reuters seeking comment.

South Korea Snaps Defense Ties

United Nations human rights investigator Thomas Andrews on Friday dismissed as absurd comments by a senior Burma official that authorities were exercising utmost restraint.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he called for a united approach to strip away the juntas sense of impunity.

Former colonial power Britain on Friday warned its citizens in Burma to leave, saying political tension and unrest are widespread since the military takeover and levels of violence are rising.

South Korea said on Friday it would suspend defense exchanges and reconsider development aid to Burma because of the violence.

The Kremlin said Russia, which has close ties to Burmas military, was concerned over the mounting violence and was analyzing whether to suspend military-technical cooperation.

We evaluate the situation as alarming, and we are concerned about the information about the growing number of civilian casualties coming from there, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying.

The UN Security Council this week dropped language from a statement that condemned the army takeover as a coup, due to opposition by China, Russia, India, and Vietnam.

Polands foreign ministry said a Polish journalist was arrested this week in Burma, the second foreign reporter to be detained. A Japanese journalist was briefly held while covering a protest.

Riot police and armed soldiers entered the general hospital in Hakha, in the western Chin state, forcing all 30 patients to leave and evicting staff from on-site housing, said local activist Salai Lian.

Soldiers have been occupying hospitals and universities across Burma as they try to quash a civil disobedience movement that started with government employees such as doctors and teachers but has expanded into a general strike that has paralyzed many sectors of the economy.

On Friday evening, large crowds gathered for evening vigils. In Yangon, they lit candles in the shape of a three-finger salute, the symbol of the movement, while saffron-robed monks gathered outside a pagoda in the northern Sagaing region.

By Reuters staff
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 13:35:08|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Mohammad Menfi, the newly-appointed president of Libya's Presidential Council, said on Friday that he would do his utmost to help achieve national reconciliation in his country.

"The greatest efforts will be dedicated to laying the foundations of the national reconciliation process, by building its structures, providing moral and material requirements for national reconciliation, and establishing values of forgiveness and tolerance," Menfi said in a televised speech.

He also called on the international community to fulfill its obligations towards the Libyan people by adhering to the resolutions of the UN Security Council, such as ending foreign interference, banning arms supplies, and preserving Libya's frozen funds and assets.

Menfi expressed his desire to establish foreign relations based on partnership and mutual cooperation, respect of national sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.

He also stressed the importance of holding general elections in the country on Dec. 24, as agreed recently by the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF).

Menfi was appointed as the president of the new Presidency Council along with new Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah by the LPDF recently.

Libya's House of Representatives (parliament) on Wednesday granted confidence to the new Government of National Unity, according to the parliament's official website.

The new government is to be sworn in on Monday during an official session of the House of Representatives in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi. Enditem
HARRISBURG  More than $9 million for rental and utility assistance has been earmarked for Schuylkill County, state lawmakers from the county delegation announced Friday in a joint press release.

Funds for the county stem from passage of Senate Bill 109, the COVID-19 relief bill that was signed into law Friday by Gov. Tom Wolf as Act 1 of 2021.

The package provides financial assistance to families, schools and small businesses. It allots $145 million to the restaurant and hospitality industry; $570 million in rental and utility assistance; and $197 million in funding for educational institutions.

We are truly grateful for the work done by our state legislators to expedite this legislation and honored to be chosen by the Schuylkill County commissioners to administer the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Dave Young, executive director of Schuylkill Community Action, said in the release. The rental and utility assistance through the program will go a long way in providing housing stability to some of the areas most vulnerable households.

The local lawmakers, all Republicans, are Sen. David G. Argall, 24th District; and Reps. Tim Twardzik, 123rd District, Jerry Knowles, 124th District, and Joe Kirwin, 125th District.

Twardzik, of Butler Township, said: It is great to see both chambers of our General Assembly come together and pass meaningful legislation to help all Pennsylvanians, with unanimous support. 

Kerwin, of Lykens, said: The rental and utility assistance offered by Act 1 offers much needed assistance to Pennsylvania families that have been hit hardest by this pandemic throughout 2020. 

Knowles, of Rush Township, said: This is great news for our community. We need to help out individuals who were most impacted by the governors shut down orders. We must find ways to rebuild our economy and this funding will go a long way as we move into the future. 

Argall, of Rush Township, said: I was very pleased to vote in favor of this strongly bipartisan relief package. I have been hearing from restaurant owners, schools, employers, and tenants in Berks and Schuylkill County for months that they needed help from their state government after all the hardships that came from the pandemic and the extended shutdown of our economy. 
Trust in institutions is sorely lacking in America today. President Joe Bidens speech Thursday evening helped in some ways, but sorely missed the mark in others.

What we missed was a true message of unity from a president who spoke eloquently on the subject at his inauguration less than a few months ago. National healing needs to be Bidens primary focus and it would have gone a long way had he reached out to the 75 million-plus Americans who voted for someone else. Heres what he should have said:

My fellow Americans:

I speak to you this evening from the White House. To both remember what we lost over the last year, but also to remind us of who we are.

To those who lost loved ones too soon, lost their livelihoods and their jobs, lost vital schooling and social interaction that humans crave and are entitled to as Americans, I want to say, I grieve along with all of you for the loss youve experienced.

Sadly, American history is filled with too many of these moments. But when we look back at the misery of Valley Forge, the tragedy of Antietam or the desperation of the Great Depression, we know that we will get through this. I come here before you tonight to say that color is blossoming back into our life and that the full vibrancy of human experience is not far away. Life is coming back.

Many of us felt the cost of this pandemic deeper than other Americans. The single mom who needed to work nights to pay her student loan debt but lost her job. The parents who watched their kids suffer with the frustration of distance-learning. The owner of a small cafe whose lifes passion was lost.

And of course, the millions of you who could not hold your loved ones hands as they passed into the embrace of heaven.

No stimulus package, no unemployment extension, no presidential address can give back what was taken from you.

And of course the trauma of this past year has stressed our cohesion as Americans. It is time for us to seek common ground.

Together, acting as a United States of America, we can reclaim our economy, our livelihoods and our way of life. Moving forward with responsible and purposeful actions: getting vaccinated for ourselves and fellow citizens; seeking understanding with one another more than seeking opportunities to argue.

Also, moving forward with humility.

In that spirit I want to thank former President Trump and his administration for the tremendous work they did to identify the novel coronavirus and develop multiple vaccines in under a year. Now that we have passed a historic $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill and are on track to be giving well over 2 million vaccinations a day, our country is set to explode with historic economic growth and a rebirth of everyday American life.

And I want to apologize for my language when I described the governor of a great state with an undeserved derogatory term. I dismissed his instinct to move his citizens, perhaps too aggressively, to a return to normalcy. To Gov. Abbott and all those millions of Americans who aspire for this pandemic to be behind us, I apologize for using the word Neanderthal.

You are simply doing as every one of us is: trying your best to get to a better future.

You are just being an American. And I ask all Americans, Republicans and Democrats, to demonstrate some humility and grace with our fellow citizens, especially those we disagree with politically.

But we also need to stop warring over science, especially since so much of what we have learned has come at such great cost. Wearing masks will help us bridge our way to a vaccinated future, and they continue to be a low-tech solution until we have delivered these safe and effective vaccines to every American.

What do Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Michael Jordan, Dolly Parton, and Joe Biden all have in common? We are all vaccinated. So promise the grandparents who left us too soon and the grandchildren we want to see that when its your turn and you can get a vaccine, youll roll up your sleeve and take one for America.

I want to close tonight with the words from a president I had the pleasure of knowing and working with on a number of big, important issues. In his first inaugural address, when trying to rally our country out of its malaise, Ronald Reagan called on his fellow Americans to marshal our best effort, and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together, with God's help, we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us.

And, after all, why shouldn't we believe that? We are Americans. God bless you, and thank you.
A 22-year-old man who arrived in Portland just over two weeks ago was arrested after an afternoon protest at a downtown bank Thursday, only to be released and face arrest again a few hours later, accused of smashing a glass window of the federal courthouse, jail and court records show.

Darby Marshall Howard, according to federal prosecutors, was among about 50 demonstrators who converged on the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse after crews had removed a long-standing perimeter fence and concrete dividers outside it.

The barriers had been up since last summer as mass social protests seized the city and the downtown courthouse became a regular focus of demonstrations. The fence will go back up in the next few days in the wake of the latest vandalism, federal officials said.

Earlier Thursday, Howard is accused of causing a disturbance at the Wells Fargo Center at 1300 S.W. Fifth Ave., where about 50 protesters had pressed their way inside the building and refused to leave, according to state prosecutors.

Howard punched a TV in the centers lobby with his fist and then kicked an automatic sliding door, causing more than $1,000 in damage, according to state prosecutors.

Portland police located and contacted Howard outside the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse, after the group left the Wells Fargo Center.

While being taken into custody, Howard is accused of punching Portland police Officer David Baer in the head and attempting to push his way through a line of police officers before he fell to the ground and was handcuffed, according to state prosecutors.

Darby Mitchell Howard, 22, was arrested twice Thursday. He was arrested first by Portland police at 3:03 p.m., booked in jail at 4 p.m. and released at 8:30 p.m. Federal agents arrested him at 10:45 p.m. outside the federal courthouse, according to jail records.Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Portland police, with help from federal officers, arrested Howard at 3:03 p.m. on allegations of criminal mischief, resisting arrest and attempted assault on an officer and booked him into the downtown jail at 4 p.m.

Howard told court officials hes been homeless for the past month and in Portland a little over two weeks, according to court records.

He was released on his own recognizance at 8:30 p.m. and told to report to Multnomah County Circuit Court on March 15, jail records show.

But he was quickly returned to custody, rearrested at 10:45 p.m. by federal agents outside the federal courthouse, this time accused of slamming a Lime electric scooter against a front glass pane window of the building twice, shattering the glass.

Darby M. Howard, 22, in tan pants and gray shirt, is accused of using the electric scooter to smash out a window of the federal courthouse in downtown Portland Thursday night, a federal affidavit says.

A Multnomah County sheriffs deputy monitoring security video at the Justice Center next door watched the vandalism and spotted a man use the scooter to break the window, according to a federal affidavit filed in court Friday. His tan pants, gray T-shirt and neon sneakers stood out among most of the others, who were dressed all in black, the affidavit said.

After his second arrest of the day, Howard was brought back to the same jail and booked at 1 a.m. Friday on a federal hold, accused of destruction of government property. He made his first appearance in federal court Friday afternoon on the federal charge, a felony.

Court records show Howard has no prior criminal convictions but described Howard with unstable housing, unemployed, drug use history.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo ordered Howard detained, after Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Nyhus cited his lack of ties to the community and disregard for the conditions of his jail release just hours before his federal arrest. Nyhus also noted Howard was wearing the same bright neon-orange colored sneakers he had been issued before his release from the Portland jail, less than three hours before his federal arrest.

"Mr. Howard is arrested in the same shoes that he was issued at the Multnomah County Detention Center," Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Nyhus told U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo Friday.

Howard was the lone person arrested by Portland police during Thursdays demonstrations.

But officers from the Federal Protective Service cited three more people on disorderly conduct-type allegations and released them with summons to appear in court at a future date.

Construction workers on Thursday morning had removed concrete highway dividers and fencing from the western, public entrance side of the federal courthouse. By early afternoon, 20 to 30 demonstrators, mostly dressed in black, vandalized the front entrance, breaking a large window, according to the Federal Protective Service. As a result, work crews put plywood and wooden boards back up to protect the buildings windows and facade in anticipation of a second demonstration that night.

About 9:30 p.m., protesters returned to the courthouse and several took down plywood from the courthouses western entrance, started a fire, broke windows and spray-painted graffiti on the outside, according to Micah Coring, a Federal Protective Service agent.

Officers from the U.S. Marshals Service and Federal Protective Service fired tear gas, flash-bang and smoke grenades to push the crowd away from the courthouse in scenes reminiscent of last summers nightly violent clashes outside and around the court building.

Thursdays demonstration apparently started out as a protest against the expansion of an oil pipeline, known as Enbridge Energys Line 3 pipeline, that would bring tar sands oil from the Canadian province of Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin. Protesters say the line would run along delicate wetlands and the treaty territory of Native American tribal land of the Anishinaabe peoples.

The cost of cleaning up vandalism and repairing the courthouse has added up to $1.6 million through early last month.

The bill goes up to a total of about $2.3 million if adding in four other federal properties, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. In addition to the courthouse, the Edith Green-Wendall Wyatt Federal Building, the Gus J. Solomon U.S. Courthouse, the Pioneer Courthouse and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building also have damaged and have undergone repair.

The Federal Protective Service, working with city of Portland and federal agencies, made the decision to remove the protective fence around the federal courthouse in collaboration with local leaders from Portland as part of a broader effort to help the city return to normalcy, according to Robert Sperling, a spokesman with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Federal Protective Service will continue to fulfill its mandate of ensuring the safety and security of federal employees and facilities, while maintaining our commitment to working with the City of Portland and the community as part of a collective effort to restore the downtown area, Sperling said by email.

Later Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice took over jurisdiction of the fence and officials said it would be erected again Sunday or Monday.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt on Friday reiterated that he wont tolerate violent acts against people and damage to property.

Recent riotous activity and wanton destruction of private property that targets businesses struggling to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic does not appear connected to the calls for social justice and system reform, which I strongly support, Schmidts statement said. Instead, these destructive acts only serve to harm our community. My office will continue to prosecute acts of violence and property destruction.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian


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PEABODY ENERGY INVESTIGATION CONTINUED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Continues to Investigate the Officers and Directors of Peabody Energy Corp. - BTU

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF continues its investigation into Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTU).

On September 28, 2018, a fire erupted at the Company's North Goonyella mine, resulting in operations being suspended indefinitely. Following a series of negative disclosures relating to delays in resuming operations at the mine, on October 29, 2019, the Company disclosed that regulators were placing severe restrictions on restarting operations resulting in drastic adjustments to its reentry plan, ultimately announcing a minimum three year delay.

Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws, which remains ongoing.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Peabody's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to Peabody's shareholders or otherwie violated state or federal laws.







If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Peabody shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-btu/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210312005067/en/
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 07:01:30|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday urged New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign, the most powerful Democratic voice so far to pressure the governor to quit amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment against him. Enditem
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US President Joe Biden yesterday held the first-ever summit of the top-level leaders of the so-called Quad comprising the United States, Japan, Australia and India. While the virtual meeting was presented publicly as concerned with COVID-19 and climate change, its real purpose was unmistakable: to strengthen military and strategic ties to confront China throughout the Indo-Pacific and prepare for war.

Since coming to office, Biden has made clear that he will not only continue, but intensify, Washingtons aggressive stance toward Beijing that began with the pivot to Asia of the Obama administration, of which he was part, and was ratcheted up under Trump. Bidens focus on China was underscored by the fact that the Quad dialogue was the first multilateral meeting he has hosted.

The joint statement issued by the four leadersBiden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisoncontained the stock phrases directed against China: a free, open rules-based order, freedom of navigation and overflight, and collaboration to meet challenges to the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas.

Scott Morrison (left) participates in the inaugural Quad leaders meeting with the Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in a virtual meeting in Sydney, March 13, 2021 [Credit: Dean Lewins/Pool via AP]

The demand that Beijing abide by the international rules-based order requires China to subordinate itself to the world order established after the end of World War II in which US imperialism was the dominant power and the rules were set in Washington. Under the Obama administration, the US transformed regional disputes in the South China and East China Seas into dangerous flashpoints. On the pretext of defending freedom of navigation, the US Navy has sent warships into territorial waters claimed by China around its occupied islets in the South China Sea. These highly provocative operations accelerated under Trump. The Biden administration has already carried out the first of these freedom of navigation operations.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was more explicit about the discussions. Even though he denied the meeting was fundamentally about China, he acknowledged that the leaders did discuss the challenge posed by China, and they made clear that none of them have any illusions about China. He noted that the leaders talked about Chinas coercion of Australia over trade issues, its alleged harassment of Japanese fishing boats near the Senkaku Islands [controlled by Japan, but claimed by China] and border clashes with Indiaall a product of the heightened tensions fuelled by the US.

Even the meetings headline-grabbing promise to provide COVID-19 vaccine to one billion people in the Indo-Pacific region is aimed at countering China. The proposal for the manufacture of the vaccine doses in India, financed by the US and Japan, and with Australia assisting in distribution, is to counter what the US refers to in derogatory terms as Chinas vaccine diplomacythat is, the provision of vaccines to countries that have been unable to source them elsewhere.

In strategic circles in Washington and the other three capitals, there is a clear understanding that the consolidation of the Quad is the preparation for war with China. Greg Sheridan, the foreign editor of the Australian, a pro-US hawk closely connected in Washington, bluntly declared in a comment entitled China arms for war, as Quad fights back published today: Military conflict in the Pacific, which would certainly involve Australia, is becoming more likely. Those are not hysterical words.

In line with US propaganda, Sheridan paints China as the aggressor, despite more than a decade of US military build-up, military provocations and efforts to undermine China economically and diplomatically throughout Asia. He did, however, note that war as a distinct danger in the near future was also the explicit message of the US Indo-Pacific commander, the man who would have to fight such a conflict.

Sheridan was referring to the testimony given this week to the US Congress by Admiral Philip Davidson, calling for a doubling of the Pentagons military budget for the region, and warning that China could invade Taiwan within the next five yearsa move that would trigger a US-China war.

It is not Beijing, but Washington, that has deliberately inflamed tensions over Taiwan. The Trump administration has overturned longstanding diplomatic norms that limited US contact with Taiwanese officials as part of the arrangements in 1978 to normalise US relations with China. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province, and fears any move by the US to transform it into a strategic base of operations against China. Biden signaled his intention to continue Trumps forging of ties with Taiwan by inviting the de facto Taiwanese ambassador to the US to his inauguration. Taiwan was another issue discussed at the Quad meeting.

Sheridan was well aware that handing out COVID-19 vaccine and talking about climate action were window-dressing. As he put itthe Quad meeting was careful of its image and full of welcome positives, but make no mistake, countering Chinaand avoiding waris the Quads existential purpose. In reality, the Quad is about intensifying the US-led war drive, which is aimed at arresting the historic decline of US imperialism, and preventing any challenge, above all from China, to its global dominance.

Sheridan alluded to the underlying driving forces, noting that the Chinese economy could be larger in absolute terms than the American economy by 2035. Other analysts suggest that China could overtake the US economically much sooner. The fear in Washington, and the Pentagon, is that in the longer term the US may not be able to win a conflict with China, making war in the near future preferable, even inevitable.

Significantly, the Quad meeting also discussed the formation of a Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group to facilitate collaboration in hi-tech research and development, with a particular focus on telecommunications and securing critical technology supply chainsa key element in war preparations. The Trump administrations trade war measures against China, including hi-tech companies like Huawei, and accusations of intellectual property theft were driven by concerns that China could overtake the US in technologies, including those critical for war.

The first Quad summit was timed to coincide with Chinas annual National Peoples Congressa week of discussions that sets the overall economic and strategic orientation and policies for the coming year. Hopes in Beijing that Biden would be less confrontational than Trump have rapidly fadeda sentiment that found its reflection in speeches to the Congress. Chinese President Xi Jinping told an NPC panel discussion: The current security situation of our country is largely unstable and uncertain The entire military must be prepared to respond to a variety of complex and difficult situations at any time.

Biden has declared that China is the most serious competitor to the US and its taking steps accordingly. The Quad meeting yesterday is just one step in an unfolding diplomatic, economic and strategic offensive against Beijing. In the coming week, the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will make their first overseas trip early next weekto Japan and South Koreawhere China will be top of the agenda. Later in the week, Blinken and National Security Adviser Sullivan will meet in Alaska with their Chinese counterparts for what is likely to be a fractious first meeting.

At the same time, Biden has shown that the Quad will not be simply a diplomatic showpiece. The meeting foreshadowed frequent discussions between the foreign ministers and other top officials of the four countries, as well as a further in-person meeting of the four leaders later in the year.

While it is routinely denied that the Quad is or will become a military alliance against China, Australia and Japan are already formal US allies, and India is in a strategic partnership with Washington that involves basing arrangements and arms sales. The four countries all took part for the first time last year in the annual Malabar naval exercises in the Indian Ocean.
Pippa Middleton, who is pregnant with her second child, cut a stylish figure as she stepped out in West London to get some fresh air on Friday.

The 37-year-old sister of Kate Middleton was spotted strolling around Chelsea wrapped up warm in a comfortable military green parka as she enjoyed the last rays of sunshine before the icy weekend.

For her the outing, Pippa opted for a green parka with a faux fur collar from Fay from last season, which she wore with dark skinny jeans and an immaculate pair of white Jimmy Choo trainers.

Last week, Carole Middleton confirmed that her youngest daughter was pregnant again to Good Housekeeping magazine.

Pippa Middleton , who is pregnant with her second child, cut a stylish figure as she stepped out in West London to get some fresh air on Friday

The Duchess of Cambridge's sister could be seen texting on her phone as she took a stroll along the streets

The excited mother of the Duchess of Cambridge told the magazine: 'I hope to see more of my family than I could last year, including, of course, my new grandchild.'

Despite it being a tumultuous week for the royal family, following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's revelations on racism and that pre-wedding fall-out with Kate Middleton, Pippa cut a relaxed figure as she scooted along.

Her long brunette hair bounced on her shoulder as she walked down the street while she opted to wear dark sunglasses fore the outing.

Pippa's new baby will be cousin to Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, also two.

For her the outing, Pippa opted for a green parka with a faux fur collar from Fay from last season, which she wore with dark skinny jeans

Hedgefund billionaire James, brother of reality TV star Spencer Matthews, and author Pippa currently reside in a 17 million six-bedroom home in London.

As well as a trio of royal cousins from their aunt Kate, the new Middleton-Matthews baby will also have cousins on their father's side.

Theodore Frederick Michael, two, and Gigi Margaux Matthews, five months, are the children of former Made in Chelsea Lothario Spencer Matthews and his Irish model wife Vogue Williams.

The Matthews family owns the Eden Rock resort on St Barts, one of the region's most exclusive hotels beloved by many famous faces.

Pippa, who is reportedly expecting her second child with her husband James, opted for a casual look

Pippa and James tied the knot in 2017 at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, the estate of former Conservative MP Richard Benyon.

In 2018, Pippa welcomed baby Arthur in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital, the same place where sister Kate gave birth to all three of her children.

The socialite and columnist documented how she stayed active during her first pregnancy for Waitrose Weekend magazine revealing that little Arthur follows in the active family's footsteps.

'Now that Arthur is 11 months old and more mobile, I have been trying to come up with different activities to do with him,' she wrote in September 2019.

'I needed to find something more than just park walks in the pram. Our local baby gym has been a saving grace. It's a big space full of fun, soft objects, playmats, stairs, balls, swings, mini trampolines and more to stimulate and physically engage babies and toddlers,' she added.
Today Show weatherman Al Roker and news anchor Deborah Roberts have been married for over 25 years. Though they work in the same industry they have maintained a loving and caring relationship. Communication has been key to their success.

But who has the higher net worth of the pair, Roker or Roberts?

Al Roker and Deborah Roberts | Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Berggruen Institute

How did Al Roker and Deborah Roberts meet?

Though they have an enduring love story, Roker and Roberts were just friends at first. The pair initially met in 1990 when Roberts joined NBC as a general-assignment reporter. Roker was still married to his first wife so the pair were just friends. Al was so sweet, Roberts told People. He showed me pictures of his daughter and talked about his family. I just thought he was a nice guy, and that was that.

However, after his divorce, Rokers feelings for Roberts began to change. He saw his chance when she asked him to keep an eye on her apartment when she was away on a trip. And I had to snoop around, Roker revealed on The Kelly Clarkson Show. I was in the kitchen, and I open up the fridge, and theres nothing.  Theres nothing in the fridge, like some old cheese, a bottle of Grey Poupon mustard, thats about it.

The fame reporter saw this as an opportunity to impress Roberts. A day before she got back from her trip, I stocked her pantry, I stocked her refrigerator and left some flowers on the table and a note, Welcome home. And then I got my first date with her a week later.

From their the duo had a whirlwind romance. Roker proposed on the rim of the Grand Canyon on New Years Day in 1994 and the duo were married on September 16, 1995, at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York and had a reception at Essex House with a ton of famous faces attending.

RELATED: Al Roker and Deborah Roberts Marriage Had the Toughest Test Ever Over a Major Interview

Deborah Roberts net worth is $10 million

After graduating from the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, Roberts worked in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee before landing at NBC in New York City in 1990.

She worked as an assignment reporter and was a correspondent for Dateline NBC. In 1995, she moved over to ABC to work as a correspondent for 20/20 and as substitute anchor for World News Tonight and Good Morning America.

In addition to her work in the newsroom, Roberts has co-authored the book, Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times with Roker. She has a daughter, a son and a step-daughter from Rokers previous marriage. According to Celebrity Net Worth Roberts is worth $10 million.

Al Rokers net worth is $70 million

The longtime weatherman on NBCs The Today Show, Roker was born and raised in Queens, attending college at State University of New York at Oswego before beginning his career as a weather anchor for CBS affiliate WHEN-TV in Syracuse while in school. He later moved to Washington, D.C. and later Cleveland. Since moving back to New York in the early 90s, Roker has hosted the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade for NBC and several game shows.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Roker is worth $70 million, His NBC salary is $10 million per year. His most recent contract is a 5-year, $50 million deal.
Larry Emdur will take over as the host of The Chase Australia in 2021 following Andrew O'Keefe's recent axing from the role.

On Friday, the 56-year-old TV host showed fans just how he was preparing for the new game show gig.

Larry shared a photo of himself with the quiz show's official board game and accompanying cards from his lakeside home in Berowra Waters.

Getting ready! Larry Emdur showed fans how he has been preparing for The Chase Australia as he takes over hosting duties following Andrew O'Keefe's departure from quiz show. Pictured is Larry with his wife Sylvie

'Hard Prepping,' the TV veteran joked in the caption of his Instagram post.

Larry was confirmed as the new host of Seven's top-rated afternoon game show, The Chase, last month, after the show's previous presenter, Andrew O'Keefe, was dumped by the network after a domestic violence charge was brought against him.

Larry told The Daily Telegraph: 'I've had a love affair with quiz shows for most of my working life, and the opportunity to host one of the TV worlds greatest formats is incredibly exciting.'

The TV presenter - who will keep his 'dream job' on The Morning Show alongside Kylie Gillies - also spoke out about Andrew's departure from the show.

Learning the ropes? On Friday, the 56-year-old shared a photo of himself with the quiz show's official board game and the accompanying cards, from his lakeside home in Berowra Waters. 'Hard Prepping,' the TV veteran joked in the caption of his Instagram post

Former host: Larry was confirmed as the new host of Seven's top-rated afternoon game show, The Chase, last month, after the show's previous presenter Andrew O'Keefe (pictured) was dumped by the network over domestic violence charges

He said: 'Its a tumultuous time, but shows move on and productions move on and over the years many hosts have been replaced with many other hosts.

'Its happened very quickly. Theres no doubt about it, theres lots of focus on it, but in keeping with what the network wants me to do, I have to aim for the blue sky and look forward.'

Larry was approached by the network last month, and wowed bosses with his audition. His first episodes are set to air after Easter.

Moving forward: He said of Andrew's departure: 'Its a tumultuous time, but shows move on and productions move on and over the years many hosts have been replaced with many other hosts'

He was said to have won the part over a string of other popular stars, including Rove McManus, Merrick Watts and Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac.

Production will move from Melbourne to Sydney, making it the perfect fit for Larry to remain on The Morning Show.

Seven's Network Programming Director, Angus Ross, said: 'Everyone at Seven is delighted that Larry has agreed to take on this new role. Australians love Larry. Australians love the show. Together they are the perfect combination.'

Natural fit: Larry formerly hosted The Price Is Right on and off for over eight years, and also fronted Cash Bonanza and Wheel of Fortune

Indeed, Larry appears to be a natural fit for the role and has the resume to prove it.

The presenter formerly hosted The Price Is Right on and off for over eight years, and also fronted Cash Bonanza and Wheel of Fortune.

Channel Seven dumped Andrew, 49, after he was accused of assaulting his doctor girlfriend Orly Lavee in late January.

'Dream job': Production will move from Melbourne to Sydney, making it the perfect fit for Larry to remain on The Morning Show alongside Kylie Gillies (pictured)

He was charged with common assault (domestic violence related), and was granted conditional bail and banned from approaching Orly under the terms of a provisional apprehended violence order.

Seven confirmed that Andrew's The Chase contract wasn't renewed at the end of last year and that he is 'no longer with the network'.

For confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For domestic violence support, call 1800 RESPECT. Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Among those to already benefit is Ramonjit Parmar, 11, who has had minimal access to the family computer at home because her sister has priority as an A-level student

Mail Force has received another stunning boost of more than 200,000 as the nationwide initiative to deliver laptops to schoolchildren hits top gear.

Experian, the consumer credit reporting company, and charity donation website The Big Give have raised the money together.

It lifts the running total of donations in cash and computer pledges from generous Daily Mail readers, philanthropists and corporations to an astonishing 12.1million.

Experian matched every 1 donated  up to a generous 100,100  to the Computers for Kids campaign on The Big Give.

The threshold was hit on the final day of the scheme this week thanks to almost 1,300 individual donors.

It means the total raised on the platform has reached 221,999, including more than 21,000 in unmatched donations and gift aid.

The campaign to help disadvantaged children get online has also benefited from a cash boost of 45,700 from global investment bank Jefferies as part of its Doing Good effort.

Mail Force is one of 129 charities focused on 'advancing diversity and inclusion' to be chosen by the bank, which gave away more than $8million, about 6million.

As schools reopened in England this week, students were facing the mammoth task of catching up on months of lost learning.

Experian, the consumer credit reporting company, and charity donation website The Big Give have raised the money together

It is a challenge made all the more difficult by what has been dubbed the 'digital divide'  the large gap between families with enough devices and sufficient internet access and those without.

Thanks to the Daily Mail's Computers for Kids campaign, thousands more children will now have a laptop or tablet to access schoolwork in the evenings and at weekends.

The first mass batch of Mail Force laptop deliveries went to schools across the country this month, when 5,000 Chromebooks and other models were shipped to more than 100 towns and villages.

Among those to already benefit is Ramonjit Parmar, 11, who has had minimal access to the family computer at home because her sister has priority as an A-level student.

The year-seven student at Langley Academy, in Slough, Berkshire, said: 'I cannot wait to start using my new laptop because it has been difficult for me to get a chance to sit down and study.'

Her father Ranjeev Singh, 44, who is training in construction, said: 'I am so grateful to readers of the Daily Mail for this very important initiative because it makes family life a lot easier. It has been hard to balance the needs of both my daughters and this laptop will help.'

Hundreds more devices are destined to be delivered across the country after schools placed orders for 10,000 Mail Force laptops.

Mail Force has also teamed up with Vodafone to make thousands of SIM cards, which provide enough data for about nine weeks of learning, available to those who are struggling to get online.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has shared a photo of himself 'settling into his new digs' after being transferred out of intensive care following a serious fall last week.

Mr Andrews fractured a vertebrae when he slipped on wet stairs at a Mornington Peninsula holiday rental while getting ready for work on Tuesday.

The first picture released of Mr Andrews from hospital, posted to his social media on Saturday night, shows the 48-year-old fitted with a back brace.

'Good to get out of ICU and settled in new digs. Thanks for all your messages and well wishes. It really means a lot,' he captioned the picture.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews released the first picture of himself since being admitted to hospital (pictured) after fracturing his spine slipping on wet stairs

MR Andrews (pictured with his wife) will need months of rehabilitation from the painful injury

Mr Andrews fractured the T7 vertebrae in the middle of his spine and broke several ribs in the fall.

The Alfred Hospital confirmed his move from the intensive care unit into a ward on Saturday.

The director of the intensive care unit, Associate Professor Steve McGloughlin, said there are no plans to operate on the premier's injuries.

He said the father-of-two was in good spirits and remains in a stable condition.

'Mr Andrews is comfortable and doing well,' Prof McGloughlin said.

The premier thanked the team at the hospital for looking after him.

'Like all our health professionals, they are the best of Victoria,' he said.

The premier said the 'good news' is that he won't need surgery to repair his T7 vertebrae 'for now'

The Victorian Premier thanked supporters

'The good news is no surgery for now - but the doctors tell me recovery and rehab is still going to be a very long journey.'

He has been cleared of any internal or head injuries but could be off work for up to three months.

The were concerns voiced Mr Andrews' injuries could affect his return as Victorian premier.

Neil Mitchell, a leading Melbourne radio presenter, said he understands it will be a long road ahead for the Premier.

'This is serious stuff. Despite the bravado  and I can understand that from the ministers  nobody can be sure he'll return as premier,' he said on 3AW.

'I am sure he wants to, I'm sure he intends to and he probably will, but at this stage, nobody really knows.

'I know I disagree with him on a lot of things, a lot of us do, but in the end, we wish him well.'

Acting Premier James Merlino on Thursday said Mr Andrews would eventually return to lead the state.

'I spoke personally with Dan this morning his focus is getting better and the care that he needs,' he said.

Mr Andrews also suffered fractures to his left and right ribs, with concern growing over his spine following subsequent CAT scans.

Daniel Andrews (pictured with wife Catherine) may never return as Victorian premier after a fall while he was getting ready for work at a holiday home, according to radio presenter Neil Mitchell

The Victorian premier tweeted on Saturday (pictured) to give the update on his condition

The vertebrae injury is considered very serious and surgery would likely involve adding reinforcing screws and pins.

Orthopaedic spine surgeon John Cunningham said the kind of fracture the Premier suffered would be painful.

'It can cause immobility and I would expect the pain to last if not three, maybe six months,' Dr Cunningham told Nine News.

'These fractures can be really common and often caused by minor trauma, but the pain from them can persist for quite some time.

'Fortunately they don't all end up in paraplegia.'

A government source said there still remains a '50-50 chance' Mr Andrews will require surgery on his spine.

However the head of the intensive care unit where Mr Andrews is recovering said there were no immediate plans for him to go under the knife.

Mr Merlino (pictured) revealed Victorians will have a much clearer picture of Mr Andrews's recovery in the coming days and assured residents they will get regular updates on the premier's condition

Daniel Andrews fractured his T7 vertebrae (pictured), which is in the middle of his spine after slipping on wet stairs at a Mornington Peninsula holiday rental

Mr Merlino, who has been deputy premier since 2014, sought to reassure Victorians he would be able to fill Mr Andrews' shoes for a longer period if required.

'We made a commitment back in 2014 when we first came into government to not waste a day,' he said.

'Government will continue. I'll be the acting premier, leading cabinet.'

Mr Andrews was initially treated at Peninsula Private Hospital but transferred to Alfred Trauma Centre in Melbourne after specialists assessed an MRI scan.

Associate Professor Steve McGloughlin, the head of the intensive care unit at The Alfred hospital said the premier was 'comfortable and his pain is well-controlled'.

The head of the intensive care unit at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne has confirmed his injuries are serious but said he is in a stable condition and there are no immediate plans for surgery

A statement from Mr Andrews on Tuesday revealed a series of horrific injuries uncovered by a CT scan (pictured)

'A multidisciplinary team including intensive care, trauma and orthopaedic specialists has developed a treatment plan, together with the Andrews family,' Prof McGloughlin said late on Wednesday.

'Mr Andrews has sustained some serious injuries and his condition is being monitored closely. At this stage there is no immediate plan for surgery.'

He has been cleared of any internal or head injuries.

'Heartfelt thanks to the entire team at @AlfredHealth for taking such good care of me. We're so very grateful,' Mr Andrews tweeted on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 12:02:54|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday extended the mandate of the United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until March 15, 2022.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member council demanded that all parties to the conflict in South Sudan and other armed actors immediately stop fighting and engage in political dialogue, in accordance with the peace agreement signed in 2018.

The council also decided that the mission's mandate is designed to advance a three-year strategic vision to prevent a return to civil war, build a durable peace, and support inclusive and accountable governance as well as free, fair and peaceful elections.

The council said that the mandate shall include the protection of civilians under threat of physical violence, with specific protection for women and children.

UNMISS shall also deter violence against civilians, especially through proactive deployment and active patrolling, with particular attention to internally displaced persons and refugees in UNMISS protection sites, according to the resolution.

Also, by the text, the council decided to maintain the mission's overall force levels at a ceiling of 17,000 troops and 2,101 police, including 88 corrections officers. However, it expressed its readiness to consider adjusting those levels on the basis of security conditions on the ground and implementation of priority measures by the government of South Sudan and all relevant actors. Enditem


Tanzanias President John Magufuli is well, the countrys prime minister said Friday, rejecting opposition claims that the COVID-denying president, who's been out of public view for nearly two weeks, is seriously sick with the virus.

Kassim Majaliwa said Magufuli is busy with office duties, and called on the public to ignore widespread reports that he is unwell. He is fine and doing his responsibilities, Majaliwa said, without disclosing the presidents whereabouts.

Magufuli had controversially claimed that Tanzania has defeated COVID-19 through prayer last year and that there were no more cases.

The prime minister said Magufuli, who has not been seen in public for 13 days, asked him to convey his greetings to residents in the countrys southern town of Njombe.

The president has a lot to do, he said, adding that the president had delegated some duties to his aides.

Magufulis absence is unusual as he is known for frequent public speeches and appearances on state television several times a week.

Opposition politicians also raised questions about the presidents health after at least one official close to him died recently.

Magufuli was last seen in public on Feb. 27 at the swearing-in ceremony of his chief of staff. The event was at the State House government offices in Dar es Salaam, the East African countrys largest city.

Exiled opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who lost the October presidential election to Magufuli, claimed in a series of Tweets since Wednesday that the president had been flown to India in critical condition after first being taken to neighboring Kenya for COVID-19 treatment.

Lissu lives in Belgium due to fears for his life after a government crackdown on opposition politicians who were calling for peaceful protests over alleged massive voting irregularities.

He had returned to Tanzania in July to campaign in the election. Lissu started his self-imposed exile from exile following a failed assassination attempt in 2017 in which he was shot 16 times.

On Thursday, Constitutional Affairs Minister Mwigulu Nchemba issued threats to those speculating on the president's absence.

A head of state is not a head of a jogging club who should always be around taking selfies, Nchemba posted on his social media accounts.

"Those who are breaking the law, think about what the penal code says on cybercrime. The government is monitoring, he said.

Magufuli announced last June that Tanzania had defeated COVID-19 through three days of prayer. The country, one of Africas most populous with 60 million people, in April stopped providing statistics about the numbers of people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 or deaths from the disease to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The government has fired some officials who questioned Magufulis assertion that nobody was falling ill from COVID-19 in Tanzania. The government tried to encourage trade and foreign tourism, seeking to avoid the economic pain of neighbors who imposed lockdowns and curfews. It did not ban public gatherings or promote wearing masks, and Magufuli promoted herbal remedies for those who fell ill with what he called breathing problems.

However, people leaving Tanzania reported that hospital intensive care units were filled with patients with severe respiratory illnesses. Others said that burials were being held at night to hide the numbers of deaths. Migrants in other countries from Tanzania were found to have COVID-19. In February, Magufuli appeared to acknowledge the existence of the disease after at least one top official in his administration died of it.

Image: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Fox News Brian Kilmeade on Friday said President Joe Biden needlessly focused on the American COVID-19 death toll during his Thursday night news briefing. Instead, he said, Biden could have spent time praising former president Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

We dont need to go over the 500,000 dead. We had that moment, Kilmeade said during a Fox & Friends review of the presidents primetime address.

Lets talk about the future moving forward. Every time he has a chance to praise the previous administration, he not only doesnt praise, he kicks them in the groin, he added.

Also Read: Fox News Adds Weird 'Tucker Reaction' Cam to Biden Speech (Video)

He also mentioned during the morning shows discussion of Bidens speech that the president, in his opinion, doesnt give Trump and his Operation Warp Speed enough credit for the rate of vaccination happening in America now.

On Wednesday, one day before his predecessor gave his primetime address about the pandemic that has killed over half a million Americans, Trump released a statement that read, I hope everyone remembers when theyre getting the COVID-19 (often referred to as the China Virus) Vaccine, that if I wasnt President, you wouldnt be getting that beautiful shot for 5 years, at best, and probably wouldnt be getting it at all. I hope everyone remembers!

In January, Bidens chief of staff Rob Klain said the Trump administration left no distribution plan for the coronavirus vaccine. The process to distribute the vaccine, particularly outside of nursing homes and hospitals out into the community as a whole, did not really exist when we came into the White House, Klain told NBCs Meet the Press shortly after the Biden administration took over.

Fox News has contributed programming of its own to honoring the lives lost, as well as educating viewers about topics like business re-openings and the vaccine rollout. This week, the network ran a series of special programming honoring the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organizations designation of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.

Story continues

Watch the Friday moment below, via Media Matters.

Brian Kilmeade: "We don't need to go over the 500,000 dead, we had that moment. Let's talk about the future moving forward. Every time he has a chance to praise the previous administration, he not only doesn't praise, he kicks them in the groin." pic.twitter.com/n9OupjYfAF

 Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) March 12, 2021

Read original story Fox News Brian Kilmeade Wants to Move on From Those 500,000+ COVID Deaths At TheWrap
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who had previously called for an independent investigation of the allegations, issued a joint statement Friday evening saying Cuomo could no longer effectively lead the state.

Anna Ruch has her face held by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in an incident she described to The New York Times as uncomfortable and embarrassing.

The majority of Democrats representing New York have now urged the governor to leave office, an extraordinary vote of no confidence in a political leader who only recently had gained a national fan base for his handling of the pandemic.

The Governor responded to the deluge of resignation demands by accusing the lawmakers of a reckless and dangerous rush to judgment.

Washington: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was defiant amid intense pressure to resign Friday as both of the states US senators and influential members of the congressional delegation urged him to step down over charges of sexual harassment.

Confronting and overcoming the COVID crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct, they said. Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.

It was among an influx of similar statements that landed on Friday morning from influential New Yorkers in the House, a major blow to Cuomo that threatens to cripple his prospects for remaining in office. At least a dozen House Democrats from the state have now said they have lost faith in the governors leadership.

Yet Cuomo was unrepentant at a press conference on Friday afternoon (Saturday AEDT).

There are often many motivations for making an allegation, and that is why you need to know the facts before you make a decision, Cuomo said. Women have the right to come forward and be heard. But I also want to be clear there is still a question of the truth. I did not do what has been alleged.

He attacked the politicians who called for his resignation, include 50 Democratic state legislators. He also made the striking claim that he is a victim of cancel culture, a charge typically levied by politicians on the right.
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty

Attorneys for the two Republican national congressional fundraising committees expressed serious concerns this week about what they call the Federal Election Commissions inadequate response to a request that would clear officeholders to use campaign donations to hire bodyguards without violating the prohibition on personal use.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) appealed to the regulator in late January for an emergency ruling on the issue. That request cited concrete threats of physical violence against Members and their families in light of events surrounding the Jan. 6 insurrection, which have forced some officials to consider further steps to protect themselves.

Last week the FEC published a draft ruling in response to the request which would allow officeholders to hire security details with campaign funds, but only under certain circumstances: if they are targets of specific threats, or if US Capitol Police have advised personal protection for individual members; but not under hypothetical future scenarios. That response rankled Republicans who had sought permission to muscle up before direct threats emerged. In a letter to the FEC on Wednesday, the GOP groups said that the FEC appeared to be side-stepping the question.

The Draft purports to recognize this concern, but the standards proposed for both residential and personal security personnel would prohibit any proactive action, the attorneys wrote.

Though the Jan. 6 attack primarily targeted Democrats, Republican lawmakers have also navigated serious threats to their safety in recent months, particularly those who broke with Trump amid his efforts to block the ratification of Electoral College votes. Then-Vice President Mike Pence, who oversaw the process, was threatened with lynching on Jan. 6, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was accosted in an airport by Trump supporters after he refused to challenge the votes. CNN reported in January that some of the ten Republican lawmakers who voted to impeach the then-president had been afforded personal protection after receiving death threats.

Story continues

Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI)., told MSNBC after his vote to impeach that he and some of his GOP colleagues may invest in body armor. Its sad that we have to get to that point, but you know, our expectation is that someone may try to kill us, he said. More than 30 House members have petitioned leadership to allow them to use taxpayer-funded expense accounts for safety measures, such as hiring personal protection and buying security items to keep at home.

The GOPs initial emergency request pointed to a number of recent threats, including an Associated Press report about plots to attack members of Congress during travel to and from the Capitol complex during Trumps second impeachment trial. It also cites the Jan. 19 arrest of a Queens man who had called on allies to slaughter lawmakers, chiefly but not limited to Democrats.

He Wont Last Until the Primary: Republicans Who Voted to Impeach Getting Death Threats

Trump, we want actual revenge on democrats. Meaning, we want you to hold a public execution of pelosi aoc schumer etc. And if you dont do it, the citizenry will, [sic] the man wrote in an online post, according to an FBI affidavit. Another post reads more broadly: We need to go back to the U.S. Capitol when all of the Senators and a lot of the Representatives are back there, and this time we have to show up with our guns. And we need to slaughter these motherfuckers.

Republicans argue that if the FEC prohibits proactive measures, the decision would de facto scrap the most valuable part of its own 2017 advisory opinion, which legalized expenses for electronic home security systems, regardless of threats. That ruling stemmed from an attack that June, when a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) opened fire on Republican representatives practicing for a charity softball game, seriously wounding Louisianas Steve Scalise. Officials from both parties have since taken advantage of the option.

But the Republican groups now argue that the threat environment has, by nearly all accounts, significantly worsened since then. They cite acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittmans March 3 testimony that there has been a 93.5% increase in threats to members in the first two months of 2021 compared to the same period last year, and that threats have more than doubled overallby about 119 percentfrom 2017 to 2020, with most suspects living outside the Washington region.

Yet, the Draft proposes a different, far more burdensome standard for personal security personnel than has been afforded to residential security for the past four years, the letter says.

The FEC already allows candidates and elected officials to dip into donor contributions for personal security in response to specific, immediate threats incurred in the course of carrying out their official duties, though filings indicate this is relatively rare. For instance, the campaign for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) paid $1,300 for protection at a July 2019 town hall amid a flurry of threats against her and minority colleagues that month. And then-candidate Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) received police protection after specific threats in September, and tapped his campaign account for more than $20,000 the week before the election amid allegations that "punks" had destroyed campaign signs at his Asheville home.

In late 2020, the campaign for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) reported personnel service/equipment expenses to security firm Atlas Glinn, whose website showcases a photo of a protective team accompanying Cruz at a parade in July 2018. The Cruz campaign paid the company $46,000 between October and December last year, most of it after the election.

The window for comment on the new draft ruling will close on March 18, and the FEC plans to vote on the issue on March 25. Democrats have not filed a similar request.

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2.5% for companies with global annual gross revenues of $100 million through $1 billion

5% for companies with global annual gross incomes greater than $1 billion through $5 billion

7.5% for companies with global annual gross revenues greater than $5 billion through $15 billion

10% for companies with global annual gross revenues exceeding $15 billion

After overriding veto from Gov. Larry Hogan in February, the Maryland Legislature enacted a bill that would make Maryland the first state to tax digital advertising. A little less than a month later, lobbying groups backed by tech giants, including Amazon, Google and Facebook, are suing the state to strike down the bill.The tax, which applies to revenue from digital ads displayed inside the state, is based on companies ad sales. These ads include banner advertisements, search engine advertisements, interstitial advertisements and other advertising services.Companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook, according to a report by Sidley Law Firm, would be impacted as follows:This targeted tax on companies that make over $100,000,000 a year only from digital advertising is a vital mechanism to make sure big tech pays taxes in Maryland, just like our small businesses, Senate President Bill Ferguson said in a Facebook post Analysts estimate the tax would generate up to $250 million in its first year, which Ferguson said would go toward education.However, Stephen P. Kranz, a partner at McDermott Will and Emery, representing the lobbying groups, said there are many problems with the law.It violates the commerce clause in numerous ways, Kranz said in a phone interview with. It discriminates against companies outside of Maryland that want to do business in the state. States cant do that.The Internet Associations Senior Vice President and General Counsel Jon Berroya echoed a similar message about the taxs impact on out-of-state companies.Its unfortunate that the Maryland General Assembly has decided to penalize a handful of out-of-state companies with this discriminatory law, Berroya said in a release . This is a case of legislative overreach, punishing an industry that supports over one hundred thousand jobs in Maryland and contributes tens of billions of dollars to its economy each year.The tax, Kranz said, applies to all taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2020, with companies' first estimated quarterly payment due April 15.Regardless of whether the tax is delayed or not, the lawsuit needs to move forward, he said. The revenue that Maryland expects to receive is not a stable source of revenue. If money is received, it will have to be refunded from a government budget standpoint.
New York, March 13 : US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign, the most powerful Democratic voice so far to pressure the latter to quit amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Schumer, who represents the state of New York in the Senate, said in a statement issued jointly on Friday with fellow Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that they believed it would be difficult for Cuomo, also a Democrat, to continue to hold on to power given the controversies, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership," the two Senators said.

"We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct.

"Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign," they added.

The statementdealt what seemed to be another detrimental blow to Cuomo, as he faced a new wave of calls to step down when House Democrats representing New York, including Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, joined the growing chorus Friday demanding the three-term Governor's departure.

"The repeated accusations against the governor, and the manner in which he has responded to them, have made it impossible for him to continue to govern at this point," said Nadler, chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

Cuomo, who has adamantly denied any wrongdoing and urged people to hold their judgement until the ongoing independent investigation is completed, again refused to resign, telling reporters Friday in a phone call: "I did not do what has been alleged. Period." "People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth." Allegations of sexual harassment or sexually inappropriate behaviour against Cuomo reached a boiling point on Wednesday when reports emerged that the sixth accuser, an anonymous current aide to Cuomo, alleged that the Governor groped her last year.

On Thursday, 59 Democratic lawmakers in the state's legislature, or about 40 per cent of the party's members in the New York Assembly and Senate, signed a statement requesting that Cuomo relinquish power.

The state Assembly on Thursday greenlighted an impeachment investigation into Cuomo to determine whether his conducts warrant a forcible removal from office.

Those calling for Cuomo's resignation also pointed to efforts to fake the state's Covid-19 death toll by the Governor, who was once hailed as a hero in the fight against the pandemic when New York was the epicenter during the early stages of the virus's spread.

"A lot of people allege a lot of things for a lot of reasons," Cuomo, who is seeking a fourth term in the 2022 mid-term elections, said on Friday.

"I won't speculate about people's possible motives. But I can tell you as a former attorney general who has gone through this situation many times, there are often many motivations for making an allegation. And that is why you need to know the facts before you make a decision."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 00:03:17|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain An Wa'er (R) and Bahrain's Minister of Health Faeqa bint Saeed al-Saleh attend a vaccine handover ceremony in Manama, Bahrain, on March 12, 2021. (Chinese Embassy in Bahrain/Handout via Xinhua)

MANAMA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A shipment of 300,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine purchased by Bahrain arrived here on Friday.

Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain An Wa'er and Bahrain's Minister of Health Faeqa bint Saeed Al-Saleh attended the vaccine handover ceremony at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center.

The ambassador said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Bahrain have been helping each other to fight the pandemic.

He said that China is ready to further strengthen cooperation with Bahrain on fighting the pandemic, provide assistance for Bahrain to advance its vaccination program, and jointly safeguard global public health and safety.

The Bahraini minister expressed her gratitude to China for its continuous support and coordination with Bahrain in fighting against the COVID-19.

She said this batch of Chinese vaccines is of great significance to the country's vaccination plan. It reflects the strength of relations and cooperation between the two friendly countries.

The latest figures showed that a total of 312,104 individuals have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines in the kingdom, while 208,325 have got the second jab. Enditem



Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health announced Friday that starting March 22, ADPH will extend eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations to include people age 55 and older, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the population defined as Allocation Phase 1c in the Alabama Vaccine Allocation Plan, HERE

We have been concerned that many people at high risk and others engaged in close contact work have not been eligible to receive the vaccine yet, but with the additional vaccine supply we are better able to meet the needs of Alabama residents, Ivey said. Starting March 22, individuals can be assured of receiving the shots they have been patiently waiting to get.

In addition to those age 55 and older and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, groups to be included for extended eligibility are people age 16 to 64 with high-risk medical conditions which include but are not limited to the following conditions:

 Cancer

 Chronic kidney disease

 COPD

 Heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies; immunocompromised state

 Solid organ transplant

 Obesity, BMI greater than 30

 Pregnancy

 Sickle cell disease

 Smoking

 Type 1 and 2 diabetes

 Other medical conditions as determined by your medical provider

Also, critical workers in the following areas who were not recommended for vaccination in Phase 1b will be eligible:

 Transportation and logistics

 Waste and wastewater

 Food service (includes restaurant staff)

 Shelter and housing (construction)

 Finance (bank tellers)

 Information technology and communication

 Energy

 Legal

 Media

 Public safety (engineers)

The additional priority groups will add over 2 million people who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Alabama. While around two-thirds of Alabama residents will qualify to receive the vaccine, the state receives between 110,000 and 120,000 first doses each week.

Patna, March 13 : The Bihar Vidhan Sabha saw BJP and RJD MLAs involved in scuffles and hurling abuses at each other on Saturday over the liquor smuggling allegation against Minister Ram Surat Rai.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs led by Sanjay Sarawgi and Janak Singh went into the well of the Assembly and were involved in scuffles with the Rashtriya Janata Dal MLAs who were already present in the well and protesting against the minister.

The incident happened after Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav addressed the House on the health budget. During his speech, he used the word 'liquor' once as he and his party leaders were protesting against Ram Surat Rai since the morning. This led to heated arguments between the BJP and RJD MLAs.

RJD leaders alleged that the BJP MLAs deliberately interrupted Tejashwi Yadav and did not allow him to address the House. The RJD MLAs then trooped into the well of the House. Subsequently, the BJP leaders also jumped into the well and were involved in scuffles with the RJD MLAs. Both the sides hurled abuses at each other. Seeing this, Speaker Vijay Sinha adjourned the House till 3 p.m.

When the House resumed at 3 p.m., Vijay Sinha said: "Such behaviour of elected public representatives is extremely painful, unfortunate and cannot be justified. It is against democracy. The House is run under guidelines of the Vidhan Sabha." Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav also expressed the same view and said that what happened a few hours ago was extremely unfortunate.

"I want to point out that some leaders from the ruling party were dictating to the chair (Speaker). It was highly objectionable. It is against the rules of the Vidhan Sabha. I also point out that the Speaker, Chief Minister, other ministers and Leader of Opposition are constitutional posts in a democracy. On the other hand, the post of Deputy CM is unconstitutional. There is no such post in the Constitution. In this case, why did MLAs and Deputy CM dictate to the Speaker and why did they not allow the Leader of Opposition to complete his statement," Tejashwi said.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety with a vehicle accident involving a possible human smuggler.

The incident occurred on the night of March 11 when agents assigned to the Laredo South Station responded to call for assistance from DPS with a single vehicle accident east of the intersection of Mangana-Hein Road and U.S. 83 south of Laredo.

DPS advised agents that they had encountered eight individuals as a result of this accident. The individuals were found to be illegally in the U.S. and are from the countries of El Salvador and Mexico. Emergency medical services was requested and provided further medical attention to the individuals. Interviews with the individuals revealed that the driver had lost control of the vehicle causing it to rollover before the driver absconded from the scene. The driver was not located after an extensive search of the area. Border Patrol took custody of the individuals for medical care and processing.

This incident is another example of how smugglers continue to endanger the lives of the people they attempt to exploit and also the safety and lives of the people of Laredo and our surrounding communities, Border Patrol said in a statement. Agents of the Laredo Sector will continue to collaborate with their law enforcement partners to carry out the U.S. Border Patrols mission of protecting the American people, safeguarding our borders and enhancing the nations economic prosperity.

Take a stand against these criminal organizations and potentially dangerous acts by reporting suspicious activity in neighborhoods. To report suspicious activity such as human or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector app or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994. If you see something, say something.
Beshear Signs Relief Bill for Some Aid Recipients

By West Kentucky Star Staff

FRANKFORT - Gov. Andy Beshear has signed legislation allowing the state to waive the overpayment of some pandemic-related unemployment claims.The bill applies to some people who left their jobs early in the pandemic due to concerns about exposure to COVID-19. The state signaled theyd be eligible for jobless assistance. Recipients later were informed the money had to be given back.Beshears administration pointed to the U.S. Labor Department for the mix-up.On Friday, Beshear said on social media that signing the measure was the right thing to do to help Kentuckians" as the state recovers from the pandemic.
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Bengaluru, March 13 : Karnataka Legislative Council chairman Basvaraj Horatti on Saturday said that he would soon hold a meeting with his counterpart, Karnataka Legislative Assembly speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, to chalk out a plan to convene a legislature session in Belagavi.

Horatti's statement assumes significance in the backdrop of Maharashtra Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut alleging that Marathi people residing in Karnataka's Belagavi district were being victimised. He said an all-party delegation from Maharashtra should visit the city in the neighbouring state to resolve the stand-off.

Horatti told reporters that he would soon be visiting Belagavi along with his counterpart Kageri to inspect and work out modalities to organise the session there.

"We have not held a legislative session in Belagavi since 2018 onwards due to various reasons. We need to rethink about organising it there. Nothing is finalised yet, but we need to organise it there too," he said.

He added that both Houses must function systematically 60 days in a year and this year we wish to accomplish it. "We have been talking about holding 60 days session per annum but this has not come into practice for many reasons. We need more fruitful debates and discussions to take place," he said.

The Suvarna Vidhana Soudha was constructed as a part of Karnataka's reiteration of its control over Belagavi in its inter state rivalry with Maharashtra for control of the district.

While the proposal to build a legislature building in Belagavi to counter Maharashtra's claim to the area had been mooted several years ago, it was after H. D. Kumaraswamy became Chief Minister in 2006 that the project gained momentum.

While it was originally to have come up at Tilakwadi, it was subsequently relocated to its present location in the Halga-Bastwad area of Belagavi, just off the Bengaluru-Mumbai highway, which is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project.
Tata Communications announced that the company on 12 March 2021 signed an Amendment Agreement between the President of India, Panatone Finvest, Tata Sons and the Company for sale of the entire shareholding in the Company by the Government of India.

The details of the said agreement required are as below:

(i) As on date, the Government of India (Government) holds 7,44,46,885 equity shares of the Company representing 26.12% of the total paid up equity share capital of the Company.

As on date, Panatone Finvest (Panatone) and Tata Sons hold 34.80% and 14.07% respectively aggregating to 48.87% of the total paid up equity share capital of the Company.

As on date, Government, Panatone and Tata Sons are the promoters of the Company.

(ii) As an initial step, the Government will sell up to 4,59,46,885 equity shares forming 16.12% equity shareholding of the Company through an Offer for Sale (OFS) through the stock Exchange Mechanism.

Immediately after the OFS, the Government shall sell the remaining equity shares held by it in the Company to Panatone at the per equity share price arrived at by dividing the aggregate of the product of the number of equity shares sold (under the OFS) and the corresponding price at which such equity share is sold, by the total number of equity shares sold (under the OFS).

Upon completion of aforesaid transactions, Government will cease to be a shareholder of the Company.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On the heels of the Quad summit, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit India next week to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as Washington focuses on China as an emerging threat, according to a Pentagon official.

In New Delhi, Austin will "discuss operationalising the major defence partnership that we have with India, including through enhanced information sharing, regional security cooperation, defence trade, and cooperation in new domains", Acting Assistant Defence Secretary for Indo-Pacific, David F. Helvey said on Friday after the Quad summit.

He said India is "an important strategic partnership that involves cooperation with like-minded nations committed to protecting the rules-based international order".

Reflecting President Joe Biden's strategic priority focus shifting to the Indo-Pacific, India is included in Austin's first trip abroad that also has US treaty partners Japan and South Korea in its itinerary.

During the past year, India has faced border incursions by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and clashes, with one in May 2020, resulting in the deaths of soldiers on both sides.

During Friday's Quad summit of Biden and Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India, Yoshihide Sugo of Japan and Scott Morrison of Australia, they discussed freedom of navigation and "freedom from coercion" in the South and East China Seas, which are basically about China.

The North Korea nuclear issue and the Myanmar coup also figured in the summit agenda.

Helvey said that Austin has "signalled a very early interest in focusing the department on China. He has identified China as the pacing threat and the pacing challenge for the Department".

"His initial steps kind of demonstrate that this is going to be an area of continued focus, and the participation in this trip, follow-on travel to India, will provide an opportunity for exchange of views early on with key allies and partners about how we can work together and expand cooperation to support a rules-based international order."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be with Austin for a part of the trip when they hold 2+2 meetings of the top defence and diplomacy officials in Tokyo and Seoul.

But Blinken will not be coming to New Delhi, where a 2+2 dialogue was held last October.

At that meeting between Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and former Defence Secretary Mark Esper and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the US and India signed the landmark defence pact, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geo-Spatial Cooperation.

The agreement enables the militaries of the two countries to share high-end military technology, geospatial maps and classified satellite data.

The two countries were already signatories to the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), the Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), and the Industrial Security Agreement (ISA), which sealed close defence ties and paved the way for interoperability of the equipment of the defence forces of the two countries.

Furthering these elements of cooperation will be on the agenda of the meeting between Singh and Austin, according to Helvey.

India was designated as a major defence partner by the US in 2016 allowing it access to some defence hi-tech that would normally be available to only allies.

Austin, who retired as a four-star general after a 41-year career in the US Army, has not served in Asia and, therefore, does not appear to have had involvement with India.

However, in his last military position of the head of the Central Command he has dealt with Pakistan.

Even before Austin's trip was officially announced, China reacted to speculations about the visit with a veiled threat in the Global Times, a Chinese publication that mirrors the Communist Party thinking.

It quoted Yang Xiyu, senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, as saying: "New Delhi cannot afford the cost of provoking China by publicly taking sides between Beijing and Washington."

Reflecting the unease in China, the article quoted several Chinese experts who asserted that military alliance between India and the US will not work.
The Metropolitan Police has expressed shock and horror that one of its own was a suspect in the case. The London police force said Couzens joined its ranks in 2018 and most recently served in the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, an armed unit responsible for guarding embassies in the capital and Parliament.
But in the intervening years, Mr. Aliot succeeded in softening the partys image in Perpignan and won new converts, even as disillusioned beavers stayed home or left blank ballots on voting day in 2020. Mr. Aliot won handily  in a rematch against his opponent of 2014 who, like Mr. Macron, had tilted rightward and marketed himself as the best check against the far right.

Nationally, Ms. Le Pen, who was Mr. Aliots common-law partner for a decade until 2019, has hewed to the same playbook in sanitizing her partys image, even amid questions about the depth and sincerity of those efforts.

She has softened the partys longtime populist economic agenda  for instance, by dropping a proposal to exit the euro and by promoting green reindustrialization  while holding onto or even toughening the partys core, hard-line positions on immigration, Islam and security.

The effort by the party to wade into the mainstream has presented a special quandary for Mr. Macron. Sensing the political threat, and lacking a real challenge on his left, he has tried to fight the National Rally on its own turf  moving to the right to vie for voters who might be tempted to defect to it. Doing so, Mr. Macron hopes to keep the far right at bay.

But the shift also helps destigmatize the far right, or at least many of its messages, argue National Rally leaders, some members of Mr. Macrons own party and political analysts. Mr. Macrons strategy may have the unintended consequence of helping the National Rally in its decades-long struggle to become a normal party, they say.

It legitimizes what weve been saying, Mr. Aliot said. These are the people whove been saying for 30 years: Be careful, theyre nasty, theyre fascists, because they target Muslims. All of a sudden, theyre talking like us.
Bill Montgomery / Houston Chronicle

The single member of the Public Utility Commission, chair Arthur D'Andrea, on Friday gave companies more time to dispute their storm-related grid payments and reversed about $1 billion in service fees charged to grid users.

It was the first meeting of the state's utility regulator since two of its members resigned in the wake of the brutally cold winter storm that killed dozens and left millions without power and water. The PUC oversees the independent nonprofit Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the power grid manager. It also regulates telecommunications and sewer and water utilities in Texas.
RZIM cuts staff, will restructure as grant-making organization to support abuse victims

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Ravi Zacharias International Ministries is restructuring and will soon become a grant-making organization supporting evangelism and abuse victims as it plans to lay off the majority of its staff, its leadership has announced.

The development comes approximately one month after the release of the final investigative report from Atlanta law firm Miller & Martin detailing the extensive sexual misconduct and abuse alleged to have been committed by its namesake and late apologist who died in May 2020 after a battle with cancer.

The apologetics ministry intends to lay 60% of its staff and restart the organization, according to an internal email obtained by The Christian Post.

In the email, RZIM CEO Sarah Davis, the daughter of the late apologist, wrote that the ministry cannot  indeed should not  continue to operate as an organization in its present form."

Nor do we believe we can merely rename the organization and move forward with business as usual. That, we are convinced, is not right for numerous reasons.

Davis admitted that in the past few months, the organization has experienced a "steady decline" in financial support and the loss of its certification with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

RZIM halted fundraising efforts in the wake of the report's fallout and hired the consulting firm Guidepost Solutions to review the organization's culture and practices. The ministry will now transition to become a grant-making organization that supports both evangelism and the prevention of and caring for victims of sexual abuse.

Those of you affected by this will be offered the same financial consideration as those who participated in the voluntary redundancy in recent weeks, Davis told staff.

No employee will be asked to sign an NDA, and we encourage any of you to reach out to Guidepost with any information you may have that may be helpful in the review, regardless of your status with RZIM in the coming weeks.

Davis said that the organization anticipates the transition to a grant-making organization to be complete within four to six months. The transition will be accompanied by leadership changes.

Davis announced on Saturday that her fathers name would likely be removed from the ministry.

"We are in the process of taking down Ravi's content from our website and social media platforms, including publications, videos, and other forms of content, and we intend to change the name of the organization," Davis wrote in a statement.



"Effective immediately, we are also discontinuing the use of The Zacharias Institute' brand."

She assured that the organization continues to "grieve deeply for the victims who have been treated in ways that are completely antithetical to the gospel."

"We also painfully and increasingly recognize organizational failures that have occurred and the repentance that needs to take place in both heart and action," she stated.



Allegations of Zacharias sexual misconduct first emerged in 2017 when it was alleged that he had groomed and engaged in online sexting with Canadian woman Lori Anne Thompson in addition to misrepresenting and inflating his academic credentials. His sexual exploitation against several massage therapists in a Georgia spa he co-owned was revealed last summer.

The Miller & Martin report found that therapists accused Zacharias of sexting, unwanted touching, spiritual abuse, and rape.

Thompson tweeted Wednesday, asking for prayers for RZIM CEO Davis.

If petition is part of your practice, I request that you consider doing so for Sarah Zacharias Davis today and in the coming days," she tweeted. "No comments or recriminations are welcome  only quite, fervent, petition as she walks the way of not only suffering  but integrity. I will."
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The Haryana governments legislation to reserve 75% jobs for locals raises more questions than it answers. What is the methodology that the government has adopted to come to this figure? Also, the category of locals that the government has used as the grounds to provide for the quota in the private sectors is rather ambiguous. After all, any reservation package, if accepted and implemented, cannot be carried out to its logical end with such an amorphous category as local. In actual implementation of such legislations, it is always the individual who is taken up as the concrete unit to distribute the benefits of reservation. The individual is primarily abstracted from class, caste, gender, religion, etc. It is the social background rather than the place of origin that weighs decisively while selecting a candidate. In such a scenario, a local acquires only a symbolic value. If the legislation suffers from these limitations, then why has the Government of Haryana pushed the quota through a legislation without giving due consideration to the issues raised above? Is it because the government in question averts the legitimation crisis produced by the farmers protests against the three farm bills? However, since the Government of Haryana has suggested a quota for the private sector, it would be important to discuss the grounds on which the corporates seek to oppose the legislation. And what is the nature of this opposition?

The corporates, as reported in the media, have been using the usual stock argument that quotas in general are inimical to industrial development, capital investment and merit that is to be accrued from open competition. Apart from the generic arguments against the quota policy, the corporates seem to have two more arguments.
Tigers are crammed into filthy cages in Laos. Blood-soaked bats are for sale on market stalls in Indonesia. And pangolin carcasses are found in their tens of thousands around the world, butchered for their supposedly medicinal properties.

It is now one year since the World Health Organisation declared a Covid-19 pandemic, but we have made no progress in preventing the next catastrophic virus.

Over the past year, my newspaper, The Independent, has unearthed horrific examples of wildlife abuse in Asia and Africa, practices that are not only shameful but make the outbreak of another dangerous zoonotic virus  one jumping from animals to humans  extremely likely.

Take, for example, the illegal breeding of rare animals such as lions and tigers across Eastern Asia. They are kept in obscenely cruel conditions  in filthy cages, confined to tight spaces  and are often visibly inbred.

Market in misery: A caged pangolin which is destined for slaughter in Indonesia. We have made no progress in preventing the next catastrophic virus, writes Evgeny Lebedev

Many are destined for export to China, where criminal gangs exploit porous borders and where legal loopholes allow these practices to go unpunished.

The key lesson of the pandemic was best illustrated to me this month by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

His countrys safeguarding of the critically endangered mountain gorilla has yielded huge benefits in the form of vital tourism revenue. It has ensured development and jobs for local communities.

This one health outlook  with the wellbeing of nature intimately linked to the health of humanity  must be carried forward.

Since last summer, our Stop The Illegal Wildlife Trade campaign has been calling for further action.

We have exposed the criminal gangs behind wholesale elimination of species across Africa and Asia, we have highlighted the gaps in legislation that allow further abuse of wildlife, and we have shed light on the organisations doing vital work protecting nature.

We should be gravely concerned about the proliferation of wildlife farms across East and South-East Asia. Scientists on the WHOs mission to attempt to get some answers from China on the origin of the Covid virus believe there is strong potential wildlife farms are involved in the chain of transmission. Countries such as China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia must do more to close their wildlife farms, captive breeding operations and wildlife markets.

Given the events and repercussions of the past year, the illegal wildlife trade should be treated as no less than a threat to our national security

The work of Freeland, an anti-poaching organisation and our charity partner, and of Space For Giants, the conservation group of which I am patron, is crucial in strengthening judicial systems to make sure wildlife criminals are punished.

Some steps have been taken by the Chinese government to tighten legislation around wildlife trade since the outbreak of this pandemic, but not nearly enough has been done to tackle this 53 billion industry.

After the SARS epidemic of 2002, the Chinese temporarily tightened restrictions around the wildlife trade, exterminating close to a million animals  before loosening rules again under immense pressure from those farms and traders who make such huge profits from this unimaginably risky practice. They cannot make this mistake again.

Of course, the recent WHO mission was not given a fair crack of the whip in investigating the markets where many believe the virus originated.

This cover-up should not have been allowed to happen.

It is likely that the Chinese medical authorities have more information, but I fear it will not be released if it incriminates them or their previously lax regulation of wildlife consumption.

China will host the global Convention on Biodiversity in October. It must use its position to commit itself to a permanent ban on the sale, consumption and farming of exotic wildlife  for any reason, including so-called medicinal  and encourage other countries to follow suit.

The key lesson of the pandemic was best illustrated to me this month by President Paul Kagame (pictured in 2019) of Rwanda, writes Evgeny Lebedev

The illegal wildlife trade should not be seen just as a criminal problem, or even a health problem. Given the events and repercussions of the past year, it should be treated as no less than a threat to our national security.

With that in mind, I laud the WHOs One World, One Health movement for its clarity in linking the stability of the natural world with that of ours.

I urge the British Government to follow suit by treating the condition of our environment as an issue of public health and security.

There is a small minority of people who profit from gambling with our safety in this way.

We are now awake to the immensity of this risk, and are all too conscious of what failure would mean.

Only zero tolerance of the illegal wildlife trade will stop the even greater tragedy that, without strong action, is certain to come.
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BRAMPTON, Ontario, March 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Todays outbreak at an Amazon fulfillment warehouse in Brampton, Ontario is the latest example of Amazon not prioritizing the needs of their employers, and further affirms the urgent need for proper worker representation at one of the worlds largest and richest companies, says the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada) union.



UFCW Canada represents more than a quarter of a million private-sector workers across Canada including thousands of logistics workers, and the choice for a group of Amazon drivers in the Greater Toronto Area who tried to join the union, but faced fierce resistance by Amazon.

The Brampton facility is one of at least 30 Amazon fulfillment centers across the continent that have experienced outbreaks of COVID-19 impacting thousands of workers and their families. With these types of outcomes, Amazon workers have every reason to be concerned, and all Canadians should be questioning this companys commitment to prevention, says Paul Meinema the national president of UFCW Canada. It is no wonder that more than 5,000 Amazon workers in the United States are in the midst of exercising their right to join our union and are now on the verge of having a meaningful say in their workplace and crucial health and safety issues.

Throughout the union drive in Alabama, Amazon has attempted to discourage its employees from exercising this fundamental labour right by paying union-busters more than $10,000 per day. But support for the union continues to grow stronger by the day.

The frustration experienced by Amazon workers throughout the pandemic has been intensified by the companys decision to claw-back a $2 per hour hazard pay premium, and to reinstate disciplinary measures aimed at workers deemed unproductive. This, despite the extraordinary efforts of these courageous frontline workers to meet the day to day needs of Canadians, and despite the fact that injury rates at Amazon have grown steadily over the last four years.

This latest outbreak also reaffirms the urgent need for employers  especially, in this case, one of the biggest and richest employers in the world  to provide all their workers with paid sick days, adds Meinema, making reference to a recent Toronto Star article that reported not all Amazon workers have paid sick days. Many of Amazons employees at this facility come from vulnerable communities, and Amazon must step up immediately to fully work with government to ensure that the needs of these workers, families, and communities are met with the urgency and respect that they so rightly deserve.

About UFCW Canada

UFCW Canada is the countrys leading private sector union, representing more than 250,000 union members across Canada working in food retail and processing, transportation, health care, logistics, warehousing, agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing, and the security and professional sectors. UFCW is the country's most innovative organization dedicated to building fairness in workplaces and communities. UFCW Canada members are your neighbours who work at your local grocery stores, hotels, airport food courts, taxi firms, car rental agencies, nursing homes, restaurants, food processing plants, and thousands of other locations across the country. To find out more about UFCW and its ground-breaking work, visit www.ufcw.ca.

Contact Information

Debora De Angelis

Regional Director, Ontario

UFCW Canada

416-679-3409

debora.deangelis@ufcw.ca

www.ufcw.ca
Iranian-flagged container ship Shahr e Kord is pictured at Haydarpasa port in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 13, 2019. (Yoruk Isik/Reuters)

Iranian Ship Hit in Attack in Mediterranean, Company Says

DUBAIAn Iranian container ship was damaged in an attack in the Mediterranean, the state-run shipping company said on Friday, adding it would take legal action to identify the perpetrators of what it called terrorism and naval piracy.

The ship, Shahr e Kord, was slightly damaged in Wednesdays incident by an explosive object which caused a small fire, but no one on board was hurt, the spokesman, Ali Ghiasian, said, according to state media.

Such terrorist acts amount to naval piracy, and are contrary to international law on commercial shipping security, and legal action will be taken to identify the perpetrators through relevant international institutions, Ghiasian said.

The vessel was headed to Europe when the attack occurred and will leave for its destination after repairs, he added.

The Iranian-flagged vessel last reported its position off Syrias coast on March 10 as it headed for the Syrian port of Latakia, Refinitiv ship tracking data showed.

Two maritime security sources said initial indications were that the Iranian container ship had been intentionally targeted by an unknown source.

Iranian-flagged container ship Shahr e Kord sails in Bosphorus on its way to the Mediterranean Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey, on Feb. 9, 2020. (Yoruk Isik/Reuters)

The incident comes two weeks after an Israeli-owned ship the MV HELIOS RAY was hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Oman.

The cause was not immediately clear, although a U.S. defense official said the blast left holes in both sides of the vessels hull. Israel accused Iran of being behind the explosion, a charge the Islamic Republic denied.

On Friday, Israeli officials did not provide comment when asked if Israel was involved in the Shahr e Kord incident reported by Iran.

The vessel, which is among Iranian ships that have been designated by the U.S. under tough sanctions measures, was detained in Libya in 2019 although the ship was later released.

A third maritime security source told Reuters that three other Iranian ships had been damaged in recent weeks by unknown causes when sailing through the Red Sea.

Smuggling

Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel has targeted at least a dozen vessels bound for Syria and mostly carrying Iranian oil out of concern that petroleum profits are funding terrorism in the Middle East.

Iran, which often threatens strong retaliation for any Israeli attack, has often declined to point the finger at Israel over repeated air strikes on Iranian-backed forces in Syria, in an apparent effort to avoid all-out war with Israel.

Israeli officials declined comment on the report, which cited unnamed U.S. and regional officials and came as the Biden administration reviews policy on Iran. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem had no immediate comment.

In a speech to Israeli navy cadets in 2019, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of increased oil smuggling by sea to circumvent U.S. sanctions, and said the navy corps would have a more important role in blocking these Iranian actions.

He did not elaborate on what that might entail.

Israel has separately said it is waging a covert campaign between wars to deny Iranian allies on its borders arms and other support from Tehran.

We do not comment on the campaign we are waging, in the operational regard, Israeli security cabinet minister Tzachi Hanegbi told Tel Aviv radio 102 FM when asked about the Journal report.

But we always emphasize (that) we must be poised against Iranian belligerence on all frontsand I suppose this also includes the air and sea arenas, as well as on land.

The Israeli navy, whose largest vessels are missile corvettes and five diesel-fueled submarines, is mostly active in the Mediterranean and Red seas.
Service of COVID-19 warriors enabled India to move towards victory: Harsh Vardhan

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Bhopal, Mar 13: Selfless service and sacrifice made by health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic will be remembered forever as it has enabled the country to move towards an "unprecedented victory", Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Saturday.

He also said that India's case recovery rate was the highest while the death rate is the lowest in the world. "These are our COVID warriors. Their labour, dedication and selfless service for the entire one year in the fight against COVID has enabled the country to move towards an unprecedented victory," the minister said as he inaugurated various facilities at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Vardhan said family members of health professionals too have played a crucial role during the pandemic. India recorded the highest number of daily novel coronavirus cases in 83 days on Saturday. The Union Health Ministry reported 24,882 fresh COVID-19 infections, up from 23,285 the day earlier and in keeping with a graph steadily inching upwards.

Don't do or say anything that could damage India's image: Naidu to Rajya Sabha members

This is the highest daily rise since December 20 when 26,624 new infections were recorded. Vardhan further said the country made a rapid progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last six years. The health minister said then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee started the journey to increase the number of AIIMS from one to six, while PM Modi led this journey to take the number of AIIMS from six to 22.

He said the number of seats for MBBS course has risen by around 30,000 in the last 6 to 7 years while the number of seats for post-graduate (medical) courses has gone up by approximately 24,000 in this period. Moreover, health was given a 137 per cent hike in the Union budget 2021-22, Vardhan said, adding that 1.75 crore poor people have been treated free under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana so far.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 23:22 [IST]
Fewer than 600 more South Carolinians have tested positive for COVID-19, continuing the state's downward trend in new cases since January.

With more in-person workers and high-risk residents getting shots in the latest round of vaccines, experts hope to see the spread plummet by summer.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has logged an average of just over 600 new cases per day the past week, a seven-day average similar to what the Palmetto State recorded in mid-June.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 571 confirmed, 241 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 454,158 confirmed, 78,391 probable.

Percent positive: 3.6 percent.

New deaths reported: 33 confirmed, 8 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 7,842 confirmed, 1,028 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 70.8 percent.

How does S.C. rank in vaccines administered per 100,000 people?

42nd as of March 12, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hardest-hit areas

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The highest totals of newly confirmed cases were in Richland (75), Greenville (72) and Spartanburg (46) counties.

What about the tri-county?

Charleston County had 35 new cases on March 13 while Berkeley counted 19 and Dorchester had 17.

Deaths

Ten of the new confirmed deaths reported were among people age 35 to 64, the remainder were patients age 65 and older.

Hospitalizations

Of the 598 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of March 13, 156 were in the ICU and 61 were using ventilators.

What do experts say?

Health care professionals in South Carolina said that in order to beat COVID-19, people should get the vaccine when it's their turn to do so.

Efforts to make vaccines available to all South Carolinians are ongoing.

The CDC said those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine should wait at least 14 days before getting any other vaccine, including those for flu or shingles. People who get another vaccine first should wait the same length of time before getting the shot for the coronavirus.

More information can be found at scdhec.gov/vaxfacts.
The state has earmarked 9,000 coronavirus vaccine doses for Floridians in eight counties, including Pinellas, who are living with HIV, according to a Friday afternoon news release.

The doses will be sent to locations run by the Los Angeles-based nonprofit AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The 18 locations getting doses are in Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Escambia, Lee, Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties.

The foundation is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the United States, according to a news release from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Florida Department of Health.

About 134,900 Floridians are living with HIV, according to the release.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that people who are immunocompromised, including people with HIV, could be at increased risk for severe illness if they contract COVID-19.

The state has previously said the people with underlying health conditions whose doctors deem them extremely vulnerable to the coronavirus are eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine. But rules have shifted over how and where people in this group can get doses.

Beginning Monday, any coronavirus vaccine provider in the state is allowed to give doses to medically vulnerable people who have a state form signed by a physician attesting that they are extremely vulnerable to the virus, according to an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

  

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Today, the city of Minneapolis announced a $27 million settlement with the family of George Floyd. The family had sued the city for the alleged wrongful death of Floyd.

The announcement comes as the trial of Derek Chauvin proceeds through its early stages. The court is in the midst of selecting a jury.

Given its timing, the announcement looks to me like an attempt to prevent Chauvin from getting a fair trial, assuming there was ever any chance of him getting one in Minneapolis. But even if Im wrong in saying that this is the citys motive, it is almost certainly the effect of its announcement.

The Washington Post sees the problem. It states:

The settlement could have implications for the ongoing criminal trial of Derek Chauvin. . . .As jury selection began this week, Eric Nelson, Chauvins attorney, sought to block mention of any possible payout by the city to the Floyd family, arguing it would be prejudicial. . . . [L]egal observers questioned if publicity over the settlement, which came on day four of jury selection, could result in a possible mistrial. I think its a potential disaster for Chauvin, said Mary Moriarty, former chief Hennepin County public defender. She said if she were Chauvins attorney, she would request a mistrial. The concern is that jurors will be aware that the city gave George Floyds family a great deal of money, Moriarty said. And I suspect the jurors will have a hard time avoiding the news, even if they try.

Of course they will.

The city council wants desperately to see Chauvin convicted. It has an ideological stake in that outcome. In addition, it hopes to avoid the rioting that would likely accompany an acquittal.

The interest of justice carries no weight for the council. Fairness for a civil servant who helped protect public safety in the city counts for nothing.

Its scary that the power of multiple branches of government is being exerted this forcefully, and seemingly in concert, against a citizen who has been convicted of no crime. Its also, I believe, a sign of things to come.

Residents of Minneapolis should be very afraid of their government.
Gone, but not forgotten. Photo: Pete Marovich - Pool/Getty Images

Its not exactly a mystic long-shot to suggest that Donald J. Trump still has a devoted following among Republican voters. But there hasnt been a lot of empirical verification of his post-presidential position in his party, other than a dubious 2024 straw poll at a CPAC conference in Orlando where he was greeted like he was still in office. Among other things, the CPAC poll was probably distorted by home-turf enthusiasm for Florida governor Ron DeSantis, hailed as the Great Reopener by his public-health-hostile co-partisans.

But now the reputable GOP polling firm of Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (which among other things did work for the Trump reelection campaign, but isnt affiliated with Trump at present) has released a new national survey of self-identified Republicans measuring their, well, Trumpiness. The pollsters subsequently sliced and diced the GOP rank and file into five tribes based on their attitudes toward the 45th president as a present and future leader.

They found that three of the five tribes  representing about two-thirds of the respondents  are very warm toward the idea of Trump 2024, as their monikers suggest: Die-Hard Trumpers (27 percent of Republicans), Trump Boosters (28 percent) and InfoWars GOP (10 percent). This last group, defined as strongly favoring QAnon and similar conspiracy theories, could be described as Trumpier than Trump. A fourth tribe (20 percent of Republicans) is called Post-Trump GOP. It shares with the first three groups sky-high approval ratings for Trumps performance as president (97 percent), but is conspicuously open to alternative future leadership (9 percent of them definitely would not vote for Trump in a 2024 Republican primary, while 91 percent arent sure). Then you have the famous, if often overestimated, Never Trump tribe, coming in at 15 percent of the party. Three-fourths of them predictably dont give him a positive job-approval rating, and 89 percent of them want to see him go away.

Interestingly, support for Trump in a 2024 primary competition declines even in two of the three pro-Trump tribes (all but the Die-Hard Trumpers, defined by their unconditional support for him) once potential rivals are named. Among Trump Boosters, for example, 12 percent would favor DeSantis over Trump in 2024; 8 percent would support Mike Pence; and 7 percent would back Ted Cruz. That indicates some potential room for rivals to maneuver without directly challenging the mogul. But all in all, the results confirm the judgment that its still Trumps party, with only a relatively small group dead set against him and a majority still inclined to support him in the future. Perhaps best of all for the Man Who Would Be King, no one person in the GOP is even remotely within striking distance of him in rank-and-file esteem. If you remember his divide-and-conquer strategy for winning the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, that makes him uniquely formidable going forward if he decides to run again.
(TNS)  Congress, like corporate America and the rest of the world, was forced to adopt remote working technologies and other digital collaborative tools a year ago as the coronavirus shut down the global economy.Now, as the pace of vaccination across the country picks up and a return to pre-pandemic normal appears increasingly possible, lawmakers and reform advocates are debating whether Congress should keep using the new tech tools even after the pandemic ends.Some lawmakers say that remote video hearings, proxy voting, digital submission of bills and amendments helped members of Congress continue doing their work. But others bemoan Zoom fatigue and say the absence of physical interactions with fellow lawmakers may have worsened partisanship.Unlike companies that already had experience with employees working remotely, Congress had to quickly adapt. House Democrats last May 15 adopted rules allowing remote voting and committee meetings after members fled the capital fearing COVID-19. The Senate, then led by Republicans, allowed video hearings but not proxy voting.Advocates of changes say Congress should take the best lessons from the forced experiment brought on by COVID-19 and embrace new ways of meeting and passing laws. The May 15 rule changes flipped Congress and dragged it into the 21st century, from three-ring binders to Zoom, said Lorelei Kelly, head of the Resilient Democracy Coalition, based at the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Georgetown University.Eighth graders around the country were doing video sessions long before Congress got there, said Kelly, whose September 2019 report Modernizing Congress: Bringing Democracy into the 21st Century called for Congress to embrace new technologies that would allow greater participation from citizens in lawmaking.The utility of technological tools that Congress was forced to adopt because of the pandemic was only reinforced by the Jan. 6 insurrection, which showed that the work of Congress can be disrupted and lawmakers ought to have tech options to continue functioning, Kelly said. I dont want there to be a lower point for Congress to help itself, Kelly said. Its a continuity of government challenge at this point.In the past year, the House held 600 hearings and as many as 6,500 meetings on Webex, a video platform owned by Cisco, according to data from the company. The Senate has held more than 1,400 hearings and meetings combined, Cisco said.While the issue of virtual hearings didnt become contentious, the switch to proxy voting, allowing a House member away from Washington to let a colleague present on the House floor vote on his or her behalf, became embroiled in a lawsuit brought by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who called Speaker Nancy Pelosis adoption of the rule an unconstitutional power grab.Virtual hearings allowed a more diverse group of witnesses to appear before Congress, most lawmakers and advocates of updating congressional processes said. The fact that I can have testimony in front of a committee from someone whos in another time zone, without requiring them to come to Washington, D.C., really opens up a world of opportunity, said Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., chairman of the House Select Committee on Modernization. To the extent that hearings are about access to information that can direct the work of a committee, there is more access to more information if youre not solely dependent on who can be in a specific room on a specific time on a specific day.Kilmers panel, formed in January 2019, had issued a set of 97 recommendations before the pandemic struck, and several of them focused on infusing congressional processes with technological tools, streamlining schedules and providing greater transparency to lawmakers work.Over in the Senate, Missouri Republican Roy Blunt said remote hearings have been incredibly successful and predicted that they may be one of the things that will last, even after the pandemic-era restrictions are lifted. But Connecticut Democrat Christopher S. Murphy said he had Zoom fatigue, finding it difficult to question witnesses through remote hearings, and he preferred in-person questioning.Republican Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, also a member of the House modernization panel, sees remote hearings and tech-enabled legislating as both a blessing and a curse.Virtual hearings have sometimes provided more troubles and longer hearings and longer markups than what would have been happening pre-pandemic, Davis said. So I dont think technology has universally made Congress more nimble. While virtual hearings may be here to stay, the curse of all of this technology and technological use during the pandemic is its taken away the personalization of being a member of Congress, Davis said.Disagreements about bills and amendments between lawmakers who were in the same committee room or walking the halls of Congress could be resolved by saying, Lets work together and get things done, Davis said. But technology and the lack of personalization has led to a much higher partisan temperature out here.Former Democratic House member Brian Baird of Washington said partisanship was at an all-time high long before the pandemic struck and its unlikely that technologies and virtual hearings could worsen the divide between the two parties. As pandemic restrictions unfolded across the country last March and April, but before Congress switched to virtual hearings, Baird chaired a mock hearing that included former Republican Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina, retired Gen. David Petraeus, and members of the Spanish and British governments. The hearing was intended to be a trial run to help current members of Congress see that remote technology could work. Baird is now a consultant to Democracy Fund, a nonpartisan private foundation that promotes transparency in government. The mock hearings held by Baird and others were a huge step forward in addressing fears among members, who had to get out of their comfort zone of meeting only in person, said Marci Harris, the CEO and co-founder of POPVOX, a digital platform that advocates for modernizing Congress.Baird and other advocates say that unlike corporate America, the art of politics sometimes requires being in the same room with other lawmakers to discuss an amendment, or change ones mind about a vote after seeing the tally on the House floor.The thing you miss the most is the ability to go to a colleague on the floor, sit down next to them and talk to them, Baird said. But you can do that technologically. Beyond the process of drafting and passing bills, remote working also has helped bridge the gap between staff in members district offices and in Washington, Harris said. District offices were more integrated, and district folks had a good read now on whats happening in Washington.While Congress is debating which innovations to keep, other democratic countries have embraced tech tools in far-reaching ways to bridge the gap between their citizens and lawmakers, said Beth Simone Noveck, director of the Governance Lab at New York Universitys Tandon School of Engineering.Taiwan, for example, has used technology to engage with hundreds of thousands of citizens to help with refining the definition of a problem around which legislation is needed, and that has led to crafting 26 pieces of national legislation, Noveck said. Germany last year crowdsourced suggestions from interest groups for its policy on artificial intelligence, and the U.K. and Brazil have used tech platforms to seek citizen feedback on defining the legislative agenda and testing how a law is working, Noveck said.The labs CrowdLaw project offers a suite of technologies that Congress and other legislative bodies can use to engage with citizens in seeking input for legislation and improving oversight, Noveck said.While lawmakers and their staff who have seen the tech tools in use are interested, archaic congressional rules about how the legislative process should work had slowed adoption of technologies, Noveck said  until COVID-19 struck.COVID did a lot to really begin to grease the wheels in terms of creating openness to thinking about new ways of doing things, Noveck said.
New Delhi: For most of us, 2020 was the year of reckoning when a global pandemic forced everyone to pause and reassess our relationship with nature. But for rural communities, it was a time of acute economic distress, unemployment and untold hardship. During this unprecedented time, one social enterprise was not just greening denuded tracts of community land and replenishing water bodies but also supporting rural communities to earn their livelihood with dignity.

Over 2.6 million trees were planted in 2020 with the help of locals and migrants that were hit hard by reverse migration. This way, they not only got immediate employment opportunities but could also extract benefits from the fruit, fodder and other forest produce by selling the excess amount in times to come.

Plantation drives also improved the environment in tangible ways. Water tables were expected to rise due to the growing vegetation, conflicts between humans and animals were reduced, and villagers could grow inexpensive fodder for their cattle instead of having to buy it. In different states of India, local species of trees were planted in collaboration with corporate partners for the benefit of local topography and communities. Thousands of individuals across the globe also participated in the plantation by virtually adopting these trees and using the unique eTreeCertificates for sustainable gifting. Near Sariska Tiger Reserve, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and various other national sanctuaries and reserve forests, growing more trees have helped the animal habitats to thrive.

Gram Pradhan Devendra Singh shares how plantation drives near Dalma Wildlife Reserve helped the rural communities, "Not only have the trees helped to stop the elephants from raiding our crops, the improved ecosystem gives economic sustenance to villagers. Not to mention, employment opportunities to those who need it most."

Supervisor Surinder Mahto adds, "After the hardship inflicted by COVID-19, the poverty-stricken villagers are finally getting economic sustenance. In my village, here in Jharkhand, over 150 men and women are working in the plantation drive and getting extensive support to earn their living. At a time like this, this work has been of great help to us. Also, the plants will not just help us by providing us with fodder, crops and other produce in the future but also improve the environment. I work here as the supervisor and oversee all the work. Once the plantation work is done, the villagers will continue to take care of the trees and protect them from any foreseeable danger."

Bikrant Tiwary, the CEO of Grow-Trees.com, the organisation behind this movement, says, We are happy that despite difficulties in 2020, we extended our umbrella of projects to 23 states of India, helped rural communities in their time of need, and generated about 200,000+ workdays for them. We are hopeful of continuing our efforts with even more determination in 2021 and aim to plant 7 million trees in the coming monsoon. What has been most rewarding about this entire process is that at a time when farming and plantation have become mostly mechanised, Grow-Trees.com was able to provide livelihood opportunities to pandemic hit villagers by engaging them in work that not just benefits them but also the environment they live in. "

Grow-Trees.com will continue to support communities in need while also providing individuals and corporates with the opportunity to plant trees in public lands, near wildlife habitats, communal holy places, schools and government-owned deforested or denuded areas. During the pandemic, however, this work acquired an even bigger social dimension. Over 400 households near plantation sites in Maharashtra, were provided with dry ration kits that were sufficient for about 64,000 meals. Training programs in fishery and bee-keeping skills were also ignited to generate immediate employment avenues. In Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, old water bodies were expanded and new ones were built to facilitate the daily needs of the rural community members, domestic cattle and other stray animals in the regions.

(This is a featured content)


A semiofficial Iranian news agency has reported a clash between border guards and a group of angry protesters near the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran after a shooting incident.

Fars news agency said the border patrol had shot and killed an alleged smuggler aboard a vessel near the port of Kohstak in the coastal Hormozgan Province on March 12 and pursued other boats that fled the area.

The area has been the scene of unrest recently, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has sought to crack down on informal trade in the area.

Many of those now being labeled "smugglers" and drawing deadly responses from authorities have long been accustomed to lax enforcement of cross-border business in gasoline and other goods.

Fars quoted Hormozgan border commander Hossein Dehki as saying guards shot and killed a 31-year-old resident of nearby Sirik while trying to apprehend boats engaged in smuggling.

Dehki said news of the shooting attracted protesters who "attacked the Hormozgan border guards' headquarters at the port of Kohstak and damaged a number of the organization's vessels and naval equipment" and oil-company vehicles.

It also said they had attacked and "seriously injured" several border guards.

Tensions have been high in underdeveloped southern Iran since a clash with alleged fuel smugglers last month in neighboring Sistan-Baluchistan Province resulted in three "smuggler" deaths.

That incident sparked a crowd attack on a local governor's office in Saravan, near the border with Pakistan.

That region is heavily Sunni Muslim, a source of frequent friction with Iran's Shi'a-dominated leadership.

The border commander in Hormozgan, Dehki, said coast guards have seized more than 10 million liters of fuel from smugglers in the past year.

With reporting by AP
Copper and Western Australias Paterson Range are gaining increased focus in the mining world and the Nifty Copper Mine is set to benefit.

In 2009, I looked at the Paterson Range as a remote place that was full of opportunities for the brave. Logistics was challenging and only a well-funded company would make any headway.

One of these opportunities, the Nifty Copper Mine, has now fallen into the hands of a junior player and by all accounts, it appears to be a junior company with a competent management group. If you look at the group, they are operators and this is an operational project.

Barry Cahill, the managing director of Cyprium Metals Ltd (ASX:CYM), who had a Coffee with Samso with me last month clearly stated that Cyprium Metals will be producing copper plate in 2022 - A New Copper Producer - An Overnight Success.

Now if production does take shape in 2022, I think the current valuation for the company would look cheap now.

Things already happening in Paterson Range

Although there was the discovery of Telfer (Au, Cu, Ag), Kintyre (U), Woodie Woodie (Mn) and Nifty (Cu) in the 1980s, there have not been too many highlights recently. There have been more activities, but I still would not call it a busy highway.

What has been happening in recent times makes this region more accessible and known to the general ASX (Australian Stock Exchange) investor.

Today we are looking at the Antipa Minerals and Rio Tinto JV at Citadel, Antipa and IGO Limited with the Paterson Province JV, Greatland Gold Havieron JV with Newcrest, and the discovery of O'Callaghan's Tungsten project by Newcrest (Mineral Resource in 2009). Then there is the Rio Tinto Winu copper discovery.

The copper story

The sign of a copper resurgence is now plainly in sight as the copper metal price is now at over the USD4 mark. With the rise of the EV revolution, there is an increasing interest in copper price, and hence the Nifty Copper Mine is going to be of greater interest.

Figure 1: Copper prices over 70 years and the last 12 months clearly show a rising trend.

The Nifty Copper Deposit

The deposit was discovered in the 1980s by WMC Resources Limited. It is 450km east of Port Hedland, Western Australia (See Figure 2). The deposit is currently owned by Cyprium Metals Ltd.

Figure 2: Simplified geologic map of the Proterozoic Paterson orogen, showing the distribution of major stratigraphic units and mineralized occurrences (modified from Hickman and Clarke, 1994). Inset map shows the location of the Paterson orogen in Western Australia. [1]

History [2]

1981: Oxide copper was first discovered at Nifty by WMC Limited.

1983: Drilling of the oxide resource led to the discovery of the deep sulphide resource.

1993: WMC commenced an open pit, heap leach, SX-EW operation on the relatively high-grade part of the oxide mineralisation.

1998: Nifty was purchased by Straits Resources Limited with subsequent expansion of the heap leach operation.

2003: Nifty and the surrounding exploration tenure was purchased by Aditya Birla Minerals.

2004: Underground development commenced exploiting the sulphide resource via a decline from the open pit. Construction of the sulphide concentrator commenced in October 2004.

2006: First copper concentrate produced. Open pit mining operations ceased.

2009: Heap leach operations ceased.

2016: Metals X Limited acquired Nifty through takeover of Aditya Birla Minerals Limited.

2021: Cyprium Metals Ltd acquires Nifty.

Geology [2]

Nifty is hosted within the ~850 to 824 Ma Yeneena Supergroup of the >24,000sqkm Neoproterozoic Yeneena Basin, which in turn comprises part of the Paterson Orogen. The Yeneena Supergroup is subdivided into the Throssell Range and succeeding Lamil Groups. The Throssell Range Group is composed of the Coolbro and overlying Broadhurst Formations with the latter hosting both the Nifty and Maroochydore deposits.

The deposit is hosted by the upper carbonaceous shale to pelitic schist unit of the Broadhurst Formation, which in the deposit area has been divided into four informal members: the Footwall Beds, the Nifty Carbonate Member, the Pyritic Marker and the Hangingwall Beds.

The deposit comprises supergene oxide, sulphide and transitional mineralisation above stratabound hypogene sulphide mineralisation hosted by carbonaceous and dolomitic shales, principally within the Nifty Carbonate Member. Hypogene mineralisation is localised in the north-eastern limb and keel of the 15SE plunging Nifty Syncline and extends for >1,300m down plunge. Mineralisation is simple, with the only major sulphide minerals being chalcopyrite and pyrite, with minor sphalerite and galena.

What's the big deal with Nifty?

What makes me so interested in the Nifty project is the lack of exploration activities for at least a couple of decades. Ideas and technical advances over the last two decades alone would make this place attractive. Add the rising metal price to the mix and you are going to get some excitement in the coming years.

The gold exploration and recently the nickel exploration success have come from renewed interest in the sector. With a greater injection of capital into an industry starved of real capital for the last two to three decades, numerous success stories have been appearing.

The discoveries over the last 12 months can be said to have been discoveries waiting to happen. All it needed was the added capital.

For many geologists, the discoveries were going to happen as soon as capital was added to the mix. The ground was always prospective but was just never explored mainly because of a lack of funding over the years.

In Australia, the number of copper producers, especially in the small-cap to mid-cap level of companies is very rare to nil. The production of copper in Australia is small compared to the rest of the word as you can see in Figure 2. With renewed interest in the metal and the capital market being favourable to fund projects, this could make something like Nifty very valuable.

Figure 4: Metals X ASX announcement: 10 March 2020, Nifty Copper Mine Resource Update figure is proportional production over time; data synthesized from U.S. Bureau of Mines (19321993), Schmitz (1979), U.S. Geological Survey (19942014, 1996 2017), British Geological Survey (20012015), and The Mineral Industry: Its Statistics, Technology, and Trade (published by McGraw-Hill, 19821940). Note: data prior to ~1850 is clearly incomplete. [3]

Cyprium Metals Limited raised AUD90 million for the AUD60 million ($24M cash and $36M in Convertible Notes) purchase price with the path to copper production in 2022.

There is a lot of talk about copper projects, but in Australia, there are not many that compare to Nifty in terms of potential time to production. There is a reported oxide and sulphide mineral resource of over 650,000 tonnes of copper (Figure 4). This is outside the 714,908 tonnes of copper metal that has been produced since its first production in 1993.

What is exciting is that the existing resource base remains open both up and down plunge of known mineralisation. With this in mind, the technical studies and infill drilling of existing open pit resource will begin soon. The new owners are optimistic in reopening the open pit strategy.

Figure 3: Metals X ASX announcement: 10 March 2020, Nifty Copper Mine Resource Update.

If the new owners had said that their strategy is to look at the underground opportunities, I would be not writing this Insight. The open-pit strategy with the current copper metal price should work. However, this is something for the mining engineers to comment.

Figure 5: Nifty Copper Mine site layout (source: Cyprium Metals Ltd)

How and where are they going to start will be the next topic of Coffee with Samso with Barry Cahill. As you can see in Figure 5, the existing pit is in place, so I figure we are going to be talking about pit extension or adjacent resources that are not related to the existing pit.

Will new Nifty be any better than old Nifty?

I have long believed that investing in an old project with legacy issues is merely looking for a disaster to be proven. However, the resource resurgence over the last 12 months has made me think differently. This cycle may be long enough and the project may be robust enough to work. Well, for now, it has made me rethink my thoughts as I see two factors that seem to make this cycle different.

The first is that the capital markets are now looking for rewards and the amount of funding already in the market is almost creating a self-fulfilling situation. The monetary stimulus that we are seeing and hearing all over this planet will drive economies to go into overdrive. We have all learned that a rising Dr Copper is a sign of economic recovery. It looks like it is happening as seen in Figure 1.

The second factor is that the EV Revolution will drive innovation that always leads to an aberration of how things used to work. The influx of capital into industry will make our version of an "Industrial Revolution". Remember, copper plays a vital role in electronics, vehicles, telecommunications, electrical power generation and distribution systems, domestic and industrial piping, chemicals, currency, and general infrastructure.

Can the resource increase?

I found a paper that had some very interesting facts on initial resource/reserves and actual resources/reserves while mining.

According to the paper [3], there is a common trend of growing cumulative production over time (Table 1), showing good conversion of resources to reserves and then mine production (eg, Mount Isa, Falconbridge). Some sites show a relatively constant total endowment over time (e.g., Alumbrera, Lumwana, Sepon), although many show an increasing endowment over time, with some sites showing major increases (eg, Olympic Dam, Collahuasi, Ok Tedi, Savannah, Antamina).

Table 1: Selected Historical reserve/resource estimates vs code-compliant estimates (year in brackets) [3]

Figure 6 shows a series of graphs that show these relationships. Could this be something that is going to be happening with Nifty? I remember that when Silverlake Resources Limited (ASX:SLR) started their mining in Daisy Milano, many had thought that the LOM (Life of Mine) would be short. That was in 2008 and they are still mining very well today in 2021.

"These positive trends reflect the fact that mineable resources commonly grow for mining projects, demonstrating that the initial reserves and resources are sufficient for justifying mine development but that the geology and/or other factors are able to deliver an expansion of endowment over time. The shorter-term variations in resources and reserves can often be due to a period of lower market prices (eg, Alumbrera in 2015, Bingham Canyon and Ok Tedi over 20082009)" [3]

Figure 6: Examples of cumulative mine production (red) plus reserves (yellow) and additional resources (blue) over time for selected mining projects (note the additive nature and varying scales and time periods; all values are Mt Cu; other resources various colours; all data from government yearbooks, company reporting, technical and academic reports). Abbreviations: IOCG = iron oxide copper-gold, VMS = volcanogenic massive sulphide.

Figure 6 (cont): Examples of cumulative mine production (red) plus reserves (yellow) and additional resources (blue) over time for selected mining projects (note the additive nature and varying scales and time periods; all values are Mt Cu; other resources various colours; all data from government yearbooks, company reporting, technical and academic reports). Abbreviations: IOCG = iron oxide copper-gold, VMS = volcanogenic massive sulphide. [3]

Figure 6 (cont): Examples of cumulative mine production (red) plus reserves (yellow) and additional resources (blue) over time for selected mining projects (note the additive nature and varying scales and time periods; all values are Mt Cu; other resources various colours; all data from government yearbooks, company reporting, technical and academic reports). Abbreviations: IOCG = iron oxide copper-gold, VMS = volcanogenic massive sulphide. [3]

What I remember about Olympic Dam is that it started as a copper mine and ended up being the largest uranium mine in the world. If you look at this from a geological and statistical point of view, why would a sizeable mineralisation event that large, assuming there are no known structural events that closed the mineralisation, stop?

Long-life mines are not uncommon. If the metal price is right and/or management can reduce operational costs, many mines have lasted a long time. Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) and BHP Group (ASX:BHP) are mining and shipping their iron ore at around the AUD$20/tonne (in that range anyway). Newcrest has its Cadia gold mine at negative cost. The combination of copper and gold has meant that the gold is produced at AUD$7.83.

What does this mean for investors?

For investors, and existing shareholders, I think the market needs to see the ducks lining up. Obviously, management needs to muster the ducks together and start making it happen. At this point, I don't have any reason to doubt that this will not be happening. For me, looking at the company from an investing strategy, taking positions now may not be a bad idea. The way I see this is that a potential copper producer in 2020 with a market capitalisation of AUD25.62 million (09/03/2021) looks cheap to me :-).

For those that have read till this sentence, a serious amount of DYOR (Do Your Own Research) may not be a bad idea. As I always say, DYOR is a good word, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is not a good word :-)

Currently, I do not hold any shares in CYM.

Gratitude

Patreon: This is a platform for supporting creators like me. Please consider helping out and pick your reward here. If you would spend some time and support Samso Insights, I would be totally appreciative. So please feel free to pick a reward, or simply chip in any amount that tickles your fancy - https://patreon.com/samsomedia

Reference

1. BRUCE R. ANDERSON,,* J. BRUCE GEMMELL, AND RON F. BERRY, The Geology of the Nifty Copper Deposit, Throssell Group, Western Australia: Implications for Ore Genesis: Economic Geology, Vol 96, 2001, pp 1535-1565

2. Metal X Limited website.

3. Gavin M. Mudd1, and Simon M. Jowitt, Growing Global Copper Resources, Reserves and Production: Discovery Is Not the Only Control on Supply: Economic Geology, Vol 113, No. 6, pp 1235-1267.

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About Samso

Samso is a renowned resource among the investment community for keen market analysis and insights into the companies and business trends that matter.

Investors seek out Samso for knowledgeable evaluations of current industry developments across a variety of business sectors and considered forecasts of future performances.

With a compelling format of relaxed online video interviews, Samso provides clear answers to questions they may not have the opportunity to ask and lays out the big picture to help them complete their investment research.

And in doing so, Samso also enables companies featured in interviews to build valuable engagement with their investment communities and customers.

Headed by industry veteran Noel Ong and based in Perth, Western Australia, Samsos Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talk interviews both feature friendly conversations with business figures that give insights into Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) companies, related concepts and industry trends.

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He brings all this experience and expertise to the Samso interviews, where his engaging conversation style creates a relaxed dialogue, revealing insights that can pique investor interest.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Its all crashing down around Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Third terms can be like that sometimes.

But Cuomo shouldnt kid himself. This is all self-inflicted damage.

Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on Friday added their voices to the chorus of New York Democrats calling for Cuomo to resign.

I guess Gillibrand, who drop-kicked Al Franken out of the Senate for far less that what Cuomos been accused of, just couldnt hold her tongue anymore.

The senators acted after Rep. Jerrold Nadler and other New York Dem members of Congress also called for Cuomo to leave.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie the other day authorized the Democratic-controlled chamber to launch an impeachment investigation into Cuomo.

Somewhere former President Donald Trump must be laughing his head off.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has also said Cuomo should resign, as have a host of other Dem state lawmakers.

Attorney General Letitia James has launched her own investigation of sexual misconduct claims lodged against the governor.

Cuomo has said he wont resign. He says none of the allegations are true.

But the Jenga tower of troubles is getting so high that Cuomos going to need wings to stay above it.

Seven women have now accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct. One accusation has been referred to the Albany police for investigation.

Dozens of other women told New York magazine about the toxic environment they endured while working in the Cuomo administration or covering the governor for the media.

Cuomo is innocent until proven guilty. But theres a heck of a lot of smoke here.

Cuomo was already in plenty of hot water over allegations that his administration covered up the number of people who died in nursing homes during the pandemic after ordering the nursing homes to accept virus patients last March.

And the New York Post reported that the Cuomo administration has also sent COVID-positive patients into homes for the disabled.

That order, which is still in effect, is frighteningly similar to Cuomos infamous nursing home edict: The homes for the disabled are prohibited from refusing entry to anybody COVID-positive and the facilities cant test the patients.

And have you heard about how the Cuomo administration allegedly covered up serious structural problems with the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge?

I wish Id gotten that Cuomo Bridge license plate now. Its going to be a collectors item. Maybe now theyll start calling it the Tappan Zee Bridge again.

Add to this Cuomos ham-handed shuttering of the Moreland Commission when it started sniffing too close to his office, as well as the Buffalo Billion scandal, and its hard to see how Cuomo survives in office. Hes battling allegations about his personal behavior as well as escalating questions about his performance as governor. Thats a bad mix.

The tipping point is fast approaching if it isnt already here. Were getting to the place where Cuomo remaining in office is simply untenable.

Hes already in hiding most days, and that wont do when weve got a pandemic recovery to manage.

And soon enough, the decision wont be Cuomos to make. Because Cuomo is wrong when he says that only the truth matters. Political support matters too, and Cuomos is gone. Even Trump never faced this kind of mutiny from his fellow Republicans.

Someones eventually going to have to go to Cuomo and tell him to pack his bags, much like Sen. Barry Goldwater had to tell President Richard Nixon that it was time to go.

Even if he manages to stay, Cuomo will find that theres a new world order in Albany. Hes not longer the undisputed top of the pyramid.

And have you noticed how many colleagues have come out in defense of Cuomo? The silence is deafening.

Thats what happens when you spend your political career bullying people. You dont have a friend when you need one.
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The adoption by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine of the draft "Strategy for the De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol" will make it impossible to remove the issue of reintegration of the peninsula from the agenda, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"Yesterday we finally did what should have appeared back in 2014, the public Strategy for the de-occupation and reintegration of Crimea and Sevastopol was approved. For those who counted on something, I can say: forget that Ukraine will forget about Crimea. At the same time, when we talk about de-occupation, it is also logical to figure out: who and how created the conditions for the occupation? This is not only about 2014, but also about the adoption of the so-called Kharkiv agreements," Zelensky said in his video statement, posted on his Facebook page on Friday night.
Its been nearly a year since Gov. Ned Lamont issued an executive order restricting nursing home visits throughout the state  hundreds of days since many residents have been able to hug their children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. But now, with new federal guidance released this week, long-awaited hugs with vaccinated seniors can officially resume.

It has been a crazy afternoon everybody, but this is something weve all been waiting for, said Mairead Painter, Connecticut state long term care ombudsman, during her weekly Facebook livestream Wednesday night, following the release of new guidance. Its not everything, right? We didnt get back everything that weve ever had as far as visitation, but it is such a step forward.

As Painter walked through a press release line-by-line, comments and questions from family members and friends flooded in.

3 1 of 3 Stephen Dunn / Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





When can we go? Tonight? How do we make sure the facility follows the guidance? Do we still stay six feet away?

Official guidance released Wednesday from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that facilities should allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), except for a few circumstances.

Stipulations recommend that unvaccinated residents not attend indoor visitation if county positivity rates are over 10 percent and less than 70 percent of residents have been vaccinated, if the resident has active COVID infection, or if they are quarantined.

Compassionate care visits should be allowed at all times, the guidance said, and visitor testing and vaccination should not be a mandated condition of visitation.

While some nursing homes had already resumed restricted in-person visitation already based on Sept. 17 CMS updates to protocol, advocates said it wasnt always widely followed or adhered to.

I dont think anyone should be waiting for guidance [from state officials] at this point. CMS has put out extensive guidance with regards to visitation in nursing homes, said Josh Geballe, Lamonts chief operating officer, during a March 8 press briefing prior to CMSs update. He said they are expecting that all operators comply.

The updated protocol was released less than an hour after a weekly statewide call with industry administrators, which Painter pointed out as ironic.

Had it come out just before that, we could have had the discussion today, she said on the livestream.

Vaccinations of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut have been a major priority in vaccine rollout. They were among the first to receive the precious doses once they were made available.

At Genesis HealthCare, approximately 86 percent of residents and 63 percent of staff have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Feifer. At Athena Health Care Systems, which owns 27 facilities across the state, more than 82 percent of residents and more than 60 percent of staff have been vaccinated, according to spokesman Tim Brown. And at Hancock Hall and Filosa, two Danbury nursing homes, more than 92 percent of residents and more than 70 percent of staff have been vaccinated, according to president and administrator Jennifer Malone-Seixas.

Once older adults are vaccinated and theyve completed the vaccine regimen, theres no reason why, from a purely scientific point of view, that they cannot return to some semblance of normalcy, said Laura Haynes, immunology professor at the UConn Center on Aging.

Despite these high numbers, these facilities were waiting for the official go-ahead before changing their policies.

But theyre eager for changes too, Painter said. She had heard that facilities had been writing letters to CMS and the CDC for additional guidance due to the impacts restrictions have had on their censuses. Some families have opted not to place loved ones in long-term care due to restrictions, she said.

At Athena Health Care Systems, Brown said theyre working to implement the new guidelines as soon as possible, and expects it to take a couple of days. Theyll still require masks, temperature checks, and other cleaning procedures, he said.

It does take a little while to make sure that were covering all our bases, he said.

We are currently reviewing the guidance and will adjust accordingly, Lori Mayer of Genesis HealthCare wrote in an email.

A national sigh of relief

Since the shutdown last March, stories of the extraordinary lengths family members have gone to see their loved ones have been plentiful. Now, theyll be able to see  and hopefully hug  each other again.

When they closed the doors at her mothers facility in Mystic, Liz Stern would sneak over at night to peak through the windows and make sure her mother was properly positioned and that her cup was within reach.

Stern, one of the founding members of the Connecticut chapter of a national advocacy group, Caregivers for Compromise, said that it was the first time since her mothers stroke in 2016 that she had been without a loved one by her side every day. Sterns mother died in November, unrelated to COVID.

We were forced to abandon her, Stern said. While shed already been involved in advocacy, these events threw her into the most passionate advocacy you could possibly imagine. On Friday, shes giving testimony in Hartford.

The general theme was cautiously optimistic, Painter said of the news among those who have been impacted. This was a sentiment Stern voiced, too.

People are concerned about how facilities and communities will interpret and implement the guidance. But overall, Painter thinks people were happy.

Painter said its important that guidance allows residents to touch their loved ones.

Finding this balance between social and emotional needs as well as medical needs I think is incredibly important, she said. It actually uses the word embrace in its language. And this is something residents have gone without for a year.

Maplewood Senior Living, an assisted living community with seven locations in Connecticut, has vaccinated over 95 percent of their population, and had already begun to allow more visitation with the help of 15-minute antigen tests prior to the release of new guidance. They recently started allowing entertainers, art therapists, and other enrichment partners back, according to Amy Silva-Magalhaes, senior vice president of operations.

But now, residents are also going to have the option to have close contact with loved ones if they so choose, said Silva-Magalhaes.

For Dr. Patrick Coll, a geriatrics expert with UConn Health, the impacts of isolation and lack of visitation have become increasingly concerning to him as time goes on. These limitations, he noted, were not without their own potentially damaging effects on residents.

Isolation has been shown to result in cognitive decline, worsening memory-related issues, and nutritional problems, according to research Coll reviewed. And unlike COVID infections and deaths, these quieter consequences are not so easily measured, he said.

Weve kind of reached a tipping point, he said of visitation restrictions just before the new guidance was issued. Those restrictions are probably more harmful than the potential benefits.

Connecticut requires just 1.9 hours of care a day for residents, Painter said. On top of that, pandemic staffing challenges at nursing homes, the use of personal protective equipment, and other physical limitations have caused even greater barriers in residents ability to receiving proper emotional and psychological care these past 12 months.

They need touch, Painter said.

Once residents and staff have been vaccinated, Coll advocates for a return to congregate dining and group recreation. These activities, along with visitations, should be a priority, he said.

One remaining worry involves vaccinating new residents and staff. Several places said they are in the process of trying to establish more regular on-site vaccinations to address this.

As families and advocates wait for nursing homes and facilities to implement the new guidance, it feels like theyve reached the light at the end of the tunnel, said Mary Daniel, founder of Caregivers for Compromise.

This national announcement has significant implications for people like Daniel, whose husband is in a care facility in Florida.

This changes everything for us, she said. This is going to get us back in.

However, Daniel said its going to take each state issuing its own clear, concise guidance to get facilities to adhere.

Its guidance, its not regulation, Stern said. Huge difference.
Deputies Seek to Locate Water Valley Teen

By West Kentucky Star Staff





GRAVES COUNTY - Deputies are requesting the public's help with locating a missing teen.The Graves County Sheriff's Office is searching for 18-year-old Adrian Morris. He was last seen at his home in Water Valley on Wednesday.Morris is described as biracial with a thin build, brown hair and blue eyes.Anyone with information on Morris' whereabouts is asked to contact the Graves County Sheriff's Office at 270-247-4501.
Pune, March 13 : Leading industrial and automotive supplier, Schaeffler India Limited announced that it will cover the COVID-19 vaccination cost for all eligible employees. The initiative is aimed to safeguard the well-being of employees from the emerging second wave of deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Santanu Ghoshal, Vice President - Human Resources & Head - CSR, Schaeffler India said, "Currently, the vaccine is the most potent shield we have to arrest the pandemic growth and its adverse conse-quences. At Schaeffler, our employees are one of the most important pillars of our success and we truly appreciate their dedication and efforts during this tough time of the pandemic. This initiative is in line with our 'Employee First' philosophy to protect our employees against the COVID-19 pandemic".

The company has urged all its employees, eligible for vaccination, to register themselves through the government app CoWIN/Aarogya Setu and follow the set process to receive the vaccination. The company will reimburse the costs of two mandated vaccine shots for all the entitled employees.

Schaeffler has been present in India for over 50 years. With 3 well known product brands LuK, INA and FAG, 4 manufacturing plants and 8 sales offices, Schaeffler has a significant presence in India. Schaeffler is among the largest Industrial and Automotive supplier with sales of Rs 37.6 billion in 2020 and around 2794 employees.

The manufacturing plants in Maneja and Savli (Vadodara), produce a vast range of ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, spherical roller bearings and wheel bearings that are sold under the brand name of FAG. The plant at Talegaon near Pune, manufactures engine and powertrain components for front accessory drive system, chain drive systems, valve train, gear shift systems and a range of needle roller bearings and elements, under the brand INA.

The fourth manufacturing location is based out of Hosur, producing a wide range of clutches and hydraulic clutch release systems for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles and tractors sold under the brand of LuK. Schaeffler also has the largest after-market networks serving the industrial and automotive customers. All of this is backed by dedicated engineering, research.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Samsung is scheduled to announce a couple of new smartphones on March 17, namely the Samsung Galaxy A52 and the Galaxy A72. Both these devices are expected to come in 4G and 5G variants. And while there is still a few days to go, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G seems have landed up in stores already, online at least.

The Galaxy A52 5G has been spotted on a Polish retailer's online site and while the listing is still up, the store has removed the price.

While the price was still listed - it was PLN 1,900. That is roughly about 415 euros, which is higher than the price that popped up at a Saudi retailer site earlier where the cost was roughly 365 euros.

The listing on the Polish retailer site. (GSMArena)

Also, the smartphone listed on the Polish site was the 6GB/128GB variant as compared to the 8GB/128GB one that was spotted on the Saudi Arabian site. Both the smartphones are the 5G variants though. There's no information about the price of the 4G variants yet.

According to GSMArena, they found the Galaxy A52 5G listed on another very obvious place - Amazon Germany. The price listing here is also a pretty high one - 450 euros. The Amazon Germany listing does not mention RAM capacity but the page claims that the device can be dispatched in two to three days. However, the listing has been put up by a third-party seller so it may not be entirely accurate.

The listing on Amazon Germany site. (GSMArena)

The listing on the Polish store confirms the specs as we know them so far - a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 64MP primary shooter with a 8MP ultra wide, 5MP macro and 2MP depth sensor on the back, a 4,500mAh battery with 25W fast charge support. Powering the Galaxy A52 5G is the Snapdragon 750G. The 4G variant of the smartphone should come with the same specs, more or less, except it is going to be power by the Snapdragon 720G.

The listing shows the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G in three colours - Black, White and Purple.
March 13, 2021 Why The War In Ukraine May Soon Resume Several Russia watchers - Patrick Armstrong, Andrei Martyanov and Andrei Raevsky - are musing about a renewed attack by the government of Ukraine on its eastern Donbass region. The Donbass separated in 2014 after the U.S. driven coup in Kiev installed an anti-Russian government which then waged a war on its ethnic Russian east. There have been a number of reports about heavy Ukrainian equipment moving east and other hints of military preparations. Russia has seen enough such signs to issue a strong warning: "I would like to warn the Kiev regime and the hotheads that are serving it or manipulating it against further de-escalation and attempts to implement a forceful scenario in Donbass," [Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova] said, commenting on the statement of head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Contact Group for settlement in Donbass Leonid Kravchuk on some "radical steps" of Kiev if Russia refuses to recognize itself as a conflict side in eastern Ukraine.

...

Zakharova recalled that the Minsk Agreements clearly outline the conflict sides in Donbass as Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk. "The unwillingness of Ukrainian negotiators to recognize this fact and their refusal to find agreements with Donbass is the reason that hinders the establishment of long-lasting peace in the region," the diplomat noted. The main catalyst for such a war is the sorry state of the government in Kiev. The country is in in the midst of a constitutional crisis: [T]he Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) recently plunged the country into one of its deepest crises in its 30-year history. Specifically, on October 27, 2020, the Court declared that the main elements of Ukraines anti-corruption legislation, adopted between 2014 and 2020, were unconstitutional. In response, President Zelensky introduced legislation calling for the early termination of all Constitutional Court judges. Later, in December, he suspended the chairman of the Court for two months. The result was widespread chaos in Ukraines political system. Zelenskys actions were of questionable legality and provoked harsh criticism from all political sides. The ramifications of the Courts decision include the cancellation of over 100 pending corruption investigations, a development that potentially could endanger future EU-Ukraine trade and economic cooperation Ukraine under the 2014 Association Agreement. After the 2014 Euromaidan coup an 'independent' National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) was created to oversee the investigation and prosecution of corrupt state officials. The NABU has since been used by the U.S. embassy to bring criminal cases against those oligarchs it dislikes and to cover for those it likes. The constitutional court found that NABU is a criminal investigation agency outside the control of the executive branch which is a contradiction to the Ukrainian constitution. The crisis has since escalated: President Zelensky has now taken several provocative steps, including proposing legislation that voids the Constitutional Court's anti-corruption rulings and begins the process of dismissing and replacing those justices who supported that decision. None of these actions are supported under present-day Ukrainian law. The rhetoric between the president and the Constitutional Court is also escalating, with Constitutional Court Chairman Tupitskyi warning that the presidents actions threaten the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Calls for impeachment proceedings are being raised in the Rada, and Zelensky yet again escalated the crisis on February 3, 2021 by blocking pro-Russian TV channels controlled by Victor Medvedchuk. The legality of the latter action was even questioned by the EU, who told Zelensky that while Ukraine possessed the right to protect itself from disinformation, it still had to comply with international standards and fundamental rights and freedoms. The pressure on Zelensky is growing as he tries to navigate the fine line of obeying the law as written while simultaneously claiming that the very integrity of the country is at stake. And Zelenskys problems are only mounting, with the Cabinet of Ministers recently calling for the dismissal of the head of NABU and the IMF delaying the next tranche of financial support, in part because of Ukraines failure to implement a comprehensive anti-corruption program. Polling numbers for Zelensky have sharply declined. Right wing city councils call on Zelensky to outlaw the largest opposition party. Meanwhile the pandemic puts a record number of people into hospitals while a meager vaccination campaign is failing. A war against the eastern separatist could be a Hail Mary attempt by Zelensky to regain some national and international support. But nothing will happen on the frontline without the consent or even encouragement from Washington DC. The Biden administration is filled with the same delusional people who managed the 2014 coup in Kiev. They may believe that the NATO training the Ukrainian army received and the weapons the U.S. delivered are sufficient to defeat the separatist. But the state of the Ukrainian military is worse than one might think and the separatist will have Russia's full backing. There is no question who would win in such a fight. As a commentator at Turcopolier remarked: If the US is not careful it is going to give the Russians another opportunity to show to the World their military prowess, the flexibility of their Military District system allowing multi front operation and their unfailing support for an ally. As well as potentially letting the Russians show to Europe that they have nothing to fear, if they stop at 30 miles or so and basically go back home. All whilst the US demonstrates the opposite, but then reinforcing DC may trump the World. Posted by b on March 13, 2021 at 17:30 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Henry Cuellar toured a detention facility for migrant children in Carrizo Springs on Friday morning. Capacity there was meant to be limited to 40% due to COVID-19, but they are now operating at 100% capacity as the number of unaccompanied migrant children has surged in the last month, Cornyn said.

One of the people there responsible for taking care of these young men, these unaccompanied minors who are being processed at that facility, said, This is a category 5 hurricane in the gulf with tropical storm-force winds on the coast. Its coming, Cornyn siad.

But in Laredo, where the congressmen hosted a round table discussion following their tour, officials and advocates on the ground report that there is no immigration crisis.

From the numbers were receiving now, its only 20 to 30 (migrants) a day. I dont see that as a crisis, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz said.

In February, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 1,569 unaccompanied children in the Laredo Sector, a 20% increase over February 2020. The surge is much more severe in the Rio Grande Valley, Del Rio and Big Bend sectors.

However, there has been a 146% increase in family unit encounters and a 147% increase in single adult encounters in Laredo compared to last February. The majority of these people being are expelled back to Mexico under Title 42, a program that allows Border Patrol officers and CBP agents to expel migrants for fear of spreading COVID-19. Only unaccompanied children are not sent back under Title 42.

Currently, the Holding Institute in downtown Laredo has been receiving many of the family units who are being released from detention centers, released for humanitarian parole or were waiting in Matamoros to have their asylum case heard and have now been allowed into the U.S. as they pursue their case.

Pastor Mike Smith, executive director at Holding Institute, said they are not at surge levels yet. But he estimates that within a month theyll be receiving 100 individuals a day.

They are also preparing for the 2,500 asylum seekers waiting in Nuevo Laredo to be processed and released into the U.S. in the near future. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet made a final decision about expanding these asylum releases in Laredo, according to a DHS official.

Officials noted that the number of migrants attempting to cross into the U.S. is not currently at the heights of previous surges, such as in summer 2019 and 2014. But as we approach summer again, they fear the trend will overwhelm local resources.

And although theyve been through surges before, never so in a pandemic, Cornyn said.

Sister Rosemary Welsh, executive director of Mercy Ministries of Laredo, noted that Border Patrol is conducting only temperature checks on the migrants that they drop off at their shelter. Mercy Ministries, which accepts victims of domestic violence, is tasked with getting them tested for COVID-19 and moving them to a motel if they test positive.

Every shelter along the border is at its wits end due to social distancing mandates, which cuts their number of beds in half, noted Smith. And although the Holding Institute has received help from the Laredo Fire Department and Police Department, they are not receiving any monetary aid from FEMA.

Right now were operating kind of under an unfunded mandate, Smith said. ... Were under a lot of pressure and under a lot of stress, more than ever before.

Mayor Saenz noted that Laredo is the recipient of Washingtons policies, and the city accommodates and changes to fit the bill. But this takes money and resources, he said.

The policy being what it is, just package it for us, prepare it. Dont expect the city to start acting like the federal government. The federal government needs to step up, be it Trump or President Biden now. Thats the message I want to send, Saenz said.

The No Border Wall Coalition met virtually Friday prior to the round table. They argue that the migrant crisis that was discussed is manufactured for political reasons.

We dont need politicians from D.C. to come to the border and use us as a backdrop to misrepresent the reality of our situation. Migrant numbers, as we all know  those of us who live here  theyve always ebbed and flowed with temporary spikes, said Tricia Cortez, co-founder of the No Border Wall Coalition. But theyve always been used to stoke fear in order to push pet projects and policies that dont actually serve our community.

Officials also discussed the push and pull factors that lead migrants to make the journey to the U.S. border. Push factors stem from their home countries  violence, poverty, natural disasters. Pull factors are the success of other migrants, possibly friends and family members, making it across the border for a better life.

But these push factors, noted Sister Rosemary, are the result of U.S. policies.

This has been going on for years, and whats happened in those countries, I think, is our fault, she said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
SpaceX is now seeking the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) approval to further tweak and make revisions to its design for the U.S. Air Force aircraft which aims to use Starlink's Internet Satellite. The military agency would use Starlink's offer of connecting anytime and anywhere, potentially expanding the reach of the Air Force.

Elon Musk is in for a treat, as his companies are top priorities are known associates and choices for the service of different U.S. agencies including the prestigious NASA for space, and the Air Force for the country. The popular satellite internet connection that was boasted by Musk is currently up for preorders, and the Air Force is one of its clients.

The venture was completed and sought out several months ago, with the military agency aiming to have stakes on the internet service to be connected at any point in the globe, as Starlink debuts and upholds. This means that the Air Force could have its services available and stronger worldwide, making it easier for them to conduct missions.

Read Also: China Plans to Defeat US Supremacy in AI, Quantum Computing With Five-Year Plan

SpaceX, Starlink Seeks FCC Approval for Air Force Tweaks

SpaceX and Starlink were spotted with an FCC listing that the company has applied to the federal agency, seeking the approval to conduct "minor modifications" to the antennas that are fitted in the aircraft. The venture with the Air Force is still in experimental status, as it aims to connect the aircraft on its systems which are also in testing mode.

Starlink is only at its early stages of releasing, with the company only nearing its release date for the public as it allowed preorders and a waiting list to avail of its services for a satellite internet connection. This also applies to the U.S. Air Force, which is trying out several connectivity services to further expand its reaches and services.

Ball Aerospace is supplying the antennas that are needed for the Starlink connection to the Air Force's aerial and ground vehicles, as they are awarded the contract to produce materials for various needs of the agency. SpaceX would be working under the Air Force's Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI), which Ball is also a part of.

SpaceX Starlink Only Needs to Tweak Several Concerns for the Air Force

According to the listing, SpaceX only requires to modify certain parameters and connection features for the agency, which would complement the connection and service that it would provide once it is life. Soon, the company would be testing its technology for the Air Force, especially as it launches a full-scale service of Starlink's satellite internet.

Since 2019, SpaceX Starlink has been under the wing of the Air Force, working with them to provide the experimental internet connection which would be beamed down from these satellites. SpaceX is including both ground and aerial vehicles for this venture, along with stationary ground sites, and one moving aircraft for its tests.

Related Article: Elon Musk Admits Mistake; SN11 Starship to Avoid Explosion Like SN10

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BJP veteran and former union minister Yashwant Sinha after joining the Trinamool Congress ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections, has alleged that the BJP during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's time believed in consensus but "today's government believes in crushing and conquering".

"Akalis, BJD have left the BJP. Today, who is standing with BJP?" Sinha asked in Kolkata during a media briefing.

He said that the tipping point was the attack on Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram. "It was the moment when I decided to join TMC and support Mamata Ji," he said.

Track live updates of West Bengal Assembly elections here

He warned that India is facing an unprecedented situation under the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. "The strength of democracy lies in the strength of the institutions of democracy. All these institutions including the judiciary have become weak now," Sinha added.

The tipping point was the attack on Mamata Ji in Nandigram. It was the moment of decision to join TMC and support Mamata Ji: Yashwant Sinha pic.twitter.com/aVn1RaBZ8S  ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2021

Also read: BJP veteran Yashwant Sinha joins TMC ahead of West Bengal polls

Two days ago, Sinha had slammed the BJP for not sympathising with Mamata who was injured in an alleged attack in Nandigram. "Shame on BJP. Instead of sympathising with Mamata injured in an attack they are making fun of it," he tweeted.

Shame on BJP. Instead of sympathising with Mamata injured in an attack they are making fun of it.  Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) March 10, 2021

On March 8, he had also said, "The Borrowed Janata Party deserves our congratulations for living off the rejects of other parties."

The Borrowed Janata Party deserves our congratulations for living off the rejects of other parties.  Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) March 8, 2021

Earlier, he had hit out at the party for terming Mamata as an 'outsider' in Nandigarm. "Mamata is an outsider in Nandi gram and Modi/Shah are insiders in Bengal. What irony?" he had tweeted.

BJP leader and her former TMC protege Suvendu Adhikari during his roadshows had branded West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as an outsider in Nandigram. Accusing Banerjee of trying to divide communities on religious lines ahead of the assembly elections, Adhikari said the TMC supremo had "incorrectly" recited the 'Chandipath' (holy text) here on Tuesday.

The state goes to polls on March 27. The elections, which will witness a battle between the BJP and the TMC, will see voting held in eight phases.
A hunt to find a permanent replacement for Sir David Sterling after he retired was abandoned last year after the First and Deputy First Ministers failed to agree on a choice among three candidates. (stock picture)

The Executive Office is getting ready for a new search to fill the role of head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

A hunt to find a permanent replacement for Sir David Sterling after he retired was abandoned last year after the First and Deputy First Ministers failed to agree on a choice among three candidates.

The post was vacant for three months until Jenny Pyper, the former chief executive of the Utility Regulator, was appointed as interim head from December.

She is to be in position until the beginning of August.

A spokesman for TEO said: "Arrangements to launch a competition to appoint a new head of the NICS are at an advanced stage." The role has a salary of up to 188,000. SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, who is chairman of the Assembly's executive office committee, said someone from outside the organisation could bring a fresh approach.

"Arguably the civil service has at times lacked broad expertise with people coming in at a junior level and working up the ranks.

"A fresh set of eyes from outside might bring a fresh dynamic which would be very useful to permeate right down throughout the organisation. That's not to detract from the temporary holder of the position but someone who's employed long term will shape the organisation and make the institution change which the civil service could benefit from.

"The Bengoa report on the health service was written by Professor Rafael Bengoa, who was someone from outside. In the same way, while the civil service is good at delivering, wholesale change may need outside expertise." UUP MLA Doug Beattie, Mr McGrath's committee deputy, said an open and transparent search would be critical to get the right person for the role.

He agreed an outsider's perspective could help. "They may need to look beyond UK shores to see if there's someone else who could come in, just like the Bank of England recruited the Canadian banker, Mark Carney, as governor.

"It's one of the most challenging roles in the civil service in the UK so you have to look at what talent is out there."

And he said that while the office holder would be appointed by the DFM and FM, the selection process could be handled differently. "They may need to use an independent panel to get away from the toxicity of the DFM and FM."

Three Government senators, including Seanad leader Regina Doherty, have called on former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger to resign or be removed from the commission examining the future of the Irish media.

Mr Rusbridger has been at the centre of controversy over his knowledge of media commentator Roy Greenslades sympathies for the IRA.

IRA abuse victim Mairia Cahill has called for Mr Rusbridgers removal from the commission because he was editor of The Guardian when Mr Greenslade wrote an article in 2014 questioning the credibility of a BBC Spotlight programme about Ms Cahills abuse case.

The Government backed the former newspaper editors continued membership of the Future of Media Commission this week despite the controversy and Ms Cahills request.

But pressure is mounting on the coalition with the Oireachtas Media Committee, which has a Government majority, seeking further clarity from Mr Rusbridger. In the Seanad yesterday, Fianna Fail Senator Timmy Dooley and Fine Gaels Martin Conway both called for his removal.

Mr Dooley said the commission was bigger than Mr Rusbridger and that he had become a distraction.

He added: We got rid of more important people.

Responding on behalf of the Government, Ms Doherty, without naming Mr Rusbridger, said it was incumbent on him to reflect on his position and said she had written to Taoiseach Micheal Martin on the matter.

We need a fair... a transparent and open, and ethical and a supported media to support not only the flow of truthful information to dispel the disinformation that is so prevalent in Irish society today, but also to support our democracy, Ms Doherty said.

Mr Conway, who raised the issue initially, said it was incumbent on the minister to restore confidence in the commission.

Mr Rusbridger has said publicly and told Media Minister Catherine Martin he was not aware of Mr Greenslades 2014 article when he was editor, nor Ms Cahills legal correspondence at the time of the article, until last week.

He has apologised personally to Ms Cahill, while contending that he was not aware of Mr Greenslades sympathies for the IRA.




(Adds details of ruling, context)

By Moira Warburton

VANCOUVER, March 12 (Reuters) - The Canadian judge in Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou's U.S. extradition case rejected her request to admit as evidence Huawei employee statements that contradict a U.S. claim she misled bankers about the company's business in Iran, a ruling said on Friday.

But the judge provisionally allowed parts of an expert's report that Meng's team requested be permitted into evidence, subject to further submissions about its relevance, the ruling showed.

Meng, 49, was arrested in December 2018 at Vancouver International Airport on a U.S. warrant for allegedly misleading HBSC about Huawei's business dealings in Iran and causing the bank to violate U.S. sanctions.

She has since been fighting the case from under house arrest in Vancouver and has said she is innocent.

The evidence Meng's team sought to add related to their claim that HSBC knew about Huawei's businesses in Iran, and that Meng did not mislead the bank.

Two affidavits were from Huawei employees who attended the meeting where the United States alleges Meng lied about the company's business connections in Iran.

Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes of British Columbia Supreme Court said that allowing this into evidence "could do no more than invite credibility findings," turning the case into a he-said-she-said.

Holmes also rejected two more Huawei employee affidavits alleging that HSBC employees knew about Huawei's connections to businesses in Iran, stating that they were beyond the "proper scope" of an extradition hearing.

"The difficulty Ms. Meng faces is that this body of evidence relates to issues properly within the domain of a trial, not the extradition hearing," Holmes wrote.

Holmes did provisionally allow parts of a report by an expert on the application of U.S. sanctions law to financial institutions, stating it could address a potentially misleading aspect of U.S. evidence. But she said that more submissions would be necessary to prove its relevance.

Meng is set to appear in court on Monday as her case enters the final phase of arguments, scheduled to finish in May.

Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Moira Warburton in Vancouver; Editing by Leslie Adler and Cynthia Osterman)
Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Tucker Carlson mocked "woke generals" at the Pentagon during his Fox News show on Friday

Defense chiefs criticized Carlson this week over comments he made about women in the military.

Carlson fired back by saying his supporters "were almost rattled" by the criticism.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Friday fired back at "woke generals" in the Pentagon after he received intense criticism this week from several defense chiefs following comments he made about women in the military

Speaking during the Friday night edition of his show "Tucker Carlson Tonight", the presenter said that his supporters were "almost rattled" by the rebuke from the Pentagon this week until they realized the US military didn't defeat the Taliban.

"We were almost rattled. Then we realized if the woke generals treat us like they've treated the Taliban, we'll be fine. Twenty years later, the Taliban are still here," Carlson said during the program, according to The Hill.

"Maybe we ought to promise the Pentagon that we'll get rid of traditional gender roles on this show. Change the pronouns, defeat the patriarchy, and all that," he added. "Then they'd send us billions in unmarked $100 bills as a reward. They've certainly done that before. And that might really kickstart our struggling opium poppy business."

A slate of military leaders, including Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, berated Carlson after he accused President Joe Biden of trying to feminize the military.

"F--- Tucker Carlson," Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, tweeted. "While he was practicing his two-step, America's female warriors were hunting down Al Qaeda and proving the strength of America's women."

On Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby also publicly rebuked Carlson for his remarks, telling reporters: "We still have a lot of work to do to make our military more inclusive," according to Newsweek.

Story continues

Kirby went on to say that the department won't "take personnel advice from a talk show host or the Chinese military." He added that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin "shares the revulsion of so many others to what Carlson said in his opening statement."

Following Biden's remarks on International Women's Day highlighting efforts to make the military more accommodating for women service members, Carlson said these moves would "make a mockery of the US military."

"So we've got new hairstyles and maternity flight suits," Carlson said. "Pregnant women are going to fight our wars. It's a mockery of the US military."

Carlson added that "while China's military becomes more masculine as it's assembled the world's largest navy, our military needs to become, as Joe Biden says, more feminine."

Insider reached out to Fox News for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Federal Government on Friday flagged off its Rural Women Cash Grant Programme in Borno and Yobe states.

Under the scheme, 5,840 women in Borno and 3,400 in Yobe are expected to receive a cash grant of N20,000 each.

At the flag off ceremony at the Government House, Maiduguri, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, said the programme is aimed at pulling rural and vulnerable groups out of poverty.

According to her, the Conditional Cash Transfer has been catering for internally displaced persons in Gonikachallari, Bakasi and NYSC Camps due to the peculiarity of the security situation in Borno State.

We currently have 12,190 poor and vulnerable households (PVHHs) that have been enrolled in 13 local government areas. They are Konduga, Gubio, Magumeri, Hawul, Shani, Mafa, MMC, Chibok, Mobbar, Kaga, Jere, Akira-Uba and Dikwa LGAs and disbursement is set to commence as soon as the security situation improves.

A total number of 5,840 women are to benefit from the cash grant of 20,000 each to uplift the socio-economic status of the rural women in Borno State. It is President Muhammadu Buharis social inclusion and poverty reduction agenda, with the realization of the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, the minister said.

Governor Babagana Zulum, in his address, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the strategic intervention in the lives of people traumatised by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The governor who was represented by the Head of Civil Service in the State, Simon Malgwi, said the grant will help the women to pick up the pieces of their lives.

We are at the threshold of another milestone in our determined quest to eradicate abject poverty in the state and as such, this intervention could not have come at a better time than now, as the process of resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPs back to their ancestral homes has since begun in earnest.

This intervention will go down to the targeted groups to help them to start their lives afresh after a decade of insurgency that rendered many people homeless and economically weak in this part of the country, Mr Zulum said.

Damaturu

At a similar event in Damaturu after the minister flew from Maiduguri in an Airforce jet, Governor Mai Mala Buni also thanked the president for introducing the programme.

Mr Buni was represented at the event by his deputy, Idi Gubana.

I thank the President for his commitment towards emancipating women, youths and vulnerable groups from the clutches of poverty.

As we are all aware, at the inception of the present democratic rule in 1999, Yobe was among the states with a high rate of poverty and the condition of our people was further aggravated by the destructive activities of insurgents and the humanitarian crisis that generated over a decade ago.

At this post-insurgency period, our efforts are geared towards recovery and economic rejuvenation of the State.

I will like to thank the Minister for the kind assistance she has been providing for Yobe state including COVID-19 palliatives and assistance to victims of flood disaster. A total of 2,412 bags of 50kg of millet, 2,010 bags of 50kg sorghum and 1916 bags of maize were collected through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and distributed to the people for farming. In the last cropping season, hundreds of households who were victims of flood disasters were also assisted with assorted materials in the State, Governor Buni said.

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The minister in her address in Yobe said the state has received N980 million from the Federal Government through the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme from inception till date .

The lives of 24,814 Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs) have been impacted through the Conditional Cash Transfer. Six Local Government Councils are currently benefiting from the programme in Yobe State. They are Fika, Geidam, Yunusari, Bade, Jakusko, Nangere LGAs, she said.

Some of the beneficiaries told PREMIUM Time they were excited after receiving the cash grants.

Falmata Kolo of Damaturu said the N20,00 will enable her buy two goats (male and female) and rear them,

I will use the money at the Sunday market this weekend to buy two goats to start rearing them, Mrs Kolo said.

Yaagana Ibrahim said her akara (bean cake) business has just received a boost from the N20,000.

This money I got today is a major step forward for my akara business. I will buy a bigger frying pan and increase the capital of my busines and use the rest to buy food for my children and I, she said.
Southern Baptist leaders react to Beth Moore leaving denomination

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Southern Baptist pastors and other Christian leaders have weighed in on the topic of Bible teacher Beth Moore leaving the denomination after nearly 30 years and ending her longtime partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources.

There comes a time when you have to say, this is not who I am, Moore, 63, told Religion News Service in an interview published Tuesday. I am still a Baptist, but I can no longer identify with Southern Baptists, she added.

In recent years, Moore has grown increasingly critical of the Southern Baptist denomination, particularly after the election of former President Donald Trump. She told RNS she was shocked at how fellow evangelicals rallied around Trump, particularly after the "Access Hollywood" tape from 2005 was released ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

On Twitter, where she now has more than 950,000 followers, she wrote at the time: "I'm one among many women sexually abused, misused, stared down, heckled, talked naughty to. Like we liked it. We didn't. We're tired of it."

She has also denounced Christian nationalism and what she deems as the sexism & misogyny that is rampant in segments of the SBC.

I love so many Southern Baptist people, so many Southern Baptist churches, but I dont identify with some of the things in our heritage that havent remained in the past, she told RNS.

Moore said she ended her longtime publishing relationship with Lifeway, but it will still sell her books.

Heres how Christian leaders both within and outside the Southern Baptist denomination have reacted to the news.
From the Archive Remembering Two Deaths that Changed the Course of Myanmars History

Former RIT students lay wreaths for Ko Phone Maw and Ko Soe Naing to mark the 30th anniversary of their deaths on Tuesday at Yangon Technological University. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  She used to wake her younger brother every day; for Daw Mar Mar Ei, it had become a morning ritual. But this pleasant routine came to an abrupt end one sultry summer day when she found herself staring at the young mans dead body lying on a trolley in the bleak old concrete morgue of Yangon General Hospital.

He looked as if were sleeping, she said. And peaceful.

Standing there in the morgue, she was sandwiched between two plainclothes police officers, who held her tightly by the arms. One of them told her: You should cry.

I shouted back at them: I cant! How can I cry when my brother was unjustly killed! the 55-year-old recalled of that fateful day 30 years ago when she first saw the dead body of her younger brother Ko Phone Maw, who was shot dead by riot police on the night of March 13, 1988 on the campus of the Rangoon Institute of Technology (now Yangon Technological University).

On Tuesday, the YTU Student Union commemorated the 30th anniversary of the deaths of Ko Phone Maw and Ko Soe Naing, who were also shot that night but died 23 days later of injuries sustained on the scene. Three other university students who were wounded survived.

On the evening of March 12, 1988, a group of RIT students got into a brawl with another group of young people from the neighborhood near the campus. The students were not pleased with the authorities handling of the case, and more clashes with local people erupted the next evening. A cordon of riot police wielding Remington shotguns raided the campus and opened fire on the students, who were also tear-gassed. Ko Phone Maw, a fifth-year Chemical Specialization student, was shot dead on the spot.

The killing and the way the security forces handled the case sparked anger; another student rally at RIT the next day soon spread to other campuses. Along with calls for justice in the shootings, they demanded the ouster of the Ne Win regime, which had been long despised by the people for its oppressive rule and economic mismanagement.

The regime responded to the demands with more brutality. On March 16, riot police cracked down violently on hundreds of students marching along the southern flank of Inya Lake, near the White Bridge bus stop, named after a small bridge spanning a culvert. A number of students  it is still unclear how many  were beaten to death. The site of the massacre was left so bloodied that it came to be known as Red Bridge.

Over the next five months, Myanmar witnessed a series of follow-up student protests sparked by the March 13 shooting, mostly in Yangon. These ultimately led to a nationwide popular uprising in August, known as the Four Eights Uprising, as it occurred on Aug. 8, 1988. The uprising saw thousands of deaths and arrests, but ended Ne Wins 26-year-long single party rule and eventually paved the way for the political changes which allowed a democratically elected government to take power three decades later.

Dr. Maung Maung, Myanmars president at the time, remarked that 1988 was a year of upheaval, and one that that will long be marked as a turning point in the countrys history.

The unfulfilled expectations of the people over the decades since the nations gaining back her freedom poured out on the streets in loud and angry outcry for change, he writes in his book The 1988 Uprising in Myanmar.

It was a storm of huge size and fierceness, and storms dont just come; they build up and gather from different directions and then burst upon the scene.

For Ko Ko Gyi, one of the prominent student leaders who took part in the uprising, the deaths of Ko Phone Maw and Ko Soe Naing formed a spark that brought a huge change to the country as well as for him personally.

Were it not for their deaths and the 88 Uprising, I wouldnt have been a politician as I am today; probably a government official or trader, he said. Thirty years ago today, he was a final-year student majoring in International Relations at Yangon University. He would be imprisoned on and off for his political activism until his most recent release in early 2012.

To honor the deaths of Ko Phone Maw and Ko Soe Naing, political activists in 2012 nominated March 13, the day the students were shot, as Myanmar Human Rights Day.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who was Myanmars main opposition leader at the time, agreed with the proposal while commenting that their deaths were caused by the lack of human rights in Myanmar.

This year, the State Counsellor did not send a message in time for Wednesdays commemoration, but last year she urged her fellow citizens to honor Ko Phone Maw and Ko Soe Naing along with other young people who sacrificed for the country, by making good efforts on behalf of Myanmar.

Daw Mar Mar Win, another sister of Ko Phone Maw, said at Tuesdays commemoration that she was happy to see that people still remembered her brother.

Both sisters, who have for many years now spent much of their time at a meditation center, remembered their brother as a smart young man who hated violence and quarreling.

His death left their family traumatized, they said.

The authorities forced them to keep the funeral as low profile as possible. As the cause of death, the official death certificate says only: Puncture wound (chest), and makes no reference to a gunshot.

Initially they were even forbidden from placing an obituary in the newspaper, though authorities eventually relented on this point after the family insisted.

They werent even left alone to conduct the funeral as they wished. The family was only allowed to see the body on the day before the cremation, for identification purposes. On the day of the funeral, March 17, the authorities secretly cremated the body at 8 AM at another cemetery, in an effort to avoid drawing public attention to the ceremony. At Tamwe Cemetery (which is no longer extant; the site later made way for a development project), the family members were not allowed to get out of their car or to say a final goodbye to their brother and son. All they could do was watch in tears through the front windscreen of their car as the unmarked coffin was swallowed by the flames.

Daw Mar Mar Win believes in the law of Karma, and that those who were responsible for her brothers death will reap what they have sown. Likewise, the family believes that in death their brother and son was paying for his past sins and misdeeds; something from which nobody can escape.

But we miss him. He is a good boy, she said.
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Microsoft Corp. has detected and blocked a new family of ransomware that was being used against servers that still hadnt patched vulnerabilities after last weeks major security breach.

The updates it released on Friday are a temporary measure to defend against attacks, which were already occurring in many places, the company said.

The company discovered suspected Chinese state-sponsored hackers were exploiting previously unknown vulnerabilities in Microsofts widely used Exchange business email software earlier in March. Even as it issued a patch for those systems, hackers rushed to find companies that had yet to install Microsofts fix.

BitSight Technologies, a Boston-based cybersecurity firm, said that based on internet-wide scans it had done this week nearly one-third of vulnerable Microsoft Exchange customers have yet to patch their systems. Those customers would are now also vulnerable to the new ransomware attacks until those patches are installed.

Hackers are using the weaknesses introduced in the original attacks, including secret entry points inserted in victims systems, to gain access. Governments have been hounding businesses to install the patches  the Australian government has issued at least three warnings in nine days  and Microsoft has warned organizations to take urgent action to forestall damage.

This latest update means that Microsoft is concerned that people havent patched, said Robert Potter, a cybersecurity expert based in Canberra, Australia. If youve already been hit theres very little you can do. You better hope your backups work, because youre not going to get decrypted.

Ransomware targets so far have been small to medium-sized organizations victimized by hackers using relatively simple malware dubbed DOJOCRYPT or DearCry, said Kimberly Goody, senior manager of cybercrime analysis at Mandiant Threat Intelligence. Small companies are less likely to have dedicated IT staff to install patches immediately.

The network monitoring firm RiskIQ, working closely with Microsoft, says the number of vulnerable Exchange servers has plummeted in the last 10 days, from hundreds of thousands down to about 83,000. But their data analysis also shows that networks for banks, health care and pharmaceutical institutions remain vulnerable, as do systems for federal, state and local governments.

If SolarWinds was a tactical missile strike, this one was a nuclear bomb, said Elias Manousos, CEO and founder of RiskIQ. Attackers are just trying to create as much chaos as possible.

Now read: Netflix cracks down on password sharing
Bill Edgar is Director, Industry Solutions at Janes. His comments expand upon remarks he gave at a National Institute symposium in October 2020 on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on national security.

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a serious health issue that has unquestionably affected millions of lives around the world. Governments, businesses, communities, and individuals continue to struggle with the impacts of this global crisis.

As the pandemic emerged and progressed, there was a clear focus on mitigation, response, and recovery. This has been the case across multiple sectors and industries, including aerospace and defense.

For the defense industrial sector in the United States, and largely across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a period of challenge, resilience, and reflection.

The pandemic has shown both the strengths of the defense industrial baseits ability to assess risks to business and respond with mitigation plansand the weaknessesilluminating those vulnerabilities that have not been at the forefront of supply chain risk discussions, or were relegated to a lower position on the topic list. Supply chain risk for the defense industrial base covers a broad swath of existing and potential vulnerabilities that include manufacturing and production challenges, counterfeit parts and components (not up to the demanding standards of military specifications), limited or restricted access to key input materials (such as rare earth metals), and potential influences by foreign governments (covering material inputs as well as financial support).

While the pandemic has been a struggle and period of reflection, the questions still stand as to what the full impact is, or will be, and what kind of inflection point this will be for the U.S. Defense Industrial Base?

Bottom-line: The most significant impacts to the industrial base from the COVID-19 pandemic are yet to be realized because thus far the impact at the business level has been relatively limited across the entire industrial base. This is even more the case when compared to other sectors of the economy. The insulated nature of the defense industry, as a result of the large proportion of government funding combined with the industrys direct support to national security priorities, justifies its spending that fundingeven in the face of a pandemic. This helped mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and spurred a quicker and more effective recovery. The overall insulation of the defense sector does not downplay the individual impacts across the industrial base, which were significant in many instances, and continue to exist, but rather helps to align perspective when comparing to other sectors in the aggregate.

It is also to up-play the point that some of those same mitigating factors that insulated the industry in this crisis will be factors that potentially fuel, if not create, future challenges and headwinds for the industry.

In short, the pandemic has proven to be mostly a supply-side issue for the industrial basefor now. Its impact has been mostly felt on the supplier side across the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who build the military planes, tanks and ships, and their suppliers, who have felt the impact more acutely. The unique attributes of this industry have ensured that the demand side of the equation, where the funding comes from, and consisting mostly of Government customers, mostly did not falter, and in some instances improved. The defense industrial base, unlike many commercial retail-dependent sectors, only needed to focus on the operational delivery; the exception of course being those defense industrial base companies with business in both defense and commercial aerospace.

From the demand side, the Department of Defense (DoD), the single largest funder of the industrial base, focused on stabilizing that base by ensuring payments continued throughout the crisis. Many of the OEMs did the same with their supply chains. This had the effect of mitigating both business operating and financial impacts as well as program impacts within the Department. It meant that there were few disruptions in manufacturing and therefore shorter stop-work periods and lay-offs (relative to the broader economy). It meant businesses within the defense industrial base continued to get paid, as did their employees. This was largely possible because of the existing budget commitments (prior to the pandemic) and financial aid packages pushed forward by the Pentagon, Trump Administration and Congress as a result of the pandemic.

The Department of Defense even accelerated payments to OEMs, which helped to ensure that these businesses would continue to operate with a minimum amount of disruption. The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act also provided more than $17 billion in cash for the defense sector, further mitigating impacts of COVID-19 by helping companies quickly invest in the necessary processes and infrastructure needed to continue operating safely during the pandemic. In addition, there was another $80 billion in loans for the broader aerospace industry.[1]

During the first six months of the pandemic, progress payments (which are provided to companies as they meet specific production milestones) rose from 80 to 90 percent for larger contractors and from 90 to 95 percent for small businesses, ensuring healthy cash flow for the industry.[2] DoD also accelerated payments for small businesses, bringing advanced progress payments to companies above $2 billion.

Additionally, the CARES Act provided funding to offset cash flow challenges across the defense industrial base, amounting to more than $650 million. These were small loans and other payments intended to bolster these businesses by redirecting many companies to support the national pandemic response and recovery efforts. Most of this funding was provided via Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III and largely targeted the supply chains in aircraft, shipbuilding, soldier systems, microelectronics, space, and rare earth elements. Specific funding levels reflected this focus, as well as an emphasis on ensuring areas of emerging military capabilities, such as hypersonics, were also insulated from the impacts of COVID-19[3]:

$252.1 million to sustain and preserve the aircraft and propulsion industrial base;

$236.0 million for the shipbuilding industrial base;

$35.5 million to support and maintain the space industrial base;

$20.9 million to support body armor, force protection, survivability equipment; uniforms, and sustaining the soldier survivability industrial base;

$79.1 million to support the electronics industrial base; and

$39.8 million to preserve at-risk essential materials suppliers and support and maintain the hypersonics industrial base.

Over this period, and despite the significant economic impacts of global lockdowns, foreign military sales continueda combination of existing transactions moving through the process, as well as new ones. During the height of the pandemic the U.S. Government announced new military arms sales amounting to more than a billion dollars with India, Morocco, the Netherlands, South Korea, and others.

At the same time, the State Departments Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), which ensures commercial exports of defense equipment and services comply with U.S. foreign policy objectives, also implemented measures designed to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on U.S. companies and the defense industry supply chain selling to foreign governments. The DDTC temporarily suspended registration renewal requirements for manufacturers and exporters in an effort to streamline business activity, which was important because it effectively made it easier to complete business transactions and collect payments during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In fact, net sales for Lockheed Martin Corporation rose 9 percent to $16.5 billion in the third quarter of 2020, as all four of its business segments posted gains despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.[4] This was not the case, however, for more diversified equipment manufacturers, such as Boeing, and small businesses tied to specific programs facing delays and production interruptions.

On the government program side, impacts have been mostly limited to slowdowns and sporadic delaysmost of which were addressed once manufacturing facilities re-oriented their operations for COVID-19 protocols.

The most impacted segments of the defense industrial base have been shipbuilding, military aviation, and small space launch, though most were back up to speed by mid-October.

That said, over this period analysis shows that more than seventy large programs from across the globe were significantly impacted due to COVID-19 delivery delays. Delays resulted from a combination of manufacturing and budgetary issues. Globally, Canada, India, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates were impacted the most, with delays, and some postponements resulting from COVID-19 impacting construction across multiple large defense equipment programsmany of which have been naval. In the United States, program confidence levels for on-time deliveries for several U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard sealift and auxiliary programs, and for selected frigates, have gone down.

Current impacts aside, the most significant strategic implications are yet to come. And, arguably, headwinds may increase further as geopolitical tensions rise in the wake of the pandemic, and as the re-emerging great power competition escalates.

The $2 trillion CARES Actand the additional recovery spending packages increase the financial pressure facing defense spending in the out years, for the United States and many others. While requests have been made to increase defense spending in the coming fiscal year, it is not clear yet whether the current Administration is willing to do this in light of other spending priorities. What is clear, is that there is growing pressure on the top line budget and the potential for flat, if not declining, spending is higher than it has been in years. Whether that comes to fruition will be known soon, and even if increases are maintained for this next fiscal year, they are no guarantee for the future.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, analysis showed an average real rise of 3 percent per year from 2021 to 2025, which has now been reassessed at just 0.09 percent due to anticipated financial impacts. A return to the previously envisaged growth trend is not expected until 2026, at the earliest. Defense spending by 2023 will in real terms be 8 percent below the previously forecasted level, and spending is expected to be flat, or in a slight decline, in real terms between 2020 and 2025amounting to five years of lost growth. Globally, there will be regional variance, with the Asia-Pacific region being the only region expected to see any growth in defense spending over the next four years, and the United States and Europe being at the top of the list of those being most negatively impacted at the budgetary level.

Compounding the significance of, and potential risk associated with, forthcoming budget cuts, are the risks highlighted by the additional supply chain vulnerability awareness surfacing because of the pandemic.

Sourcing risks from foreign suppliers like China, who provide microelectronics and other sub-components, dual-use products such as unmanned aerial systems (UASs), and control access to critical materials such as rare earth are creating potentially exploitable vulnerabilities across the defense industrial base.

Additionally, the pandemic has highlighted the fragility across many large international defense programs such as the multi-national Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), a state-of-the-art 5th generation fighter aircraft program and the largest single defense production program in the world with multiple countries participating in manufacturing. Notwithstanding the removal of Turkey from the JSF program as a result of its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system, COVID-19 impacts to JSF manufacturing operations in Turkey illustrate how tenuous supply chains can be when a key component supply is impacted and affects an entire, global, program that is dependent on that supplier. This single point of failure had repercussions across the entire program, and Lockheed Martin who is the prime contractor for JSF delivered fewer JSF aircraft to domestic and international customers than planned in 2020, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting supplies to its production plants.[5]

Additionally, as supply chains grow increasingly complex, defense prime contractors are balancing the benefits of outside innovation and expertise with the need to maintain robust security standards and protect their intellectual property. Sourcing for these products has evolved significantly over the past decade, largely driven by the priorities of the U.S. Department of Defense.

COVID-19 has provided a closer look at how defense supply chain vulnerabilities have evolved as well, and what that means for the future. Arguably, a potentially near perfect supply chain storm is in the making.

COVID-19 has also helped to shine a light on many of the risks and vulnerabilities across the industrial baserisks and vulnerabilities that are also exploitable by means other than pandemics. The challenges associated with a lack of supply chain visibility combined with increasing dependencies on foreign-source components and critical materials, and the reemergence of great power competition exacerbate existing risks while potentially creating new ones.

The challenge will increase too, as we face the financial fallout and head winds associated with the long-term recovery from this pandemic. Budgetary pressure will increase and the insulation the industrial base benefited from during the initial days and months after the outbreak will become thinner and thinner. As other sectors recover and build back with the spread of the vaccine, the defense industrial base will potentially just be beginning to feel the full symptoms of COVID-19.

This article appeared originally at National Institute for Public Policy.

Notes:

[1]. John A. Tirpak, The Defense Industry After COVID-19, Air Force Magazine, 1 May 2020, available at https://www.airforcemag.com/article/the-defense-industry-after-covid-19/.

[2]. Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, Statement to the Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee, Senate Committee on Armed Services, 1 October 2020, available at https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Lord_%2010-01-20.pdf.

[3]. Ibid.

[4]. Lockheed Martin Third Quarter 2020 Results, available at https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2020-10-20-Lockheed-Martin-Reports-Third-Quarter-2020-Results.

[5]. Gareth Jennings, Update: Lockheed Martin reports reduced F-35 deliveries for 2020 due to Covid-19, Janes Defence Weekly, 3 February 2021, available at https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/update-lockheed-martin-reports-reduced-f-35-deliveries-for-2020-due-to-covid-19.

The National Institute for Public Policys Information Series is a periodic publication focusing on contemporary strategic issues affecting U.S. foreign and defense policy. It is a forum for promoting critical thinking on the evolving international security environment and how the dynamic geostrategic landscape affects U.S. national security. Contributors are recognized experts in the field of national security.

The views in this Information Series are those of the author and should not be construed as official U.S. Government policy, the official policy of the National Institute for Public Policy or any of its sponsors. For additional information about this publication or other publications by the National Institute Press, contact: Editor, National Institute Press, 9302 Lee Highway, Suite 750 |Fairfax, VA 22031 | (703) 293- 9181 |www.nipp.org. For access to previous issues of the National Institute Press Information Series, please visit http://www.nipp.org/nationalinstitutepress/information-series/.
Years before his books were read by millions of people around the world, Australian author Matthew Reilly dreamed of making Hollywood blockbusters. As a child he would choreograph dramatic scenes with his Star Wars action figures.

When I saw the scene where Luke Skywalker is made to walk the plank near the Sarlacc Pit on Jabbas barge... that was the moment, he says. The DNA of those movies [from the 80s] was imprinted on my creative brain.

Forty years and 18 novels later, Reillys lifelong ambition will soon be fulfilled thanks to a deal with Netflix. The global streaming giant has snapped-up an original screenplay the bestselling author co-wrote with local screenwriter Stuart Beattie, whose credits include Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Tomorrow, When the War Began.

Bestselling action and sci-fi author Matthew Reilly is directing his first film. Credit:Nick Moir

Interceptor is set to star Australian actor Luke Bracey (Hacksaw Ridge) and Spanish actor Elsa Pataky (The Fast and the Furious franchise) and will be shot in New South Wales. The film tells the story of an army lieutenant who must draw on her tactical training and military expertise to save the world after sixteen nuclear missiles are launched at the United States. Reilly will also make his directorial debut with the film.
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THE owner of a dog which was stolen from a property in Limerick city this Saturday afternoon has launched an appeal on social media in the hope of locating his pet.

In his Facebook post, Evan Enright, says the dog - a female brown and white Spaniel - was taken from a yard in the Annacotty area at around 3pm.

A 1,000 reward has been offered for information about the dog's whereabouts or the whereabouts of a blue Saab car which is suspected to have been involved.

It's understood gardai have been informed of the theft.
A man who was caught with eight individual wraps of cocaine in a Kinder egg hidden in his trousers claimed his addiction was so bad that he spent all his social welfare on the drug.

Andrew Nassi (27) was stopped at Sailln Service Station on Drogheda Street in Balbriggan and searched by gardai.

Gardai discovered the wraps of cocaine, worth 700, hidden in a Kinder egg, outside of his underpants. He claimed he bought the cocaine as he was addicted to it and his only intention was to 'give a friend a line or two', Balbriggan District Court heard.

The defendant, of Hamilton Way in Balbriggan pleaded guilty to being in unlawful possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Sailln Garage on September 29, 2020.

He also pleaded guilty to being in simple possession of the cocaine. He has one previous conviction for being in unlawful possession of cannabis.

Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy said the defendant has stopped taking cocaine now. 'He has also struggled with cannabis and is almost off it now,' said Ms D'Arcy, adding that such was the extent of his addiction he spent all of his social welfare on cocaine.

'That's how bad his addiction was,' said Ms D'Arcy, adding 'He bought it all together and his only intention was to give a friend a line or two. He didn't have a tick list, weighing scales nor cash on him.'

Judge Sandra Murphy said she is going to take him at his word and adjourned the case for urine analysis and a Probation Report before finalising the case on May 13.
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Bernie Sanders has torn into Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos after he turned down an invitation to appear before a Senate hearing on income inequality next week.

Sanders said he asked the tech baron to appear at a Wednesday committee hearing to discuss the union election being held at Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama.

'It's unfortunate Mr. Bezos won't join our hearing. While he's become $78 billion richer during the pandemic, families are struggling to survive, so why is he spending a whole lot of money to stop workers from organizing a union at an Amazon warehouse in Alabama?' Sanders tweeted on Friday evening.

Although neither Amazon or Bezos has publicly released a statement regarding his attendance, the company confirmed to CNBC on Friday night that he would not be attending.

Sanders, as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, also invited Jennifer Bates, who trains employees at Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, where nearly 6,000 employees are in the midst of an election on whether or not unionize.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, invited Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos to appear in front of the committee at a hearing on income inequality

Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, invited Bezos to appear in front of the committee as part of a hearing on income inequality

THE RICHEST MEN IN THE WORLD 1. Jeff Bezos: $180 billion as of March 11 2. Elon Musk : $173 billion 3. Bill Gates: $138 billion 4. Bernard Arnault: $122 billion 5. Mark Zuckerberg: $101 billion 6. Warren Buffett : $100 billion 7. Larry Page: $94.2 billion 8. Sergey Brin: $91.1 billion 9. Larry Ellison: $86 billion 10. Mukesh Ambani: $84.7 billion Source: Bloomberg Billionaire's Index Advertisement

The Vermont senator accused Bezos, who, with an estimated net worth of $180 billion, is the richest man in the world, of an 'aggressive union-busting campaign' at his Alabama facility.

Sanders, who is a frequent Amazon critic, previously announced his support for the workers' right to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

Bezos 'is currently engaged in an aggressive union-busting campaign against Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama to stop them from collectively bargaining for better wages, benefits, and working conditions,' Sanders said in a statement announcing the March 17 hearing.

Amazon did not immediately respond to an inquiry on whether Bezos, who is the world's richest person, would appear at the hearing.

Sanders said he was calling the hearing on the growing crisis of wealth inequality and stated that 'during the pandemic, 664 billionaires in America have increased their wealth by $1.3 trillion.'

Workers at Amazon's Alabama warehouse began voting in February on whether or not to form the first American union at the e-commerce giant that could pave the way for further unionization in the US at one of the world's most powerful companies.

Bezos has faced criticism for Amazon's labor practices during the coronavirus pandemic, including the ending of hazard pay for its frontline workers

The voting on whether to unionize runs through March 29.

The union drive would, if successful, result in the first US collective bargaining unit at Amazon, which employs some 800,000 people in the United States.

'What you are seeing right now in Bessemer is an example of the richest person in this country spending a whole lot of money to make it harder for ordinary working people to live with dignity and safety,' Sanders told The Washington Post.

Union organizers support Amazon workers, pictured outside of the Amazon BHM1 facility during a congressional visit to the site in Birmingham, Alabama

Next week's hearing will focus on 'The Income and Wealth Inequality Crisis in America.' Other witnesses include former labor secretary Robert Reich.

Bezos' wealth skyrocketed some 59 per cent during the pandemic, which saw online sales explode as people stayed home under lockdown conditions.

The massive e-commerce country has discouraged union efforts in the United States although many of its European locations do work under unions.

Amazon has said the majority of its workers did not want to join a union and has run a counter-campaign to union efforts in Bessemer, setting up a website urging workers to 'Do It Without Dues' and distributing pamphlets instructing workers to 'Vote NO' on against the labor initiative.

The company also has pointed out it it offers Bessemer workers generous benefits, including starting pay of $15.30 an hour, well above the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

Amazon's facility in Bessemer, Alabama, pictured, where nearly 6,000 employees are voting on whether or not to unionize

Celebrities and political leaders have expressed support for the union effort.

President Joe Biden jumped into battle earlier this month, defending the workers right to unionize but stopping short of endorsing the formation of a union.

'Let me be really clear, it's not up to me to decide whether anyone should join a union. But let me be even more clear. It's not up to an employer to decide that either the choice to join a union is up to the workers, full stop,' he said in a video posted to the White House's social media accounts.

President Biden did not call out Amazon by name in his remarks but he did talk about workers in Alabama and warned there should be no intimidation of workers during the process.

Workers at the Bessemer facility claim Amazon has launched a 'disinformation' campaign aimed at getting them to vote down a proposal to form a union

'There should be no intimidation, no coercion, no threats, no anti union propaganda,' Biden said, pointing his finger to the camera to emphasize his point.

'No supervisor, no supervisors confront employees about their union preferences. You know, every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union. The law guarantees that choice. And it's your right, not that of an employer, it's your right, no employer can take that right away,' he added.

Rep. Ilhan Omar and Stacey Abrams also released videos of their support of the workers.

There have been a series of protests around the United States on safety and working conditions at Amazon, with the pandemic increasing pressure on its distribution network even as profits soar.

The pro-union workers face an uphill battle against the second-largest employer in the country with a history of crushing unionizing efforts at its warehouses and its Whole Foods grocery stores.

Amazon employs nearly 1.3 million people worldwide.
By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Plc is preparing to file for U.S. emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine later this month or early April after accumulating enough data to judge the inoculation's efficacy, sources with knowledge of the ongoing clinical trial told Reuters on Friday.

The British drugmaker completed enrollment in its trial of more than 32,000 volunteers in January and now has data on at least 150 cases of COVID-19, two sources familiar with the trial told Reuters.

The number of COVID-19 cases among those who got the vaccine versus infections in participants who received a placebo will show how effective the shot was at preventing illness in those age 18 and over.

The vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, has been authorized for use in theEuropean Union and many countries but not yet by U.S. regulators.

"The U.S. Phase III study results are necessary for the FDA's evaluation of an EUA request for our vaccine," a company spokeswoman said, without confirming trial details being reported by Reuters. "We expect data from our U.S. Phase III trial to be available soon, in the coming weeks, and we plan to file for emergency use authorization shortly thereafter."

Highly anticipated results from the U.S. trial could help settle safety concerns arising over reports of serious blood clots in some vaccine recipients that have led several nations to pause administering the vaccine.

A World Health Organization expert advisory committee islooking into the matter.

The data could also help determine what becomes of doses already sitting in U.S. warehouses awaiting approval. The New York Times reported on Thursday that some countries have been asking to procure doses of the vaccine not currently being offered in the United States.

AstraZeneca said in February it expects its vaccine could receive U.S. emergency use authorization at the beginning of April and could immediately deliver 30 million doses to locations around the United States.

In a Friday press briefing, White House Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said the United States has a small inventory of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which it plans to keep and deploy to Americans should an EUA be granted.

The U.S. stance could thwart AstraZeneca's efforts to come closer to delivering on its contractual obligation with the EU of 180 million doses in the second quarter.

AstraZeneca told the EU earlier this year it would cut its supplies in the second quarter by at least half to less than 90 million doses, EU sources told Reuters, after a bigger reduction in the first three months of the year.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Additional reporting by Carl O'Donnell in New York and Jeff Mason in Wahsington; Editing by Peter Henderson and Bill Berkrot)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Prince Charles was left deeply hurt by Harry and Meghans tell-all interview  but has resolved to mend the broken relationship with his son.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Charles plans to contact Harry within the next few weeks. His mood is that of a father, not that of a statesman, said a friend.

With the Royal Family still reeling from the couples broadside  which included Harrys claim that he needed to educate his relatives  it is the first sign that they are determined to effect some form of reconciliation.

The friend of Charles said the heir to the throne realises the focus must be on healing the rift before it becomes unbridgeable, adding: You are looking at a father who is deeply hurt by where he finds his relationship with his son.

Prince Charles is said to have been hurt by the comments from the Duke of Sussex but is looking to fix their relationship

'But, after much reflection, he also realises that nothing good will come of prolonging the fight. He feels it is time to heal. Now is the time to mend a broken relationship.

The Prince has a real desire to get back to the close relationship that he enjoyed with Harry for the longest time.

A conversation has to start sometime both with Charles and also with Prince William.

They will be in touch in one form or another over the coming weeks possibly in writing, possibly over a video call.

The Duchess of Cornwall is comforting Charles. She can see how upset her husband is. She just wants it fixed, said the friend.

Charles arguably came out the worst from the various slings and arrows aimed at the Royal Family during the Oprah interview.

Harry said he felt let down by his father who, he said, asked him to put his breakaway plan in writing and, he claimed, refused to take his calls at one point. Harry also admitted there was still a gulf between him and his brother.

He also told Oprah: My father and my brother, they are trapped. They dont get to leave. And I have huge compassion with that.

He spoke of being cut off financially, and there was clear resentment over having their security detail withdrawn and being stripped of their Royal patronages and Harrys honorary military titles.

I had three conversations with my grandmother and two conversations with my father and  before he stopped taking my calls  he said, Can you put all this in writing what your plan is?  said Harry.

Prince Harry said he felt 'let down' by his father in the tell all interview with Oprah Winfrey this week

He asked me to put it in writing and I put all the specifics in there, even the fact that we were planning on putting the announcement out on January 7 [2020].

At the subsequent so-called Sandringham Summit, Harry thrashed out his plan to leave Royal duties with his father, the Queen and his brother William. It paved the way for the Sussexes to move to the United States permanently.

A year on, resentment still festers within the Sussex household. The most serious allegations levelled at the behaviour of the Windsors is the suggestion of racism. Harry and Meghan  in slightly differing anecdotes  suggested a family member had talked about what colour skin their child would have.

Meghan said there had been concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when hes born. When asked by Ms Winfrey whether there were concerns that her child would be too brown, Meghan said: If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one.

The couple refused to say which member of the Royal Family had made the comments but later confirmed it was neither the Queen nor Prince Philip.

Harry went on to heap criticism on his father, suggesting that he and his wife hadnt been protected or received the recognition that he clearly thought they deserved within the family.

I feel really let down because hes been through something similar, he knows what pain feels like and Archie is his grandson, he said.

Of course I will always love him but theres a lot of hurt thats happened and I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try to heal that relationship.

Many believe that it is Charless role in his divorce from Diana that lies at the root of the problem and that Harry may never forgive his father. He made a striking reference to his late mother in the interview, saying that she would feel very angry with how this has panned out, and very sad.
Liz Navratil and Maya Raol, Star Tribune staff writers (Tribune News Service)

MINNEAPOLIS  Minneapolis will pay a record $27 million to settle the lawsuit brought by George Floyds family.

Attorneys for the family called it the largest pretrial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death case in U.S. history.

When George Floyd was horrifically killed on May 25, 2020, it was a watershed moment for America, family attorney Ben Crump said at a Friday afternoon news conference. It was one of the most egregious and shocking documentations of an American citizen being tortured to death by a police officer ... one of the worst ever witnessed in history.

History will judge us for how we responded to this tragedy.

Crump applauded Mayor Jacob Frey and council members for the settlement, saying Minneapolis was being watched in its darkest hour: Now the city can be a beacon of hope and light and change for cities across America and across the globe.

With the mayor standing nearby, Crump complimented the citys police reforms since Floyds death and urged further changes.

Mayor Frey, you have our word, our voices and our might to help you muscle through additional change that will transform policing in Minneapolis and hopefully policing in America.

At the news conference, Frey called this moment a once in a generation opportunity to truly effectuate change.

Floyds nephew, Brandon Williams, said he hopes the settlement changes the way policing is done.

Theyre supposed to protect and serve ... Had the officer deescalated the situation, were not here doing this press conference, George is still alive, Williams said. Wed give the settlement back gladly to have George here with us.

After a roughly 40-minute private meeting Friday afternoon, City Council members voted unanimously to approve the settlement, and Freys office said he will approve it as well.

Of the $27 million, $500,000 will be used for the benefit of the community around 38th and Chicago, where Floyd died, according to the city.

This is a deeply traumatic event that, unfortunately, is a part of too many Black and brown families realities, Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins said after the vote. There is no amount of money that can replace a brother, a son, a nephew, a father, a loved one but what we can do is continue to work towards justice and equity and equality in the city of Minneapolis and thats what I commit to do.

The settlement could have major implications for the city and its Police Department, whose fate hangs in the balance as some city leaders and community members seek to replace it.

Floyds family sued the city and the four officers charged in his death in July, just months after his death  and the video of former Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on him  spurred protests across the world.

When they filed the suit, Crump said, This is an unprecedented case, and with this lawsuit we seek to set a precedent that makes it financially prohibitive for police to wrongfully kill marginalized people  especially Black people  in the future.

The federal suit accused the officers of a reckless disregard for Floyds civil rights, saying they used deadly force in nondeadly circumstances. It also alleged that the department engaged in a culture of warrior-style or killology training, failed to terminate dangerous officers and fostered a culture of racism, leading to a violation of Floyds civil rights.

In April 2019, Frey announced he was banning officers from receiving fear-based training. The police union quickly countered that it was partnering with a national police organization to offer free warrior-style training.

In July 2020, the Police Department announced it was changing its use-of-force policy to encourage officers to deescalate tense situations and hold them accountable when force or weapons are used. The new policy required officers to document how they tried to deescalate situations, why they decided to use force and why they chose a specific level of force.

Moments after the settlement vote Friday, Council President Lisa Bender read a statement: I do want to, on behalf of the entire City Council, offer my deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd, his friends and all in our community who are mourning his loss. No amount of money can ever address the intense pain or trauma caused by this death to George Floyds family or the people of our city.

The previous record for police payouts came in 2019, when city agreed to pay $20 million to settle the lawsuit filed by the family of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. She was killed by former Minneapolis police Officer Mohamed Noor after she called to report a possible assault in an alley behind her south Minneapolis home.

From 2006 through 2020, Minneapolis paid just over $44 million to settle officer conduct claims and lawsuits, according to data posted on the citys website and updated in January.

The civil suit is separate from the criminal trials for the four officers charged in his death. Jury selection began this week for Chauvin, who faces charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyds death.

A separate trial for the other three former officers charged in his death - J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao  is set to begin Aug. 23. They face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyds death.



Largest Minneapolis police payouts

$27 million (2021): Family of George Floyd, died after being pinned during arrest.

$20 million (2019): Family of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, killed by police after reporting a possible assault in nearby alley.

$4.5 million (2007): Duy Ngo, Minneapolis police officer shot by fellow officer.

$3.1 million (2013): Family of David Smith, died after struggle with police at YMCA.

$2.2 million (2011): Family of Dominic Felder, shot by police, paid afterjury award.



2021 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Brisbane renewable energy company has signed a multimillion-dollar contract with a major housing developer to provide a virtual power plant for thousands of homes powered by the solar energy collected from their rooftops.

RedEarth will link the rooftops as a giant community-based electricity generator.

RedEarth co-founders Charlie Walker and Chris Winter outline multimillion-dollar plans to install a network of linked solar batteries to form a self-powered community power plant. Credit:Tony Moore

The housing community, which remains a secret, will produce enough renewable energy for its own use, while also being connected to distribute the surplus.

RedEarth, which produces solar energy batteries and systems and the technology to redirect the electricity, revealed its contract this week.
Service disruptions have halted, and service was back to normal at the CTAs Adams/Wabash station in the Loop after a woman died there Saturday morning when she was hit by a train, officials said.
When choosing a wine, we might like to think we're calling upon our knowledge of terroirs, grape varieties and the best vintages.

But, according to a psychologist, we are just as likely to plump for a bottle simply because it has a simple name or a pretty picture of a giraffe on the label.

Oxford University professor Charles Spence has written a review of the psychology of wine.

In it he says shoppers faced with hundreds of bottles on a supermarket shelf may be so overawed that they opt for the one with the name that's easiest to pronounce.

According to a psychologist, we are just as likely to plump for a bottle simply because it has a simple name or a pretty picture of a giraffe on the label (file photo)

If he is right, it could explain how the likes of the deeply unfashionable Blue Nun, Black Tower and even Piat d'Or remained best sellers for years.

And, the professor reckons, those bottles with attractive, memorable images of giraffes, kangaroos and monkeys on the front also draw us in.

He said: 'Faced with myriad Old World wines, many of us struggle to recollect the name of the one we enjoyed so much last time.

'Part of the success of the New World winemakers, from countries like Australia and South Africa, is their introduction of 'critter' brands.

'You know the kind of thing  wines with a frog, a giraffe, an emu, a kangaroo, or even a hippopotamus on the front.

'The critter has nothing much to do with the wine, but it has a lot to do with our ability to remember and recognise the brand.

'And, chances are, you will find it far easier to remember to ask for a bottle of Yellow Tail or Gato Negro  black cat in Spanish  than a bottle of the Hungarian varietal, cserszegi fuszeres.'

Oxford University professor Charles Spence (pictured) has written a review of the psychology of wine

However, if you have been seduced by marketing into buying a less-than-thrilling bottle, Professor Spence reckons all is not lost.

He says psychology can also influence the way a wine tastes once opened.

The review, published in the journal Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, provides tips on how to make wine appear better.

People prefer a tipple from a cork-stoppered bottle than one with a screw-top, he says, no matter how good the wine inside is, while drinking red wine under a red light is said to make it taste fruitier.

Studies have also shown drinkers can get greater pleasure from wine by listening to the right kind of music  with red wine pairing well with the blues, for example.

However, Professor Spence cautions against buying a wine to remind you of a holiday or other happy occasion.

The pitfall, known as the 'Provencal rose paradox' after those who try to recreate sultry nights in France, does not work because the brain is influenced by surroundings  and the absence of those means the wine just does not taste the same back home.
Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha,



a bitter critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi regime, on Saturday joined Trinamool Congress days ahead of the high- octane

Sinha, who served in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had quit the saffron party in 2018 after having serious differences with the party leadership.

His son Jayant Sinha is the BJP MP from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand.

"The country is passing through a strange situation. Our values and principles are in danger.

"The strength of democracy lies in the robustness of its institutions, and all the institutions have been weakened systematically," Sinha said.

The octogenarian leader pledged support to West Bengal Chief Minister in her fight against the BJP:



"We welcome to our party. His participation would strengthen our fight against the BJP in the elections," TMC Lok Sabha party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said.

Sinha had served as Union Finance minister twice- once in the Chandra Sekhar cabinet in 1990 and then again in the Vajpayee ministry.

He also held portfolio of External Affairs ministry in the Vajpayee cabinet.

(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.)
San Franciscans have lost a lot since COVID-19 pandemic shuttered our city one year ago. Jobs disappeared. Beloved businesses shuttered. Classrooms closed.

Despite the hardship, San Francisco is blessed with one of the lowest death rates of any major American city  445 lost to COVID-19. That means many of us avoided the greatest loss of all. We didnt lose someone we loved.

But that good fortune ended for many Castro residents on March 7 when the neighborhoods anchor passed away. Thats when Sami Bsisso took his last breath in a South San Francisco hospital bed.

If ever there was an essential worker, 65-year-old Bsisso was it. He owned Noe Hill Market at 19th and Noe Streets, but he offered far more than groceries. He gave neighbors the sense they lived in a small town in the middle of this big, frustrating city.

He kept everybodys spare keys in a basket in case they got locked out. He knew everybodys car and phone number and called to warn if the street-sweeping truck was rumbling past. UPS and FedEx drivers left neighbors packages with him for safekeeping.

Kids couldnt walk past his shop without scoring a Popsicle or ice cream cone  on the house, of course. Dogs couldnt pass by without earning a free biscuit. He was always up for a chat. Or just a big smile and a wave if you were in a hurry.

He loved this neighborhood, said his oldest child, Said, 29, as he crouched on the sidewalk outside his dads store the other day, looking distraught. The people were all family. This aint a business. Its his second home.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

In January, during San Franciscos most recent coronavirus surge, Bsisso started feeling sick. He couldnt breathe deeply, he developed a cough, and he lost his appetite. He tested positive for the coronavirus. His family doesnt know where he picked it up, but the store is a good guess.

A few days later, he was feeling so bad, he went to the hospital. He wanted to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but it was too late for him by the time grocery store workers became eligible in late February. Thirty-five days after entering the hospital  25 of them on a ventilator  he died.

His three children couldnt be with him. His wife could see him only through his rooms window.

Journalist Kara Swisher, who lives near the store and counted Bsisso as a friend, posted a long thread about him on Twitter.

He was the very quintessence of the word essential, but in the end  the very end  was sacrificial, she wrote. This pandemic has taken so many with so many similar dreams who deserved so much more from a country that let them down terribly.

The store closed for the first time ever, just for two days, so Bsissos family could grieve. Customers piled flowers outside his store, and they keep coming. The family takes them to Bsissos grave in Half Moon Bay, which is covered in a thick blanket of petals. Customers placed scores of lit candles along the shops wall.

They wrote messages on large white pieces of paper taped to the windows. You were the first friendly face I met when I moved to the hood 20 years ago. Miss you already. And, You were a huge part of my childhood, and you made everything a little brighter. And, You were the heart of our community. It will never be the same.

Neighbors cant stop talking about Bsisso. After all, almost all of them who stopped by the store the other day said he was the first person close to them who died of COVID-19. The neighborhoods wealth surely contributes to that fact, as the disease has disproportionately struck down low-income people, largely because they couldnt work from home and often live in communal settings.

Claudia Center, who lives across the street from the store, talked to Bsisso every day for 15 years. During his five weeks in the hospital, she prayed for his recovery despite being an atheist.

I prayed that it would pass, that he would survive, she said. Every day, I just hoped and hoped and hoped.

John Speed Orr said he moved into the neighborhood 11 years ago with two male roommates and now lives in the same apartment with his wife.

Sami was like an uncle to me. He watched me grow up, Orr said. He was nearly in tears when I told him I had proposed. He was the most constant thing in this neighborhood, always watching over us. Our guardian angel.

Orr and his wife, both dancers, entertained themselves in the early days of the shutdown last spring by making a movie showing them dancing out of their apartment, into the middle of the intersection and into Bsissos store to buy salt.

They shared it with Bsisso, who sent it to his friends and family back in the Mideast and told the couple, Its being shown around the world!

Bsisso was born in the Palestinian territories and moved with his family to Cleveland when he was a teenager. His father ran corner stores there. Bsisso settled in San Francisco, opening a store in the Tenderloin and then elsewhere in the Castro before opening Noe Hill Market years ago though its not clear exactly when.

His family finalized his purchase of Buffalo Whole Foods and Grain Co. two blocks away the day before he died. Said and his brother, Hisham, 25, will run both stores, commuting from their familys home on the Peninsula where they live with their mom and sister.

Some dads dont leave their kids anything, Said said. Our dad left us a solid foundation.

Their mom sometimes talked about moving somewhere else where they could afford a big house. But their dad refused. He loved his customers, the citys beauty and its temperate weather too much to leave.

He was adamant about staying here, Said said.

And he should have been here a lot longer. Jim Mori, who lives above the store and owns the building, also got the coronavirus around the same time as Bsisso. Hes fine now and doesnt understand why his tenant and good friend, who had no underlying health conditions, didnt make it.

This disease is the strangest thing how it plucks people out, he said, shaking his head. I didnt even get to say goodbye to him.

Nobody did. Goodbye, Mr. Bsisso. Thank you for making San Francisco a better place.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Instagram: @heatherknightsf
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Chandigarh, March 13 : Tussle between the Haryana Legislative Assembly secretariat and Punjab MLAs intensified on Saturday with Speaker Gian Gupta seeking an apology from Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal for confronting Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar by his legislators for demanding a resolution to repeal the three farm laws.

The incident occurred on March 10 within the premises of the building, jointly sharing Punjab and Haryana assembly complexes here.

"Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal should apologise to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for blocking his passage, accosting and heckling him and misbehave by his party legislators," Gupta told the media.

On the registration of police case against the legislators, he said a debate on the incident would be held in the Assembly on March 15.

"As per the suggestions of the members of the House, the action would be initiated against the Punjab legislators," he said.

Explaining the incident, the Speaker said, "Akali Dal legislators were sitting in cars much after the Assembly session was over much earlier. Our proceedings were over at around 6.30 p.m. and the Chief Minister was interacting with the media, they suddenly came out of their vehicles and started misbehaving with him," Gupta explained.

"Such incident is really shameful. I spoke to the Punjab Speaker (Rana K.P. Singh) over the incident and he condemned it and also asked me to apologise to the Chief Minister on his behalf," he said, adding "If the (Haryana) legislators demand, an FIR would be lodged against the legislators".

A day earlier, Khattar told the media that he spoke to Badal regarding the incident. "Sukhbir Badal said he was not aware of the incident but he said such incident should not have happened." The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) legislators in a statement on Friday said they have always agitated for the welfare of farmers and they would continue to raise their voice against repression meted out to farmers and human rights activists in Haryana even if the Haryana government registered 10 cases against them.

"We will not be cowed down by registration of any case against us as is being threatened by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker. We are even ready to go to jail for the cause of the farmers. We will continue our agitation against the repressive policies of the Haryana government," SAD legislative party leader Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said here.

The SAD legislators also made it clear that they had done nothing wrong by condemning the "barbaric treatment" meted out to farmers and human rights activists as well as Sikh youth by the Haryana police.

"We used our democratic right to hold a peaceful protest against Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. We were protesting in our own Vidhan Sabha building premises. The Haryana government is trying to use the same repressive measures against us as it has done with the 'Kisan Andolan'. We are however ready to make any sacrifice for the cause of the 'annadaata'," they said.

The legislators also made it clear that they had raised the issue of inhuman treatment meted out to farmers as well as human rights activists Nodeep Kaur and Shiv Kumar as well as insult to the articles of faith of Ranjit Singh and others in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Budget session.

"We had demanded that the (Punjab) assembly pass a resolution against the Haryana government besides recommending action against police officials responsible for the torture of human rights activists. We raised the same points with the Chief Minister (Haryana). We were well within our rights to do so," the legislators added.
But just before those Sunday appointments were slated to open, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced sign-ups would be reserved only for Chicago residents who are in Phase 1b+, with a batch for suburban Cook County residents to open up soon after. The rest of Illinois would no longer be allowed to sign up, thus prompting group of Illinois Democratic U.S. House members to send a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday condemning the rollout.
On left, some of the weapons seized from rioters in Portland, Ore., on March 12, 2021. On right, windows smashed by rioters in Portland, Ore., on March 12, 2021. (PPB)

Portland Police Surround 100 Rioters After Group Smashes Windows Downtown

Police officers late Friday surrounded a group of about 100 and charged 13 with crimes after a protest devolved into a riot.

Members of the crowd, wearing all black and chanting far-left slogans, broke windows at an apartment building and several other structures in the Pearl District neighborhood around 9 p.m. before they were surrounded.

The crowd ignored warnings to stop vandalizing buildings and disperse.

Officers blocked all exits from Northwest Marshall Street between Northwest 13th Avenue and Northwest 14th Avenue, the Portland Police Bureau said in an incident summary.

The group was advised that they were being detained for investigation of crimes, they were not free to leave, and they should comply with officers lawful orders. Failure to comply may result in arrest or force being used against them to include, but not limited to, crowd control agents, impact weapons, or tear gas. Legal observers, press, and anyone who was medically fragile or anyone who needs immediate medical attention were invited to leave the enclosed area if they wished, the bureau said.

Those that were being detained were identified and photographed, as part of a criminal investigation, before being released. Some refused to comply and locked arms together in an effort to interfere with the investigation. Officers escorted them away and they were arrested.

Additionally, a suspect in the vandalism that took place earlier in the evening was arrested and charged.

Among the items officers found inside the area, left behind by those who had been surrounded, was a crowbar, hammers, and a high-impact slingshot.

Thirteen people were charged with crimes including disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of a firearm, and resisting arrest.

More charges are possible.

Weapons recovered from an area rioters were held, in Portland, Ore., on March 12, 2021. (PPB)

Reporters and legal observers complained about the so-called kettling tactic and shared video footage showing them leaving or being forced to leave the perimeter police established. They were handed duct tape with their names on it to wear on their clothing. Some self-described reporters have participated in crimes during similar marches in the city.

I was just forcibly removed from the scene by several [officers], Maranie Staab, a freelancer whose work has been published Reuters, wrote on Twitter. I am a credentialed member of the press & made clear I wantd (sic) to stay & report. I was dragged out, labeled w/tape & photographed. This was a deliberate action to prevent accountability.

Two federal judges previously dismissed or advised tossing civil suits challenging kettling tactics used by Portland officers in 2017.

The Friday riot took place one night after dozens attacked the U.S. courthouse in Portland, which was the focus of sustained assaults last year. The attack followed the removal of a strong fence that had been erected around the courthouse to help protect it against rioters.

Portland is also dealing with a spike in shootings, prompting Mayor Ted Wheeler this week to request a one-time $2 million spend to boost law enforcement and other agency efforts in combating the surge. Police have on some days been unable to promptly respond to 911 calls because so many officers are tied up with responding to riots.

Wheeler and his office didnt respond to requests for comments about the riots. Robert King, a retired police officer who advises the mayor on policy, told the Pearl District Neighborhood Association during a board meeting on Thursday that the mayor is very aware and concerned about a riot that unfolded the week prior.

Were aware of the event thats been advertised for tomorrow. There are a number of other events that we also are aware of, in say the coming week or two. So we are focusing on ensuring we have staff necessary to conduct those operations, communicate more and better with people in the community, he said.

Chris Davis, the bureaus deputy chief, told the board that your neighborhood has been one of the ones targeted for an inordinate amount of criminal activity related to civil unrest in the city over the last year.

Davis said police plan a response based on whatever intelligence theyre able to get ahead of time. That can be very challenging, especially with some of these more organized groups that have engaged in criminal activity, he said, adding that if a crowd swells to 100 or more, it becomes a lot more resource-intensive for us to deal with.

As the riots have continued, police have been making more of an effort to arrest people engaged in crimes during the protests and riots, although Multnomah District Attorney Mike Schmidt has opted to dismiss many of the lower-level charges.
(Sixth Tone)  With few coal reserves to call its own and winter rains too erratic to rely on hydropower, central Chinas Hunan province had long faced frequent electricity blackouts, an annoyance to residents and a hindrance to economic growth. So when an ultra-high voltage power line was approved in 2015, hopes were high.

The new UHV connection, infrastructure capable of carrying large amounts of electricity over long distances, would run all the way from the energy-rich Jiuquan region in northwestern Gansu province, and bring in enough coal, wind, and solar power to answer a quarter of Hunans energy needs.

At the time, a confident employee of Hunans provincial grid operator told state-owned news outlet Economic Information Daily that after the line is built, we expect Hunan will not have any power shortages for the next 10 years. At a cost of 26 billion yuan ($3.9 billion), the 2,383-kilometer-long Jiuquan-Hunan line went into operation in 2017, becoming part of Chinas growing UHV network.

Power converter facilities in Shanghai Fengxian Converter Station, Jan. 21. Photo: Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone

In December, when a cold front hit parts of China, that confidence was put to the test. While factories were already running at full tilt to compensate for Covid-19-related shutdowns elsewhere in the world, people turned up their heating  which in the southern half of China often runs on electricity  as temperatures plunged. Hunan authorities predicted an electricity shortage of 3 to 4 gigawatts, or about 10%, for the winter peak season. Apparently unable to increase supply, they reined in demand instead, turning down the thermostats in government offices, switching off street lamps, and forcing companies to halt production under rolling outages.

In a report analyzing how such power rationing could have been avoided, China Energy News, an outlet overseen by party newspaper Peoples Daily, pointed to the persistently underperforming Jiuquan-Hunan UHV line. An anonymous Hunan-based electricity expert told the outlet that it had always been operating at just slightly more than half its planned capacity, leading them to conclude Hunan couldnt depend on other provinces.

A relative afar is less use than a close neighbor, the expert said. When solving energy shortages, you can only rely on local power sources.

It was a chilling repudiation of the countrys ambitions for UHV, a technology full of country-spanning potential that has so far been hampered by a Balkanized power system, technological incompatibilities with green energy, and questions of financial feasibility in a future liberalized market.

Expensive and difficult to build, UHV lines transmit energy at 800,000 volts and above, double the voltage of conventional high-voltage lines, allowing them to transmit up to five times more electricity at minimal energy loss along the way. They are seen as the answer to Chinas energy imbalance: Whereas energy sources, including wind and sunshine, are mostly found inland, much of the countrys population lives toward the coast.

UHV lines should also enable China to rely more on renewable energy, necessary if the country is to make good on President Xi Jinpings pledge to be carbon neutral by 2060. Piping in power from far away can mitigate the unpredictability of wind and solar energy, making UHV key to combating climate change.

China has been at the forefront of UHV technology for over a decade, with its first such line going into operation in 2009 and a current network of 31 lines. Its building spree shows no signs of slowing down. In a plan published last week, the countrys largest grid operator State Grid said it wants to build another seven lines in the next five years.

But that enthusiasm belies continued disappointment. According to China Energy News, many UHV lines are running at just a bit more than 60% of their design capacity due to technological limits and conflicts of interests between power generators, grid companies, and local governments. This figure is an eyesore for the central government. In report after report, the National Energy Administration has implored grid companies to do better.

Facilities in Shanghai Fengxian Converter Station, Jan. 21. Photo: Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone

Shanghais distant relative

On the outskirts of Shanghai, amid farm fields and wetlands and within earshot of the sea, stands the citys sole long-distance UHV converter station, a colorless collection of buildings surrounded by a constantly buzzing forest of metal poles and coils. Zhang Dezhen, an engineer at the station, waves his finger in the direction of the wires that sweep up to soaring towers and disappear into the foggy distance, and explains that they connect Shanghai with the Xiangjiaba hydropower dam, 1,900 kilometers away in southwestern Chinas Sichuan province.

The line, with a maximum capacity of 6.4 gigawatts, can supply up to 40% of the citys electricity. This is the most important line in Shanghais power system, Zhang tells Sixth Tone. According to State Grid, the hydropower from Sichuan allows Shanghai to burn 1.3 million fewer tons of coal per year, saving about 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

But this, too, could be increased. Zhang says the Xiangjiaba-Shanghai line only operates at full capacity from April to November, warm months when air conditioners drive up energy demand. During Shanghais usually mild winters, the State Grid limits the amount of power the UHV line carries. (We) have to consider the stability of Shanghais grid system, Zhang says. If the UHV line is responsible for too much of Shanghais total power supply, any glitch  such as weather damage anywhere along the wires trajectory  could crash the citys grid. Its about not putting all the eggs in one basket, he says.

In early January, the same historic cold spell that earlier overwhelmed Hunan threatened the stability of Shanghais power system. Zheng Qingrong, director of the demand response management center at State Grid subsidiary Shanghai Electric Power Company, tells Sixth Tone the company at the time predicted it would face tight supplies and had bought additional power from other provinces. Such purchases sometimes carry a markup, he says.

The citys UHV line also brought relief. This winters allocation was higher than last years, says Zhang, the UHV engineer. At the time local Shanghai power stations were already doing everything they could to produce at full capacity. Though soaring demand in the city of over 24 million people caused some local loss of electricity from overloaded equipment, there was never a shortage.

A month later, the U.S. state of Texas became an example of what can happen without such connectivity. The state famously runs its own grid, which isnt linked up with the rest of the country. When a winter storm hit  potentially caused by the same climate change-linked phenomenon that caused the frigid temperatures in eastern China  the inability to import electricity was among the factors in the ensuing disaster, Zheng says. Over 4 million people lost power, and hundreds suffered carbon monoxide poisoning when they tried to stay warm by running their cars in their garages.

Further interconnectivity between provinces is the answer to help Chinas grid weather the growing challenges posed by surging power demand and unpredictable climate, Zheng says. Currently, provinces are connected in six regional grids and trade some of their power, but mostly according to medium- and long-term contracts. The government aims to increase electricity trading and create a national market. At the same time, State Grid is striving to link more province-level regions to a UHV line  presently six are left unconnected  thus creating a nationwide super grid.

Zhang Dezhen, a staff member at the Shanghai Fengxian Converter Station, patrols the power converter area. Jan. 21. Photo: Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone

Local priorities

But the Hunanese experience and other cases demonstrate how this vision may prove difficult to realize. The Baihetan Dam, currently under construction on the Jinsha River straddling the border of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, is set to become the worlds second-largest hydropower station after the Three Gorges Dam once it is fully completed in 2022. From its inception, it was meant to connect to two UHV lines that would send power to Zhejiang and Jiangsu, both provinces on Chinas eastern coast. The project has been delayed, however, due to a conflict over who owns its electricity.

The dams investor and developer, China Three Gorges Corporation, reportedly hoped to transmit the power directly to the receiving provinces  a common, cost-saving approach. But the provinces, after they didnt show much enthusiasm during the dams planning phase, later hoped to get a share of the electricity to benefit their own economies. Sichuan reportedly argued the dams power should be first loaded into its provincial grid  whereby the province would earn transmission fees  before being sent east. The province also wanted to keep some of the green energy to help reduce local air pollution, says Yang Fuqiang, a senior Beijing-based adviser with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

In the end, the National Energy Administration sided with the provinces, allowing each to keep 10 terawatt-hours generated by Baihetan and another dam on the Jinsha River every year. The dispute delayed central government approvals, causing much of the construction of the UHV infrastructure  including converter stations and suspension towers  to fall behind schedule. The dam, which will eventually produce 62.5 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, may have to curtail its power for at least a year.

The saga calls into question a central tenet of Chinas UHV project: that the countrys east will have energy shortages for which energy surpluses in the west and north can compensate. For years, factories have been moving inland, however, encouraged by government policies as well as increasing labor and other costs on the coast. Its very noticeable that energy-intensive industries are moving westward voluntarily, because electricity costs much more in the east, Xu Zheng, an electrical engineer at Zhejiang University, tells Sixth Tone.

As a result, the demand for energy is increasing rapidly in Chinas western regions. In 2020, power demand from Yunnan and Sichuan grew by over 5% compared with that of 2019, the highest mark in the country, according to official data. The big picture is clear that we will need more electricity overall in the future, Xu says. (Researchers estimate China will see a 60% increase in power use by 2030 compared with 2020). But would the eastern region still need this much power in the future? Would the west still have enough power to send out? Its hard to say.

Its also unclear how UHV lines would fit into a future liberalized power market. Right now, the electricity they transport are stiff deliveries under Chinas old-fashioned planning system, says Zhang Shuwei, an analyst with Beijing-based think tank Draworld Environment Research Center. Power transmitted through UHV lines is commonly delivered in fixed amounts according to fixed prices, based on long-term contracts. As such, while many of the receiving provinces are trialing liberalized power markets, power imported by UHV lines is often guaranteed a certain amount of use regardless of market circumstances. The operation of the lines is not considering the dynamics of supply and demand at both ends, says Zhang Shuwei. It is basically a privileged line.

Views of the Shanghai Fengxian Converter Station, Jan. 21. Photo: Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone

Getting greener

Increasing the usage rates of UHV lines in turn promotes the production of green energy in Chinas sunny and windswept western regions, a central government priority. But in its latest inspection report, the National Energy Administration notes that the amount of green energy transported by UHV lines remains subpar. In its plan last week, the State Grid promised to increase the share of clean energy, including hydropower, in its long-distance power transmission project to 50% by 2025, up from 43% during the five-year period ending in 2020. And while rivers are currently Chinas main green electricity source, Xu of Zhejiang University says there isnt much more hydropower left to develop in the country. Further increase of the clean energy share has to rely on adding more new energy (like solar and wind), he says.

Chinas renewable energy law requires governments as well as the State Grid to prioritize green electricity, but loopholes mean the law is treated more as a guideline, David Fishman, energy consultant at The Lantau Group, tells Sixth Tone. Using power produced elsewhere can run counter to local interests in recipient provinces. The receiving provinces or regions dont really have the incentive to absorb the wind and solar and to adjust their own operation, says Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. They don't want to import from other provinces. They want to produce as much as they can themselves to maximize local GDP needs.

There are also technological reasons for why UHV lines so far havent been able to incorporate much green electricity. Currently, most UHV lines cannot transmit the unevenly produced wind and solar energy alone but need it to be bundled with power from more stable sources, such as coal and hydropower. A pure-green energy mix presents a risk, as its supply could suddenly drop and threaten grid stability. The ratio of wind over conventional energy is quite low, usually accounting for one-third of the mix, says Xu. He says that a new generation of UHV lines can, scientists theorize, handle solar and wind variability. But Chinas only such line is being used to transport hydropower, and so the theory remains untested outside the lab.

Another technological solution is pairing renewables with storage, which makes their output less variable and thus more usable by UHV lines. At least six Chinese provinces have so far made storage facilities mandatory for new green energy projects, even though critics say that, with current battery costs, the added expense prices them out of the market. Qinghai, a sparsely populated province in the northwest with plenty of wind and sunshine, offers a subsidy for such projects in compensation.

Meanwhile, the share of renewable energy in Chinas power production will almost certainly rise. To reach its 2060 carbon neutrality goal, China has pledged to increase the share of consumed non-fossil fuel energy to 25% by 2030, up from 15% in 2019. Falling prices are also making renewable energy the cheaper choice. In terms of the economy, renewables are quite competitive, Wang Fei, an energy expert at the North China Electric Power University, tells Sixth Tone. It poses a challenge to UHV lines. If they can show that these lines are running on clean electricity, it will be something that will make China a leader in this, because a lot of other countries find it very difficult to build these kinds of transmission projects, says Myllyvirta, of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

On March 2, Caixin Global reported that Chinas oldest UHV line, between northern Shanxi and central Hubei, could, after 12 years, finally start running closer to its full capacity.

Power lines are suspended at Shanghai Fengxian Converter Station, Jan. 21. Photo: Wu Huiyuan/Sixth Tone

The news came courtesy of a brand-new coal-fired power plant, specifically designed to supply the UHV line with electricity. It had earlier been held up as part of efforts to reign in Chinas coal use, but, in 2019, construction was allowed to resume.

This article was originally published by Sixth Tone. To read the original, click here.

Contribution: Liu Chuyue; editor: Kevin Schoenmakers.

Contact editor Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com)

Support quality journalism in China. Subscribe to Caixin Global starting at $0.99.

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We're learning about the serious problems some pills commonly sold at gas stations are creating in North Alabama. This comes as state senators are set to consider a bill that would make Tianaa or Tianeptine illegal in Alabama.

"It has a worse effect than Heroin and Methadone," said B.J. Summers, Certified Addiction Counselor.

Right now, the New Outlook Detox Center at Highlands Medical Center is seeing its fair share of patients abusing Tianeptine.

"People are led to believe it's safe when I know it's not," Rachel Gonce, Nurse Practitioner, said.

Both Summers and Rachel Gonce from Highlands Medical explained that patients will sometimes turn to Tianeptine as a way to stop taking Opioids.

"The detox coming off of it is way worse," said Summers.

The drug is hard to catch. Jackson County Judge Don Word said the drug frequently stays off the radar of drug tests and the effects are serious.

"It literally drives them to the point of suicide a lot of times. I know we've had a couple ladies get to that point, right to the edge of that point," said Word.

He is the judge for the Family Wellness Program, which works to reunite families after parents lose custody. He says Tianeptine is often a big problem for the parents he's trying to help, and it's frustrating to see it on the shelves of gas stations.

"You can go to many gas stations in Jackson County and buy it right now, and you shouldn't be able to," said Word.

Word says he's in support of a bill headed to the state Senate right now that would make possession of the drug illegal. Tianeptine is not FDA-approved.
City Editor

Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has cover statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids.
The Morrison government is working on an ambitious plan that would establish Singapore as a quarantine gateway, holiday destination and potential vaccination hub for returning Australians, international students and business travellers.

The deal would help clear the log jam of approximately 40,000 Australians stranded overseas, boost tourism to Australia from Singaporean nationals  and third countries down the track  and kick-start the multibillion-dollar market for international students at Australian universities, which has been smashed by border closures.

Aussies could soon return to Singapores iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel under an ambitious travel bubble plan being discussed.

Australians would also be allowed to travel to Singapore for work or leisure without approval from the Department of Home Affairs, provided they have had the jab.

New Zealand could also be involved in what would become a three-way travel bubble that federal government sources are hopeful will be up and running by July or August  well before a mooted broader opening of our international borders from October.
County library to unveil story walk project in Vanderbilt

The Otsego County Library is hosting a ceremony Saturday to formally open the latest story walk project.
New Delhi: Ahead of a crucial vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Sri Lanka sought India's support by dialing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was one of the key points discussed during the telephonic conversation between PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday (March 13, 2021).

Sri Lanka is facing the heat at UNHRC over human rights violations during the civil war with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The 46th session of the UNHRC is underway and will continue till March 23 and several times matters related to Sri Lanka have been raised.

Voting will take place on March 22 and March 23 on a resolution against Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council.

Last month, after the report of the office of the high commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka was placed, India's envoy to UN in Geneva, Indra Mani Pandey said that tough the assessment of the high commissioner raises important concern but pointed out that Sri Lankan government has articulated its position and the evaluation of both of these, should be guided by a commitment to find a lasting and effective solution.

During the same statement by India's envoy in Geneva called for respecting the rights of the Tamil community through meaningful devolution and to contribute directly to the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka.

Though, this is not for the first time that Sri Lanka has requested Indian support on UNHRC.

The telephonic conversation, which took place at the request of Sri Lanka, also saw discussions on the COVID-19 crisis.

A press release by the PM Modi's office in New Delhi stated that the leaders reviewed "topical developments and the ongoing cooperation between both countries in bilateral and multilateral forums". Both sides agreed to "maintain regular contact between relevant officials" which includes in the context of the "continuing COVID-19 challenges."

Further, it added, "Prime Minister reiterated the importance of Sri Lanka to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy."

India has so far sent Sri Lanka 12.64 lakh doses of India-made COVID-19 vaccines. Of these, 5 lakh doses have been gifted, 5 lakhs sent commercially, and 2.64 lakh via COVAX.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 18:46:19|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. administration has ordered "almost enough COVID-19 vaccine to fully inoculate every American adult twice," and its hoarding could fuel a vaccine gap worldwide, Bloomberg has reported.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that his administration will double the order of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to 200 million doses, which would bring the country's total vaccine order to 800 million doses.

The new order of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine "risks further exacerbating a vaccine gap between have and have-not nations," Bloomberg said in a news article published later Wednesday.

The report added that Washington rejected Mexico's request on sharing vaccine doses, while the European Union "has made similar appeals."

On Thursday, Biden announced that he will direct all states, tribes, and territories to make all adult Americans eligible for COVID-19 vaccines by May 1.

"That doesn't mean everyone's going to have that shot immediately, but it means you'll be able to get in line beginning May 1," he said.

Over 133 million vaccine doses have been distributed across the country as of Friday, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Currently, there are about 35 million Americans fully vaccinated while nearly 66 million have received at least one dose, CDC data showed. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 23:41:03|Editor: huaxia

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by Hayati Nupus

JAKARTA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Juno Simorangkir, 36, a COVID-19 survivor in Indonesia, felt very confused when he faces the "long COVID" phenomenon.

Even though he recovered from the infection and was confirmed negative for COVID-19 in April 2020, Simorangkir still felt symptoms of the disease in his body like hair loss, fatigue, coughing, hypertension and left chest pain.

"There are up to 40 symptoms that I feel," Simorangkir told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Simorangkir had consulted several doctors including pulmonologist, cardiologist, and internist, but they did not find anything unusual in his body.

Results of an electrocardiogram test also concluded that Simorangkir was in good condition.

In May 2020, Simorangkir started to meet with other COVID-19 survivors from various countries via the internet. They feel the same after-effects of COVID-19 as he suffers.

In August 2020, Simorangkir participated in an international meeting of COVID-19 survivors with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, virtually.

The meeting inspired Simorangkir to create COVID Survivor Indonesia (CSI), a group of survivors to support each other and share information.

"With this group, we hope that no one will be confused with the 'long COVID' phenomenon, or feel lonely and sad amidst pains," said Simorangkir.

When it was created in last August 2020, CSI was only based on a Facebook group, and now, this community has an Instagram account with more than 7,400 followers.

Apart from survivors, the group is also supported by doctors, epidemiologists, and psychologists.

Once in a while, CSI holds virtual discussions, inviting experts as speakers. Last month, the discussion was about the safety of vaccines for survivors, while in early March the discussion was about how to care for mental conditions after recovering from COVID-19.

They also held the #BeatTheStigma campaign, to fight the stigma against COVID-19 survivors.

There are many survivors who suffer a variety of discriminations because they were considered as community trash and source of infections.

They were also ostracized, and terminated from their jobs as they were constantly sick and considered unproductive.

One of the CSI members is Alida Susanti, 40, a resident of Depok city, West Java province, who lost her father due to COVID-19 and has felt the symptoms of "long COVID" until now.

Amidst such a confusion with a series of symptoms, in December 2020, Susanti got acquainted with CSI via the Internet and felt that the group was very useful.

The group answers the survivors' anxiety over the symptoms, and straightens out hoaxes circulating on various social media, said Susanti.

Since then, Susanti has joined CSI and volunteered to spread information about "long COVID."

At a press conference in Geneva on Feb. 12, Tedros said "long COVID" affects patients with both severe and mild COVID-19, and the best way to prevent this condition is to prevent COVID-19 in the first place.

Dr. Janet Diaz, an expert with the WHO's Health Care Readiness team, said at another press conference that the post-COVID-19 condition was a heterogeneous group of symptoms that could occur up to six months after the illness.

According to the expert, reports showed that the most common symptoms were fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and cognitive disfunction sometimes described as "brain fog."

Shortness of breath, coughing, mental and neurological complications have also been reported, she said.

Dr. Diaz explained that patients experiencing this condition "could have been hospitalized patients," but also those with mild symptoms, who were treated in ambulatory settings.

"There is still a need to better understand this condition. It is not yet clear who is most at risk, and why it is happening in the first place," she said. Enditem
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detain a man during an operation in Escondido, Calif., on July 8, 2019. (Gregory Bull/AP Photo)

US Border Patrol Arrests 22 Wanted Fugitives at Texas Ports of Entry

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) over the past week arrested a total of 22 wanted fugitives at various entry points along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas.

Among them was a person who was wanted for injury to a child charges, and another person who was wanted for assault on a family member. All of those arrested were turned over to local authorities to face charges.

CBP is committed to helping find and arresting these wanted persons attempting to evade justice, Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso director of field operations, said in a statement. We are members of the communities we serve and have a professional and personal interest in stopping any and all violations.

Of the 22 people, 15 were arrested March 6-9. They were wanted for a various crimes, including sexual assault of a child, burglary, possession of a controlled substance, aggravated assault-family/house member, and larceny, the federal law enforcement agency announced.

On March 10, at the Ysleta port of entry, CBP officers arrested a fugitive wanted for assault of a family member. An unspecified number of other wanted individuals were arrested that day by CBP officers from the El Paso port of entry for driving while intoxicated and aggravated assault, according to the agency.

The following day four individuals were arrested, one of whom was wanted for injury to a child or disabled person and assault. The arrests all happened at the Presidio port of entry. The three others arrested were wanted for driving while intoxicated, violation of a court order, and possession of a controlled substance.

The Biden administration has proposed a plan to legalize an estimated 11 million illegal aliens living in the United States, something he had vowed during his campaign. President Joe Biden has also issued an order that halts all U.S.-Mexico border wall construction among other measures.

In response to the southern border crisis, and amid new policies on immigration from the Biden administration, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on March 6 launched a program to deploy state National Guard troops and personnel from other agencies in efforts to prevent Mexican criminal organizations from smuggling drugs and people into Texas.

Texas supports legal immigration but will not be an accomplice to the open border policies that cause, rather than prevent, a humanitarian crisis in our state and endanger the lives of Texans, Abbott said in a statement to media outlets on March 6. We will surge the resources and law enforcement personnel needed to confront this crisis.

The number of illegal crossings at the southern border has been on the rise since October 2020. The number of arrests from October 2020 to January 2021 was 296,259, representing a 79.5 percent increase from the same period last year, according to CBP data.

In February, the CBP arrested 100,441 who crossed the southern border illegally. That number is almost triple the arrests from the same month last year, when CBP caught almost 37,000 people. Many of those crossing now are unaccompanied minors (9,457 in February), who cant be turned back if theyre from a country other than Mexico.

Earlier this month, a large group of migrants seeking to cross the border held a demonstration in Mexico calling for Biden to let them into the United States.

Biden hasnt yet acknowledged the crisis or announced any concrete plans to address the growing numbers of illegal crossings. When asked by a reporter this week whether theres a crisis at the border, Biden replied, No, well be able to handle it.

Charlotte Cuthbertson and Janita Kan contributed to this report.
Headlines:

- Treasury and Internal Revenue Service officials confirm that $1,400 checks will arrive in bank accounts over the weekend

- Nearly 160 million U.S. households will receive some $400 billion in direct payments of $1,400 per person

- The $1,400 stimulus checks will be sent to individuals earning up to $75,000 and married couples earning up to $150,000

- The first batch of payments are being sent out this weekend, with more batches expected over the coming weeks.

- You can track the status of your payment using the IRS Get My Payment Tool.

- Wells Fargo, Chase and Navy Federal Credit Union have said that customers eligible for stimulus payments may receive them as early as March 17

- Boosted by stimulus push, dollar reverses fall from earlier in the week and finishes the week strongly

- Economists boost their projections for US growth this year

- Total cost of third stimulus checks estimated at $411 billion, around a quarter of total cost of the bill

- Biden says new stimulus bill will "build an economy that grows from the bottom up"

- Get the latest stimulus check news in Spanish - las noticias sobre los cheques de estimulo en espanol

- US covid-19 cases/deaths: 29.4 million/534,000+ (live updates)

Further related reading:
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  The Philippines is now dealing with two other COVID-19 variants, including one that is first discovered in the country.

The Department on Health on Saturday confirmed that a new coronavirus variant called P.3 has been traced to the country but stressed that theres not enough evidence to say whether it is a cause for concern.

Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, member of the DOH technical advisory group, explained in an online media briefing that after the Philippine Genome Center detected 85 cases with unique set of mutations, they submitted the information to the global reporting system Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak Lineages (PANGOLIN).

We were waiting for them (PANGOLIN) to let us know kung ito nga ba ay unique to the Philippines or natuklasan na sa ibang bansa, Ong-Lim said. They've come back to us and told us na ito nga ay bagong variant.

[Translation: We were waiting for them to let us know if this is unique to the Philippines or was already discovered in other countries. They've come back to us and told us it really is a new variant.]

In its statement, the DOH said there are now 98 cases of the P.3 variant in the country, following the recent detection of 13 more.

Ong-Lim said health authorities need more data to say whether the P.3 variant is more transmissible or causes more severe disease and increased risk of death. She said it should not be called the "Philippine variant," adding that the practice of using country names to refer to the variants should stop because it causes discrimination.

Earlier, the Japan Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare said it detected a new variant in a 60-year-old man who arrived from the Philippines at the Narita International Airport near Tokyo in February. The patient was reportedly asymptomatic.

Variant from Brazil also reaches PH

The DOH also confirmed the countrys first case of the P.1 variant first discovered in Brazil. The PGC found it in the samples of an overseas Filipino worker who returned from Brazil and hails from Western Visayas.

The DOH cited data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the transmissibility of the virus and the ability of antibodies generated through previous infection are affected by some mutations of this variant. Ong-Lim clarified, however, that this is not the same as the Brazilian variant that has been found to be more transmissible.

What we have is isolates in the Brazilian lineage but not the Brazilian variant, she said.

The P.1 and P.3 variants are from the same B.1.1.28 lineage, the DOH noted.

More variant cases

The latest batch to be sequenced by the PGC involved 752 samples, majority of which were from Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the DOH noted.

Aside from the P.1 and P.3 variants, also discovered in the recent samples are 59 more cases of the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the United Kingdom, and 32 additional cases of the B.1.351 from South Africa. This brings the total number of UK variant cases to 177, while the country now has 90 cases of the South Africa variant. Both variants are believed to be more contagious.

Thirty of the UK variant cases are local cases  16 from CAR, 10 from Metro Manila, and two each from Central Luzon and Calabarzon. The rest are either returning OFWs or are still under verification.

Meanwhile, of the 32 new cases of the B.1.351 variant, 21 are local cases  19 from the capital region, and one each from Cagayan Valley and Northern Mindanao. One is an OFW, while the locations of the rest are still being verified.

The DOH stressed that observing minimum public health standards, such as wearing face mask and face shields and practicing social distancing, will prevent the transmission of the coronavirus, no matter what variant.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  An official impeachment investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo is underway after state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie gave the authorization on Thursday.

Six women, some of whom were former staffers, have come forward alleging Cuomo of inappropriate comments and actions.

After meeting with the Assembly Majority Conference today, I am authorizing the Assembly Judiciary Committee to begin an impeachment investigation, led by Chair Charles D. Lavine, to examine allegations of misconduct against Governor Cuomo, Heastie wrote in a statement.

The committees investigation is in addition to an investigation into sexual harassment allegations being led by state Attorney General Letitia James.

First-term borough Assemblyman Mike Tannousis (R-East Shore) is a member of the judiciary committee.

Although I was elected last November, Im a veteran prosecutor that has conducted countless investigations throughout my career, Tannousis said about being a new member of the Assembly and thrust into an impeachment investigation.

The assemblyman said the situation is serious and he will use his experience to analyze evidence, interview witnesses as part of a transparent and thorough investigation.

This impeachment inquiry into the long list of allegations against the governor is essential to preserving the rule of law and ensuring justice, he said. The volume and severity of the claims against the governor have necessitated our legislative duty to investigate and, if necessary, impeach the governor.

Cuomo -- referring to the most recent allegations of groping -- said he did not do what has been alleged and he wont speculate about his accusers motives.

There are often many motivations for making an allegation. And that is why you need to know the facts before you make a decision, Cuomo said during a press briefing on Friday.

There are now two reviews underway; no one wants them to happen more quickly or more thoroughly than I do. Let them do it, he continued.

Cuomo repeatedly refers to the investigations as reviews when addressing the issue to the public and to the press. He has also repeatedly said that he will not resign despite mounting calls for him to do so.

Fifty-five state legislators signed a letter on Thursday calling for his resignation.

The governor said politicians who are forming conclusions based on the allegations before the investigations are complete are in my opinion, reckless and dangerous.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has made several comments about the allegations against the governor. Most recently on Friday, de Blasio said, the governor should do the right thing and recognize that he just cant do the job any longer.

Lets get the review, and then lets get the facts, and then New Yorkers can make a decision once they have facts. You dont have facts now, you have allegationsI think the Assembly and the Attorney General, thats the right way to do it. Do a review, get the facts, tell the facts to the people of state, and then we take it from there, Cuomo said.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
After undergoing dialysis on Thursday at the Garki general hospital in Abuja, Dannuma Tadi, a retired army officer, said he was already thinking of where to get money for the next one.

The cost of each dialysis session is N23,000 at the hospital and Mr Tadi needs at least two treatments each week to keep his system filtered and running.

Mr Tadi, 64, has been battling high blood pressure and diabetes for nearly 30 years. Two years ago, he was diagnosed with end-stage (stage 5) kidney disease.

The stages of kidney disease are based on how well the kidneys can filter waste and extra fluid out of the blood. At Stage 5, the kidneys are working at less than 15 per cent capacity or the person has kidney failure. When that happens, the buildup of waste and toxins becomes life-threatening.

Dialysis serves as the only lifeline for people like Mr Tadi at this stage. It is the most common treatment for severe kidney failure. If you have permanent kidney damage, you could need dialysis for the rest of your life if you cannot afford a kidney transplant.

Kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from the blood which are then excreted in the urine. When someone has chronic kidney disease, their kidneys are unable to perform these tasks and they require renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or kidney replacement.

Early detection

For many years, doctors were busy treating Mr Tadi for high blood pressure and diabetes without recommending a kidney test for him. This allowed his kidney disease to get to an advanced stage, he said.

The tricky thing is that the three diseases have similar symptoms and could be mistaken for each other, according to Frank Aboh, a nephrologist or kidney specialist.

The other hospitals I was going to did not test me for kidney disease until I came to Garki hospital where I was diagnosed of stage 5 kidney disease and that was the beginning of the end of another battle, Mr Tadi, a retired lieutenant colonel, said.

If kidney disease is detected early, it can be managed and corrected but at the end-stage, the patient is said to have lost 85-90 per cent of his/her kidney function; not enough to keep the person alive, without medical intervention such as dialysis or a transplant.

Dialysis

Mr Tadi said he has been living on dialysis in the past 22 months since he cannot afford a kidney transplant.

Dialysis is a medical procedure instituted by a nephrologist as a treatment to temporarily or sometimes permanently take over the function of the kidney by removing waste products, toxins, or excess electrolytes from the blood, as well as removing excess water. There are two types: Haemodialysis (more commonly done) and Peritoneal dialysis.

A typical dialysis session will be required at least two or three times a week for 3-5 hours at a designated dialysis centre.

After Mr Tadis Thursday session which coincided with the World Kidney Day, the sexagenarian said his pocket has run dry and he does not know where to get money for the next section.

Honestly my pocket could not sustain this treatment. My family, friends, and some support groups have been helpful but I dont know how long this help can be sustained.

I do two sessions every week which is N46,000, for almost two years, and whenever theres a delay in going for a session due to lack of funds, I get severely sick, he said.

Surviving Kidney disease in Nigeria

Many patients suffering from kidney disease, like Mr Tadi, undergo similar ordeals in Nigeria.

They often foot the huge costs of treatment out-of-pocket as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) only covers a fraction, which is insignificant when treating kidney complications.

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The President of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN), Ifeoma Ulasi, said 25 million Nigerians have kidney disease, and more than half of the potentially eligible patients are turned down for dialysis as a result of cost.

Apart from dialysis being costly, there are too few facilities that can perform a full and effective transplant in Nigeria prompting many patients to seek services overseas at an even higher cost.

World Kidney Day

World Kidney Day is observed on the second Thursday of March each year with the primary objective of spreading awareness around the globe on the need for identifying kidney disease as a significant public health problem.

The theme for World Kidney Day 2021, Living Well with Kidney Disease, motivated the management of the Garki hospital in Abuja to organise outreach for patients.

As early as 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, a canopy was already set up at the back of the dialysis unit of the hospital as patients trooped in to receive various free medical routines by the hospital.

Some of the free medical routines include: a kidney health talk; blood pressure check; diabetes screening; kidney check or urinalysis; body mass index assessment; and medical consultation.

Over the years, the emphasis has been on prevention of kidney diseases but this year the theme is focusing on people already living with the disease and that was what spurred this outreach, Benjamin Oyime, a consultant physician and nephrologist who coordinated the event, said.

We want to ensure these patients are getting the right medical attention. They already face physical challenges such as fatigue, lack of appetite, and psychological challenges such as depression, low self-esteem and anxiety. Some of them have lost hope due to the huge medical costs.

This year, we are trying to address these challenges the patients are facing while battling the disease. Thats what theme year is all about.

We also want to ensure that people test and detect the problem early and that is why we want people to know their numbers which means: blood pressure, sugar level weight, height, and cholesterol level as well as how much protein is coming out of the body because once you are excreting a lot of protein your kidney is at risk, he explained.

Regular screening in high-risk group population helps in the early identification of the disease.

The medical doctor also decried poor funding for kidney disease intervention in Nigeria.

The truth is that when you go to developed countries, kidney treatment: dialysis, and even transplant are all free, he said.

But in Nigeria, most patients have to battle the cost on their own and a majority cant afford the treatment. Many patients who cannot afford to come for dialysis twice a week resort to doing it once a month which is very dangerous for their systems.

He urged the government to create an intervention that will make routine dialysis totally free.

Police have clashed with Antifa protesters during a second consecutive night of unrest in Portland.

The ugly scenes occurred Friday after a group of activists assembled to march against the Department of Homeland Security.

One local journalist claimed that between 100 and 150 protesters started making their way through the city's Pearl District before they began 'breaking the windows of businesses' and 'attacking' anyone who was filming them.

Members of the Portland Police Department were reportedly trailing close behind.

Shortly after, KGW reported that police set up a perimeter around a 'large group' of the activists, claiming that they were blocking traffic between 13th and 14th Avenues.

Those located in between the two avenues - an entire block consisting of around 50 protesters - were detained by police so that they could be investigated for criminal activity.

Video shared on Twitter shows police instructing the group via megaphone to stay put. Footage from KOIN shows the area surrounded by police tape.

It's unclear if any of those detained have been taken into custody and arrested.

Police have clashed with Antifa protesters during a second consecutive night of unrest in Portland. This video shared to social media app Twitch shows police in riot gear standing off against people in the street

Police detained an entire block of protesters who were allegedly stopping traffic from driving through

Footage from KOIN shows the area surrounded by police tape

The crowd of 100-150 in black bloc are now breaking the glass of businesses in Pearl District and are being followed by Portland PD. The crowd is attacking anyone filming at the moment pic.twitter.com/BryswON3M2  Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) March 13, 2021

PPB just announced all protesters are being detained. Theyre being asked to sit where they are @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/3DzYj3J4ta  Drew Marine (@DrewCMarine) March 13, 2021

Some bystanders chant let them go others say lock them up @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/JMznV6F5tX  Drew Marine (@DrewCMarine) March 13, 2021

It appeared there were plenty of police on hand in the city following disturbing scenes that played out in Portland the previous night.

On Thursday, dozens of the far-left protesters assembled near Portland's Federal Courthouse for a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The Courthouse has already been boarded up with plywood after it sustained damage during destructive protests last summer, but shocking video shared to Twitter shows all remaining uncovered windows were smashed during the latest demonstration.

Several other demonstrators set fire to the plywood outside the building, prompting federal agents to deploy teargas and smoke bombs in a bid to push the protesters back towards a park.

Antifa protesters have burned American flags and clashed with cops outside the Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland

Local journalist Garrison Davis shared video of federal police clashing with protesters in Portland on Thursday night

According to journalist Garrison Davis, 'the feds marched further into the streets of downtown Portland while firing off chemical weapons and projectiles. A few of their pepperball and 40 mm launchers appeared to malfunction'.

He claimed the agents were 'aggressive' and that the air was thick with smoke.

At least one person has been arrested.

In a tweet last night Portland police said it was bracing for yet more unrest over the weekend.

'We are aware of events planned tomorrow and this weekend in which people plan to gather and demonstrate. Demonstration Liaison Officers (DLOs) are available to work with community members organizing these events,' the tweet said.

Last summer in Portland, Black Lives Matter marches began in the wake of George Floyd's death, but the demonstrations soon became co-opted by far-left agitators.

Night after night, they clashed with law enforcement officials, who often declared riots.

Last summer in Portland, Black Lives Matter marches began in the wake of George Floyd's death, but the demonstrations soon became co-opted by far-left agitators. Night after night, they frequently clashed with law enforcement officials, who often declared riots. Pictured: a protest in July 2020

Federal police clean in front of the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in downtown Portland after a night of unrest in July 2020

There were was at least 100 consecutive nights of unrest in the city.

The violence has continued into this year. In January, Antifa protesters went on a destructive rampage following President Biden's Inauguration.

Biden has previously appeared to downplay Antifa, describing the group as 'an idea'.

'President Biden condemned protests and violence on the far right and far left before he was president,' a Fox News journalist stated to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki after the January clash.

'Why haven't we heard anything directly from him about about the riots in Portland and the Pacific Northwest since he was inaugurated?'

'President Biden condemns violence and any violence in the strongest possible terms,' Psaki responded.

'Peaceful protests are a cornerstone of our democracy but smashing windows is not protesting and neither is looting, and actions like these are totally unacceptable,' she continued.

'Actions like these are totally unacceptable and anyone who committed a crime should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.'

The court house sustained thousands of dollars worth of damage and has now been boarded up
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today, his office said.

The meeting will be held as part of the discussions initiated by Sarkissian around the political crisis.

Sarkissian had earlier offered to host a meeting involving all opposition parties, including non-parliamentary ones, the ruling bloc and the Prime Minister. This meeting had failed.

Editing and Translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Marco Albonetti

Romance Del Diablo: The Music Of Piazzolla Out now

Rating:

Last Thursday was the centenary of the birth of the Tango King, the Argentinian Astor Piazzolla.

This Chandos issue, featuring the saxophonist and lifelong Piazzolla fan, Marco Albonetti, is a highly recommendable introduction to Piazzollas art, although Piazzolla was a virtuoso bandoneon player  a square accordion that made a fascinating journey from Germany to the brothels of Buenos Aires, where the tango emerged as the core national music of Argentina.

Saxophonist, and lifelong Piazzolla fan, Marco Albonetti's new album Romance Del Diablo is a highly recommendable introduction to the work of the Tango King

This album, with arrangements by Albonetti and others, features a small orchestral ensemble with a similar sound to the nightclub sextet Piazzolla himself regularly performed with in New York.

Albonetti includes some of Piazzollas most celebrated pieces: Oblivion and Libertango, plus his most significant piece, the Four Seasons Of Buenos Aires.

Piazzollas success was built on a keen ear for tango rhythms, the flair and imagination to develop the tango in his compositions  even though that got him into lots of trouble with traditionalists  and an exceptional musical training in classical music, especially in Paris with the celebrated Nadia Boulanger.

He grew up in New York and, as a 13-year-old bandoneon virtuoso, was recruited by Carlos Gardel, the Argentinian film star and another great tango exponent, to tour with his orchestra. Piazzollas parents banned him from going.

Just as well. The plane crashed and Gardel and his entire band were killed. Leaving Piazzolla to enjoy 50 more years putting the tango on the map all over the world.

A fascinating musician, honoured here by a fascinating album.
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Deepak Mishra, practice manager in the World Bank's macroeconomics, trade, and investment global practice has been appointed as the next director and chief executive of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the economic think tank said on Saturday.

He will take over from Rajat Kathuria who has been the director & chief executive of ICRIER since September 1, 2012.

Mishra has held various positions at the World Bank, including co-director of the World Development Report 2016 (Digital Dividends), Country Economist for Ethiopia, Pakistan, Sudan and Vietnam, the ICRIER statement added.

His research work has been published in various academic journals including the Journal of Development Economics, the Journal of International Economics and the Journal of Agriculture Economics.

Mishra has also served as the World Bank's Country economist for India, based in Delhi, from 2001-04, working closely with the government of India and with several state governments including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Punjab.

Before joining the World Bank, he worked at Tata Motors, Federal Reserve Board and the University of Maryland.

Born in Odisha, Mishra received his MA (Economics) from Delhi School of Economics and Ph D (Economics) from the University of Maryland.

Also Read: US Chamber of Commerce welcomes Quad's decision on making COVID-19 vaccine affordable
So far, all Mahesh Babus commercial ads have been directed by filmmakers who have directed him in movies. But for the first time, a filmmaker who has never directed the superstar in films is directing him in an ad.

Director Sandeep Vanga of Kabir Singh is set to direct Mahesh Babu for a television brand ad. The commercial will be shot in a private studio at Hyderabad.

Apparently, Sandeeps name was suggested to Mahesh by officials of the brand, and he immediately endorsed the idea. According to a source, it will give Mahesh a chance to understand Sandeeps style of working. The ad is to be shot in one day.

Mahesh and Sandeep were to have teamed up a couple of years back. Although the actor gave the nod for Sandeeps plotline, nothing materialised. Meanwhile, Sandeep is penning the script for Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor. The film will go on the floors later this year.
The 2022 BMW M3 Touring is a wagon that features a massive performance and specs, bringing 503hp to the table and a rear-wheel-drive layout that makes it perfect for drifts despite its massive body. The gas-powered vehicle brings on the mighty "M" badge for the latest wagon, essentially making it a performance-spec car from the company.

The popular German automaker is best known for being one of the most iconic performance car brands that specialize in "Sport" tier cars, tying itself with luxury and the notion of German engineering with the vehicle. The company is revamping a new line of "M" vehicles among its lineup, with the 2021 BMW M3, 2021BMW M4, and the 2022 BMW M5 slated to arrive later this 2021.

However, the "M" variant does not stop there, as the company is leaked to have another one to join the lineup, and this time, it would be the 2022 BMW M3 Touring which is one for the family. Wagons offer a larger cabin and luggage space compared to sedans.

Read Also: 'NBA 2K21' All-Star Player Rating: LeBron James at 97, Luka Doncic Gets 93 Overall Rating-Check Out Other Stats!

2022 BMW M3 Touring: First Look and Leaks From Spy Shots

As spotted by leakers and spies for the vehicle, first-look photos of the 2022 BMW M3 Touring were revealed, showing its wagon body drifting across the snow in a test drive sequence by the company. According to UK Motor 1, the 2021 BMW M3 shares the same platform as its Touring version, with only a slight change to the body.

Instead of a trunk, future customers that choose the Touring variant will get a liftback of the vehicle, essentially making the cabin roomier and allowing extra luggage space to store all needs. The vehicle would be a practical variant of the 2021 BMW M3, without the need to sacrifice performance and speed as customers would get the same M3.

Despite its Wagon stature, the 2022 BMW M3 Touring would not compromise users of the need for speed, as its base variant already features 473hp or 503hp with its Competition spec release. BMW has already announced its existence, but the issue now is it won't be available in the U.S. market--with a petition ongoing to change that.

2022 BMW M3 Touring: Specs, Release Date and MORE

The 2022 BMW M3 Touring is essentially the same vehicle like the 2021 BMW M3, but based on its varying year dates, the German automaker might release the wagon version in the last quarter of 2021 or even the following year. A 3.0-liter twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder engine would fit both cars, bringing 550nm of torque and 473hp or 503hp (Competition spec).

 BMW M3 TOURING pic.twitter.com/X5iqXmHCAw  Bimmer ll  (@BIMMERdeux) August 25, 2020

Moreover, the vehicle would also give future drivers a choice between the All-Wheel Drive (AWD with Drift Mode) or Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) drivetrain layout. The 2021 BMW M3 has a capability of 0 to 60 mph in under 3.9 seconds, in which the Touring wagon would get the same (give or take). BMW would also give a choice between the base variant or the Competition Spec (CS) for the Touring wagon.

Related Article: 2021 BMW M3 Boasts Unique Addition--Engine and More Specs Revealed!
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The report titled Japan Proton Therapy Market Research Report 2018 examines the market dynamics, competitive landscape and discusses major trends. The report offers the most up-to-date industry data on the actual and potential market situation, and future outlook for proton therapy in Japan. The research includes historic data from 2012 to 2017 and forecasts until 2025.

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 Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric Agree to Integrate Proton Therapy System Business

 Japan is anticipated to be the most attractive market in the proton therapyindustry.

 The potential Japan proton therapy market is likely to reach more than USD 3 Billion by 2025

 Mitsubishi Electric is a technology leader in the field of proton therapy in Japan.

 Hitachi has thesecond highest share in the treatment rooms segment.

The report contains a granular analysis of the present industry situations, market demands, reveal facts on the market size, volume, revenues and provides forecasts through 2025. A comprehensive analysis has been done on market share of Japan proton therapy center (installed base) and treatment room by company. The report also provides information on the proton therapy current applications and comparative analysis with more focused on pros and cons of proton therapy and competitive analysis of eight companies.

The report further sheds light on the number of treatment rooms, current and upcoming proton therapy centers. In addition, the report also provides essential insights on number of patients treated at Japan proton therapy centers from 2008 to 2016.

The report also includes assessment of Japan reimbursement scenario, proton therapy clinical trials and offers a clear view of the proton therapy center component analysis. Key trends in terms of venture capital investment, collaborations, partnerships, licensing and development agreements are analyzed with details. The report also explores detailed description of growth drivers and inhibitors of the Japan proton therapy market.

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The report concludes with the profiles of major players in the Japan proton therapy market. The key market players are evaluated on various parameters such as company overview, product portfolio, Japan proton therapy centers developed by the companies and recent development & trends of the proton therapy market.

The Major Companies Dominating this Market for its Products, Services and Continuous Product Developments are:

Mitsubishi Electric,Hitachi, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. and Ion Beam Applications(IBA)

The Latest Industry Data Included in this Report:

 Proton Therapy Current Applications

 Pros and Cons of Proton Therapy, Radiotherapy and Carbon Ion Therapy

 Proton Therapy Competitive Analysis: By Company

 Market Size & Analysis: Japan Proton Therapy (2012  2025)

 Market Opportunity Assessment: Japan Proton Therapy (2012  2025)

 Japan Number of Treatment Rooms and Forecast (2012  2025)

 Japan Proton Therapy Center (Installed Base) and Treatment Room Market Share: By Company

Japan Proton Therapy Center Infrastructure Analysis: Treatment Rooms & Proton Therapy

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By end of 2021, India will be in position to vaccinate its adult population: Harsh Vardhan

Over six COVID-19 vaccines in offing in India: Harsh Vardhan

India

pti-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 13: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday announced that more than six coronavirus vaccines will come up in India.

He also said that 1.84 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered to people so far, while 23 crore tests have been conducted.

"India has developed two vaccines, which have been given to 71 countries. Many more nations are seeking the vaccines, and these are not little-known nations...Canada, Brazil and other developed countries are using Indian vaccines with a great zeal," he said.

"More than half a dozen vaccines are going to come up," he said.

"Till Saturday morning, 1.84 crore vaccine shots have been given in the country and 20 lakh people were inoculated yesterday," the minister added.

He was speaking while inaugurating the new green campus of the National Institute of Research in Environmental Health near here.

COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibodies less effective against some coronavirus variants

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to create a new India to turn it into a 'vishwa guru' (world leader), he added.

"Respect science. There is a need to end politics over it (vaccine) given that it is a scientific fight not a political one. That is why we should work unitedly," Vardhan said.

The efforts of our scientists are praiseworthy as due to their labour we have achieved all this. Year 2020, apart from being a Covid-19 year, will be remembered as the year of science and scientists, he added.

He said that initially there was only one laboratory in India for Covid-19 testing. "But we have 2,412 testing facilities now," he added.

"We were the first in the world to isolate the coronavirus. We isolated its mutation. And our scientists helped the ICMR in vaccine. People have praised it (vaccine). Some people tried to create confusion, but truth is unbeatable," he said.

Talking about the rising infection cases, the minister said this "disturbing trend" was due to the carelessness and misunderstanding.

"People think that as the vaccine has come and all is well now," he said, while urging them to follow the Covid-19 rules for protection against the virus.
Doodnath Maharaj was the general secretary of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union for nearly two decades. This is out of a total of 40 years service.

He was a dedicated and loyal comrade who did his best work away from the limelight. Indeed, he shunned it, embodying a self-effacing personality that was deeply mystifying to many who came to know him.

Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson is under fire after he said during an interview that he might have felt threatened in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot if Black Lives Matter protesters and members of Antifa had been the ones storming the Capitol. Even though those thousands of people that were marching to the Capitol were trying to pressure people like me to vote the way they wanted me to vote, I knew those were people that love this country, that truly respect law enforcement, would never do anything to break the law, and so I wasnt concerned, Johnson said during an interview on the radio talk show The Joe Pags Show. Johnson was talking about recent comments in which he downplayed the danger posed by the riot and had said he didnt really felt threatened that day.

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Johnson then went on to say something that he seemed to know would be controversial. Now, had the tables been turnedJoe, this could get me in troublehad the tables been turned, and President Trump won the election and those were tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters, I might have been a little concerned, the Wisconsin senator said. The talk show host, Joe Pags Pagliarulo, seemed a bit surprised by what he heard but ultimately agreed with Johnson. Wow, thats a big statement, he said. But its a true statement. Neither of them seem to remember the videos showing pro-Trump rioters attacking police officers. At least five people died from the riot, including one police officer. Two other police officers later died by suicide and more than 100 other law enforcement officers were injured.

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Blatant racism from @RonJohnsonWI here. He says he wasnt worried on 1/6 because the majority-white insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol love this country, but says if they were Black Lives Matter protestors he wouldve been concerned for his safety. #WISen pic.twitter.com/V3gm4cLw8v  American Bridge 21st Century (@American_Bridge) March 12, 2021

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Some were quick to call Johnsons statements racist. Rep. Mark Pocan from Wisconsin said the comments were seriously embarrassing to our state, adding that weve moved from just plain old fringe, extremist rants to fringe extremist and racist rants. Wisconsin State Sen. LaTonya Johnson agreed. What, white people love this country and Black people dont? Thats exactly what hes saying, Johnson said. For him to say something as racist as thatits ridiculous. Rep. Ted Lieu of California also blasted Johnson, pointing out on Twitter that the mob murdered a police officer and injured 140 other officers.

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Ron Johnson said that he was not scared during the Jan.6 insurrection because all the seditionists were white. But he said if they were Black, he would have been frightened. He actually said that out loud. Republicans are not even bothering to hide their racism.  Rob Reiner (@robreiner) March 13, 2021

Johnson stood by his words. Out of 7,750 protests last summer associated with BLM and Antifa, 570 turned into violent riots that killed 25 people and caused $1- $2 billion of property damage. Thats why I would have been more concerned, Johnson said in a statement.
ICE has asked for volunteers to send to the US-Mexico border 'as soon as this weekend' as a south Texas migrant complex is seven times over capacity and reports are surfacing of children being forced to sleep on floors of detention centers.

Michael Meade, ICE's acting assistant director for field operations called for the 'immediate' deployment of available personnel to the border in an urgent email to senior staff Thursday night as he warned the challenging circumstances will likely 'grow over the coming months'.

More than 3,500 unaccompanied teens and children have been held in Customs Border Patrol (CBP) detention centers designed for adults in recent days as Joe Biden's easing of immigration rules has fueled a surge in migrants crossing the border.

Yet the president insists there is no crisis at the border.

Biden officials privately warned Friday the administration cannot cope with the influx of children but the official line coming from the White House continues to be that it is only 'an enormous challenge.'

Despite repeated denials in public, the administration yesterday rolled back a Trump-era policy that had allowed adults picking up undocumented children to be detained by border agents - in a move hoped to speed up the processing of migrants through the system.

Since taking office, Biden lifted the Trump policy that forced migrants to remain in Mexico while going through the legal process to enter the US, narrowed the ICE's criteria for arrests and deportations and stopped the building of Trump's border wall.

These moves have led thousands upon thousands of migrants pouring into America leaving the border's children's centers so full that kids are being forced to spend up to 10 days in cramped detention centers meant for adults and sparking a backlog and logistical nightmare in processing the new entrants.

Biden is coming under fire from both parties with Republicans planning to use what they have branded 'Biden's Border Crisis' as their ticket to taking back the House in 2022, while Democrats have hit out at the White House's lack of preparedness for the influx his changes were in no doubt of bringing.

Migrant families and children climb the banks of the Rio Grande River into the United States as smugglers on rafts prepare to return to Mexico

A migrant walks amid tents at an improvised camp outside El Chaparral crossing port as he and others wait for US authorities to allow them to start their migration process in Tijuana

An entrance to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility housing unaccompanied migrant children in Donna

Migrants enter the United States at the Paso del Norte Bridge between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on March 11

Children must legally be transferred from CBP detention centers to the HHS shelters within 72 hours of their arrival.

But this requirement has gone out of the window as the latest data from the Department of Homeland Security shows most children are spending on average 108 hours in the cramped CBP facilities.

More than 130 children have been held in the CBP facilities for 10 days.

The CBP detained or processed a staggering 100,441 migrants in February with nearly 10,000 of those being unaccompanied children - levels not seen since May 2019, when a dramatic surge in migrant family arrivals overwhelmed border facilities.

So far in March, more than 4,200 people are arriving into America across the border per day, which if sustained would rival the 132,856 apprehensions recorded in May 2019 - which was the most in 13 years.

The surge is leading to overcrowded conditions as the CBP centers - built for adult men - and the HHS shelters do not have space for the mounting numbers.

Staff are also buckling under the weight of the demand unable to process quickly enough the volume of migrants at centers, with the ICE calling on volunteers to send to facilities in Texas to help.

'This situation mandates immediate action to protect the life and safety of federal personnel and the aliens in custody,' Meade wrote in the email, obtained by The Washington Post.

'Start and end dates are TBD, but could begin as soon as this weekend at location along the SWB [southwest border], most likely Texas.

'It is anticipated that the enforcement actions will continue to grow over the coming months.'

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also issued a plea for assistance from other agencies to help with admin duties due to the 'overwhelming number of migrants seeking access to this country along the Southwest Border.'

One official told the Post this is the first time they have seen the ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations branch ask for volunteers to help with a wave in migrants.

Anonymous Biden officials admitted to reporters Friday they do not have the capacity to increase beds to meet the demand from the record number of migrants crossing the border, the Post reported.

They said they are now working to fast-track the release of undocumented children to relatives in the US as they cannot ramp up capacity for more migrants.

Around 200 beds were added to shelters this week - not nearly enough for the surge in children and families - with bureaucratic processes meaning permission to increase shelter capacity often lies with state regulators.

While new emergency sites are being considered for NASA's Moffett Field and the Fort Lee military base, this is also held up by political wrangling.

Congress must be given 15 days notice before a new temporary site can be opened, a senior administration official told the Post, adding that no such notice has yet been given.

'We are also required to notify Congress before we make a formal site assessment to see if a location is suitable for children,' they said.

'Any coming online for any facility is going to take weeks from that initial assessment.'

The official line from the Biden administration continues to be that there is no crisis

Children at one facility in south Texas are going hungry with many reporting they have only been able to shower once in seven days as the center is at 729 percent of its legal capacity, reported CBS.

Under pandemic safety rules to allow for social distancing, the CBP holding facility in Donna is permitted to hold a maximum of 250 migrants.

On March 2, there were more than 1,800 people held in the facility, CBS reported.

The facility was initially erected as a temporary site in anticipation of a surge in migration while the permanent center in McAllen is renovated but is already busting at the seams.

Neha Desai, a lawyer representing migrant youth in government custody, told the outlet children are being forced to sleep on the floor due to a lack of beds while some are being held as long as seven days - more than double the legal 72-hour limit.

'Some of the boys said that conditions were so overcrowded that they had to take turns sleeping on the floor,' Desai said after interviewing almost a dozen unaccompanied migrant children at the center.

'They all said they wanted to shower more and were told they couldn't.'

Many children also said they were being denied phone calls with their family members and hadn't been outside in days.

One of them shared that he could only see the sun when he showered, because you can see the sun through the window,' Desai said.

'Multiple kids said the exact same sentence: 'the only time I get up is to throw away trash or go to the bathroom.''

Acting CBP commissioner Troy Miller said in a press call Wednesday the children are being well looked after with welfare checks, blankets, baby formula, hot meals and showers at least every 48 hours.

'Many of us, maybe most of us, are parents. I myself have a 6-year-old, and these Border Patrol agents go above and beyond every single day to take care of the children,' he said.

However he admitted the agency is 'struggling' with the surge of migrant families and children at the facilities since Biden eased immigration rules when he came into office.

Migrants from Central America are pictured at the Paso del Norte International Bridge after being deported

Migrants entering the US at the Paso del Norte International Bridge in El Paso, Texas on March 11

Last week, the Biden administration reopened the Carrizo Springs, Texas tent facility shuttered by the Trump administration in 2019 so it could take in another 700 children between 13 and 17 years old.

After taking office, Biden lifted the Remain in Mexico policy, which kept migrants south of the border while waiting for their hearings, effectively allowing migrants who have applied for asylum to cross into the UD and begin their legal proceedings.

He also narrowed the ICE's criteria for arrests and deportations and stopped the building of Trump's border wall.

On Friday, his administration announced they were rolling back a Trump-era policy that allowed undocumented immigrants to be arrested when they came to pick up unaccompanied children.

'There will not be any immigration enforcement consequences for a family member or sponsor who comes forward to be united with an unaccompanied child in our care,' a senior administration official told reporters Friday on a briefing call.

In the spring of 2018, the Trump administration tightened up the screening process - including getting ICE involved - for adults who stepped forward to sponsor children who traveled into the United States alone.

This led to a much smaller number of children being released from Health and Human Services custody to a family member or sponsor, amid fears from adults they would also be deported.

The Biden administration ended this rule in the hope it would no longer deter adults providing sponsorship to unaccompanied children.

This came two days after Special Advisor to the president Roberta Jacobsen admitted in a White House briefing on Wednesday that the timing of the surge in migrants was 'no coincidence' with the change in rules under Biden.

'We've seen surges before. Surges tend to respond to hope, and there was significant hope for a more humane policy after four years of pent-up demand,' she said.

'So I don't know if I would call that a coincidence.'

Jacobsen said that the 'more humane policy' now in place has likely given rise to rumors among people traffickers of leniency.

The 'coyotes', as the smugglers are known, have then encouraged more migrants to pay to make the journey, she said.

'The idea that a more humane policy would be in place may have driven people to make that decision, but perhaps, more importantly, it definitely drove smugglers to express disinformation, spread disinformation about what was now possible,' she said.

Inside the Donna facility in Texas in January where children are reportedly forced to sleep on the floor due to a lack of beds

Soft sided structures constructed in anticipation of a surge in migration while the permanent Centralized Processing Center in McAllen is renovated at the CBP temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas

An aerial view of the Donna facility which is at 726 percent of its legal pandemic capacity

Jacobsen said that with a $4 billion plan, Biden hopes to tackle immigration at its root causes, working to make Latin American countries safer and more prosperous, and reduce the incentive to leave.

But, in the meantime, the migrants, the centers and shelters and immigration staff are overwhelmed as the administration has not matched the change in immigration rules with the ability to ramp up the capacity for migrants at shelters.

Border Patrol agents found 96,974 migrants last month, up from 75,312 in January. Another 3,467 were taken into custody at ports of entry.

Almost half - 43 per cent - were from Mexico, with 20 per cent from Honduras, 19 per cent from Guatemala, 6 per cent from El Salvador, and 12 per cent from other countries.

Two thirds, 68,732, of those encountered were single adults - the most single adults for any month since October 2011, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), which advocates for human rights and social justice along the border.

Nearly all single adults were expelled, WOLA said, but the 9,297 unaccompanied children who arrived in February were taken to shelters, which are rapidly-becoming overwhelmed.

The majority of the children were from Guatemala, followed by Honduras and Mexico.

Some Migrants crossing from Mexico into the United States are using a bar on the border in Texas to wash and change before heading inland, the bar owner said, with one woman even giving birth in the bar.

Lupe Cabrera, whose family has run Cabrera's Bar in the small Rio Grande city of Granjeno for 60 years, told National Review one young women even had a baby 'right by the trash bin'.

And yet the official line from the White House continues to be that there is no crisis.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki refused to be drawn into saying the word instead calling it an 'enormous challenge'.

'It doesn't matter what you call it. It is an enormous challenge,' she said in the White House press briefing Thursday.

'We don't feel the need to, you know, play games with what it's called.'

Mayorkas meanwhile tried to lay some of the blame on the pandemic.

'One of the issues weve had is that the Covid-19 pandemic initially severely limited the number of children that could be taken into HHS facilities and the pace at which they can happen and the pace at which that can happen,' she said.

'What I also think is important is to talk about what the root causes are here and what we're doing from a policy standpoint to try and address the challenges that we're facing and that these kids are facing as they come across the border.'

But the White House stance isn't being accepted by lawmakers with both Republicans and Democrats voicing concerns over the Biden administration's handling of the matter.

Republicans have slammed Biden's approach with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and a group of senior lawmakers vowing to visit south Texas on Monday to see the situation firsthand.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy gathered GOP House leadership and more than a dozen members Thursday morning to hold a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol on 'Biden's Border Crisis'

The party has very much branded the situation a 'crisis', with a group of House GOP leadership and members holding a press conference outside the Capitol on 'Biden's Border Crisis' Thursday.

Rep. John Katko branded it 'disorder at the border by executive order' and charged the Biden administration with 'twisting itself into a pretzel to avoid saying the dreaded word "crisis."'

The party is also optimising on the chaos in the hope it could be their ticket to taking a majority in the House next year, with Sen. Tom Cotton urging his Republican colleagues to drill it into Americans' heads that Biden's policies created the border 'crisis'.

A new CNN poll shows immigration as the subject area where Biden is getting the lowest marks, with 49 per cent disapproving of the Democrat's handling, compared to 43 per cent who approve.

By comparison, Biden received 60 per cent approval on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. About a third, 34 per cent, disapproved.

Former President Donald Trump also waded into the debate at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month, branding it 'a self-inflicted humanitarian and national security disaster.'

Democrats representing border regions are also beginning to ask questions about why the Biden administration was not better prepared.

Vicente Gonzalez, a congressman representing Texas whose district includes the McAllen-Reynosa border, warned that the situation was going to get worse.

Honduran nationals are escorted out of the brush by a Texas State Trooper after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico on a raft

Border Patrol agents found 96,974 migrants last month, up from 75,312 in January. Another 3,467 were taken into custody at ports of entry

Almost half - 43 per cent - were from Mexico, with 20 per cent from Honduras, 19 per cent from Guatemala, 6 per cent from El Salvador, and 12 per cent from other countries

'My concern in the recent weeks, in my district, is migrants who made it across the border,' he told CNN.

'They made it across the Rio Grande Valley, were processed and released.

'I can assure you, it won't be long before we have tens of thousands of people showing up to our border, and it'll be catastrophic for our country, for my region, for my district.

'In the middle of a pandemic, in an area where we've lost over 3,000 people in my small congressional district, I think we need to have a better plan in place.'

Henry Cuellar, another Texan in the House, and whose district covers a large swathe of the border from McAllen towards Piedras Negras, said in early March that the problem began under Trump, and has worsened with Biden.

He also accused the Biden administration of hiding the real number of unaccompanied children at the US-Mexico border.

'Yeah, look, we can play with words, is it a challenge or is it a crisis,' Cuellar said on Fox News.

'Let's look at the numbers. Since August of last year the numbers have been increasing. And especially October, November and December we were hitting 70,000. In January we had 78,000.

Representative Vicente Gonzalez warned that there would soon be tens of thousands of arrivals

Representative Henry Cuellar said the problem began under Trump, and has worsened

'And this is, again, under the Trump administration, now moving into the Biden administration.'

'I don't care what we call it, but I can tell you this  those numbers of people being released, they're purposefully withholding that information. They've been told not to withhold that information.

'I now know that they're bringing people from McAllen over to Laredo, processing them in Laredo, and they're going to release them in my community.'

And state senator Juan 'Chuy' Hinojosa, another Democrat, who lives on the border, told The Hill that he does not think the Biden administration was prepared for the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border.

'It's gotten worse,' Hinojosa said.

'I don't think, quite frankly, the Biden administration was aware of what's happening on the ground here, which you can understand because they're just coming in and trying to get people up to speed with what's happening, but I don't think they were aware there were that many coming across.

'The Border Patrol is overwhelmed, they're throwing their hands up because they don't know what to do.'
There's a photo of BethAnne Linstra Klein has of her when she was pregnant with her first child.

The mum-of-two from Bray, is smiling and squinting in the bright sunshine of Sydney Harbour, looking to an outsider like the perfect image of a happy holidaymaker, her growing bump just out of shot. But the picture-perfect moment doesn't tell the whole story.

'I went to Australia to visit a friend hoping that somehow I could come back and not be pregnant anymore or just not be alive any more,' BethAnne reveals candidly. 'I wanted to be dead but I didn't have the courage to kill myself."

Meghan Markle (39) has revealed that she has a photo that haunts her too. To all the world, the duchess looked the radiant epitome of a happy, pregnant newlywed when she appeared on the red carpet, alongside husband Harry, in a sequin Roland Mouret gown for an event at London's Royal Albert Hall in January 2019.

But the truth of that moment, as she told Oprah Winfrey in her two-hour long interview this week, was that hours before that photo was taken she had told the prince that she 'just didn't want to be alive anymore'. That every time the lights dimmed in the Royal Box, she was sobbing her heart out.

The lives of the two women, Meghan and BethAnne, could not be any more different but they share a common bond. Both suffered depression while pregnant and neither felt heard when they tried to access help.

'I understand how Meghan Markle felt with thoughts of suicide,' says BethAnne.

In 2011, in the first trimester of her first pregnancy, she told her GP she was feeling low. She continued to repeat this at hospital appointments and doctor's visits but never felt heard.

'I had medical professionals telling me 'ah, no, it's normal to feel a bit sad when you're pregnant, it's the hormones',' she says. 'No one else I knew felt this way and the midwife I spoke to didn't know a thing about it either. It made me feel worse because I felt I shouldn't be feeling this way, I should feel happy. But I didn't feel happy so something must be wrong with me.'

Pregnancy comes with its own set of cliches: the image of the 'blooming' mum to be, always 'glowing' and 'radiant'. Every time BethAnne encountered a well-wisher, gushing "you must be so excited!" she felt like a fraud for not feeling this way, and that made her feel worse.

But the reality is that depression in pregnancy is very common.

'I think we didn't allow depression during pregnancy to become a known fact because there was a mythology around pregnant women that they were always happy,' explains Professor Veronica O'Keane, Trinity Centre for Health Services and author of The Rag and Bone Shop. 'When the fact is that, not only are women not always happy to be pregnant but there are also very high rates of depression during pregnancy, probably due to a high rate of secretion of stress hormones.

'High levels of cortisol are required to sustain pregnancy and these high levels of cortisol also create mood disturbances - similar to the way people who have to take steroids for medical conditions very frequently get mood disorders as a consequence of that - part of the physiology of pregnancy is that you've high stress hormones in your blood which translates subjectively into a depressed and anxious mood.'

Meghan, who is now pregnant with her second child, doesn't claim to have been diagnosed with perinatal depression - she says the "stress and isolation" of joining the royal family was its cause. But nevertheless, she is shining a light on the fact that not every woman's mental state fits the mould of the 'happy' pregnancy, for a variety of reasons.

The fact that she says she spoke out about her concerns for her mental health at the time, but felt silenced and denied support at a time when she was feeling so vulnerable, raises a worrying question for BethAnne.

'What hope is there for us normal folk if the elite can't get help?" she asks. "If someone like Meghan Markle is dismissed, if I was dismissed, who is listening?'

In Ireland at least, the answer to this is reassuring. According to Professor O'Keane, the change in legislation around women's reproductive rights here has also paved the way for greater understanding and support around mental health issues in pregnancy.

'The lack of choice around reproductive rights helped give birth to the myth of the happy pregnancy,' she explains.

'It's very interesting to me that the development of the perinatal services in Ireland really coincided with the legalisation for abortion.

'I think today, there is increasing awareness and the perinatal psychiatry services that are developing in Ireland now are very cognisant of the reality of antenatal or perinatal depression.

'It's now recognised that about 50pc of what used to be called postnatal depression commences during pregnancy.'

BethAnne (42) was eventually diagnosed with perinatal depression and placed on antidepressants, safe for use in pregnancy and breastfeeding, in her third trimester.

'That helped me,' she says. 'Even just being heard and validated was a huge help to me. At every stage of life women are told 'it's just your hormones',' she adds. 'It may be your hormones but there's no 'just' about it.'

She hopes that any voices, whether it's a royal or herself - a senior medical support worker - speaking out about not feeling the way you 'should' in pregnancy will help other women to not feel so alone, to de-stigmatise the scenario and help others access help.

Professor O'Keane agrees. 'No woman should ever be told there is no help available, because there is.

' Doctors are more informed now, we're building services based on the acknowledgement and realisation that depression and anxiety are very common during pregnancy and certainly women should have access to mental health expertise.

'Certainly within my service, any woman who is pregnant or recently given birth will be prioritised because we realise that it's potentially so tragic if women don't receive the mental health care that they require.'
Burma With More Deadly Crackdowns, Myanmar Protest Death Toll Exceeds 90

Protesters in Yangon's Tamwe township took to the street again on Saturday to defy the military regime. / Naing Lin Tun

YANGONMyanmars military regime killed nine more civilians on Saturday, boosting the protest-related total death toll to at least 92 in the 41 days since the coup on Feb. 1.

In a deadly crackdown on a sit-in protest against the regime in Mandalay regions Sein Pan quarter, at least five people were shot dead. The casualty toll was expected to climb higher as soldiers and police opened up with sustained bursts of gunfire, wounding many.

Locals reported about 20 more were wounded, including a Buddhist monk. Many of those injured are in critical condition. State-run television announced on Saturday night that 36 protesters were also arrested.

Among those injured was a resident Daw Pyone who was shot in the head for giving shelter to young protesters attempting to hide from security officers. Soldiers and police hauled her wounded body away from her home after they shot her. The family has not yet been able to confirm her condition.

In Pyay of Bago region, 19-year-old Ko Htet Myat Aung, who was a student at the Myanmar Maritime University, was killed after being shot twice in the abdomen. At least four others were also severely wounded as the regimes security officers used live ammunition to disperse student protesters. One young mans jaw was broken and misshapen after a bullet hit him in his mouth.

An anti-coup protest in Twantay of Yangon region was also violently assaulted Saturday afternoon. Seven people were injured. A resident in Twantay told The Irrawaddy at least two deaths have been confirmed. The death toll could go higher.

In Magway regions Chauk Township, one man was reportedly shot dead as soldiers and police fired on anti-coup protesters in the afternoon. At least 13 protesters were arrested.

Several other arrests were also reported in Yangons Thingangyun, Mandalays Mogok and Shan States Aung Pan.

Myanmar has seen a spike in the intensity of the deadly nationwide crackdown on anti-regime protesters since mid-February. Yangon, Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing regions have seen the highest death tolls. Many of those killed were students in their late-teens who were shot in the head.

Apart from the protest-related massacres, the regimes security forces have committed extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests in late night raids and rampage.

Two National League for Democracy (NLD) members in Yangon have died this month during military detentions.

Convoys of military trucks rolled into civilian neighborhoods in Yangon and other areas after midnight to arrest politicians and civil servants who have been refusing to work under the military rule.

When they faced resistance during the crackdown and late night operations, soldiers and police run amok with civilians properties. They have been seen breaking car windshields, destroying storefronts and creating other damage.

You may also like these stories:

Remembering Two Deaths that Changed the Course of Myanmars History

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BAY CITY, MI  A Gladwin County tax preparer is facing two federal charges for allegedly stealing more than $400,000 in tax returns from his clients over several years.

Mark A. Patterson, 52, on Friday, March 12, appeared via Zoom before U.S. District Magistrate Judge David R. Grand for arraignment on one count of wire fraud and tax evasion. The former charge is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the latter is a five-year felony. Both counts are also punishable by a fine of up to $250,000.

Grand entered a not-guilty plea on Pattersons behalf.

The charges stem from alleged crimes that spanned 2015 through February 2020. During that span, Patterson worked as a tax preparer for Schusters Tax Services in Beaverton.

According to an affidavit authored by a special agent of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Patterson stole various amounts of clients tax returns by directing portions of the refunds into bank accounts he controlled.

Patterson did not inform the clients that he was taking the money from their tax refunds and instead deceived them by giving them unfiled versions of returns showing that they had a smaller refund amount, the agent wrote. As part of Pattersons scheme, he electronically filed tax returns which was accomplished by the transmission of signals using a wire communication in interstate commerce.

In February 2020, Schusters Tax Services owner Jennifer Semer informed law enforcement that one of her employees was engaged in potential fraud scheme. She told investigators that a client had contacted her about having difficulty tracking her Patterson-prepared return on the IRS website, the agent wrote.

Semer reviewed the clients tax records and discovered the client was expecting $3,000 less than the actual amount of her refund. She also noted the refund deposit had been split and directed to a separate bank account in addition to the one provided by the client, the agents affidavit states.

Semer and her business office manager began reviewing all the files and tax returns prepared by Patterson. They determined Patterson would under-report earned income credit and child care credits on the return provided to clients, then electronically file the true return with IRS and have the additional funds diverted to accounts he controlled, the affidavit states.

In all, Semer discovered about 124 client tax returns had refunds that were electronically diverted, in part, to bank accounts under Pattersons control. She calculated an approximate loss to her clients of more than $400,000, the affidavit states.

Semer fired Patterson on Feb. 26, 2020 and revoked his computer access.

The IRS agent and other law enforcement officials interviewed Patterson in early March 2020. With his attorney present, Patterson told the investigators he had been diverting tax return funds for about four years.

Patterson said he prepares returns for about 50 clients each year and the amount of diverted funds ranged between $50,000 and $100,000 annually. He further said he used as many as 15 to 20 bank accounts because it is a general bank policy to only accept three electronic deposits from the treasury, the agent wrote.

Patterson used accounts belonging to his immediate family members, his wifes business, and a church where his wife was the treasurer, the affidavit states. He put money from the clients refunds into his wifes business, claiming his wife did not know where the money was coming from.

Patterson also did not report the income he received from the stolen refunds on his own annual income tax returns, the agent wrote.

Patterson is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond. His next court date is pending.

Read more:

Gladwin County man charged with stealing more than $400k from clients tax returns

Young siblings find bag of cash stolen in bank robbery, turn it in

Bay County hoping to resume jury trials in May
An ongoing Manitoba Hydro strike made its way to Brandon on Friday, with approximately 100 local workers picketing two different locations that are run by the Crown corporation.

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An ongoing Manitoba Hydro strike made its way to Brandon on Friday, with approximately 100 local workers picketing two different locations that are run by the Crown corporation.

While only a handful of strikers protested outside of the Manitoba Hydros offices on 10th Street, a far larger group of picketers made their presence known on Victoria Avenue East near the citys generating station.

Similar scenes have been popping up across the province since Tuesday, after the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2034 rejected Manitoba Hydros latest offer.

The union then got to work by planning some rotating strikes, with customer service staff in Winnipeg being the first to walk out.

IBEW Local 2034 business manager Mike Espenell revealed that they passed the baton off to staff in Manitoba Hydros rural customer service areas on Friday, which included Westman locations such as Brandon, Virden and Killarney.

"Were just trying to minimize the disruption for our customers at this point," he said on Friday afternoon. "The picketing in Brandon is concluding at the end of the day."

Espenell went on to say that this strike follows 28 months of negotiations with Manitoba Hydro, where the Crown corporation was offering IBEW members zero per cent increases for 2019 and 2020, and a 0.75 per cent wage boost for the current year.

The union representative said these rates are way below the cost of living, which he says isnt an acceptable proposal.

"Were hoping to just not fall behind," he said. "Were not looking for an increase and I think everybody realizes that if youre getting zero its really a roll back."

Additionally, Espenell went on to say that there are some other underlying elements that contributed to this strike, including a big depletion of staffing levels thats impacted their response time.

But for right now, Espenell said the union is perfectly willing to get back to the table and negotiate with Manitoba Hydro, believing that arbitration would be the best way forward.

"Were just looking to get a fair deal," he said.

The IBEW Local 2034 represents 2,300 workers, including employees in generation transmission and distribution.

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @KyleDarbyson
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KIDinaKORNER/Interscope RecordsX Ambassadors have released a new song called "torture," featuring R&B artist Earl St. Clair.

The track is the third and final installment in XA's (Eg) project, which features collaborations with emerging and up-and-coming artists. Previous songs have featured Jensen McRae and Terrell Hines.

"Torture" is available now for digital download.

(Eg) follows XA's 2019 album, Orion. Last year, the band teamed up with grandson and K.Flay for a new song called "Zen."

By Josh Johnson

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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Photo: Coquitlam SAR The Anmore family had driven out to Alberta a week earlier to get the German Shepherd puppy, named Diez.

A 22-pound German Shepherd puppy tapped to become a Coquitlam Search and Rescue dog had its life cut short Thursday night when a cougar pounced on the animal and dragged it away.

The incident occurred just before 8 p.m. in Anmore near the intersection of Sunnyside Street and Leggett Drive. The owner, a long-time resident and volunteer with both the Sasamat fire department and Coquitlam Search and Rescue, was walking the puppy on a four-foot leash, according to Anmore mayor John McEwen, who is close with the family.

The cougar jumped on him and took the puppy, said McEwen. When he kicked the cougar and tried to fight him off, it turned on him.

The encounter ended with the cougar dragging the young dog away into the bushes. It hasnt been seen since.

Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Const. Deanna Law confirmed police were requested at the scene. After foot patrols turned up nothing, they offered victims services support to the family and handed the file over the BC Conservation Officer Service.

McEwen said it had only been a week since the family had driven out to Alberta to pick up the puppy. The plan, said the mayor, was to train it and put it to work with SAR.

This dog is brand new. But at the same time, its only the right dog that gets chosen for this, said Coquitlam Search and Rescue president Tom Zajac. Its an incredible amount of dedication and time.

This is at least the fifth time a cougar has attacked a pet dog in the Tri-Cities in just over a month, and the second to be killed over the last few days.

In the early hours of March 10, a Port Moody resident was walking their leashed, 14-pound dog in the Foxwood Drive area of the city when a cougar jumped out of the bushes and attacked the dog.

The owner was left physically unharmed and was able to bring the dog to a veterinary clinic. However, the animal did not survive its injuries.

"We think that the cougar was not expecting the dog and the dog owner to walk by," she said. "Thats what we think triggered this predatory act on a dog."

On Feb. 7, a cougar sprung on a small dog along a trail on the west side of Buntzen Lake as hundreds of people were out enjoying the afternoon sunshine. The big cat also dropped the dog after the owner was able to scare it away, but not before severely biting its neck.

In a similar incident only two days later, a man was outside his house in the Nash Drive area of Coquitlam when a cougar snatched one of the familys small dogs, which again dropped the pet when challenged.

And in an even more dramatic attack, a cougar leapt over a fence in a Burke Mountain familys yard to snatch a pug puppy only a few feet away from a mothers feet. The big cat disappeared with the pet.

When asked whether the animal involved in the most recent attack in Port Moody was connected to the previous incidents in the Tri-Cities, acting Sgt. Alicia Stark said there's so much distance between all of them that she didn't believe that the same cougar family unit was involved.

The BCCOS officer did note, however, that while small dogs match the profile of cougars' prey, the string of attacks was not a normal trend.

"Weve definitely seen an increase in incidents this year," she said. "I dont know the exact science behind it."

Luci Cadman, a certified bear viewing guide and executive director of the North Shore Black Bear Society, said her group has worked extensively over the last several years to expand its education program to cougars, especially in the winter months when the big cats come down from the mountains to prey on grazing deer.

Working with BCIT wildlife conflict expert Tom Saare, the group has looked to reduce risk in the community and has reached out to partners in Coquitlam to spread the word.

Cadman said that despite the rise in cougar attacks in the Tri-Cities over the last five weeks, attacks on humans are extremely rare, and North America-wide data shows 27 fatal encounters over the last 100 years.

But the chance a human and a cougar will meet each other on a trail, roadside or backyard has gone up as development pushes into the interface between urban and wild landscapes. And feeding birds and pets outside only serves to increase that risk, as the food attracts the small animals, like squirrels and racoons, that cougars prey on.

While often an easy out, blame cannot always be put on newcomers to the suburbs of the North Shore and the Tri-Cities unaware they share their neighbourhood with large predators.

Certainly, there is a knowledge gap there, said Cadman. But we often find as well that some of the people that are failing to act on the advice are people who have lived here for 30 or 40 years, people who have lived here a long time near streams and the edge of forests.

This year, the pandemic has made things worse, said Cadman, as a steep rise in pet ownership, and public health recommendations to hit the trails, have increased the risk humans will meet the often elusive big cats.

Following the Anmore attack, McEwen said he called the BC Conservation Officer Service Friday morning demanding they get up here and find out what is precipitating the situation and make sure it doesnt happen again.

The BCCOS has brought in extra officers to manage the situation and is waiting for guidance from provincial biologists in Victoria, according to the mayor.

Were taking this very, very seriously, he said, noting the BCCOS said they believe there are four cougars in an area extending down into Port Moody. I want people to be safe and secure.

McEwen said hes working with BC conservation officers to take a collective approach.

We cant rely on emotions, as emotionally-packed as this is. We have to rely on the science, he said.
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Jagan Mohan Reddy had started his fight against all odds to bring YSRC to power.  (Photo: Twitter@AndhraPradeshCM)

VIJAYAWADA: YSR Congress celebrated its 11th Foundation Day in a grand manner across Andhra Pradesh with several party leaders and workers taking part in various events.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy took to Twitter and shared his views on the journey of YSR Congress. "Values and credibility are pillars of YSRC, which aims to achieve ideals of great leader Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. I thank people who have stood by me in difficult times, the leaders who walked with me, and activists who followed me during the 10-year journey", he tweeted.

YSRC leaders hoisted the party flag, cut a cake and paid floral tributes to the photograph of YSR at the partys central office in Tadepalli. Advisor to government Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy paid floral tributes to the late chief minister.

Speaking on the occasion, he recalled that after the sudden demise of Dr. Rajasekhar Reddy, Jagan Mohan Reddy had started his fight against all odds to bring YSRC to power. Though the party was disappointed in year 2014 elections, the party chief efficiently donned the role of Leader of Opposition, which brought immense popularity for the party. This gave the party a prominent place among people.

Terming the recent panchayat election results as people's victory, Ramakrishna Reddy asserted that YSRC will also sweep the municipal and corporation elections.

Ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Vellampalli Srinivas, MP Nandigam Suresh, MLAs Jogi Ramesh, Mondithoka Jaganmohan Rao, Andhra Pradesh Telugu Academy chairperson N. Lakshmi Parvathi and others were present at the programme.


Scientists have found a rocky, Earth-like planet that may offer a chance to study other atmospheres. This kind of research could help the hunt for life outside of Earth.

The researchers said recently that the planet, called Gliese 486 b, is not itself likely to have life. Orbiting a star relatively near our solar system, Gliese 486 b is hot and dry like Venus, with possible rivers of lava flowing on its surface.

But its nearness to Earth and its physical qualities make it well- suited for a study of its atmosphere. Such research will use the next generation of telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope that the American space agency NASA plans to launch in October.

These telescopes could give scientists data to study the atmospheres of other exoplanets - planets beyond our solar system - including ones that may have life.

Jose Caballero of the Centro de Astrobiologia in Spain was the co-writer of the research that appeared in the journal Science.

Caballero called the new research possibility, the Rosetta Stone of exoplanetology. He was comparing it to the ancient piece of stone that helped experts understand ancient Egyptian writing.

Scientists have discovered more than 4,300 exoplanets. Some have been large gas planets similar to Jupiter.

Others have been smaller, rocky Earth-like worlds. These are considered candidates for having life. But current scientific instruments tell us little about their atmospheres.

Trifon Trifonov of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany was the lead writer of the research. Trifonov said an exoplanet needs to have certain qualities to work well for atmospheric study.

Gliese 486 b is located about 26.3 light years - the distance light travels in a year - from Earth, or about 9.5 trillion kilometers. It is among the closest exoplanets. It orbits a star that is smaller, cooler and less bright than our sun. Gliese 486 bs mass is 2.8 times greater than Earths.

The planet orbits very close to its home star. Its surface temperature is about 430 degrees Celsius and its surface gravity may be 70 percent stronger than Earths.

Gliese 486 b cannot be habitable, at least not the way we know it here on Earth, Trifonov said.

Still, Gliese 486 b could prove useful for studying the atmosphere of an Earth-like planet using the James Webb Space Telescope and the future Extremely Large Telescope, which is now being built in Chile.

The chemical mixture of an atmosphere can tell a lot about a planet and its ability to have life.

Cabellero said that what we learn from Gliese 486 b and other Earth-like planets could help scientists better understand atmospheres of other exoplanets that may have life.

Im John Russell.

Will Dunham reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

lava  n. melted rock from a volcano

journal -- n. a magazine that reports on things of special interest to a particular group of people

habitable  adj. suitable or fit to live in
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Chris Cuomo was notably absent from Friday's CNN lineup as his brother refused to resign from his post as governor following the seventh woman to come forward with sexual harassment allegations against him.

CNN announced Wednesday that they would be showing a pre taped coronavirus special with Jake Tapper called Back to School: Kids, COVID and the Fight to Reopen.

The special occured in place of Cuomo Prime Time.

CNN announced Wednesday that they would be showing a pre taped coronavirus special with Jake Tapper

Pressure is growing on Cuomo as a seventh woman alleged sexual harassment in a first-person essay published in New York magazine on Friday. Cuomo pictured with his blanket in Albany

Pressure is growing on Cuomo as a seventh woman alleged sexual harassment in a first-person essay published in New York magazine on Friday.

Additionally, 30 women spoke to the same publication claiming they experienced bullying while working for the Governor.

Earlier on Friday, Tapper also reported on Gov. Cuomo's refusal to resign after 14 out of 19 of New York's congressional Democrats called for his resignation.

CNN, along with several other networks, had been initially quiet when the first allegations about Cuomo came to light.

Earlier on Friday, Tapper also reported on Gov. Cuomo's refusal to resign after 14 out of 19 of New York's congressional Democrats called for his resignation

Two weeks ago, Chris Cuomo said during an episode of Cuomo Prime Time that he was 'obviously' aware of the allegations against his brother. He also added that he 'obviously' couldn't cover the allegations

Two weeks ago, Chris Cuomo said during an episode of Cuomo Prime Time that he was 'obviously' aware of the allegations against his brother.

'And obviously I can not cover it because he is my brother,' Cuomo added, asserting that CNN 'has to cover it.'

He continued: 'I have always cared very deeply about these issues and profoundly so.'

Many have called foul on the Cuomo's however, noting how easy it was for the governor to be covered when it appeared he was doing a good job handling coronavirus.

Last month, CNN reinstated a ban on host Chris Cuomo interviewing his brother, Andrew, despite allowing the New York governor to appear on his show more than ten times last year.

The network was questioned by the Washington Post on Tuesday after Chris, 50, failed to mention his 63-year-old brother while addressing the biggest stories related to COVID-19 on his show the previous night.

Governor Andrew Cuomo appeared on his young brother Chris' CNN show more than ten times last year despite the network's 2013 ban on his interviewing family members

The Post had criticized CNN for allowing Chris to deliver 'over-the-top praise when the governor is up; silence when he's down', after the host completely ignored the press conference, which had been among the main coronavirus stories of the day.

CNN said in a statement to the publication that they had earlier allowed the host to break the rules on him interviewing family members as the first months of the pandemic crisis 'were an extraordinary time'.

'We felt that Chris speaking with his brother about the challenges of what millions of American families were struggling with was of significant human interest,' it added.

'As a result, we made an exception to a rule that we have had in place since 2013 which prevents Chris from interviewing and covering his brother, and that rule remains in place today.'

The network also argued that it has 'covered the news surrounding Governor Cuomo extensively'.
This week on Foreign Correspondent is Troubled Waters, a report by filmmaker Yaara Bou Melhem on polluted waterways in New Zealand.

New Zealands clean, green image hides a dirty truth. Polluted by intensive dairy farming, its waterways are some of the most degraded in the world. Will the Ardern government clean it up or will the Maori take control?

Its a toxic brew of dirty water and big business. And its jeopardising New Zealands 100% pure clean, green image.

New Zealands pristine landscapes and stunning vistas have made it a magnet for tourists and film directors. Its dairy exports have taken the world by storm.

But behind this success story lies a shocking reality. New Zealand has some of the most polluted rivers in the developed world.

Scientists blame the white gold rush  the rapid expansion of the countrys hugely successful dairy industry, worth around $15 billion a year.

In a visually stunning report, correspondent Yaara Bou Melhem travels to the South Island of New Zealand to investigate an issue which is dividing communities.

There she finds rivers contaminated with high levels of nitrogen, run-off from intensive dairy farming practices.

In some cases, this run-off causes toxic algae blooms posing a danger to people and animals. It can make rivers un-swimmable.

When you have excessive nutrients and sediments coming into the system, these blooms can really take off, says freshwater ecologist and local councillor Lan Pham. It just fuels this disconnection with the river.

The Ardern government, which was re-elected in a landslide last year, has promised to clean up.

I want our waterways to be swimmable again, said Ardern in the lead up to last years election. Were putting in place standards thatstop the degradation.

The government has introduced limits on the level of nitrates allowed in freshwater but these reforms have left no-one happy. Ecologists warn theyve set the level too high and that this could be damaging to life in the rivers.

Many farmers claim the levels are set too low and will destroy the dairy industry.

We will have a dislocation of thousands upon thousands of people, warns South Island dairy farmer John Sunckell.

Do we want to get rid of agriculture? It becomes that blunt with the numbers.

New Zealands wealthiest Maori tribe has stepped into the stalemate. The Ngai Tahu, whose territory spans a huge swathe of the South Island, has filed a landmark high court claim over the freshwater systems in its tribal lands.

Theres been a failure of government, theres been a failure of the market and the only one standing with any credibility on this is the Maori, says the lead claimant in the case, Dr Tau.

Its a huge battle over this most precious natural resource  freshwater  and theres no end in sight.

Tuesday 16 March at 8pm on ABC.

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Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.

A man has appeared in court charged with a stabbing at a flat in north Belfast on Thursday evening

A man has appeared in court charged with a stabbing at a flat in north Belfast on Thursday evening.

Stephen Brady (40), with an address on Antrim Road, Belfast, appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court on Saturday.

He faced charges of wounding with intent to cause GBH, possession of a knife and two counts of assaulting police.

No pleas were entered and there was no application for bail.

The defendant was remanded in custody to reappear at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Last week PSNI detectives put out an appeal for information following a stabbing incident at an address on the Antrim Road in north Belfast.

Cops said a man in his 30s was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries whilst a 40-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.
Dhaka, March 13 : Bangladesh is all set to welcome world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the country's independence and also the birth centenary of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The celebrations, which will take place from March 17-27, will also be attended by Presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Bidya Devi Bhandari of Maldives and Nepal, respectively, as well as Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

While, Modi, Solih and Rajapaksa will meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhandari and her counterpart Md Abdul Hamid will hold bilateral talks.

Bangladesh government has chalked out elaborate programmes to be held at National Parade Square in the capital,.

All the four leaders will deliver separate speeches from the National Parade Ground, which will be live streamed.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal Khan on Saturday morning told IANS that they will avoid large-scale public gatherings in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He added that there will be strict security measures in place during the programmes.

The invited guests at the in-person events have to undergo Covid-19 testing and carry a negative report to attend. The certificate of the test will remain valid for 48 hours.

About 500 guests from home and abroad will be invited to the National Parade Ground event.

The invitees will attend the programme in-person for four days, while the events of the other six days will be broadcast live.

Special arrangements will be made for the heads of state and governments attending the celebrations.

As per the schedule, Solih will be in Bangladesh from March 17-18, Rajapaksa from March 19-20, Bhandari from March 22-23 and Modi from March 26-27.

High officials at the Prime Ministers' Office and the Foreign Ministry said Bangladesh has been in close contact with the governments of the four nations on signing instruments on various issues.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the US, Canada, China, France and several other high-profile dignitaries are expected to send video messages to mark the occasion.

Prime Minister of Bhutan also expressed his desire to join the celebrations, Foreign Ministry officials said. China wishes to send a top ranking leader, who will carry the message of President Xi Jinping on the occasion.

Prime Minister of Canada and President of France will also send messages.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador in Dhaka Earl Miller during a meeting with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said a high-level dignitary from the Washington government is likely to visit Bangladesh in the near future to join the year-long celebrations.
Episcopal school defends language policy, telling students to stop saying 'mom' and 'dad' after backlash

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A prominent Episcopal school in New York City is standing by its decision to publish an Inclusive Language Guide after the document received criticism for, among other things, encouraging students to refrain from using terms such as Mom and Dad.

The Grace Church School, a private Manhattan Episcopal school serving 770 students in Junior Kindergarten-Grade 12, published an Inclusive Language Guide to address ways we can remove harmful assumptions from the way we interact with each other.

The 12-page guide suggests students and teachers use alternatives to gender-specific words and phrases as well as other terms it sees as problematic.

The guide prompted considerable backlash, causing the Head of School George P. Davison to issue a statement.

Policing language demonstrates more concern for getting a community to use the right words than for cultivating a sense of belonging for its members, George said in part. That is why our Inclusive Language Guide does not ban any words.

After defending the guide as a necessary instrument to give us all words that will bring people together, Davison indicated that Grace Church School, which has a tuition rate of more than $57,000 per year, has no intention of abandoning it.

So if the boorish cancel culture press wants to condemn us a newly dubbed Woke Noho school of politeness, dignity and respect, then I embrace it, and I hope you will too, he asserted.

The guide begins with a push to encourage students to use gender inclusive language to provide critical affirmation to students across the gender spectrum.

It asks students and staff to refrain from using terms such as boys and girls, guys and ladies and gentlemen, and instead use gender-neutral terms such as people, folks, friends, readers, (and) mathematicians.

Additionally, the guide takes issue with the use of sweetheart/honey/similar pet names, which are often used to address people of both genders. The terms hermaphrodite and transsexual/transvestite/crossdresser are singled out as outdated terms.

Stressing the importance of not making assumptions about who kids live with, members of the Grace Church School community are urged to abandon the use of the terms Mom and Dad in favor of grown-ups, folks, or family. The aforementioned gender-neutral terms are also cited as favorable alternatives to the term parents, along with guardians.

The idea of the traditional family is described as an outdated term because each family is unique. The guide also treats the terms husband, wife, boyfriend, (and) girlfriend as problematic, instead advocating for the use of spouse/partner/significant other.

Asserting that human sexuality exists across a spectrum, the guide instructs students to avoid using heteronormative assumptions and identifies phrases such as ladies man, boys will love those eyelashes and your mom and dad must be so proud as problematic.

If someone says a boy cant marry a boy or a girl cant marry a girl, students are advised to respond by saying, People can love and commit to whomever they please, its their choice who they marry.

Students are also being taught to reject the belief that sexual orientation is a choice rather than an identity and to affirm: Who we love/are attracted to is part of who we are.

Much like Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, who during the confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, who is now an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, the school deems the terms sexual preference and "homosexual" as outdated.

While the guide firmly rejects the idea that sexual orientation is a choice, it implies that a person has the ability to choose their race or ethnicity. Students are encouraged to ask their classmates how they (self-)identify as opposed to asking, What race are you?

Additionally, the guide rejects the idea that people can be colorblind as it pertains to race because we see the skin tones of people and assumptions are made about how someone identifies racially.

The guide even objects to the phrase Happy Holidays, often touted as an inclusive alternative to Merry Christmas, which is also listed as a problematic phrase. Instead, students are encouraged to tell their classmates Have a great break!

The guide concludes with a glossary of identity and shared value terms that include words and phrases such as antiracism, equity, institutional racism, intersectionality, microaggression and race.

Links to videos about gender identity and pronouns, race, nationality and ethnicity, antiracism, white privilege, and implicit bias are also included throughout the guide.
An Annacurra resident celebrated a very special 100th birthday this week.

Tom O'Mahony was born in Ballyfaskin, Ballylanders, Co. Limerick on February 27, 1921.

He now resides with his daughter and son-in-law, Eileen and Tom Byrne near Annacurra in Co.Wicklow. He was delighted to receive his first Covid-19 vaccine injection on February 24.

Unfortunately, there will be no big party this year to mark this wonderful achievement due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will just be household members celebrating the happy occasion with him. Tom has received lots of cards and presents and he will enjoy reading the cards and letters over and over.

During the first year of Tom's life many of the atrocities of the War of Independence occurred, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, Dublin Castle was handed back to the Provisional Government and the seeds of the Irish Civil War were sown.

Tom attended school in Anglesboro, Co. Limerick and Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. His early days were spent working on the family farm where he grew up with his three siblings. From there he went to work in Dinny Dwyer's Garage in Ballylanders. This was to set his career path for the next 25 years. In the early days, he was interested in electricity and having answered an ad in the local paper he erected a wind charger for the Tobin family in Ballylooby. It had been sent to them by the Mayor of Boston, a relative of theirs.

Expand Close Happy Birthday Tom from grandson Tom, Yvonne OLoughlin, daughter Eileen Byrne and Tom Byrne / Facebook

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Whatsapp Happy Birthday Tom from grandson Tom, Yvonne OLoughlin, daughter Eileen Byrne and Tom Byrne

He completed his training as a mechanic by 'serving his time' in McGuinness' Garage, Tipperary, Cavanagh's of Fermoy and E the Enniscorthy Motor Company while also engaging in a correspondence course with The Bennett College, Sheffield.

In the late 1940s, he rented a premises in Ballylanders and opened his own garage business. He then bought the 'Old Barracks' for the sum of 500, where he built a spacious garage. Tom was owner, mechanic, electrician, salesman, hackney driver and driving instructor.

He married Alice Martin in 1951 and they have three children, Billy, Maura and Eileen.

An explosion in the garage in 1959 left Tom hospitalized for several months, while Alice ran the business.

A few years later they left the motor trade and returned to farming. They farmed in Ballinvreena, near Emly and later in Cappauniac, near Bansha, both in Co. Tipperary.

Tom and Alice loved social dancing in the Glen Hotel, Glen of Aherlow and won many plaques.

After a long working life, Tom and Alice sold their farm and retired to Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

Alice was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome in 2006. Tom spent four months at her bedside in Cork University Hospital talking to her and encouraging her. He was instrumental in her recovery, though it was slow and difficult at times. He showed his true devotion, patience, unfailing love and steely determination.

Sadly, his beloved Alice passed away in August 2018. They were married for 67 years.

In her book 'Growing Up with Ireland' Valerie Cox devotes a chapter to Tom O'Mahony.

Tom was driving up to Christmas 2017. Tom likes to keep up to date with farming issues and still enjoys playing cards and chatting.

He is a lifelong teetotaller. He has seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren and is very proud of all of them.

* More photos in the March 10th issue of The Wicklow People
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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

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Armenia 2nd President rules out collaboration with Nikol Pashinyan

Central Bank chief: Armenia national debt exceeded 63% of GDP

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US sells oil seized from Iran

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Armenia acting PM orders internal investigation into case of storage conditions of fallen soldiers bodies, remains

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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

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Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office

Israel, UAE sign tax treaty

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New Delhi, March 13 : A latest research by Jamia Hamdard University here suggests that certain ayurvedic formulations can reduce pathologic damage of the kidneys. The study claims that the herbal medicines can help rejuvenate cells of an ailing kidney by cutting down reactive oxygen species (ROS) which is associated with pathological damage of the vital organ.

The research underlines that the specific formulation can prove effective in bringing down the quantity of ROS, which starts elevating in the kidney cells after the disturbances in level of potassium and sodium enzyme occur in the body.

The conclusion was reached following administration of punarnava (an ayurvedic plant)-based NEERI KFT formulation, that comprises lotus leaves, patharchur and other major herbs to the subjects of chronic kidney disease, according to a study.

As per the doctors, bringing ROS under control is very important in the treatment of the kidney as these are major factors in damaging the renal cells.

The research, though conducted over quite a few number of subjects, showed a decline in the level of ROS in the controlled arm which was administered the NEETI KFT treatment.

During trials, only nine subjects were given different treatment for eight days. However, the researchers said that the number was enough to ascertain the primary endpoint of the trial.

"We found that the group which was administered NEERI KFT had a controlled level of antioxidant enzyme. This shows that anti-oxidant elements in the formulation not only function against ROS but also bring down its level," they stated.

The study also claimed that the ayurvedic formulation was found to help in detoxifying kidney cells apart from reducing high levels of uric acid and electrolytes.

Acknowledging the outcome of the study, K.N. Dwivedi, professor at Banaras Hindu University, said that he advises the therapy to his patients. "We get many patients who have claimed that ayurvedic formulation Neeri KFT proved to be beneficial in curing kidney disease." Expressing similar views, Bheema Bhatt, Medical Director of Ayurvedic Medicine at Medanta, Gurugram, said that in a large number of kidney patients having high creatinine and urea levels, Neeri KFT has been found to be balancing the level.

"I have prescribed the treatment to my patients and have received positive output so far," he added.

Sanchit Sharma, Executive Director of an ayurvedic drug firm said that the formulation was found helpful in delaying the need of dialysis as well. "It reduces the progression rate of degeneration and improves reparative capacity of renal cells nephron," he added.
Jan Frodeno took over on the run and continued to pull away to take the 2021 Challenge Miami. In the women's race, it wasn't pre-race favorites Lucy Charles-Barclay or Paula Findlay, but the consistent Jodie Stimpson who took the top step.

Men's Race

Women's Race

The men's race set a frantic pace from the beginning, with Ben Kanute, Frodeno, Tim O'Donnell, and Nicholas Kastelein coming out of the water together with a 25 second lead over a chasing pack that included Rudy Von Berg, Eric Lagerstrom, and Andrew Starykowicz.Moving onto the bike course, Starykowicz started to turn the screws to the competition and made his way to the front. Meanwhile, Frodeno sat comfortably in the top part of the field. The multi-lap bike course claimed at least one victim, as O'Donnell miscounted the number of laps required to complete the course and dismounted one lap early and was left scrambling. After the bike, Starykowicz held a 24 second lead over Frodeno and 1:53 over Von Berg.The fleet-footed Frodeno moved his way quickly to the class of the field on the run, and pulled away to victory with a 53:48 run and a final finish time of 2:37:57. Lionel Sanders, unheard of until the run, unleashed a 53:24 run to run his way into second. Ben Kanute's well-rounded performance earned him third place on the day. Von Berg took 5th; Starykowicz faded to 9th.

There was pre-race drama, as Anne Haug tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week. She quarantined after the fact. No other athletes tested positive pre-race.



The women's swim split apart early, with Lucy Charles-Barclay and Sara Perez Sala taking a 90 second lead on the chasing Stimpson and PTO Champion Findlay.



On the bike, Perez Sala and Charles-Barclay continued to work together to outpace the field. However, Charles-Barclay earned herself a position foul penalty and was forced to serve a time penalty. Findlay, Stimpson, and Skye Moench were all between two and four minutes back chasing.



Onto the run, Stimpson began a relentless march towards the front of the field, grinding time off left and right from Perez Sala. Charles-Barclay, after taking her penalty, fought with a gritty run performance. In the end, though, Stimpson used her race best 1:00:54 run to take victory over Charles-Barclay. Jackie Hering made a late pass on Perez Sala to earn the final spot on the podium. Findlay wound up in 7th after sliding throughout the run.
Paducah Police Seek Help to Find Missing Women

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Police are asking for the public's help with locating a missing woman last seen on Paducah's south side.Thirty-three-year-old Sarah Norman is white, 5 feet 3 inches tall, approximately 110 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.She was last seen at the Hickory House Motel on Bridge Street at 6 pm on Thursday. She was wearing a black and white dress, with brown cowboy boots.Paducah Police are also searching for 37-year-old Veronica Saunders.Saunders is described as white, 5 feet 7 inches tall, approximately 165 pounds, with black hair and blue eyes.She was last seen at the 600 block of Coronado Court wearing a black t-shirt, gray pants, and black tennis shoes.Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these people are asked to contact Paducah Police.
Recently our blog community proved FIRST to break news of a powerful coalition endorsing the 2021 Kansas City earnings tax renewal campaign.



The list included a vast array of civic associations, local business, and civil rights leaders.



The alliance is led by Mayor Quinton Lucas and every member of the city council. Except one.

To wit . . .

HEATHER HALL IS THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL AT 12TH & OAK STANDING AGAINST THE E-TAX!!!

As always, we believe it takes courage to hold an unpopular viewpoint and dispute the crowd. The elected leader's contrarian perspective deserves consideration as local media have overlooked opposition to the longtime tax which funds a great deal of the budget but now confronts controversy amid massive COVID telework appeals.

Councilperson Hall has always been proficient at communicating with constituents and so we are EXCEPTIONALLY GRATEFUL she shared this response with our blog community.

Check-it . . .



E-Tax Statement From Kansas City First District Council Lady Heather Hall



I am not in support of the Earnings Tax as a source of General Fund revenue for the City of Kansas City. It began as a source of funds to support trash needs for the citizens. It has morphed into a fund that does not do its original intent and is constantly a bargaining tool to scare people into support.



I have said that I will not endorse the campaign to renew the tax. I have also said I will not strongly campaign against it until I have a plan to replace it with a better, more consistent source of revenue for the City.



As I research other successful cities across the country, most do not fund their budget in this manner. I will continue to research other methods that would help our city better fund the budget to meet the needs of our citizens.



In service,

Heather Hall

###############



Developing . . .
CCTV must be used to combat illegal dumping, according to a local councillor.

Cllr James Humphreys (Lab) said: 'There has been a major increase in the volume of illegal dumping throughout the country and we've seen lots of examples locally.

'Since the start of the pandemic, some local authorities have seen a jump of up to 30% in illegal dumping of household waste and household clear-outs.

Because of a clause in the GDPR rules, local councils can no longer use CCTV or drone footage to prosecute these crimes. Video evidence is by far the most effective tool for prosecuting illegal dumping, and funding has previously been given to councils to enhance CCTV and drone monitoring of illegal dumping sites.

'There are many community groups who continue to volunteer to protect their local area by cleaning up illegally dumped waste. Illegal dumping can potentially cause severe problems for those in rural areas, including preventing flood waters from draining effectively, and local authorities must be empowered to address this.

'The Labour Party has asked the Minister to investigate this, and our Senator Mark Wall brought his bill to change the law to the Seanad on Friday. This would address the concerns around data protection and GPDR. Councils have to be authorised by law to allow the processing of personal data such as the gathering and using of images of identifiable individuals by CCTV to use as evidence in the prosecution of dumping cases. Illegal dumping is costing our local authorities millions every year, money that could be instead invested into public services, parks and playgrounds.'
RTHK: China non-compliant with Joint Declaration, says UK

China is no longer compliant with Hong Kong's joint declaration after Beijing announced sweeping changes to the region's electoral system, Britain said Saturday.

"The UK now considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The treaty was signed before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 and was designed to allay fears about its future under Beijing's rule.

It guarantees the financial hub special status including a high degree of autonomy to manage its own affairs and the right to freedom of speech.

But British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that Beijing's decision "to impose radical changes to restrict participation in Hong Kong's electoral system" was a "further clear breach" of the agreement.

"This is part of a pattern designed to harass and stifle all voices critical of China's policies and is the third breach of the Joint Declaration in less than nine months," he said.

"I must now report that the UK considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Joint Declaration," he added, further ramping up tensions between the two nations.

Britain has been a strong critic of China's crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong, and angered Beijing by announcing a new visa scheme offering millions of its residents a pathway to British citizenship. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Kolar Zilla Panchayat, under Govt. of Karnataka, has called for applications in a prescribed format from qualified and interested candidates for filling Four (04) vacancies to the post of Technical Assistants in Kolar Zilla Panchayat through direct selection to be posted in Kolar District in Karnataka, India on a fulltime basis. The offline application submission process starts on March 10, 2021 and closes on March 25, 2021 by 5:00 pm.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Technical Assistants posts in Kolar Zilla Panchayat Organisation Kolar Zilla Panchayat Educational Qualification B.Sc/M.Sc in Horticulture and Forestry Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Kolar District Salary Scale Rs. 24,000 per month Industry Govt. of Karnataka Application Start Date March 10, 2021 Application End Date March 25, 2021

Kolar ZP Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for Kolar ZP Jobs 2021 through Kolar ZP Recruitment 2021 must have completed 21 years of age and not be more than 40 years, with relaxation (upper age limit) for OBC (2A/2B/3A/3B) and SC/ST candidates as per the Karnataka Govt. norms as notified in the Kolar Zilla Panchayat Notification 2021.

For details regarding application fee for Kolar ZP Jobs 2021 through Kolar Zilla Panchayat Recruitment 2021, refer to the official Kolar Zilla Panchayat Notification 2021 given at the end of the article.

Also Read: Bagalkot ZP Recruitment 2021 Notification For 17 Technical Assistant Posts, Apply Offline Before March 25

Kolar ZP Recruitment 2021: Bagalkot Zilla Panchayat Vacancy

Technical Assistants (Horticultural) - 03

Technical Assistants (Forest) - 01

Total - 04

Kolar ZP Recruitment 2021: Educational Criteria

Candidates applying for Kolar ZP Technical Assistant Jobs 2021 through Kolar Zilla Panchayat Recruitment 2021 must possess a B.Sc/M.Sc in Horticulture and Forestry from a recognised University/Institution as detailed in the Kolar ZP Notification 2021.

Kolar ZP Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay

The selection of candidates to Kolar ZP Technical Assistant Jobs 2021 through Kolar ZP Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting, Document Verification and Merit as notified in the Kolar Zilla Panchayat Notification 2021.

Candidates selected to Kolar Zilla Panchayat Jobs 2021 through Kolar ZP Recruitment 2021 will be paid an emolument of Rs. 24,000 per month

Also Read: Bangalore Rural ZP Recruitment 2021 For Technical Staff, Apply Offline Before March 26 Bangalorerural.Nic.In

Kolar Zilla Panchayat Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for Kolar ZP Technical Assistant Jobs 2021 through Kolar ZP Recruitment 2021 must fill the application in a prescribed format and send the same to the "Chief Executive Officers, Zilla Panchayat, Kolar - 563101, Karnataka" on or before March 25, 2021 by 5:00 pm through a proper channel.

Download Kolar Zilla Panchayat Notification 2021 for Technical Assistant posts here
Seven decades after industrial-scale coal mining petered out in Northeast Pennsylvania, much environmental damage remains unresolved.

Serious land and water pollution caused by mining continues to affect myriad sites in the coal region, where the anthracite diamonds reigned as king.

According to U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Lackawanna County Democrat, the price for reclaiming mine-damaged land and water nationwide is at least $10 billion.

He and Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson, whose district in West-Central Pennsylvania contains more mine-damaged sites than any other in the nation, have introduced two bills to help speed mine reclamation projects.

Historically, mining companies were allowed to pollute land and water with impunity and to walk away when coal seams played out, going bankrupt and dissolving to avoid liabilty.

In 1977, Congress passed the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, which created a trust fund to pay for reclamation projects with an assessment on each ton of coal mined nationwide.

That fund is scheduled to expire in September. Cartwright, Thompson and other cosponsors, including Republican Rep. Dan Meuser of Luzerne County, have introduced the Abandoned Mine Land Reauthorization Act to maintain the trust fund for another 15 years.

Cartwright, with Republican Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucy, also introduced the Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act, the RECLAIM Act.

That bill aims to repair mine-damaged land for productive use. It would hasten the release of more than $1 billion already in the reclamation trust fund, of which Pennsylvania projects would receive about $300 million.

Given the momentum in moving away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, the bills provide the opportunity to convert vast tracts of mining-damaged lands for renewable energy projects. One wind farm at an abandoned mine site in Somerset County, for example, generates enough electricity to power about 2,500 homes.

Congress should pass the bills for the sake of environmental remediation and economic development.

Meanwhile, modern regulators pondering drilling, landfills and other polluting enterprises should take note of Northeast Pennsylvanias struggle to clean up after the coal industry 70 years after its collapse here.
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Chaubatia : , March 13 (IANS) Uzbek troops have learned how to handle Sig Sauer assault rifles from the Indian Army troops during the counter-terror operations drills at the Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhands Chaubatia. The exercise is named as 'Dustlik' and it is the second edition.

Colonel Amit Malik, Commanding Officer of of 13 Kumaon Regiment known as the Rezang La Battalion famous for its heroics in the battle of Rezang La in the 1962 war with China, told IANS: "At present Uzbekistan troops are learning firing from Sig Sauer assault rifles. Both the contingents are sharing best practices with each other." On a large scale, the Uzbek military use the Russian-made AK 47 and AK 74 rifles.

From last year, the Indian Army started using the Sig Sauer rifles after New Delhi procured 72,500 of them from the US under fast track procedures.

The government has also ordered second batch of the 72,500 Sig Sauer, which is a compact 7.62A51 mm assault rifle.

The American assault rifles are manufactured at the Sig Sauer's New Hampshire facilities.

The new rifles replaced the existing Indian Small Arms System (Insas) 5.56x45mm rifles used by the forces and manufactured locally by the Ordnance Factories Board.

The imported rifles are used by the troops in the counter-terrorism operations and frontline duties on the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC).

From March 10-19, the Uzbeki troops are carrying out the counter-terror operations drills along with Indian Army soliders to enhance their capabilities in Chaubatia.

As part of a joint exercise, Jammu and Kashmir like terror operation situation is created in Chaubatia where both the countries are sharpening their capabilities and learning skills from each other.

"The settings at Chaubatia are as close to operations in Kashmir," said a source.

A 45 personnel and officers contingent of the Uzbekistan Army arrived in Delhi on March 8 for the exercise.

"The exercise is aimed at carrying out joint counter terror operations in a mountainous rural and urban scenario," Colonel Malik added.

The first edition of the Dustlik exercise took place in November 2019 near Tashkent in Uzbekistan.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)
The European Union (EU) drug regulator said on March 12 that severe allergies should be added to the potential side effects of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine after several links were found to a number of cases in Britain. The development regarding AstraZeneca jabs came a day after the European Medicines Agency said that it was investigating cases of blood clots that prompted Denmark, Iceland and others to suspend the use of the COVID-19 vaccine but said that it was safe to use.

Concluding a four-day meet from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), the Amsterdam-based EMA said on Friday that it had "recommended an update to the product information to include anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity (allergic reactions) as side effects". In the highlights of the EMA committee, the agency said, he update is based on a review of 41 reports of possible anaphylaxis seen among around 5 million vaccinations in the United Kingdom.

After careful review of the data, (the committee) considered that a link to the vaccine was likely in at least some of these cases, EMA added before noting that that anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions was already a known side effect that may occur, very rarely, with vaccines".

Check out the highlights of the March 2021 meeting of EMA's Management Board:

https://t.co/DJ64xw7vAv pic.twitter.com/tL30f0ez2n  EU Medicines Agency (@EMA_News) March 12, 2021

WHO Backs AstraZeneca's COVID-19 Vaccine

Meanwhile, in regard to the blood clot fears among the European nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 12 said that there was no reason as of now for nations to suspend the use of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine as several European nations halted its roll-out. United Nations (UN) health agency spokesperson Margaret Harris told the reporters that Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine and added, There is no indication to not use it.

The reassurance from WHO over AstraZeneca jabs amid the COVID-19 pandemic came as most recently, Denmark, Iceland and Norway suspended the use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine even as the European Union (EU) medical regulator investigates whether the shot could be linked to the several reports of blood clots. Denmark had announced a 14-day suspension on Thursday after at least one fatal case, among others of blood clots. Similarly, Iceland and Norway followed suit without mentioning how long the suspension would last.
A suspected burglar broke into the garda roads policing office in Dublin Castle and stole a radio, pepper spray and shirts from an officer's locker, it is alleged.

Myles Howe (47) is accused of getting into the buildings locker room where he took the belongings, most of which were never recovered.

He is facing trial after a judge ruled the case was too serious to be dealt with at district court level.

Judge Brian OShea remanded Mr Howe on continuing bail, for the preparation of a book of evidence.

Mr Howe, with an address at Carmans Hall, Dublin 8 is charged with burglary - entering a building as a trespasser and committing a theft.

The offence is alleged to have happened at the garda roads policing office at Dublin Castle on August 22 last year.

A garda sergeant told Dublin District Court the DPP was consenting to summary disposal of the case at district court level subject to the judge considering the issue of jurisdiction.

Outlining the prosecutions case, she said it was alleged Mr Howe entered the office on the day and went to the male locker room, where he searched a gardas locker.

It was alleged he took a number of items - incapacitant spray, a radio and two garda shirts from the locker before leaving.

When the burglary was investigated, the spray was recovered but the rest of the items were not, the sergeant said.

The accused was identified on CCTV and later arrested and charged.

This was in Dublin Castle itself, Judge OShea said. I cant understand for the life of me how the DPP thinks that is a minor offence.

The judge refused jurisdiction and adjourned the case to a date in April for the preparation of a book of evidence. Defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe consented to this.

The court heard following the refusal of jurisdiction, the DPP was consenting to the accused being sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court either for trial or on a signed plea of guilty if that should arise.

The accused was not required to address the court during the brief hearing. The charge against him is under Section 12 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
Christian scientist John Polkinghorne dies at 90

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John Polkinghorne, an Anglican priest and respected theoretical physicist, has died at age 90.

The news of his death was shared by Queens' College, Cambridge, England, where he served as president from 1988 to 1996.

He remained an honorary fellow of the college until his death in Cambridge on March 10.

Polkinghorne enjoyed a distinguished career at Cambridge University, having previously been a professor of mathematical physics from 1968 until 1979, when he resigned to study for the priesthood.

He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1982, serving first as a curate in south Bristol before becoming a vicar in Blean, Kent. In 1986, he returned to Cambridge University as dean of chapel at Trinity Hall and president of Queens' College.

From 1994 to 2005, he served as canon theologian of Liverpool Cathedral.

During his lifetime, he authored dozens of books, many of them on the relationship between religion and science.

Polkinghorne's talents were recognized with a knighthood in 1997 and the prestigious Templeton Prize in 2002, donating the $1.4 million (1 million) prize money to endow college positions.

Current President of Queens' College, Mohamed El-Erian, spoke of his "great sadness" at Polkinghorne's death, but also his "gratitude for all that John did for Queens' and beyond."

"To say John had an exceptional life would be an understatement," he said.

"Born in 1930, he touched many lives as a highly respected physicist, theologian, and priest. The author of a number of influential books, he was admired for his important research and insights on religion and science."

A private family-only funeral is to be held due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the family plans to hold a public memorial service to celebrate his life once restrictions have been lifted.

Originally published at Christian Today
She's no stranger to showing off her curvaceous figure in sizzling snaps.

And Demi Rose was at it again on Friday as she shared a collection of new sizzling Instagram snaps.

The model, 25, could barely contain her very ample assets as she posed up a storm in a tiny blue floral mini dress with a plunging neckline before transforming into a funky patterned number which flaunted her cleavage further.

Wow: Demi Rose was at it again on Friday as she shared a collection of new sizzling Instagram snaps

Demi forwent any accessories and made sure the item of clothing from PrettyLittleThing took centre stage in the snap.

The influencer styled her brunette locks into a wavy hairdo which she parted into two loose plaits, she added a slick of radiant make-up.

Demi was joined by her beloved pet dog, Teddy, in the photo as she worked her best angles to the camera.

The model captioned the snap with: 'Swipe to the end to see my guard dog and my Pokemon @prettylittlething #ad.'

Ahem! The second look showed off every inch of her frame

Goodness! The model, 25, could barely contain her very ample assets as she posed up a storm in a tiny blue floral mini dress with a plunging neckline

All eyes on me! Demi forwent any accessories and made sure the item of clothing from PrettyLittleThing took centre stage in the snap

Earlier this week, Demi slipped her ample cleavage into a plunging white corset bodysuit as she posed up a storm for a sultry new campaign.

The model has been sharing a slew of snaps from her sunny travels in recent months  including trips to the Maldives and Tanzania.

She is currently in Ibiza, with the Wolverhampton-born beauty sharing often sharing a number of sexy snaps to her social media.

Cute: Demi was joined by her beloved pet dog, Teddy, in the photo as she worked her best angles to the camera

Oh my! The brunette recently opened up to MailOnline about how she shot to stardom at the age of 14 after being bullied in school

The brunette recently opened up to MailOnline about how she shot to stardom at the age of 14 after being bullied in school.

Demi recalled: 'I was bullied in school, I wanted to make friends outside of it so I ended up spending a lot of time online.

'I was even interested in virtual reality as a kid, I was always on the computer and then MySpace came around and I found my calling.'

From the age of 18, the Birmingham native signed with a modelling agency and her career went from strength to strength.

Sizzling: Demi recalled: 'I was bullied in school, I wanted to make friends outside of it so I ended up spending a lot of time online'

Glamorous: Demi showed off her revealing ensemble in more detail in other sultry snaps
It was not clear when he suffered the injuries but an autopsy Saturday found that Malik died of blunt force head injuries and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiners office.
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NEW YORK, March 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Motion Acquisition Corp. ("MOTN" or "the Company") (MOTN) relating to its proposed acquisition by affiliates of Ambulnz, Inc. (d/b/a DocGo). Under the terms of the agreement, MOTN will acquire DocGo through a reverse merger, with DocGo emerging as a publicly traded company.

The investigation focuses on whether Motion Acquisition Corp. and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, and 2) whether the transaction is properly valued.

Click here for more information: http://monteverdelaw.com/case/motion-acquisition-corp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



About Monteverde & Associates PC

We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2019 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.



If you own common stock in Motion Acquisition Corp. and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.



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Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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"
(Newser)  A year after the Trump White House announced she'd be coordinating its coronavirus response, Deborah Birx has found new workand plenty of it. The George W. Bush Institute said Friday that Birx will be joining as a senior fellow concentrating on health disparities, Politco reports. A public health official for four decades, she'll work on other global health initiatives, as well. She had worked with the Bush Institute to reduce cervical cancer among women with HIV in Africa when she was in the federal government. In a statement, per the Hill, Birx said she's "thrilled to be working with the incredible people and impactful programs at the Bush Institute." Birx retired as the Biden administration came into office. She was not asked to stay on when her colleague, Anthony Fauci, was.

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According to a regulatory filing, Birx also joined the board of a Bay Area investment firm. Innoviva receives royalties from some lucrative GlaxoSmithKline medicines. Birx did not comment on that position. And a Texas company said it's hired Birx, too, as chief scientific and medical adviser, per Reuters. ActivePure Technology makes products that it says reduce the presence of the coronavirus on surfaces and in the air. After serving as global AIDS coordinator under President Obama, Birx became a national figure when Trump installed her on the White House task force. Trump soured on her as he pushed for the nation's economy to reopen quickly during the pandemic and her assessment remained grim. Democrats and others criticized Birx for not pushing back on his suggestions to thwart the virus, such as ingesting disinfectants. (Read more Deborah Birx stories.)
New Delhi, March 13 : Bringing together a group of paintings, sculptures, ritual objects, and illustrated manuscripts from the 11th-18th centuries, made primarily for Nepal and Tibet's monastic institutions, an upcoming exhibition at New York-based museum "The Met" will spotlight the Himalayan Bodhisattva tradition.

The exhibition titled 'Bodhisattvas of Wisdom, Compassion, and Power' will run from March 27 this year to October 16, 2022.

Within the Buddhist traditions of the Himalayas, three bodhisattvas emerge as personifications of Buddhist ideals. Manjushri, who cuts through ignorance and personifies correct knowledge; Avalokiteshvara, a compassionate protector of the devout that helps reveal the true nature of reality; and Vajrapani as the embodiment of the energy of enlightenment, said "The Met".

It added: "Focusing on dramatic images, a worshipper could first evoke the subtle knowledge that Manjushri personifies, then with Avalokiteshvara's aid, it is possible to proceed in a way free from self-imposed delusions, while Vajrapani's transcendent power aids in destroying jealousy and hatred that stand in the way of enlightenment. Venerating these three bodhisattvas together has a long history, and they play an essential role in the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet." Beautifully cast sculptures and accessible paintings showing peaceful manifestations of the bodhisattvas intended for the public are juxtaposed with complex tantric images of the highest quality done in portable media made for monastic elites.

This exhibition presents some of the sublime representations of these three bodhisattvas at the centre of this great devotional tradition embraced across the Himalayas.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th March, 2021) Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, a dual US-Mexican citizen, has pleaded guilty for dealing with Mexican companies designated by the US government as narcotics traffickers, the Department of Justice said in a release on Friday.

"A dual US-Mexican citizen pleaded guilty today to willfully engaging in financial dealings with Mexican companies that had been identified as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers by the US Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)," the release said.

The Justice Department said Oseguera Gonzalez engaged in property transactions with six Mexican businesses previously designated by OFAC as narcotics traffickers for providing support to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion.

The CJNG is a Mexican drug trafficking organization headed by with Oseguera Gonzalez's father, who was sanctioned by OFAC in April 2015.

According to the release, the defendant is scheduled for sentencing on June 11 and faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
With his re-election all but a formality now, WA Premier Mark McGowan has tried to downplay predictions as he urged voters to cast their votes for the team that kept the state strong. As he joined WA Labors Hillarys candidate Caitlin Collins at South Padbury Primary School in Perths north on Saturday morning, Mr McGowan wouldnt be drawn on questions about how he would celebrate his win, saying he wouldnt want to get ahead of himself and that polls could be inaccurate. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Im confident we put forward plans and policies that take the state forward, he said, asking West Australians to support the team that kept the state strong. He said his plans were affordable and achievable and addressed the core issues such as jobs, infrastructure, good financial management, fairness, and the promise both the city and regions would benefit from the states success.

This is one of the most important elections  if not the most important election  in living memory and its very important that Western Australia stays the course and sticks with the team that has kept our state safe and strong over the last four years, he said. Mr McGowan said WA had gone through a very traumatic year, marred by the COVID-19 pandemic and the states emergency response, but he pinned the states success in handling the crisis on the governments economic policies to get the state back into surplus three years prior. Loading When COVID hit we had the financial capacity to launch our recovery plan. Had we not done all that work in the first three years we would have been in real trouble over the course of the last year but we did the work, we turned around the mess we were left, he said. Mr McGowan has enjoyed almost unprecedented popularity for his handling of the pandemic, and a Newspoll for The Australian newspaper showed Labor ahead 66 to 34 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, which would represent a landslide 10.5 per cent swing to the McGowan government.
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 --

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Six days before its inaugural F.D. Reese Day, the city of Selma will hold two ceremonies honoring the late civil rights leader.

Born in Selma in 1929, Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Reese was an educator, minister, and civil rights leader who worked with organizers to lead voting rights efforts in Selma, work that laid the foundation for Bloody Sunday, the Selma to Montgomery marches, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Known as a servant leader, Reese dedicated most of his life to improving the welfare of Selmas citizens. He was an unwavering advocate for teachers. As president of the Selma Teachers Association during the 1960s, he fought for Black female teachers to get maternity leave. With the mission to show teachers the power of their voices, he challenged educators to join the voting rights campaign in Selma, spearheading a teachers march to the Dallas County Courthouse in January 1965.

Reese was president of the Dallas County Voters League and one of Selmas Courageous Eight, a group of activists who continued to hold meetings to discuss protesting voting injustices, even after a court injunction banned marches and meetings. Reese, along with Amelia Boynton-Robinson, Ulysses Blackmon, Ernest Doyle, Marie Foster, James Gildersleeve, Rev. J.D. Hunter and Rev. Henry Shannon, was instrumental in bringing members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee to Selma to help lead protests against voter discrimination.

FILE--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., third from right and his wife, Coretta King, lead off the final lap to the state capitol at Montgomery, Ala. in this March 25, 1965 file photo. Thousands of civil rights marchers joined in the walk, which began in Selma, Ala., on March 21, demanding voter registration rights for blacks. Rev. D. F. Reese, of Selma, is at right. King's birthday will be observed nationally Monday, Jan. 21, 2002. (AP Photo/File) APAP

After the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Courageous Eight would continue desegregation efforts in Selma. As one of Selmas first Black city council members, Reese was instrumental in adding the first Black men to the citys police and sheriff departments. While Reese lost his bid for mayor of Selma in 1984, he later served as the campaign manager for James Perkins Jr., who became the citys first African American mayor in 2000. Reese enjoyed a lengthy career in education as a teacher (His teaching roster includes a number of Selma luminaries, including LaTosha Brown, political strategist and co-founder of Black Voters Matter) and later administrator where he continued to mentor blooming educators as the principal of Selma High School. In 2015, he retired from the pulpit of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church where he led the congregation for 50 years, passing the baton to James Perkins Jr.

Selma mayor-elect James Perkins Jr. talks with his transition team chairman Frederick D. Reese in Selma's city council chambers following a press conference. Elected in 2000, Perkins was Selma's first black mayor. (Credit: Christine Jacobs)ph

F.D. Reese finished writing his memoir, Selmas Self Sacrifice in 2017 with the help of author Kathy M. Walters. The same year, Reeses grandsons Alan and Marvin Jr. started the F.D. Reese Foundation to honor their grandfathers legacy of service, education, and civil rights work. After Reeses death in 2018, Walters added a final chapter to the book. Eight months later, Alan and Marvin Jr. had the memoir published.

Hes the reason why you have the first black officer in Selma. The first Black sheriff. The first Black fireman. He integrated a doctors office, Alan Reese told AL.com in 2019.

Alan Reese (left) and Marvin Reese Jr. (right) held signings of their grandfather F.D. Reese's autobiography at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. In 2017, they started the F.D. Reese Foundation (Credit: Shauna Stuart for Al.com)

While F.D. Reeses accomplishments were well known in Selma, Alan and Marvin Reese grew tired of not seeing their grandfathers name in history books. F.D. Reese, however, was never resentful about not receiving national recognition. In 2013, when a large crowd gathered at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church for a ceremony to celebrate renaming Legrande Street to Dr. F.D. Reese Street, the civil rights leader had a humble response.

I feel as if its a great honor for a street to be named after me, Reese said. I dont think I deserve all of this, reported the Selma Times Journal.

Selmas inaugural F.D Reese day is March 21.

In February, the city council unanimously declared March 15 would be celebrated as a day honoring Reese. Ward 4 councilwoman Leisa James led the effort. James Perkins Jr., who was reelected to the mayoral seat in November, said he was hippopotamus happy and peacock proud to sign the proposal, the Selma Times Journal reported.

James says she initially proposed March 15 because it was the first date that came to her mind. March 15, 1965 was also a key date in planning the Selma to Montgomery marches, she told Al.com in an interview. After further discussion, Reeses family asked the city to move the date to March 21, the beginning of the first successful march from Selma to Montgomery. March 21, 1965 was also the date Rev. F.D. Reese accepted his pastoral role as minister of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.

We look at Bloody Sunday as a day we will never forget. But they were actually able to accomplish their goal by marching from Selma to Montgomery. So thats the day, said Alan Reese.

While the official celebration day for F.D. Reese is March 21, the city will hold two commemorative ceremonies for the civil rights giant on March 15.

Were going to make this a grand occasion, which is overdue, said James.

At noon on March 15, the city will host a small ceremony at Selma High School where the city council will present the Reese family with a resolution officially declaring March 21 as F.D. Reese Day. U.S. Rep Terri Sewell, who represents Alabamas 7th district, including Selma, will also send a tribute. Later during the program, the Reese family will present F.D. Reeses first teaching contract with the Selma school system as a donation to the city. F.D. Reese started instruction at Selmas R.B. Hudson High School in 1960, where he taught math and science.

The tribute, says Alan Reese, will highlight the important role educators played in the civil and voting rights movements.

After the presentation at Selma High School, the city will host a grand caravan tribute to Reese starting at Selmas Bloch Park. James is asking members of the public who wish to participate in the caravan to arrive at the park no later than 12:30 p.m. The caravan will leave the park at 12:45 and stop at 10 locations around the city where the late civil rights leader had an impact including Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, R.B. Hudson Middle School (formerly the high school), Brown Chapel A.M.E, and the Dallas County Courthouse. The caravan will end at the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Selma City Schools superintendent Dr. Avis Wiggins and Mayor James Perkins are expected to attend the tributes. James says she hopes the caravan will draw a large number of participants including motorcycles, car clubs, and buses. She also hopes members of the public, elected officials, clergy, teachers, and former educators will attend the events to celebrate Reeses legacy.

Events will conclude later Monday evening with a virtual ceremony streamed on the Selma City Hall Facebook page starting at 6:00 p.m.

Theres not enough time in the world to talk about Dr. Reese said James, who recalled fond memories of the late Dr. F.D. Reese. Reese, who was her pastor at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, performed the marriage ceremony at her and her husbands wedding. He later baptized their daughter.

He has always been a father figure in my life because I have always been very voiceful in standing up. And he has always guided me in the right direction. He was one of the reasons that I chose to be in politics, said James, who is also a former educator. A lot of the kids who have grown up to be doctors and lawyers, he was their pastor. He was their mentor and I just felt like he had been overlooked. If it werent for him, then we wouldnt be in education.

RELATED:

Selmas Self-Sacrifice: The grandsons of F.D. Reese on his autobiography & continuing his legacy

Rename Edmund Pettus Bridge? Activists, politicians split: It does not help history

Selma senator: Let locals decide on Edmund Pettus Bridge renaming
It is one of the worlds most prevalent and widespread infections. No, not Covid-19  the Epstein-Barr virus, which lives silently in about 95 per cent of us.

Most people will never know they carry it, as it rarely causes any problems.

Its spread via saliva, and is so contagious that most of us pick it up in early childhood. Sharing cutlery will pass it on, as will children who share each others toys.

But if we contract it later, as adolescents or young adults, Epstein-Barr can cause an illness: glandular fever.

As we age, the immune system develops, and this means it fights harder against the virus when coming into contact with it for the first time, leading to symptoms that can be debilitating. Theres the overwhelming fatigue, a high fever, a painful throat and swollen neck glands. Teens and students can be ill for months, sometimes unable to sit exams or study.

Regardless of when we pick up the virus, it stays with us for life  lying dormant in our immune cells for reasons scientists dont yet fully understand.

So why are we talking about it now?

Reactivation: Helen Kirwan-Taylor (pictured above), a journalist and artist who lives in Notting Hill, West London, contracted glandular fever aged 17 and now has long Covid

Well, a year after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, experts have made an intriguing discovery: blood tests on some sufferers of long Covid are coming back positive for reactivated Epstein-Barr.

Around one in ten people who are hit by Covid end up as long-haulers, according to the Office for National Statistics, with some experiencing ongoing fatigue, breathlessness, muscle pain and brain fog for many months. For some, it has been longer than a year. The condition and its causes remain a mystery. Do the new findings mean some are actually suffering from a form of glandular fever? Doctors just dont know.

But if it does hold true, it could have startling implications, opening up new avenues in treatment.

While most of us would test positive for antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus if we were given a blood test, these would be of a type that indicates the virus is there, but dormant.

Tests carried out on long Covid patients are recording another type of antibodies, ones that suggest that the virus has woken up and the body is responding by fighting against it.

One long Covid sufferer who discovered she has reactivated Epstein-Barr is Helen Kirwan-Taylor, a journalist and artist who lives in Notting Hill, West London, with her husband, a former banker. The 59-year-old mother-of-two caught Covid in February last year, an experience she says felt more like a cold.

But over the following months she developed a raft of symptoms including sore throats, cold sores, sinus flare-ups and days of crushing exhaustion. I felt I had a brick in my chest, explains Helen. Then, in May last year I became so disorientated, dizzy and weak that I almost crashed the car.

Her GP carried out blood tests which, although otherwise normal, suggested that she was battling Epstein-Barr.

Helen had glandular fever when she was 17, and spent two months in bed. Since then she has suffered bouts of chronic fatigue syndrome twice  and in both cases, tests implicated Epstein-Barr.

I dont recall the symptoms of glandular fever being anywhere as vicious, pernicious and confusing as when it came back, she says.

Experts have made an intriguing discovery: blood tests on some sufferers of long Covid are coming back positive for reactivated Epstein-Barr (file photo)

My doctor prescribed me a low dose of antidepressants, which helps ease fatigue and muscle pain. Other than that, I spent a lot of time in bed. Today, I am 80 per cent back to the old me, but I still get very tired. I build rest into my day and I never skip sleep. If I do have a late night, all the symptoms come flooding back.

Helen isnt the only one: social-media forums dedicated to long Covid are discussing the phenomenon. One wrote: My wife became ill in March and thought she had recovered but went downhill in April. Been having typical Covid 19 long hauler symptoms since then Covid test and antibody test negative but just had blood test indicating Epstein-Barr. Are long haulers having Epstein-Barr triggered?

Another added: This is extremely interesting how SO many people report eerily similar symptoms all related to Epstein-Barr virus reactivation and Covid it seems!

Yet there is very little research in this area. One small study of just 67 Covid patients from Wuhan found the most seriously ill were more likely to have reactivated Epstein-Barr virus. Some British experts now believe it is entirely plausible that Covid is actually causing this reactivation in some people  and long Covid could be linked to this.

COVID FACT A third of people who tested Covid positive were still experiencing at least one symptom six weeks later, one study found. Advertisement

If that were the case, they say, there may be existing treatments which could help. And hearteningly, we already know that in most cases glandular fever does not last for ever. Professor Angus Dalgleish, an expert in cancer, viruses and the immune system at St Georges, University of London, says there is no doubt those seriously affected by Covid should be given blood tests for Epstein-Barr.

He adds: I believe long Covid is going to be the biggest problem after this pandemic, and specialist clinics need to investigate these cases properly. We know Epstein-Barr virus activation is also linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, and most of the symptoms of that are indistinguishable from long Covid.

So it makes perfect sense. If we start testing patients in hospital, and those with long Covid for viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, we may well find that it is the common thread that links serious disease with longer-term problems.

Relatively few people with long Covid have been treated by doctors  because most were not ill enough in the early stages of infection to need hospital treatment. Some also struggled to get GPs to take their symptoms seriously. It means hardly any have had tests for Epstein-Barr. And not all doctors agree glandular fever is likely to underpin Covid symptoms.

Prof Danny Altmann, immunologist at Imperial College London, says it would need a huge trial to work out whether there was any link.

There are so many people with long Covid that its not really a surprise there might be some also with reactivated Epstein-Barr, he adds. A good hypothesis is worth thinking about, though, and those in the long-Covid community are very articulate and driven to find a solution.

So what is the evidence  and what might be going on? Epstein-Barr virus is a member of the herpes family of viruses, which includes chicken pox, cold sores and cytomegalovirus, or CMV, which causes flu-like symptoms. All of them can linger for life, and any of them can reactivate when the body is under stress or the immune system is weakened. This is why people get cold sores if theyre under the weather.

Epstein-Barr virus is a member of the herpes family of viruses, which includes chicken pox, cold sores and cytomegalovirus, or CMV (computer illustration of Epstein-Barr virus pictured)

Transplant patients, who have to take drugs that suppress the immune system for life to avoid rejecting their new organ, are known to be at risk of cytomegalovirus reactivation. And in HIV-positive patients, cytomegalovirus also reignites. Prof Dalgleish was one of the leading AIDS researchers when the epidemic began in the UK in the 1980s, and treating cytomegalovirus meant patients could leave the hospital right as rain.

This is why Im so excited about the possible links between herpes viruses and Covid, he says. We saw this with HIV. If you treat the cytomegalovirus, you could go from having a patient who was at deaths door to someone who walks out and you see as an outpatient. Could the same thing work for Covid?

As Prof Dalgleish explains, the Epstein-Barr virus has also long been considered a factor in chronic fatigue syndrome  as Helen knows. Many people with the illness, also known as ME, report that their problems began with a viral-type illness.

Virologist Lawrence Young, a professor at the University of Warwick, says: If you get Covid, your bodys immune system becomes hyperactive and some bits dont work efficiently. Your T-cells, which recognise and fight viruses the body has seen before, go down. Any other infection you might have, including herpes viruses, can reignite. The Epstein-Barr virus is definitely being reactivated in some cases.

COVID FACT Some patients with long Covid are reporting improvements in their health after having the Covid vaccine, according to a survey. Advertisement

Prof Young is carrying out research which involves examining cells containing the Epstein-Barr virus, and analysing what happens to them when they are infected with coronavirus. Our expectation is that it will cause more Epstein-Barr virus, he says. He is also hoping to look at blood samples taken from Covid patients who were treated in hospital to see if the virus was reactivated.

Another theory is that the resurgence of Epstein-Barr is making initial Covid infection itself more severe. Prof Young says: Theres mounting circumstantial evidence that Epstein-Barr virus is having some kind of effect, both in hospitalised patients and in long Covid. Doctors are also looking at whether those who developed glandular fever as young adults are more at risk from long Covid.

We need to look to see whether theres an association between Covid severity and previous glandular fever, Prof Young says. Getting infected in childhood beefs up the immune system. Get it later and it might alter the bodys response and have long-term consequences for the immune system.

Certainly some of those with long Covid and reactivated Epstein-Barr virus posting on internet forums say they had glandular fever in the past. They recognise their symptoms now as similar to glandular fever.

Perhaps this is why testing those with long Covid for Epstein-Barr virus could be so important  both Prof Dalgleish and Prof Young agree it could be vital to organise further research.

We contacted NHS England, which is running the 69 long Covid clinics across the country, but it could not confirm whether it is conducting such tests on patients. Perhaps the most important question is, of course, whether it could make any difference to patients. There are currently no specific long Covid treatments, but there are possible treatments for glandular fever and chronic fatigue  including antidepressants and steroids.

There are also anti-herpes drugs such as acyclovir that are given to transplant and cancer patients whose immune systems are weakened, and work well against other herpes viruses such as cytomegalovirus. Prof Dalgleish says he gave acyclovir to a couple of hospitalised Covid patients and they improved dramatically.

There is no evidence the drug had this impact on its own, nor that patients had a reactivated virus, because they were not tested. But Prof Dalgleish believes it means the potential of such therapies should be investigated. We must start testing people for these things so we know whats going on. We could then focus on trialling treatments that could help.
Joey Bunch: "The question here is do we trust our teachers? I can only speak from experience, but I know they can do it."

Kate Garraway has said she's not sure if her husband Derek Draper will have 'any kind of life again,' as he remains in ICU nearly a year after he was admitted to hospital with coronavirus.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 53, said her husband's current state is something from a 'horror story,' as she tries to come to terms with the possibility that his health battle could leave him suspended between life and death.

She said to The Times: 'The very worst moment was when they said he could be locked in forever. And I just thought, this is a horror story. I don't know if he'll ever have any kind of life again. We just don't know.'

Devastating: Kate Garraway has admitted she's not sure if her husband Derek Draper will have 'any kind of life again,' as he remains in hospital nearly a year after he was admitted with Covid

Derek, also 53, was admitted to hospital in March after contracting the respiratory illness and was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma before he awoke in July.

The virus caused havoc throughout his entire body, resulting in kidney failure, liver and pancreatic damage.

On more than one occasion his heart stopped beating, he battled bacterial pneumonia and fought multiple infections which punctured holes in his lungs. He is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the country.

Kate - who shares children Darcey, 15, and William, 11, with her husband of fifteen years - admitted it is 'shocking' to see his current state, including his dramatic eight stone weight loss.

Heartache: The Good Morning Britain presenter, 53, said her husband's current state is something from a 'horror story'

She revealed that on multiple occasions the hospital told her: 'Prepare yourself, he's going to die.'

During one incident, the TV presenter was told 'he may have died' and that 'somebody will call you back,' as she spent countless hours calling the hospital to get an answer, to no avail.

She eventually got through and discovered someone of a similar name had passed away.

But the worst was yet to come as Kate had to learn to accept the possibility that Derek could be frozen indefinitely between life and death.

'They said, 'It's highly unlikely he will make a good recovery,' Kate recalled the comment from doctors while they confirmed they couldn't rule out a 'reasonable recovery.'

When she asked what that would look like, the mother-of-two was told that being able to lift a hairbrush would be an example of a 'reasonable recovery'.

Trying to make sense of Derek's current condition, Kate said it appears he is in an 'ocean of unconsciousness,' and only manages to rise to the top for air on rare occasions.

However she did note some tentative progress with her husband during the Christmas period. As she pretended to forget her accountant's name, Derek was able to fill in the blank and vocalise the name.

He also heartbreakingly mouthed the word 'pain' in October.

By the end of last year, he had had reportedly made some small steps towards recovery. He was able to breath naturally throughout the day and was able to swallow his own saliva - despite still being fed by a tube through his stomach.

Sad: Kate - who shares Darcey, 15, and William, 11, (pictured in 2019) with her husband of 15 years - admitted it is 'shocking' to see his current state, including his eight stone weight loss

Derek no longer required kidney dialysis and had managed to increase his movement on one side, allowing him to move his glasses on his nose.

He was even able to recognise some faces and add snippets to conversation before sinking back into the deep waters of his unconscious mind.

She is still not allowed to visit her husband due to coronavirus restrictions.

Kate said she tried to keep his hopes up by promising things would improve, but tragically his only response was: 'How?'

When Boris Johnson enforced a new lockdown in December, Kate wasn't able to see Derek at all, as she revealed his health worsened 'dramatically,' counteracting the progress they had made.

'I have tried to sort of wake up from that and think about the future,' Kate added. 'But nobody can tell you what the future is.'

Kate is set to host an ITV documentary about her husband's battle with coronavirus.

Finding Derek will air on 23rd March, and will show Kate giving an 'unflinching account' on the past 12 months.

In the special one-off film, Kate will offer an 'intimate insight' into coping with the impact of Covid-19 on her family, as well as meeting survivors of the disease.

ITV said in a statement: 'Kate offers an unflinching account of the profound effects on her family and on others as she opens up on camera for the first time on the reality of the past 12 months.

Finding Derek: Kate is set to host an ITV special about her husband Derek's battle with coronavirus, and the programme is set to air on 23rd March

'As Kate lays bare in the film, her family, along with many others who have suffered the effects of the virus, is now facing the reality of adjusting to a very different way of life to the one they lived before the pandemic hit.'

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.

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.

Last week, the Smooth presenter shared her heartache about not being able to visit her husband due to coronavirus restrictions.

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...

Worry: During one of her darkest moments Kate was told her husband may 'never come out of a coma' amid his ongoing battle

'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.'

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 children 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.

'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.'
The farmers, who have been protesting against the Centre's new farm laws for over three months, have now started constructing brick houses near Delhi border as they expect the protests to continue for a long period of time. The farmers, who have withstood winter, internet bans and efforts by the government to restrict their movement, are preparing to strengthen their agitation and continue the protest against the farm laws.

The protesting farmers can be seen constructing brick houses at the Tikri border near Haryana, NDTV reported. While they are spending money on construction materials, the farmers are saving on the cost of labour as they are setting up the houses themselves.

The cost for each such house is expected to be between Rs 20,00-25,000, according to the news channel.

The farmers' decision to shift from tents or temporary shelters to more stable brick houses is guided by the weather as they try to protect themselves from the scorching heat in the upcoming summer months.

Till now, the farmers were staying in temporary shelters such as tents, while some had also converted their tractors into temporary shelters. However, as the harvest season has begun, the farmers are sending the tractors back to the fields.

The farmers and the government are in a deadlock over the new farm laws, and no solution has been reached even after ten rounds of talks between both the parties.

The protesting farmers have now called for another 'Bharat Bandh' on March 26. The all-India strike has been called to mark the completion of four months of their agitation against the new laws.

Also Read: Farmers' protest 'absolutely, totally' matter for Indian govt, says British minister
The first sound recordings from NASAs Perseverance Mars rover have made it to Earth. Now, years after sci-fi films have shaped expectations, we finally know how space lasers sound  and its not what most people were expecting.

One of the seven instruments aboard the rover, SuperCam blasts an infrared laser beam out of its 12-pound head that heats its target to about 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit, vaporizing it. A special camera then measures the chemical makeup of the target from the plasma that spits out after the shot.

The recording, released Wednesday, reveals the sound of 30 impacts on a Martian rock called Maaz (Mars in Navajo) that sat about 10 feet away, thanks to a microphone lodged on SuperCam.

No zap is the same; variations in intensity offer clues about the physical structure of the rocks, such as its hardness or weathering status, according to NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory that created the rover.

Of particular interest is whether the rocks harbor minerals that signal the past presence of liquid water like clays, carbonates and sulfates  signs that ancient microbial life could have existed on the seemingly barren Red Planet.

SuperCam truly gives our rover eyes to see promising rock samples and ears to hear what it sounds like when the lasers strike them, Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a statement. This information will be essential when determining which samples to cache and ultimately return to Earth through our groundbreaking Mars Sample Return Campaign, which will be one of the most ambitious feats ever undertaken by humanity.

While enjoying the scientific triumphs needed to get our hands on these recordings, Twitter users didnt hold back their opinions about the anticlimactic nature of the space laser sounds.

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'No progress will be made on North Korea engagement plan'



By Kang Seung-woo



South Korea and the United States will hold a two-plus-two meeting of their foreign and defense ministers next week, the first of its kind in over four years, a sign of the Joe Biden administration's commitment to restoring their bilateral alliance after four years of neglect under former President Donald Trump.



Although the meeting will showcase the special relationship of the allies, the long-delayed, long-awaited dialogue is not expected to proceed in South Korea's favor, as Seoul is expected to face a tough call from Washington that will ask, if not force, the country to support American policy vis-a-vis China amid the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, according to diplomatic observers.



In addition, the Moon Jae-in administration, seeking to engage North Korea via U.S. sanctions relief, will likely not see any concessions to Pyongyang from its new U.S. counterpart, as it is still conducting its review of the country, they added.



According to the South Korean and U.S. governments, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will visit here, Wednesday, the first trip to South Korea by Biden cabinet officials since his inauguration in January. They will have a two-plus-two meeting with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Defense Minister Suh Wook the following day. The two countries last held such a meeting in October 2016.



"Clearly Washington's top foreign policy challenge coming out of the pandemic is China and trying to contain Beijing's rise, which the Biden administration fears could alter the balance of power. The goal for Team Biden in the two-plus-two (meeting) will be to get Seoul to listen to its concerns on China," said Harry Kazianis, senior director of Korean Studies at the Center for the National Interest.



"They don't expect agreement, but I would say they do want Seoul to listen and understand their perspective, and they at least hope Seoul gets out of the way of any actions Biden might undertake against Beijing."



Ramon Pacheco Pardo, an associate professor of international relations at King's College London, said, "I think the U.S. will prioritize how to deal with China without pitching the discussion as an anti-China coalition, but rather among partners that share goals and interests."



Both Kazianis and Pacheco Pardo said the U.S. will put pressure on Seoul to join the Quad Plus and other alliances against China "privately but not publicly."



Daniel Sneider, a lecturer of international policy at Stanford University, said the timing of a series of meetings featuring U.S. senior officials is backing up the conjectures.



The first summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) took place Friday, while Blinken and Austin will travel to Japan, where they will also have a two-plus-two meeting with their Japanese counterparts, ahead of their trip to South Korea. Following the Seoul visit, Austin is scheduled to fly to India, while Blinken will join National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Alaska for talks with two top Chinese diplomats: Yang Jiechi, the director of China's Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.





Clockwise from top left are Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Defense Minister Suh Wook / Korea Times file
Disasters are big to the people they affect, but amid all the headlines, theyre easy for others to miss. Weve rounded up the chaos that caught our attention this week in our new roundup, This Week in Disasters.

Slow-brewing disaster: Mount Etna in Italy had a huge eruption on Feb. 16. Ever since, its been spewing ashusually just a little, but on Sunday, Etna blasted ash 33,000 feet into the sky. Ash and lava rain poured down on nearby Sicilian villages.

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The worst disaster (in this countrys recent history): Three explosions rang out from Bata, Equatorial Guineas largest city, on Sunday afternoon, causing thousands to run to the surrounding hills. The blasts came from carelessly stored dynamite at the Nkoantoma Military Base. The damage was extensive: More than 100 people were killed and more than 600 people were injured.

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Twitter ghosts disaster: Alexi McCammond was hired as Teen Vogues new editor in chief on March 5. On Monday, homophobic and racist anti-Asian tweets resurfaced from her college days. McCammond has issued multiple apologies, and the staff has voiced concerns.

Fighting violence with violence disaster: Womensome armed with blow torches, bats, and hammerstook to Mexico Citys streets on Monday, International Womens Day, to draw attention to issues of violence against women. More than 80 people were injured in clashes with police.

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Fire disaster: Six fires have ravaged Argentinas Patagonia region since Tuesday. The blazes, which authorities think were intentionally lit, have charred thousands of forest acres and reached towns by the Andes mountains foothills. More than 200 homes have been destroyed, 11 people are missing, and one person has died.

Show-and-tell disaster: A homemade explosive device was accidentally set off by a Michigan teen in his high school class on Tuesday. The teacher and five students were injured, including the 16-year-old boy. Hes been suspended from schooland his father, who made the Molotov cocktail, was charged.

Another school kidnapping disaster: Thirty students in Northwest Nigeria are missing after being kidnapped from their school, the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, early Friday. This the countrys fourth student kidnapping since December.

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Migration disaster: Two boats, carrying African migrants across the Mediterranean to Italy, sank near Tunisia on Tuesday. Thirty-nine people died, and 165 were rescued.

Pilgrimage disaster: Students, parents, and teachers from an Islamic middle school in Indonesia were busing homedown narrow roadsfrom a pilgrimage site on the island of Java on Wednesday when the buss brakes reportedly failed.The vehicle tumbled off the highway and into a gorge, killing 29 (including the driver).

Europes COVID disaster: While COVID cases have fallen in the U.S., Europe has risen as the new viral hot spot. According to reporting on Thursday, the EU has had more than 800,000 cases in the past weeka 5.8 percent increase from the previous week. Italy is going back into partial lockdown, and vaccine rollout in the EU has been dangerously slow.

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Media disaster: Sixty-five journalists were killed on the job in 2020, according to a report released Friday by the International Federation of Journalists. This is a 17-person increase from 2019.

Runaway dinner disaster: A Wednesday message from local police alerted citizens that a 1,600-pound steer escaped a slaughterhouse outside of Providence, Rhode Islandand has now been on the loose for more than a month. The steer has been spotted waiting for a traffic light to change in the town of Johnston, and later in Providence, but has managed to elude capture.

Liquid disasters: Up to 20 inches of rain on Monday sent floods surging through Hawaiiparticularly Maui and Oahudamaging homes and roads and propelling Gov. David Ige to declare a state of emergency. And in Southern California, a storm on Wednesday caused mud slides, car crashes, and highway floods.

Frozen disaster: Intense snowfall, ranging from 20 to 40 inches, is expected to pile up on the front range of the Rockies (affecting Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska) this weekend before moving east toward Arkansas. In Estes Park, Colorado, forecasters are predicting up to 90 inches of snow.

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NEW FAIRFIELD  The towns COVID-19 infection rate remains higher than other municipalities in the greater Danbury area, but local officials are optimistic that the continued increase in vaccinated residents will help lower the cases.

About 20 percent of New Fairfield residents are now vaccinated, First Selectwoman Pat Del Monaco said Thursday. She said that includes 63 percent of the towns 65- to 74-year-old population and nearly all of those 75 and older.

Selectman Khris Hall said 500 COVID vaccine doses will have been administered at New Fairfields clinic this week  400 first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine, and 100 of the new single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

We were surprised to have gotten the (Johnson & Johnson), and we were a bit nervous, Hall said. We thought that there might be some resistance  but it was just the opposite. People really want it.

Before ordering more vaccines on Tuesday, Hall said members of the towns vaccination working group will meet on Monday to review how things went with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and decide what were going to do.

My personal recommendation is that we maybe even go for more (Johnson & Johnson) than Moderna, she said. Its one and done  we can vaccinate twice as many people.

Given New Fairfields rising COVID-19 infection rate  which increased from 29 per 100,000 people last week to 32.4 per 100,000 this week  Hall said she believes the quicker people get vaccinated, the better off the town will be.

As of Thursday, no surrounding towns had a higher infection rate than New Fairfield, according to the states COVID-19 Data Tracker.

Percentage of population with at least one dose of vaccine: Bethel: 17.6 percent Bridgewater: 32.1 percent Brookfield: 22.7 percent Danbury: 14.5 percent New Fairfield: 19.7 percent New Milford: 20 percent Newtown: 24.1 percent Redding: 23.3 percent Ridgefield: 22.9 percent Roxbury: 32.3 percent Sherman: 23.1 percent Southbury: 33.8 percent Washington: 31.4 percent Department of Public Health See More Collapse

Other than there being more spread within households than seen in the spring and summer, Del Monaco said contact tracing has not detected any demographic- or age-related trends tied to the rise in New Fairfields infection rate.

Weve had some members of the public inquire to see if its related to any one location (or) age group in town, and the answer to all that is no, she said. It is spread pretty evenly around town  all different age groups.

Del Monaco said she reminds residents that just because the statewide infection rate has been on the decline doesnt mean they should get lax on precautionary measures like social distancing and mask-wearing.

In this part of the state, our numbers are not (going down) at the same rate  and in New Fairfield and Sherman, theyre actually going up every week, she said. Please continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing. I know its hard to keep hearing all this, but were almost there.

As of Wednesday, roughly 22 percent of Connecticuts total population and three-fourth of residents 75 and older had been vaccinated, according to the state Department of Health.
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Isha Foundation founder Jaggi Vasudev extended his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'one nation one election' pitch. The spiritual leader said when politicians are in campaign mode throughout the year, you can expect only fluff and megalomania and not much sense.

"I am glad Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken it up. There must be one parliamentary election in 5 years and after two and a half years, assembly polls should be held together. So, twice you are getting the opportunity to find your political grip. When a politician is in election mode throughout the year, you can't expect much reason but only rhetoric," Sadhguru said at the India Today conclave.

ALSO READ: India Today Conclave: FM Sitharaman to speak on blueprint for self-reliant India on Day 2

He asserted a 90-120 day limit should be fixed for campaigning as "if the campaigning is taking place throughout the year, it looks like the entire country is in election mode", adding the Election Commission needs to be made more powerful.

The spiritual leader added membership of political parties should be limited to 10,000-15,000 since it is "as vitiated as a religion", adding one loses a sense of reason when they become a member. He said, "Those who cannot win the election, they try to make losses on the street. Now, one can easily bring 10,000-20,000 people on the streets and bring a city to a standstill, making everybody's life miserable."

He asserted the wonder of democracy was a shift of power without shedding blood.

ALSO READ: India Today Conclave: India Cements MD N Srinivasan on why investors flock to Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been espousing the idea of conducting simultaneous elections on multiple occasions since their landslide victory in the 2014 General Elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had argued in support of simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies by citing better utilisation of resources and financial savings at a NITI Aayog meeting in June 2019. The Election Commission had put forward the idea of conducting simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies originally in 1983.

ALSO READ: India Today Conclave: 'Where is the V-shaped recovery,' asks Chidambaram

ALSO READ: India Today Conclave: South's contribution to $5 tn-economy could be much higher, say experts
(Newser)  On a radio program Thursday, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson says he wasn't scared during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 that left five dead, but his reasoning for why he wasn't in fear as supporters of former President Trump stormed the building has led to accusations of racism and prompted calls for him to resign. CNN reports his most recent remarks on the matter came Thursday during The Joe Pags Show, when he revealed he "wasn't concerned" and "never really felt threatened" as rioters rushed the Capitol. "Even though those thousands of people that were marching to the Capitol were trying to pressure people like me to vote the way they wanted me to vote, I knew those were people that love this country, that truly respect law enforcement, would never do anything to break the law," he said, not acknowledging that more than 300 people have since been charged for actions that day, which included violence such as police officers being assaulted.

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Johnson continued: "Now, had the tables been turnedJoe, this could get me in troublehad the tables been turned, and President Trump won the election and those were tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and antifa protesters, I might have been a little concerned." The outcry over Johnson's remarks came swiftly. "What, white people love this country and Black people don't? That's exactly what he's saying," Wisconsin state Sen. LaTonya Johnson (no relation) tells the Journal Sentinel. Jessica Floyd, head of the American Bridge Democratic super PAC, wants Johnson to resign, calling his comments "racist and unacceptable." "Apparently for Ron Johnson, simply being Black is a bigger offense than launching a violent insurrection," she says, per the Hill. Johnson tried to defend his remarks to the outlet by citing a report showing 570 protests last summer turned violent. The Hill notes those only made up 5% of the protests, which were overwhelmingly peaceful. (Read more Ron Johnson stories.)
Ghislaine Maxwell is selling her London home to raise funds to pay for her legal defence in America.

The British socialite has been in a New York jail since July after it was alleged she and Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, groomed and abused young girls between 1994 and 1997.

Ms Maxwell is now set to complete the sale of her Belgravia home on Kinnerton Street, where one of Epsteins accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, alleges she was brought in 2001 and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17.

This is claimed to be where the infamous photograph of the Duke of York with his arm around the waist of Ms Giuffre was allegedly taken.

He has disputed the encounter, saying in his BBC Newsnight interview the photograph of him and Ms Giuffre might have been faked.

Brian Basham, Ms Maxwells spokesman, said she would be sad to sell the house as it held happy memories. Ms Maxwell has already set aside $7m for the costs of her legal team ahead of a trial set for July. The house sale will push that to more than $10m.

Mr Basham said: Ghislaine will be sad to see the house sold. She is devastated by all this. She will have a lot of good memories. She will be terribly sad to sell the house. It was her refuge in London.

He declined to name the buyer or the sale price of the property, a short walk from Hyde Park, but property records show homes in the area have sold for between pounds 2.6m and 8m in the past two years.

The development in Ms Maxwells legal defence came after her family insisted she was innocent of all charges, branding the US legal system bizarre and cruel.

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Council issue latest local pandemic bulletin  After a big reduction in early February, the drop in cases has slowed

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 13th, 2021

The latest local update has been published by Wrexham Council, detailing the precise local area figures.

Wrexham Council have said, People in Wales will no longer be asked to stay at home. Instead, theyll be asked to stay local. As always, common sense will be neededso please take things slowly, stay local and stick to the rules.

We all know this virus is tough and stubborn, and that things can go from good to bad in the blink of an eye. Lets keep doing everything we can to beat it.

They note Wrexham as a whole is now fourth in Wales, with 66 cases per 100k population on a seven-day rolling basis, adding After a big reduction in early February, the drop in cases has slowed  highlighting how stubborn this virus is. Most parts of Wrexham have continued to improve or seen only slight upward fluctuations involving low numbers.

One part of Wrexham has got worse this week:

Acton and Maesydre  158 per 100k (compared to less than 59 last week).

Only four areas have more than 100 cases per 100k:

Acton and Maesydre  158 per 100k (compared to less than 59 last week).

Gwersyllt West and Summerhill  152 per 100k (same as last week).

Hermitage and Whitegate  114 per 100k (down from 149 last week).

Town North, University and Rhosddu  101 per 100k (same as last week).

If you want to check the figures where you live, visit the Public Health Wales data dashboard and click on the MSOA tab, and select Wrexham on the right hand side to get a zoomed in map.

The council, who run the Test Trace Protect system for Wrexham and therefore have the data on positive cases and their locations and spread say, The virus is still mainly spreading in households between family members.

The full council update from yesterday is copied in full below, as usual any bolding or italics is from Wrexham Council:

Covid-19: WCBC Weekly Briefing Note, 12th March 2021

COMMUNICATIONS

Please share  on social media and directly with your communities  this document, the bilingual GIFs sent to you via email and the following link to the Councils pubic briefing note: https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/covid-19-briefing-note-please-stay-local-from-tomorrow-march-13/

KEY MESSAGES:

Covid-19 is a very stubborn disease. Lets do all we can to see the back of it.

In a matter of days, people aged 65-69 who have not yet had an appointment for their first dose will be invited to book one by ringing 03000 840004.

DATA ON THE VIRUS

TABLE 1: Covid-19 in the County Borough as a whole compared to other Councils in North Wales

Comment

Having fallen rapidly from mid-January to mid-February, the rate of infection has been stuck at around 70/100,000 population for the last two weeks. The latest 7-day rate per 100k is 66 compared to 65 a week ago and 68 two weeks ago. Positivity is 6.5%, down slightly from 6.8% a week ago, but up from 5.5% two weeks ago. While these are still amongst the lowest figures since September 2020, before the second wave of infections began, Wrexham is 4 th in Wales for the rate per 100k, which is the same as last week, and 4 th for positivity, compared to 3 rd last week.

Local household transmission of the UK/Kent variant remains the principal driver of the disease rather than workplace transmission. There are no new cases of any of the other variants of concern.

Hospital admissions and deaths due to Covid-19 are continuing to fall.

TABLE 2: Covid-19 in the Sub-Areas of Wrexham (MSOA areas used by PHW in its Tableau)

Comment

17 of the 18 sub-areas have improved or seen only slight upward fluctuations involving low numbers, compared to 14 last week. The 1 which has got worse is: Acton & Maes-y-dre  158/100,000 population, compared to less than 59 last week



Only 2 are in the worst decile (10%) in Wales (more than 115/100k) , compared to 2 last week. This is mainly due to the rates falling more quickly elsewhere

4 have more than 100/100k compared to 4 last week, but none of these has more than 10 cases: Acton & Maes-y-dre  158/100,000 population, compared to less than 59 last week Gwersyllt West & Summerhill  152/100k which is the same as last week Hermotage & Whitegate  114/100k which is down from 149 last week Town North, University & Rhos-ddu  101/100k which is the same as last week



8 have seen their lowest rates since 20 th October 2020 (when PHW started publishing these data) compared to 11 last week and 12 two weeks ago, which shows how the disease is persisting.

10 have less than 70/100k, the old Welsh Government trigger for lockdown, compared to 9 last week. 5 are in the lowest centile in Wales.

MANAGING THE VIRUS

Overall  The Level-4 Alert lockdown, in place since December 2020, has significantly reduced the rate of infection. The First Minster revealed the results of the 21-day review today, announcing further staged relaxations of the measures with an emphasis on staying local.

Education Foundation year pupils (aged 3 to 7) have now been back at school for up to 2 weeks All other primary school pupils (years 3 to 6) will be back in school on 15 th March Secondary school pupils in years 11 and 13 (exam years) will be back on 15 th March, along with some pupils in years 10 and 12 who are taking exams All other secondary school pupils will be back in school full-time from 12 th April Schools may offer a check-in session for years 7, 8 and 9 before the Easter holiday, in which case they will be in touch with the details

Other Council Services  the Council is continuing to provide critical services as publicised on our website and many other services too, other than public access to Council buildings.

The Vaccination Programme

In Wales as a whole, up to 7 th March, a first dose of the vaccine had been provided to 84% of people aged 65-69 (Priority Group 5) and a third of those aged 16-65 with underlying health conditions (Priority Group 6). The programme is on course to meet the Welsh Governments target of offering vaccination to Priority Groups 1-9 by 19 th April.

More than 270,000 doses have been administered in North Wales with nearly 42,000 in Wrexham, compared to 250,000 and 40,000, respectively, last week. This week, due to lower production levels, the supply of vaccine to all health boards has been low and priority has been given to second doses , but volumes are expected to increase imminently which will see a significant increase in vaccinations.

Vaccine rollout will continue through the Mass and Local Vaccine Centres and GP Practices. Plas Madoc Local Vaccination Centre will open from 20 th March. It will be used by the GP cluster in that area to support their vaccination programme at practices so will not necessarily be open every day.

Shortly, people aged 65-69 who have not yet had an appointment for their first dose will be invited to contact the booking centre. This will be communicated via social media, BCUHBs website and local community networks.

The health board will continue to vaccinate Priority Group 6 (those aged 16  64 with underlying medical conditions). Individuals with a learning disability will receive a vaccine with this cohort.

Unpaid carers will shortly be able to register for a vaccination and specific carer vaccination clinics will be held in the Mass Vaccination Centres during March.

Health partners are working with the Council to access harder to reach groups, like the Gypsy & Traveller community, the homeless and rough sleepers.

Information and statistics on vaccinations can be found via the following links:
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The governor of the Mexican state of Hidalgo, Omar Fayad, recently called on the health authorities to launch an inquiry into the death of a 75-year-old woman shortly after she was administered a shot of Sinovac coronavirus vaccine. While taking to Twitter, Fayad informed that he has requested to carry out an investigation between the competent authorities of the Secretariat of Health of Mexico, and supported by the Secretary of Health of the State of Hidalgo, to know the cause that led to the unfortunate death of an elderly person.

It is worth noting that the family of the deceased, Maria Solis Godinez, said that she passed away 15 minutes after getting inoculated at the vaccination centre. The relatives accused the medical staff of negligence as the woman suffered from blood pressure and was still administered the shot. The authorities, however, have said that the cause of the death remains unclear, with no evidence of the vaccination being behind the incident. The hospital staff also informed that the initial findings suggested the deceased had chronic heart disease.

Varied efficacy rates

Amidst China's constant effort to push its Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in other nations, and debates on the efficacy, public reports on its effectiveness have been inconsistent, which the Chinese firm says it has been caused by the variations in methodology. China started the emergency use of its vaccine in July last year. Back in January, the Sinovac shot had also shown four different efficacy rates during clinical trials ranging from over 91 to 50 per cent.

Indonesia, wherein President Joko Widodo kick-started the inoculation drives by receiving the shot on Live television, had previously said that a local trial showed an efficacy of 65 per cent against Covid-19. However, the rate was dismissed as the trial involved only 1,650 people. Turkey, which conducted a local trial starting September, said that the Chinese vaccine was 91.25 per cent effective. However, this too was dismissed saying that the trials were too small, that is less than 50 people. Meanwhile, in Brazil, where a final phase trial on more than 13,000 people is being conducted, duelling efficacy rates have been publicized.
A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was killed in Donbas on Friday evening, the press service of the Skhid (East) operational-tactical group said.

"Today, March 12, not far from the village of Maryinka, in the area of responsibility of the Skhid tactical group, the armed formations of the Russian Federation once again fired at the positions of the Ukrainian defenders. As a result of hostile sniper fire, one Ukrainian soldier received injuries incompatible with life," the operational-tactical group Skhid said on Facebook on Saturday night.

The report notes that the OSCE representatives were notified of the facts of ceasefire violation through the Ukrainian side in the JCCC.
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Bennington, VT (05201)

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Portland police detained a crowd of at least 100 protesters at a demonstration Friday night, minutes after the group began marching in the street and some began breaking windows, police said.

The march began after 9 p.m. along a street in the Pearl District, and officers told the group that the street was open to traffic, according to police. When some of the demonstrators began breaking windows, officers "created a perimeter around the group," police said.

"To everyone inside the perimeter: you are being detained for investigation of a crime. You are not free to leave," Portland police said on Twitter.

As officers formed the perimeter, some people on the outside threw rocks and cans of beer at officers, who used pepper spray, police said.

The mass detainment appeared to an example of kettling, a police tactic of surrounding a crowd and containing people within a perimeter, the Oregonian/Oregonlive.com reported.

Police charged 13 people, including one person suspected in window vandalism and two people carrying firearms, wearing body armor and helmets, according to a press release. Police said demonstrators left behind various items, including a crowbar, hammers, bear spray and knives.

According to videos of the event posted to social media, the group chanted slogans critical of cops and "No borders! No nation! Abolish deportation!"

The mass detentions marked the second night in a row that police responded forcefully to protesters in Portland, the Oregonian/Oregonlive.com reported. According to the newspaper, federal officers used tear gas on a group of "a few dozen protesters" who had gathered at the downtown courthouse. Some of the protesters had participated in demonstrations earlier that day against an oil pipeline, the newspaper reported.

Portland has been the site of frequent protests, many involving violent clashes between officers and demonstrators, ever since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Over the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 straight days.

Story continues

In January, a group of protesters carrying signs against President Joe Biden and police marched in Portland on Inauguration Day and damaged the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon, police said.

Mayor Ted Wheeler has decried what he described as a segment of violent agitators who detract from the message of police accountability.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Portland, Oregon, police detain at least 100 protesters
Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state, the district administration of Aurangabad on Saturday decided to impose on weekends until further orders.

"Complete has been imposed in Aurangabad on weekends, due to a rise in COVID-19 cases until further orders. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Aurangabad district is 57,755 including 5,569 active cases, till yesterday," informed the administration.

Further, the administration informed that they have ordered a partial in the district during weekdays till April 4.

Maharashtra government on Thursday also decided to impose a lockdown in Nagpur district from March 15 to 21. Only essential services such as vegetable and fruit shops and milk booths will stay open, according to the order issued by the Nagpur district administration.

"Maharashtra reported 13,659 new COVID-19 cases and 54 deaths in the last 24 hours. With this, the cumulative count of the cases in the state has reached 22,52,057. The state currently has 1,00,240 active cases. Registering as many as 9,913 recoveries in the last 24 hours, Maharashtra's total recovery count went up to 20,99,207," the Union Health Ministry informed on Thursday morning.

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday during its weekly press conference expressed concerns over the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra and said the reduced testing, tracing and lack of COVID-19 appropriate behaviours have led to the surge in active cases in the state.

"We are very worried about Maharashtra. This is a serious matter. This has two lessons -- don't take the virus for granted and if we have to remain Covid free, then, we need to follow Covid appropriate behaviour," Member (Health), NITI Aayog Dr VK Paul said.

Echoing a similar remark, ICMR DG Balram Bhargava said Maharashtra has shown a worrisome trend.

"The mutant strain has not been found incriminating in this surge in cases. It is just related to reduced testing, tracking & tracing and COVID inappropriate behaviour and large congregations," he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said strict lockdown measures will be enforced in some parts of the state to contain the spread of 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.)
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The fifth generation of the Ford family are due to take their place on the automaker's board of directors

The next generation of Henry Ford's descendents are set to take seats on the board of the American auto giant he founded in 1903.

Two of the founder's great-great-grandchildren have been nominated to the board of directors: Alexandra Ford English, 33, and Henry Ford III, 40, the company announced Friday.

The family has been represented in company leadership for all of its 118 years of existence. Shareholders will vote on the latest nominations on May 13.

Bill Ford, father of Alexandra Ford English, currently chairs the board, which also includes Edsel Ford II, father of Henry Ford III.

Edsel Ford II, 72, will step down from the board in May, along with John Lechleiter, the former chief of pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.

The representatives of the younger generation of Fords already work at the automaker: Alexandra Ford English in strategy and Henry Ford III in investor relations.

Alexandra Ford English also represents Ford on the board of directors of Rivian, which is due to deliver its first large electric vehicles within the year.

Explore further Ford to build electric truck plant in Michigan, add 300 jobs

 2021 AFP
Wearing a mask and gloves, a worker re-stocks apples in an Asian grocery store in Falls Church, Virginia, U.S., (Photo : REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo)

Federal workplace safety regulators said on Friday they will revisit several COVID-19 related safety investigations performed during the Trump administration as part of a wider effort to better protect workers from the pandemic.



The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also announced a new enforcement program targeting companies that put the most workers at serious risk of virus exposure, or that retaliate against workers who report unsafe conditions.



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The announcements follow a Reuters special report earlier this year that found OSHA has so far largely failed to hold employers accountable for unsafe conditions during the pandemic. The story identified dozens of workplaces where employees complained of slipshod pandemic safety around the time of outbreaks - and regulators never inspected the facilities or, in some cases, took months to do so. Click for story reut.rs/3jC2hQf



In one example, workers at a United Parcel Service Inc facility complained twice last spring to Arizona's OSHA agency about unsafe conditions and workers contracting COVID-19. Arizona OSHA officials never inspected the facility, despite a well-publicized outbreak among dozens of workers, including a manager who died from COVID-19.



UPS expressed regret about the manager's COVID-19 death but said the illness was not work-related. The company said it has strengthened protocols requiring social distancing, masks and sanitation since the early days of the pandemic.



Reuters also revealed last month that about two-thirds of employers cited by federal OSHA for COVID-19 safety violations had not paid fines, and more than half had appealed the OSHA citations. During the appeals - which can drag on for years - companies don't have to pay fines and aren't required to fix problems identified by OSHA inspectors. Click for story https://reut.rs/30FGgaC



As part of its new effort to target workplaces with the highest COVID-19 risk, OSHA officials said inspectors will prioritize industries including healthcare, meat packing, grocery stores, restaurants and prisons, where workers are frequently in close contact with others.



The agency said it will also use data it has collected on reported COVID-19 fatalities and illnesses to plan unannounced inspections and follow-up visits to workplaces with a history of infections.



'FOCUS ON WORKERS'



James Frederick, acting head of OSHA, said the aim is to "truly focus on workers with the biggest need for assistance. OSHA has limited resources, and we want to utilize them the best we can."



Frederick, an appointee of President Joe Biden, did not criticize the prior administration's worker safety efforts, but said OSHA now has enough experience and data to pinpoint where workers face the highest risk.



He said the agency is planning to do 1,600 inspections over the next year as part of the new program, some of which will be reviews of prior OSHA COVID-19 investigations.



A report last month from the Labor Department's Office of Inspector General found that most of OSHA's COVID-19 inspections last year were done remotely, which meant "there is an increased risk that OSHA has not been providing the level of protection that workers need at various job sites."



OSHA received 15% more complaints between February and October last year, compared to the same period in 2019, yet the agency conducted 50% fewer inspections, most of which were done virtually, the report found.



OSHA said on Friday it would now prioritize on-site inspections, and only conduct virtual inspections if site visits "cannot be performed safely."



OSHA's new enforcement initiative applies to about half of states where the federal agency enforces workplace safety; the agency is encouraging state OSHA agencies in the remainder of the country to adopt a similar approach.



OSHA has still not announced whether it will set an emergency standard that could require masks and social distancing at workplaces, a move supported by worker advocates but resisted by the former administration of President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden issued an executive order in January directing OSHA to study whether such a standard is needed, and if so, issue it by March 15.



Frederick, the acting OSHA head, said Friday the agency is still reviewing the matter, but declined to say what OSHA plans to do.


Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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"
Floyd family agrees to $27M settlement amidst ex-cops trial

The city of Minneapolis on Friday agreed to pay $27 million to settle a civil lawsuit from George Floyds family over the Black mans death in police custody, as jury selection continued in a former officers murder trial.

Council members met privately to discuss the settlement, then returned to public session for a unanimous vote in support of the massive payout. It easily surpassed the $20 million the city approved two years ago to the family of a white woman killed by a police officer.

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Floyd family attorney Ben Crump called it the largest pretrial settlement ever for a civil rights claim, and thanked city leaders for showing you care about George Floyd.

Its going to be a long journey to justice. This is just one step on the journey to justice, Crump said. This makes a statement that George Floyd deserved better than what we witnessed on May 25, 2020, that George Floyds life mattered, and that by extension, Black lives matter.

Even though my brother is not here, hes here with me in my heart, Philonise Floyd said. If I could get him back, I would give all this back.

L. Chris Stewart, another attorney who worked with the family, said the size of the settlement changes evaluations and civil rights for a Black person when they die.

And what happens is that trickles down to decisions in the communities across this country. When there is a city council or a mayor deciding, Oh, should we get rid of no-knock warrants, should we get rid of chokeholds, do we want to change these policies? They have 27 million reasons now why they should. And that will make decisions happen. That will make accountability happen.

The settlement includes $500,000 for the south Minneapolis neighborhood that includes the 38th and Chicago intersection that has been blocked by barricades since his death, with a massive metal sculpture and murals in his honor. The city didnt immediately say how that money would be spent.

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Floyd was declared dead on May 25 after Derek Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against his neck for about nine minutes. Floyds death sparked sometimes violent protests in Minneapolis and beyond and led to a national reckoning on racial justice.

City Council President Lisa Bender choked up as she addressed a news conference about the settlement, saying she knew no amount of money could bring Floyd back.

I just want you to know how deeply we are with you, she said to Floyds family members.

Floyds family filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in July against the city, Chauvin and three other fired officers charged in his death. It alleged the officers violated Floyds rights when they restrained him, and that the city allowed a culture of excessive force, racism and impunity to flourish in its police force.

In 2019, Minneapolis agreed to pay $20 million to the family of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, an unarmed woman who was shot by an officer after she called 911 to report hearing a possible crime happening behind her home, to settle her familys civil rights lawsuit. Damond was white.

It wasnt immediately clear how the settlement might affect the trial or the jury now being seated to hear it. Crump said the settlement is a way to help shape what justice looks like rather than waiting for a result from a legal system that many Blacks distrust.

The one thing we know as Black people  is there is no guarantee that a police officer will be convicted for killing a Black person unjustly in our country, Crump said. Thats what history has taught us.

Stewart said the civil case doesnt have anything to do with the trial.

Justice doesnt really wait, he said. It happens when it happens and it happened today.

Ted Sampsell-Jones, a criminal law expert at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, said its additional pretrial publicity that is bad for the defense and could lead some jurors to think guilt has already been decided.

However, this ultimately should not affect the criminal case, Sampsell-Jones said. There has already been a ton of pretrial publicity  some of it bad for the prosecution, some of it bad for the defense. All we can do is hope that the jurors will follow Judge Cahills instructions and decide the case based solely on the evidence presented at trial.

Crump and others at the news conference called for any protests during Chauvins trial to be peaceful. Minneapolis is on edge for potential violence if Chauvin is acquitted, with concrete barriers, fencing and barbed wire encircling the courthouse and the National Guard already mobilized.

Meanwhile, another potential juror was dismissed Friday after she acknowledged having a negative view of the defendant.

The woman, a recent college graduate, said she had seen bystander video of Floyds arrest and closely read news coverage of the case. In response to a jury pool questionnaire, she said she had a somewhat negative view of Chauvin and that she thought he held his knee to Floyds neck for too long.

I could only watch part of the video, and from what I saw as a human, I, that did not give me a good impression, she said. She said she did not watch the bystander video in its entirety because I just couldnt watch it anymore.

The woman repeatedly said she could put aside her opinions and decide the case on the facts, but Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson nonetheless used one of his 15 challenges to dismiss her.

With jury selection in its fourth day, seven people have been seated. Cahill has set aside three weeks for jury selection, with opening statements no sooner than March 29.

Potential jurors identities are being protected and they are not shown on livestreamed video of the proceedings.

Chauvin and three other officers were fired. The others face an August trial on aiding and abetting charges. The defense hasnt said whether Chauvin will testify in his own
(Salem, OR)  Governor Kate Brown held a press conference today to update Oregonians on the status of COVID-19 in Oregon. The Governor was joined by Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Director; Dr. Dean Sidelinger, State Epidemiologist; Dr. Renee Edwards, OHSU Chief Medical Officer; and Dr. Bill Messer, OHSU School of Medicine Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases.

"Following President Bidens announcement last night that all Americans will be eligible for a vaccine starting on May 1, I know we are all hopeful we can safely be reunited with our family and friends for small gatherings by the Fourth of July," said Governor Brown. "As Governor, I will do everything I can to make that happen.

"Our plan in Oregon has always been to align our vaccination timelines with available federal supplies. As weekly shipment allocations increase, we will reassess those timelines. If the doses are there, I have every intention of utilizing all available state and federal resources to match the Presidents timeline for universal eligibility.

"But let me be very clear: While our timelines will accelerate with available supplies, my commitment to equity in our vaccine distribution will not change. We will continue to prioritize our most vulnerable Oregonians including seniors, people with underlying health conditions, and frontline workers, so that they can be at the front of the line.

"One year into the pandemic, we have come a long way. We are making progress on the vaccine front; we now have more than 174,000 students back in the classroomand were excited that all our kids will have the opportunity to return in the coming weeks; we're investing $250 million to significantly expand summer learning and child care opportunities; and, we'll be receiving significant funding from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan to provide relief to Oregon families, help small businesses get back on their feet, allow renters and homeowners to stay in their homes, and accelerate our timelines to crush this virus.

"But, we are most definitely not out of the woods just yet. With the discovery of new COVID-19 mutations, including one believed to have occurred spontaneously here in Oregon, it is clear that this virus is capable of evolving. Its alarming, and an important reminder that even in this semi-vaccinated chapter of the pandemic we find ourselves in, where grandparents may be safer, kids are going back to school, and we are feeling a bit more hopeful, we must still keep our guard up. Lets use this moment to keep making smart choices. Keep wearing your mask. Continue to physical distance. No large gatherings just yet. And get the vaccineany one of the threewhen its made available to you."
Intern - Environment Affairs, Panama City, Panama

Organization: United Nations Environment Programme

Country: Panama

City: Panama City, Panama

Office: UNEP Panama

Grade: I-1

Closing date: Tuesday, 7 September 2021

Posting Title: INTERN - ENVIRONMENT AFFAIRS, I (Temporary Job Opening)

Job Code Title: INTERN - ENVIRONMENT AFFAIRS

Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme

Duty Station: PANAMA CITY

Posting Period: 08 March 2021 - 07 September 2021

Job Opening Number: 21-Environmental Affairs-UNEP-150774-J-Panama City (O)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organisational Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP has "Disasters and Conflicts" subprogramme since 1999 and has responded to environmental dimensions of emergencies and crises in numerous countries, including Guatemala, Paraguay, Colombia, Dominica, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras and others.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the programme focuses on the following: 1.The environmental drivers and impacts of human mobility (migration and displacement);

2.Preparedness and response for the management of the environmental dimensions of emergencies and crises (whether rapid-onset emergencies or chronic situations);

3.Environment and security.

The objective of this internship is to support the regional "Disasters and Conflicts" programme to expand in quality and scope, through research and analysis support to the regional humanitarian affairs officer and the consultant facilitator/researcher.

The Internship Programme is for a six-month period (considering the scale and complexity of the programme, internship and learning would be difficult to achieve to a rewarding level in less than that time) and will be under the direct supervision of the Regional Humanitarian Affairs Officer of the Latin America and the Caribbean Office.

The Internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours).

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship. The work hours during the internship shall be determined based on individual discussion between the intern and the supervisor(s) taking into consideration the minimum requirements of the Organization and the time difference between the hosting office and the location of the intern.

Responsibilities

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individuals background, the interns assigned office as well as the internship period.

The main activities to be carried out within the framework of this internship are: Emergency preparedness and response:

Following completion of online training, update the format of the FEAT impact tables to easy the mapping process for specific countries when requested, and conduct remote "FEAT" impact assessments for key countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In case of rapid-onset emergency, conduct or immediately update FEAT impact tables for the affected country or area;

Using GIS programmes (e.g. ArcGIS) or graphic design/CAD, develop FEAT scenario maps based on FEAT impact tables developed - potentially also other scenario maps such as plume maps using Marplot or Aloha;

In the event of a rapid-onset emergency, act as information officer for the environmental dimensions of the emergency, analysing reports and information coming out of the affected area and interpreting them with an "environmental lens" to identify possible environmental issues or potential situations of pollution or environmental risk, keeping the relevant parts of UN Environment informed accordingly and developing information sheets or infographics and press releases for publication (UN Environment website and Redhum.org);

Conduct secondary research on ongoing emergency responses in the region to identify the environmental dimensions of the emergency and potential environmental "footprint" of the international response;

Create / maintain contacts lists for relevant environment and civil protection focal points in regional governments and intergovernmental organisations, especially during periods of higher hazard impact risk (e.g. Caribbean and Central America hurricane season, South America flood and fire seasons).

Regional Environment and Emergencies Preparedness Network:

Assist in drafting the communications and in the creation of the meetings minutes regarding the Environment and Emergencies Preparedness Network for Latin America and Caribbean;

Support in information gathering, research and analysis to draft the Action Plan for the Environment and Emergencies Preparedness Network for Latin America and Caribbean.

Project research:

Conduct secondary data research to support the development of baselines / needs assessments, concept notes, proposals or policy briefs;

Support in the research process of finding the latest and available guidance related to environment in humanitarian action and assist in classifying them. This may include research to improve the quality and depth of training events or tools and guidance developed within new or existing projects.

Monitoring and reporting:

Support the development of the monthly Disasters and Conflicts bulletin, taking the lead on bulletin development with support from the regional humanitarian affairs officer;

Develop indicators and tools to help future interns identify the environmental dimensions of common humanitarian crises in the region, strengthen analysis and early warning;

Develop / update database of programme activities, projects and emergency deployments and their contribution to global frameworks (SDGs, Sendai Framework, Agenda for Humanity, others);

Draft inputs for quarterly report to Committee of Permanent Representatives;

Update programme coordination systems with current and future projects and project closures;

Maintain team shared drives with appropriately named and classified information for future teams, programme development, emergency response and research.

Coordination:

Participate in emergency coordination groups. This may include representing UNEP and presenting relevant information to participants if the regional humanitarian affairs officer has been de ployed to an emergency;

Participate in the Environment in Humanitarian Action Network, chaired by the UNEP/OCHA Joint Unit (based in Geneva);

May contribute to the development of country UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, depending on circumstances of the internship.

Communications:

Proactively identify opportunities to keep the UNEP regional webpages on Disasters and Conflicts and other relevant websites up to date with information highlighting the relationship between environment and emergencies and the most recent activities of the programme;

Tags arcgis central america chemical engineering covid disaster management displacement emergency preparedness environmental management geographic information geographic information systems graphic design human rights humanitarian law impact assessment industrial safety information officer information systems internship latin america monitoring and reporting needs assessment press releases sdgs south america sustainable development translation unpaid waste management

Support the preparation of communications pieces, technical briefing notes, news pieces, draft reports and publications as necessary, including the six-monthly programme report https://spark.adobe.com/page/2c8MRfK1dWJTe/

Support other activities as requested. This may include support to the organisation of events, moderation of discussion boards on specific topics, translation support or task managing of home-based UN Volunteers on specific assignments.

This internship will be implemented remotely, with the intern working from home and having access to UNEP systems as appropriate. A detailed workplan with learning goals will be developed and regularly reviewed. Online meetings will be held at least weekly to ensure support, guidance and learning. This remote internship modality has already been used in the Disasters and Conflicts programme for six months in 2020, ensuring that the intern gained a full learning experience from the internship and the experience of working from home, under the supervision and guidance of UNEP staff. All UNEP staff in Panama are working from home and there is no definite date or arrangement for returning to an office environment.

Competencies

Communication:

Speaks and writes clearly and effectively

Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately

Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication

Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience

Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed

Teamwork:

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals

Solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others

Places team agenda before personal agenda

Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position

Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

Client Orientation:

Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients point of view

Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect

Identifies clients needs and matches them to appropriate solutions

Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients environment to keep informed and anticipate problems

Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects

Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client

Education

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);

b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelors level or equivalent);

c. Have graduated with a university degree

Be computer literate in standard software applications.

Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter;

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Final year undergraduate or masters degree student in Disaster Management, Humanitarian Affairs, Environmental Management, geography, Geographic Information Systems, waste management, chemical engineering, water engineering or industrial safety preferred, or other demonstrably relevant field of study.

Work Experience

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Languages

For this internship, fluency in oral and writing English and Spanish are required, since work will require research and communication, including reading and interviews, in both languages. Working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.

NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of "confident" in two of the four areas.

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice

"In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship."

Your application for this internship must include: 1. A Completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:

Title of the degree you are currently pursuing

Graduation Date

IT skills and programmes you are proficient in

Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship

Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).

2. Proof of enrollment from current University (if not graduated).

3. A copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

Since the cover letter is one of the main documents used to assess applications, candidates are strongly recommended to detail their experience. Applications which do not clearly present the candidates availability, interest in environment and emergencies and relevant experience may not be shortlisted.

Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term "sexual exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrators working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on "Manuals" hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS BANK ACCOUNTS.
New Delhi, March 13 : For the third consecutive day, Delhi reported more than 400 new Covid-19 cases as 419 new cases were reported on Saturday taking the total tally to 6,43,289, the health bulletin said.

409 cases were reported on Thursday while on Friday the number of cases was 431.

A total of 74,326 tests, including 47,120 RTPCR/CBNAAT/True Nat tests and 27,206 rapid antigen tests, were conducted in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 1,32,27,870 tests have been conducted in the city. The positivity rate was recorded to be 0.56 per cent.

Three more Covid related deaths took the total death toll in the national capital to 10,939, as per the health bulletin.

With 302 recoveries, the total number of recoveries reached 6,30,143 in the city. The number of active cases increased to 2,207 on Saturday from 2,093 on Friday.

Out of the total 5,711 beds for coronavirus patients in the national capital, 5,129 are vacant. A total of 1,204 patients are in home isolation. Total number of containment zones as on date stands at 518.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said, "The positivity rate in Delhi was much lower in comparison to Maharshtra and Kerala. The Delhi government was on a full vigil to combat the pandemic. There are enough beds available to treat the patients in the city. There is no need to panic. We are prepared for it,"

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Google's ARCore has added a new device called the ZenFone 8 Flip to its certification database. Therefore, it seems a new generation of Asus' innovative swivel-cam flagship Android phones is on the way. It is thought to be accompanied by a Mini variant, although that one has failed to materialize in this new leak.

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The blog MySmartPrice has just noticed that Asus has had a device called the ZenFone 8 Flip added to the Google ARCore supported list. This name strongly suggests that it is a direct successor to the 7 or 7 Pro: Android flagships whose freely-moving rear cameras are a breath of fresh air in a market otherwise saturated with inert candy-bar form-factors liberally sprinkled with punch-holes.

Nevertheless, it is strange that Asus has apparently seen fit to augment this 2021 ZenFone's name with the suffix "Flip". It may hint that other variants without the series' characteristic swivel-camera module are on the way. On that note, the OEM has been rumored to add a "Mini" to the series this year, although it has yet to make the ARCore list.

This new "8 Flip" leak is given more credence as it has surfaced at roughly the same time as several other devices all but confirmed to launch soon. They include the 4G/LTE-only variants of the Samsung Galaxy A52 and A72, not to mention the Galaxy A82 5G (another device that stands a decent chance of debuting as a swivel-cam, if not a sliding-cam, phone) and the 108MP-camera Realme 8 Pro.

Buy a ZenFone 7 Pro on Amazon
Friday

 Grafton, Gene L. 10 a.m., Friday at Wood Funeral Home in Rushville. Wood Funeral Home in Rushville is in charge.

 Mefford, Sue. Memorial service, 6 p.m. Friday at Williamson Funeral Home. Visitation, 3-6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Face masks and social distancing required.

 Ross, Rodney Lee. 10 a.m. Friday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.



Saturday

 Bradshaw, Mary Lauder. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Saturday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown. Visitation, 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

 Hall, Kelly Ann (Roderfield). Graveside service, 11 a.m. Saturday at Hickory Grove Cemetery near Wrights. Shields-Bishop Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge.

 Johnson, Doris Mae. Graveside services, 2 p.m. Saturday at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Havana. Hendricker Funeral Home in Mount Sterling is in charge.

 Sparrow, Virginia. 11 a.m. Saturday at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Visitation, 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Face masks and social distancing required.

 Wright, Isaac D. Ike Jr. Memorial service, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at Community Park Center, 1309 S. Main St., Jacksonville.



Monday

 Holder, Clifton Alfred Sambo Jr. Noon Monday at Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in White Hall. Visitation, 10 a.m.-noon Monday at the funeral home.

 Votsmier, Nola Jeanette Janet. Visitation, 4-6 p.m. Monday at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Weather permitting, the family will meet friends outside under the funeral homes front portico, after which friends will be invited inside to pay their respects and sign the register book. Face masks and social distancing are required.



Wednesday

 Hammon, Charles Jr. Graveside memorial service with military honors, 10 a.m. Wednesday at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Jacksonville. Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in Roodhouse is in charge.

 Natemeyer, Edna Pie. Memorial service, Wednesday at Oakland Cemetery in Meredosia. Williamson Funeral Home in Jacksonville is in charge.

 Schulz, Jerry Edwin. Noon Wednesday at Niebur Funeral Chapel in Barry. Visitation, 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday at the funeral chapel.



Saturday, April 17

 Eyler, Christie D. 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Rushville First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Visitation, 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 16, at Worthington Funeral Home in Rushville.



Saturday, May 8

 Preston, Katheryn I. Kay. Graveside memorial service, 11 a.m. Saturday, May 8, at Diamond Grove Cemetery. Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is in charge.
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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Urges Shareholders to Sign GREEN Consent Revocation Card and NOT Return any WHITE Consent Solicitation Cards

Peoria, AZ, March 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Taronis Fuels, Inc. (Taronis or the Company) (OTCQB:TRNF), a global producer of renewable and socially responsible fuel products, issued the following statement in response to a letter sent by Thomas Wetherald and Tobias Welo (Wetherald/Welo) who are seeking to remove, without cause, all five members of the Companys Board of Directors.

Taronis shareholders should not be misled by the false information being disseminated by the Welo/Wetherald activist group. The activists diatribe of manufactured grievances is nothing more than an attempt to distract shareholders from the fact that they are trying to steal the company, to take control without paying shareholders for it.

Taronis has made significant progress toward improving cash flow and the Companys capital position, including reducing operating expenses, attracting several critical new hires across multiple retail markets, and executing on its plan to expand its whole industrial gas operations into California and Arizona.

Taronis urges shareholders to sign and return the Companys GREEN Consent Revocation Card and disregard any white consent cards received from Wetherald/Welo activist group.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the consent solicitation initiated by Wetherald/Welo, the Company has filed a definitive consent revocation statement and accompanying GREEN consent revocation card and other relevant documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), which will also be mailed to Taroniss shareholders. STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE COMPANYS DEFINITIVE CONSENT REVOCATION STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO), ACCOMPANYING CONSENT REVOCATION CARD AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain a free copy of the consent revocation statement, any amendments or supplements to the consent revocation statement and other documents that the Company files with the SEC at the SECs website at www.sec.gov or the Companys website at http://www.taronisfuels.com/investors/overview/ as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

Certain Information Regarding Participants to the Solicitation

The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of consent revocations from the Companys stockholders. Information regarding the participants of Taronis in the solicitation of consent revocations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise of the Companys directors and executive officers is contained in Taroniss definitive consent revocation statement filed with the SEC on March 9, 2021. Other information about the directors and executive officers of Taronis is set forth in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with SEC on May 22, 2020. These documents can be found on the SECs website at www.sec.gov or the Companys website at http://www.taronisfuels.com/investors/sec-overview/all-sec-filings/ .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information about TRNF within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Any statements contained herein which do not describe historical facts, including, among others, the belief that any corporate action taken must be for the benefit of all Company shareholders and must be rooted in a strong understanding of the industrial gas and welding supply industry, TRNFs business and its important milestones ahead, beliefs about TRNFs strategy and long-term value creation, beliefs about TRNFs strategic plan and implementation thereof, beliefs about TRNFs financial profile and its Board and expectations as to and beliefs about the consent solicitation are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements.

Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the impact and results of the consent solicitation and other activism activities by Wetherald/Welo, the Activist Group and/or other activist investors; as well as those risks identified in TRNFs filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019 and subsequent filings with the SEC which are available at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Any such risks and uncertainties could materially and adversely affect TRNFs results of operations, its profitability and its cash flows, which would, in turn, have a significant and adverse impact on TRNFs stock price. TRNF cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. TRNF disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

About TRNF

Taronis Fuels, Inc. is a global producer of renewable and socially responsible fuel products. Our goal is to deliver environmentally sustainable, technology driven alternatives to traditional fossil fuel and carbon-based economy products. We believe our products offer a vastly cleaner solution to legacy acetylene and propane alternatives.

Taronis is also dedicated to providing fundamentally safer solutions to meet the industrial, commercial and residential needs of tomorrows global economy. Our products have been rigorously tested and independently validated by global gas authorities as vastly safer than acetylene, the most dangerous industrial gas in use today.

Lastly, we strive to deliver products that offer significant function superiority at a reduced cost to the end consumer. Through these efforts, we support 9 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For more information, please visit our website at www.taronisfuels.com/

Taronis Fuels Contacts:

Investors:



Taronis Fuels

ir@taronisfuels.com

or



MacKenzie Partners, Inc.

Bob Marese/Larry Schimmel

212-929-5500

Proxy@mackenziepartners.com
Mumbai: A case of alleged cheating was filed against actor Kangana Ranaut by Mumbai police on Friday on a local court's orders after the author of 'Didda: The Warrior Queen of Kashmir' accused her of copyright violation.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Khar police station against Kangana, Kamalkumar Jain, Rangoli Chandel and Akshat Ranaut, an official said.

Kangana Ranaut

Ashish Kaul, the author of the book which has been translated into Hindi as 'Kashmir Ki Yodhha Rani Didda', alleged in a complaint before a magistrate that he has exclusive copyrights to the life story of Didda, the Princess of Lohar (Poonch) and the Queen of Kashmir.

As per the complaint, he had sent an email about the storyline of his book to Kangana, and she used some part of the story in a tweet while announcing her movie without Kaul's permission.

Kangana Ranaut

"Is it believable by any stretch of imagination that a story and a book are being usurped by a renowned actor- turned-social activist?" he said.

On the Bandra metropolitan magistrate's order, FIR was registered under IPC sections 405 (criminal breach of trust), 415 (cheating), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and also under the Copyright Act, a police official said, adding that further probe is on.
Kuttawa Man Charged with Meth Trafficking

By West Kentucky Star Staff

KUTTAWA - A Kuttawa man was arrested Friday afternoon on DUI and drug charges.The Lyon County Sheriff's Department said they began investigating drug activity by 46-year-old James Michael Howard on Monday, March 8. They say he had methamphetamine and intended to sell it.The investigation led to the seizure of drugs, electronics, containers and a vehicle. A district judge issued a warrant for Howard's arrest and he was taken to Crittenden County Detention Center.Howard is charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (more than 2 grams of methamphetamine) and DUI 2nd offense, along with possession of meth and drug paraphernalia.The Sheriff's Department said Howard was on probation for previous meth-related offenses and a previous DUI conviction.
TROY  Bail was granted Friday in Rensselaer County Court for a 34-year-old Brunswick man facing attempted murder and weapons possession charges for allegedly setting an explosive device that blew up under a pickup truck with a man inside in the town of Schaghticoke.

William M. Huber, a crane operator at the Watervliet Arsenal, had been held at the Rensselaer County Jail without bail since his arrest Tuesday by State Police at Brunswick in the March 1 incident.
A 39-year-old healthy single mother from Utah died four days after taking a second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 1.

According to KUTV, her family said that Kassidi Kurill had more energy than most people around her and was a happy person with no known health problems.

I didnt really cry when my dad died, I cry a lot for her, her father, Alfred Hawley, a former Air Force Base fighter pilot, told the outlet.

Kurill was a local surgical tech for various plastic surgeons.

Im at a state in my life where Im OK with that [emotion], Hawley said amidst tears, she was the one who promised to take care of me.

She was seemingly healthy as a horse, Hawley said, according to Fox News. She had no known underlying conditions.

On the morning of Feb. 4, Hawley woke up to his daughters plead for help.

She came in early and said her heart was racing and she felt like she need to get to the emergency room, he said.

[She] got sick right away, soreness at the shot location, then started getting sick then, started complaining that she was drinking lots of fluids but couldnt pee, and then felt a little better the next day, Hawley said.

Hawley said that her condition got worse: she said that she had headaches, nausea, and couldnt urinate although she was drinking fluids.

He took her to the emergency room, where she got blood tests. Hawley said that then she became less coherent, and began to throw up.

In the evening they transported her to Trauma Center in Murray.

They did a blood test and immediately came back and said she was very, very sick, and her liver was not functioning, Hawley said.

The doctors attempted to stabilize her for a transplant, but her condition worsened to the point where she could no longer talk by the morning of the next day.

They were trying to get her to a point where she was stable enough for a liver transplant. And they just could not get her stable, he said. She got worse and worse throughout the day. And at nine oclock, she passed.

Kurills family is waiting for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

They set up a GoFundMe page named Kassidi Kurill and Emilia Memorial Fund, in her and her 9-year-old daughters honor.

KUTV led an investigation into COVID-19 vaccine side effects and found four reported deaths filed by the families and caregivers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told The Epoch Times in an email that as of March 8, over 92 million doses of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 had been injected, with 1,637 deaths occurring following the injections.

The CDC states on its website that: To date, VAERS has not detected patterns in cause of death that would indicate a safety problem with COVID-19 vaccines.

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) was put in place in 1990 to capture unforeseen reactions from vaccines.

The Epoch Times reached out to Moderna for comment.

Celia Farber contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
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COLUMBUS, Ohio  Legislation to restrict Gov. Mike DeWines ability to issue health orders has cleared the Ohio General Assembly, putting the Republican-controlled legislature and the Republican governor in another showdown on the issue.

Senate Bill 22 passed the House by a 57 to 35 vote on Wednesday, with almost all Republicans voting yes and all Democrats voting no. The legislation then passed a final Senate vote by a 25-8 margin.

Enough senators voted for the legislation to override a promised veto from DeWine, but it fell three short of the 60-vote threshold in the House. However, five House Republicans were absent for the initial vote. House Speaker Bob Cupp told reporters hes absolutely positive he has enough Republican votes to override any veto, and Senate President Matt Huffman said he will schedule an override vote as soon as he can were DeWine to veto the bill.

Im hopeful that the governor will take a fresh look at this and reconsider, especially in light of the fact that an overwhelming number of folks in his own political party have voted in favor of this, Huffman said.

The bill would give lawmakers authority to cancel any health orders that last longer than 30 days, require the governors office to renew them in 60-day intervals and create a legislative panel that would provide oversight to the process.

The Senate initially passed the bill last month. The House tweaked it, including adding language that would prevent local health departments from re-imposing rules, such as mask orders, that the General Assembly already has overruled. Wednesdays Senate vote was to approve the Houses changes.

DeWine has vowed to veto the bill, saying it would limit his and future governors ability to protect Ohioans during an emergency. Thats what he did to a similar bill in December. But legislative leaders didnt schedule a veto override vote before the legislative session ended at the end of the year.

Overriding a governors veto requires a vote from a supermajority, or three-fifths, of each the House and Senate. Unless Democrats break ranks, that would require votes from 60 of the 64 House Republicans and 20 of 25 Senate Republicans.

DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney declined to comment after Wednesdays votes beyond referring back to what the governor has previously said.

Republican lawmakers, who generally have downplayed the severity of the coronavirus pandemic and opposed DeWines restrictions meant to limit its spread, have said providing legislative oversight on health orders would give citizens more input on health orders.

State Rep. Scott Wiggam, a Wooster Republican, said lawmakers have been frustrated to have no input on decisions like deciding which classes of employers were allowed to remain open.

Decade after decade, year after year, this body has given the administrative branch of government a lot of power, and its time to review that power and its time to review it now approaching the two-week anniversary of the lockdown to flatten the curve, Wiggam said.

Democratic lawmakers have sided with DeWine, saying the governor needs to have authority to react to crises. Some cited an analysis from the Legislative Service Commission, the legislatures nonpartisan research arm, that found some provisions could be challenged in court on constitutional grounds, under provisions describing the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. They also pointed out many Republican members have refused to wear face masks during legislative business.

Republican supporters of the bill assert that the measure is constitutional, as the LSCs analysis was based on a 1912 Ohio Supreme Court case dealing with a slightly different issue than what SB22 does.

State Rep. Beth Liston, a Dublin Democrat and physician, said the marginal loss of freedom of requiring face masks doesnt outweigh the right of people who are medically vulnerable to be safer from the disease.

Now is not the time to let politics overrule experts, she said.

Debate grew heated at one moment on the House floor. During Democratic state Rep. Allison Russos lengthy floor speech, a small applause broke out among Republicans when she said she was wrapping up. Democrats responded by lightly applauding when she finished. Cupp reminded members to maintain decorum.

Ohio senators held a similarly passionate debate for more than half an hour.

This is not a dangerous bill. Its the opposite of a dangerous bill. This is a well-considered, thoughtful, responsible bill, said state Sen. Terry Johnson, a Scioto County Republican and a physician. What it really does is give the legislature a seat at the table.

Meanwhile, Democratic state Sen. Teresa Fedor of Toledo said that Passing irresponsible legislation like this while Ohioans are dying is arrogant to a level that Ive never seen in 20 years.

She added: I urge Gov. DeWine to veto this bill the second he gets it on his desk.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the House overrode DeWines veto of a similar health order bill in December. The legislature actually didnt hold an override vote. The story has been corrected.
A man has been jailed for two years for assaulting his infant child and his ex-partner in two separate violent incidents.

The earlier incident took place at the woman's home in Skerries on September 18, 2019 when the man, who cannot be named to protect the anonymity of the child, went to the home of the mother of their child.

The court heard that he struck her repeatedly around the head while she was still holding the three- month-old baby.

At one stage he pushed the woman up against a wall and the child's head was knocked against the wall.

The man took the child from the woman and walked away but the woman followed and managed the get the baby back.

The baby was vomiting repeatedly and was still vomiting when gardai arrived a short time later, Gerardine Small BL prosecuting told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The court heard that the later incident took place on June 12 last year (2020) when the defendant and the woman were in his home in Rush and began arguing over who would go to the shop to get milk for the baby.

The man, who had taken tablets, began hitting the woman with his closed fists and dragging her back when she tried to get away from him by leaving the house.

A telephone company technician who was working next door heard screaming and knocked on the door. When the accused answered the door the woman escaped and the technician walked off.

The accused then picked up a metal bar and threatened the technician. The woman later told gardai that she was afraid for her life in the house and that after she escaped, she feared for her baby's safety.

Gardai arrived and tried to talk the accused man down but the man repeatedly refused to come out or to hand over the baby. He put the child up to a window when gardai asked to see if the child was safe but later when gardai began smashing in the front door the man held the child to the back of the door.

He was charged with child cruelty, an offence contrary to the Children Act 2001 and later pleaded guilty to this and to assault causing harm to the woman. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the child on the earlier occasion.

Judge Martin Nolan said he was satisfied that the man never intended to harm the child but that he behaved with recklessness in relation to her. He said that his actions were nonetheless 'pretty inexcusable'.

He said he beat his former partner on two occasions and 'he beat her quite badly'.

He noted that the accused has pleaded guilty, is genuinely remorseful and comes from a good family who have a place for him when he emerges from prison.

he sentenced him to two years imprisonment, which he backdated to the date he first went into custody following his arrest in June 2020.
A growing number of people are complaining about lack of exercise options in lockdown, and many apartment residents who bought running machines for home use received noise complaints from their neighbors.

According to the National Health Insurance Service, 39 percent of Koreans who had their annual health checkups last year were obese, up 0.66 percentage points from the year before.

Experts recommend setting realistic exercise targets to stay fit during the coronavirus epidemic. For example, aerobic exercises like running, swimming and bicycling are good options to lose weight, but they may not be an option in lockdown.

Instead, Park Se-jung at the Korea Institute of Sport Science recommended rope jumping or jumping jacks, which can be done alone in a small corner in a neighborhood park or similar space.


I massively underestimated the impact of the Wuhan virus a year ago, both the health impact and more important, as it turned out, the consequences of the political response to the virus. This no doubt was due in part to the fact that I personally never had any fear of the Wuhan flu bug. So there have been a couple of times when I thought the Wuhan scare was nearly behind us. My track record isnt very good, so you should take these comments with a grain of salt.

A considerable number of new Wuhan cases are still being reported, as this chart from the CDC web site reflects. Click to enlarge:

The number of cases reported to CDC is largely a function of the enormous number of covid tests that are now being performed. Still, the fact that a considerable number of new cases continue to turn up indicates that the virus has not yet finished working its way through the population, although some observers calculate that by now most Americans have either had the virus or been vaccinated against it.

Covid is widely regarded as a scourge because of the number of people who allegedly have died from it. Covid death statistics are notoriously unreliable: a number of shooting victims, for example, have been classified as covid deaths. Here in Minnesota, among other absurdities, a guy who was killed in a car accident was classified as a covid fatality. So death certificates, to the extent they are reliable at all, mostly reflect the numbers who happened to have the Wuhan bug when they died, not the number who would have lived, but for covid.

As is widely known, the overwhelming majority of Wuhan victims are not just elderly, but elderly and already sick and frail. (My 99-year-old father is elderly, but not sick. He tested positive for covid but otherwise didnt notice it.) One doctor famously described the typical covid victim as someone who has one foot in the grave, and the other on a banana peel. The median age of death of reported covid victims is equal to, oras in Minnesotaolder than the average life expectancy. The fact that we have blighted the lives of our young people and devastated many millions of lives and businesses on account of this virus is, in my opinion, criminal.

All of that said, the Wuhan bug has in fact increased the number of Americans who have died over the past year. The best index of covids impact is, I think, the number of excess deaths over a demographically predicted norm. I have little faith in the CDC, a thoroughly politicized organization, but I assume they can aggregate local death statistics with reasonable accuracy, and this is what they report. The chart shows deaths from all causes. Again, click to enlarge:

Contrary to what some have suggested, covid has actually led to a substantial number of excess deaths compared to a demographic norm over the past year. But what is notable about this chart is that the number of excess deaths is sinking like a stone. What will be interesting to follow over the coming months is whether the total number of deaths declines below the demographic norm.

Why might this happen? Because most covid victims are people who were likely to die soon in any event, but whose death may have been accelerated by the Wuhan flu. I suspect that most Wuhan victims would have died a few months later, or perhaps a year or two later, regardless of covid.

If that hypothesis is correct, over the next year or two we should see overall mortality falling below the currently predicted norm. It is too early to tell whether that will happen, but if it does, it will put the scary Wuhan statistics that we have been bombarded with, for political reasons, in perspective. It is too bad if someone dies at age 80 rather than age 81, but it is insane to turn a society upside down, and in particular to devastate the lives of our younger generation, in a likely-futile effort to avert that increased risk of mortality among the unhealthy elderly.

If I am right in expecting that mortality statistics will decline over the next couple of years, our governments response to the Wuhan epidemic will go down in history as a catastrophic failure of public policy. Except, of course, for Operation Warp Speed, which more than anything else promises to bring the disaster to a halt.
Britons have today pledged to attend a vigil for Sarah Everard despite the Metropolitan Police urging people to stay at home following a High Court battle.

Organisers of a gathering for the marketing executive, 33, in Clapham Common, south London, were last night continuing talks with the Met to work out how it could go ahead safely.

But people have vowed to attend the London event on Saturday regardless of the outcome, despite the Metropolitan Police warning the public they should 'stay at home or find a lawful and safer way to express your views'.

Reclaim These Streets is planning to host the vigil at the bandstand in Clapham Common, near to where Sarah went missing at around 9.30pm on March 3.

A High Court judge last night refused to intervene on behalf of the group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions.

The vigil was planned for Saturday in memory of marketing executive Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home to Brixton on March 3

A High Court judge last night refused to intervene on behalf of the group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions

The group brought an urgent action in a bid for a declaration that any ban on outdoor gatherings under coronavirus regulations is 'subject to the right to protest', and thus the vigil should be allowed to happen.

Mr Justice Holgate declined to grant the group's request and also refused to make a declaration that an alleged policy by the force of 'prohibiting all protests, irrespective of the specific circumstances' is unlawful.

Despite the ruling, many women said they still planned to attend the Clapham vigil.

Becki Elson last night insisted she will be at Clapham Common Bandstand at 6pm on Saturday with her 19-year-old daughter Megen.

Becki Elson (left with daughter Megan) was one of many to say they will be attending the vigil, saying she will be at the Clapham Common Bandstand at 6pm on Saturday

One of the placards for the London vigil for Sarah Everard, which many have said they will attend regardless of the outcome of campaigners' discussions with police

Police officers at Clapham Common carry out reassurance patrols, after a body found hidden in woodland in Kent was identified as that of 33-year-old Sarah Everard

'Even if no one else shows up, we will take a moment to remember Sarah and leave a candle for her,' the 35-year-old from Brixton said.

'It's time for women to fight back, to take control, to lead the way out of this nightmare that has lasted the entire span of human history.'

However, some events have now been cancelled following the decision, including one in Whitstable, Kent.

And planned events in Cardiff and Edinburgh will now take place virtually, according to posts on Facebook

The High Court judge left it open for talks between the organisers and police to continue over the 'application of the regulations and the (rights to freedom of expression and assembly)' to the event, but said it would 'not be appropriate' for the court to make the declaration sought.

Discussions are ongoing with the Metropolitan Police about whether the event can take place

Despite the ruling, many women said they still planned to attend the Clapham vigil

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick joins police officers at Clapham Common as part of reassurance patrols, after a body found hidden in woodland in Kent was identified as that of Miss Everard

Organisers of a gathering in memory of Sarah Everard have claimed the Metropolitan Police have 'reversed their position' on permitting the vigil to take place

In a statement after the ruling, Reclaim These Streets said: 'We are working with (Lambeth) Council, who remain wholly supportive.

'We call on the police to act within the law now and confirm that they will work with us to ensure that the protest can go ahead within the context of the overwhelming public response to Sarah Everard's death.'

In a tweet, they added: 'We are now in discussions with the Met to confirm how the event can proceed in a way that is proportionate and safe - our number one priority.'

Commander Catherine Roper, the Met's lead for community engagement, said in a statement: 'I understand this ruling will be a disappointment to those hoping to express their strength of feeling, but I ask women and allies across London to find a safe alternative way to express their views.

'Throughout the pandemic, we have consistently enforced the Covid regulations and have made difficult decisions during a range of gatherings on issues about which people have felt very strongly.

There was an increased police presence on Clapham Common on Friday morning

Street lighting was being fixed on Clapham Common in London on Friday morning

'Our hope has always been that people stick to the Covid rules, taking enforcement action is always a last resort.

'We continue to speak with the organisers of the vigil in Clapham and other gatherings across London in light of this judgment and will explain the rules and urge people to stay at home.'

Reclaim These Streets was organised after the disappearance of Ms Everard prompted a public outcry about women's safety.

The event was due to take place at Clapham Common bandstand at 6pm on Saturday.

Ms Everard's body was found in woodland in Kent, after she went missing walking home in south London on March 3.

Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48 was charged on Friday evening with kidnapping and killing the marketing executive.

Ms Everard is thought to have walked through Clapham Common towards her house in Brixton - a journey which should have taken around 50 minutes.

Her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the public, with many women and girls sharing stories online of experiencing violence by men.
The surge in digital audiobook sales has helped numerous publishers grow in the past few years, and perhaps none has benefitted more than Podium Audio. The audio-first publisher, which began life as Podium Publishing before changing its name about a year ago, hit $50 million in revenue in 2020, and its total title output passed the 2,000 mark, from 1,300 at the beginning of the year, CEO Scott Dickey told PW.

Podium is best known for its large list of science fiction titles, but Dickey said romance sales grew dramatically in 2020. Mysteries and thrillers also saw good gains, as did nonfiction.

Dickey has no doubt that the Podiums recent growth is due to its focus on audio. Audio is not the caboose on the train for us, he said. It is the locomotive.

Last years gains were also fueled by new ownership. In March 2019, private equity firm Presidio Investors teamed with Podium cofounder Greg Lawrence to buy the publisher. Dickey joined the company in September 2019, and among the hires last year was Kate Runde, director of acquisitions and author relations; she had previously been director of publicity for Vintage Books and Anchor Books.

Independent authors and storytellers have been Podiums main creative source for audiobooks, but Dickey said he is seeing more interest from agents who are looking to do more with their authors audio rights. The company pays authors on a revenue-share model and provides a variety of services to help them develop their work.

To that end, Podium has signed a growing list of professional narrators to its roster, and recent additions include Felicia Day, Katherine McNamara, Dan Stevens, Wil Wheaton, and Lou Diamond Phillips, who published his own audiobook, The Tinderbox: Solider of Indira, with Podium last fall. In addition to access to experienced narrators, the company has developed a network of production studios across North America.

Dickey has also been expanding Podiums title base through partnerships. Last year it inked a deal with Tapas Media to produce and distribute some of Tapass short webcomics and fiction stories.

Audible has been Podiums primary distribution channel, and in January the publisher made a substantial portion of its library available on Audible Plus, Audibles new subscription plan that features the platforms exclusive content. Among the Podium titles now on Audible Plus are Craig Alansons YA space opera Aces and a novella from Terry Mancours Spellmonger series. Mancour and Alanson are among Podiums top-selling authors, along with Luke Chmilenko, James Islington, and Andrew Rowe.

Dickey said he is looking to acquire IP beyond audiobook rights, but added he is not interested in getting involved in print books. Dont want the inventory, he added. He didnt rule out expanding into podcasting at some point, and he said he is interested in developing more shorter-form audio products.

Dickey sees 2021 shaping up to be another good year for Podium, explaining that through February the company remains on track to increase revenue for the full year by 30% over 2020 and to up its title count by 850.
Hundreds of other websites, including Google and YouTube, went offline on the same day as Russia's effort to censor Twitter failed. Russia is now attempting to blame the damage to a fire in another country, which Google refutes.

Russia blames Google, YouTube for the outage

On Wednesday, a data center belonging to OVH, a French cloud company, caught fire. Around the same time, widespread outages in Russia stopped users from accessing Google and YouTube, which Google owns. The state media watchdog, Roskomnadzorm, said that the fire in France was to blame for the problems.

"Following an extensive investigation, we find no evidence to suggest that the fire at the OVHCloud's data center, or Google's own facilities, was the root cause of this incident," a Google spokesperson told Insider on Friday. "We suspect this incident was caused by a router misconfiguration at a nearby third-party internet service provider," they said.

The Google outages occurred on the same day that Russia attempted to stifle internet access to Twitter, alleging that the network had neglected to remove unauthorized material. But it unintentionally blocked several irrelevant pages, including the Kremlin's own website, as per the Business Insider.

Roskomnadzor said that the Google outage was not related to the agency's decisions on restricting the pace of access to the Twitter social network. Russia sued Twitter, Google, Facebook, TikTok, and the encrypted messaging software Telegram on Tuesday for failing to remove posts related to demonstrations against President Vladimir Putin's political foe Alexei Navalny's imprisonment.

Read also: Twitter Files Lawsuit Against Texas AG Over Trump Ban

Google denies data center fire caused Russia outage

Google has denied that a fire at cloud provider OVH data center in Strasbourg caused recent issues with Russia's services. Russian officials squarely blamed the fire for Google and YouTube outages.

According to Google, the issues, which lasted about two hours, were believed to be caused by an unrelated networking issue. It seems to be a coincidence that the two events occurred at the same time.

Earlier, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) told TASS that problems accessing YouTube, Google, and other websites were triggered by a fire in the Strasbourg datacenter, not by Roskomnadzor's Twitter slowdown.

Read also: Facebook Investigated for Allegedly Practicing Racial Bias

It stated that it had nothing to do with the agency's decisions limiting the pace with which people could enter the Twitter social media website. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently issued the watchdog the authority to ban social media sites that discriminate against Russian news organizations. According to BBC, Twitter's speed was recently reduced after it failed to delete 3,000 tweets about suicide, drugs, and pornography.

Roskomnadzor announced the "initial slowdown" of Twitter in Russia on Wednesday, noting the social media platform's refusal to censor material illegal in Russia. The organization said that it would continue to press the website until it was completely blocked. Users have mentioned problems navigating YouTube, Google, Yandex, and other websites in the meantime. Access problems were due to delays in Rostelecom's Internet service provider, according to the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media.

Read also: YouTube CEO to Restore Trump Channel Only if Risk of Violence Decreases

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Nigerian Army says it has foiled another attempt by bandits to kidnap students of Turkish International Secondary School in Rigachikun, Kaduna State.

This comes after bandits abducted over 200 persons, including students and staff, of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of the state on Thursday night.

While the state government claimed 180 persons have been rescued on Friday, further checks indicated that 39 students are currently unaccounted for.

The missing students include males and females, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Home Security, Samuel Aruwan, said, in another update on Friday night.

In an earlier update, citizens were informed that troops rescued 180 persons following an attack by armed bandits on the College late Thursday night, with about 30 still missing. The number of missing students is now confirmed to be 39, comprising 23 females and 16 males.

The Kaduna State Government is maintaining close communication with the management of the College as efforts are sustained by security agencies towards the tracking of the missing students, Mr Aruwan stated.

Foiled attempt

The Director, Army Public Relations, Mohammed Yerima, in a statement on Friday, said troops were mobilised to protect the Turkish school from the bandits following a tip off on the planned abduction.

According to him, troops also responded to another distress call that bandits had stormed the Federal School of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, with aim of kidnapping the staff and students.

The troops swiftly moved to Afaka and decisively engaged the armed bandits. Following the fire fight, troops were able to rescue 180 persons, comprising of 132 male students, 40 female students and 8 civilian staff, he said.

Mr Yerima, a brigadier-general, said the bandits were said to have broken into the institution by breaching the perimeter fence of the school.

He added that the rescued students had been evacuated to a safe place while the injured were receiving medical attention at a military facility.

Meanwhile, combined team of Army, Air Force, Police and DSS are currently combing the forest in pursuit of the bandits, he said.

Reacting to the developments in Kaduna, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, said he is saddened by the mass abduction of students.

The kidnap in Afaka was the fourth mass abduction of school children in the North West and North Central of Nigria in four months.

Hundreds of students were earlier kidnapped from secondary schools in Kankara in Kastina State; Kagara in Niger State and Jangebe in Zamfara State.

Mr Guterres, in a social media post, called for the students to be reunited with their families and their abductors brought to justice.

Im deeply saddened to learn of yet another mass abduction of students from a school in Nigeria.

Schools must remain safe spaces to learn without fear of violence. The students must be returned to their families, and those responsible for this crime must be brought to justice, he wrote on Twitter.

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The Willamette Valley is missing a giant today.

James Jim Maresh, Sr., the man who shaped the regions wine history with his pioneering vineyard, died in his Dundee home on March 6. He was one month shy of his 95th birthday.

Maresh left Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in the fall of 1944 to attend Marquette University in nearby Milwaukee. He was blissfully unaware of the kismet awaiting him on a dance floor.

Lois Loie Hansen, a student at Wisconsin State Teachers College in Milwaukee, didnt want to attend Marquettes big dance. Her friends insisted. Maresh was equally disinterested, but he ended up going anyway.

Somehow, the two strangers ended up meeting that night. They also hit it off, which may explain why Maresh was preoccupied as he headed home.

When he left the dance, mom chased him outside, yelling Jimmy, Jimmy, you forgot my telephone number, said Martha Maresh, Jim and Loies daughter.

Maresh would eventually transfer to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he graduated in 1948. A job with Dun & Bradstreet took him to Portland, where Loie had a teaching position. They were married in October 1948, followed by a Timberline Lodge honeymoon.

After numerous moves around the country, the couple returned to Portland. By then, they had five children. Eager to find a place with more space and a view, Jim and Loie purchased the 27-acre Olmsted farm in Dundee. In August 1959, the Maresh family took residence in their new home on Worden Hill Road.

The farm came with orchards filled with fruit and nut trees. Unfortunately, Jim and Loie had zero farming experience. Maresh even had to find someone to show him how to start his tractor. He liked to joke that the closest I ever came to farming was walking by the agriculture building on the Madison campus.

Fortunately for Maresh, his neighbors were veteran farmers willing to share their wisdom. Maresh purchased more and more neighboring properties, growing his farm to almost 200 acres. He soon settled into his new job title: Oregon farmer. He also grew to love getting behind the wheel of that tractor.

On a Saturday afternoon in 1968, a commotion in the Maresh driveway changed everything. The family dog, known as Herman the German, had a large, bearded man cornered in the front seat of an old BMW. It was Dick Erath, who would soon be famous for his Knudsen Erath Winery partnership with Cal Knudsen.

That shepherd damn near came in the car to get me, Erath said in a telephone interview this week. Undeterred by Herman, Erath knocked on their front door.

Erath, convinced the area was a prime spot to grow pinot noir, was looking for a farmer to convince to plant vines. Maresh, sitting on tons of unsold prunes at the time, was more than amenable to Eraths proposal.

With Eraths help, Maresh planted four combined acres of pinot noir and riesling in 1970.

Jim was, as far as I know, the first Oregon farmer in the Willamette Valley to plant grapes in the modern era. Everyone before him was like me, someone who moved here from California to start a winery and have a vineyard, Erath said.

Three years later, the Maresh vines yielded fruit for Eraths early wines. On the other hand, Maresh loved working the soil and had no desire to become a winemaker. Over time, as the vineyards size grew, Maresh would sell his grapes to a small number of winemakers, including Fred Arterberry, Jr., in the late 1970s.

Arterberrys excellent wines established his credentials as a top winemaker while showcasing Maresh vineyard fruits quality. Arterberry married Martha Maresh in 1980. They had one son, Jim Arterberry Maresh, in 1983. The Arterberry label ended when Fred died in 1990.

In 1987 Jim and Loie Maresh opened a tasting room for their new Little Red Barn label comprised of wines made by prominent local winemakers using Maresh fruit. Taylor Allen Davis, a local farm owner who used to help out in the tasting room, says Jim Maresh did it because he loved selling wine and telling stories.

Many of those stories revolve around how hard Jim Maresh worked to defend his legacy and the work of others. Over the decades, he helped fight off land developers, quarry operators and local bureaucrats eager to ruin the Dundee Hills for grapevines.

I visited the Maresh farm the other day, where I bumped into Steven Mikami, Martha Mareshs second husband. The two of them work the family vineyard on their own now. Mikami talked about how proud Jim was of his grandson, Jim Arterberry Maresh, and the wines he makes with the familys fruit.

Jim is gone now, and Loie died in 2000. Now their familys second and third generations are working hard to fill the big footsteps they left in that red Jory soil.

-- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine.
It's no secret that the Biden administration is imposing the race-based ideology called Critical Race Theory (CRT) on impressionable children (through government schools) and on federal institutions nationwide. Like other race-based theories  which can encompass everything from the eugenics of Francis Galton to the program of the National Socialist German Workers' Party of the Nazis and its persecution of Jews and other Untermenschen  CRT requires the imposition of politically defined penalties based on politically defined racial designations. What could possibly go wrong  especially when it is applied to the architectural profession?

A Key Fallacy of Critical Theory

The "punishable" classifications of critical theory extend far beyond race and include "intersectional" categories such as biological sex, gender identity, sexual preference, overweight status, and other classifications that multiply like rabbits in a giant field of alfalfa without Mr. McGregor or his cat to thin them out. But one thing CRT theory never examines is the individual himself. The concept of the individual is replaced by group identity. Never mind that conceptual categories, or groups, do not suffer, bleed, undergo cancel culture and censorship, or die a painful death. They don't even exist in the same way that individual human beings do. Recognizing the important distinction between real individuals and the mere concept of a group is one of the chief accomplishments of medieval thinkers such as the 12th-century nominalist, Roscellinus of Compiegne. He rejected the extreme idealism (extreme realism) of Plato and his Neoplatonist followers, and he accurately characterized the notion of a concept as a mere flatus vocis (puff of air). We now label such extreme conceptualization as the reification fallacy. This fallacy is precisely what lies behind critical theory and all of its variants, including CRT. Once we realize that a group is only a concept, we can properly evaluate the damage inflicted on real individuals by such thinking. So if you hated the injustice of "group punishments" as a child, chances are you'll also despise the totalitarian practices of CRT.

A Fetid History Opposed to the Western Liberal Tradition

Never mind that the worst crimes against humanity have been perpetrated by governments that enforce the collectivist concepts of race membership, economic crimes, unauthorized success, and other envy-based designations. They have been used against Jews (Nazi Germany), Slavs (by Nazis), marginally successful farmers (kulaks in the Soviet Union), ethnic Chinese (outside China), blacks (in Africa, Europe, and the Americas), and whites (throughout the ancient world, with etymological roots in the word Slav).

In contrast to these dismal episodes in history, the existential reality of the individual and the related concept of individual justice help form the foundation of "negative" human rights  the idea that one must not commit aggression (initiate violence or its threat) against another person. This also is the basis for many protections we currently enjoy by inheriting the Western classical liberal tradition. Ironically, CRT aims a dagger at this legacy of genuine tolerance and the inviolable nature of human beings in the Western tradition. Instead, the slippery faux "tolerance" of the inclusion-diversity crowd is the enactment of Herbert Marcuse's "repressive tolerance." As it plays out before our eyes, careers are ended and books banned. People forget the warning of Heinrich Heine as they cheer the elimination of Mark Twain from the curriculum of the poorly performing Grosse Pointe Public School System, rescind award categories for Laura Ingalls Wilder's book Little House on the Prairie, and cease production of a series of books by Dr. Seuss Enterprises: "Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people."

Throwing Martin Luther King, Jr. under the Bus

Despite the intentionally deceptive claims of CRT advocates, CRT runs in complete opposition to the civil rights tradition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Instead of being judged by the content of their character  which is something we can improve upon and develop throughout our lives  CRT defines us by our most superficial characteristics, many of which we cannot change. Everything must bend the knee to the crude leveling tortures of the Procrustean critical-theory dungeon masters. Even in what is considered their most "benign" form  the uncovering of implicit/unconscious bias  the products of critical theory have been debunked and proven to be unreliable pseudo-science as explained, by psychology professor Jordan Peterson again and again.

Architectural Firms Attempt to Cash In on Critical Race Theory

I wondered how long it would take for architects to cash in on the latest academic scam, and this week, I found an example. Huckstering CRT consultants are about to contaminate the visual environment by collaborating with building-designers! An outfit called SXSW EDU is hosting a critical theorybased "learning experience" to "confront negative cultural messaging in the built environment." They add that "Critical Race Theory provides a lens for exploring and dismantling these expressions of socioeconomic power." And look! An architectural firm called SmithGroup has taken the bait. These people proudly announce their desire to "create more inclusive educational settings."

What a great way to pump up the bottom line and recover from the Fauci-inspired economic collapse! After all, the absurd COVID cult lockdown panic has all but destroyed the commercial real estate market, normally a great source of income for design firms. Imagine the cash flow as woke architects use their Biden-supplied cash to remake public-school designs and space plans. As if last year's injections of cash weren't enough! I can just picture it: daily changes in the spatial configuration of classrooms as they reflect each intersectionality complaint stemming from today's Oppression Olympics mentality. Each new case of hurt feelings among teens with thin skins and woke unionized teachers will feed the bottom line!

Perhaps the new "inclusive" structures will be able self-dismantle. This would correspond to the down-the-memory-hole censorship of dumbed down schools as they mimic the grievance study pseudo-disciplines that implode on their own contradictions. I can't wait to see the new visual bathos as it infests my local schools. But how will woke designers possibly compete with the hilarious hoax papers concocted by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay  the ones that were published as "serious science" a few years ago by leading grievance studies journals? It's time for all of us to read their great book, Cynical Theories, but don't buy it from Amazon.

Conclusion?

The upshot of all this? It's time to oppose woke corporations. Why should collectivists have all the fun? Inflict the same ridicule on CRT-based companies that they've been dumping on everyone else  from employees to customers. How? By publicly identifying, publicizing, and laughing at woke corporate cowardice wherever it shows its yellow butt cheeks! Let's stop the spread of racist, authoritarian Critical Race Theory. At best, to quote our friend Roscellinus, CRT concepts are a mere flatus vocis. At worst, they are the building blocks for the next wave of crimes against humanity. Identify, publicize, and ridicule the new corporate racism!

Lawrence M. Ludlow provides international location analyses, marketing, and business writing services. He holds an M.A. in medieval studies from the University of Toronto's Centre for Medieval Studies and has lectured on manuscripts, early printing, and art history at the Newberry Library in Chicago and the San Diego Public Library.

Image: TheDigitalArtist via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Ive started laughing at his little jokes, wrote Rebecca Fishbein, a writer from Brooklyn. I catch myself touching my hair (not my face!) when he talks about an increase in testing capacity. I swooned when he told a reporter he had his own workout routine. I have watched a clip of him and brother Chris Cuomo bickering about their mother at least 20 times. I think I have a crush???
'The closing date for applications has been extended until March 19.'

The SuperValu TidyTowns competition will go ahead this year in line with public health guidelines. The closing date for applications has been extended until March 19 to enable local TidyTowns groups to apply for funding to help with their entry.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys T.D. allocated 1 million in funding last December to support TidyTowns group across the country, with 1,000 available to every eligible group.

The funding is a top-up to the 1.4 million allocated to TidyTowns groups towards the end of 2019.

While the SuperValu TidyTowns competition could not take place in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Humphreys has confirmed that the 2021 competition will go ahead. The launch date will be announced in the coming months.

Encouraging Wexford groups to apply for the funding available, Minister Humphreys said, 'Last December, I gave a commitment that the SuperValu TidyTowns competition would proceed in 2021, albeit in a slightly different format due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

'I also made additional funding of 1 million available to the TidyTowns groups to assist them in their preparations for the competition. I have written to every registered group, through Pobal, advising them how to apply for this funding.

'I want to encourage all groups to avail of this funding. The closing date for receipt of applications was originally the start of March, but in the current circumstances, I am extending this deadline to Friday, 19th March.'

There was a record 924 entries nationwide in 2019, a competition which saw Rosslare and Wexford town win silver medals and Enniscorthy, Gorey and Blackwater win bronze.

Blackwater was named overall winner for the county with Rosslare being highly commended and Duncormick commended.

With the nation still in the grip of a pandemic, the Minister was keen to ensure safety remained the number one priority.

'As we continue to deal with the challenges of Covid-19, I am very conscious of the health and wellbeing of TidyTowns volunteers. Their safety is paramount. Social distancing must be maintained and public health advice heeded,' she said.

'I hope to be in a position to launch this year's competition when restrictions around public gatherings and outdoor activities allow. I will keep the situation under review, but in the meantime, we all need to continue to work together to keep one another safe by following the public health guidelines.'

For further information or to apply for funding visit www.tidytowns.ie
Omaha, Nebraska  The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and a department of the College of Business Administration will kick off the NBDC Business Awards week-long celebration starting March 15 with opening remarks from University of Nebraska President, Ted Carter.

The NBDC Business Awards recognize NBDC clients who demonstrated business success through job creation and sustainability, sales growth, successful government contracting, innovation in product or service offerings, and other business achievements.

"The highlight of the NBDC Business Awards celebration is hearing from the award winners describing their business and success, said Catherine Lang, NBDC State Director. "Our NBDC Business Award winners are right to be proud of their accomplishments. Nebraska business owners are the backbone of the economic success in Nebraska, creating jobs, building strong communities and supporting the economy of Nebraska.

This year, NBDC will be honoring winners in video format. In a 4-6 minute video, each winner will tell their compelling business story. The week-long celebration will begin on Monday, March 15 and conclude Friday, March 19. Each day, a new video will be debuted on the NBDC website and through NBDC social media channels.

Monday, March 15: University of Nebraska President, Ted Carter and NBDC State Director, Catherine Lang will kick off the awards week celebration with a special message.

Tuesday, March 16: Innovation Business of the Year Winner

Wednesday, March 17: Champion of Small Business Winner and SBDC Day

Thursday, March 18: Government Contracting Business of the Year Winner

Friday, March 19: 2020 NBDC Annual Report and Closing Remarks, Catherine Lang

Subscribe to NBDC to get notified when these videos debut: CLICK HERE

Follow NBDC on social: Facebook Linkedin Twitter Youtube

All videos will be available for viewing on the NBDC Business Awards page.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 06:19:27|Editor: huaxia

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Chile's President Sebastian Pinera arrives at a hospital to receive his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac in Santiago, Chile on March 12, 2021. (Office of the Chilean President/Handout via Xinhua)



SANTIAGO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Chile's President Sebastian Pinera on Friday received his second dose of a Chinese vaccine against the novel coronavirus disease, which is developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac.

In the fight against the pandemic, "we have two great tools, two great allies. One is the vaccine and the other is taking care of yourselves," the president told reporters after getting the shot at the Clinical Hospital of Chile's Air Force in the capital Santiago.

Pinera received the first dose on Feb. 12 in Futrono, a town in the Los Rios region of southern Chile.

Chile's vaccination process has gone "very well," with 4.6 million Chileans vaccinated to date, and 1.5 million having gotten the second dose, said Pinera.

"We are very close, very close to reaching the goal of vaccinating 5 million people, the population at risk, the elderly, the chronically ill ... to be able to move towards the protection of health and the lives of all our compatriots," he added.

Chile launched mass vaccination on Feb. 3, after first vaccinating healthcare workers in December.

The plan is to vaccinate 5 million people in the first quarter of the year and 15 million by midyear.

The South American country has registered 879,485 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and 21,451 deaths from the disease, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health. Enditem
Photo taken on July 14, 2020 shows the Golden Bauhinia Square in south China's Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

According to Hong Kong's various sectors, the NPC decision is a necessary and timely move to plug the loopholes of Hong Kong's current electoral system, ensure "patriots administering Hong Kong", and facilitate Hong Kong's transition from chaos to stability.

HONG KONG, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The decision by the National People's Congress (NPC) on improving Hong Kong's electoral system serves to plug the electoral loopholes of Hong Kong and build a security barrier for its long-term prosperity and stability, various sectors in Hong Kong have said.

The NPC, China's top legislature, on Thursday adopted a decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The decision was passed by an overwhelming majority vote at the fourth session of the 13th NPC.

Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, said that improving the electoral system of the HKSAR can help the local Legislative Council (LegCo) avoid being stormed and paralyzed so that normal operation of the HKSAR government will be ensured.

The adopted decision will help bring long-term prosperity and stability to Hong Kong and enable the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems", said Tam.

Maria Tam Wai-chu, deputy director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing Committee, said that improving the local electoral system will help consolidate Hong Kong's executive-led political system and establish a more broadly representative election committee.

Hong Kong should be administered by patriots and pledging allegiance to the country is a universal fundamental requirement, she said.

Aerial photo taken on June 27, 2017 shows the scenery on both sides of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

According to Starry Lee Wai-king, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, chairperson of the New People's Party, Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, vice chairman of the All-China Youth Federation, the NPC decision is a necessary and timely move to plug the loopholes of the current electoral system, ensure "patriots administering Hong Kong", and facilitate Hong Kong's transition from chaos to stability.

Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said that the NPC decision helps expand the political participation of all sectors in Hong Kong, which guarantees the democratic rights of Hong Kong residents.

Lam Kin-ngok, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and Chan Hiu-fung, head of the Hong Kong and Mainland Legal Profession Association, said after the implementation of the NPC decision, Hong Kong will improve the governance efficiency, get greater trust and support from the central authorities, and better integrate itself in the national development landscape.

Chan Ching-chuen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and honorary professor of the University of Hong Kong, said the related contents concerning Hong Kong in the 14th Five Year Plan is like putting a pair of wings to Hong Kong's development, one is a safe and free environment, the other is development opportunities.

Yuen Mo, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong and Ho Hon-kuen, chairman of Education Convergence of Hong Kong, expected the HKSAR government to push for cooperation of various sectors of the Hong Kong society in improving the local electoral system and to start the work related to the needed local legislations at an early date.
Police on Friday arrested Todd Templeton, 51, in regards the armed bank robbery of SunTrust Bank on East Third Street that occurred on Thursday. Police said the arrest is due to tips from members of the community and assistance from numerous law enforcement agencies

Templeton was located in Cleveland on Friday. He is charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping. He is also wanted on active warrants for bank robberies in other states and is currently on federal probation.

Templeton will be booked at the Bradley County Jail after he receives medical treatment for a pre-existing injury.

The Chattanooga Police Department's Robbery Unit was assisted by Bradley County Sheriff's Office, Cleveland Police Department, CPD Fugitive Unit, FBI, and U.S. Marshals Service.


March 4

Officers responded to the 900 block of W. 5th St. on March 4 in reference to someone in possession of marijuana. No arrests were indicated.

Theft from a yard was reported at the 400 block of W. 20th St. on March 4.

Theft from a vehicle was reported at the 1100 block of Davidson St. on March 4.

Two people were arrested on March 4 during a traffic stop at the 800 block of W. 16th St. Police found amphetamine during the stop. Amanda Elam, 28, and 31-year-old Krystofer Aaron Woods were both charged with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. Elam was also charge with outstanding warrants.

Police responded to the 1000 block of Xenia St. on March 4 in reference to someone in possession of marijuana. No arrests were indicated.

March 5

A sexual assault was reported on March 5. No arrests were indicated.

Police responded to a domestic problem involving cruelty to a child on March 5. No arrests were indicated.

Fraud was reported at the 200 block of SE 10th St. on March 5.

Two people were arrested on March 5 at the 2500 block of Sabine St. Officers arrested 35-year-old Paula Marmolejo Rivera for an outstanding felony warrant. A 56-year-old woman was also arrested for hindering apprehension.

March 6

Police responded to the 700 block of Milwaukee on March 6 in reference to someone firing a weapon. No arrests were indicated.

An assault was reported at the 1500 block of Houston St. on March 6.

Police responded to a callout regarding damaged property, including damage to a vehicle, at the 700 block of Fresno St. on March 6.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1000 block of Joliet St. on March 6.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1600 block of Oakland St. on March 6.

Police were called to assist another agency at the 800 block of Quincy St. on March 6.

An assault was reported at the 4000 block of Olton Road on March 6.

Theft of a bike was reported on March 6 at the 1600 block of Smythe St.

March 7

Criminal mischief was reported on March 7 at the 1100 block of Kokomo St. Damaged property was reported.

An abandoned vehicle was reported at the 1500 block of the frontage road of N. Interstate 27 on March 7.

A burglary was reported at the 1100 block of Nassau St. on March 7.

A burglary was reported at the 800 block of El Paso on March 7.

A 26-year-old woman was arrested on March 7 at the 500 block of Parkway during a traffic stop. The individual was charged with driving with an invalid license with a previous conviction/suspension without financial resolution.

Trespassing was reported at the 600 block of W. 24th St. on March 7.

March 8

A burglary was reported at the 1300 block of Smythe St. on March 8.

Fraud was reported on March 8 at the 100 block of W. 9th St.

Identity fraud was reported at the 1400 block of Portland St. on March 8.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on March 8 at the 2400 block of Dimmitt Road.

An assault was reported at the 300 block of N.E. Alpine St. on March 8.

Public intoxication was reported on March 8 at the 2800 block of Olton Road.

A burglary was reported at the 2800 block of Houston St. on March 8.

March 9

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1500 block of N. Interstate 27 on March 9.

Police arrested 56-year-old Jesus Garcia on March 9 at the 1300 block of W. 5th St. for an outstanding felony warrant.

A burglary was reported on March 9 at the 200 block of SE 6th St.

An assault was reported at the 1200 block of Houston St. on March 9.

A case of harassment was reported March 9. The police report notes it was a sex offense.

Criminal mischief was reported at the 1600 block of W. 7th St. on March 9. Damaged property was reported.

An incident classified as miscellaneous was reported at the 2600 block of Dimmitt Road on march 9.
The case came before a sitting of the Circuit Court at Sligo Courthouse

An elderly man who has admitted to indecently assaulting a young girl failed to appear for sentencing yesterday [Monday, 8th] at Sligo Circuit Court.

The man, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions pleaded guilty to one charge of indecent assault between January 1 and March 31 1986 against the then nine year old girl.

His legal team, Mr Desmond Dockery SC, instructed by Mr Keith O'Grady, BL and Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor, informed the court he was not present for sentencing.

Mr Dockery said the defendant, in his 80s, was not returning telephone calls on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Contact was made with the legal team on Monday morning and it was verified there was a medical issue.

In relation to a further 84 counts on the indictment, Mr Dockery said progress had been made, in that the defendant is to be assessed by a consultant psychiatrist, this week.

State prosecutor, Mr Leo Mulrooney said he would not be seeking a bench warrant, taking into account the verification of the medical issue.

However, he did state the matter was "very, very scant on detail" and asked the court to direct a medical report including symptoms and treatment.

Mr Mulrooney also said it was unfortunate the matter could not go ahead, given the victim was in court supported by family. He asked the court that the matter be heard at a sooner date than the next sitting of the Circuit Court in June.

Mr Dockery said if his client was not present on the next occasion a warrant could be issued and the matter would still proceed.

Judge Francis Comerford said he was not happy for the matter to go back to June and said it was unfortunate that people had to attend the court considering the matter could not go ahead.

The judge said the man had not indicated his attitude in relation to the other counts on the indictment and his legal team were of the opinion there may be a psychological underlay, yet the court still had no mental health report.

"I think in circumstances where there's been difficult in him attending, with him engaging, and this matter continues to be dragged out somewhat by these factors, it's in interest of justice that they proceed sooner rather than later, to minimise stress on the victim and it's appropriate that it's dealt with," said the judge.

The judge said he believed the man's failure to attend court warranted a fuller explanation. The judge said the report gave no explanation why he was not in court, but merely suggested there might be an explanation.

"I do think [he] is under the obligation to provide why he wasn't here to answer his bail." The judge said he had "serious concerns" about the way in which the defendant has dealt with the matter.

Sentencing was adjourned to April 12 next.
Alexei Navalny was arrested on his return to Russia last month. Photo: Reuters/Shamil Zhumatov

Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been moved from a detention facility in Russias Vladimir region where he was incarcerated last month to an unknown location, one of his lawyers said.

Mr Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putins most prominent critics, was moved from jail in Moscow last month to serve out a sentence of around two-and-a-half years after a court ruling condemned by the West as politically-motivated.

He was initially held at the Kolchugino jail in the Vladimir region northeast of Moscow. Tass news agency, citing a law enforcement source, reported at the time that Mr Navalny was being held there for quarantine before being moved to the IK-2 penal colony, also in the Vladimir region.

Vadim Kobzev, one of Mr Navalnys lawyers, said he had visited his client on Thursday, but that another lawyer had tried to see him yesterday only to be told, eventually, that Mr Navalny had been moved somewhere else.

The prison said he wasnt there and thats it, Mr Kobzev told Reuters, adding that Mr Navalny was in good health when he had visited him a day earlier.

Citing laws on protecting personal information, a spokeswoman for the Federal Penitentiary Service said she could not disclose information on Mr Navalnys whereabouts.

Mr Navalny (44) was arrested in January on his return from Germany following treatment for poisoning with what many Western countries say was a nerve agent.

The Kremlin denied any involvement in what had happened to him, questioned whether he had really been poisoned, and suggested the whole thing may have been staged.

Mr Navalny was jailed last month for violating parole on what he said were trumped-up charges and is set to serve around two-and-a-half years in prison.

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Western countries have called for his release, and the United States and European Union have imposed sanctions against Moscow over the case.

Yesterday dozens of countries, including the United States, have called on Russia to release Mr Navalny saying his imprisonment was unlawful and demanding an investigation into his poisoning last year.

In a statement read out by Poland to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, they said that actions by Russian authorities against the opposition leader were unacceptable and politically motivated. The 45 countries were mainly European but also included Australia, Canada and Japan.

We call on the Russian Federation for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Navalny and of all those unlawfully or arbitrarily detained, including for exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, freedom of opinion and expression, and freedom of religion or belief, the joint statement said.

We are also concerned by the large number of arbitrary arrests of protesters who were expressing their support for Mr Navalny in many Russian cities, the statement added.

Russia has previously described such criticism as interference in its internal affairs.

Britains ambassador, Julian Braithwaite, said it was disgraceful that Mr Navalny had been jailed while the poisoning was not investigated.

UN human rights experts said on March 1 that Russia was to blame for the attempt to kill Mr Navalny, and called for an international investigation into his poisoning.

Todays statement should be just the start of greater Council scrutiny and action to end the crackdown, John Fisher of New York-based Human Rights Watch said.

The Kremlin called santions imposed on Russian individuals over the affair absurd, unjustified and void of any real impact.
Let's create a splash by bringing together tourism and the creative arts, two industries that have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19

Many of us are itching to go on holiday again

I was watching Irish band The Pillow Queens belt out a live performance of Liffey on James Cordens Late Late Show when the thought struck me.

A similar thing happened watching the brilliantly diverse shortlistees vie for this years Choice Music Prize.

As it did tuning into the Other Voices: Courage 2020 series, where artists like Denise Chaila and Fontaines D.C. played in shuttered spaces like the National Gallery and Kilmainham Gaol.

The thought was this: tourism and the creative industries, especially the performing arts, have been hammered by Covid-19. But cant we do more to bring the two together, giving us a lift, providing much-needed work, and inspiring future trips to Ireland?

Tourism and culture often cross over, from heritage sites to galleries and festivals like Bloomsday. But often, links look backwards, focusing on history, dead male authors or established stars like U2, rather than celebrating the now.

Our cultural heritage is thrilling, and serves us well, but there is so much more to modern Irish creativity in this moment  from design to film, street art, writing and theatre. Its dynamic and diverse, with representation across ages, gender, background and sexuality. Yet so many creators are unable to work, it feels like a golden age wasted.

At the same time, music, film and art have been indispensable to us in lockdown. Weve taken comfort in culture, escaping with live streams, connecting with each other over shows, classes, books. A large diaspora aches to connect with home. Marketing campaigns will soon ask us to keep discovering on staycation. Why not a bold campaign encouraging us (and the world) to discover Irish creativity, including paid work for artists when they need it most?

I know sweeping visions need funding, coordination, buy-in, bravery. To curate and stream events to tourism audiences would be expensive. But both sectors face lasting damage, and both need to take a digital leap. Investing in creativity would give Irish tourism cutting-edge content.

It would show future visitors that our culture is a living thing, not a souvenir stand; that it includes key stops like the Book of Kells and Brendan Behan, but is also a cauldron of contemporary culture, a scene that visitors can learn about virtually, before immersing themselves in as travel, gigs, festivals and crowds return.

Culture and tourism both fall under Minister Catherine Martins portfolio. We have a history of arts support and initiatives like Creative Ireland, or the new Live Performance Support Scheme. We have networks of Irish overseas; mega-stars like Niall Horan and Saoirse Ronan.

St Patricks Day is a super shop window, and this years virtual programming is admirable. But lets not switch off on March 18. Lets get tourism and the creative arts converging with fresh energy today, to make artists livelihoods and cultural tourism more sustainable for tomorrow.
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Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Saturday (March 13) releases his partys manifesto at the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam in the capital city.

The partys manifesto promises a reduction in petrol and diesel prices by Rs 5 and Rs 4 per litre respectively. Additionally, the party will also provide a subsidy of Rs 100 on LPG gas cylinder.

Chennai: DMK President MK Stalin releases party manifesto for Tamil Nadu assembly elections pic.twitter.com/TJhLXHlPMF  ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2021

Earlier, on Friday DMK had released their party's candidates list during a press conference, ahead of upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled to be held in a single phase.

The list revealed that DMK chief, MK Stalin will contest from Kolathur, while his son, Udhayanidhi will fight from Chepauk-Triplicane.

The party, in its manifesto, has also decided to increase the quota for women in government jobs from 30% to 40%. A separate list of promises are made at a religious level in the manifesto including, temple renovation will be done at a cost of 1000crs, Mosque and Church renovation will be done at cost of 200 crores.

The party has taken a strong stand at empowering women in their manifesto as well. The party has promised to provide financial aid of 1500 rupees to 32 lakh women without family, unmarried above 50, differently abled women. Adding to this, women will be able to travel for free in town buses (public transport). Over 24,000 rupees financial aid and two months of maternity leave will be given to pregnant women.

Exuding confidence of a successful poll show, Stalin said the list released by him today was not merely that of candidates but a "success list." "It should be presumed Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) is contesting," he said about the polls that would be the first full Assembly elections to be held in the absence of both Karunanidhi and his rival, the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The assembly elections for 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be conducted in one phase on April 6. The counting of votes is slated for May 2.

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A former bank worker caught with thousands of sexually explicit images of children has been given a fully suspended sentence.

Robert Traynor (54) told gardai that he believed the images were of adults posing as children, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Traynor, with an address in Crumlin, Dublin pleaded guilty to possession of 1,938 images and 183 videos of child pornography on February 2, 2018. He also admitted the production of 1,650 computer generated images on September 22, 2014, contrary to the 1998 child trafficking pornography act.

Sentencing him on Friday, Judge Pauline Codd said the offending material involved the gross exploitation of children, which she described as abhorrent.

The onus is on the courts to protect children from such vile exploitation, she said.

She noted Traynor has undergone counselling since the offences came to light, has engaged well with therapy and has been deemed at a low risk of re-offending.

She handed down a two-and-a-half year sentence and suspended it on a number of conditions, including that Traynor remain under the supervision of the Probation Services for three years and continue to engage in sex offender therapy.

Detective Garda Thomas Burke previously told Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, that as part of an ongoing garda operation into online child exploitation, a computer address was linked to the possession of child pornography images and videos in an online peer to peer network.

Traynor's home was linked to this computer through his internet provider Eir and gardai went to the house in February 2018. Under caution, Traynor told gardai that he had downloaded erotic material but said he believed the images and videos were of adults posing as children.

The court heard Traynor had searched for the images using the Tor browser, which allows users to hide their location.

An external disk drive seized by gardai was found to contain 65 video files and hundreds of images, the court heard. These images showed girls aged between six and 12 posing for the camera where they were sexually exposed.

Over 2,000 computer generated images found in an encrypted folder depicted young girls using sex toys or lying next to naked males.

Traynor told gardai after his arrest that the images were skirting the boundaries but were not child pornography, saying he believed they were actors posing as children.

Dt Gda Burke told Judge Pauline Codd that this was clearly not the case and that they are quite obviously children. He said some of the cartoon images depicted the girls much smaller in size and height than the males, saying it's clear they are young children.

Micheal Hourigan BL, defending, told the court that his client had a good employment history and had previously worked in IT for a bank.

He said as a result of a health condition in his youth, his client became isolated and his sexual development stifled. He has engaged with therapy since the offending came to light and has displayed progress in developing insight into the reasons behind his offending, counsel said.
Kate Middleton made an unannounced visit to a memorial for Sarah Everard this evening as she remembers what it felt like to walk around London at night."

The 33-year-olds remains were found on Friday, over a week after she disappeared in the city

The Duchess of Cambridge (39) was seen leaving flowers at the memorial located in Clapham Common, an area near Everard's home in Brixton, where she was last seen walking on March 3.

"She wanted to pay her respects to Sarah and her family," a royal source said. "She remembers what it felt like to walk around London at night."

Everard's disappearance while walking home sparked a massive police search. On Friday, it was confirmed that remains found over 80km from where she was last seen belonged to Everard.

The Metropolitan Police have since announced that a "serving police constable" has been charged in court "with the kidnap and murder of" Everard.

Wayne Couzens (48) appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday for his first hearing. His next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Everard's death has also prompted many women to share their stories about fearing for themselves when walking at night.

"Like everyone across London, I have been deeply saddened and shocked by the death of Sarah Everard. My heart goes out to her family, friends and everyone who had the joy to know her," Metropolitan Police Commander Catherine Roper said in a statement on Friday.

"No woman in London should be unsafe on London's streets and I understand the strength of feeling that has grown following Sarah's disappearance.

As a woman and a police officer, I want nothing more than for women to feel safe and protected by the police," she added. "But we need to be clear. Our city is still in a battle with Covid-19 with people continuing to be infected and sadly losing their lives. Only a few weeks ago our NHS was at breaking point, we cannot risk undoing all the hard work to reduce the infection rate."

Hundreds of mourners gathered to lay tributes at a grandstand in Clapham Common before a number of police officers moved in.

Footage posted to social media showed scuffles between Metropolitan Police officers and some of the crowd.

In Birmingham more than 100 people defied a police request to stay away from a Birmingham city centre vigil to remember Sarah.

Event organisers had called off the gathering earlier in the day following discussions with West Midlands Police, but people still turned up.

The force had warned those still intending to show up that current Covid-19 regulations do not permit large gatherings.

However, the hour-long vigil, which was addressed by several speakers and included a minute's silence for Ms Everard, passed off without incident and with no obvious sign of uniformed police.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: Tonight I will light a candle for Sarah Everard. The whole country's thoughts are with Sarah's friends and family at this awful time.

Violence against women and girls is still far too common. I will do everything I can to help make our streets safe and to end this injustice.

Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy tweeted footage of the clashes at Clapham Common. This could have been the socially distanced vigil the community needed to remember Sarah and all the women who have lost their lives to violence. We knew what was going to happen if the event was shut down.
Georgian Health Minister Yekaterina Tikaradze said today that the Georgian authorities do not intend to refuse to vaccinate the population against the coronavirus with the British AstraZeneca jab, despite the decision of many European countries to suspend the use of this vaccine due to open side effects.

As for the disseminated information about AstraZeneca, in this regard, we first of all communicated with the WHO, as well as with medical institutions and representatives of these countries. It is important to note that vaccines have serial numbers. There are no troubles with the vaccine that Georgia received, Georgia Online quotes the minister as saying.
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Mark McGowan's Labor Government has claimed a bloodbath victory in the West Australian election, declared just 42 minutes after polls closed with just 0.7 per cent of ballots counted.

Liberal Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup called the premier about two hours after polls closed on Saturday to formally concede defeat. The 34-year-old also lost his own seat.

His party's nightmare scenario has become reality, with the party likely to be reduced to just two MPs and lose their opposition status to the Nationals who have five seats.

Mr McGowan walked into his victory party to ACDC's Thunderstruck with his wife, parents, and three children to tell a rapturous crowd he would be forever grateful for the people of WA.

'The magnitude of what happened today is not lost on me. With it comes great responsibility,' he said.

'We will continue to deliver stable, competent, responsible and caring government for all West Australians.

'To have the support and faith of so many West Australians in one of the most important state elections is a great honour.

'Can I thank those people who voted Labor for the first time in their lives across Western Australia.

'Can I also acknowledge West Australians who didn't vote for us. I promise to work for everyone across Western Australia over these coming four years.'

Mr Kirkup lost his marginal electorate of Dawesville, becoming the first WA Liberal leader to lose his seat since the 1930s. He reiterated that he would not seek re-election at a state or federal level.

'It is a loss that will be difficult to bear,' he said in his concession speech.

'But in so doing we must remember that 2021 is not an end but a beginning. In so doing, we must remember that it is an obligation we all have to make sure that over the next four years, we do all we can to help rebuild this party.'

Mr McGowan was accompanied by his wife Sarah and their children for his victory speech.

'This is a humbling experience. To every last West Australian who voted to re-elect this WA Labor government, thank you so much,' he said.

The ABC's electoral analyst Antony Green called the election for Labor with less than one per cent of the ballots counted and just 42 minutes after the count began.

WA Premier Mark McGowan and Mrs Sarah McGowan (pictured) are seen with ballot papers before casting their votes

Western Australi Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) is set to claim a landslide election victory with the polls closing on Saturday

Early results showed a remarkable and quickly climbing double-digit swing to Labor and an almost 10 per cent fall in the Liberals' vote.

'It's a tsunami, just wiping everything out,' former Liberal figure Colin Barnett said.

Mr Kirkup conceded defeat at 9.30pm local time saying, 'The people of Western Australia have spoken.

'With a very small number of members [in parliament] we must do all we can to hold Labor to account,' he said.

The 34-year-old WA Liberal party leader added that he would not be returning to politics again.

Mark McGowan and wife Sarah celebrate his re-election as WA Premier at the party's HQ on Saturday night

Mark McGowan gives his victory speech to supporters accompanied by his wife and three children (pictured)

'Western Australians have overwhelmingly chosen to elect the McGowan Labor government for a second term in office,' Mr Kirkup said.

'That is obviously very devastating for us here today, it means that we lose incredibly good local members of Parliament and it means that we lose very good candidates who could have been part of the Liberal Party going forward.'

Liberal figures have called for reform as the party faces a wipeout in the state election, possibly holding as few as two seats - down from 13.

It also looks likely that the Nationals will become the official WA opposition, with more seats than the Liberals, with the party's leader Mia Davies saying she was ready to step up.

'If it turns out that's how the number falls, I've said we're ready for the challenge,' she told the ABC.

'We've been around for over 100 years, we have never shied way from a challenge, we'll deal with that bridge and cross it when we come to it.'

Premier Mark McGowan is seen speaking to Labor volunteers at polling booths at the West Byford Primary School on Saturday

Supporters (pictured) of the WA Premier celebrated as the Labor premier stormed ahead in Saturday night's vote count

Labor's parliamentary majority could ultimately be the biggest held by any party in WA's history.

'This is a disaster, let's be honest about it,' retiring former Liberal leader Mike Nahan told the ABC.

'This will be a cleansing for the Liberal party and it will be up to us to get our act into gear.

'Unfortunately we (have) very few seats to work with.'

A call by the Liberals to open WA borders while the state continued to deal with Covid-19 had done 'immense' political damage, Dr Nahan added.

Western Australia's Liberal Candidate Zak Kirkup conceded defeat in the election and said he would be stepping away from politics (pictured arriving at polling booths at Glencoe Primary School in Perth on Saturday)

Retiring Liberal MP Dean Nalder said there were real concerns about the influence of conservative powerbrokers over the party.

'There seems to be this sense of anger (among voters),' he told Perth radio 6PR.

'Some people feel that we lost sight of our values as a Liberal party and we need to regain that.'

Former Liberal MP Murray Cowper said the party would require a root-and-branch overhaul in the wake of the result.

'We have a house on fire - do we let it burn to the ground and rebuild from the ground up?,' he told Seven News.

Cheers rang out across Labor's election-night function as results flashed up predicting gains in Kalgoorlie, Darling Range and Hillarys.

Deputy Premier Roger Cook said voters had rejected the Liberals' campaign against handing Labor too much control.

'People are recognising that Labor's a good government,' he said.

Mark McGowan (pictured with his wife on Saturday) has won a second term as Western Australian premier

'Mark McGowan is a great premier and has led a good government that takes responsible and careful decisions and doesn't act out of temper.'

Liberal MP David Honey's safe seat of Cottesloe is one of the very few the party will have some confidence of retaining.

'There are going to be some really excellent people who will possibly lose their seats,' Mr Honey said.

'The whole electoral cycle just turned to a vote on COVID or how well the government had handled COVID and that's what we've seen coming through to this election.'

Federal Liberal senator Ben Small earlier told Seven News that anywhere between five and 10 seats being held by the party 'will be celebrated'.

The Nationals are set to become the Opposition to McGowan's Labor party with Liberals expected to hold as few as two seats after the election

Mr Kirkup voted alongside his father Rob in his electorate on Saturday, saying he had no regrets about the Liberals' campaign.

Asked whether he ever thought it was possible for the Liberals to win the election, Mr Kirkup - who took over the leadership in November - replied 'probably not'.

'The reality is, history would be going against us in any case - 1974 was the last time that a first-term government was voted out of office in Western Australia,' he said.

Mr McGowan visited a polling place in the district of Hillarys, the Liberals' most marginal seat and one that appears certain to fall to Labor.

The premier said Covid-19 had presented 'one of the biggest crises the country and world has seen since the Second World War'.

'It's been an affirmation for me of the great spirit of our state and we want to have the opportunity to make sure Western Australia stays on its current pathway,' he said.
A FATHER-of-three who became hostile to gardai and tried to get into his car while "heavily intoxicated" had been stressed at having to quarantine at home following a foreign trip, a court was told.

Ion Coptu (43) was aggressive and threatened to harm gardai who called to his house to deal with the incident.

He was fined 200 at Dublin District Court when he admitted public order offences.

Coptu, of Brookwood Meadow, Artane, admitted public intoxication and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour last August 11.

Garda Andrew Purcell told Judge Bryan Smyth he was called to the address following a complaint.

He entered the property and found the accused "clearly intoxicated" and hostile to gardai.

Coptu pushed past the garda, went out into the street and attempted to get into his car and leave the area.

This was not safe as Coptu was intoxicated and the garda asked him to step back into the house.

The accused became abusive and "kept saying to effing arrest him and made threats to harm us", Gda Purcell added.

He was warned over his aggressive behaviour before being arrested and brought to Raheny garda station. He had no previous convictions.

Coptu apologised for his behaviour, his lawyer said.

Judge Smyth fined and convicted him.
The Duchess of Cambridge has visited Clapham Common to pay tribute to Sarah Everard, pausing to look at flowers laid at the memorial.

Kensington Palace said Kate wanted to join the hundreds of people gathered at the commons bandstand so she could pay her respects to the family and to Sarah.

She remembers what it was like to walk around London at night before she was married, the palace added.

A formal vigil set to take place at the south London common, where Ms Everard crossed on her journey home on the night of 3 March, was cancelled over police concerns surrounding public health.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: We take no joy in this event being cancelled, but it is the right thing to do given the real and present threat of Covid-19.

Read more: Sarah Everard vigil latest as groups gather across UK

Reclaim These Streets organisers instead asked people to light a candle in Sarahs memory, at 9.30pm, the last time she was seen alive.

They have also raised more than 320,000 for womens causes: 10K for every proposed fine for the 32 vigils originally scheduled. The figure stood at 337,406 at 7pm on Saturday  the fundraiser was set up in the morning on the same day.

A High Court judge on Friday refused to intervene on behalf of the events organisers over the fight to gather at the common.

The group said it had made suggestions to police about how the vigil could go ahead safely but they were warned each woman organising the event risked a 10,000 fine.

Vigils had been planned in cities across the UK, including Birmingham, Edinburgh and York, but police are thought to have warned their organisers against holding the gatherings as well.

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Show all 36 1 /36 Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A well-wisher places flowers at a bandstand AFP via Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A woman cries at a memorial site at the Clapham Common Bandstand Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People mourn at a memorial site Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People mourn at a memorial site Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A group of women hug as they stand in front of tributes for Sarah Everard Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A photograph of Sarah Everard is left with tributes to her at the bandstand on Clapham Common Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A woman reacts at a memorial site Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Stones with signatures on them lie at a memorial site at the Clapham Common Bandstand Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Two women embrace as they stand before tributes for Sarah Everard Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People leave floral tributes PA Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather to lay flowers and pay their respects Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A message is seen among the flowers on Clapham Common Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People mourn at a memorial site at the Clapham Common Bandstand Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A woman leaves a floral tribute AP Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A woman reacts at a memorial site Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Members of the public surround tributes for Sarah Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Well-wishers make their way towards a band-stand AFP via Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather at a memorial site Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather at a memorial site Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Women gather at the band stand PA Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather at the band stand PA Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A woman reacts as she looks at tributes Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather to lay flowers and pay their respects Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather at the band stand PA Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather at a memorial site Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather at the band stand AP Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A woman holds a sign at a memorial site Reuters Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People gather AP Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil People in the crowd turn on their phone torches PA Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A woman holds up a placard PA Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Well-wishers shout slogans as they gather AFP via Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil A woman is arrested Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Police officers form a cordon AFP via Getty Images Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil Police detain a woman Reuters

Kates visit to the common appears to have been well received, with dozens of people calling it a class act following the chaos that has surrounded the royal family this week due to the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Another user praised Kate as kind and sincere.

Wayne Couzens, a serving Metropolitan Police officer, appeared in court on Saturday charged with Ms Everards kidnap and murder.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 22:46:18|Editor: huaxia

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A medical worker administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a recipient in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 13, 2021. Ethiopian State Minister of Health Dereje Duguma disclosed on Saturday that the east African country plans to give COVID-19 vaccine jabs to 20 percent of its population by March 2022. Duguma disclosed the plan during a ceremony in Addis Ababa to officially start COVID-19 vaccine jabs in the country. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian State Minister of Health, Dereje Duguma disclosed on Saturday that the east African country plans to give COVID-19 vaccine jabs to 20 percent of its population by March 2022.

Duguma disclosed the plan during a ceremony in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa to officially start COVID-19 vaccine jabs in the country.

"The Ethiopian government is working to give COVID-19 vaccine jabs to 20 percent of its population by March 9, 2022," Duguma disclosed.

"In the first phase, the COVID-19 vaccine jabs will be prioritized to sections of Ethiopian society that are engaged in COVID-19 contracting risk occupations, as well as those that are at risk of developing severe illnesses due to the disease," said Duguma.

Ethiopia confirmed its first case of COVID-19 exactly a year ago.

Ethiopia is one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic in Africa, after South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

Boureima H. Sambo, World Health Organization Representative (WHO) Ethiopia Representative, for his part said the development and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has raised hopes, Ethiopia and the world in general, will win the battle against the global pandemic.

Sambo also said the launch of Ethiopia's COVID-19 vaccine jab rollout is an important milestone to help rebuild the east African country's battered economy.

"Today's national launch is an important milestone in the fight against COVID-19 and will allow Ethiopia to reboot its economy and build back better," he said.

Sambo also said despite all recent successes in fighting the spread of COVID-19, the battle to win over the pandemic is far from over.

"Over the past weeks, we have been observing an alarming increase in the number of cases. Also concerning is the increase in the number of severe cases of COVID-19 requiring intensive care, threatening the existing capacities and increasing the risk of overwhelming the health system," Sambo further said.

Sambo also called on the public not to be complacent in adhering to COVID-19 public health guidelines.

"We must all remember that vaccines are only one of the tools in the fight against COVID-19 and not a replacement for the other proven public health prevention measures such as physical distancing, proper use of masks, hand hygiene and ventilating spaces," he said.

Ethiopia received its first 2.2 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX scheme last Sunday.

COVAX, officially known as the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility, is a global collaboration that aims to speed up the development, production and fair distribution of new COVID-19 vaccines.
Each year hundreds of migrant farm workers travel from their home country to work on farms in the Thompson-Nicola. These essential workers are important members of our local food system but also of our community. As a new growing season begins, I ask your readers to think about how we can welcome these workers as they arrive and begin growing the food that sustains us all.



Migrant farm workers come from several different countries including Mexico, Guatemala and Jamaica. They are usually employed under an employer-specific work permit that lasts from a number of months up to two years. During this time, they pay Canadian taxes, EI and CPP while filling a labour shortage that has been identified by the federal government though a Labour Market Impact Assessment. While migrant farm workers are in Canada, they cannot bring their family and face a number of unique challenges. From isolation, to difficulty accessing services, to a lack of recourse in situations of abuse; there are many changes needed in the federal programs under which they work. Furthermore, the COVID-19 has had a particularly devastating impact on workers across the country who often live in communal bunk-houses and face many barriers when it comes to accessing healthcare.



Within this context, many farm workers and advocates are pushing for change. Permanent status upon arrival in Canada, freedom of mobility between employers and workplace rights on par with Canadians, are at the forefront in calls for something better. The challenges that workers face are often structural, but any meaningful change will require a collective shift in our community as well. As those of us who live on this land with permanent immigration status, we need to include these voices in our community planning, our local food movements and our thinking about what justice looks like in the Thompson-Nicola.



So, as we move into spring, let's have a conversation as a community about how we can honour the work that these workers do. Let's talk about how we can stand together while they are here and let's find ways to connect so that we can all grow together.



Mitch Ward

Migrant Worker Outreach

Kamloops Immigrant Services
New Delhi, March 14 : The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) on Friday finalised the names of party candidates for the 75 Assembly seats in West Bengal that will go to the polls in the third and fourth phases on April 6 and April 10, respectively.

After the CEC meeting held at the party headquarters here, BJP General Secretary and West Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya said that the names of the candidates have been finalised for third and fourth phases.

"The names will be announced soon," he said.

BJP national Vice President and senior leader from the state, Mukul Roy, said that the name of actor Mithun Chakraborty was not discussed in the meeting.

Vijayvargiya said that Chakraborty has expressed his desire not to contest the polls.

"The party will field Mithun Da if he is ready to contest the polls," Vijayvargiya said.

Elections will be held in 31 seats in the third phase of West Bengal Assembly polls, while 44 seats will go to the polls in the fourth phase. Earlier, the BJP had announced candidates for 60 Assembly seats where polling will be held in the first two phases.

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in eight phases between March 27 to April 29. The results will be declared on May 2.

The CEC meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national President J.P. Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other members of the panel.

The BJP CEC also finalised the names of party candidates for the Assembly elections in Kerala, scheduled to be held on April 6.
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Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc, the world's largest cinema operator, will start reopening its Los Angeles locations starting with two theaters on Monday, the company said in a statement on Friday.

Cinemas in Los Angeles County, the home of Hollywood and the largest moviegoing market in the United States, have been closed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local authorities cleared them to resume operations again starting on Monday if they limited attendance to 25% capacity.

AMC said it would return to business starting with theaters in Burbank and Century City. The company plans to begin opening the rest of its theaters in the Los Angeles area, and elsewhere in California, starting on March 19.

Los Angeles is the largest market for AMC by number of theaters. The company has 56 theaters in California including 25 in Los Angeles County.

Movie theater chains and independent cinemas were devastated by the extended closures and are hoping that audiences will return in the spring and summer as coronavirus vaccines become more widely distributed.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis)
GPs are again reporting a worrying trend of an increase in people being referred for coronavirus tests as the daily number of cases rose to 646 yesterday amid warnings another surge will curtail next months easing of restrictions.

It comes as fears grow that a rise in cases in recent days may be a signal of complacency setting in which could trigger another increase in spread before the Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out to more at-risk groups in the coming weeks.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned yesterday that progress made between now and April 5 will determine what level of loosening of restrictions will be possible from that point.

The numbers illustrate the dangers of the UK variant, he said. He added that with a week to go to April 5, we will announce and tell people what we are planning to do.

We have already said that we are going to look at construction, outdoor activity and quality-of-life issues for people, he told RTE News. We are all agreed now that we must proceed cautiously. There is no point in opening up and having to close again.

Counties which have the highest 14-day incidence are Longford, Offaly, Dublin and Meath.

The counties with the lowest incidence are Leitrim, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry and Sligo.

There were 10 more deaths reported yesterday among people aged between 41 and 83 years, bringing the death toll to 4,518 so far in the pandemic.

One year on from the first Covid-19-related deaths here, a new international meta-analysis of global studies shows that intensive care mortality from Covid-19 has continued to fall since the start of the pandemic, but the improvement is slowing and may have plateaued.

The study by Professor Tim Cook, a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine in Bath, England, published in the journal Anaesthesia, pointed to an analysis in July 2020 which concluded that overall mortality of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units had fallen from almost 60pc at the end of March 2020 to 42pc by May, a relative decrease of one third.

This new research shows that, in studies up to October 2020, intensive care mortality has fallen again to 36pc.

Thus, while the situation is still improving, the pace of progress has slowed substantially.

The authors said that in the last few months, several studies have clarified which treatments do and do not provide benefit in the intensive care management of Covid-19.

Steroids, particularly dexamethasone, were shown in early June to improve survival in patients who are oxygen-dependent or receiving mechanical respiratory support.

The drugs including hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, lopinavir and remdesivir have been shown to have no clear mortality benefit.

They also note that management of Covid-19 has also likely evolved over the year with changes in approaches to oxygen therapy, fluid therapy and management of blood clotting.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital here has fallen to 344, with 87 in intensive care. However the number of patients in hospital is still the same as it was in November. The Irish Cancer Society said that due to hospital restrictions on visitors, more people than ever want to die at home.

It is looking to recruit more nurses to meet the increasing demand for its night nursing service.

Requests for the free service for patients being cared for by family and friends in their homes surged by as much as 76pc in Kildare, 70pc in Wicklow and 60pc in Dublin.

Demand has continued into the early months of 2021 with more nurses needed in almost all parts of the country.

Meanwhile new figures yesterday showed the huge backlog of non-Covid care which is building up as hospitals are obliged to put many services on hold due to the virus.

There are now nearly 877,000 people waiting to see a specialist or receive care,

Figures show a 56pc increase in the number of patients waiting for hospital pain relief treatment since pandemic began.

More than 1,700 are now waiting longer than a year for treatment  more than a three-fold increase since February 2020, according an analysis of figures by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA)

IHCA president Professor Alan Irvine said the National Treatment Purchase Fund figures highlight the impact of hospital consultant shortages and capacity constraints on those waiting for an outpatient appointment and related treatment.

Timely access to care is vital in ensuring effective treatment and care for patients.

The doctors body pointed to chronic pain as a debilitating condition that requires timely access to care for effective treatment. However, this care is being delayed for more than 5,300 currently, with over 1,700 waiting longer than a year for treatment.
The Cabinet Office will set up a secondary base in Scotland as thousands of civil servants are moved out of London under Boris Johnsons plans.

Staff received an email yesterday revealing 500 officials will be moved to the new Glasgow office by 2024.

The announcement comes only days after it was revealed other departments, including the Treasury, will move staff to cities around the country.

The Cabinet Office will set up a secondary base in Scotland as thousands of civil servants are moved out of London under Boris Johnsons plans. Pictured: The Cabinet Offices on Whitehall in Westminster, London (file photo)

The Cabinet Office, which has a total of 8,500 staff and supports the Prime Minister, is led by Michael Gove.

The Scottish-born Cabinet Office minister is due to visit Glasgow on Monday  and it is understood he will be making an announcement.

Last night, the Financial Times revealed that Alex Chisholm, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office, had written to staff.

Staff received an email yesterday revealing 500 officials will be moved to the new Glasgow office by 2024. Pictured: Glasgow city centre (file photo)

The Cabinet Office, which has a total of 8,500 staff and supports the Prime Minister, is led by Michael Gove (pictured in December)

His email said: As a department with a key responsibility for the Union, it is particularly appropriate that we move to strengthen our presence and commitment in Scotland.

It is understood ministers believe that a secondary headquarters for the Cabinet Office in Glasgow will help demonstrate the benefits of being in the UK.

It was previously revealed Cabinet meetings will be held in Edinburgh in the new Scotland Office headquarters.

The Cabinet Office said: Decision- makers should be close to the people they serve.

Thats why weve committed to relocating civil service roles out of central London, building on the thousands of civil servants we already have working across the United Kingdom.
Ronan O'Meara has been scouring the TV schedules to find films to watch over the next week as we look ahead to St Patrick's Day.

Here are his choices....enjoy!

Peterloo: Saturday, Channel 4 @ 10pm

Manchester. 1819. A crowd peacefully assembles to demand voting rights for all. The British government decide to suppress the meeting and make sure future crowds don't get the same ideas. Director Mike Leigh proves once again he's lost none of his righteous anger at the way the common man will always be downtrodden by the people in charge. A tough and upsetting watch but an important one. Rory Kinnear and Maxine Peake do excellent work as the leads.

Whiplash: Saturday, BBC2 @ 11.20pm

A driven jazz musician is pushed to his very limits by his obsessive teacher. An Oscar winning film that really lives up to the hype. This is an intense study of how hard people will work on what they love. Powerful performances from Miles Teller and especially JK Simmons really sell the film. This is a tough watch and one that will genuinely leave you shattered but wowed as the credits roll. That last 10 minutes......whoa!

Jump: Saturday, TG4 @ 11.30pm

The lives of 4 people come crashing together on one dark New Year's Eve in Derry. Greta, is looking for a way out, Pearse is looking for a missing brother, Johnny is trapped and Marie's head is melting. Next year can only be better for them. A twisty, turny watch that will leave you guessing throughout, it's one that might upset but that's laced with dark humour and carried by a nice cast that includes Martin McCann, Nichola Burley and Richard Dormer.

Halal Daddy: Saturday, RTE One @ 11.45pm

In his small Sligo town Raghdan is trying to start a halal meat business and social differences, his love life and his Da are among the things making life difficult for him. This one is loads of craic, funny in the way only an Irish film can be and full of charming little touches about cultural confusion. Nikesh Patel leads a fine cast that includes Deirdre O'Kane (hilarious) , Colm Meany, Sarah Bolger and Mark O'Halloran.

Clouds Of Sils Maria: Sunday, BBC2 @ 2am

An actress revisits the play that made her career 20 years ago. But this time she's taking an older role and it forces her to re-evaluate things. Juliette Binoche is an actress that just makes it all look effortless and is sublime in the lead role here with some fantastic back up from Kirsten Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz. A mature, emotional, beautiful looking psychological drama that was filmed on location in the Alps.

Red River: Sunday: ITV4 @ 2.10pm

Tom Dunston has 10000 cattle to bring to market and 1000 miles of open terrain to move them across. A task easier said than done when the men hired to work for him start turning on him. Howard Hawke's 1948 western is a true classic. An earthy and authentic look at the hardships of the era. There's an interesting subtext here too, one often present in westerns but rarely commented on. John Wayne, Montgomery Clift and Water Brennan all do splendid work.

I Got Life!: Sunday, BBC4 @ 10pm

Aurore isn't living her best life. The one two-blow of divorce and losing her job has her rattled and impending grandmotherhood (is that a word?) has really shaken her up. Then she runs into the man she loved in the days before marriage stole her youth. This French comedy drama from 2017 is a wry but convivial look at the aspects of womanhood that rarely if ever make it onscreen lead by a superb turn from Agnes Jaoui.

Breaker Morant: Monday, Sony Movies @ 2.55am

During the Boer war of the very early 20th century 3 Australian officers are court martialled for a shooting in a case used to deflect attention away from the horrifying crimes being committed by the men in charge. This masterful anti war drama feels quite familiar to Kubrick's Paths Of glory but the shades of gray here go deeper. Bryan Brown's turn as Morant is a stunner and his final lines will stay with you for an age.

Fright Night: Monday, The Horror Channel @ 9pm

Charlie's new neighbour is a dodgy one, he's acting weird and bodies are popping up around town. No one will believe his suspicions but his friend Evil Ed. This is one of the most satisfying horror comedy's of the 80's. It's a little bit dated but it's still hilariously creepy, gory, gooey & thrilling. Chris Sarandon is on fire as the smooth as hell baddie but Stephen Geoffreys nabs the film as Ed in a bizarre and very memorable role.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: St Patrick's Day, Channel 4 @ 2.15am

Kim Baker, a New York news writer decides to take a job as a reporter in Afghanistan in 2003. She knows it's going to be a tough job but she doesn't realise just how messed up warzones are. This was enjoyable stuff, not as flat out comic as you'd expect of a film starring Tina Fey but there are plenty of funny moments here and there. There's a surprising depth here too. Margot Robbie and Martin Freeman are good value as her co-workers.

The Breadwinner: St Patrick's Day, RTE2 @ 2.45pm

Growing up under Taliban control in Afghanistan is an awful way to live as little Parvana finds out when her father is arrested. Now to support her family she must pretend to be a little boy and brave the outside world. Cartoon Saloon's third feature length animated film steps away from Ireland and into a warzone. It's a scary, stressful but beautiful and heartfelt look at the hardships of being a woman in a man's world. Saara Chaudry's adds amazing voicework to glorious animation.

The Wiremen: St Patrick's Day, RTE One @ 17.35

This one's a beauty. A 10 minute cartoon tale about the introduction of electricity to rural Ireland. For little Rosie it's a source of wonder and amazement. For other, more elderly folk, it's unwanted modernity barging it's way into their lives. We get fun, scares, mysticism and one of the most infamous moments ever to appear on Irish tv. The voices of Ruth McCabe and Alisha Weir bring this lovely modern fairytale to life.

Misery: St Patrick's Day, Film4 @ 9pm

Paul Sheldon is driving home from a writing trip when he crashes in the Rocky mountains and nearly dies. A woman living nearby saves him. A woman named Annie Wilkes. She claims to be his biggest fan. Rob Reiner's 1990 adaption of the Stephen King novel is heady stuff, hilarious, unsettling, brutal and unrelentingly tense. James Caan does first rate work as the banjaxed wordsmith but this film will always belong to Kathy Bates.

Blue Is The Warmest Colour: Thursday, Channel 4 @ 12.55am

In Lille in northern France a girl called Adele meets woman called Emma. They fall in love. We witness the relationship from beginning to end. This film is famous for some pretty explicit love scenes but there is far more to it than that. It's compelling, multilayered stuff filled with pitch perfect acting and spun all around a heartbreaking tale. Lea Seydoux & Adele Exarchopoulos both give brave, brilliant performances.

Song Of The Sea (Amhran na Mara): Thursday, TG4 @ 4.30pm

A brother and his little sister set off on a quest from the lighthouse island they live on with their father when sis falls ill. An animated Irish masterpiece. Imagine a Studio Ghibli film shot through with a huge dose of celtic mysticism and you'll have some idea of what this film is. An enchanting, magical and in places heartbreaking exploration of grief and love that will make you cry, laugh and drop your jaw with awe. This version is in Irish with English subtitles.

3 Godfathers: Thursday, TCM @ 6.45pm

Three cattle rustlers on the run across a desert come across a pregnant woman who dies in childbirth. They decide to do their best to bring her child to safety. This 1948 John Ford film is a western take on the tale of the three wise men and a satisfying one at that. John Wayne as Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower ( what a name ) gives his usual entertaining performance that suits this film to a tee. A heartwarming watch.

The Mountain Between Us: Friday 19/3 RTE One @ 9.35pm

A man and a woman in a rush hire a private plane that crashes smack bang in the middle of the Rocky mountains when the pilot has an ill timed stroke. No one knows where they are and they haven't a clue what to do. This is as melodramatic as movies get but there's a lot of fun to be had watching Kate Winslet and Idris Elba battling against everything mother nature can throw at them. Plus the scenery is absolutely magnificent.

Maps To The Stars: Friday, BBC2 @ 11.20pm

A trip into the slimy and sleazy underbelly of the rich and famous of Hollywood courtesy of David Cronenberg. The stories of a young tourist, a limo driver, a psychiatrist and two actors, one on the way up and one on the way down become intertwined. Great performances from Julianne Moore and John Cusack anchor an intriguingly queasy drama. The much missed Carrie Fisher makes a welcome appearance too.

Blade Of The Immortal: Friday, Film4 @ 11.25pm

Manji is a wandering samurai in medieval Japan who cannot be killed. He's tasked with protecting an orphan and with taking revenge on the men who made her so. Just because he can't die doesn't mean his task is easy. If you haven't seen a Takashi Miike film before you might be appalled at the carnage here but if you have you'll have a wicked time. Plus it (mostly) leaves out the nastier aspects of his earlier works thankfully. Takuya Kimura and Hana Sugisaki do well as ronin and ward.
New Delhi:

The CBI court on Monday sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh 20 years in jail for raping two women. He was also slapped with Rs 15 lakh fine in each case.

After the pronouncement of sentence, security has been beefed up to prevent any untoward incident in Sirsa.



Though the exodus of Dera followers from the sects headquarters in Sirsa started Saturday, several supporters of the self-styled godman are still present in and around the sprawling premises.



A multi-layer security cordon has been thrown around the Rohtak district jail where the CBI special court judge will be flown to pronounce the quantum of sentence against convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.



50-year-old Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been lodged in the Sunaira jail in Rohtak after being convicted of raping his two women followers by a special CBI court in Panchkula on Friday.

Read | Ram Rahim sentencing today: Delhi Police debunks rumours of schools being closed



Here are the live updates:

# 7:15 PM: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh sentenced to 20 years (10-10 in both cases). Both sentences to run consecutively: CBI Spokesperson Abhishek Dayal

#GurmeetRamRahimSingh sentenced to 20 years(10-10 in both cases). Both sentences to run consecutively: CBI Spokesperson Abhishek Dayal pic.twitter.com/i9V9DrxeMp  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 7:02 PM:

Situation in the state is peaceful; strict action will be taken against those who try to disturb peace in the state: Haryana CM ML Khattar pic.twitter.com/vLEde2t6N8  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 6:59 PM:

Total sentence is 20(10-10) yrs,both sentences not consecutive but sentence of 376 & 506 would run concurrently: SK Narwana,#RamRahim lawyer pic.twitter.com/vChO43ms3N  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 6:46 PM:

Judge announced 10 yrs imprisonment & Rs.15 lakh fine each in 2 cases & Rs.14 lakh each to be paid to both victims: #RamRahimSingh's lawyer pic.twitter.com/atoTiHf8ET  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 5:58 PM:

Curfew to be imposed in #Punjab 's Barnala from 9 pm today till 9 am tomorrow: Harjeet Singh, SSP Barnala #RamRahimSingh

#5:53 PM:

# 5:29 PM:

Please be assured that no guilty will be spared during violence probe: AS Dhillon, IG Sirsa #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/gfa2A46XNH  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 5:03 PM:

# 5:00 PM:

Security forces carry out flag march in #Punjab's Barnala after sentencing of #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/L6WrxHbNN3  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 4:52 PM:

Court has set an example that no one can escape the law: Baba Ramdev on 10 year sentence to rape convict #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/rlKCDKXVrO  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 4:51 PM:

Maintaining curfew at 1-2 places today, tomorrow we will review situation & will lift it; mobile Internet to be restored from tmrw:Punjab CM pic.twitter.com/QIgT66bFAP  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 4:29 PM:

Satisfactory; been saying since long #RamRahimSingh is enemy of our society: Anshul Chhatrapati, son of slain journalist who exposed Dera pic.twitter.com/92dsZ1jly0  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 4:14 PM: Army conducts flag march in Haryana's Sirsa after sentencing of Ram Rahim Singh in rape case against him.

# 3:55 PM: Haryana CM ML Khattar calls an emergency meeting of senior state officials, party leaders and ministers at his residence in Chandigarh.

# 3:42 PM:

This (sentence) must be accepted by the people and peace must prevail: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/Arp3bJ0uQV  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 3:35 PM: Ram Rahim is crying and not leaving the court room.

# 3:34 PM: Medical examination of Ram Rahim Singh is being done, after this he will be given a jail uniform and will be allotted a cell in jail.

# 3:33 PM: He was held guilty under section 376, 506 and 511 of Indian Penal Code.

# 3:32 PM: Haryana: Media persons & security deployment near Rohtak's Sunaria Jail; rape convict Ram Rahim Singh sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

#Haryana: Media persons & security deployment near Rohtak's Sunaria Jail; rape convict #RamRahimSingh sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. pic.twitter.com/t8X7urDvPg  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

# 3:29 PM: Gurmeet Singh sentencing: Dera chief gets 10 years for raping two sadhvis

# 3:25 PM: I appeal to Dera followers to peacefully abide by the judgement today: Vipassana Insaan, Dera chairperson

I appeal to Dera followers to peacefully abide by the judgement today: Vipassana Insaan,Dera chairperson #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/BjZSH1Gpoa  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

#3:20 PM: Dera followers set two vehicles ablaze in Phulka

#3:07 PM: CBI argues that Gurmeet Singh rape case is rarest of rare demands for maximum punishment

#3:07 PM: Dera chief Gurmeet Singh cries inside the court during hearing

#3:00 PM: Arguments finish in quantum of sentence, CBI Judge starts reading judgement



#2:51 PM: Defence argues Gurmeet Singh is a social worker who has worked for welfare of people, so judge should take a lenient view



#2:45 PM: CBI demands maximum punishment (Min: 7 years, Max: Life imprisonment in this case)

#2:37 PM: Prosecution demands maximum punishment for rape convict #RamRahimSingh in the rape case

#2:37 PM: Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh has allotted 10 minutes each to both sides to put forth their arguments

#Special CBI Judge Jagdeep Singh starts proceedings of a makeshift court inside Rohtak Jail to pronounce quantam of sentence to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

#Haryana Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh reaches Rohtak's Sonaria jail for quantum of sentence hearing of #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/W0SxM40abn  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

#2:06 PM: Makeshift court set up inside Rohtak jail, special CBI judge to pronounce sentence shortly

#2:00 PM: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh 's lawyer SK Narwana reaches makeshift court in Rohtak Jail ahead of quantum of sentence hearing

#12:50 PM: Jail sources say this made Baba furious & he threatened taking names of CM & ministers but police took stand&didn't let her stay: S Mahajan



#12:50 PM:Daughter accompanied him in chopper. She stayed in jail for 2.5 hrs after which jail DG objected&she was taken away: S Mahajan, Journalist



#12:50 PM:So he be given attendant.Court said it's outside jurisdiction&authorities can permit only if she(daughter Honeypreet) is wiling: S Mahajan



#12:50 PM:Probed&found after Baba( #RamRahimSingh) was convicted, lawyers filed plea,stating his medical conditions: Sanjiv Mahajan, Journalist



Spl CBI judge leaves from Panchkula,expected to reach Rohtak within 40 min.Court proceedings at Sonaria jail to begin at 2:30 #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/l2QDYFdUoS  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017



#11:45 AM: Spl CBI judge Jagdeep Singh leaves from Panchkula, expected to reach Rohtak within 40 min. Court proceedings at Sonaria jail to begin at 2:30

Haryana: Railway stations deserted in Karnal ahead of #RamRahimVerdict, security on alert pic.twitter.com/sKUb9SrSe7  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

#11:30 AM: Meeting on Punjab, Haryana situation at North Block ends. Officials have been directed to continuously monitor the situation

#11:12 AM: The Centre today said the situation in Haryana, which is braced for the sentencing of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, is tense but under control with the Army conducting flag march in sensitive areas.



Officials said security has been tightened across Haryana while the Delhi Police is in full alert to foil any attempt by anyone to disturb peace.



As per report of the DGP control Room, Haryana, the situation is tense but under control. Columns of Army are doing flag march continuously, a Home Ministry spokesperson said.



#Punjab: Flag march being conducted by police and Rapid Action Force in Barnala ahead of rape convict Dera Chief #RamRahimSingh's sentencing pic.twitter.com/IisHCbCReB  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

#10: 53 AM: High-level meeting underway at North Block to discuss security situation in Punjab, Haryana ahead of Ram Rahim Singh's sentencing. HM Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, Home Secy, Director IB & other Home Ministry officials present at ongoing meeting in North Block.

#10:37 AM: Objectionable items were kept hidden in fields, interrogation underway: Navdeep Singh Virk, IGP Rohtak Range

#10:30 AM: Have recovered around 100 objectionable items including batons from Sonipat's Bahalgarh Dera: Navdeep Singh Virk, IGP Rohtak Range



#10:00 AM:Have multi-layered security to see ppl don't gather, or any untoward incident takes place:Navdeep Singh Virk,IGP Rohtak Range



#9:55 AM:If any unidentified person tries to go near high security area at Sunaria jail complex, 'shoot at sight' can be implemented:IGP Rohtak Range



#9:50 AM: 23 Dera followers arrested in Punjab's Sangrur till now.

Security checks conducted in #Haryana's Panchkula, had witnessed 32 deaths in violence after #RamRahimSingh's conviction (early morning pix) pic.twitter.com/emdEVVBoua  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

Ahead of #RamRahimSingh's sentencing in Rohtak's Sunaria jail in Haryana, security tightened in Punjab: Visuals from Barnala Railway station pic.twitter.com/rUP5G6NnIb  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

#Haryana: Woman desiring to meet #RamRahimSingh at Sunaria jail, arrested from Sunaria Outer bypass Naka 7 last night, sent to Jhajjar jail pic.twitter.com/UpaIw4nWff  ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017



A special courtroom has been set up in the Sunaria Jail in Rohtak.



A special courtroom has been set up on the instructions of the high court within the jail and proceedings will be carried out there, which are expected to be conducted at around 2:30 in the afternoon tomorrow, IG (Rohtak Range), Navdeep Singh Virk said on Sunday.



Once beaten, twice shy Haryana Police is ready to take every possible action to avoid repetition of Panchkula violence and a shoot at sight order could also be implemented if Dera followers resort to lawlessness.

Read | Ram Rahim sentencing today: Heavy security Bundobust in Rohtak, shoot at sight orders if situation demands



Will implement shoot-at-sight orders if anti-social elements try to harm self or others, will take strong action according to the situation, news agency ANI reported Rohtak DC as saying.



Meanwhile, locals have been asked to stay indoors as a preventive measure.We have made appropriate arrangements to maintain law and order in the district, a senior police official said.



The district administration is also providing buses to facilitate the departure of Dera followers.

Read | Ram Rahim case: Haryana Police forms special investigation team to examine substance found in Dera cavalcade

#GurmeetRamRahimSingh 's lawyer SK Narwana reaches makeshift court in Rohtak Jail ahead of quantum of sentence hearing

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
An original Air Jordan 1 Low colorway is reportedly making its way back to stores soon.

Images of the Air Jordan 1 Low Neutral Grey have surfaced, a clean makeup of Michael Jordans first signature shoe that debuted in 1985. According to sneaker leak account @zSneakerheadz, the classic iteration is receiving a reissue this summer.

More from Footwear News

The look of the low-cut silhouette is executed in a predominantly white leather upper thats coupled with gray accents on the suede Swoosh branding that continues onto the heel tab. Adding to the clean color scheme are white shoelaces with a matching tongue, while the Nike Air branding on the tag comes in gray. Sticking to the simple execution is a white foam midsole and a gray rubber outsole.

Although the Air Jordan 1 Low Neutral Grey originally released in 1985, that wasnt the only time the style was made available. The brand also reissued this iteration in March 2015, however it was only available at select retailers in Europe.

Images of the forthcoming Air Jordan 1 Low Neutral Grey style have surfaced, but release info has not been confirmed by Jordan Brand. However, @zSneakerheadz is reporting that the shoe will be released at select Jordan Brand stockists on June 24.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 19:24:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

TBILISI -- Georgia on Saturday received its first batch of 43,200 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine via the COVAX platform.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines will be given to priority groups including medical workers from Monday, which will mark the beginning of the nationwide vaccination campaign in Georgia, Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said at a news briefing in Tbilisi.

- - - -

MOSCOW -- Russia registered 9,908 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide tally to 4,380,525, the country's COVID-19 response center said in a statement Saturday.

Meanwhile, another 475 deaths were reported, taking the country's death toll to 91,695.

- - - -

ADDIS ABABA -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,015,057 as of Saturday noon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union, said the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 107,229, while 3,599,219 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease.

- - - -

MINSK -- Belarus reported 1,182 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking its total to 301,328, according to the country's health ministry.

There have been 1,321 new recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 292,186, the ministry added.

- - - -

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 47 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, taking its total tally to 11,257.

The new cases included 43 local infections and four imported ones. There were also over 10 cases testing positive for COVID-19 preliminarily, according to the CHP.

- - - -

ULAN BATOR -- Mongolia registered 169 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest daily increase, raising its national tally to 3,833, the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Saturday.

The latest cases were detected in the country's capital Ulan Bator, the country's hardest hit region, the NCCD said. Enditem

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Polls have opened in Western Australia with Premier Mark McGowan tipped to lead Labor to a victory that could wipe out much of the Liberal opposition.

Voting is underway at more than 700 polling places, with the polls set to close at 6pm on Saturday.

More than 750,000 people have already voted prior to polling day.

Polls have opened in Western Australia with Premier Mark McGowan tipped to lead Labor to a victory that could wipe out much of the Liberal opposition

With Labor expected to comfortably win a second term, the focus is on how many seats the already-depleted Liberals can manage to save.

A Newspoll published in The Weekend Australian newspaper has Labor leading the Liberals 66 to 34 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

It would reduce the Liberals to as few as three seats if replicated at the ballot box.

Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup is at risk of becoming the first WA Liberal leader to lose his seat since the 1930s.

The 34-year-old holds the seat of Dawesville by a margin of just 0.8 per cent and has vowed to quit politics if he is voted out.

Such a result would likely spell disaster for other Liberal MPs vying to save their seats.

Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup is at risk of becoming the first WA Liberal leader to lose his seat since the 1930s

It would also suggest Mr Kirkup's decision to concede defeat a fortnight before polling day and warn against giving Labor 'total control' was a tactical failure.

Mr Kirkup put on a brave face after voting alongside his father Rob in his electorate on Saturday, saying he had no regrets about the Liberals' campaign.

'I'm very hopeful of continuing to serve in the district of Dawesville and working alongside as many Liberal colleagues as possible in the WA parliament,' he said.

Asked whether he ever thought it was possible for the Liberals to win the election, Mr Kirkup - who took over the leadership in November - replied 'probably not'.

'The reality is, history would be going against us in any case - 1974 was the last time that a first-term government was voted out of office in Western Australia,' he said.

'But what's at risk right now is that the Labor party is returned with such a landslide majority that there is no one left to hold them to account.'

Federal Minister Andrew Hastie is seen greeting WA Liberal Candidate Zak Kirkup

Mr McGowan visited a polling place in the district of Hillarys, the Liberals' most marginal seat and one that appears certain to fall to Labor.

The premier said now was not the time for change.

'National cabinet was formed a year ago today and over that time we've dealt with one of the biggest crises the country and world has seen since the Second World War,' he said.

'It's been an affirmation for me of the great spirit of our state and we want to have the opportunity to make sure Western Australia stays on its current pathway.'

Labor had been expecting Mr Kirkup to survive in Dawesville based on its internal polling.

The party is confident of gaining seats but there is little chance it will gain control of the upper house due to the extra weighting given to regional votes.
The Orlando Police Dept. is looking for the person involved in a fatal hit-and-run that occurred on Feb. 27 on Conroy road.

The suspect was traveling westbound of Conroy road when he struck Jason Stiteler, a 17-year-old resident of the area, and fled the scene.

Authorities identified the vehicle as a 2006 to 2007 2-door Honda Accord.

Stiteler was found by passers-by who informed authorities.

He was pronounced dead on the scene.

If anyone has any knowledge of this incident or encountered a vehicle with this description, are asked to contact OPD by dialing 321-235-5300.
The serving Metropolitan Police officer accused of murdering Sarah Everard has appeared in court for the first time.

Police constable Wayne Couzens, 48, is charged with kidnapping and killing the 33-year-old marketing executive, who went missing while walking home from a friends flat in south London on March 3.

Her body was found hidden in an area of woodland in Ashford, Kent, on Wednesday.

Couzens appeared in person at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday morning for his first appearance following his arrest on Tuesday.

Expand Close A police van arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court, where police constable Wayne Couzens is to appear charged with the murder of Sarah Everard (Steve Parsons/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp A police van arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court, where police constable Wayne Couzens is to appear charged with the murder of Sarah Everard (Steve Parsons/PA)

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on March 16.

The Metropolitan Police previously said Couzens joined the force in 2018, most recently serving in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, an armed unit responsible for guarding the Parliamentary estate and embassies in London.

His main job was uniformed patrol of diplomatic buildings and Scotland Yard said he was not on duty at the time of Ms Everards disappearance.

The force said that Couzens, of Deal, in Kent, was taken to hospital for a second time in 48 hours on Friday for treatment to another head injury suffered in custody, before he was discharged and returned to a police station.

He was previously treated in hospital for a separate head wound on Thursday, also sustained in custody when he was alone in his cell.
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Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Overcast with showers at times. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
File photo taken on Oct. 19, 2019 shows the European Union flag and the Union Jack flag outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

The ONS said multiple factors may have attributed to the falling trade in goods between Britain and the EU. In addition to the changes facing Britain after the transition period ended, the country went into another national lockdown at the beginning of January.

LONDON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Britain's exports of goods to the European Union (EU) fell by 40.7 percent in January while imports from the bloc dropped by 28.8 percent, the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Friday.

Falling imports of goods, excluding non-monetary gold and other precious metals, were largely seen in machinery and transport equipment, and chemicals from the EU in January, particularly in imports of cars and medicinal and pharmaceutical products, according to the ONS.

January marked the first month of trade after the Brexit transition period ended on Dec. 31, 2020.

Photo taken on Jan. 1, 2021 shows the Calais Port in France. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)

The ONS said multiple factors may have attributed to the falling trade in goods between Britain and the EU. In addition to the changes facing Britain after the transition period ended, the country went into another national lockdown at the beginning of January.

Stockpiling of goods from the EU increased in November and December 2020 in preparation for the end of the Brexit transition period, just like Britain's goods imports from the EU also peaked in the weeks approaching previous Brexit deadlines in March and October 2019, the ONS said.

The ONS said data suggested that importing and exporting to the EU began to increase toward the end of January 2021.

The British government announced on Thursday that it will delay post-Brexit checks on some EU goods coming into Britain to help firms recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for health certificates on imports such as meat and milk will be pushed back from next month to October.

In contrast to the falling exports to the EU, exports of medicines and pharmaceutical products to non-EU countries increased by 0.3 billion pounds (about 0.42 billion U.S. dollars) in January, and a large proportion is represented by increasing exports to China and Japan, according to the ONS.

A ship arrives at the Port of Dover in Dover, Britain, Jan. 1, 2021. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 75F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 59F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
NASA Scientists Discover Exoplanet That 'lost One Atmosphere, But Gained Another' | Watch

US space agency NASA on March 11 shared about an exciting rocky planet that lost one atmosphere but gained another. While taking to Twitter, NASA informed that Hubble studied an exoplanet and discovered that it might have a secondary atmosphere caused by volcanic activity. They also shared a blog link that explains the discovery of the rocky planet, GJ 1132 b.

Scientists using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have found evidence that a planet orbiting a distant star may have lost its atmosphere but gained a second one through volcanic activity, NASA said.

This rocky planet may have lost one atmosphere, but gained another!



Hubble studied an exoplanet (a planet outside our solar system) and found that it might have a secondary atmosphere caused by volcanic activity: https://t.co/wyuwpMx1io pic.twitter.com/2zspgcrMnY  Hubble (@NASAHubble) March 11, 2021

Read full story here

WHO Gives Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Listing

After Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine, the World Health Organization on March 12approved the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. In a statement, the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that every new, safe and effective tool against COVID-19 is another step closer to controlling the pandemic. The UN agency said that the J&J had been granted the emergency use listing which assesses the suitability of new health products during public health emergencies, and is quicker than the regular licensing system.

.@WHO gave emergency use listing to Johnson & Johnsons #COVID19 vaccine, the first to be listed as a single-dose regimen. As new vaccines become available, we must ensure they become part of the  solution, & not another reason some countries and people are left further behind.  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 12, 2021

The #COVAX Facility has booked 500M doses of the J&J vaccine, and we look forward to receiving them as soon as possible. #HealthWorkers and older people all round the world need this vaccine, COVAX is ready to deliver it, and countries are ready to roll it out. #VaccinEquity  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 12, 2021

Read full story here

PM Modi Had 'fruitful Discussions' At QUAD Summit; Pledged Vaccines For Indo-Pacific: MEA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with leaders of the US, Japan, and Australia participated in the first Leaders summit of the Quadrilateral Framework on March 12. Following the summit, PM Modi said that he had fruitful discussions with Joe Biden, Scott Morrison and Yoshihide Suga. While taking to Twitter, PM Modi said the discussions on vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies make the QUAD a positive force for global good and for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Had fruitful discussions with @POTUS @JoeBiden, PM @ScottMorrisonMP and PM @sugawitter at the 1st Quad Summit.



Reiterated Indias commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific in line with our vision of SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2021

Read full story here

Biden Admin To Reconsider Objections To H1B Visas During Trump Regime

The Biden administration on Friday said it is willing to reconsider the objections or adverse decisions to foreign workers on visas like H-1B due to the three policy memos by the previous Trump administration which now have been rescinded. The move is expected to come to the rescue of a large number of Indian IT professionals who were having a tough time during the previous Trump administration due to various policies and memorandums on non-immigrant work visas, in particular H-1B.

Read full story here

QUAD Leaders Pledge To Strengthen Cooperation & Strive For 'free, Open, Inclusive' Region

The QUAD leaders on March 12 vowed to strive for a free, open and inclusive region unconstrained by coercion - referring to China which is flexing its military muscle in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. In a joint statement issued after the Leaders Summit of the Quadrilateral alliance attended by US President Joe Biden, PM Narendra Modi, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga, the leaders pledged to strengthen cooperation on the defining challenges of our time. They also said that the four countries are committed to working together and with a range of partners.

The statement titled The Spirit of the QUAD, read, We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific. We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion.

Read full story here
Lee University School of Nursing students created and delivered handmade cards for residents and staff at Legacy Village, Tennova Healthcare, and CHI Memorial Hospital.

According to Kathleen Rose, assistant professor of nursing at Lee, the students made valentines and encouragement cards to celebrate the holiday and show support and care and delivered them to residents and healthcare workers at Legacy Village in Cleveland, an assisted living facility.

We are grateful for the partnership with Lee and the various schools we work with within the university as we both jointly fulfill and support our individual missions of excellence, said Bryan Cook, president of Legacy.

Cards were also sent to COVID-19 ICU nurses, among others, at Tennova Healthcare Center in Cleveland and Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga. They were then posted around the nursing units for all to enjoy.

As a nursing unit, we have had an outpouring of uplifting gestures from our community, from people we dont even know, from people just looking to give us a little encouragement, said Nicholas Laney, a nurse at Memorial. We are grateful for the time taken by these students and the encouragement that was brought to us.

Abby Stone, a Lee alumna and nurse at Memorial, said Sometimes its a small thank you that makes a world of difference. Nurses supporting nurses is a powerful thing.

Hospitals around the country have been under great stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the nursing students at Lee wanted to show their care and support by sending these special cards and notes of encouragement, according to Ms. Rose.

It is how we as individuals in healthcare respond to hardship that defines us, and the care we continue to offer to everyone in these times, especially those on the frontlines, said Sarah Londres, a Lee senior nursing student, who helped make the cards. My passion comes from the genuine gratitude I have for each person who fights for individual lives, the most beautiful part of our world.

For more information about Lees School of Nursing, visit https://www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/.






Opposition supporters have rallied in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

Demonstrators shouting "Nikol, you traitor!" and "Nikol, go away!" surrounded the Foreign Ministry building where Pashinian had a meeting on March 13.

Later in the day, protesters rallied outside the residence of Armenia's largely ceremonial president, Armen Sarkisian, where Pashinian also held talks over ways to defuse the political crisis that has gripped the Caucasus country since a war with neighboring Azerbaijan last year.

Pashinian, whose My Step faction dominates parliament, has refused opposition demands to resign but has hinted at accepting early parliamentary elections under certain conditions.

Pashinian, who swept to power amid nationwide protests in 2018, has come under fire since agreeing to a Moscow-brokered deal with Azerbaijan that took effect on November 10, 2020, ending six weeks of fierce fighting in and around the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh that saw ethnic Armenian forces suffer battlefield defeat.

Under the cease-fire, a chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by Armenians.

Joint Opposition Candidate

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region's population reject Azerbaijani rule.

They had been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region and seven adjacent districts in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.

A coalition uniting 16 opposition parties has been holding anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan and other parts of the country in a bid to force Pashinian to hand over power to an interim government.

Opposition forces want their joint candidate, Vazgen Manukian, to become transitional prime minister to oversee fresh elections.

Sarkisian and Pashinian discussed "the situation in the country [and] ways of resolving it and overcoming the internal political crisis," the president's office said on March 13.

"In this context, they discussed holding early parliamentary elections as a solution," the presidential office said, adding that Sarkisian had called for the meeting.

The leaders of My Step and one of the two opposition groups, Bright Armenia, also accepted Sarkisian's invitation to the March 13 talks, and held meetings with the president later in the day.

The talks included Lilit Makunts, the parliamentary leader of My Step, and Manukian, the former prime minister and ex-defense minister.

The opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) and the Homeland Salvation Movement, an alliance of about a dozen political parties and groups, including the BHK, demanding Pashinian's resignation, would not participate, the president's office said.

Opposition activist Ishkhan Saghatelian said the opposition would only discuss its participation in snap elections if Pashinian stepped down and parliament was dissolved.
India's formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, the US and Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, after the 'Quad' leaders' summit.

In a series of tweets, PM Modi reiterated India's call for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

"Had fruitful discussions with President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and PM (Yoshihide Suga) @sugawitter at the first Quad Summit. Reiterated India's commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific in line with our vision of SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region," Prime Minister wrote in a tweet.

"United in our fight against COVID-19, we launched a landmark Quad partnership to ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines. India's formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, US & Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region," he added.

Prime Minister Modi said that the quad would be a positive force for global good and for peace in the region.

"Our discussions today on vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies make the Quad a positive force for global good and for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," he said further.

Noting that Quadrilateral Security Dialogue has come of age, Prime Minister Modi on Friday said during his speech that the countries will work together closer than ever before for promoting "a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific" and Quad will now remain an important pillar of stability in the region.

During the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the four leaders - the US, Australia, India and Japan - stressed for a free, open and rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is "anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion".

In a joint statement, the Quad leaders said: "We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific. We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion."

"Today, the global devastation caused by COVID-19, the threat of climate change, and security challenges facing the region summon us with renewed purpose," they said. The Quad is a strategic forum comprising India, Japan, Australia and the United States of America, held its first-ever head of states meet virtually on Friday.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  We were in a bar in Northeast Albuquerque on a sunny Sunday afternoon to raise a glass to a dear friend who had died.

The four of us have been friends and colleagues for years, as was our friend, yet we rarely found time anymore to get together like we had in our younger, less tethered days.

It took death to bring us together again. We regretted that.

It was March 15, 2020, and we were about to regret much more.

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COVID-19 came with so much regret. It changed everything, took away people and things we had so carelessly taken for granted.

As we sat in that bar, an alert came across on my phone: Starting that next morning, the state was ordering restaurants, bars, breweries, eateries and other food establishments to operate at 50% capacity. More than six people could no longer sit at a single table, and those tables needed to be at least 6 feet apart.

Well, its happening, I recall telling my companions as I looked around the bar and imagined fewer tables, fewer people. Under the new order, the folks jovially chatting at the bar would not be allowed to sit there. I dont think any of them knew that then.

Four days later, nobody would be sitting anywhere in that bar or any other bar, restaurant and brewery under an even stricter mandate issued March 19 by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that all but shut down the state.

We had known it was coming. COVID-19 had begun seeping into the state by March 11 when three cases were identified: A husband and wife, both in their 60s, from Socorro County who had recently traveled to Egypt. A woman in her 70s from Bernalillo County who had recently returned from New York.

On the night of March 10 last year, I was contacted by friends of several of the 21 New Mexicans trapped for a week aboard the doomed Grand Princess, quarantined, docked and seemingly forgotten at the Port of Oakland after people aboard had tested positive for coronavirus.

One of them, Carolyn Wright of Santa Fe, sent me haunting photos of her fellow passengers during the 20 minutes they were allowed to leave their cabins each day. They were bundled up, wore masks, stood far apart as if they were avoiding each other, which they were. It all looked so bizarre, so otherworldly  then.

Cindy Rizzo of Los Lunas told me she was out of medication, her luggage was taken somewhere and nobody was telling her or her husband what came next. Were being treated like animals, like outcasts, she said.

I relayed their urgent messages to Lujan Grishams people, but by March 12 it was obvious her staff was already feeling swamped by the first wave of the pandemic.

Dont you think we are trying to work on answers? We have not slept, one spokesman wrote in a terse email. This is a public health crisis.

And it was just beginning.

On March 13 last year, many of us in the newsroom changed our voicemail greetings to let callers know we would be working from home for the duration. I havent set foot in the newsroom since.

These are among my memories of the Last Everything before COVID-19. You have your own  the last get-together with friends, the last day at the office, the last cruise, the last hug, the last roll of toilet paper on the shelf, the last time seeing a loved one alive, the last normal.

We also have our own memories of the First Everything  the first mask, the first curbside order, the first Zoom meeting, the first gray hair left alone, the first sting of hand sanitizer, the first missed birthday, the first case of COVID-19 in our circle of friends and family, the first death, the first day without someone we love.

The first week of the pandemic gave way to the first month, then the first season, then the first semester and, now, the first year.

I cant believe its only been a year, Wright, one of the cruise ship passengers, wrote me this week. Somehow it feels like it was a lifetime ago!

She and her travel companion, Beryl Ward, finally made it back to New Mexico eight days after they were scheduled to, on the same day I had hung out with friends in that bar, as it happens.

Ward was terrified of catching COVID-19 and had not been in a store, restaurant or public building until a few days ago when she, Wright and two friends, all of whom have received their vaccines, went out to dinner.

It was a celebration, but an uneasy one.

I think that it is really going to take some adjustment for many of us to be comfortable in a crowd again, Wright said.

Her travails on what she calls the plague ship were the first COVID-19-related columns I wrote. But they werent the last. Over the months, I sought to capture how youve weathered the pandemic, from learning to bake bread, sew masks, paint rocks, cut hair, hold drive-by parades and teddy bear scavenger hunts, how you have grieved over the loss of a loved one, a job, a business, a dream.

I have tried to chronicle the ways you have cheered on health care workers, supported front-line workers, how you have found new ways of shopping and celebrating and visiting and surviving.

I have especially been grateful to write about the way you have triumphed. You have gotten married, found love, found ways out of loneliness, found ways to carry on the memories of those you have lost, found ways to be kinder to each other through this most unkind time.

Ive had plenty to write about, thanks to you.

On this anniversary of Last and First, its time to look to the Next, bravely and clear-eyed, our memories as lessons of the worst. Let us embrace it with no regrets.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column.
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You are here: China

China pushed ahead with its land-greening efforts in 2020, increasing the nation's forest coverage while strengthening the protection of both forests and grasslands, according to an official report.



Last year, 6.77 million hectares of forest was added, while 8.37 million hectares of forest was tended, said the report from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

China improved the ecology of 2.83 million hectares of grassland and carried out desertification prevention-and-control work on over 2.09 million hectares of land in the past year.

A total of 827,000 hectares of farmland was returned to forest or grassland, and more than 1.68 million hectares of pasture was rehabilitated, said the report.

The country also ramped up efforts to protect forest and grassland resources, restoring 1.97 million hectares of degraded forest and implementing grazing bans on 82 million hectares of grassland.
New Hartford, N.Y. - When it was announced on Wednesday that MVHS in Utica received a shipment of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from New York State and would administer those doses on Saturday at their Burrstone Road vaccination pod, just over the Utica line in New Hartford, those slots filled up very quickly on the State Health Department's website, and it wasn't just local people that signed up.

Gloria Fletcher of Auburn signed up and was at her appointment in New Hartford early Saturday morning and says she was more than willing to make the hour and a half trip, "I could've gotten the Pfizer at the fairgrounds but I don't want Pfizer, I wanted the Johnson & Johnson."

It was just two weeks ago back on Saturday, February 27th that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use and since then many people across the country have wanted to try and make sure they got that particular vaccine because it's only a one shot vaccine instead of two, like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Gloria Fletcher wasn't alone in making the long trip on Saturday specifically to get the J & J vaccine in New Hartford, Shawn Gilbert also made an hour and a half trip, but from Cortland, "I feel great about getting the J & J. One and done."

Bill West made the one hour trip down to New Hartford from Old Forge, "I wanted the single dose. I thought it would be much better than to wait three weeks for a second dose, and I could be getting my immunity right away.

There are however, many people who don't want the Johnson & Johnson because the J & J clinical trials have shown the drug's efficacy was 66%, whereas Moderna and Pfizer's versions were both above 94%.

Efficacy in this case means preventing symptomatic COVID infection. The trial has also shown that in those people that did get COVID after getting the J & J vaccine, the drug was 85% effective in protecting against severe symptoms, and there were no hospitalizations or deaths among people in the vaccine trial.

Shawn Gilbert of Cortland says she trusts the science, "I feel like they wouldn't have released it if it wasn't something that wasn't fully capable of doing the job."

Some, like Gloria Fletcher of Auburn, say they are more comfortable with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because there haven't been many reports of severe side effects since Americans started receiving the single dose vaccine across the country almost two weeks ago, "I've heard a lot more side effects, especially from the Moderna, and in the Pfizer as well, and I haven't heard anything really much (with J & J vaccine), some soreness, a spike in temperature maybe for a couple of hours afterwards with a Johnson & Johnson."

U.S. health officials say when it comes to getting vaccinated, get what you can get, when you can get it. They say all three vaccines are safe and all protect against severe cases of COVID and even death if you do get it, plus each dose brings the country that much closer to herd immunity.
Natalie Barr has been officially confirmed as Samantha Armytage's permanent replacement on Channel Seven's Sunrise.

In a statement on Sunday, the 52-year-old told viewers she's looking forward to stepping into Samantha's shoes.

'Sunrise has been my work family for 18 years and while I've absolutely loved my role as newsreader, I've now been given the chance to move half a metre along the desk closer to Kochie and give something new a try,' she said.

It's official! Newsreader Natalie Barr, 52, (pictured) has been confirmed as Samantha Armytage's permanent replacement on Channel Seven's breakfast show Sunrise

'I like to think of it as same same, but different. I can't wait!' Natalie said.

As of Monday, Natalie will sit alongside co-host David 'Kochie' Koch on the panel as she makes her official debut in the coveted role.

In a statement, Kochie praised Natalie for her dedication to Sunrise, saying: 'Nat has been there every step of the way as we've evolved Sunrise over the past 18 years.'

'Our viewers know Nat is way more than just a newsreader. For years she has always stepped up as a co-host, filling in for Sam and I, and spent much of last year leading our coverage of the COVID pandemic,' he continued.

Can't wait! In a statement on Sunday, the presenter told viewers she's looking forward to stepping into Samantha's shoes

'We all love her wicked sense of humour and no-nonsense approach to life. Nat and I have always had a very close relationship  I've seen her sons grow into fine young men, walked The Kokoda Track with her husband, Drew, and her mum Julie is so gorgeous.'

He added: 'Nat is a wonderful person, with a wonderful family, and I can't wait to sit alongside her as we continue to evolve Sunrise.'

It comes after Natalie filled in as Sunrise co-host on Friday, just a day after Samantha completed her last ever shift on the show.

Dynamic duo! The popular presenter happily sat alongside host David 'Kochie' Koch (right) and presented the program

Front-woman: Natalie is pictured front and centre in new promo pictures for Seven's Sunrise lineup

The popular presenter happily sat alongside Kochie and presented the program.

Natalie was at ease in the role, which she has been doing every Friday before Sam's resignation, after the blonde switched to a four-day working week last year.

Sam, 44, marked her last day on Sunrise on Thursday, and broke down in tears during an emotional farewell.

She had announced her resignation live on air on Monday, saying she wanted to step back from TV to spend more time with her family.

She fits right in! Natalie temporarily replaced Samantha on the Sunrise panel on Friday - just one day after the former host bid farewell to the breakfast program

Gone: Sam, 44, marked her last day on Sunrise on Thursday and broke down in tears during an emotional farewell

Sam, who was supported by her husband, Richard Lavender, and her Sunrise co-hosts on Thursday, took aim at the wider Australian media as she bid farewell to viewers.

'I do want to say that I never fully understood some of the scrutiny and the snarkiness and the bullying from some aspects of the media,' she said.

'But today we move on from that, because there is a new chapter starting and it has been overwhelmingly a good experience in my life.'

Emotional: Sam, who was supported by her husband, Richard Lavender, and her Sunrise co-hosts on Thursday, took aim at the wider Australian media as she bid farewell to viewers

She continued: 'Most of all, I thank all of our viewers. You are just wonderful people. There are so many lovely people. So many more lovely ones than the nasty ones.'

At another point, she wiped tears from her eyes when her sister Georgie Cavaliere called into the show with her daughter Lucia to surprise Sam, all away from London.

Kochie asked Lucia 'What kind of auntie is auntie Sammy?', to which she cutely replied to the anchor: 'The greatest auntie in the world!'

New focus: She had announced her resignation live on air on Monday, saying she wanted to step back from TV to spend more time with her family

Making headlines: Sam, who joined Sunrise in 2013, spoke about the toxic envirHer remarks greatly upset her colleagues and executives at Seven, and said to be described by some insiders as tantamount to 'career suicide'.onment of the TV industry in an article for the News Corp-owned Stellar magazine last month

Welling up at the kind sentiments, Sam said: 'She is the greatest niece in the world. I miss you guys. Will see you soon, I hope.'

Kochie meanwhile said during his farewell tribute to Sam on the show: 'For the past eight years she's been a much-loved part of the Sunrise family, but the time has come for her to focus on her family.

'Goodbyes are never easy. There will probably be some tears, but this morning we're going to celebrate an incredible journey with some very special guests and a lot of surprises.'

Sam's last day on Sunrise was Thursday, but her $800,000-a-year contract with Seven doesn't expire until October.
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Bengaluru, March 14 : After witnessing downward trend for the last couple of months, the number of new Covid-19 cases in Karnataka crossed 900-mark with the state recorded 921 cases on Friday. With the new number, the caseload shot up to 9.59 lakh, while a lone fatality in Mysuru took the death toll to 12,387, the state health bulletin said.

Karnataka has been witnessing a rapid rise in cases since March 8, 2021 when it logged 436 cases. March 8 is a significant date as far as Karnataka is concerned as on this day in 2020, the first Covid case was detected.

According to the health bulletin released on Saturday, the recovery rate is on the higher side with 992 people discharged from the hospitals. In total, 9,38,890 people have recovered in the state and the death toll moved to 12,387 with one person succumbing to the infection in Mysuru.

Four districts -- Chamarajanagar, Haveri, Koppal and Ramanagara -- reported zero cases and fatalities.

The Bengaluru Urban remains epicentre of positive cases, accounting for 630 infections, but for the first time in many months, the city reported zero fatalities due to this virus.

Cumulatively, 9,59,338 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which include 12,387 deaths and 9,38,890 discharges, the health department said.

Of the 8,042 active cases, 123 are in Intensive Care Units of various hospitals, it said.

A total of 3,17,492 people have been screened at the airport there. 14,126 have returned from the UK since November 25, 2020.

A total of 1.97 crore samples have been tested so far, out of which 72,650 were on Friday alone, the bulletin said.

With one more person tested positive for the South African strain of the virus, the total has gone up to three. Twenty nine people have so far been detected with the UK strain of the virus.

A total of 9,344 people were vaccinated on Saturday, the bulletin said, adding no instance of AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) was reported.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
(Newser)  A powerful car bomb killed at least eight people and wounded 47 in Afghanistan's western Herat province, officials said Saturday, the AP reports. Hours later, the UN condemned an alarming increase in attacks in the country targeting civilians. The death toll in the explosion late Friday that also destroyed 14 houses is expected to rise because several of the injured were critical, said Rafiq Sherzai, a spokesman for the provincial hospital. One among the dead and 11 of the injured were Afghan Security Forces personnel while the remainder were civilians, including women and children, said Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian. No one immediately claimed responsibility. The UN Security Council at a press briefing in New York condemned an alarming increase in attacks in Afghanistan targeting civilians even as the Taliban and the Afghan government hold on-again-off-again talks in Qatar.

story continues below

These heinous attacks have targeted civil servants, the judiciary, the media, health care, and humanitarian workers, including women in prominent positions, those who protect and promote human rights, and ethnic and religious minorities, the council said. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for many of the targeted killings while the Taliban and the government have blamed each other for trying to sabotage efforts to reach a peace agreement. The slow pace of talks and the increasing violence has prompted the United States to cobble together a peace proposal, which was delivered last weekend. Both sides are expected to review and revise the eight-page plan ahead of a far-reaching meeting the US has proposed to be held in Turkey within weeks, when Washington hopes to see an agreement.

(Read more Afghanistan stories.)
Tirupati, March 13 : A Mumbai-based company, Udveg Infrastructure and Consultancy (UIC), will be donating Rs 300 crore to construct a state-of-the-art children's hospital at Tirupati.

"Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) executive officer K.S. Jawahar Reddy and UIC CEO Sanjay K. Singh inked the landmark agreement in the presence of TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy to set up the state-of-art paediatric hospital in the pilgrim city of Tirupati," said a TTD official late on Friday.

Subba Reddy said this development is in line with Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's vision of setting up super specialty children's hospitals at Tirupati, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh state.

Jawahar Reddy said TTD will soon conduct the bhumi puja (laying foundation stone) for the new hospital which will become a part of the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) eventually, even as the Mumbai company will take up its operational management for a few years initially.

"It was a great privilege to collaborate with the world renowned Hindu religious organization like TTD and commence a noble project meant for the healthcare of children at the lotus feet of Sri Venkateswara," said Singh.

Meanwhile, the TTD chairman and executive officer visited 57 coronavirus infected Vedic school students on Friday evening and later said that the students were safe and asymptomatic.

"I also inspected Dharmagiri Veda Vignana Peetham at Tirumala and verified the facilities to the students. Also gave some instructions about COVID safety measures," said Subba Reddy.

On Friday, Telangana Chief Justice Hima Kohli visited the temple along with her family members, who were welcomed by Subba Reddy, Jawahar Reddy and additional executive officer AV Dharma Reddy.

After Kohli's darshan (visit) of the deity, she was bestowed with Vedasirvachanam (Vedic blessings) at Ranganayakula Mandapam and presented with teertha prasadams (consecrated food) and a picture of Lord Venkateswara Swamy.
There is a picture of my parents lying on the grass in Priory Park in Malvern, Worcestershire, taken one summer when Britain was still at war.

They are wearing civilian clothes, rather than uniforms, because at the time both were working on a pioneering, secret military project.

They never, ever, spoke after the war about what they did  and I was never allowed to ask.

As far as the rest of the world was concerned, the success of RAF pilots in locating Luftwaffe planes in the dark was based on the claim, propagated by Churchill, that eating carrots gave them better night-time vision.

There is a picture of my parents lying on the grass in Priory Park in Malvern, Worcestershire, taken one summer when Britain was still at war. They are wearing civilian clothes, rather than uniforms, because at the time both were working on a pioneering, secret military project

The real reason, of course, was radar. And I am a radar child, brought up in the Victorian spa town where it was developed and which supposedly had the highest concentration of people with PhDs anywhere in Britain during those war years.

Their efforts were every bit as significant as Alan Turings famous code-breaking at Bletchley Park but they have not been recognised in the same way.

Churchills great propaganda cover-up  carrots were our secret weapons  worked all too well.

Such was the secrecy that, at that time, the brilliant men and women involved were bussed to Malvern in the dead of night in what was known as a Moon window (when there was little or no moonlight, making a German attack highly unlikely).

Some locals, who didnt know better and presumed they were conscientious objectors, spat at them in the streets. They were also sent white feathers for cowardice and threatened for being spies.

Today, their heroism and patriotism remains almost as hushed as radar itself.

But prompted by the recent death of my mother Marguerite, I feel impelled to tell this story of the war generation before we risk losing touch with it.

I am a radar child, brought up in the Victorian spa town where it was developed and which supposedly had the highest concentration of people with PhDs anywhere in Britain during those war years. Researchers are seen above at the Radar Research Centre in Malvern College

My father was Jimmy Diamond, a young graduate who, as soon as war broke out, volunteered to join the RAF, fully expecting to fight in the Battle of Britain.

However, when service chiefs discovered he had a physics degree, they wouldnt allow him to fly and instead put him on a train without even telling him its destination. All he had with him as he embarked on this new life was a small cardboard suitcase.

He was furious and heartbroken, but within days he found himself on a different kind of front line, in a team led by the genius physicist Bernard Lovell, who later created the radio telescope observatory Jodrell Bank.

My fathers first experience of this covert war work was beaming microwaves from one end of an aircraft hangar to the other, in the hope of detecting a blip on a cathode-ray tube.

His enduring desire to fly paid off when he persuaded mates to teach him, got his wings, and took to the air in a Tiger Moth  looping the loop was his speciality. He often said that it was just as well he had not become an RAF pilot as he doubted he would have survived  he was a self-confessed daredevil.

As a 16-year-old, my mother dreamed of training as a nurse but her widowed mother was so terrified by the bombing at Birminghams teaching hospital in 1940 that she begged her to stay home. This paid off when a new secretive organisation came looking for secretaries and Marguerite got a job.

No ordinary job, though, as she had to sign the Official Secrets Act and would be supporting the scientists in their work. And so she joined my fathers team after it moved to Malvern, taking the notes that would codify the second-by-second struggle to build radar for Britain.

Annes father tested radar in Lancaster bombers over enemy territory. As far as the rest of the world was concerned, the success of RAF pilots in locating Luftwaffe planes in the dark was based on the claim, propagated by Churchill, that eating carrots gave them better night-time vision

Thats the bare outline of my parents story. I wish I had sat them down in front of a camera and interviewed them.

Sadly, I never did and now I have only a few fractured tales of what it was like, falling in love while fighting a secret war.

Before going to Malvern, Dads initial destination had been the village of Worth Matravers, near Swanage on the Dorset coast. There, local landladies were fast becoming suspicious of all the oddball young men renting their rooms.

What they werent to know was that these men were building an early warning system along the cliffs to detect incoming enemy bombers  the nerve centre of Britains radar development.

However, their work had been spotted and reported to Berlin. And after British commandos raided a German radar unit at Bruneval, France, in a daring mission codenamed Operation Biting, the payback was Hitlers targeting of Swanage and Worth Matravers.

Luftwaffe bombers were ordered to divert from other raids and use up their ammunition strafing shoppers on Swanage High Street.

Radar workers, too, were peppered with bullets while eating Spam sandwiches in the canteen. One scientist and his wife died in their beds in their rented room on the High Street.

Churchill had suspected that a major retaliatory assault on Swanage and Worth Matravers had been imminent because Enigma intercepts suggested a crack German parachute battalion was ready to move from Normandy.

It was against that background that Dad ended up in Malvern, where he would meet my mum.

He was put on a blacked-out bus, again with no knowledge of his destination, and woke up the next morning in House No 5 of Malvern College. Churchill had chosen the town for Britains radar project because it was, he thought, in the middle of nowhere and hidden by the hills beloved by the composer Edward Elgar.

The Nazis will never find them there, he said. And he was right  they never did.

The schoolboys of Malvern College were evacuated to Harrow and, overnight, 2,000 scientists, Jimmy Diamond among them, arrived from Swanage and Worth Matravers.

One of the biggest problems in the move was that the boffins had built their equipment too big to manoeuvre through doors and into the removal vans. One got his enormous radar receiver stuck in a stairwell and had to saw it in half before they could get it down the stairs from his workroom.

At the time, my mother had been in love with a handsome young US Army officer, who took her to a dance back at his camp. Hed arrived in full dress uniform at her front door, with a fresh corsage for her dress. Shed never seen glamour like it.

The band playing was led by Glenn Miller, whose plane would be lost over the English Channel in 1944; my mother always insisted she had jitterbugged at one of Millers last ever gigs.

Shortly after that, her dashing US beau was deployed to France and my mother never heard from him again, though she did later learn that he was fit and well, and after the war he returned to Florida where he became a doctor.

My father, in his flannel trousers and elbow-patched tweed jackets, could hardly compete with the dashing Yank, but my mother always said he was a rock. Dad worked on both the ground-based dishes so familiar to us all today and radar units fitted inside the RAF fleet.

He regularly took to the skies over the Welsh coast with his great friend Tony Gunter-Smith, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot. One of their jobs was to create a system capable of detecting submarines.

The Royal Navy provided an old sub for them to test with and hence began a life-or-death game of hide-and-seek. Dads mission was to locate the sub and then drop a low-power depth charge to pinpoint it.

Tony would make an aerial pass a few times while Dad waited to see if a blip appeared on his display screen. Suddenly spotting one, the crew delightedly dropped the depth charge. But when they circled around to return, they saw the submarine had surfaced and a group of enraged submariners were standing on top of it, angrily shaking their fists at the plane.

The experimental drop had been so accurate that it had blown out every rivet in the subs frame and it was taking on water. It was a bad day for the Navy as the submarine had to be towed home; but it was a major breakthrough in radar.

Dad and Tony made many such sorties together, testing radar over enemy territory in Lancaster bombers. Dad was given the rank of Squadron Leader and a uniform in case he was shot down.

We still have his sheepskin flying jacket, leather helmet and log book, discovered after he died in a box among his treasures in the garage.

The story of radar and Malvern isnt just about the men though there were many brilliant women, too. One was Joan Curran, who invented Window, probably better known by its American name, chaff.

Joan had gained a BSc in physics from Cambridge, at a time when the university didnt officially award degrees to women, and she rowed in the first Oxford-Cambridge womens boat race.

She established that thousands of foil strips dropped from a plane could scatter a radar signal until it was meaningless. Her team also created phantom signals that could fool a receiver into thinking there were incoming ships that werent actually there.

Joan discovered this at her kitchen table after spending hours cutting up tin foil in precise sizes. The countermeasure she created would be critical to the success of the Allied landings on D-Day.

Joan and her husband later moved to America to work on the Manhattan Project, creating the worlds first nuclear weapons, but many of Malverns wartime pioneers, including Jimmy and Marguerite Diamond, stayed on.

This meant that children such as me grew up in a world where everyones dad  and a lot of mums, too  were brilliant scientists.

They shaped the face of the future way beyond the war years, working in areas from guided-missile defence to the touch-screen technology we all depend on today.

We lived in ministry houses  the equivalent of military married quarters, or council housing.

One of my best friends at junior school was a girl called Karen, who became a prominent engineer. She took after her dad, Professor Cyril Hilsum, a hugely decorated physicist. Her little sister, Lindsey, is the distinguished International Editor for Channel 4 News.

The Hilsums were an ordinary family like the Diamonds but, as youd expect with so many quirky people corralled into one place, the eccentric often became the norm.

A radar research station is seen above in Malvern. Churchill had chosen the town for Britains radar project because it was, he thought, in the middle of nowhere and hidden by the hills beloved by the composer Edward Elgar.

Another well-known scientist dressed very bizarrely at weekends and walked through the town with a shopping basket on his head and his children tethered by rope behind him.

For me, Malvern didnt offer a wealthy or privileged upbringing but it was secure and homely, with the occasional perk. I remember that even though my dad was a civilian, he still bore the rank of major and, when he organised a wedding anniversary party for my mum, he was afforded an Army batman to oversee the planning and a team of white-gloved caterers.

It was a magical night with us kids knocking back Babycham on the front lawn.

That party was also, for me, the beginning of the end, the high point after which modern life began to bustle us all towards a future in which the magic of radar would become blunted by its everyday use.

Those houses in which we grew up, we radar children, have since been done up and sold off, and the extraordinary scientific community which once lived there is scattered, its collective memory vanishing. Thats why I want to tell the story of that generation.

As historians have already pointed out, Malvern is the forgotten Bletchley Park  there is no blockbuster Hollywood film like The Imitation Game, which starred Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, celebrating its achievements.

As former radar scientist Mike Burstow says: Yes, Bletchleys code-breakers were vital in identifying U-boat operations but it took aircraft equipped with Malverns radars to find them and kill them.

Mum was the keeper of the Diamond familys archive of memories and photos. After opening it up, we found images and read letters that hadnt seen daylight in decades.

I am sure other radar children must have similar experiences and thats why Ive set up a website to reach them. I am determined to build a social history of our parents legacy and of our own childhoods.

We take their achievements for granted yet we still rely on them today for everything from air traffic control to weather forecasting. Its my job to make sure their stories do not, as you might say, fall off the radar...

Visit radarfamilies.com and upload pictures and stories  anything you remember.
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ALTON  Each week award-winning photographer John Badman of The Telegraph captures images of the Riverbend area.

Here is a sampling of his photographs from this week. They also appear in the weekend issue of The Telegraph.
Union Minister for finance and corporate affairs Nirmala Sitharaman will participate in a discussion on "Post-Pandemic Projection: The blueprint for a self-reliant India" on Day 2 of India Today Conclave South 2021. Sitharaman will elaborate on India's plan for the post-pandemic recovery amid the government's push for self-reliance.

Apart from Sitharaman, Union minister for external affairs S Jaishankar will also take part in a discussion on 'The Modi Doctrine: Collaboration, Co-operation and Commerce.' Jaishankar will talk about India's foreign policy amid China's growing influence in the region.

The Day 2 of the mega India Today Conclave will also have many other top politicians, industrialists, and entertainers discussing key issues and giving their insights on them.

Also read: India Today Conclave: 'Where is the V-shaped recovery,' asks Chidambaram

Besides, southern superstar and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan and DMK president MK Stalin will discuss the political situation in Tamil Nadu in the run-up to upcoming Assembly elections.

One of the highlights of the mega event will be a discussion between Ram Madhav, Member, Board of Governors, India Foundation, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on "Politics of Appeasement vs Politics of Polarisation".

Day 2 of the India Today Conclave 2021 South will start with Sadhguru, Founder, Isha Foundation, speaking on 'Dance of Democracy: Dialogue, Debate, Disagreement'.

Also read: India Today Conclave: South's contribution to $5 tn-economy could be much higher, say experts
Melody Black, from Minnesota, becomes emotional as she visits a memorial setup near the U.S. Capitol building for Ashli Babbitt who was killed in the building the day prior, in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

No Indication Ashli Babbitt, Woman Shot in US Capitol, Was Armed: Lawyer

Law enforcement officers inside the U.S. Capitol had no reason to believe Ashli Babbitt, the woman one of them shot dead, was armed, according to her familys lawyer.

Babbitt was fatally shot inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 after breaching the building with hundreds of others, interrupting a joint session of Congress. She was struck by a bullet fired by a Capitol Police officer while climbing through a broken window to enter the Speakers Lobby, which is next to the House chamber.

Babbitt was carrying a backpack that contained a scarf and a sweater, her familys lawyer Terrell Roberts said.

Weve heard nothing from any of the leaked information thats gone out there that she was armed at all. No bomb, no weapon, Roberts said during an appearance this week on One America News.

So the officer was not free to infer that she was armed, unless he sees some indication of her brandishing a weapon, going to her hip, doing something like that, carrying a weapon. Theres no indication that shes armed at all.

The Metropolitan Police Department, which is leading the shooting probe, and the Capitol Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The officer who shot Babbitt has not been publicly identified. He is on administrative leave, with his police powers suspended, pending the outcome of the probe.

Roberts and his investigative team have pored over video footage and photographs recorded in the moments leading up to the shooting by bystanders and others to try to figure out what happened.

A Twitter selfie shows Ashli Babbitt. (Ashli Babbitt/Twitter)

Based on the footage and photos, officers in the vicinity appeared to abandon the doorway that Babbitt attempted to enter. Just 18 seconds before the shooting, a still frame from a video shows six officers, several heavily armed, standing next to Babbitt.

She was shot by an officer on the other side of the doorway. There were five other officers on that side of the doorway, one still frame appeared to show.

Roberts told The Epoch Times in a recent interview that the shooting was not justified and that Babbitts family is considering filing a lawsuit alleging excessive use of force.

The footage demonstrates I think very clearly that in this particular case, the officers use of deadly force was not justified, the attorney said on One America News.

He was not confronted with an immediate threat on his life, nor was anyone else in proximity to this area.

Officers usually start with the least amount of force and work their way to deadly force, he added.

Mark Schamel, an attorney for the officer, recently told RealClearInvestigations that the officer issued several warnings and was acting within his training, adding, Lethal force is appropriate if the situation puts you or others in fear of imminent bodily harm.

The officer may have issued warnings, Roberts told NTD, but from Babbitts vantage point, Theres no way she could have heard such a warning.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

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Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp are expected to hold a gubernatorial rematch  and grudge match  in 2022. Photo: John Bazemore-Pool/Getty Images

The big 2021 political story, aside from efforts to end and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, is a guerrilla war over voting rights. Across the country, drawing inspiration from Donald Trumps lies about voter fraud, Republican-controlled legislatures are battling to restrict the franchise in ways almost too numerous to count (though the Brennan Center for Justice is trying to keep up).

Its no accident that some of the most intense voter-suppression activity is in states narrowly carried by Joe Biden in 2020 but where Republicans hold a governing trifecta, namely Arizona and Georgia. In these two states they are entirely able to enact voting restrictions with Democrats left howling on the outside. If the GOP can overcome its own divisions, and not write laws so stupidly that the courts will strike them down, they can perhaps hold off or reverse blue trends simply by shrinking the electorate. Or so they hope. They also hope to head off Democratic efforts to preempt state voter suppression activity via a restored Voting Rights Act or the much more definitive legislation already passed by the U.S. House in H.R. 1, the For the People Act (both likely doomed in the Senate unless there is filibuster reform).

At the same time, Republican-controlled legislatures and governors will seek to use their power to exploit the decennial redistricting process and tilt the scales even further in their direction in future U.S. House and state legislative contests. Two highly contested states with Republican-controlled legislatures, Arizona and Michigan, have independent commissions that play a key role in redistricting. But in Georgia, and reasonably competitive Florida and New Hampshire, redistricting is an all-Republican show. Add in the historical phenomenon that midterm elections tend to produce wind beneath the sails of the party that does not control the White House, and you can see that 2022 could be a pretty good Republican year nationally, especially if voting restrictions are adopted widely.

But the future of voting rights, and in turn of the partisan balance, in many states will be on the ballot in 2022 as well. There are a number of highly competitive states where a Democratic governor is the only thing standing between Republicans and further screwing around with the franchise, such as Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Since state legislatures tend to shift ground more slowly than governorships (particularly in the first year after redistricting, which usually solidifies incumbents), 2022 gubernatorial races could represent a huge battle that will both reflect and intensify the fight over who gets to vote and how, along with a vast array of other policy issues dividing the two major parties. Lets look at a few examples:

Georgia: Ground Zero for the Battle Over Ballots

Georgias GOP legislature is on the brink of passing an assortment of new voting restrictions limited only by their internal divisions over the best way to make voting harder for Democrats (which in Georgia means harder for Black voters) without discommoding their own voters. But the battle will bleed quickly over into the 2022 gubernatorial race, which is expected to be a rematch (and most definitely a grudge match) between Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican incumbent Brian Kemp. There arent just any two pols; they are both most prominently known for diametrically opposed positions on voting rights. Abramss entire career has been devoted to the task of registering and mobilizing disenfranchised groups of voters, particularly minority voters. And Kemps claim to fame when he ran for governor in 2018 was his record as a shrewd and successful vote suppressor who refused to give up his control as secretary of State over election machinery despite the blatant conflict of interest that involved. Theres not much question that Kemps tight and unfriendly grip on the voter rolls made the crucial difference in his narrow win over Abrams.

Abrams, the unquestioned leader of her party in Georgia, passed up the opportunity to run for the Senate in 2020 (when she would have almost certainly have won, given the January runoff victories of both Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock), presumably because she craves another chance to take down Kemp. And whatever help Kemp gets from either the voting restrictions under development right now, or a helpful midterm environment, could be neutralized by a credible primary challenge fed by Trumps fury with him for his certification of Bidens 2020 victory. Close Trump ally and unsuccessful 2020 Senate candidate Doug Collins is mulling a challenge to Kemp at the 45th presidents urging. Even if Collins demurs or decides to run for the Senate again, in a state full of ambitious Trump fans its hard to imagine Kemp will escape a primary challenge altogether. But no matter who winds up facing Abrams, voting rights will most definitely be front and center in the campaign, and the results should be close and consequential. Its worth remembering again that Georgia requires general election runoffs if no one wins a majority in November, so another expensive and savage overtime campaign in the Peach State is a distinct possibility.

Arizona: A Post-Ducey Scramble

Arizona has rivaled Georgia in the plethora of voting restrictions Republican legislators have embraced, with nearly two dozen bills having been introduced this year, including some restricting voting by mail and others beefing up voter-ID requirements. But like its counterpart in Georgia, Arizonas GOP is bitterly divided. One major object of Trumpist wrath in the state, Governor Doug Ducey is term-limited. While the 2022 gubernatorial field is forming slowly, Democrats have several strong possibilities, including Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego. Among Republicans, one of several right-wing U.S. House members could try to return to Phoenix, including House Freedom Caucus chairman Andy Biggs and Dave Schweikert, and Attorney General Mark Brnovich appears to be appealing to conservative voters via border-security alarms. More moderate options are State Treasurer Kimberly Yee and former Ducey chief of staff (and former House speaker) Kirk Adams.

Despite Arizonas purple political status, Democrats havent won a gubernatorial election there since 2006, when Janet Napolitano secured a second term.

Pennsylvania: A Mix of Geography and Ideology

In Pennsylvania, Democratic governor Tom Wolf is an obstacle to GOP voter-suppression plans, which hasnt kept Republican legislators from introducing bills to eliminate no-excuse voting by mail and add onerous new signature verification requirements. If they could replace the term-limited Wolf with one of their own, voter suppression efforts might succeed.

Pennsylvania is also another state where an open Senate seat will beckon some ambitious pols; Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman is running for the seat Republican Pat Toomey is giving up. Attorney General Josh Shapiro is considered the early Democratic front-runner, though it could get interesting if Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney decided to run. Another possibility is long-time officeholder and diplomat Joe Torsella, who was upset in his reelection bid as Treasurer in 2020. All three of these men are from southeastern Pennsylvania, which could tempt candidates from other parts of the state into the contest.

As in many states, Pennsylvanias Republicans have divisions over loyalty to Trump. One very Trumpy local official, Montgomery County Commission Joe Gale, is already in the gubernatorial race, where he could be joined by national MAGA favorite and congressman Mike Kelly, who may have an advantage as someone from western Pennsylvania. Still another Trump-adjacent possibility is state senator Doug Mastriano from central Pennsylvania, who has the distinction of testing positive for COVID-19 after chairing a mostly maskless post-election legislative hearing to air Rudy Giulianis insane election-fraud theories. There are an array of less divisive state legislators also looking at the race, which will likely revolve around the usual Keystone State mix of geographical and ideological factors.

Wisconsin: Always Vicious

Democratic governor Tony Evers is eligible for another term, and will presumably run without intra-party opposition. But the Republican field has been temporarily frozen by the ambivalence of GOP senator Ron Johnson about his 2022 plans. If RonJon runs again, the gubernatorial race could get crowded, with Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Congressman Mike Gallagher, former congressman Sean Duffy, former Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson, and Waukesha County executive Paul Farrow, all mulling bids. So, too, is a very familiar face: former RNC chairman and White House chief of staff Reince Priebus.

While there will likely be some efforts among Republicans to out-conservative each other, this is a state where partisan divisions are so bitter and voting coalitions are so competitive that ideological issues are usually cast in the shade. Evers defeated every Wisconsin Democrats bete noire, Scott Walker, by only 29,000 votes, and the last two presidential elections in the state were decided by fewer votes than that.

The intensely competitive nature of the state means that relatively small changes in election procedures could matter a lot. And while Wisconsin Republicans havent made national headlines with proposed voter suppression measures, they havent been inactive, either, as one local news report explained:

Florida: Is the State Red Now?

It says a lot that the big source of buzz about Floridas Republican governor Ron DeSantis is about his abrupt rise as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, not about any threat to his reelection in 2022. Florida has arguably been trending red of late. The legislature has been in Republican hands since the mid-1990s. The last Democrat to win a gubernatorial election in the Sunshine State was the Lawton Chiles in 1994. And Donald Trump significantly expanded his margin of victory in Florida between 2016 and 2020.

Still, the last gubernatorial contest was very close, and Florida is such a rich prize that a host of Democrats are considering a race against DeSantis, including former governor (as a Republican) and now-congressman Charlie Crist, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (the only Democrat in statewide office), and two congresswomen, Gwen Graham and Val Demings (who made Bidens veep short list).

Its a token of their self-confidence that this year Florida Republicans are only pushing relatively minor tweaks in the states voting laws (though their maneuver to gut a voter-approved restoration of felon voting rights last year was pretty audacious). Democrats may need a break or a DeSantis stumble to take the relatively small steps needed to make Florida very competitive again.

It All Gets Started This Year

There are off-year gubernatorial elections this year in two states. In New Jersey, incumbent Democrat Phil Murphy is strongly favored for reelection over his likely Republican opponent, former legislator and unsuccessful 2017 gubernatorial primary candidate Jack Ciattarelli. And in Virginia, where Democratic Governor Ralph Northam is term-limited, his predecessor, Terry McAuliffe, is the front-runner to reclaim the job, though he faces multiple primary opponents (including scandal-plagued Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax). Virginia Republicans decided to hold a nominating convention instead of a primary to head off the candidate who calls herself Trump in high heels, Amanda Chase.

California could also hold a gubernatorial election in 2021: organizers of a recall petition drive against Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom think they have the signatures necessary to force him onto the ballot this fall in an up-or-down vote that could remove him from office (a second voter option would choose a replacement if the recall wins a majority; this is exactly how Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor of the Golden State in 2003). But the states Democratic character and perhaps fading anger over Newsoms management of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it likely he will hold onto office.

But wildly varying state political climates mean anything can, and probably will, happen by the end of 2022. Its another big development wherein Joe Bidens relative success or failure could have a large and significant ripple effect, not least on the question of who controls laws and procedures for voting the rest of the decade and beyond.
New Delhi, March 13: Fifty years ago, in March 12, 1971 when Rajesh Khannas film Anand was released. I was 10-year-old when I first saw the black and white print of this movie in my school. The school auditorium reverberated with sobs, even I was sobbing uncontrollably.

Why? The delicate sensitivity of a child in me could feel the looming death in the film. I was devastated witnessing my favourite star rue in silence. Fifty years hence has made me old and heralded wisdom, and since then Anand has become a very different film for me

The movie with a terminally ill patient as the protagonist, Anand Saigal (Rajesh Khanna) is anything but sad and gloomy. In its profound way, the film is a lyrical treatment of the one certain thing in the world, death; it is like a poem with which we have a preordained tryst. Death, in Anand, does not cast a dark shadow on any of the delights that the beautiful journey of life has to offer.

Yolo factor!

Today's generation believes that you only live once (YOLO) so live this life happily, and that is what ace filmmaker Hrishikesh movie is all about. Mukherjee colours the background of the film with philosophy and optimism, thereby turning its deeply disturbing moments as a lesson for the viewers. Having seen several springs, that is how I relate to the film now! Anand with death staring in his face is undeterred. Challenging it heartily, he wants others around to support him in this daunting task and not be despondent. Be it the doctors treating him, Dr. Bhaskar K. Banerjee aka Babu Moshai (Amitabh) and Dr. Prakash Kulkarni (Ramesh Deo), or Deo's wife Suman Kulkarni (Seema Deo); and the strict Matron D'Sa (Lalita Pawar), Anand wants all them around him and make the best of his remaining time.

Anand in his first interaction with Amitabh -- with his deadpan and serious demeanour is clinically sure of Rajesh's death -- makes it amply clear that he does not want to lament and loose the little time he has at his disposal. Rather, he would love to be happy and spread joy around! What a noble thought.

Mukherjee's Anand is a complete human. Brave in facing the final call, he is also vulnerable. On his death bed, he confides to Bachchan's love interest Renu (Sumita Sanyal), that he does not want to die. The last flicker wants to hang on! The ever cherubic Anand has many a sorrow buried deep in is heart. There is a poignant moment where Anand becomes vulnerable. 'Kya har hasi ke peeche ek khushi rehti hai Babumoshai? Kabhi kabhi gham bhi to...' He stops abruptly, giving a fleeting view of his sadness.

Stellar role

Image Source: IANS News

Short but yet leaving an indelible impression! That is what the veteran actor Johnny Walker's Issabhai Suratwala (Murarilal) was in the film. Keeping pace with Anand's liveliness and zest for life, his last encounter with Khanna who takes to the bed, is a lesson in emoting. Keeping a straight face, he tells Anand to get a theatre group ready in heaven as he is soon to follow him. The moment he comes out, he breaks down, and cries inconsolably! Interesting backstories

Mukherjee initially wanted to make Anand in Bangla and wanted to cast Uttam Kumar while taking Raj Kapoor, one of his best pals, in the Hindi version. The Bengali film was to be titled Ananda Samba. Shashi Kapoor too was offered the lead before Rajesh Khanna.

The other actors considered by Mukherjee were Kishore Kumar and Mehmood in lead roles of Anand and Babu Moshai. When Mukherjee to Kishore's residence to discuss, he was driven away by the gatekeeper due to a misunderstanding. Kishore Kumar who done a stage show organized by another Bengali man, and was involved in a dispute with him, had instructed the gatekeeper not allow any "Bengali" inside. Mukherjee became the victim and then later refused to with Kishore. Consequently, Mehmood had to leave the film as well.

Kumar who had become the Khanna's after Aradhana success did not sing any songs in Anand. The evergreen composer Salil Chowdhury insisted on having Mukesh as he felt that the latter's voice would give the required pathos to Anand's character. Khanna readily agreed. When asked his favourite song, Khanna had said it was Mukesh's song Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye.

Mukherjee initially was reluctant to consider Khanna because of the latter's superstar status. When the actor insisted on hearing the story and immediately agreed, the director, known for making films on a shoe-string budget told him that he will be unable to pay him his going fees. No problem, said the actor.

Contrary to Mukherjee's expectations that he will get limited dates for shooting from the superstar, Khanna, would reach the studio, whenever he got free from other shoots. In an interview Mukherjee had revealed that the moment he spotted Khanna's car, he would be startled expecting Khanna to insist on shooting! (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/

-- Syndicated from IANS
Governor Andrew Cuomo at a coronovirus briefing in April 2020. Photo: George Etheredge

This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly.

Joel Wertheimer took a job in Andrew Cuomos administration in February 2017, straight from his position in Barack Obamas White House. He came on alongside almost 30 other new hires, many of whom had also worked for the outgoing president or on Hillary Clintons campaign and were seeking a progressive professional path through the Trump years. Some saw New York State government as a bulwark against what they feared Trumpism would bring. Others hoped it could be a laboratory for ideas that might become a model for federal policy.

Early in their employment, a few of these staffers were invited to a party at the governors mansion in Albany. Partway through the bash, there was a roast of Cuomos top aide, Melissa DeRosa, then the chief of staff but soon to be promoted to secretary to the governor. The roast, said Wertheimer, entailed projecting photos of prominent state officials, then asking Melissa if she knew their names, and her not knowing. The newcomers whispered and huddled together while everyone else laughed. We were saying to each other, This is fucking weird,  said one former staffer. This was not ha-ha funny, Wertheimer explained. This was, You guys are bad at your job! And, Youre mean! 

Four years later, and one year after he began his star turn as Americas Governor, steering his state through COVID via daily, reassuringly matter-of-fact press briefings, Andrew Cuomos third term as governor of New York is suddenly deeply imperiled. In January, State Attorney General Letitia James released a report showing that his administration had underreported COVID deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50 percent. In February, liberal State Assembly member Ron Kim, who had criticized the governor in the wake of that report, spoke publicly about how Cuomo called him at home and threatened his career. Then the floodgates opened: His adversary Mayor Bill de Blasio called the bullying classic Andrew Cuomo; state legislators Alessandra Biaggi and Yuh-Line Niou began openly suggesting that the governors hard-knuckled approach to politics is simply abusive. And since last month, when Cuomos former aide and candidate for Manhattan borough president, Lindsey Boylan, published an article on Medium accusing him of sexually harassing and kissing her against her will, five more women have come forward with tales of harassment, objectification, and inappropriate touching. As of publication, dozens of Democratic members of the State Assembly and Senate, and 11 Democratic members of Congress, have called for his resignation.

That Andrew Cuomo is being characterized by fellow Democratic politicians as a lecherous tyrant who empowers his staff to threaten and intimidate should not, in some ways, come as a surprise. During his decade as governor, he has often strutted his thuggish paternalism while his top aides disparaged those who challenged him. Two years ago, a Cuomo spokesman called three female state lawmakers in his party fucking idiots. In 2013, Cuomo created the Moreland Commission to investigate public corruption, only to shut it down abruptly less than a year later amid allegations that he had obstructed its work; one of Cuomos closest associates, Joe Percoco, is serving a six-year term in federal prison on bribery charges.

But until now, none of this left a lasting mark on the governor. If anything, it burnished his reputation: Cuomo was a bully, but he was our bully. Over the course of the past year, however, as he took his show national as Governor Covid, the political dynamics in Cuomos own state were shifting. Now, the venal toxicity that has buttressed his career has, at least temporarily, been exposed for what it is.

Though the multiple scandals erupting in Albany seem to toggle between sexualized harassment stories and evidence of mismanagement, what is emerging is in fact a single story: That through years of ruthless tactics, deployed both within his office and against anyone he perceived as an adversary, critic, or competitor for authority, Cuomo has fostered a culture that supported harassment, cruelty, and deception. And while some have continued to defend Cuomos commitment to creating the perception of strength, and his mastery of brutalist political theater (as Mayor de Blasios former spokesman told the New York Times last month), his tough-guy routine has in fact worked to obscure governing failures; it is precisely what has permitted Cuomo and his administration to spend a decade being, to borrow Wertheimers assessment, both mean and bad at their jobs. As one former Cuomo staffer told me, The same attitude that emboldens you to target a 25-year-old also emboldens you to scrub a nursing-home report.

Cuomos leadership style often confuses ruthlessness with greatness, abuse with strength. Interviews with dozens of former Cuomo employees and those who have worked with or adjacent to his administration reveal a governing institution that has been run, at times, like a cultish fraternity, and at others, like a high-school clique  a state executive chamber in which the maintenance of power, performance of pecking orders, and pursuit of competitive resentments matter as much as policy. As Wertheimer said of many of those who entered the Cuomo administration alongside him: People came in, looked around, and did the Grampa Simpson meme; we just turned back around and left. Wertheimer quit seven months after he started. Its this total toxic masculine bullshit that disguises a very poorly run place.

Cuomo and his top aide, Melissa DeRosa, this past summer. Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Getty Images

In 2016, Kaitlin, who asked that her last name not be published, was working 9-to-5 for a Democratic congressman and waiting tables nights and weekends in order to make rent and pay down student loans. In the fall, she was offered a job at a lobbying firm that paid her enough to cut back on waitressing to just weekends.

Six weeks after starting her new job, Kaitlin was working at a fund-raiser that her firm was hosting for Cuomo. As the governor left, he stopped to greet staffers of the event; when he approached Kaitlin, she introduced herself and told him that she used to work for a politician. To her surprise and confusion, he replied that she would soon be back in government, this time at the state level. Then he grabbed me in a kind of dance pose, she said, while a photographer snapped a picture. I was thinking, This is the weirdest interaction Ive ever had in my life  I was like, Dont touch me. Everybody was watching. Kaitlin recalled feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed in front of her new colleagues  my whole team of people Id just met  who gathered around her after Cuomo walked away, joking Oh, the governor likes you.

That same week, Kaitlin received a voice-mail from Cuomos office asking her to interview for a job. She had not provided his representatives with contact information; they had found her on their own. She disclosed this to her new bosses, who understood her discomfort but explained that he was the governor and that she would have to take the meeting. When Kaitlin turned to several of her former supervisors and mentors for advice, they repeated the same, explaining that, professionally, she had no choice but to go to the interview and take the job he offered her.

The same attitude that emboldens you to target a 25-year-old also emboldens you to scrub a nursing-home report.

We all knew that this was only because of what I looked like, said Kaitlin. Why else would you ask someone to come in two days after you had a two-minute interaction at a party?

Once she started, Kaitlin said, there wasnt much direction about what she was supposed to do, except to be a sponge, learn from senior women in the office, and react to the governors capricious moods. Some mornings, Kaitlin would hear her BlackBerry ping with the message that Cuomo had left his Mount Kisco home earlier than scheduled; she would have to rush out of the shower to sprint  with wet hair, in heels  across town to be at the Manhattan office, at 633 Third Avenue, when he arrived. On those mornings, he would comment on why she didnt look put together.  You decided not to get ready today? Or, You didnt put makeup on today? 

In speaking with 30 women about their experiences with Cuomo, almost all who worked for him commented on the extreme pressure applied by both the governor and his top female aides to dress well and expensively; some were told explicitly by senior staff that they had to wear heels whenever he was around. Kaitlin was still paying off her student loans. I did what I could with my clothes, she said, and it wasnt good enough for them. I didnt have designer stuff. She remembered wearing a red plaid Gap button-down shirt shed thought was cute, but the governor remarked that she looked like a lumberjack. (According to a Cuomo spokesperson, There is not now, nor has there ever been, an expectation to wear certain clothing or high heels.)

The governor never touched Kaitlin inappropriately or made any explicit sexual overtures, she said, but his reactions would sometimes make her feel self-conscious, such as when she asked him if he wanted her personal cell-phone number: I thought that was a normal thing to offer your boss, she said, but he behaved as if shed come on to him. Like other women who have come forward, she remembered him asking questions about her dating life. Once, in Albany, he brought her in to show her a room adjacent to his office; it was cold, and he was standing very close to her in a way that made her feel so profoundly uncomfortable that she remembers shaking.

On a different day, in Manhattan, Cuomo asked her to come into his office and look up car parts on eBay. He sat at his desk and angled his chair around. It was a tight space, with Kaitlin standing between the seated governor and the computer he was asking her to work on. So I was standing there, in a skirt and heels, having to bend over his computer, with him looking at me, and me looking up car parts. (In response, Cuomos spokesperson noted: The governor is notoriously technologically inept  male and female staffers have for years assisted the governor with his computer.)

Not long after she started, she said, Cuomos people rented out Dorrians for a Super Bowl party. At the end of the night, after the bar opened to the public, Cuomo was sitting in the back room talking to a young woman with a dove tattooed on her hand. At a staff meeting the next morning, Kaitlin said, Cuomo asked his aides to find the woman with the dove tattoo and to consider offering her a job. Kaitlin described the uncanny realization that this was likely how it had gone the morning after shed met him.

After every public event, Kaitlin sorted through photographs of Cuomo posing with guests, selecting images to which he would append personal notes. She said he always paid special attention to pictures of himself with pretty women. If he didnt like how he looked in them, he would yell at Kaitlin. I got screamed at for a lot of bad photos, she told me.

Kaitlin described a culture in which dishonest power plays were frequent. The phones at the office had push-tone keys that would stick, and sometimes shed lose a call as she transferred it. She recalled that Cuomo once said, You cant figure out the fucking phones  Im going to end your career. Miserable, Kaitlin began to consider how she might get out. It was widely rumored the Cuomo administration would impede ones efforts to find a new job and could get an offer rescinded. I cant tell anybody, Kaitlin says she thought at that time. But I couldnt keep doing what I was doing. Id cry all the time. I thought I didnt know how to do anything anymore  not even basic life skills.

Kaitlin did not know whether her experience with Cuomo met the legal definition of sexual harassment, though she did feel that she had been verbally and mentally abused by him and his staff and said that she has described the work style  to friends and a therapist  as a form of coercive control. When she finally interviewed for a job at the state authority where she now works, she cried.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a slow drip of reporting on Cuomos allegedly inappropriate behavior toward women: 25-year-old Charlotte Bennett told the Times that this summer, when she was working for him, he made invasive comments about her experience of sexual assault and suggestively asked whether she would date older men; Anna Ruch recalled him touching her back, grabbing her cheeks and asking if he could kiss her at a wedding; a recently resurfaced video shows Cuomo summoning a television reporter to his table at the 2016 New York State Fair and urging her to eat the whole sausage, joking as she takes a selfie of them with a sandwich, Theres too much sausage in that picture; most recently, an unnamed Albany staffer has lodged a complaint that the governor put his hand up her shirt after she was called to the governors mansion to help him with an IT problem (that complaint has now been referred to the Albany police).

From left: Cuomo with reporter Beth Cefalu. Photo: YouTube/Vesa Cuomo with Anna Ruch. Photo: Courtesy of Ruch From top: Cuomo with reporter Beth Cefalu. Photo: YouTube/Vesa Cuomo with Anna Ruch. Photo: Courtesy of Ruch

The stream of stories has been both upsetting and disorienting. Some of the reports are clear cut. Others have attempted to force stories of discrimination and misconduct into the rubric of sexual harassment via a blunt tallying of violations that are graded on a scale: a kiss on lips or cheeks; an inappropriate touch at work or at a wedding; a hand on a shoulder or the small of a back. More than three years after the reporting on Harvey Weinsteins violent predation and the reckoning it provoked, we have been conditioned to draw bright lines around certain inarguably bad actions. This has led to a revolutionary shift in workplace culture, ending the careers of many powerful people who had abused women (and men) with impunity, while fundamentally changing our language and understanding of professional misconduct. Still, the very extremity of bad behavior exposed in the wake of Weinstein has, ironically, limited the conversation around workplace harassment. We are sometimes too quick to apply flat metrics to judge isolated incidents, and thereby miss the opportunity to fully assess and address the harm, inequity, and discrimination that happens on a subtler, but no less pervasive, scale.

Cuomos treatment of some of the young women who worked for and around him demonstrated a kind of diminishment and tokenization that may take a sexualized form, and may involve objectification and flirtation, but which didnt always entail explicitly sexualized contact or connection. In fact, Cuomo may be a textbook example of how sexual harassment, like sexual assault, isnt about sex at all; its about power. In Cuomos case, it was one manifestation of his obsession with performing dominance, emphasizing the gulf of authority between the governor and those around him, making himself feel big and conveying to others that they were small.

Ana Liss, 35, who told The Wall Street Journal of her experiences of feeling devalued by Cuomo, entered his administration fresh from her beloved hometown of Rochester in 2013, full of Pollyanna thinking, she said, about how to make her state a better place. On one of her first days on the job, she told me, Cuomo approached her and asked, Do you have a boyfriend?

I didnt know if he actually even knew my name. He just thought I looked good in that dress.

He came up with nicknames for her  Sparky, Blondie, Sweetheart, and Honey  and, she said, he was just flirtatious. (Boylan has also claimed the governor called her by the name of a rumored ex-girlfriend he said she resembled; Kaitlin said he called her Sponge.) Liss remembered an executive assistant in Cuomos office, someone who had worked in the capital for decades, once telling her, He thinks youre cute; the governor likes you.

She did find it odd, she said, that there was nobody that was unattractive. I felt like I was in Stepford Wives but with younger women. His briefers were always beautiful, leggy young women right out of college. The same executive assistant advised her, she said, that when the governor is here, you need to look really good.

During her two-year tenure, Liss was asked to participate in certain special events: a Fathers Day party the year Mario Cuomo died and a pinning ceremony at the governors mansion. She was given a state troopers card and a badge that said EXECUTIVE CHAMBER. She tried to tell herself these trinkets and invitations were merit-based. But, Liss said, I did know in my heart of hearts that its because the governor thinks Im cute. At parties, when Cuomo would put his hand on her back, she was always torn, she said: On the one hand, I was like, Wow, look at me; then I felt gross about it. I didnt know if he actually even knew my name. He just thought I looked good in that dress.

At the time, Liss didnt think of these experiences as sexual harassment. She still values her mementos: the pin, the badge, the card, and a duffel bag from that Fathers Day party emblazoned with the words CUOMO 52 AND 56. But the governors coy remarks during their time working together often left her unsure of what to do or say. When he looked at you  you know that scene in Jurassic Park when the Tyrannosaurus rex peeks into the car? It was like that.

Liss became depressed, lost weight. I felt gross, like I was just an ornament. She said that she had never felt more depleted by the male gaze than the time she spent in Albany. Melissa DeRosa had Louboutins, and there were legs everywhere, and I just felt stupid. I was living in a place that was full of people who were mean and predatory. It ground me down to the lowest point of my life, like I was a piece of nothing and my career was going nowhere.

Clockwise from left: Lindsey Boylan. Photo: Rob Latour/Shutterstock Charlotte Bennett. Photo: Elizabeth Frantz for The New York Times/Redux Ana Liss. Photo: Courtesy of Ana Liss Clockwise from left: Lindsey Boylan. Photo: Rob Latour/Shutterstock Ana Liss. Photo: Courtesy of Ana Liss Charlotte Bennett. Photo: Elizabeth Frantz for... more Clockwise from left: Lindsey Boylan. Photo: Rob Latour/Shutterstock Ana Liss. Photo: Courtesy of Ana Liss Charlotte Bennett. Photo: Elizabeth Frantz for The New York Times/Redux

Brute white patriarchy has been a political norm since the beginning of American politics. New York City, New York State, and the United States of America share rich histories of installing hot-tempered white men in positions of political power and too often seeking comfort in them in moments of crisis or fear. I remember liberal peers talking about the sudden affection they felt for our deranged, fascist then-mayor in the wake of 9/11; I thought a lot about that last spring, when many were describing themselves as Cuomosexuals.

Cuomo is an American patriarch connected to a long line of American patriarchs: He is the son of a three-term governor, brother of a CNN anchor; he was married to and had three children with Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of the late New York senator and U.S. attorney general Robert Kennedy, niece of President John Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy. He later had a long partnership with Sandra Lee, whose Semi-Homemade brand began with a deal at Miramax in 2002; in 2016, Lee described Harvey Weinstein as the original Magic Man  and a catalyst to my career.

Though Cuomo hasnt been accused of anything like the violent crimes that Weinstein committed, he shares other traits with the now-imprisoned movie producer. For years, Weinsteins famously bad temper and difficult workplace demeanor were understood simply as quirky symptoms of his genius, somehow permissible because everyone knew about them and no one did anything about them; it was just Harvey being Harvey. Cuomos behavior has also long been excused as Andrew being Andrew; just a powerful man being powerful. Like Weinstein, Cuomo regularly has people yell for him, including a phalanx of senior women whom he uses as a defensive feminist shield, making sure to note in his first news conference after the allegations that we have more senior women in this administration than probably any administration in history.

But like the women Harvey empowered at his movie companies, many high up in Cuomos employ repeat and amplify the kinds of abuses that begin with the boss. Most people I spoke to about their relationships with the governor have memories of being yelled at, threatened, or insulted by senior female colleagues, especially Melissa DeRosa.

Powerful white women have often benefited from, and thus worked to uphold, abusive patriarchal power systems. DeRosa might be a perfect specimen. She is, those who have worked for and alongside her say, the person who has most absorbed from the governor his talent for ferocity and is eerily skilled at conveying his presence and asserting dominance over whomever shes dealing with.

Like her boss, she often does this under the guise of girl power. Both Cuomo and DeRosa, who heads New Yorks Council on Women and Girls, regularly wield feminist language as a cudgel against feminist critics. On March 8, DeRosa took to Twitter to tout Cuomos high approval ratings with women as defense against allegations of harassment. And at the briefing when Cuomo first addressed harassment claims, DeRosa was at his side, spouting a word cloud of pseudo-feminist obfuscation about the administrations work to further womens rights, to expand protections for women in the workplace, maternal health, reproductive health (claims complicated by the administrations cuts to Medicaid eligibility and long delays in pushing through the Reproductive Health Act). She touted the number of women appointed to senior staff, claiming that weve promoted each other and weve supported one another.

But many women who worked with DeRosa recalled her as the opposite of supportive, describing her instead as territorial and unkind. When Kaitlin arrived at Cuomos offices, she said, the senior women didnt like that the governor liked me and that Cuomo seemed to take pleasure in this. He would ask, How are the mean girls?  she said. One male staff member told me, If you werent in the Melissa, Jill, and Stephanie crew, you didnt really exist. Another woman described an instance in the ladies room, when Melissa looked at me; I could not have felt like less of a human being.

In March 2019, Camille Rivera, former political director of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, who had a cordial  if delicate  relationship with the administration, was growing irritated by what she viewed as Cuomo adviser Rich Azzopardis habit of publicly directing vitriol toward women. When she saw him belittling Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Twitter, she lost patience and replied,  This is what happens with men of white privilege; someone else would have been called out for attacking the majority leader of the Senate, who is a Black woman. 

It was not long before she heard from DeRosa, screaming at her to take her tweet down. The fight got so intense, Rivera said, that DeRosa was yelling,  What are you going to do about it? and I was like, Youre the one with the black Suburban; you come over here and tell me what youre going to do about it.  In the midst of their argument, Rivera got a call from her boss, who was in Europe and extremely confused about why he was getting angry calls from high-level state officials. (They agreed that the tweet wasnt worth it; she took it down.) When asked about this event, DeRosa said, I was defending a staff member who was doing his job and was being maligned. Its well known Ive had plenty of tough conversations with men and women over the years, and to attempt to somehow paint this as gendered is demonstrably false.

The administration still seems unaware of the irony: The very point Rivera had been making about Azzopardi  that his white male privilege insulated him from repercussion when he attacked women of color  was proved by the wrath the administration brought down on Rivera, a woman of color.

Texts sent from Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa to State Senator Alessandra Biaggi on May 23, 2020 demonstrate a culture of bullying and harassment. Of this exchange, DeRosa says: The pandemic was a very stressful time for everyone involved and yes, I was very frustrated.

In 2015, Camonghne Felix was a 23-year-old activist and poet, trying to figure out how to make change in the world after her work with Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter, when a friend told her that the governor was looking to hire a speechwriter who had a background in poetry. Felix imagined that her organizing background would kill her chances.

But Mario Cuomo had recently died, and one of his most famous proclamations had been that you campaign in poetry; you govern in prose. His son, mourning a father whose legacy he has long been obsessed with besting, wanted poetry. Felix was told she would be hired within 24 hours of her interview. I probably wrote about 30 speeches or sets of remarks for him, and I think he used one, she says now. My desk was close to his office. He loved to see me, but he didnt listen to a single word I ever said.

Felix was the first Black woman to work as a speechwriter for Cuomo and was the only Black person on the press team, where she later worked in communications after accepting that he was never going to use her speeches. Its a very subtle form of racialized abuse, she said. You know I am beneficial to you. I fill a quota. It looks good on paper, and we made sure to put press releases out. But you dont intend to incorporate me into government. You just like to show me to people.

Partway through her tenure, Felix got a new boss, a man she said was treated horribly by his superiors. One day, Felix made a mistake on a press release. He called me and said, What the fuck is wrong with you? How fucking could you? The first thing I thought was, Oh, this must be how Cuomo talks to him. Because it didnt even make sense. It didnt seem natural to this guy. Like, I dont know where you got all that bass in your voice.

Azzopardi, Melissa  its like he inhabits them, said Bill Lipton, a founder of the Working Families Party. When they call, you can feel his presence. Theyre screaming at you, and either hes right there or you can feel that hes just yelled at them and theyre giving it to you. When asked to provide comment on the claims made in this article, Azzopardi, their spokesperson, responded, There is no secret these are tough jobs, and the work is demanding, but we have a top-tier team with many employees who have been here for years and many others who have left and returned because they know the work we do matters.

Felix believed that in certain instances, Cuomo  and certainly the people who worked for him  had good ideas. But you were never able to implement any of them because the culture within his staff was so violent and corrosive that people cant get anything done without cheating, without cruelty, without bribery. Days before news broke that Cuomos staff had altered the nursing-homes report, Felix had observed to me: You have to imagine that people do bad things, corrupt things, because they feel like they dont have a choice. Theres so much fear all the time. Thats bad because it stops not just progress; it stops government from efficient governing.

Its how you are groomed to do the job, another longtime administration veteran told me. If you need to publicly shame someone, thats okay. If you need to berate someone in front of their peers, thats acceptable. She described the explicit ethos as: Either you can win, or you can lose.

For Cuomo, many people told me, a big part of winning means lying. I was taught that it was totally fine to lie, said Ana Liss. Even as a peon, I was part of some of the lies and mischaracterization. After the story of the nursing-home scandal broke, DeRosa was caught on tape acknowledging that data had been hidden to avoid attacks from the Trump administration, and subsequent reporting has shown that she and two of Cuomos other close advisers purposefully altered documents to obscure the truth.

He makes things up like Ive never seen anyone do before, said Lipton. He makes people who disagree with him feel like theyre crazy. Its a pattern that  like his narcissism, theatrical bombast, love of cameras, hatred of experts, and the fact that, as one national reporter who covered him said, I dont think he believes in much, except that he wants to be powerfulmakes Cuomo not the anti-Trump that many imagined him, but rather the 45th presidents Democratic twin. Or, as one person put it to me, they are the same person but for two major exceptions: Fred Trump was Donald Trumps father, and Mario Cuomo was Andrew Cuomos father.

Cuomos Jedi Mind Trick approach to public narrative undergirds his ongoing feud with New Yorks WFP. The minor party  which is allowed to cross-endorse candidates, creating pressure from the left without having to run spoilers  has been critical of Cuomo since his first term, when, after running as a progressive, he enacted corporate-friendly economic policy, obstructed Mayor de Blasios attempt to tax the citys wealthiest residents, capped property taxes at 2 percent, and, many of his critics alleged, tacitly allied with state Republicans and the Democratic Independent Conference (IDC), a cabal of conservative Democrats, to keep the State Legislature out of Democratic control. It was an arrangement that  along with the tax caps that kept shrinking the states budget  permitted Cuomo to blame the stagnation of progressive initiatives on a snarled Legislature. (Cuomo has long denied that he supported either Republican or IDC control of the Legislature).

In 2014, after almost endorsing his primary opponent, Zephyr Teachout, the WFP cut a deal with Cuomo in which, in exchange for their support, he promised that hed work to dissolve the IDC, raise the minimum wage, make the Dream Act state law, and expand abortion access in the state. But he simply didnt follow through on his vows, and in the wake of the WFPs endorsement, he acted like hed landed a knockout punch rather than submitted to an agreement, telling a reporter, You either win or you lose, and I won. Cuomo then launched his own minor party, naming it the Womens Equality Party, or WEP, perhaps to confuse voters and sap power from the WFP. Though the WEP endorsed Cuomo over Teachout (a woman) and would in 2018 endorse him over Cynthia Nixon (also a woman), it branded itself as committed to womens equality by commandeering a pink-striped bus.

When, in 2018, the WFP supported a group of candidates, many of them young, many female, many candidates of color, who finally defeated the IDC and put the Legislature back in Democratic hands, Cuomo responded by raising the threshold of votes that a minor party needs to stay on the ballot. When we elected a new class of leaders who had a very different orientation to power, said Sochie Nnaemeka, director of the WFP, the governor struck back by trying to kill the party.

It didnt work. The 2018 cycle would mark a turning point in Cuomos ability to terrify his would-be challengers into silence and submission.

In 2016, Alessandra Biaggi, a lawyer who had interned for Joe Crowley, worked on the Clinton campaign, and was the granddaughter of the late New York congressman Mario Biaggi, took a job for Cuomos thenchief counsel, Alphonso David. She entered the administration, she said, thinking, Im a lawyer for the governor of New York, now the progressive beacon of the world.

Within a couple of weeks of joining the administration, she was at a party at the governors mansion. The governor comes over to me and grabs my elbow, she said. He didnt say Welcome or Thank you for being here. He said Nice dance moves and walked away. The male colleague standing next to her said,  What the fuck was that? 

Biaggi said that she did not feel in that moment that she was being sexually harassed. I just felt like it was so weird. That was my first interaction with him, and I didnt know what to think except, Okay, this is the governor of New York, and I am here to do my job.

The job was a lot less beacon-of-progressivism-y than Biaggi had anticipated. She was focused on an immigration bill and on the Reproductive Health Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade as state law and expand access to abortion care. Biaggi and others believed that the law was finally going to pass in the wake of Trumps victory; it was never even brought to the floor. At the time, she couldnt quite figure out why. Part of what makes Cuomo powerful, she said, is that theres no information sharing. It allows him to evade responsibility; nobody really knows whats going on.

Biaggi said she asked her boss about it. I remember Alphonso saying, Yeah, you know, thats Albany.  She was put off by what she saw as a sluggish disconnect from the urgency of the moment, especially within an administration that was supposedly mounting vigorous opposition to Trumpism. Every day, Donald Trump was pushing some executive order and no one in this office was taking it seriously, said Biaggi. They were yanking around all the advocates and pretending to care, but nothing ever got anywhere. It was just showmanship, the veneer of governance.

After learning more about the IDC, led by Jeff Klein, the conservative Democrat who had also been accused of sexual harassment by a staffer (a claim he denies), Biaggi had coffee with Mike Gianaris, a Democratic state senator who was understood by members of the administration to be strategizing to unseat the IDC. They discussed the possibility of Biaggi running against Klein. I was full of rage after 2016, Trump being president, Hillary losing. I was dying to use my brain to do good work.

When members of the administration found out about the coffee, they did not respond warmly. Biaggis boss, she said, called her 20 times in a single weekend, quizzing her aggressively about her coffee with Gianaris. The incessantness of the calls was scary, she said. Then, in a Monday meeting, she remembered, her colleagues laughed at the idea of her challenging Klein. I swear to God that was the moment when I was like, I dont care, Im running. (David does not recall making 20 calls in one weekend.)

After leaving Cuomos office to launch her campaign, Biaggi didnt see the governor until August 2018, when they both attended a wedding. He says Hi, Alessandra, pulls me in, and kisses my head twice and then my eye. Hes holding on to my arm, and he looks at my fiance and says, Are you jealous?  Again, Biaggi said, I didnt feel sexually harassed. I felt like he was trying to make me feel uncomfortable, to disarm me.

Biaggi won her primary against Klein in September 2018; she didnt hear from Cuomo. But on the day before the general election, she got a call from his office, telling her that the governor wanted to see her. Biaggi brought two campaign staffers along with her, but Cuomos staff did not permit them to accompany her into the room, where he was sitting with DeRosa. Biaggi said that most of her conversation with Cuomo was normal and nice, until the end when his whole demeanor changed and he sat back in his chair, looked at me, and said, Tell me again how your grandfathers career ended? 

Mario Biaggis career ended with a 26-month prison term for having accepted an illegal gratuity and obstructing justice. Thirty years later, his granddaughter said she stared at the governor of New York and willed herself not to freak out, because he wants you to freak out. Biaggi felt sure that Cuomo had been conveying a threat, though its specific contours were confusing. What is he telling me? That hes going to send me to prison? That hes so powerful he could end my career?

The sheer amount of interpersonal drama, anxiety, and rancor that former Cuomo staffers described was wholly exhausting, like something from The Devil Wears Prada.

Multiple people told me that they began therapy and antidepressants for the first time in their lives while working for Cuomo. Ana Liss said that she started pursuing mental-health services when I was there because I thought I was going crazy. My parents thought I was going nuts. I was angry and crying all the time, and I went on Lexapro. At one point, she said, I did call in to a suicide hotline because I felt like such a friggin nobody.

On December 31, Cuomo lavishly opened Moynihan Train Hall; the $1.6 billion conversion of the former post office had been overseen by Michael Evans, who had faced steadily mounting pressure to finish it and who took his own life in March 2020. Evans partner, Brian Lutz, told me that it would be unfair to lay all of the blame for Michaels death at the feet of Andrew Cuomo. Michael made a lot of choices over the course of his life that served as kindling, but Governor Cuomo and his administration lit the match. The governor, Lutz said, caused his late partner psychological terror and made him feel constantly afraid. In some of the last texts of his life, Lutz said, Michael told him that he was afraid they would destroy his career. (A Cuomo spokesperson responded that Evans had met directly with Cuomo five times in the three years before his death, cited appreciative statements made by the governor at the Moynihan Hall, and noted that he has a plaque in his honor at the station.)

I thought I was going crazy. I was crying and angry all the time, and I went on Lexapro  I did call in to a suicide hotline.

Those beaten down by the vicious workplace were also depressed that none of their misery was in service of effective governance or better policy. In fact, many told me, there was little interest in policy. It was policy-making like paint-by-numbers, said one former staffer. The goal was superficial, as opposed to changing peoples lives. It was heartbreaking. That didnt mean that policy didnt get enacted, she said, but it was second to and in service of optics. Someone from the inner circle would call and say, The governor wants to go to Orange County. What can we announce? 

Wertheimer, who put together the governors daily briefing book and said that Cuomo rarely even read policy memos, agreed. Cuomo and his senior staff were obsessed, said several sources, with the annual State of the State book, which showcased task forces, pilot programs, and funding commitments, some of which were only tenuously rooted in reality. The whole endeavor seemed to be about size, said one person who worked on it. Like if you have a big book, it shows youre going to do a lot of things. She said that the notion that governing was about solving problems and making peoples lives better was not what drove people inside that building  but when you objected to the shoddiness of a job or refused to do something unethical, it was because you couldnt hang. I was like, Fuck you. Its not that I cant hang. Its that you all are terrible people.

The idea that you had to be able to submit to abuse in order to work with New Yorks executive branch drove out not just staffers but external experts. Andy Byford, the British transportation guru hired in 2018 to update New York Citys crumbling subway system, left just two years later, making it clear that Cuomo had made the job impossible. I was not going to be allowed to get done what needed to be done, he told the press at the time. I just would not accept the fact that my people were being yelled at.

One former staffer who worked in the administration described a morning on which shed been awakened at six; she spent the workday, till 11 p.m., too afraid to leave her computer even to eat or go to the bathroom, getting steadily castigated over email by DeRosa. A week later, she said, DeRosa came into the office and introduced herself for the fourth time. I had worked with her for two years at that point.

Not knowing peoples names wasnt just incompetence; it was another signal of dominance. When Cuomo ran against progressive law professor Zephyr Teachout in 2014, he pointedly refused to say her name, make eye contact, or shake her hand at a parade. Its embarrassing to have somebody treat you like that, like you dont exist, Teachout told me.

It often worked, instilling a conviction in many that they had no worth and that therefore there would be no point in fighting back or speaking out. Most people who spoke for this story told me that they were hesitant to come forward precisely because they could imagine how their accounts would be rebutted by the administration: that no one remembered that theyd even existed. Some who worried about this were staffers whod worked alongside DeRosa and Cuomo every day for years.

This was how people in the administration were taught to behave, said Camonghne Felix. You had to subjugate someone. These are, of course, the strategies that reinforce capitalism and brutal political regimes: Authority is created and strengthened through the diminishment and depletion of others. Too often, those in power wind up spending more time performing muscularity than actually doing whatever it is theyre supposed to be dominant at doing. As Felix said, The state gets trapped in this cyclical nonsense. You look up and see that nothing is getting done. And not only that: Things are getting broken.

Protesters in front of Cuomos Manhattan office on March 2. Photo: Brittainy Newman/AP/Shutterstock

How could so much of Cuomos bad behavior have remained normalized, even admired, through three terms? He has stayed extremely popular with the public, his approval soaring through COVID. Even some of his harshest critics are careful to acknowledge good things about him, mentioning the legalization of same-sex marriage, his work to protect nail-salon workers, an early expansion of Medicaid to undocumented immigrants (he has since pushed punishing cuts to eligibility). Others commend him for closing multiple prisons and his willingness to raise the minimum wage.

But critics point out that many of his accomplishments  including the minimum-wage hike, the eventual passage of the Reproductive Health Act, and his investment in offshore wind  only happened after years of delay, where Cuomo himself played obstructionist as people and the environment suffered, until a time came when glory could redound to him personally.

Cuomos conduct could also remain camouflaged in a state capital known for the grotesquely antiquated and unjust hierarchies it thrives on. As one woman who worked in Cuomos counsel office early in his tenure told me, Albany felt like a seedy adult summer camp.

Yuh-Line Niou, a staffer for Assemblymember Kim before winning office herself (doubling Asian American representation in Albany), spoke of how she had her ass grabbed in an elevator by an elected official within her first week in town; she was 27 and also recalled an assemblymember who approached her and Kim at a fund-raiser and said,  I cant believe you guys havent fucked, I would fuck both of you and I would pay to see you two fuck; I would pay to join.  She said that Kim was so conscious of how much harassment she endured that when they were in Albany, hed always offer to grab her lunch so she wouldnt have to venture out alone.

If the town is rough, the press corps that covers it doesnt offer enlightened salvation. You walk into the Legislative Correspondents Association, and its largely men and largely white men, said Amy Spitalnick, who worked as the New York attorney generals communications director and senior policy adviser from 2016 to 2019. There are very tangible impacts of that on how our government is covered: what is deemed permissible and what rises to the level of attention. Which is why all of this has been an open secret for so long. There are women in the press corps, but, Spitalnick said, they can get burned out, in part because of the aggression they face from Cuomo. In 2012, it was reported that the administration kept a 35-page dossier on journalist Liz Benjamin, who two years ago left her job hosting Capital Tonight. Another reporter, Lindsay Nielsen, wrote recently about how, in 2017, she left her job covering politics for the Albany-based News10 after five years of threatening and incessant bullying from the Cuomo administration.

As the story of Cuomos tactics gets reported in a more critical light, Josefa Velasquez, a 29-year old senior reporter for The City, said that she sometimes considers how some colleagues, including some of those now covering Cuomos troubles, never used the power that they had to defend anyone else before this. Shes referring to both reporters and some of the governors advisers. No one checked him. Hes the governor of New York who has consolidated all this power and has all these political allies. But his aides and the men in the press corps, some of them are just as complicit in this behavior.

There are a few hundred people at least  insiders in Albany, in media, in labor  who have known how Cuomo operates for years. And then there are tens of millions who just really love him on TV.

It may have been the television adoration that precipitated the fall. In March, Cuomo began conducting his daily press briefings, performing charismatic calm in the face of panicky instability, ticking off daily numbers to combat the unknown; his updates became a soothing ritual. As Trump lied and tantrumed and overrode experts, Cuomo  a man of similar habits  was received as a competent balm.

His long-simmering power contest with Mayor de Blasio crested in March and into April, as they locked antlers over when to shut businesses, whether to shut schools. In April, Cuomo joked on Ellen about people calling themselves Cuomosexuals, and in May, appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, solemn pandemic rock star. In a June briefing, he unveiled a foam replica of the COVID curve  the mountain that New Yorkers climbed  and in July, his administration printed the NEW YORK TOUGH posters featuring himself and DeRosa, who was labeled Magnificent Melissa. In August, he announced a book deal, reportedly worth seven figures, to write about his experience leading through COVID. In October, as his book, American Crisis, was published, his name was floated to be Joe Bidens AG. In November, he won an Emmy for his briefings.

Behind the scenes in those first weeks of COVID, Cuomo was making the unprecedented move of expanding his emergency powers beyond those of any New York governor since Nelson Rockefeller. Into the massive state budget, he inserted an immunity provision for hospitals and nursing homes; the provision had been drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an organization that, in 2018, donated over a million dollars to the New York State Democratic Committee (which funded Cuomos reelection campaign) and was repped by Bolton-St. Johns, a powerful firm where the chief lobbyist is Giorgio DeRosa, Melissa DeRosas father. In a particularly bitter irony for those whod envisioned New York State government as the lab for progressive federal policy, the states gold standard corporate immunity law would indeed wind up a model  for Mitch McConnell.

Cuomo pooh-poohed experts in science and medicine, eventually driving out nine of the states top public-health officials. A Columbia University study would show that his dickering with de Blasio and ensuing delay in locking down New York likely cost 17,000 lives. In June, his aides were reportedly altering the nursing-home documents. That same month, Charlotte Bennett alleges that Cuomo was asking her whether or not she had ever had sex with older men.

Just as Cuomo, who had long exerted such punishing and obsessive control over so many, was coming close to what he had always sought  the expansion of his power, the eclipse of his fathers legacy, a firm spot on the national stage and in the American imagination  he was starting to lose his grip on the political forces within his own state.

When Biaggi beat Klein in 2018, she was part of a group of new legislators  including Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, Rachel May, John Liu, Julia Salazar, and Robert Jackson (all backed by the Working Families Party)  who finally rid the state of the IDC. People are not impressed by political machines anymore, said WFPs Nnaemeka. They are inspired by leaders who are connected to the community. What is threatening, she said, to this masculinist closed-door politics is democratic participation, leaders propelled by people and not by institutional ladders  The day of those politics is over.

Part of my healing, said one former member of Cuomos staff, came when Alessandra won and when she started to confront him and not fear him. Many in Cuomoland saw the victory of Biaggi as a stand-in for victory over Cuomo himself.

Its not just the young left wiggling out from under his thumb. After eight years in which State Senate Republicans, with help from the IDC and Cuomo, kept Democrats from control of the Legislature, and their leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins out of budget meetings, Stewart-Cousins is now in power. On March 6, she called for Cuomos resignation.

Then theres Tish James. When James was first elected to City Council in 2003, she was the first candidate ever to win a race solely on the WFP ticket and stayed affiliated with the party through her tenure as public advocate. When she ran for attorney general in 2018, James accepted Cuomos powerful backing in exchange for not running on the WFP line. Now in office, she has not behaved like a politician bought and paid for by Cuomo. James released the nursing-homes report and is one of the candidates who could, should Cuomo survive this period, mount a formidable challenge to the fourth term he has been hell-bent on pursuing.

Cuomo is also being challenged by his former staffers, who are now speaking out. They are a reminder that the problem with dismissive assumptions about hierarchical power is that you often underestimate those you are oppressing and overestimate your ability to suppress them; a reliance on divisive mean-girl machinations can keep you from seeing how women might one day come together to challenge your power.

Niou told me of how long shed spent, even after winning office in 2016, feeling exactly what Cuomo wanted her to feel: like a nobody. They could just knock me out, the only Asian woman, and nobody would notice. Theyve known they can say something and that I have to grin and bear it because I dont have any power over them. Thats the stuff they tell you to believe. Whats changing, Niou said, is that I am now part of a cohort of people who are speaking up. And its starting to matter.

New Yorks newer model of politics surely is not perfect, nor immune to abuse, nor made of inherently finer stuff; Biaggi is, after all, the product of a political dynasty herself. But it is indisputably built around a different posture toward power.

That posture alters the dynamics of dependence and fear. In very practical terms, these new politicians do not owe Cuomo or his administration anything; their power was gained in spite of him, and while his administration can still starve their districts in retribution, an ability to describe that openly gives them a freedom previous generations have not had. Biaggi told me that she has even blocked DeRosas number. I dont want that bad energy, she said.

One impression that emerges from Cuomos ten years in office is of an immense amount of time wasted. Biaggi said that on the day after Amazon pulled out of its deal to open in New York City, she received a call at 9:30 a.m. from Cuomo, upset at her for having been critical of his handling of the deal. What struck her was that he was more concerned with calling me than with the aftermath of Amazon leaving. He spends his days yelling at people who say bad things about him, rather than governing.

For an awfully long time, we have accepted the indignities and mediocrity of brute white patriarchy as our only option, both because we couldnt imagine better and because even the act of pointing out that it should be better felt futile. And so this kind of power could be petty, corrupt, threatening, skeezy; it could be handsy at weddings and harassing at the office; it could lie and cover up and be sent to jail and still it would be our norm and all we had to turn to in a storm, through a pandemic. We had to pin our hopes on it as a refuge from other, worse brutal white patriarchs. And so we learned to love it, to tune in to its daily briefings and allow its self-assuredness to wash over us.

While I was reporting this article, I spoke to one woman who told me of a time Cuomo hit on her at a party years ago. It wasnt the story of anything illegal, just an invasive and brash move, made a few feet from where his then-wife was standing. She described to me how hed learned her name before approaching her, how hed taken hold of her hand and not let go, had whispered close into her ear, how hed come on to her: It was clear when he grabbed me that he was used to taking what he wanted.

In an earlier era, I could imagine that line being used in a romance novel, an affirmative description of sex appeal. In this era, in which we have been offered new language, more autonomy, and better therapy, such a description has lost its sexiness for many women, including the woman in question, who did not respond warmly to Cuomos overture but rather froze, because his attitude  even in this comparatively ordinary interaction  had given her terrible flashbacks to the sexualized violence of her past.

Until this week  when an allegation of groping was referred to police and Democrats in the Legislature initiated the first step toward impeachment  it seemed quite possible that Cuomos governorship would survive. So far, Cuomo has refused to entertain calls for his resignation, instead requesting an investigation and circulating a statement, which he asked female lawmakers to sign, suggesting that calls on him to step down are tantamount to undermining Tish James. Its a classic Cuomo defensive deployment of feminism and one of many signs that he is not going down without a probably very ugly fight. As he has so often in the past, Cuomo might well win that fight. But with more than 55 lawmakers in his party calling on him to step down, it is harder than it has ever been to imagine him winning a fourth term, or fashioning himself into a national political figure, or continuing to exert the stranglehold on his state and party that he has become accustomed to. In that sense, what we are witnessing, after a year of meteoric rise, is the extraordinary, crashing two-month fall of a man whose power, for a decade, has been almost total.

The brutality that Andrew Cuomo has brought to politics  connected as it has long been to his authority and his ability to take whatever he wants from his staff and his state  has, like his sexualized advances, been drained of a lot of its appeal.

We didnt know we had an alternative. Now, it seems, we might have many.

Additional reporting by Jane Starr Drinkard and Amelia Schonbek.

*This article appears in the March 15, 2021, issue of New York Magazine.

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NEW YORK U.S. deaths from COVID-19 are falling again as the nation continues to recover from the devastating winter surge, a trend that experts are cautiously hopeful will accelerate as more vulnerable people are vaccinated.

While new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations have plummeted, the decline in deaths from a January peak of about 4,500 hasn't been quite as steep. But, now, after weeks of hovering around 2,000 daily deaths, that figure has dropped to about 1,400 U.S. lives lost each day to coronavirus.

"I am encouraged by these data but we must remain vigilant," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at Friday's White House briefing.

Public health experts say it's too soon to say, definitively, what's driving declines since the surge  but they suspect a post-holiday drop in traveling and indoor gatherings, widespread mask wearing and the vaccine rollout have all contributed.

"We're moving in the right direction," said Harvard Medical School researcher Jagpreet Chhatwal. "I think a message of optimism is fair."

Walensky and others worry that a pandemic-weary public will let down its guard too soon. And they're monitoring the spread of worrisome new versions of the virus.

"We're all desperate to get done with this," said Jeff Shaman, who studies infectious disease at Columbia University. "We're not in a place where it's safe as of yet."

Health care workers say they've seen it happen before  a crushing wave of illness and death, momentary relief from a drop in COVID-19 cases, and then, another deadly surge. About 531,000 Americans have died since the pandemic began a year ago.

"Every time you thought you had an end, the number of cases went up," said Dr. Mark Rosenberg, head of emergency medicine at St. Joseph's Health in Paterson, New Jersey.

For now, most forecasts show coronavirus deaths falling further in coming weeks as more people get vaccines. More than 100 million doses have been given out since December, and the pace is picking up.

"We expect it to continue to drive those deaths down even more," said Johns Hopkins infectious disease expert Justin Lessler.

As of this week, 62 percent of those 65 and older have gotten at least one dose, according to the CDC. That's the age group that's been hit the hardest and still accounts for the vast majority of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S.

Increasingly better treatments for severe COVID-19 will also continue to help, doctors say.

"All of these things are coming together to put a dent in the problem," said Dr. Lewis Nelson, an emergency medicine specialist at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

The tally of coronavirus deaths often lags behind new infections and hospitalizations, since it can take a long time for someone to become seriously ill and die after contracting the virus. It can also take weeks for deaths to be added to the national count.

"There's sort of a longer tail, sadly, on death and dying from COVID-19," said Boston College public health expert Dr. Philip J. Landrigan.

That's what happened in the case of Teresa Ciappa, 73, of Amherst, New York, who developed a terrible cough and fever around Thanksgiving. She was admitted to the hospital soon after and died in early January of complications from COVID-19.

"Week after week she just declined and declined," said her daughter, Michelle Ciappa, who lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Her family was there when she was taken off of a ventilator.

"We watched her take her last breath and that was it," Michelle Ciappa said. "I wish people would be patient and take this more seriously."

If states continue lifting restrictions, health experts warn, we could see another deadly wave of illnesses.

On Monday, Wyoming became the latest state in a growing list  including Texas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Iowa, Montana and Alabama  that has pulled mask requirements or plan to do so soon. Governors across the country have also eased restrictions on how many customers can be allowed in bars, restaurants, gyms and movie theaters.

"They're not taking a slow, measured approach. They're flipping a switch," Lessler said. "There is the very real possibility of big resurgences."

Experts also worry about unchecked spread of mutated versions of the coronavirus that spread easier and could blunt the effectiveness of certain treatments or vaccines.

"It's still a race against time," said Jaline Gerardin, who studies COVID-19 trends at Northwestern University. "The fear is we won't catch something when we should."

Rosenberg, the ER doctor, said he hopes the public will be encouraged by the pandemic's downward trend to keep wearing masks, washing their hands and staying a safe distance from others.

"We know what worked," he said. "If we're saying we're in the last phase of the battle, don't put your weapons away yet."

___

AP writers Thalia Beaty in New York and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed to this report.
Despite all of Santee Cooper's improvements  and there have been improvements  the state-owned utility is no poster child for good government, or accountable government, or well-run businesses.

As Senate Republican Leader Shane Massey reminded his colleagues on Thursday, when the upper chamber spent more than an hour debating whether it might finally be getting ready to debate debating the utilitys future, "secretive" is baked into its DNA  as evidenced by the lengths to which the Legislature had to go last year to find out about its latest bond issue.

And Santee Cooper remains resistant to any reforms other than those it decides to make  none of which involves regulation by the Public Service Commission. Anytime you want to talk about meaningful change down there, Mr. Massey said, youre gonna get the same answer: Well, thats gonna violate the bond covenants. And they continue issuing the bonds with the same bond covenants.

Combine that sort of sabotage with NextEras promise to eliminate nearly $4 billion in debt from the botched V.C. Summer nuclear construction project, and youd think the Legislature would have jumped at the Florida-based utilitys offer to take Santee Cooper off our hands.

Yet more than a year after NextEra proffered that bid, no one seriously expects the Legislature to accept it. No one's even sure the full Senate is ever going to debate it. And it's not just because Santee Cooper's cheerleaders are blocking the debate.

During Thursday's exchange, Sen. Ronnie Cromer summarized the holdup in a way I wish I had thought of myself: We prefer to sell Santee Cooper. We dont prefer to give Santee Cooper away.

NextEra prefers that, yeah, we sell it," he said. "But its not a sale. Its a gift to them. I for one am not for giving anything thats a state asset to anybody.

Whether they shared his opinion or not, everybody in the Senate chamber understood what the Newberry Republican meant. But it's been a lifetime since our state's high-paid experts evaluated all the bids  way back in a pre-COVID world  and those of us who aren't constantly being lobbied for a decision might have forgotten the details.

So with special interests buying radio and internet advertising and targeted promotions to convince us that what NextEra charges for electricity in other states is relevant and that the utility wont recoup the debt in customers monthly power bills, it might be useful to recall those details.

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It's true that NextEra offered to assume Santee Coopers $3.6 billion debt. It also offered to pay the state about $600 million in cash and refund customers $541 million for V.C. Summer debt payments they had already made.

In return, NextEra would get what Mr. Cromer called somewhere between $11 (billion) and $13 billion in assets, along with the right to sell power to 2 million South Carolinians. It also would leave the state to cover around $600 million in pensions and other obligations. And lay off up to 700 South Carolinians. And receive legislative pre-approval for $2.3 billion worth of new construction of power generation, along with the right to keep charging customers even if it never used any of that power generation  essentially the same Base Load Review Act arrangement that fueled the V.C. Summer debacle.

On top of all of that, our high-paid experts determined, NextEra's electricity rates would be higher than Santee Cooper's  from Day One. And as Dominion customers know, utilities aren't content to hold rates steady for long after they buy a distressed utility.

NextEra's bid also required the Legislature to let it pay a fee of about $5 million a year instead of up to $175 million a year in property taxes on power plants, transmission lines, office buildings and real estate that Santee Cooper currently owns. NextEras CEO did offer to take the tax break out of the package  in return for raising rates by an equal amount.

By far the most attractive part of the proposal  and clearly at least part of the reason NextEra thought it might get away with offering what was otherwise such a lousy deal  was the $541 million in refunds. That's because it would have settled a class-action lawsuit that threatened to send the utility into default and force the state to either bail it out or else risk damaging South Carolina's reputation as a good place to do business.

But somehow, Santee Cooper managed to settle the lawsuit on its own, which eliminated its existential threat  and the attractiveness of NextEras bid.

Could NextEra make a better offer? Maybe so. NextEra supporters who care about ratepayers say the utility brings smarter, more nimble management that would drive down power bills over time much more than a state agency could. So maybe its worth asking for a new bid, since settling the lawsuit effectively meant Santee Cooper submitted a second reform proposal.

But unless and until we see a better offer, we cant assume that lower rates in other states will mean lower rates here  particularly since its first offer included just the opposite, and since NextEra will have an expense in South Carolina that it doesn't have in all those other states: a nearly $4 billion debt from a pair of unfinished nuclear reactors that will never generate a watt of power.
Geneva, March 13 : A group of countries have condemned the killings of civilians by Australia's overseas military personnel at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, saying "credible reports show Australian soldiers have committed serious war crimes".

Delivering a joint statement on behalf of these countries at the session on Friday, Jiang Duan, Minister of the Chinese mission to the UN in Geneva, urged the Canberra government to carry out comprehensive and fair investigations into reported cases of summary execution, torture of civilians and other gross human rights violations committed by Australia's overseas military personnel, reports Xinhua news agency.

The joint statement called on the UN Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Special Procedures and civil societies to monitor relevant judicial processes carried out by the Australian government.

The statement also expressed concern over the Australian government's operations of offshore detention centres in third countries.

"In particular, those detention centres fall short of adequate medical conditions where a large number of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers have been detained over a long period of time or even indefinitely, and their human rights have been violated," the statement said.

"We urge Australia to immediately close down all offshore detention centres and take concrete steps to protect the rights of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, especially children," it added.

The statement also voiced concern over the increasing racial discrimination and violence against women, as well as the long-standing insufficiency in the protection of the rights of aboriginal peoples in Australia.
Spring break is upon us, thousands of South Carolinians are getting vaccinated every day, and many people are itching to get out of town.

However, the coronavirus pandemic isnt over. Federal, state and local health officials still recommend people wear face masks and keep 6 feet of distance between one another when interacting with others outside your household or going out in public.

If were not careful, we could see another spike, and thats going to be very problematic, especially with new variants out there, Edward Simmer, director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, said Thursday. But I think if were careful and people do the right thing here over the next couple months, we should be OK.

Even those who are vaccinated are still encouraged to wear a mask when going out in public, such as to restaurants, according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nevertheless, the state of South Carolina and local municipalities in recent weeks have ended many of the remaining COVID-19 health and safety requirements. Here are what rules still remain and what restrictions have ended recently.

Many of our municipalities still have mask ordinances in place. We encourage them to continue that for now, Simmer said. Because I do think that spring break poses a risk, that were not out of the woods yet.

Please note: Borders between municipalities are often unclear, and it can sometimes be hard to tell which jurisdiction youre in when moving between one city or county and another. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce recommends everyone wears a mask and maintain social distance regardless of where they are in the Grand Strand.

South Carolina

Gov. Henry McMaster last week ended the statewide order requiring customers and employees at restaurants to wear a mask when not eating or drinking. However, masks may still be required at these businesses depending on local laws or individual business policies.

Story continues

On March 1, the last call order banning sales of alcohol at bars and restaurants after 11 p.m. also ended, seven months after it was first implemented.

Conway

Conway requires face masks be worn inside retail businesses and restaurants, except when eating or drinking. Staff who interact with customers are also required to wear them.

Myrtle Beach

The city requires masks in most public areas of businesses, including restaurants. At hotels and vacations rentals, the city limits bellman and valet services to handicapped individuals and people who require assistance because of advanced age. Social distancing is also encouraged on elevators when riding with people from outside of your family or party.

The latest mask rules:

Masks are required in retail businesses and establishments that are open to the public.

Customers and staff are required to wear face coverings at hotel, retail and food businesses.

The requirement doesnt apply to the beaches.

Exemptions to the order apply, including medical or religious elements that dont allow for face coverings.

North Myrtle Beach

The city still has a mask requirement, except in restaurants, which it said became a guideline after McMaster ended the statewide order last week.

Masks are required in most public places, including retail businesses, salons and grocery stores, except when a mask gets in the way of the service being performed (i.e. haircuts).

Surfside Beach

The Town of Surfside Beach has never had a mask requirement.

We just request that people continue to attempt social distancing, town clerk Sheri Medina said in an email.

Georgetown

The city of Georgetown requires masks in all indoor retail businesses and restaurants. Georgetown County requires the public to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth while inside businesses. The order covers, but is not limited to, retail, grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants.

All of the jurisdictions that require masks allow for exemptions for people who have health conditions or religious beliefs prohibiting masks along with people who cant remove their own mask.
A homeless man wearing a hat with attached mouse ears spent five hours roaming around the military base where the US presidents plane is kept despite several layers of security.

On Thursday, the US Air Force admitted the incident happened on 4 February at Joint Base Andrews where the intruder made his way onto a C-40 transport plane on the tarmac

He did not get close to Air Force One, the presidents dedicated aircraft, a modified Boeing 747.

Located just south of Washington, DC, Andrews is where the president and other important US government officials fly from for government business, as well as being the arrival point for visiting VIPs and heads of state.

The unidentified man drove onto the base and spent five hours there, visiting a food court, the VIP terminal, and elsewhere before he was noticed, the AFP reports.

Somehow his unique appearance, and the fact that he did not know where he was, did not draw attention sooner.

A heavily redacted report states: On his head, he had a bright red or pink cap that partially covered his ears and had distinctive balls on top that looked a little like mouse ears.

The report faulted a guard at the main gate who was distracted by personal problems and obstructed by Covid-19 protocols. The guard let the man through despite a lack of credentials.

He was able to access the tarmac due to a malfunctioning automatic gate.

The man then boarded the C-40 aircraft, and was seen by two aircrew undergoing training but was ignored.

Upon his return to the terminal, his suspicious behaviour finally attracted attention and he was arrested by security officers.

Air Force Inspector General Sami Said said that the man never got close to Air Force One, which is parked at a distant location on the base and is protected by more intense layers of security.

The report concluded that the man was homeless, lived in his car, and despite an extensive arrest record showed no intent to do harm.

When questioned the man said he came on base because he wanted to see airplanes, the report says.

It is not known if the man will face charges.
BOSTON gangster James Whitey Bulgers role as an FBI informant is a lesson for police forces across the world in how NOT to handle their touts.

Brian Kelly, the former US state prosecutor who was the lead counsel against Bulger, tells this weeks Crime World podcast that the mobster murdered at will, often using information leaked to him by his handlers.

Crime Word Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud.
The State is planning to fight legal claims being taken by survivors of mother and baby homes, the Irish Independent has learned.

Several lawsuits have been lodged in the wake of a Commission of Investigation report, which detailed alarmingly high child mortality rates and the infliction of emotional abuse on mothers.

Despite the damning findings, correspondence from the State Claims Agency (SCA) indicates it plans to fight the cases by arguing they fall outside the statute of limitations.

If successful, the approach adopted by the SCA would significantly damage the prospects of survivors who opt to seek damages by way of the courts rather than through an expected redress scheme.

According to lawyers, more than 100 High Court civil actions are expected to be filed in the coming weeks relating to events which occurred decades ago in such homes.

The SCA was set up in 2001 to manage claims taken against the State so that the liability is contained at the lowest achievable level.

While it pledges to act fairly and ethically in dealing with people who have suffered injuries and damage, it has come under the spotlight on a number of occasions for its handling of sensitive matters such as CervicalCheck cases.

Solicitors representing survivors have received letters from the agency in recent weeks stating the statute of limitations would be an issue.

In one such letter seen by the Irish Independent, the SCA said: It is difficult to see how the statute of limitations does not have a role in a case of this antiquity and such matters will be pleaded in the defence delivered on behalf of the State authorities in due course after receipt of your clients legal proceedings.

A six-year statute of limitation applies in cases involving breaches of constitutional rights. While mother and baby home survivors could still argue their case, the defence signalled by the SCA has the potential to significantly elongate and complicate litigation.

Solicitor Matthew Byrne of Burns Nowlan LLP, who represents several survivors, said the SCA correspondence jarred with the apology offered by Taoiseach Micheal Martin on behalf of the State, where he spoke of the profound generational wrong visited upon Irish mothers and their children in such homes.

Given the issues that have gone on in these cases, to get letters back from the State Claims Agency along those lines is particularly distressing for clients, said Mr Byrne.

A spokesman for the SCA said it does not comment on individual cases.

It has received a number of claims in respect of mother and baby homes. As with all claims managed by the SCA, each of these claims will be considered on their own facts, the spokesman said.

Mr Byrne said he was also concerned the SCA might attempt to put time limits on the redress scheme currently being discussed by an inter-departmental group.

A six-year statute of limitation was put on the last significant State settlement scheme, introduced last year for inmates who were forced to slop out in prison.

Although the Mother and Baby Home Commission recommended a redress scheme, the model it proposed would exclude many survivors.

Those left out would include women who entered mother and baby homes following the introduction of the Unmarried Mothers Allowance in 1973 and children who were resident in five specific homes examined.

A spokesman for Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman said the inter-departmental group is to report to the minister on what form a restorative recognition scheme should take by the end of April.

He said the group would have regard to the commissions recommendations but is not bound by them.

Earlier this week, the minister launched a consultation process for former residents, their families and advocacy and representative groups which will run until the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the Irish Independent has learned the State refused to provide an indemnity to St Patricks Guild for lawsuits over illegal adoptions.

It had been open to Tusla to indemnify the former adoption society, which is currently in liquidation, for strategic cases under a deal which saw its adoption records transferred to the child and family agency. However, the SCA said it had confirmed to liquidator Anthony Weldon that an indemnity would not be provided as there was no legal or factual basis to do so.

Around 30 lawsuits have been filed against St Patricks Guild seeking damages over illegal adoptions, but the former adoption society had less than 250,000 in assets.

The Adoption Authority, a representative of the Sisters of Charity and the State are also being sued as co-defendants.

Despite the lack of an indemnity, the State could still end up shouldering the burden of damages if a finding of joint and several liability is made.

Mr Weldon has not hired solicitors to defend the cases, but said in an affidavit he had been advised the company may have a full defence in reliance on the statute of limitations.
The Bethlehem Food Co-Op plans to open its member-owned grocery store in 2022 in a new Peron Development project on East Broad Street in the city.

Peron plans to raze the one-story structure at 250 E. Broad St. and build a four-story apartment building with the co-ops full service grocery store as the first-floor tenant. Peron is partnering with Boyle Construction on the project.

The nonprofit revealed the address of its north Bethlehem downtown location to its member-owners via a Zoom celebration Friday evening that was to be followed with a public virtual announcement. The group recently announced it had signed a lease for its store, but has kept a tight lid on the actual location.

Opening a full-service grocery store in the neighborhood, especially on our north side, is vital to our city as we move forward, especially implementing Northside 2027, Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez said in video remarks made during the presentation. This is a perfect fit for the neighborhood, a perfect fit for the north side.

Initially founded in 2011, the co-op now has almost 800 member-owners. Food co-ops are grocery stores owned by members who get to shop at a discounted rate and take classes. Members pay a one-time fee of $300, and the co-op offers an installment plan. Anyone will be able to shop at the Bethlehem Food Co-op but they wont share in the perks of membership.

The store will rely on local vendors to supply produce and products and feature bulk bins, a community kitchen and meeting room, a small outdoor dining area, a bike rack and off-street parking. The property currently includes a parking lot. There will be 23 dedicated parking spaces for shoppers in the large lot.

The Bethlehem Food Co-Op's member-owned grocery store will be located at 250 E. Broad St., anchoring a new project by Peron Development and Boyle Construction.Courtesy rendering

Peron and Boyle said in a statement that they are excited to partner with the Bethlehem Food Co-Op to offer a unique space with incredible access, parking, and walkability for Bethlehem residents.

We saw this as a way of giving back to the Bethlehem community, a place that is convenient and fulfills the fresh grocery needs of downtown residents, said Mike Perrucci of Peron The residents living there will love having the co-op below them and the co-op will have a whole bunch of new members.

The Bethlehem Food Co-Op will anchor this new four-story, mixed-use project by Peron Development and Boyle Construction.Sara K. Satullo | For lehighvalleylive.com

The co-op plans to launch a $1.7 million capital campaign this spring to cover site design, construction and the costs associated with opening a community-owned grocery store, said Carol Ritter, the capital campaign chair. Funds will be raised from donations, member loans, bank loans and grants. Sponsorship and naming rights are available. The co-ops nine-member board of directors have each signed on to financially support the new store already.

To celebrate the location selection, the co-op is hosting a drive-by party for the community from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m Saturday. An unveiling of a large banner declaring the site the Future Home of the Bethlehem Food Co-Op, crafted by the Northampton Community College Fab Lab, will be revealed at 10 a.m. The event will be live streamed on the co-ops Facebook page and on Lehigh Valley with Loves social channels.

Volunteers will be on hand to distribute co-op marketing materials and membership info to those driving by. The co-op notes that due to COVID-19 there will be no gathering at the event.

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Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
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The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds Illinoisans to test, check for expired alarms and replace batteries in their smoke alarms as they change the clock this weekend.

Working smoke alarms are critical to preventing serious injuries and death in the case of a house fire. It only takes a couple of extra minutes to push the test button on smoke alarm or CO alarm to ensure its working. That extra minute or two could save your life one day, said State Fire Marshall Matt Perez. In 2020, the pandemic slowed the efforts of our Be Alarmed program. Still, we had 185 participating fire departments from 61 counties in Illinois install 1655 10-year sealed smoke alarms in Illinois homes.

Thanks to their dedication, there are nearly 600 homes in Illinois protected and nearly 1400 residents educated on smoke alarm maintenance, home fire safety and home fire escape plans. Replacing broken or expired alarms not only helps to create a fire-safe home, but working alarms provide early warning helping prevent loss of life due to fire

The time change serves as a bi-annual reminder to test all smoke and CO alarms in your home. If you find an alarm that is not working or is expired, replace the alarm immediately with a new 10-year sealed battery alarm. Review your fire-escape plan with your family and hold a drill to practice your plan.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports between 2012-2016, almost three out of every five home fire deaths in the U.S. resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms. The chances of dying in a home fire was reduced by 54% in homes were working smoke alarms are present.

In fires in which the smoke alarms were present but did not operate, more than two of every five of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. Dead batteries accounted for 25% of smoke alarm failures.

In 2020 in Illinois, 80% of pre-existing smoke alarms being replaced in homes that received the new 10-year sealed battery alarms through the Be Alarmed! program was found to be non-functional or were expired.

A 2017 Illinois law requires ten-year sealed smoke alarms be installed in all homes built before 1988 or that do not have hardwired smoke detectors by January 1, 2023.

Be Alarmed! is a fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program administered cooperatively between the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The Be Alarmed! program is designed to help residents in Illinois comply with the new law, but its really aimed at creating fire-safe communities.

For more information on the Be Alarmed! program visit https://www.ifsa.org/programs/alarms.
Fr Michael Commane: "A glass of wine, a pint of beer a measure of whiskey can be the most magical of drinks and do our souls great good. But there is always the danger that one glass leads to another and on it goes until the danger lights start flashing."

On one occasion in my early years teaching I did something that I imagine would be a sacking offence today. I asked the students in a first year class to close their eyes. I then went on to ask them if there was any boy in the class who could definitely say that there was not one person in their extended family who did not have a difficulty with alcohol. I think there were three boys out of a class of 28 who raised their hands.

On the last Saturday of February Irish media reported the story of an Air Corps training aircraft losing power 30 km from Baldonnel.

The PC-9 two-person plane was on a training mission when its single engine lost power. The two Air Corps pilots managed successfully to glide the plane to a safe landing at their base in Baldonnel.

The day after the emergency Irish newspapers quoted a military statement saying that the two pilots were 'slightly shaken'. And then added: 'They'll have a stiff drink tonight'.

I know it was a throw-away comment and indeed something often said with the best of intentions.

I also know we may be gone PC-mad and GDPR is a great excuse to dumb down our lives to a state of moribund boredom.

But leaving all that aside I was a little surprised that a military spokesperson would make such a comment to the media.

It was also surprising that there was no follow-up story from the media on what the military spokesperson said.

The same day that the stricken plane glided back to Baldonnel I happened to be in a shop two doors up from an off-licence.

While chatting with the owner of the shop I noticed a number of people exiting the off-licence with large boxes and placing them in the boots of their cars.

Obviously they were buying drink in bulk. I have to admit I was somewhat surprised but the owner of the shop assured me that was a common occurrence.

It set me thinking and I have been wondering since why are off-licences allowed to remain open during our Level 5 lockdown. Someone told me that if they closed off-licences: 'they would be taking away our drugs'.

Aren't we the most complex of creatures. A glass of wine, a pint of beer a measure of whiskey can be the most magical of drinks and do our souls great good.

But there is always the danger that one glass leads to another and on it goes until the danger lights start flashing.

World Health Organisation figures show that 3.3 million people worldwide die every year from alcohol misuse.

In Ireland three people die every day from alcoholic poisoning, that works out at over 1,000 deaths per year. Alcohol problems are costing the State in excess of 2.5 billion annually.

Certainly during these extremely difficult pandemic times turning to alcohol is the very last thing we should be doing.

Advertising works. And even the subliminal comments hit a spot in our brains that can so easily ignite a spark that leads to doom, in this case alcoholic poisoning.
Three counties in Munster have been hit with the largest number of fines for breaches of Covid-19 regulations, the Irish Independent can reveal.

More than one-quarter of all fines handed to members of the public have been issued in Limerick, Cork and Waterford.

Gardai have fined around 13,600 people between 100 and 500 each for a range of offences including going further than 5km from home without a valid reason and organising house parties. The fines total almost 1.8m. Half of those hit with a fine are aged 25 or under and three- quarters are male.

Read More

An analysis of Garda statistics shows the number of fines issued in Co Limerick up to Thursday, March 11, was 530 per 100,000 of population. Limerick city hit the headlines last week after videos emerged of a large street party.

The second highest number of recorded breaches was in Cork where gardai issued 2,277 fines, the equivalent of 419 per 100,000 residents. Waterford ranks third with 358 per 100,000.

The lowest number of fines issued to date was in Kildare where officers only issued 120 fines per 100,000.

Deputy Garda Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon said the vast majority of people are complying with public health regulations. But she added: Unfortunately, despite the constant public health advice, we are still seeing people attending house parties and other large social gatherings. Going to such gatherings puts yourself, your loved ones, and everyone else you come into contact with after of getting Covid-19.

Gardai say the number of fines issued per division will vary depending on a number of factors including population size, the geographic area covered, local economy, travel patterns and public amenities.

Across the country, they have issued 13,600 Covid-19 fines to date, totalling 1,794,920. Just 39pc have been paid so far but those affected have 28 days to settle the bill or take an appeal.

Anyone who fails to pay their fine within 28 days will be summoned to a court hearing where they can face a 1,000 fine or imprisonment. Gardai also believe the potential for court hearings being reported on by the media will act as a deterrent for people who might consider not paying.

Young people are by far the worst offenders based on the number of fines issue; 53pc of fines were issued to people aged 18-25. Another 24pc were in the 26-35 age group, 13pc in the 36-45 age group, 6pc in the 46-55 years age cohort, 3pc in the 56-65 age group and 1pc in the 65-plus age group.

Gardai have issued 420 fines for 500 to people for organising parties while 1,620 people have been issued with 100 fines for attending a party.

Gardai warned the public that Covid-19 doesnt take a break from house parties and social gatherings in the wake of these statistics.

Such gatherings put at risk not only those attending but everyone they come into contact with after including loved ones, neighbours, colleagues and local community and continue to put everybodys health and the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic at risk.

Up to Thursday 10,013 100 fines for non-essential travel had been issued and 915 fines were issued for non-essential trips to airports and ports. Out of these, 538 were a 500 fine.

There have also been 144 fines of 100 issued to people not ordinarily resident in Ireland for non-essential travel reasons. As of yesterday, 244 80 fines were issued to people for not wearing a mask.
Honeywell, a global technology leader, has been awarded a contract for the installation of integrated building management systems across all Mouwasat Medical Services (MMS) hospitals.

The contract, which supports the kingdoms focus on advancing the countrys healthcare sector, will enable MMS to optimise its energy usage and building maintenance across its six hospital locations in Saudi Arabia.

Honeywells contract is part of MMS digital-first approach and involves the deployment of the companys Honeywell Forge enterprise performance management solution to enable better management of assets. This includes:

Honeywell Forge Energy Optimisation, which autonomously and continually optimises a building's internal set points across hundreds of integrated assets  constantly evaluating weather, occupancy levels, tariffs, time of day and other data  and makes adjustments every 15 minutes to improve a building's HVAC system for peak efficiency, without compromising occupant comfort. It can increase comfort performance and improve energy savings by double digits. The solution also provides intuitive dashboards as well as full visibility of energy performance across all six MMS buildings and facilities in the kingdom.

Honeywell Forge Digitised Maintenance, which changes the way buildings and assets are maintained through a proactive maintenance process of curated recommendations. Using sensors and system integration to analyse building controllers and mechanical assets, intuitive dashboards provide near real-time insights to track building performance and reduce unplanned reactive work on building systems.

In addition to the Honeywell Forge solutions, Honeywell will also integrate proprietary and third-party systems across the six MMS locations, including its Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI) building management system to improve building system control, and a portfolio of security and fire alarm systems to maximise occupant safety.

George Bou Mitri, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Building Technologies, Middle East, Turkey and Africa said: With more than 60 years experience in hospital environments and in Saudi Arabia, we understand the complex, challenging and highly regulated world of healthcare within the kingdom, and our collaboration with MMS demonstrates our commitment to furthering the governments vision for the healthcare sector. We are proud to build on our long-term relationship with MMS to deploy fully integrated solutions to further its strategic goals for enhanced patient experience and energy saving optimisation in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

At Mouwasat Medical Services our mission is to provide sustainable, first-class medical services that will aid the economic advancement of the countrys healthcare sector. At the heart of this mission is our digitalisation drive across all aspects of our operations, to enhance efficiency, and ultimately to help us deliver the best possible care to our patients. This latest agreement with Honeywell is a reflection of our commitment to digitalise operations, helping us optimise energy consumption and maintenance that will lower operating cost, increase comfort and maximise uptime across our facilities, added Mohammed Sulaiman Al-Saleem, Managing Director at MMS.

MMS is a leading healthcare provider in Saudi Arabia, with its facility in Al Khobar City being the first digital hospital in the Eastern Province. Honeywell has previously played a key role in the digitalisation of the MMS Al Khobar and Madinah hospitals, and its long-term care facility at Dammam, through the installation of building management systems, and security, fire, voice alarm, intrusion detection and video surveillance solutions.

Honeywell continues to strengthen its footprint in the kingdom, playing a vital role in advancing the development of the countrys industries and localisation efforts that aid its transformation to a knowledge-based economy. Recent Honeywell developments in the Kingdom include the scheduled openings of two new facilities that will produce gas detection devices, natural gas as well as liquid fuel, and create new employment opportunities open to Saudi nationals. -- Tradearabia News Service
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U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Steel is self-quaranting after contracting the Chinese Communist Party virus. (Courtesy of Michelle Steel)

Rep. Steel Talks New Role Monitoring CCP Human Rights Violations

Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), who was recently appointed to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, told The Epoch Times: We really have to watch what China is doing.

We should let [the Chinese regime] know that you should stop abusing these people and harassing your own citizens.

The commission was formed in 2000 to help Congress monitor human rights and rule of law developments in China. Steel is the only freshman to the commission, which consists of several senators, House representatives, and senior administration officials.

The commission submits annual reports to the president and Congress. Last year, it reported that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials had taken unprecedented steps to extend their repressive policies through censorship, intimidation, and the detention of people in China for exercising their fundamental human rights.

Steel commented on the persecution of the spiritual practice Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, which has been ongoing since 1999. Falun Gong is a spiritual meditation practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Since the CCP began the persecution, hundreds of thousands of practitioners have been arrested, tortured, and detained in prisons, labor camps, or psychiatric wards for their faith.

In 2020 alone, 6,659 practitioners were arrested and 8,576 were harassed, according to information gathered by Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the persecution of Falun Gong in China. The harassment included denying practitioners children admittance to school, shutting down practitioner-owned businesses, and more.

Additionally, Falun Gong practitioners detained in prisons and labor camps are at risk of being killed for their organs to fuel Chinas lucrative transplantation industry, in a practice known as forced organ harvesting. In 2019, an independent tribunal in London concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that the Chinese regime had been forcibly removing the organs of prisoners of conscience and that this had been taking place for years on a significant scale.

Steel said of the persecution, Prisoners, organ harvesting, thats neverin other countriesnever heard of.

Steel has met with family members of victims who had had their organs forcibly removed. Organs inside of my body are mine; its not governments. Even if [a person is] in prison, you cannot take those away, Steel said.

The congressional commissions report cited the case of Cui Fenglan, who was sentenced to 15 years in a detention center for possessing Falun Gong flyers with the words truthfulness, compassion, tolerance printed on them.

The report also stated that the CCP is holding about 1.8 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in extrajudicial mass internment camps in Xinjiang, where they are subjected to forced labor, torture, and political indoctrination.

Steel said: Religious freedom  is the basic freedom that everybody has to have. [In] China, I saw a lot of those churches or temples being burned down or destroyed by the government. Thats not acceptable, because thats the basic freedom that we have.

Steel said that while former President Donald Trumps administration stood up to the CCP, shes not sure President Joe Bidens will follow suit.

Trump did a great job economically pressuring China to try to stop this, she said. Hopefully, the Biden administration will not change the route and where were going, and he should stick with whats been done for the last four years.

Recommendations to Congress

The report made many recommendations to Congress. These included using available sanction authorities, to hold responsible Chinese officials and other entities complicit in mass internment, forced labor, forced renunciations of faith, and forced sterilizations, forced abortions, and other coercive or violent measures to control family size.

Another recommendation was to stop goods made with forced labor from entering the United States.

It also called for supporting Hong Kongs pro-democracy protesters.

When [the CCP] took Hong Kong over, there is a 50-year agreement, but they already violated that, she said. [Hongkongers] want to have freedom; they had freedom. They have to keep their government for the next 50 years. That was the agreement.

The report stated that the CCP arrested pro-democracy leaders, prevented journalists from reporting, applied political pressure on the judiciary, and allowed the Hong Kong Police Force to grow increasingly abusive toward non-violent protesters.

It also recommended ways to prevent the CCP from taking advantage of U.S. openness. The Chinese government and Communist Party exploit U.S. openness to exert influence over U.S. policy, acquire critical technologies, and transmit disinformation and propaganda to advance the Chinese governments messages and interests, it states.

In light of the pandemic, it encouraged working with international bodies to make clearer obligations for member states and consequences for those that fail to provide timely and transparent information about infectious disease outbreaks.

The report called on Congress to counter CCP digital authoritarianism, including internet censorship and the use of surveillance and artificial intelligence technology to exert social control over its citizens.

The CCP suppresses the rule of law and persecutes lawyers by detaining them and revoking their law licenses for their democracy and constitutional-reform advocacy, or for their representation of defendants in politically sensitive cases, the report stated.

Steel said, A government is there to just support and make a country prosper, but the Chinese government is always going the other direction.
Ghazipur, March 13 : Traders, small eateries and several showrooms selling vehicles located near the Ghazipur border have been severely impacted by the blocking of roads caused by the prolonged farmers' agitation. It has been more than 100 days since farmers began protesting against the Centre's farm laws.

The National Highway at the Ghazipur border has remained closed while the traders at Khoda Colony market in Ghaziabad district are in distress owing to the closure of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.

The Khoda Colony is adjacent to the National Highway near Ghazipur border as there are several small hotels in which the number of guests staying here has dropped significantly.

Mohammad Feroz, owner of Aman Hotel, told IANS: "My hotel has been taken on lease. The hotel has been severely impacted due to the farmers' agitation. The roads leading to and leaving from Delhi have remained closed. This has led to a 80% drop in guests for us." "Right now, the situation has turned really bad. Leave aside profits, one has to pay money from one's own pocket. The losses incurred are to the tune of nearly Rs 3 to 4 lakh a month." Bhaskar, the manager of a bike showroom near Aman hotel, said that only one bike has been sold in the month of March this year. "Overall 100 per cent of my business is impacted since all the roads near Ghazipur border are closed because of which nobody is coming here. Earlier, we used to sell three to four bikes a month but now only a single bike is being sold in a month." "Now the bikes are not being given for servicing in the showroom. People ask on telephone whether they can get their service done somewhere else. The financier sitting in our showroom has also quit his job." Farmers have been protesting against the newly enacted farm laws since November 26, last year at various borders of the national capital.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai city court has directed Khar Police to file an FIR against Kangana Ranaut, her sister Rangoli Chandel, brother Akshat Ranaut and Kamal Kumar Jain, after Ashish Kaul, author of the book Didda: The Warrior Queen Of Kashmir filed a complaint in a copyright violation case.

According to reports, Kangana's next film on Didda, a warrior princess, was announced without the knowledge of the author. In the complaint, Ashish Kaul claimed that he has the exclusive copyright of the story of Didda, and Ranaut has taken material from his book without proper permission. Kangana's upcoming film, Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda is in violation of his copyright.

Kaul reportedly is the descendant of queen Didda, who was the Princess of Lohar (Poonch), and later became the queen of Kashmir. In his statement, Kaul revealed that one other book that mentions Didda was Rajatarangini written in Sanskrit by Kashmiri historian Kalhana in 12th century CE. That book too has only two pages dedicated to her, "and the same information has been carried forward by other historians. So, every other book dealing with the subject carries forward certain errors of Rajatarangini."

Kaul told Indian express that he is at the risk of financial loss, as he was in talks with big producers to adapt his book on-screen. He reportedly had also reached out to Kangana and had emailed her some parts of the story. He revealed that he was shocked when Kangana announced a movie on the subject "without his knowledge".

Notably, Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda was announced as the sequel to Manikarnika: Queen of Jhansi. The upcoming film will star Kangana in the titular role.

ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut Posts Controversial Tweet About Mahatma Gandhi: He Was A Great Leader May Not A Great Husband

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ALSO READ: Kangana Rananut On India Giving COVID-19 Vaccines To Pakistan: There Will Be A BJP Government Soon

Sharon Osbourne has claimed CBS 'blindsided' her when she was asked live on The Talk about her support for Piers Morgan, as the network announced it has launched a probe into her bust up with co-host Sheryl Underwood.

Osbourne said she was used 'like a lamb held out for slaughter' by the network as she claims she was left out of planning the segment for the first time in 11 years and the topic of conversation was only mentioned to her minutes before it aired.

The 68-year-old had launched into a passionate defense of her friend Morgan on Wednesday's show, one day after she tweeted her support saying he was 'speaking your truth.'

Morgan came under fire over comments he made on British show Good Morning Britain Monday about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah.

In the interview, the Duchess of Sussex said her mental health became so bad while they were living in the UK as senior working Royals she 'didn't want to be alive any more'.

Morgan said he 'didn't believe a word' Meghan said live on air Monday morning sparking more than 41,000 viewer complaints to watchdog Ofcom, which ultimately led to his exit from the show.

Osbourne and Underwood got into a row on The Talk Wednesday over the saga with the Osborne arguing Morgan was just expressing an opinion and questioning where he had been racist.

After she too faced a backlash and accusations of racism, she issued a statement after Friday apologizing 'to anyone of colour that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down'.

Sharon Osbourne has claimed CBS 'blindsided' her when she was asked live on The Talk about her support for Piers Morgan, as the network announced it has launched a probe into her bust up with co-host Sheryl Underwood. Pictured the incident on Wednesday's show

Osborne has since spoken out to blame CBS for the on-screen row as she claims network executives ordered producers to get her co-hosts to 'blindside' her with questions about her tweet.

She told Variety Friday night she was not prepared in advance for the controversial conversation while she suggests others around her were aware of the topic far in advance, with her co-host coming out with a card full of questions.

'I blame the network for it. I was blindsided, totally blindsided by the whole situation,' she said.

'In my 11 years, this was the first time I was not involved with the planning of the segment.'

Osbourne said the first she knew about the discussion was just eight minutes before it started when a showrunner asked if it was OK if they asked her about Morgan.

She said she responded 'sure, they can ask me whatever' but was then 'caught off guard' by what Underwood asked.

'I get on there, I say my piece and Sheryl [Underwood] turns around straight-faced, looks at me and is reading from a card with questions,' she said.

'I was just so hurt, caught off guard and stunned by what I was being asked and not prepared.'

Osbourne said she was 'in shock' and felt like she was facing a 'firing squad.'

'I was honestly in shock. I felt like I was in front of a firing squad. I felt like a lamb held out for slaughter They had me there for 20 minutes,' she said.

Osbourne said she 'begged them to stop' and change the subject when the show went to break as the exchange became heated and she began crying.

'I'm a big girl. I'm a professional. However CBS blindsided me. I don't know why they did it to me. The showrunners told me it came from executives to do this to me,' she said.

Osbourne said she was used 'like a lamb held out for slaughter' by the network as she claims she was left out of planning the segment for the first time in 11 years and the topic of conversation was only mentioned to her minutes before it aired

Osbourne added that she is a 'work in progress and is 'willing to learn' from the incident.

'I want to make this world a better place, but I don't like being put in a situation I'm not prepared for and fired questions at me,' she said.

'I felt like I was on a witness stand with two prosecutors on either side of me. You want to ask me questions? I'm a team player.

'Let me know what the questions are so I can prepare. I'm an open book to everyone.'

Osbourne's criticism of CBS came the same day the network announced an internal review had been launched into Wednesday's show.

'We are committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace,' the network said in a statement Friday.

'All matters related to the Wednesday episode of 'The Talk' are currently under internal review.'

Osbourne also defended herself against claims made by former co-host Holly Robinson Peete who accused her of costing her, her job on the show because she was 'too ghetto'.

Osbourne also defended herself against claims made by former co-host Holly Robinson Peete (above) who accused her of costing her her job on the show because she was 'too ghetto'

Robinson Peete, who co-hosted the first season in 2010, claimed she was speaking out about the alleged racial slur and her ousting from the talk show after watching Osbourne's bust-up with Underwood.

'I'm old enough to remember when Sharon complained that I was too 'ghetto' for #theTalk  then I was gone. I bring this up now bc I was mortified watching the disrespectful condescending tone she took w/her co-host who remained calm & respectful because  she HAD to,' Robinson Peete tweeted.

'I've always been a highroad girl but when I watched what everyone else saw on my former show  it triggered me and I wanted to speak out,' she added on Instagram.

Osbourne denied these allegations telling Variety it is 'a 110 percent lie.'

'It's an absolute liea 110 percent lie,' she said.

'I cannot have anyone firedAnd that is a not a term I use. That's not in my vocabulary. I don't speak like that.

'The only ghetto I know is the Warsaw Ghetto and I think that's the only time I've ever referred to something like that.'

The furore erupted after Osbourne tweeted her support for Morgan Tuesday, saying: 'I am with you. I stand by you. People forget that you're paid for your opinion and that you're just speaking your truth.'

After she faced a backlash and accusations of racism following Wednesday's show, Osbourne issued a statement (above) Friday apologizing 'to anyone of colour that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down'

On Wednesday's show, Osbourne then defended Morgan's comments saying it was 'freedom of speech.'

'I know he has a right to say what he feels on the interview, as we have a right to say and everybody has a right to say what they feel with freedom of speech,' she said.

'Did I like everything he said? Did I agree with what he said? No, because it's his opinion. It's not my opinion.

'But why is it that because I supported a long-time friend and work colleague of mine for years that everybody goes, if you support him, then you must be racist because he's racist?'

With Underwood looking upset, Osbourne pressed her asking how Morgan had been racist.

'You tell me where you have heard him say, educate me, tell me when you have heard him [Morgan] say racist things. Educate me. Tell me,' she said.

The 68-year-old had tweeted her support for Morgan Tuesday saying he was 'speaking your truth'

Underwood said that the issue was not with Morgan's words as much as his tone.

'It is not the exact words of racism,' said Underwood.

'It is the implication and the reaction to it.

'To not want to address that, because she is a black woman, and to try and dismiss it or to make it seem less than it is. That's what makes it racist.

'Right now I am talking to a woman I believe is my friend.

'I don't want anybody here to watch this and think we are attacking you for being racist.'

Osbourne posted a lengthy statement on Twitter Friday apologizing over the incident: 'After some reflection, after sitting with your comments and sitting with my heart I would like to address the discussion on 'The Talk' this past Wednesday.

'I have always been embraced with so much love and support from the black community and I have deep respect and love for the black community.

'To anyone of colour that I offended and/or to anyone that feels confused or let down by what I said, I am truly sorry.

'I panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive and allowed my fear and horror of being accused of being racist take over.

Morgan is pictured Thursday after he quit Good Morning Britain amid the backlash over his comments

Piers Morgan expressed his disappointment after Osbourne apologized

'There are very few things that hurt my heart more than racism so to feel associated with that spun me fast!

'I am not perfect, I am still learning like the rest of us and will continue to learn, listen and do better.'

She added: 'Please hear me when I say I do not condone racism, misogyny or bullying.

'I should have been more specific about that in my tweet. I will always support freedom of speech, but now I see how I unintentionally didn't make that clear distinction.'

Morgan had praised Osbourne for tweeting her support for him, saying: 'When stuff like this happens, true friends run towards you, fake friends run away. I love Sharon Osbourne because she always stays true to herself.

'She knew she would get abused by the woke brigade for tweeting this - but did it anyway because it's what she believes.'

Following her u-turn, he slammed what he described as 'bullies' on The Talk for 'shaming' her into apologizing.

'Sharon's been shamed & bullied into apologising for defending me against colleagues accusing me of racism because I don't believe Meghan Markle's bulls***,' he tweeted.

'This is where we've reached. I demand an apology from those @TheTalkCBS bullies for their disgraceful slurs against ME.'

On Tuesday, Morgan resigned from GMB after six years on the show in the wake of his response to Meghan and Harry's interview.

Meghan had told Oprah she was suicidal while five months pregnant with son Archie and turned to the palace for help but was denied it.

Meghan said in the interview (above) her mental health became so bad while they were living in the UK as senior working Royals she 'didn't want to be alive any more'

She also said one unnamed member of the Royal Family had raised concerns that Archie's skin would be too 'dark'.

'I don't believe a word she says, Meghan Markle,' Morgan said on Monday's show, hours after the interview first aired in the US.

'I wouldn't believe it if she read me a weather report and that fact that she fired up this onslaught against our royal family, I think is contemptible.'

UK media regulator Ofcom launched an investigation after it received more than 41,000 complaints and UK mental health charity Mind, which worked with network ITV, called his comments 'disappointing.'

It emerged Wednesday that Meghan also wrote to ITV's boss to complain saying she was worried about how Morgan's comments could affect people attempting to deal with their own mental health problems, an insider told the Press Association.

The presenter addressed the backlash Tuesday saying it was 'not for me to question if she felt suicidal'.

He then stormed off the set of GMB Tuesday amid a row with colleague Alex Beresford.

'I understand that you've got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle or had one and she cut you off. She's entitled to cut you off if she wants to,' said Beresford.

Piers stormed out of the studio Tuesday amid a row with colleague Alex Beresford over the Oprah interview

'Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don't think she has, but yet you continue to trash her.'

'Okay, I'm done with this, sorry, no, sorry ... see you later, sorry, can't do this,' Morgan said as he walked off.

The show went to an ad and Morgan returned to continue with the remainder of the day following the break.

ITV later released a statement saying Morgan had left the show.

'Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain,' the network said in a statement.

'ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.'

Morgan stood by his comments Wednesday saying he still doesn't believe Meghan and that he is 'happy to die on' free speech.

'On Monday, I said I didn't believe Meghan Markle in her Oprah interview. I've had time to reflect on this opinion, and I still don't,' he tweeted.

'If you did, OK. Freedom of speech is a hill I'm happy to die on. Thanks for all the love, and hate. I'm off to spend more time with my opinions'.
For about half of all people with epilepsy, medication controls the seizures, but for others, once the medication fails, brain surgery becomes the best option. Now, for the first time in the United States, an epilepsy expert and a team of skull-base surgeons have developed a new approach.
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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas skipped health screening upon his arrival in Oriental Mindoro on March 11, the provincial government said in a statement on Friday.

It was on that day that Sinas announced he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was asymptomatic and on quarantine at the Kiangan Billeting Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The Oriental Mindoro provincial government said Sinas did not pass through a pier in Calapan City, where health clearances are done.

"Siya ay dumating sa lalawigan lulan ng helicopter at dumiretso sa regional headquarters," the provincial government said.

[Translation: He arrived in the province on a helicopter and went straight to the regional headquarters.]

The local government said Provincial Administrator Hubbert Christopher Dolor and a number of provincial health office employees were not at the PNP-MIMAROPA regional headquarters in Calapan City to welcome Sinas.

Instead, Dolor and the employees attended the ceremonial vaccination of medical frontliners assigned at the regional headquarters and met with police officials to discuss vaccine rollout and intensified contact tracing.

The provincial government said Dolor and the health office workers followed health protocols while inside the camp.

Sinas has yet to comment on the Oriental Mindoro government's statement.

The police force has tallied 12,001 COVID-19 infections among its ranks, including 752 active cases. Thirty-two people died and 11,217 recovered.
A core member of the World Health Organization (WHO) team that researched COVID-19's origin in China in early 2021 defended a Wuhan lab's withdrawal of a viral sample database from public view, claiming that the Chinese Communist Party's blocking of an inquiry for a year was due to "anti-China political rhetoric."

WHO defends Wuhan lab about the COVID-19's origins

Officials from both the Trump and Biden administrations claimed the Chinese government obstructed probes into the COVID-19's origins. The WHO-China report is expected to be published next week. According to The Washington Examiner via MSN, the virus has infected 2.63 million people worldwide. China is not open, as per both administrations, and the main data is still hidden. Based on the congressional reports, an outbreak became a pandemic due to China's manipulation and the WHO's incompetence.

During a Chatham House discussion Wednesday, Peter Daszak, the leader of the EcoHealth Alliance, which steered at least $600,000 in NIH funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for bat coronavirus research, called the lab's decision to take down a public database containing thousands of viral samples "absolutely reasonable." Peter claimed the lab did so because it was hacked.

The topic seemed to foreshadow the WHO's upcoming report, and Daszak tried to defend the Chinese government's year-long intransigence by citing supposed anti-China sloganeering without blaming China.

Daszak previously mocked the Biden administration for dismissing the WHO's preliminary findings and defended China to CCP-affiliated media. Biosecurity at the lab headed by "bat woman" Shi Zhengli was a source of worry for U.S. Embassy officials in China in 2018.

Read also: AstraZeneca Vaccines: Safe To Use, Canada Claims

China will continue to work with WHO to seek COVID-19 origins

In response to a query about U.S. criticism that China was not open to exchanging details on early cases with a WHO investigation earlier this year, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the country would continue cooperating with the WHO to trace the source of COVID-19. Li said at a media briefing at the end of China's annual session of parliament Thursday that China had acted in a fact-based manner and with a free, honest, and cooperative approach, as per Reuters via MSN.

Read also: COVID-19 Fragments Found in Australia, US Wastewater

COVID-19 origins could be known within the next few years

The WHO-led investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic's origins said the virus's roots would most likely be identified within the next few years, CNBC reported. Daszak said, "I'm sure we're going to find out pretty quickly." He added that "We will have real important evidence on where this comes from and how it originated over the next few years," he added.

Daszak believes that using collective science evidence should be possible to figure out how animals carrying the coronavirus infected the first people in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. He said that the wildlife trade was the possible cause for COVID-19's existence in China and that this theory was "strongly accepted" by both the WHO and Chinese scientists.

Read also: WHO To Throw Away Interim Report Plans on COVID-19 Origin Investigation

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin will mark St Patricks Day next Wednesday by celebrating with US President Joe Biden as part of a programme of virtual events across America from Government Buildings.

Mr Martin says he looks forward to meeting President Biden virtually and to bring him greetings from Ireland  after Covid-19 prevented him from travelling to Washington.

The two leaders are expected to cover a broad agenda of issues, including the deep ties between the United States and Ireland as well as tackling Covid-19, improving the economic recovery and climate change.

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Mr Martin will present President Biden with the traditional shamrock bowl and will meet with Vice President Kamala Harris. He will also meet with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and with members of the US Congress Friends of Ireland Caucus, who mark their 40th anniversary on St Patricks Day.

The Taoiseachs programme commences on Monday from Government Buildings with a policy address to the Washington-based Brookings Institution in which he will set out his thinking on managing relations on and off the island in the post-Brexit context.

That evening, Mr Martin will speak at the US launch of From Whence I Came: The Kennedy Legacy, Ireland & America', edited by Brian Murphy & Donnacha O Beachain.

The event will also include a panel discussion with Samantha Power, former US Ambassador to the UN and Biden Administration nominee to lead USAID; Congressman Richie Neal, Co-Chair of the Friends of Ireland Caucus; and former Massachusetts Congressman and Kennedy family member Joe Kennedy III.

He will attend roundtables hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Ireland, and the IDA and will speak at a public event hosted by the Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus in association with the Pat and John Hume Foundation, and the Embassy of Ireland commemorating John Hume and the pivotal role he played in garnering US support for the peace process.

My visit is an opportunity to highlight how our mutually beneficial trade and investment relationship leaves both our economies well-positioned to bounce back quickly, Mr Martin said.

An Taoiseach says he will thank President Biden personally for his unstinting support for Ireland over many years, including in recent times for his support in helping to secure a positive outcome in the Brexit negotiations.

In a statement on Friday night, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the meeting on St Patricks Day will reaffirm the deep, historic partnership and extraordinary people-to-people ties between the United States and Ireland.
apnews.com

As US mulls Afghan exit, activist sees long fight for women

by Kathy Gannon March 8, 2021

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Prominent activist Sima Samar has been fighting for womens rights in Afghanistan for the past 40 years. She believes her struggle is far from over  especially at a time when violence is on the rise, peace talks between rival Afghan groups are stuck and the U.S. mulls a May departure from her country.

Samar, 64, worries about the future, noting that insecurity and instability in Afghanistan have reached frightening levels.

No one knows what will happen tomorrow, she said in an interview at her home in the Afghan capital, Kabul, protected by blast walls, guards and a German shepherd, who races to his vantage point overlooking the street when a car even slows as it passes.

Yet much is at stake and a lot of sacrifices have been made in these 20 years, she said, reflecting the anxiety among civil society leaders as the U.S. searches for the best exit from its longest war.

Under a 2020 deal between the Taliban and the Trump administration, all U.S. troops are to leave Afghanistan by May 1. The Biden administration says its reviewing the deal, suggesting it may not meet the deadline.

Last week, Samar and other civil society representatives participated in a Zoom call with U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. He assured them that Washington stands with Afghanistans civil society to protect the gains made in the past 20 years.

The call seemed last-minute to Samar  held just before Khalilzad was leaving Kabul for Qatar to meet with Taliban negotiators, following two days of face-to-face meetings with political leaders and warlords-turned-politicians.

I feel a little like history is repeating itself, said Samar, questioning the prominence given again to warlords and a political leadership that struggles to win over the trust of Afghans.

When the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001 by the U.S.-led coalition she had pressed for justice  that those who had committed crimes in previous regimes should be punished, that accountability, equality and justice should be given priority.

At that time she warned in vain against having warlords  who had participated in the 1990s civil war and destroyed much of Kabul  in prominent roles in a post-Taliban administration. She received death threats and was targeted in a slander campaign as Sima Samar, the Salman Rushdie of Afghanistan.

I am not saying everyone has to go to jail but a crime is a crime, she said. They should be at least brave enough to say I am sorry. Thats a start.

Samar said Afghanistan needs involvement by international community going forward, to make sure that promises made are kept and that cease-fires are monitored independently. Culprits should be punished, she said.

The immediate question on the minds of many is who is systematically targeting and killing members of civil society. The Islamic State group has claimed several attacks. The Taliban have denied involvement in most incidents. The government and the Taliban often blame each other.

The number of targeted killings tripled last year, according to Afghanistans Independent Human Rights Commission, which Samar launched and headed from 2002 to 2019.

Commission spokesman Zabihullah Farhang said 65 women were killed and 95 wounded in targeted attacks in 2020. Attackers hit a maternity hospital. Twice they struck educational institutions, killing 50 people, most of them students. Several of the victims were journalists, rights activists, young judges, lawyers.

It is like taking the rarest pearls from our midst, said Torek Farhadi, an analyst and former Afghan government adviser.

In recognition of International Womans Day on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is awarding six Afghan women, who were among those killed last year, with the International Women of Courage award.

These tragic murders underscore the alarming trend of increased targeting of women in Afghanistan and the United States condemns these acts of violence, Blinken said ahead of the ceremonies.

Blinken also proposed steps to help jumpstart the stalled peace process between the government and the Taliban, according to his letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani published Sunday by Afghanistans TOLONews.

The letter calls for bringing the two sides together for a U.N.-facilitated conference with foreign ministers and envoys from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India and the U.S. to discuss a unified approach to supporting peace in Afghanistan.

Samar said much has been gained in the 20 years since the Taliban were ousted. Schools for girls are open. Women entered the workforce, politics, became judges  they are even at the negotiating table where the Taliban and the Afghan government are struggling to find a way to end war.

But the gains are fragile and human rights activists have many enemies in Afghanistan  from militants and warlords to those who want to stifle criticism or challenges to their power.

Afghanistan is second only to Yemen as the worst place in the world to be a woman, according to the 2019 Women, Peace and Security Index, compiled by the Georgetown Institute for Women Peace and Security and the Peace Research Institute in Oslo. The illiteracy rate among Afghan women is 82% and most of the women in Afghan prisons are jailed for so-called moral crimes like seeking a divorce.

The road to justice and equality remains long, said Samar, who became an activist as a 23-year-old medical student with an infant son. At the time, the then-communist government arrested her activist husband, and she never saw him again.

Samar, who says discrimination based on ethnicity and gender is still widespread, is a member of Afghanistans minority Hazaras, who have faced discrimination for centuries. They are mostly Shiite Muslims in a majority Sunni Muslim Afghanistan and most often the target of Islamic State militants in recent years.

Despite the persistent challenges, Afghanistan of 2021 is different, said Samar, a recipient of numerous awards who during a recent visit wore a T-shirt proclaiming this is what a FEMINIST looks like.

Human rights, womens rights and the rights of minorities are now at least being discussed. At least we speak about violence against women now. Before it was not an issue in this country, except for some crazy ones like me, she said.

 copyright 2021 The Associated Press. | [The above content from AP is reproduced here in public interest and is for educational and non-commercial use
It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
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China's top market watchdog on Friday imposed administrative penalties on 12 companies including Internet giants Tencent and Baidu for violating anti-monopoly law in 10 deals.

The deals include Tencent's equity acquisition of online education platform Yuanfudao and Baidu's equity acquisition of Ainemo Inc., a company in smart home hardware terminals and services, according to an online statement released by the State Administration for Market Regulation.

The 12 companies, also including ride-hailing giant Didi and TAL Education Group, were each fined 500,000 yuan (about 77,107 U.S. dollars) as the deals violated the country's anti-monopoly law on illegal concentration of business operators, said the statement.

Assessments concluded that the deals did not have the effect of excluding or restricting competition, the regulator said.
A man is due in court after 40,000 worth of cannabis herb and plants were discovered by Gardai during a raid Co Galway yesterday.

He was arrested by Gardai attached to the Galway Divisional Drugs Unit who carried out a search of a premises at Ardrahan at approximately 5.30pm.

During the course of the search cannabis plants with an estimated street value of 20,000 and cannabis herb with an estimated street value of 20,000 were seized, a garda spokesperson said.

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The drugs will now be sent for analysis.

One man, aged in his late 40s, was arrested at the scene and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Galway Garda Station.

They added: He has since been charged in relation to the incident, released on station bail and is due to appear at Galway District Court on Monday 22nd March, 2021. Investigations are ongoing.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) on Saturday unveiled 'India FinTech: A USD 100 Billion Opportunity' report. The report details the findings from the study that BCG and undertook to size the value-creation potential and identify imperatives for India's FinTech growth.

Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, said, "The FinTech industry in India has been growing at a fast clip. FinTech players are redefining the business models across different segments of financial services industry, helping improve service delivery and contributing to digital financial inclusion. This is a clear area of focus for us in and through our multiple initiatives, we will continue to promote this industry both in India and abroad."

India's dynamic FinTech industry has 2100+ FinTechs of which 67% have been set up over the last 5 years alone. The total valuation of the industry is estimated at $50-$60 billion. The industry's growth has been undeterred by the pandemic, as it has seen the emergence of 3 new Unicorns and 5 new Soonicorns (USD 500Mn+ valuation) since January 2020.

The Fintech industry's strong growth is due to India's deep-rooted customer demand, diverse capital flows, strong tech talent and enabling policy framework. Over the next 5 years, India's FinTech industry is expected to continue its strong upward trajectory.

Prateek Roongta, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group India said, "We believe India's FinTechs are at the precipice of significant value-creation of USD 100 billion over the next five years. To actualize this potential, the industry would require investments to the tune of USD 20-25 billion till 2025. Consequently, the number of Indian FinTech Unicorns will more than double over the next few years."

Ruchin Goyal, Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group India said, "The landscape will be defined by FinTechs that pursue their strategic play with deep, relentless discipline. Tomorrow's FinTech winners are expected to 'master the core' -- by innovating on product, user-experience or through deep-tech capabilities. India will also see the emergence of ecosystem orchestrators and multinational FinTechs, as it evolves into a global FinTech powerhouse."

Another theme covered in this report is internationalization of Indian FinTechs. To develop a close understanding of the FinTech industry's multinational ambitions, BCG and FICCI conducted the BCG-FICCI FinTech survey 2021. The survey reveals that 39% of Indian FinTechs surveyed have a presence outside India and 73% of FinTechs surveyed are actively considering international expansion opportunities. South-East Asia was the most sought-after destination for international expansion, followed by North America.

Several Indian FinTechs are well-positioned to establish a global footprint owing to their transplantable business models and proven track record of success. To ensure that Indian FinTechs achieve their potential, all stakeholders -- FinTechs, Financial Institutions and policymakers -- have a role to play. The imperatives for stakeholders have been identified in the report.

--IANS

sn/bg

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Draghi questions Italy's need to use English words such as "Baby Sitting" and "Smart Working," his ironic comment sparking a fresh debate on the topic.

Italian premier Mario Draghi, during his visit to the covid-19 vaccination hub at Rome's Fiumicino airport, cracked a joke about Italy's use of English words.

Announcing new covid-19 measures, including a "baby sitting" bonus and plans to continue "smart working," Draghi asked: "Who knows why we have to use all these words in English."

The observation by the premier comes amid increasing usage of English terms, both by government agencies and the Italian media, in recent years.

Photo Sky Tg24. Video Corriere della Sera.
Like every school district across the state of Michigan, Midland County schools adjusted on the fly last year when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that all school buildings in the state would be closed for a three-week period starting that March 16 to slow the spread of COVID-19.

That three-week building closure was soon extended through the end of the school year, and teachers, students and parents all pivoted to a new routine with remote learning.

The one year since then for Midland Public Schools has involved a lot of training, adjusting and flexibility, with much work lying ahead to help students whose academic progress has slipped during the pandemic.

MPS Superintendent Michael Sharrow recalled the initial few weeks following Whitmer's announcement were a whirlwind.

"We were told just to temporarily make (remote) connections with students for that (three-week) time period. Then that got extended, and they gave us a little more guidance," Sharrow said. "That guidance restricted us, saying, for example, that you won't issue grades and all kids will earn credit moving forward."

Teachers had to quickly fashion classrooms at home from which to lead the remote instruction for their students.

"We quickly retrained our staff. We were using lots of different (online) platforms to make connections," Sharrow said. "Universities had been doing this for awhile (but this was relatively new territory for schools)."

Every school district was required to submit a Continuity of Learning Plan to the state Department of Education to cover the approximately two and a half months of remote learning that concluded the 2019-20 school year.

"It was lots and lots of hours of work for our instructional team. Many other districts looked at our plan and connected with us," Sharrow said. "I give a lot of credit to our curriculum office for developing that plan, which was a good plan for the spring."

MPS eventually decided to end the school year about a week earlier than scheduled, allowing time for staff members to be trained to use Canvas, a new online learning management system the district had purchased for the 2020-21 school year.

"Our teachers, both in face-to-face and virtual have used Canvas. So that was a very positive (outcome) from last spring's experience," Sharrow said.

Then followed a waiting game during the summer, as COVID case numbers fluctuated and school districts awaited Whitmer's guidance on returning to in-person instruction.

"Our staff throughout the summer were told to prepare their first few weeks of instruction in the Canvas platform, not knowing if we were going to be face-to-face or virtual. We provided a lot of training and retraining to assist our teachers in doing so."

On June 30, Whitmer released the "Return to School Roadmap," and MPS began to formulate its plans for the fall.

"We decided parents needed both models (face-to-face and virtual)," Sharrow said.

About one-third of students enrolled in either completely virtual learning or a hybrid option, the latter of which was only available to secondary students.

Seventeen new staff members were hired to help instruct or facilitate the virtual classes. Twelve secondary face-to-face teachers agreed to add a virtual class to their classload for additional compensation, and online vendors such as Edgenuity covered the remainder of the virtual classes.

Meanwhile, for the majority of students who would be learning face-to-face, new protocols were implemented, including mask mandates for everyone in the school buildings, distancing, and extensive cleaning and disinfecting, among other measures.

These protocols have helped face-to-face instruction to continue throughout the school year, with the exception of a two-month virtual learning period from November to January for all high school students and a two-week virtual learning period from late November to early December for all K-8 students.

Virtual students had the opportunity to switch to face-to-face between semesters in January, and virtual students now make up between 15% and 20% of the total students in the district, Sharrow said.

A greater role for technology that's here to stay

"This (pandemic) has really forced us to hone these new (teaching) tools," Sharrow said. "There's a positive in all of this  that we're better equipped to use what we call blended instruction (combining face-to-face with online instruction). That's allowed teachers to meet all kids' needs better.

"For years, we wondered how technology would change education. Now, we're in a period where it may be changing instruction and changing it for the better," Sharrow added.

Social-emotional learning and well-being

When all school buildings were closed last mid-March, MPS, along with Bullock Creek, Meridian, Coleman and many other school districts, took steps to ensure that students would continue to receive as many meals as they needed.

Regular meal pick-up days at each school were established, and school buses delivered meals to some families.

This was just one part of schools' increased emphasis on students' well-being and social-emotional learning after the pandemic began.

"For a couple of years, we've been really working on social-emotional learning and wellness with our staff, and March 16 really put that on steroids for us," Sharrow said. "It's a need that's going to be there for a long time. There's a lot of anxiety plus a lot of isolation through COVID. So we've had to address some of those things.

"Luckily, the state has put some dollars behind this, so we've been able to hire some student support specialists," he added.

What to expect this coming summer and fall

The school year ends in less than three months, and MPS is planning summer interventions free of charge to help as many students as possible whose academic progress has slipped during the pandemic.

"The state is pushing us to have more learning opportunities for students who may have (learning) gaps," Sharrow said. "I'm a big believer that instructional time is the variable to get kids over a (learning) benchmark.

"If I had it my way, I'd have 100% of the kids in summer learning," he added.

MPS teachers are being encouraged to lead these summer interventions, for which they will be compensated. Sharrow said it will be a blended learning approach.

"I don't know that we're going to bat a thousand on this, but we'll get it going. And it will be a continued model that we'll offer every summer," he said.

The summer timeframe for the interventions has yet to be determined, but Sharrow said data show that at least five weeks is needed.

As for next fall, MPS is not planning to offer full virtual learning at the elementary level, the superintendent said. Virtual learning will still be an option in some form for secondary students.

"We're most likely going to have an application, not a sign-up (for secondary virtual learning)," Sharrow said. "We don't think we'll be offering elementary virtual learning as we know it right now. But the tools we used in virtual learning are going to be used (in the school buildings). With the number of vaccines that are going to be out there, the 100% virtual (option) for elementary is not something we're planning for."

And beyond classroom instruction, tutors and mentors from the community will be needed, Sharrow said. That could include retired teachers.

"After-school or during-the-day interventions with highly trained people (will be needed)," he said. "Those are (intervention) models I've been involved with before. What a great tool (to utilize trained educators in the community to serve as mentors)."
Princess Eugenie may be called upon to act as peacemaker between the Royal Family and the Sussexes  despite Prince Harrys apparent disdain for her father.

In the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, Harry distanced himself from the Duke of York last year, saying: Whatever he has done or hasnt done is completely separate from me and my wife. We are completely separate from the majority of my family.

The Duchess of Sussex was also reported to be troubled by Prince Andrews disastrous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in November 2019 about the scandal.

Sources believe Princess Eugenie and other members of the York family may also be able to restore unity

But informed sources believe the best hope of a Windsor reconciliation after the Oprah Winfrey interview lies with Eugenie, 30, who was friends with Meghan before she met Harry.

The Princess and her then boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank, were at a party in Soho House in Toronto in 2016 when Harry and the Suits star were first seen together. Eugenie was instrumental in keeping their relationship secret.

Sources believe other members of the York family may also be able to restore unity. When Meghan referred to the Duchess of York as Fergie during her tell-all interview last week, it hinted at a friendship that would have surprised many viewers.

Recalling her first meeting with the Queen at Royal Lodge in Windsor, the home of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Meghan said: There wasnt a huge formality. We were going for lunch at Royal Lodge... where other members of the family live, specifically Andrew and Fergie, and Eugenie and Beatrice would spend a lot of time there.

Eugenie and I had known each other before I knew Harry, so that was comfortable and it turned out the Queen was finishing a church service in Windsor and so she was going to be at the house.

Fergie ran out and said, Are you ready? Do you know how to curtsey? 

Hope of the Sussexes reconciling with the Royal Family could lie with Princess Eugenie

Eugenie and Jack, who married in October 2018, now live with their son, August, in Frogmore Cottage, the house on the Windsor estate renovated by the Sussexes before they emigrated to North America.

Given the close friendship, it may have come as a blow to the Yorks when a source close to Meghan started to distance the Duchess from Prince Andrew in public.

Meghan was said to be troubled by the Newsnight interview, in which Prince Andrew denied claims that he slept with Jeffrey Epsteins aide Virginia Giuffre on three separate occasions.

The source told The Daily Telegraph: [Prince Andrews] interview left everyone watching it wanting to curl under a table. It just got worse and worse and worse.

Moreover, those close to the Sussexes have said it seems unfair to let Andrew keep his honorary military titles despite stepping down from Royal duties in disgrace while Harry has been stripped of his.

A source close to Eugenie told The Mail on Sunday: Princess Eugenie and Jack enjoy the support and friendship of all their cousins and the wider extended family.

The Sussexes opened up their home, Frogmore Cottage, as a place for Princess Eugenie and Jack to start their family life during the lockdowns and they remain close friends.

In the wake of the Newsnight interview and a backlash over an apparent lack of sympathy for the victims of US serial paedophile Epstein, Andrew announced in November 2019 he was stepping back from Royal duties for the foreseeable future because the scandal had become a major disruption to the Royal Family.

Meghan was said to be troubled by the Newsnight interview, in which Prince Andrew denied claims that he slept with Jeffrey Epsteins aide Virginia Giuffre

A source close to the Prince, who has always denied wrongdoing but says he regrets continuing his association with Epstein after the financier was convicted of child sex crimes in 2008, said his military titles remain in abeyance until... the legal process in the US has been resolved.

Meghan and Sarah Ferguson, both outsiders who married into the Royal Family only to find the reality different from their expectations, now have something else in common  Oprah.

In her own interview in 1996, Fergie told the US chat show host that she had been put in her place by courtiers who reprimanded her for opening palace windows.

She said: You fell in love and married a man, and then you have to come to terms with the fairytale. Now its not a fairy tale, its real life.

Twenty-five years on, her daughter might have a starring role in reuniting the fractured Windsors.
The blast targeted a police headquarters in the city of Herat

A powerful car bomb in western Afghanistan killed at least eight people and wounded dozens more, authorities said Saturday, as the United Nations condemned attacks on civilians in the country.

The blast targeted a police headquarters in the city of Herat around 10 pm on Friday, damaging dozens of houses and shops, Jailani Farhad, the spokesman for the Herat provincial governor, told AFP.

"The death toll from a car bomb in the city of Herat increased to eight, and 47 others are wounded," he said, adding that women, children and security personnel were among the dead.

The interior ministry spokesman, Tariq Arian, confirmed the death toll, adding that 54 had been wounded.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the blast in Herat had no links to their group.

However, the group's insurgents are active in the western province and have carried out recent attacks against Afghan government forces.

President Ashraf Ghani blamed the Taliban, adding in a statement the group "continued their illegitimate war and violence against our people" and "showed once again they have no intention for peaceful settlement of the current crises".

Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent months -- including a wave of assassinations against journalists, activists and civil servants, despite the launch of peace talks between the warring Afghan government and Taliban.

On Friday, the UN Security Council "condemned in the strongest terms the alarming number of attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan".

It comes as speculation is rife about the United States' future in Afghanistan after a two-decade military involvement in the country.

US President Joe Biden is wrapping up a review on whether to stick to an agreement with the Taliban negotiated by his predecessor Donald Trump who wanted to pull out the final US troops by May.

The Biden administration has signalled that it wants to take a hard look at Trump's deal and its repercussions for Afghanistan and regional stability.

Story continues

Washington recently submitted a draft peace agreement to the authorities in Kabul and to the Taliban, including the creation of a "new inclusive government," according to a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that was revealed by Afghan media.

Russia has backed the initiative, as global powers ramp up efforts to secure a peace deal and end decades of war.

str-mam-eb/je
Woman Shares Scary Photos of Dental Decay in Span of 3 Years of Drinking Pop and No Brushing

A Michigan mom who had all of her top teeth removed due to decay attributes the loss to poor dental hygiene, a phobia of the dentist, and a decade-long soda habit.

Victoria Irene Nowakowski photographed her gradual dental deterioration and shared it in a TikTok video as a warning to others, hopeful that it would encourage us to take better care of our teeth.

Thankfully, Nowakowski managed to salvage her smile after being fitted with denturesa shocking contrast revealed at the end of the videobut the scary sight of her dental decay still serves as a terrifying reminder.

Here is how Victoria looked in 2012, when she had healthy teeth:

Victoria had a beautiful smile in 2012, prior to her eventual tooth decay. (Courtesy of Victoria Irene Nowakowski)

The main cause of my tooth decay and rapid deterioration of my teeth was from my lack of dental hygiene during high school, due to depression, Nowakowski told The Epoch Times. I also had an extreme fear of the dentist, and thats what kept me from going into the dentist and going through the denture process!

While years of drinking soda on a daily basis was a contributing factor, Nowakowski claims dental hygiene was the primary culprit. During high school, she explains, she neither brushed her teeth regularly nor flossed.

She also suspects that smoking for the last four or five years and being pregnant may have also contributed.

Creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, Nowakowski witnessed the degeneration progress play out over the years. Eventually, she was left with pitted, yellowed, brittle stumps and a mouthful of discomfort.

Here are the photos showing Victorias dental deterioration:

At the onset of Victorias tooth decay in 2017 (Courtesy of Victoria Irene Nowakowski)

Fast-forward three years to 2020 (Courtesy of Victoria Irene Nowakowski)

A photo taken around the time of Victorias procedure, when her font incisor broke (Courtesy of Victoria Irene Nowakowski)

Victoria was informed by her dentist in 2017, at the onset of the serious tooth decay, that her teeth would have to go. Terrified, she would wait another three years before braving the procedure.

In 2020, her entire top row of teeth was removed and replaced with dentures.

Victoria shared her journey in a TikTok video, and also included in her X-rays, tooth removal, and eventual denture fitting. From start to finish the denture process took 3 months, Victoria shared of the procedure.

In a follow-up video, she informed her followers that she suffers from hereditary stage two polycystic kidney disease, but not diabetes (the latter is known to exacerbate tooth decay). She also clarified that she neither drinks alcohol nor uses recreational drugs.

(Courtesy of Victoria Irene Nowakowski)

An X-ray showing the extent of Victorias dental decay (Courtesy of Victoria Irene Nowakowski)

Dental staff take a molding of Victorias teeth. (Courtesy of Victoria Irene Nowakowski)

Victorias smile restored with dentures in 2020 (Courtesy of Victoria Irene Nowakowski)

The mom of one graciously declined her followers offers to start a GoFundMe page, claiming that her dentures were paid for by her medical insurance and she is saving her own money for dental implants in the future. She also plans to quit soda and smoking.

In the meantime, Victoria cant stop smiling.

Im happy that my story is being shared, she told The Epoch Times. Hopefully we can help and inspire others by sharing my journey and hopefully help to normalize dental issues and having dentures at a young age!

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
Steven Harris Downs is flanked by Troopers as he enters a Fairbanks courtroom Wednesday afternoon for arraignment. Downs, a 44-year-old from Auburn, Maine, is accused of raping and killing 20-year-old Sophie Sergie in a University of Alaska Fairbanks dormitory in 1993. Harris was extradited from Maine after a lengthy process and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in Anchorage on August 6. August 14, 2019.
Over 300 border residents on Saturday attended a free eye screening camp organised by the (BSF) near the International Border (IB) here, an officer of the border guarding force said.

Deputy Inspector General of BSF S P S Sandhu said the camp was held with the assistance of centre for eye sight at Border Outpost Octroi under the shadow of recently inaugurated 131-feet flag in Suchetgarh block of R S Pura sector.

During this medical camp, Dr Srishty Senand her team examined a total of 311 civilians from various border villages. Free medicines were also distributed among the patients, Sandhu, who is also the public relations officer of the force, said.

He said the medical camp was part of a series of such camps organised by the BSF to foster a close bond with the border population.

This camp was an outcome of the interaction of Inspector General of BSF, Frontier, N S Jamwal, with the border villagers wherein they requested for such a facility, he said.

He said the villagers deeply appreciated and thanked the BSF and requested more such camps in the future.

(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 incident in Nandigram which caused injury to Chief Minister was an accident and not a planned attack, according to the report of two poll observers submitted to the EC on Saturday.

The incident which took place at Birulia bazar in Nandigram in East Midnapore district on March 10 after Banerjee filed her nomination had taken place "suddenly" though a "conspiracy theory" was spoken about, the report prepared by special observer Ajay Nayak and special police observer Vivek Dubey to for the state election stated, a source at the CEO office said.

The report also said Banerjee was injured due to the suddenness of the incident.

"The incident was not a planned attack but an accident. It had taken place suddenly", the source said quoting the report.

About the injury to Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, in the incident, the report also said that "the suddenness of the incident led to it. "There was no conspiracy behind the incident."



The report took into account the details provided by eye witnesses present during the incident as well as the video grabs collected from them.

It also referred to the failure of the police personnel in-charge of the chief minister's security in controlling the crowd which came "too close" to her.

"The local police and CM's security failed to control the crowd and that led to the untoward situation," the source said referring to the report.

Following the Nandigram incident, state ADG (Law and Order) and nodal officer Jagmohan on Saturday directed all district administrations to arrange for the strictest security measures for the chief minister during her tours for campaigning in the districts for the eight-phase poll beginning on March 27.

"Security measures should be stringent for the CM. Security for other star campaigners must be tightened. We cannot take any chance after the Nandigram incident," the source at the CEO said quoting Jagmohan.

According to another official at the office of the CEO the two observers may visit South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts starting March 18.

"The two observers will meet senior officials of the district administrations and supervise the poll preparedness," he said.

Meanwhile, state chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay in a reply to the EC for a detailed report stated that the cause of the incident at Nandigram was "not clear from the video grab" collected from the place.

A second report was submitted on Saturday evening after the EC called the one submitted on Friday by the state administration "sketchy" and asked the state administration to furnish a detailed one.

"The CM's vehicle was passing through a crowded area. It was then that there was a push on the door of her car. But it's not clear whether the push was deliberate or not. The video grabs collected are not very clear," a source at the CEO said quoting Bandopadhyay's second report.

The chief secretary was learnt to have attached one video grab along with the report, he added.

The EC had sought reports from the state government as well as the two observers on the incident. The state administration had submitted its report on Friday.

Election to the 294 assembly seats in will be held between March 27 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 2.

(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.)
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has said that people of West Bengal are ready for Mamata Banerjee's visarjan. He has further demanded a CBI probe into the alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee.

As the assembly elections in West Bengal inch closer, the battle lines between TMC and BJP have become more prominent than ever before. In this teething war of words, BJPs Dilip Ghosh has now stated that people of West Bengal are ready for Mamata Banerjees visarjan. Emphasising that BJP has decided its list of candidates for the first two phases of elections, Ghosh demanded a CBI probe into the alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee.

He said that the CBI must probe what actually happened and how come a Z-plus protectee got attacked, alleging that Mamata Banerjee is doing such a drama to garner sympathy. Hitting out at TMC, he opined that those who know that they would be voted out of power, can stoop to any level to get votes.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary of Bengal has sent a report to the Election Commission on the TMC leaders injury. The report does not affirm that 4-5 people attacked her. The report submits that Mamata Banerjee was standing on the footboard of the vehicle and greeting people gathered near the car. She got hurt from the doors of the car itself. However, it does not mention how this incident took place. Investigations are still underway to determine whether someone deliberately carried out this incident or it happened naturally.

Also Read: Alibaba vs Bejing: China to impose 1 billion on Jack Mas Alibaba

Also Read: Tamil Nadu assembly elections: BJP to release candidate list; Dy CM files nomination

Shubhendu has filed nomination from Nandigram. The big question that arises is whether Nandigram will remain a stronghold of TMC and would it turn the tides against it this time. Mamata Banerjee was released from the hospital on Friday after being wounded in a suspected assault during an election campaign in Nandigram. Banerjee was taken to the SSKM hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday after suffering injuries. After being discharged from the hospital, she was seen leaving in a wheelchair.

The Joint Forces had to fire back.

The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported one killed in action (KIA) and one wounded in action (WIA) amid 14 violations of the ceasefire agreement by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Friday, March 12.

"In the past day, March 12, as many as 14 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 13, 2021.

In particular, the occupiers fired proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and automatic rifles near the village of Katerynivka.

Also, the Russian Federation's armed formations used 82mm mortars and heavy machine guns near the village of Pivdenne.

"A Ukrainian serviceman was wounded amid shelling. He was rushed to the hospital where he received medical assistance," the report says.

Read alsoLaunching full-out war on Ukraine would be "tragic mistake for Russia"  KravchukIn addition, the Russian occupation troops fired automatic grenade launchers toward Ukrainian positions near the village of Starohnativka, as well as rifles and an anti-tank grenade launcher near the villages of Taramchuk and Pisky.

The invaders also fired heavy machine guns near the village of Hnutove, while hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers were used near the village of Vodiane in the Azov Sea littoral. In that sector, enemy troops also carried out engineering works toward Ukrainian defense positions.

What is more, the Russian armed formations shelled the Ukrainian positions near the town of Maryinka.

"As a result of enemy sniper fire, one Ukrainian serviceman suffered injuries incompatible with life. The leadership of a military unit and military law enforcers are working on the scene," reads the report.

The Joint Forces' Command has expressed its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the fallen soldier.

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 Saturday midnight, March 13, four ceasefire violations were recorded in the JFO zone. In particular, the enemy fired under-barrel grenade launchers and rifles near Pisky.

There have been no casualties since midnight.

The Ukrainian military say the situation is under their 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
Under the MOU, Excelerate will conduct a study to explore the potential of an integrated LNG to power solution that includes developing an LNG import terminal, converting and/or expanding the existing Vlora thermal power plant, and establishing small scale LNG distribution to Albania and the surrounding Balkans region.

"As Albania looks to improve energy security and resiliency, we are confident that an LNG solution would provide reliability to the country's power grid while complementing intermittent renewables and alternative resources," stated Steven Kobos, President and Chief Executive Officer of Excelerate. "We are pleased to work with our partners in developing a reliable and affordable solution for Albania's energy resilience."

Home to eight major river systems, Albania relies on hydropower plants, which can become unreliable during times of drought, to supply energy to the country's 2.8 million residents. LNG would bring reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy to the region and complement Albania's hydropower-based electricity production. As the leader in floating LNG regasification solutions, Excelerate Energy has delivered reliable and clean energy to markets across the globe, developing and operating 13 LNG terminals worldwide. The Vlora project is the latest example of Excelerate's emphasis on greater integration of services to serve gas and power customers better.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku said, "Supply diversification and the enhancement of supply security are crucial to Albania and to our Balkan neighbors as well. We are confident that LNG can be the key to achieving these strategic objectives and to finally providing a solution to the complex Vlora TPP project by choosing the best partners, equipped to deliver a project of such magnitude."

ExxonMobil, one of the largest natural gas producers in the U.S. and a significant producer of LNG around the world, will lead the charge on identifying opportunities to support the supply of LNG into Albania and the LNG Import Project, as a project of National Strategic Importance.

"LNG enables transportation of natural gas from supply centers to customers safely and cost effectively," said Ed Austin, ExxonMobil LNG Strategy and Portfolio Manager. "While we are at the early stages of exploring this opportunity, ExxonMobil's global resources and reliable LNG supply chain can help Albania meet its fast-growing demand for natural gas and ensure long-term supply security."

The pre-feasibility report is expected to be delivered in Q3 2021, while the targeted start-up for the LNG Import Project could be as early as 2023.

About Excelerate Energy:

Excelerate Energy L.P. is a US-based LNG company located in The Woodlands, Texas. It is part of a privately held U.S. energy group founded by George Kaiser. Excelerate is the pioneer and market leader in innovative floating LNG solutions, providing integrated services along the entire LNG value chain with an objective of delivering rapid-to-market and reliable LNG solutions to customers. Excelerate offers a full range of floating regasification services from FSRU to infrastructure development to LNG supply. Excelerate has offices in Abu Dhabi, Buenos Aires, Chittagong, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, Salem, Singapore, and Washington, DC.

SOURCE Excelerate Energy L.P.
Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar has described as a tragedy the fact his mum is not aware of his success because she suffers from Alzheimers disease.

During the pandemic, the Enniskillen actor has been able to see his daughter Madeleine (33) and his stepson Ted (39) as well as his grandchildren, who all live in London, through a gate.

But contact with his 86-year-old mum Pauline, who lives in a Fermanagh care home, has been over a videolink.

He told the Daily Telegraph he was not sure that she always recognised him during the calls.

You could go and see her, but how to explain to someone every time that you cant give them a hug, that theyre not allowed to come outside, you have to stay outside on the doorstep under an awning and remain two metres apart? he asked.

Constantly having to remind them, its really, really difficult. On videolink, you wave at her and hope she recognises you and knows who you are.

Shes been robbed  we have both been robbed. One of the tragedies for me is that now my career has taken off to this extent, shes not really aware of it.

Line of Duty season six is on BBC One on March 21 at 9pm
The province has lifted COVID-19 restrictions that prohibit students from singing or playing wind instruments inside Manitoba schools.

The province has lifted COVID-19 restrictions that prohibit students from singing or playing wind instruments inside Manitoba schools.

Manitoba Education issued a bulletin Friday outlining parameters for a safe resumption of indoor music classes and related extracurriculars.

Choir and band practices can continue if the total number of masked staff and students involved does not exceed 25 people, instruments are cleaned regularly, and there is a minimum distance of two metres  taking into account the length of instruments  between performers.

"If adequate distancing is not possible, the use of Plexiglas or other barriers should be considered and these barriers should be cleaned and disinfected after each practice," states the bulletin created in collaboration with the Manitoba Music Educators Association and the Association of Music Administrators of Manitoba.

Mandatory rules aside, the sharing of wind and brass instruments, as well as music stands and sheets, is discouraged.

Students are also encouraged to empty spit valves when no one else is present and teachers are asked to arrange performers in staggered lines and so they are facing slightly away from each other, if possible.

Members of the Manitoba band parent advocacy lobby group celebrated the "win" Friday.

"We are so happy that the province has been receptive to our concerns and has realized that band can happen safely, once the proper mitigations are in place," said Maureen Fitzhenry, whose son plays the tuba at Oak Park High School.

As Fitzhenry described her Grade 12 sons excitement about learning he will soon be able to reunite with his bandmates  news he immediately texted to his band teacher and friends  she teared up.

The province recommends educators ensure the air exchange system in their music rooms is functioning properly before activities start up again.

Concerts and public performances remain off-limits for the time being.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

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It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
xperts say the disease was most likely brought into the Huanan seafood market

The World Health Organisation is set to reject claims that the coronavirus pandemic began at a secretive Chinese laboratory and will point to live animal markets as the origin.

In the clearest sign yet of the contents of the highly anticipated WHO report, experts say the disease was most likely brought into the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan either in live animals or frozen meat.

Such findings would be highly controversial in the light of mounting suspicion over the Wuhan Institute of Virologys work with bats known to carry the Covid-19 virus.

The findings would also fuel allegations that the investigation was a whitewash due to the close links between China and the WHO.

A man wearing a protective face mask walks past optical shops on the second floor of the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, in December last year

Senior members of the investigating team have suggested the report will put forward the frozen food theory as the best explanation for the origin of the pandemic, which has killed more than two million people globally.

Speaking at a conference organised by the independent Chatham House think-tank last week, Peter Daszak, a British zoologist who was part of the WHO team in China, said investigators established a link between the Wuhan market and regions of South China that are home to bats carrying strains of coronavirus.

We found there was a conduit from Wuhan to the provinces in South China where the closest relative viruses to SARS-Covid-2 are found in bats, he said.

So thats quite important  it provides a link and a pathway by which the virus could convincingly spill over from wildlife either into people or animals farmed in the region and shipped into the Wuhan market by some means.

He said the most likely cause was that a bat or other wildlife species carried a virus as a progenitor of the SARS-Covid-2 virus. And it got into domestic animals  wildlife bred in farms perhaps  or people associated with that, and got into the Wuhan market that way. I believe thats the most likely scenario.

Professor Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist on the WHO team who joined Dr Daszak at the conference, said frozen meat was the most likely carrier, despite Chinese scientists recently blaming contaminated packaging.

Marion Koopmans (left) and Peter Daszak (right), members of the WHO team investigating the origins of Covid, pictured in Wuhan last month

The P4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province (file photo)

The origin most likely, of course, is not the outside of the frozen package, it may be the frozen wild animal, she said.

Both scientists rejected claims that the virus leaked from the Wuhan lab, even though it had the worlds largest collection of bat coronaviruses and had isolated the closest relative of the Covid-19 pathogen. Dr Daszak said: Ive not seen any evidence of an accidental leak from a lab.

But a US intelligence report in January said there was strong evidence pointing to the lab as the source, adding that some of its employees had suffered Covid-like symptoms in late 2019.

In an unexpected development last night, Professor Koopmans admitted to Americas NBC News that at least two lab specialists fell ill that autumn. But she insisted that all scientists at the lab had tested negative for the virus last April.

The WHOs investigation has already been dismissed as a charade because its officials movements were controlled by the Chinese authorities.

Sam Armstrong, of the Henry Jackson Society foreign policy think-tank, said: The WHO must not continue to indulge the evidence-free and bizarre frozen fish theory in an attempt to exonerate China.
[March 12, 2021] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Tencent Holdings Limited (TCEHY) on Behalf of Investors

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Tencent Holdings (News - Alert) Limited ("Tencent" or the "Company") (OTC: TCEHY) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Tencent investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/tencent-holdings-limited/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights. On March 12, 2021, Bloomberg (News - Alert) published an article entitled "Tencent Faces Broad China Clampdown on Fintech, Deals," reporting that "China's top financial regulators see Tencent as the next target for increased supervision after the clamp don" on Ant Group Co. As a result, the Company would "probably be required to establish a financial holding company to include its banking, insurance, and payments services."



On this news, the Company's American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") price fell as much as $7, or nearly 8%, during intraday trading on March 12, 2021. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Tencent should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the 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 Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email shareholders@glancylaw.com. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters (News - Alert), the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. 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/20210312005533/en/

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  A 60-year-old man who arrived in Japan from the Philippines last February was found to have contracted a new coronavirus variant, Japanese health authorities announced on Friday.

The Japan Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare said the coronavirus variant detected on the man is "distinct" from those discovered in Brazil, South Africa, and United Kingdom.

"The strain has begun to be detected in the Philippines and has spread to some extent here," the health ministry said in its findings.

Japanese health authorities said the 60-year-old man arrived in Japan, via Narita Airport near Tokyo, last Feb. 25 and was asymptomatic. The man, whose nationality is not named, tested positive of COVID-19 after undergoing quarantine at the said airport.

The Philippines' Department of Health has yet to give a comment on the matter.
Imphal: Amid ongoing violence in Myanmar after the military coup last month, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday (March 12) said that incidents of the influx of people from Myanmar into Manipur has not been reported so far.

He further said that security forces are put on alert at the borders."Till now, there is no information about the influx (of Myanmarese) into the state. We have deployed and alerted the security at the border. The matter is a bilateral issue between India and Myanmar. The state cannot take any action on this issue," said Biren Singh.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday (March 12) asked four northeastern states Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to take appropriate action as per law to prevent a possible influx of people from Myanmar into India.

The MHA also said that it has been reported that illegal influx from Myanmar has started and agencies have been asked to identify migrants and initiate the deportation processes without delay.

The Home Ministry reiterated that state governments and Union Territory (UT) administrations have no power to grant "refugee" status to any foreigner as India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

The military toppled Myanmar's elected government on February 1 and launched a massive crackdown on anti-coup protesters, shutting down the internet and arresting hundreds of people, including the state counsellor, de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and the figurehead president.

Violence against protesters has so far left over 60 people dead and more than 1,800 people arrested.

Live TV
The Minister of Health has released further details following the news that a batch of AstraZeneca vaccines had been placed "in quarantine" on Thursday.

In response to an urgent query posed by CSV MP Martine Hansen, Paulette Lenert confirmed that 4,141 of the 4,800 doses had already been administered.

A number of countries suspended the AstraZeneca jab this week after news emerged from Austria of potential issues with a specific batch (ABV5300). Luxembourg received 4,800 doses from the suspended batch.

In the parliamentary response, Lenert said Austria had raised the alert on Sunday, at which point the Grand Duchy had just 69 unused bottles of the vaccine. These have been placed in quarantine and will be checked by the European Medicines Agency in Holland, where analysis is ongoing following reports of potential thrombosis (blood clotting).

Lenert confirmed in her statement that no such issues had been reported to date in Luxembourg. The EMA issued a statement on Thursday, saying there was no reason not to use the AstraZeneca vaccines. The so-called quarantine has been introduced as a precautionary measure.

The minister added that the Luxembourg authorities would continue to monitor any side effects reported as a result of the vaccines.

As of 10 March, 30 cases of thrombosis had been reported in Europe, from around five million people who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Based on this information, Lenert said it was unlikely that the AstraZeneca vaccine had a greater risk of side effects than the other vaccines in circulation.

PDF: Parliamentary question and response

The World Health Organisation has also said there is no reason not to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, following a statement given in Geneva after several countries announced they had suspended the use of the jab.

The EMA update can be found below:

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca: PRAC investigating cases of thromboembolic events - vaccines benefits currently still outweigh risks - Update | European Medicines Agency (europa.eu)


Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
(CNN)  The Associated Press has demanded the release of a journalist detained and charged "for simply doing his job" while covering violent anti-coup demonstrations for the American news outlet in Myanmar.

Thein Zaw, 32, was taken into custody on February 27 in the country's largest city, Yangon, while covering a protest against the military junta, which seized power in a February 1 coup, AP reported.

Thein Zaw is among a number of journalists detained in Myanmar as part of the military's crackdown on independent media. According to UN Regional Spokesperson in Bangkok David Swanson, dozens of journalists have been arrested in recent days  and on Monday, security forces revoked the licenses of five independent media companies.

Thein Zaw's pretrial detention was extended at a court hearing on Friday, which he attended via videoconferencing. He next appears in court on March 24.

"The Associated Press calls for the immediate release of AP journalist Thein Zaw, who has been charged with a crime in Myanmar for simply doing his job," said Ian Phillips, AP vice president for international news, in a statement sent to CNN.

"Independent journalists must be allowed to freely and safely report the news without fear of retribution. AP condemns the charge against Thein Zaw and his arbitrary detention."

Separately, Polish journalist Robert Bociaga, who has freelanced for a number of Western media organizations, was detained by soldiers in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, on Thursday, according to a statement from the German Press Agency (DPA).

"This is an intolerable, unacceptable attack on the freedom of reporting  and even in this brutal form, unfortunately, not an isolated case," DPA editor-in-chief Sven Gosmann said.

Bociaga was reportedly beaten by authorities, according to The Diplomat, which Bociaga was a regular contributor to.

"We are especially disturbed by reports that he was first beaten and injured before being detained. This brutality cannot be justified or accepted," the publication said on Twitter.

"We call for his immediate release, along with other journalists detained in Myanmar in recent weeks."

The German Embassy in Yangon  which represents the consular interests of Polish citizens in Myanmar  said it had formally requested information about Bociaga's precise whereabouts. The embassy also asked for immediate consular access to him and written information about the reason for his detention and charges, it said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

"The Embassy is expecting ... a swift answer and a fair and humane treatment of the detained person," the statement said.

The US Embassy in Burma, which uses the former name of the country, sent an embassy officer to court on Friday to attend the hearing of five reporters "detained while doing their jobs," the embassy said, although it did not specify their names.

"Silencing the press will not keep the world or people of Myanmar from recognizing the junta's abhorrent actions," the embassy added.

Myanmar has been thrown into turmoil since the military seized power, detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and forming a new junta to run the country.

At least 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured since the coup, according to the United Nations. More than 2,000 have been detained, with allegations of torture and enforced disappearances. Many have not been heard from since.

CNN's Helen Regan, Chandler Thornton, Carly Walsh and Eric Cheung contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Associated Press calls for release of journalist detained in Myanmar"
Mar. 12Police confiscated nearly 2 pounds of fentanyl when they arrested a Berlin man suspected of planning to deliver the high-grade opioid to the North Country for redistribution, authorities said Friday.

New Hampshire State Police arrested Travis Hood, 27, on Thursday when they saw him in a vehicle traveling northbound on Interstate 93 in Hooksett, according to a statement issued by Deputy Attorney General Jane Young.

Nine hundred grams is just shy of two pounds.

According the Oxford Treatment Centers website, a lethal dose of fentanyl can be as small as 2 milligrams, meaning Hood was allegedly transporting 450,000 potentially lethal doses. The website cautions that the 2-milligram level of lethality represents someone who has not developed a tolerance to the drug.

Police arrested Hood on warrants that allege he sold fentanyl three times last month in Berlin. He was not charged with the fentanyl possession, but additional charges are likely to follow.

He was arraigned Friday in Coos County Superior Court and ordered jailed without bail.
A former Fleet Street editor boasted how he did my little bit to get at the truth by putting on an Irish accent to pass information from a Republican contact to a reporter on his own paper.

Roy Greenslade described the phone call to a colleague on The Sunday Times as very amusing in a 2007 British Library recording on the history of the British Press that surfaced yesterday.

Greenslade, whose support for the IRA and its bombing campaign has caused a furore, made the call to Peter Hounam, who was investigating the SAS killing of three IRA terrorists in Gibraltar in 1988.

Greenslade was also honorary visiting professor of journalism at City University of London before quitting this month amid outrage over his admission of support for the IRA

Yesterday Kathryn Johnston, the widow of Liam Clarke, another former colleague at The Sunday Times, said she was shocked to the core by the chilling recording.

When he was a media commentator for The Guardian in 1995, Greenslade accused Mr Clarke of colluding with the security forces to publish false stories about the IRAs commitment to a ceasefire.

Greenslade was also honorary visiting professor of journalism at City University of London before quitting this month amid outrage over his admission of support for the IRA.

Miss Johnston said: Its about time Mr Greenslade came forward and gave some answers.

She was speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, which played excerpts from the recording yesterday.

Greenslade, whose support for the IRA and its bombing campaign has caused a furore, made the call to Peter Hounam, who was investigating the SAS killing of three IRA terrorists in Gibraltar in 1988. The aftermath of an IRA terror attack in London is seen above

Greenslade, editor of the Daily Mirror from 1990 to 1991, was an executive on The Sunday Times at the time of the Gibraltar incident, which had led to questions about whether the terrorists could have been arrested rather than killed.

He said in the recording: When I felt the investigation wasnt going as I wanted it to, I even made a fake phone call in an Irish accent to give him [Mr Hounam] a bit of evidence [from a Republican contact] to push him further to investigate further.

He added: Nothing really came of it... But I did my little bit to try and get at the truth anyway.

Last night Miss Johnston, whose husband died of cancer six years ago aged 61, said that while the fake Irish accent phone call has been reported previously, she had not heard the recording.

It leaves a nasty taste in my mouth, she added.

Mr Greenslade declined to comment last night.
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Food service workers and people 55 years and older will be able to roll up their sleeves and start getting the coronavirus vaccine on March 22. The Alabama Department of Public Health moved into Phase 1C of its vaccine distribution plan.

People working in restaurants could be exposed to the coronavirus every time they clock in and start working. The general manager of Below the Radar, Chance Brown, said once his employees get the vaccine, they won't have to worry every time a customer sneezes or sniffles.

If somebody starts coughing, you have to wonder if its a cold, the flu or COVID," he said. "So, this is just going to help alleviate some of those fears.

Brown said a lot of his staff have kids at home. There's always a fear they may get exposed to the virus at work and bring it home to their families.

Like the employees at Below the Radar, a partner of Phat Sammy's in Huntsville, Jeremy Esterly, said his employees get nervous about potentially being exposed every day.

Were exposed to a lot of people daily, maybe not sick people obviously, but were exposed to a lot of traffic from different people. Staff has been kind of worried," said Esterly.

Some of those fears will be lifted once March 22 rolls around and they can start getting the vaccine.

I think it will make it easier for people to feel comfortable dining in the restaurant, being in closer proximity to one another and having someone take care of them who they dont know. They dont know who theyre around," said Brown.

"I think knowing that a lot of people are getting the vaccine, it feels like the world is a little bit happier now than it was a few months ago," said Esterly. "So, really thats all it is, over and over: peace of mind, peace of mind, peace of mind."

Esterly said he's very glad people in the food service industry will be eligible to get the vaccine before the mask mandate is lifted.
A new Law Enforcement Training Center is slated for a parcel across Amnicola Highway from Lake Junior.

The wooded site near Highway 153 has long been owned by TVA.

The City Council on March 23 is to consider a resolution for the city to pay TVA up to $100,000 for administrative costs of TVA transferring the property to the city and county.

The resolution refers to "the pending acquisition" of the property.

The current police firing range is on Moccasin Bend.

The Chattanooga Police Department and the Sheriff's Department have long sought an alternate site instead of using the historic property.

The National Park Service wants to incorporate the current firing range property into its National Archaeological Park.

At one time there were plans to build a new enclosed police firing range on 11th Street near the former Farmers Market, but that proposal fell through.

The value of the Amnicola Highway property is listed at $482,000, according to the Assessor's Office.
Opinion

Believe in yourself.

One of Canadas leading female CEOs is asking women to do just that and more.

Arlene Dickinson  arguably the most well-recognized woman entrepreneur in the country  is also urging women to invest in themselves.

Be it starting a business or building a portfolio of investments, the star venture capitalist on the CBC show Dragons Den is on a mission to see more women follow a similar path, particularly in the wake of the economic fallout of COVID-19.

"Its been incredibly hard on women economically," says Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications, and partner in District Ventures Capital, which invests in food, health and wellness early-stage companies.

She points to a November RBC report finding womens employment fell by 21,000 during the pandemic while mens grew by 68,000.

"We know why that is  its because many women provide the caregiving for the kids or for aging parents."

Now Dickinson is speaking to those who will listen, urging more women to take the reins of their economic destiny and make the leap to starting a business.

The timing marks International Womens Day, earlier this week. But in truth  given women make up more than 50 per cent of the population  a special day marking their achievements is revealing regarding how overlooked their contributions are and undervalued their potential is in a society that still systematically favours men.

"There is an inherent bias across many industries," Dickinson says.

Indeed, just even from a wage perspective, women still earn about 70 per cent of what men do, the most recent Statistics Canada data show.

And in the boardroom, they remain a rarity.

Among major listed firms on the Toronto Stock Exchange, women represent about 18 per cent of executive positions. And among CEOs of those companies, they make up 3.5 per cent.

She adds its beyond merely hiring more women to these positions. There needs to be more support allowing for women to rise up to these positions. That includes dealing with child care. Its not just about affordable daycare spots. Its about allowing more flex-time to allow women  and men  to be able to raise families and pursue careers that ultimately create a greater diversity of leaders in Canada.

Additionally, she urges current leaders  who are mostly men  to take the leap and hire more women to leadership positions.

"It hinges on, frankly, men to go and do it because its men in those roles, so we need them to step up."

Still another way for women to rise up economically is to become entrepreneurs and, according to a 2016 study, many would like to give it a shot. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Canada Report on Womens Entrepreneurship found 85 per cent of women surveyed stated they were interested in starting a business. The trouble, Dickinson adds, comes with accessing funding as many lenders seek entrepreneurs with proven track records.

"But there are fewer women who meet this criteria." As such she adds many are first-time entrepreneurs looking for that big break.

Dickinson knows the scenario all too well. She was in the same place in the late 1980s after marrying young and having four children.

"There are all sorts of things that can happen in our lives that force us to reconsider what we want out of life and who we are," she says.

In her early thirties, she had lost her job. "That happened as I went through my divorce, so I had to figure out how to make a living."

Around the same time came the opportunity to join Venture Communications. "But they couldnt pay me," Dickinson says. "They said they would make me a partner; theyd give me equity in exchange  like sweat equity."

She took a leap of faith in herself, and fast-forward three decades, she leads the company  one of the most successful and innovative marketing firms in the nation.

"The message is that I became an entrepreneur out of necessity," she says.

"We all can invest in ourselves, but generally we do that because something happens in our life that forces us to reconsider where were at."

Rather than allowing other voices  frequently our own inner voices  to provide every reason not to take the risk, like becoming an entrepreneur, Dickinson firmly believes in the notion of nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"Im not saying to take stupid risks," she says. "But sometimes you have to put it all on the line to realize that if this goes sideways, you could lose a lot  and that makes you work harder and think harder about what you do."

This trial by fire that often pays off, Dickinson adds. It did for her.

"You may not necessarily reach the goal you set out to achieve, but at least you will never look back and say, I didnt try," Dickinson says.

"To me, thats the point of life."
Fr Gerry OLeary has urged people to contact their TDs to try and get the number allowed at funerals increased. Photo: Mary Browne

A Wexford priest broke down in tears yesterday (Monday) describing the heartbreak of seeing grandchildren locked outside his church due to 'draconian' restrictions, virtually unheard of anywhere else in Europe.

Fr Gerry O'Leary has celebrated nine funerals since the third lockdown began on St Stephen's Day and says it is causing him incredible stress whenever he has to inform a family that only ten people can attend the ceremony inside his church doors.

'There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to funerals. I've had nine since the third lockdown started and we have kept to the ten every time. I can see families are being very badly affected by the restrictions,' Fr O'Leary said.

At a funeral last weekend, Fr O'Leary called on everyone listening in to petition their TDs to increase the number permitted from ten, saying it is too draconian on families.

'How do you explain to a little grandchild that he or she can't go into their granny's funeral? It find it heartbreaking and I get emotional. It only strikes families when it hits their door. I want to keep the law but it's not working. I am speaking out today because I feel so stressed doing funerals,' he said.

Fr O'Leary said Ireland is only one of two countries that has banned people from attending Masses and is among the most restrictive when it comes to funeral attendances.

'I have a friend in Scotland where they are allowed 20 at funerals. I believe we, in the pastoral council, put a lot of work and expense to make Ballykelly Church safe. We work it very well and I believe churches are some of the safest places in the parish. I find myself stressed. I spent all my life trying to get people into the church. I am not a policeman and I have to tell families they are limited to ten. What harm is 12 or 15 going to make in the grand scheme of things? I see siblings and grandchildren outside looking at it on the phone.'

Funeral directors are also being put in a very difficult position, he said.

'They are finding it very difficult. To tell them this is the guidelines is awful. My hands are tied. I am torn between my heart and my head; between abiding by the law and getting it right. If I let them in for one family, there are eight families before them who were told to keep to ten. They'd rightly ask why they were treated differently. This is not working from a family, from a funeral director or from a priestly point of view. I feel the pain of people. You have situations where you have space for 1,000 people and you can only have ten. At Ballykelly, you could have 150 people.'

Acknowledging the transmissibility of the BII7 virus, Fr O'Leary said if people keep their distance, wash their hands and wear a mask, the virus will not spread between them.

'If we could get the immediate family in; that is all I am asking for. This is coming from my own frustration and lived experience. I find funerals very stressful. I dread it and know every family has stuck to the rules here in Ballykelly and in Horeswood. I realise cases are high but I think when all this is over, we are going to look back and we are going to say we got funerals wrong.'

He questioned why public worship is banned in Ireland until restrictions are dropped to Level 2, which may not be until the autumn.

During last weekend's funeral, he said some politicians are not Catholic and others are 'anti-Catholic'.

'It seems strange to me that public worship in Ireland is banned when this does not hold in virtually all jurisdictions. America has passed the 500,000 mark in Covid deaths, more than the number of lives lost in the two world wars and Vietnam, and their churches are all open. In England, the churches are all open. If I was virtually in an European capital I could go to mass, albeit among small numbers. We are not due to reopen until Level 2. Level 3 means non-essential retail can open so I can go to a mall or shopping centre but I can't go to mass. I just wonder why.'

He feels if enough people write to politicians they will open up churches to people sooner.

'I just feel the pain of families at funerals. How do you tell a little child of six or seven they can't come to the funeral? It's easy for people up in an office that are removed from the situation. I am a priest on the ground dealing with families. My heart breaks. I talk to other priests about this; it lances the boil. The bishops have called for the numbers to be increased at funerals.'

He said at least one third of the population are practising Catholics, and added that there are mental health implications for people.

'The spiritual dimension of a person's life is important. That has to be taken into account as well. I feel absolutely emotional that children are locked outside. They would have been part of the ceremony, reading the prayers of the faithful for someone they loved dearly,' he said, breaking down in tears.

Fr O'Leary is praying Taoiseach Micheal Martin announces changes to funeral attendance numbers on April 5.

'It's uncharted waters and we are in a pandemic. The Government has to deal with a very difficult situation. I think they have learnt a lot in a year but I think this is the area that is causing pain.'
The first surge of coronavirus cases in Minneapolis struck hardest in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, where the mysterious virus last April was killing elderly East African immigrants nearly every day.

Public health officials were learning of COVID-19 spreading rapidly in the high-rise Riverside Plaza apartment complex, where riding elevators and carpooling to work at the Amazon warehouse made social distancing impossible.

"We were seeing daily increases in the double digits in terms of the number of cases," said Luisa Pessoa-Brandao, the city's lead epidemiologist. "It was concerning to see that happening and that was a neighborhood that very much was accounting for a large proportion of the cases in Minneapolis."

Now almost a year since the coronavirus crisis, Minneapolis has turned the situation around. Through aggressive testing and stringent measures to curb the disease, the city has consistently lower rates of infection and deaths than many places in greater Minnesota.

The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, home to a sizable East African community, generally had lower case rates than many Minneapolis neighborhoods in recent months.

Since the pandemic started, the city has recorded more than 33,360 confirmed cases and at least 396 deaths, according to data kept by the city. People of color account for 42% of those fatalities and make up 40% of the city's population. As of last week, Minneapolis had a 20% lower COVID-19 death rate than the state overall.

Minneapolis singled outLast spring, the situation in the city was dire. In May, the White House coronavirus task force singled out Minneapolis, along with Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Chicago, as the four metro areas where COVID-19 infection rates were persistent or rising.

Health officials, who at the time didn't know much about the disease, quickly identified Cedar-Riverside as a coronavirus hot spot and launched the city's first community testing event in the neighborhood to begin contact tracing and other targeted efforts to stem the spread of the virus.

Story continues

After other efforts began in Cedar-Riverside, the city's public health officials turned their attention to other neighborhoods, like Phillips and Ventura Village, where the virus was spreading. They partnered with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority and tapped community members to volunteer at testing centers to ease residents' mistrust of government.

On May 26, the city enacted a mask mandate before the state made it a requirement. And when unrest erupted in the streets of Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd, city staff who worried protests would set off a spike in infections passed out free masks and hand sanitizer at demonstrations.

According to the city, protests and the riots that followed Floyd's death did not lead to a surge in COVID-19 cases. Case rates in Minneapolis declined from late May through mid-July.

"People were wearing masks, people were trying to maintain some distance, making sure that they were safe because no one wanted to add to the tragedy that already happened," Pessoa-Brandao said.

That stall in the virus' spread allowed the city to brainstorm other ways to break the chain of transmission. City officials expanded testing and Mayor Jacob Frey signed an emergency regulation in July, ordering businesses such as bars and restaurants to shut their doors to indoor services, preventing people from congregating.

Some Minneapolis neighborhoods, including Cedar-Riverside, saw an uptick in cases in August, which epidemiologists attributed to college students failing to social distance. But since September, Cedar-Riverside cases have been on the low end of Minneapolis ZIP codes. Minneapolis health officials credit stringent measures, aggressive efforts and building trust with the community for controlling the spread of the deadly disease.

Dr. John Hick, an emergency physician at Hennepin Healthcare who helped coordinate the state's response to the pandemic, said the number of COVID patients in intensive care statewide is lower than it has been since April when the upswing in infections began. Mask-wearing and social distancing, he said, has helped slow virus transmission, but things are not in the clear yet.

Because of the decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Minneapolis, Frey has eased restrictions on city establishments, putting them in line with the state.

Community clinics respondWhen the virus ravaged low-income and communities of color this summer, many health centers in Minneapolis had to change their approach. They rolled out robust testing, conducted aggressive outreach and offered COVID resources in several languages.

Some clinics hurried to set up mobile testing in public housing high-rises and other densely populated areas of the city where physical distancing was difficult. They passed out free masks and connected remotely with patients wary of in-person care.

Jonathan Watson, chief executive at the Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers, which represents 17 nonprofit safety-net clinics, said they have tested at least 40,000 people in the past year. The test positivity rate is 17%, significantly higher than the statewide average but roughly half what it was three or four months ago, he said.

Positivity rates of the Minneapolis community health centers have decreased over time even with continued testing, but COVID-19 is still disproportionately affecting people of color, he said.

"It was absolutely crazy," Watson said. "And so, it was just aggressive testing and really getting out to the community to meet them where they're at."

In the last week of April, the People's Center clinic in Cedar-Riverside set up a drive-through, no-appointment testing site. By July when cases spiked, many in the community flocked to the drive-through testing site, including some who had no symptoms but had lost close family members to the disease.

Abdullahi Salad was among those getting tested. Salad, owner of two businesses in Cedar-Riverside, tested positive for COVID-19 in April. Between May and November, Salad lost nine family members to the disease. At least six of his regular customers also died of the disease.

"2020 was one of the most painful and scariest times in my life," Salad said. "I'm still recovering from that trauma."

The community's knowledge of the virus, he said, has changed drastically. Salad said people are now taking COVID seriously.

"It's nobody's fault in the community that we became a hot spot," Salad said. "We weren't getting the state government's early COVID warnings in a language many of our members understand."

Since April, the People's Center clinic has conducted more than 10,000 tests. The number of cases coming back positive has dramatically decreased from the heightened months of July, August and September when the clinic had high rates of positivity among its Black population.

"Many of our families here who live in the Cedar-Riverside area live in multigenerational houses," said Ann Rogers, CEO of the People's Center Clinics & Services. "So, when you're living in a small setting, we also know that the spread of the COVID virus can take place and latch on much, much easier."

On a recent afternoon, the first floor of the People's Center Clinic offered a glimmer of hope to a community that has suffered most from the pandemic. Clinic staff had just wrapped up a long afternoon of testing, an Ethiopian woman danced as she got her first shot of vaccine while elderly Somalis encouraged one another as they waited for their first dose.

"The vibe is hopeful right now," Rogers said. "We're getting a handle on it."

Michael Corey  612-673-4750

Faiza Mahamud  612-673-4203
London, March 13 : A UK-based study has revealed that the rate of infection with Covid-19 for people that live with Scotland's healthcare workers is at least 30 per cent lower when the worker has been vaccinated mostly with a single dose.

Since household members of healthcare workers can also be infected via other people, this 30 per cent relative risk reduction is an underestimate of the "true" effect of vaccination on transmission, according to the research by the Public Health Scotland and the University of Glasgow published on Friday.

The research involved 30,000 National Health Service (NHS) staff between December 8, 2020 and March 3, 2021, studying both those who had and had not been vaccinated.

Meanwhile, where healthcare workers had received a second dose of the vaccine at least 14 days before, their household members had a rate of Covid-19 which was at least 54 per cent lower than household members where healthcare workers had not been vaccinated, said the study.

The latest study came as the UK government said it will discuss with the European Union countries about the possibility of creating a vaccine passport, which will allow those who have had the jab to travel abroad more freely.

More than 23 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that the government is "on course" to offering a first vaccine dose to all adults by the end of July.

On February 22, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his long-anticipated "roadmap" exiting the lockdown.

The reopening of schools in England on Monday was the first part of the four-step plan, which Johnson said was designed to be "cautious but irreversible".

Other parts of Britain, including Wales and Scotland, have also unveiled plans to ease the restrictions.

Experts have warned that the UK is "still not out of the woods" amid concerns over new variants and the risks of the public breaching restriction rules.
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Amid a mounting political crisis over its cutting off of wage subsidy and welfare payments, plus its slow and disorganised COVID-19 vaccine program, along with the danger of fresh infection breakouts, the Liberal-National government this week promoted another $1.2 billion handout to the airline companies, supposedly to provide half-price flights to tourism destinations.

An air of desperation hung over Prime Minister Scott Morrisons announcement on Thursday. It came as he repudiated his previous promises that the entire population of 25 million people would be vaccinated by October, thus throwing into doubt his claims that this would allow a return to more normal business, including the lifting of international border restrictions.

Every element of the airline package is misleading. Only an estimated $72 million of the $1.2 billion package will go to subsidising the promised 800,000 lower-priced tickets. The rest will boost the coffers of the airlines, in the hope of preventing them immediately laying off 6,800 more workers, on top of the thousands they have retrenched over the past year.

As well as being placed under pressure by the corporate media over a series of sexual assault allegations, the government is facing increasing popular hostility over the reality that the scrapping of its JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme on March 28, accompanied by the abolition of a meagre Coronavirus Supplement on dole and welfare benefits, will leave millions of workers jobless or under-employed, and living in dire poverty.

The risk of further COVID-19 outbreaks was highlighted yesterday by the announcement of a still-unexplained infection of a doctor at Brisbanes Princess Alexandra (PA) Hospital. The PA, one of the citys biggest hospitals, is on the frontline of treating infections from the quarantine hotels for arriving international travellers.

The developments at the more than 1,000-bed PA again show how quickly the pandemic can erupt, under conditions in which basic safety precautionseven as elementary as mask-wearing in public hospitalsare brushed aside by governments and health authorities.

The PA was placed on lockdown yesterday, and mask-wearing reinstated, after it was reported that the infected doctor had contact with two COVID-positive patients at the hospital in the early hours of Wednesday. She was infectious while in the community the following day. The identified high-risk locations include a cafe, gym and hotel, as well as the hospital itself.

Heightening the dangers, the two infected patients have contracted the more transmissible and potentially deadly UK variant of the coronavirus. They are among 42 COVID-19 cases currently in quarantine in the state of Queensland.

At a media conference this morning, the state Labor government announced limits on visits to hospitals, aged care facilities, disability services and prisons in the Brisbane region, but took no further safety measures to protect the population. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk even declared there was no need for people to weak masks.

Instead of any precautionary lockdown of the city, Palaszczuk said the next 72 hours would be critical to see if the infections spread further. She said contact tracing was underway to try to identify and contact all patients, staff and families who may have been exposed. She claimed that because the doctor had been infectious in the community for only a short period, this breakout was different to one involving the UK variant in January, which led to a three-day Brisbane lockdown.

Long lines of cars last December at inner-west Sydney COVID-19 testing station [Credit: WSWS Media]

State Health Minister Yvette DAth implored Brisbane residents to get tested for COVID-19 if they experienced symptoms, but said they would need to expect long lines at testing sites.

The latest airline bailoutQantas and Virgin received $715 million from the Morrison government last yearwill do nothing to stop the expected broader elimination of tens of thousands more workers jobs across the tourism industry, as well as throughout the rest of the economy, when JobKeeper ends on March 28.

Far beyond the touted benefit to the 13 tourism destinations hand-picked for the cut-price tickets, the cheap flights are intended to bolster big business demands for an end to all pandemic lockdowns, border closures and other safety measures.

The government, airline chiefs and corporate media proprietors are hoping that people will rush to buy discounted tickets, assisting the profit-driven push to insist that no more measures be taken by state and territory governments that could obstruct the full reopening of the economy.

Morrison told a media conference yesterday: Now, of course, of course, we want to see the domestic borders remain open and  we would expect premiers to want the flow of this benefit into their states.

As the Australian Financial Review political editor Phillip Coorey wrote today, the scheme amounts to a border bribe: The tacit message in the great air ticket cash splash is that state premiers will now close borders at their own peril.

Coorey drew the connection to this weeks business summit hosted by the newspaper, where Morrison backed by others, argued a change of mindset from the states was crucial to the economic recovery Put bluntly, as the vaccines are rolled out and the most vulnerable are protected, the health risk abates.

But the vaccine rollout is fast becoming a disaster. In January, the Morrison government said it would have 4 million vulnerable people vaccinated by early April. So far, however, only around 150,000 people have been vaccinated.

While portrayed as motivated by the need to protect lives, the governments vaccine pledges are the spearhead of a corporate reopening drive. At Thursdays airline bailout announcement, Morrison again claimed that the vaccine rollout would meet the October target, allowing the reopening of the countrys international borders by then. Thats our hope and thats our expectation, he said.

Yesterday, journalists challenged Morrison on his broken pledges. The prime minister had just told a media scrum that the governments October target only referred to the first dose of vaccines. This effectively postponed the deadline by at least 12 weeks, until 2022.

One reporter asked: Yesterday, you said everyone would be vaccinated by October and you said that on television. Today you are now saying that theyre not? Morrison claimed he had been misunderstood because the first doses will be administered by the end of Octoberthats what I meant.

Morrison blamed the delay on a decision by Italy and the European Union to block 250,000 AstraZeneca doses from being exported to Australia. At the same time, he said he had no concerns whatsoever about using the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, after some European and other countries paused their rollouts, amid reports of people developing potentially fatal blood clots after their injections.

Echoing the financial elite, the opposition Labor Party has criticised the delay from the standpoint of private profit. Shadow cabinet minister Jason Clare complained yesterday: Were not going to get the economy revving at full speed again. Were not going to be able to open up international borders, and get tourists in from around the world, until we get everybody vaccinated.

Labors pro-business response continues its essential unityalong with the trade unions, the corporate elite and Morrisons Coalition governmentthroughout the pandemic. This has included backing the cutting of jobs and conditions to help employers restructure their operations at the direct expense of the working class.
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New Delhi, March 13 : Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that Yoga is the soft power and has given India a unique recognition before the international fraternity.

Launching 100 days' countdown to 7th International Day of Yoga (IDY) at Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) here, Rijiju said that Yoga has vast potential of employment opportunity, especially after the declaration of Yogasana as a competitive sport.

Rijiju has been temporarily assigned the charge of the Ministry of AYUSH since Shripad Yesso Naik has been undergoing treatment following an accident.

The Minister has appealed to all the young students present during the function and those who are watching online to practice Yoga and take part in Yogasans spot.

He also added that due to untiring efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the acceptability of Yoga has been enhanced to the extent that it has been accepted as a 'way of life'.

Rijiju also released the first edition of Yoga Vijnana a Bi-annual research journal of MDNIY.

The journal contains very useful scientific research articles and traditional knowledge about Yoga Shastra, being published for the benefit of Yoga professionals.

The Minister also launched Yoga Re-orientation training programme for Yoga Instructors of Leh-Ladakh undertaken by MDNIY. He appreciated the efforts of MDNIY and said that Yoga will go a long way under flagship of MDNIY.

United Nation General Assembly declared 21st June as International Day of Yoga, UNESCO recognized Yoga as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity and Yogasana declared as a competitive sport. These initiatives resulted in exponential growth in Yoga promotion since 2014.

Additional Secretary P.K. Pathak said that Yoga has played an important role in enhancing the immunity of the human body and hence useful in management of Covid-19.

He also said that the ministry of AYUSH in association with the various stakeholders are coming with many activities for the celebration of IDY-2021.
Minister for Women Marise Payne will snub the historic Womens March 4 Justice on Parliament House on Monday, telling organisers she will receive their petition via correspondence rather than in person.

Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek and Greens co-deputy leader Larissa Waters will jointly receive the petition from organisers  who invited Senator Payne to do the same  but the most senior woman in the Morrison government has turned down the invitation.

Marise Payne speaking at the Future Women Leadership Summit on March 9. Credit:Mark Broome/Future Women

The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age has been told that, as of 5pm on Saturday, just one Coalition MP had indicated they would attend the March 4 Justice in Canberra, which is expected to attract thousands of people.

Organisers of the event would not confirm the identity of that MP when approached for comment but The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age has been told it is first-term Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer. Ms Archer did not respond to requests for comment.
Patricia O'Leary, who made history by being the first deputy principal and then principal of De La Salle College, Castleblayney Road, has announced that she is to retire at the end of the school year in August.

The Dublin native joined the teaching staff of the school after graduating from UCD in 1989 when it was still being run by the De La Salle Brothers.

'I've loved every minute of it,' said Patricia, who succeeded the school's first lay principal Martin Brennan in 2011, having served as deputy principal for two years previously. Before that she had taught Irish and geography and she went on to qualify as a learning support teacher.

She has enjoyed her time in the school, saying that she felt welcomed from the word go.

'I have always been supported in the school, by the Brothers when they were here, by the management committee, by the staff and parents.'

While the past year has been an extremely challenging one due to the pandemic, Patricia is pleased that the school has managed to continuing teaching, delivering lessons in class and on-line depending on the restrictions.

'I've got brilliant support from Deputy Principal Nicola Connolly, all the staff and parents. It has been a challenging year but we do everything as a team effort and it works.'
Store 1217 gets itself into some hot water this week, and with only two episodes left in the series, it seems like the employees might be heading into uncharted seas (okay, you get it, its a flood episode. Ill stop now). Read on for my review of Customer Satisfaction:

At the top of the half-hour, the Ozark Highlands staff are shocked (and underwhelmed) to find out that Jeff has, once again, been appointed district manager (this time hes in charge of two districts!).

Jeffs return isnt just to brag about his new job (although that certainly seems like its in Jeffs wheelhouse). No, this visit is because Zephra wants to emphasize the importance of the customer satisfaction surveys found on the bottom of customers receipts. The satisfaction score, he says, is crucial, especially because 1217 is known as a problem store (What gave it away? The dead body they found in the walls? Or perhaps the mysterious use of their store as a dumping ground for severed limbs?).

Fearing for their jobs, Dina, Glenn and Cheyenne go all out pushing the customer satisfaction surveys. Cheyenne is put in charge of monitoring the surveys and making sure the employees are getting good scores. Dina and Glenn, meanwhile, get the idea to create problems for the customers that the employees can go above and beyond pretending to solve.

Mateo has been getting excited because hes planning his proposal to Eric. When Jeff overhears Mateo telling Garrett about his plan, Mateo, embarrassed, swerves, pretending that theyre planning a proposal for Garrett and his girlfriend Doreen instead.

Cheyenne pulls several people with low satisfaction scores off the floor, relegating them to the back of the store to do what essentially turns out to be busywork - moving boxes of Zephra tech from the ground to higher shelves. To his surprise, one of the people she pulls is Jonah, who apparently was accused by customers of talking too much. Offended at being hidden away in the backroom (with the rest of the shadow people, as Sandra calls them), Jonah convinces the backroom team to revolt, walking out and taking a prolonged break behind the store.

The rest of the employees get to work on Dina and Glenns plan, mostly because they dont want Dina and Glenn to get fired - leaving Jeff to take over as manager. By hiding popular items in the back, they can search around and bring out the last one when customers ask for it, hopefully boosting their score.

At first, the ploy works and the scores go up, but after Marcus clogs all the toilets in the mens bathroom (so he can show people to the employee bathroom instead), the toilets begin to overflow and flood the store. Everyone panics as the entire building fills with water - its pee-pee water, were gonna get hep! Cheyenne cries. They try to block the doors with towels (and then, with Glenn), but its too late, and the store has to close due to flooding.

Meanwhile, to keep him from finding out about the flood, Mateo had gone to check in with Jeff, who reveals hes dating someone new named Trevor. Mateo, in jealousy, admits that hes the one getting engaged, not Garrett, and Jeff - also in jealousy - confesses that his relationship with Trevor was made up, embarrassing Mateo and giving Jeff an opportunity to notice the water seeping into the carpet.

To make the situation even worse, because the backroom team walked out, the new Zephra products they were supposed to move onto higher shelves all got damaged by the flood. Dina and Glenn refuse to take accountability for the incident (blaming the clog on a customer), and Jeff leaves irate. Store 1217 is in a lot of trouble, and I wouldnt be surprised if the resolution of this - combined with Carols lawsuit - leads to the closing of the store for good.

This episode was great - the return of Jeff was hilarious, and it was an apt cap to the ongoing saga of mini-natural disasters pummelling Store 1217. Mark McKinney and Nichole Sakura were specifically hilarious in the scenes where Glenn and Cheyenne were trying to block up the flooding.

I also really like the direction this season has taken Jonahs character. It hasnt always been perfect beat-for-beat, but at least for the most part, the writers completely fulfilled my wish and used the break-up with Amy to explore the sharper edges of Jonahs character. This show is extraordinary in that it set itself up to be the typical white savior show - where a well-bred white man comes in and saves the lower class from their downtrodden way of living - and has turned that idea completely on its head. Ill save my full thoughts on this for the finale, but my point is that Jonah is a phenomenally underrated character, writing and acting-wise, and I wish more sitcoms had characters that were both entirely sympathetic and genuinely challenging to like at times, as Jonah was in this episode.

In other news, after weeks of speculation, we found out this week that America Ferrera will, in fact, be returning as Amy for the final two episodes (airing as a 1-hour event on the 25th). What do you think this means for the fate of the store, as well as for the fate of Jonahs new relationship with Hannah?

Were you satisfied with Customer Satisfaction? How do you feel about America Ferreras impending return? Sound off in the comments!
Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan denied the allegations that the military command of the occupation forces proposed to stop the Second Karabakh war after four days of hostilities in Azerbaijan.

The genuine report (of the former head of the Armenian General Staff) Onik Gasparyan on the course of the war does not in any way correspond to what was said about the alleged proposals to stop the war on the fourth day. Not a single thought was expressed that would have ambiguous meaning, for example, that the war should be stopped, he said in an interview with civil.net.

Such proposals did take place about three weeks after the outbreak of hostilities. The talks about the need to stop the war due to the lack of resources were held at the meeting of the Security Council on October 19. It was said that we have 2-3 days, Armen Grigoryan said, adding that, despite requests, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not agree to surrender for another three weeks.
PRAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th March, 2021) A teacher has died at the age of 38 years in Slovakia two weeks after being inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19, the Slovak Television (STV) broadcaster reported.

Only teachers are currently vaccinated in Slovakia with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The 38-year-old woman was reportedly ready for adverse effects but was surprised how intensive they were.

In late February, she told STV about severe headache, fever, and joint pain. Several days later, the woman was hospitalized and died in a medical facility.

According to preliminary data, the teacher died of cerebral edema, thrombophilia, and pulmonary embolism.

Her father believes that the death was caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Slovak authorities have received more than 800 reports about adverse effects after the inoculation with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

A number of European states have already suspended vaccination with the AstraZeneca drug as a precaution after reports on severe side-effects, including blood clots, which were allegedly triggered by the vaccine. The European Medicines Agency said there was currently no indication that the reported negative effects had been caused by the vaccination.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-14 01:40:54|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Italy's economic prospects for the rest of 2021 are holding their ground, according to economic models, even as the country struggles with a new rise in coronavirus infections and vaccine rollout problems.

The estimates in the Interim Economic Outlook from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released this week predicts an array of possible scenarios for Italy's economy this year, with the "central projection" -- the average of the scenarios weighted for likeliness -- landing at 4.1 percent growth for the year as a whole.

That is slightly lower than the 4.3-percent "central projection" from the previous report, released in December, but the new figure is still above the "central projection" estimate for the euro currency zone as a whole, which the OECD expects to see 3.9-percent growth this year.

If that is indeed the case, it will be the first time Italy's growth rate outpaced the combined rate of its European peers since 1995, according to historical data from the World Bank.

The estimates also see Italy's economy outpacing the German economy, which the OECD's "central projection" estimate predicts will grow 3.0 percent this year, though France (5.9 percent growth) and Spain (5.7 percent growth) are expected to rebound to an even greater degree.

Of course, Italy's 2021 economic performance will "benefit" by being graded against a dismal performance last year, during the worst part of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Italy's National Statistics Institute, the Italian economy shrank by 8.9 percent last year, its weakest one-year performance since the 1940s and among the weakest figures in the European Union, according to official statistics.

But analysts said the latest data was still positive.

"The difference between an average projection of 4.3-percent growth in December and 4.1 percent now is negligible because there is so much uncertainty built into these projections," Giandomenico Piluso, a professor of economic history at the University of Turin, said in an interview with Xinhua.

Economist Francesco Daveri agreed.

"The new OECD report takes a relatively optimistic view of Italy's growth prospects in the wake of the economic reforms announced by (newly-installed Italian Prime Minister Mario) Draghi," Daveri, who is director of the business administration program at Milan's Bocconi University, told Xinhua. "The most optimistic scenarios predict Italy recovering all or most of the growth from last year."

Both Piluso and Daveri said the wild card remained the global coronavirus outbreak.

"The end of the pandemic will have an oversized impact on economies that depend heavily on tourism and other services, which means Italy, along with France and Spain," Piluso said. "Italy won't have a clear path to economic growth until we can see the end of the pandemic."

In that context, recent news might not bode well for the economy, at least in the short-term. According to Ministry of Health data, Italy recorded more than 25,000 new coronavirus infections for the second consecutive day Friday, a figure previously not seen since late November. Enditem
Washington  The nomination of Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services is likely to clear the Senate after a pair of key senators, Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Susan Collins of Maine, announced their support.

The Senate has yet to vote to confirm Becerra, the attorney general of California, as secretary of Health and Human Services, after the Senate Finance Committee deadlocked on party lines when it voted on whether to advance his nomination to the floor last week. But on Thursday, the upper chamber voted 51-48 to bypass the panel and allow Becerra's nomination to be considered by the full Senate.

Collins was the only Republican to join Democrats in the vote, which came after she and Manchin announced their support for Becerra's nomination. Their backing effectively ensures his confirmation, though by a narrow margin, with a vote expected in the coming days. Because the Senate is evenly divided 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting tie-breaking votes, losing the support of one Democrat could spell doom for a nominee.

In a statement announcing her support, Collins said she and Becerra have had several discussions about shared policy goals, including lowering drug prices and reducing dependence on foreign countries for drug manufacturing.

"Although there are issues where I strongly disagree with Mr. Becerra, I believe he merits confirmation as HHS Secretary," the Maine Republican said in a statement. "I look forward to working with the Department to achieve bipartisan results on behalf of the American people."

Manchin, meanwhile, said he believes Becerra "will be a leader for every American and West Virginian."

"While Attorney General Xavier Becerra and I have very different records on issues like abortion and the Second Amendment, he has affirmed to me his dedication to working with members on both sides of the aisle to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous needs of our nation in a bipartisan way," the West Virginia Democrat said.

Story continues

It's unclear whether any Republican will join Collins in voting to confirm Becerra, as many have claimed he lacks the experience to lead the department. Outside conservative groups are also working to drum up opposition to his nomination.

NIH director surprised by how much coronavirus is evolving

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Biden marks COVID pandemic anniversary with plan to beat the virus
In context: The Giant Magellan Telescope is set to be the world's most powerful telescope when engineers complete its construction by the end of this decade. It will have 10 times the Hubble Space Telescope's viewing power and four times the strength of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Even though the casting of the sixth massive mirror for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) commenced about a week ago, it will still be another two months before it cools to room temperature. After that, it will take two years to polish and another two years to apply the finishing touches, including the 1,000-atom-thick reflective aluminum layer coating the front surface.

It is an excruciatingly long process carried out by the University of Arizona's Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab. Even though the project started in 2005, only two mirrors have been completed and are waiting in storage. Mirror six and three others are in various stages of the production process. Although the GMT only requires seven mirrors for viewing, the lab will build an eighth as a spare to be swapped into the telescope whenever one of the others needs maintenance.

Part of the reason the production process is so long is that these are the biggest mirrors ever created. Each one is over 27 feet in diameter and more than two-feet thick. Despite their large size, the mirrors have a honeycomb-like structure that makes them 80-percent hollow and much lighter than solid mirrors. That said, each of the monolithic disks requires 20 tons of high-purity, low-expansion, borosilicate glass (called E6 glass). The honeycombing also provides the stiffness the mirrors need to resist flex as the telescope moves and to resist the effects of gravity.

Another factor that contributes to the long fabrication time is the polishing required. Both the front and the back of the mirror need polishing, but the reflective side has to be painstakingly accurate.

"Once cooled, the mirror will be polished for two years before reaching an optical surface precision of less than one-thousandth of the width of a human hair or five times smaller than a single coronavirus particle," said the GMTO Corporation in a press release.

Even though two years seems like a long time to polish a mirror, it would take even longer if engineers had to grind the curvature out of a flat surface. To shave years off construction, the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab built the world's only spinning furnace. The glass is heated to 2,129 F while the mold rotates at five revolutions per minute. Centrifugal force pushes the glass to the edges of the mold and creates the rough parabolic curvature the mirror needs saving a lot of time (below).

The seventh mirror is scheduled to be cast sometime in 2023. In the late 2020s, all the mirrors will be transported to a port city, probably Houston. From there, they will be shipped through the Panama Canal, down the South Pacific Coast to Chile. By that time, the observatory, which is already under construction, will be ready to have the mirrors mounted. Scientists will not have to wait for all seven mirrors to be hooked up to start making observations. The GMT only needs four mirrors in place to function.

In addition to the giant telescope, the observatory will have dormitories, and full facilities once completed so scientists can live on-site. However, astronomers will have remote access to the location as well. The entire project should reach completion around 2030.
The union that represents Winnipeg paramedics has demanded the immediate removal of its members from fire halls saying they're increasingly afraid about an unsafe working environment.

The union that represents Winnipeg paramedics has demanded the immediate removal of its members from fire halls saying they're increasingly afraid about an unsafe working environment.

The demand was made in a letter written by Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union president Michelle Gawronsky to Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman on Friday. A copy was obtained by the Free Press.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky: "Winnipegs fire halls have for some time been a difficult, if not impossible workplace for many paramedics."

"As has been well documented, Winnipegs fire halls have for some time been a difficult, if not impossible workplace for many paramedics. This weeks memo has now made the situation completely unacceptable, unsustainable and unsafe for many paramedics," Gawronsky wrote.

"It is for this reason, and for the future of emergency medical services in Winnipeg, that we are urgently requesting that the city take immediate steps to move paramedics out of fire halls now."

The demand is the latest sign the relationship between the firefighters and paramedics, who work in the amalgamated department, may be beyond repair.

"... we are urgently requesting that the city take immediate steps to move paramedics out of fire halls now."  MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky in a letter to Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service has been embroiled in controversy in recent months after a paramedic accused two of his firefighter colleagues of refusing to help treat and transport a seriously injured Indigenous woman during a call last fall.

A third-party investigation supported several of the paramedics key accusations, and the firefighters were placed on administrative leave. This week, United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg president Alex Forrest announced they would soon return to work.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES UFFW president Alex Forrest: all aspects of justice.

In a memo to his members, Forrest vowed to pursue "all aspects of justice" related to the accusations levelled at his members. The firefighters have not been publicly identified and it remains unclear if they were disciplined.

In her letter to the mayor, Gawronsky said the "intimidating and hostile" work environment Winnipegs paramedics have long been subjected to was exacerbated by Forrests memo.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS An ambulance parked outside of Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Station 5 in Winnipeg on Friday, March 12. Winnipeg Free Press 2021

"In addition to expressing pride in the conduct of personnel involved in the incident of Oct. 7, 2020, the memo contains comments that have understandably been received by paramedics as intimidating and threatening," Gawronsky wrote.

"Following the release of this memo, tensions within fire halls grew immediately. Paramedics have come forward to our union expressing serious concerns about potential reprisals and intimidation from some firefighters."

"Paramedics have come forward to our union expressing serious concerns about potential reprisals and intimidation from some firefighters.  Michelle Gawronsky

Gawronsky said shes aware of three paramedics who resigned recently and others who are applying for other jobs.

The UFFW did not respond to a request for comment.

In a written statement, a spokesman for the mayor pointed to a recent meeting Bowman brokered between Gawronsky, Forrest, WFPS Chief John Lane, among others, to discuss the conflict. Bowman was also present.

The spokesman said Gawronsky promised to work on greater dialogue between herself, other union leaders and top department brass, adding that "the mayor expects (her) to make efforts to follow through on her commitment."

In addition, the spokesman said the most recent workplace complaints raised by the MGEU have been sent to the city's chief executive officer, Mike Ruta, for review. On the question of moving paramedics out of fire halls, the spokesman said thats a matter for the province to address, not the mayor.

"Given that the ambulance service is owned by the Province of Manitoba and contracted to the city, and the fact we are in year five without a contract, your question would be best addressed by the provincial minister of health who has yet to publicly share the provincial government's plans for ambulance services," the spokesman said.

In a written statement, a city spokeswoman said that Ruta is aware of Gawronskys concerns and "looks forward to having a conversation" about them, so they can "find ways to repair the relationship between the two unions."

In her letter, Gawronsky again called on Bowman to personally step in and address the crisis in the WFPS, since she does not have confidence in the department's leadership to make changes.

"As Ive expressed in the past, we need you to step in and use your authority to make sure the culture at the WFPS changes, and to restore public confidences in the leadership at the WFPS," Gawronsky wrote.

"The current chief has shown time and time again that he is either unwilling or incapable of leading this change."

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
The Founder of Galaxy Foundation Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mr Davies Hagan, has presented GH3,000 to help 20-year-old Yakubu Kantab in Obuasi to undergo a tumour surgery.



Yakubu dropped out of school in class three due to stigmatisation after suffering from bone tumour for 11 years.



He became a laughing stock among friends and the community due to his disfigured physique, forcing him to stay away from school.



Help

Touched by the predicament of the young man, Mr Hagans foundation, which seeks to bring hope to the vulnerable with medical conditions in rural areas in the country, came to his aid.



The NGO also seeks to provide free plastic reconstructive and general surgeries to the needy and help correct anomalies and deformities such as cleft lip and palate, past burn contractures, keloids, fused fingers and toes, goitre and other diseases.



Mr Hagan, winner of the 2019 MTN Heroes of Change and winner of the Humanitarian Awards Ghana, 2020, said he would continue to do more for humanity.



Mr Hagan, who also works with AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), said over the years, his salary had become his main source of funding for such projects.



The target is to assist 100 patients suffering from various illnesses.



Appreciation

Mr Hagan expressed appreciation to the government, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Managing Director of AGA, Mr Eric Asubonteng, for bringing the Obuasi mine back to life.



Pre Order Ghana Year Book 2021

He called for deliberate policies to help sustain the mine.





Source: Graphiconline.com









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To the editor:

The first mobile food pantry of the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network of this year was hosted on Saturday, Feb. 13 in the parking lot at Wheeler Road Church of Christ, located at 1123 E. Wheeler Road in Midland. Because of the pandemic guidelines, our mobile food pantry events continue outside as drive-thru, no contact distributions.

The giveaway of 17,556 pounds of free food was provided at no cost from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint. The 29 volunteers served 78 families (204 individuals). After the distribution at the church, 15 boxes of food and other food items were taken to Shelterhouse in Midland for their resident families. The "Farm to Table" boxes of canned and boxed food were supplemented with milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, potatoes, onions, apples, watermelon, frozen chicken, snacks, honey, breads, bakery items, desserts and paper products.

The network is very grateful to the many donors of food, money and time to the Network's mission of "Always food in every home." The next drive-thru MFP is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, in the parking lot of Faith United Methodist Church in Coleman. Midland County residents in (financial) need of food during the year may dial 211 and request the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network for food assistance or may dial the Network directly at 989-486-9393 and press 1 to leave a message.

SALLY ANN SUTTON

Midland County EFPN
Amid exhaustion and regular rocket attacks, the State Department has been dropping "hardship" pay for U.S. diplomats working at the embassy in Baghdad during the weeks when they take time off to deal with the stress, three sources told ABC News.

The leadership of the embassy and the State Department's Middle East bureau is urging the agency to change the policy, but as of now, it has been required to not only halt the extra pay, but also potentially require diplomats who took time away to pay back thousands of dollars, the sources said.

"I feel like we've been back-stabbed," said a U.S. official based in the embassy compound. "We call this a special-incentive post for a reason. And that incentive is being taken from us."

MORE: US says it will 'respond' to Iraq missile attack that injured Americans at 'time and place of our choosing'

A State Department official declined to address specific questions, but told ABC News in a statement, "We are not going to discuss the details of employee salaries, but we can confirm that our employees continue to receive pay and allowances in accordance with Department of State regulations."

It is department policy for diplomats to lose their extra "hazard" pay any time they leave a perilous post, including for rest and recuperation, or "R&R." But because of the risks in Iraq, diplomats there get another financial incentive known as "hardship" pay -- funds that the department is now dropping during time off because the embassy is on ordered departure.

PHOTO: U.S. Army Soldiers maintain overwatch at the U.S. Embassy Compound in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 1, 2020. (British Lt. Col. Adrian Weale/DoD)

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo put the U.S. mission in Iraq on ordered departure in March 2020, requiring all but emergency personnel to leave the country. While the coronavirus began to spread across the region, the smaller group of U.S. staff that remained were stretched thin, working longer days and weeks and -- as of November -- facing a resumption of rocket attacks in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Story continues

"It's intense. Every day, it's, 'Are we being attacked?' or 'When's the next attack?'" said the U.S. official in Baghdad.

In a memo dated the beginning of February, they learned they faced another challenge. Because of the ordered departure, embassy staff would lose their hardship pay when they left the country to take time off -- and the policy would be retroactive, meaning anyone who'd taken time off in the last year may now have to pay money back, according to three sources.

"They shouldn't punish people who took leave expecting that they'll receive those allowances -- to say not only you don't get them, but you actually have to give that money back," said a senior official from diplomats' union, the American Foreign Service Association, or AFSA. "This wasn't some effort on the part of the employees to bilk the system. The department had not clearly messaged that they felt the rules changed."

MORE: Rocket attack on coalition base in Iraq kills contractor, injures US service member

For high-risk posts like Baghdad or Kabul, Afghanistan, U.S. diplomats earn 30% more for "hardship" pay and 35% more for "hazard" pay. It's a policy designed to reward those who take the added risk of serving in such difficult conditions, although if a diplomat leaves the country, even temporarily, they lose that "hazard" pay.

Because of the ordered departure, those in Baghdad are now also losing their "hardship" pay -- a cut of 65% in total, that's worth thousands of dollars over the past year, if not more.

In response, some U.S. officials in Baghdad are choosing not to take "R&R," even under the exhausting circumstances.

"If you need a break ... they're now attaching a financial penalty to taking that trip and thereby making it a disincentive to take that time off, and that's not good for our people," said the senior AFSA official.

PHOTO: Assailants and attackers storm the entry control point at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 1, 2020. (British Lt. Col. Adrian Weale/DoD, FILE)

While the memo was sent to the embassy last month, it's unclear when the decision was made and if it was by the Trump or Biden administration. The senior AFSA official told ABC News that senior officials from the embassy and State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, which oversees the mission in Iraq, have urged the agency to reverse the decision.

While they wait for a response, no diplomat has had to pay back any salary, but those cuts are being implemented for R&R going forward in order to avoid a pay-back scenario. Even if the decision is made to continue paying the hardship pay, it may not be grandfathered -- requiring those who took time off to still return some of their salary.

Especially frustrating for some officials is that they believe that Pompeo made the ordered departure decision not strictly over safety, but out of a "political" calculation -- to pressure the Iraqi government to curtail ties with Iran and rein in Iranian-backed Shiite militias that have threatened U.S. personnel and facilities in the country.

MORE: US carries out airstrike against Iranian-backed militia in Syria

Last summer, staff had difficulty even leaving Iraq to take time off because most countries in the region had restrictions on travelers due to the coronavirus pandemic -- until the State Department worked to make arrangements for folks to travel.

"When youre serving in a place like that, you're on top of each other, you're working far more than eight hours day or five days a week, youre subject to constant rocket attacks. ... People need to be able to get away from all of that for a bit, and it was already hard to get away," said the senior AFSA official.

The U.S. mission in Iraq was prioritized for vaccinations, receiving some of the initial doses that the State Department was given. By now, according to one official, the embassy's staffers are all vaccinated.

'Back-stabbed': US diplomats in Baghdad angry over losing 'hardship pay' during time off originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. Presented by Councilmember Paul Krekorian and seconded by Councilmember Mitch OFarrell, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming the support of the City of Los Angeles towards the people of the Republic of Artsakh. The resolution notes that the City of Los Angeles has a long record of standing in support and friendship with the people of the Republic of Artsakh ( Nagorno-Karabagh).

The resolution refers to an earlier document officially adopted by the Los Angeles City Council in September 2013, according to which the Republic of Artsakh was recognized as a free, independent and sovereign state. It also refers to the resolution adopted in December 2020, where the Los Angeles City Council reaffirmed the Citys commitment to uplifting and supporting the struggle of the Republic of Artsakh and its people for self-determination, and called upon the United States federal government to do likewise, Massis Post reported.

On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijans military forces launched a much more massive unprovoked attack against the Republic of Artsakh, coordinated with and supported by Turkey, utterly shredding the 30-year ceasefire and resuming full scale warfare targeted at destroying and ethnically cleansing the indigenous Armenian population and conquering by force the territory of the independent Republic of Artsakh, stated the resolution.

It also confirms that throughout its unprovoked invasion, Azerbaijan intentionally targeted civilian areas throughout Artsakh with lethal attacks using heavy weaponry including drones, rockets and heavy artillery, leading to widespread and indiscriminate death and destruction and the displacement of much of the population of Artsakh.

The resolution also affirms that throughout the brutal invasion, Azerbaijan terrorized civilians by targeting them with munitions that are widely banned and condemned by the international community, including cluster bombs and white phosphorus.

The resolution further states that major combat operations ended on November 9, 2020, although Azerbaijans forces have continued to engage in violence, aggression and cruelty even after that date.

Therefore, be it resolved that by the adoption of this resolution the City of Los Angeles honors and mourns the thousands of lives lost in this attack, and declares November 9, 2020 a day of remembrance and commemoration of the victims of Azerbaijans aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, states the resolution in its conclusion.

Simultaneously, the Los Angeles City Council adopted another resolution that relates to the city of Shushi. As it is known, on April 24, 2012, the City Council of Los Angeles recognized the city of Shushi, under the governance of the Republic of Artsakh, as a Friendship City of the City of Los Angeles.

In the new resolution it is mentioned that the city of Shushi has been the cultural heart of Artsakh for centuries, and holds extraordinary significance to Armenians throughout the world. As a result of the Azerbaijani launched large-scale military attack on the Republic of Artsakh on September 27 without warning or provocation, thousands of deaths and the destruction of centuries-old historic and cultural assets occurred. Having been abandoned by the international community, and facing an existential threat to Artsakh and the very real potential for another genocide of the Armenian people, Armenia signed a cease-fire statement brokered by Russia that allows Azerbaijan to control much of Artsakh, specifically including the city of Shushi, says the resolution.

Therefore, the City of Los Angeles does hereby temporarily suspend its Friendship City relationship with Shushi for as long as it is illegally controlled by Azerbaijan, and will renew that status when Shushi is again free of Azeri conquest and oppression and restored to democratic governance as part of the Republic of Artsakh.

Lastly, the City Council of Los Angeles extends its warm greetings, support and best wishes for safety and security to Shushis Mayor Artsvik Sargsyan and the entire democratically elected leadership of Shushi, and the City Council further looks forward to the day that Shushi is once again liberated from Azeri occupation.
An Israeli health worker of the Maccabi Healthcare Services administers a dose of Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to a man in Tel Aviv, Israel on Feb. 24, 2021. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine 94 Percent Effective Against Asymptomatic Transmission: Israeli Data

Pfizers vaccine is 94 percent effective in preventing asymptomatic transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19, according to data from Israel.

The vaccine, co-produced with BioNTech, was also at least 97 percent effective in preventing symptomatic disease, severe-critical disease, and death, the companies and the Israel Ministry of Health said.

The figures stem from an analysis of surveillance data collected between Jan. 17 and March 6, when the vaccine was the only one available in the country. Outcomes were measured from two weeks after the second dose. Authorities recommend getting two doses of the vaccine several weeks apart.

Incidence rates in the fully vaccinated population have massively dropped compared to the unvaccinated population, showing a marked decline in hospitalized cases due to COVID-19, Yeheskel Levy, Israels health director, said in a statement.

This clearly demonstrates the power of the COVID-19 vaccine to fight this virus and encourages us to continue even more intensively with our vaccination campaign. We aim to achieve even higher uptake in people of all ages, which gives us hope of regaining normal economic and social function in the not so distant future.

The data is encouraging and confirms the high efficacy demonstrated in our Phase 3 clinical trial, said Luis Jodar, Pfizers senior vice president for vaccines.

The findings which suggest that the vaccine may also provide protection against asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections are particularly meaningful as we look to disrupt the spread of the virus around the globe.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Another name for the CCP virus is SARS-CoV-2.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, center, meet the Israeli citizen who is the 5 millionth person to be vaccinated in Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 8, 2021. (Miriam Alster/Pool via AP)

The time period in which the data were analyzed is when the B.1.1.7 virus variant was the dominant strain in Israel. The findings indicate the vaccine is effective against that variant, BioNTech cofounder Ugur Sahin said.

Officials plan to present the findings to a peer-reviewed journal.

Israel authorized emergency use for the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 6, 2020. The countrys health ministry began a campaign aimed at vaccinating all individuals 16 years of age or older, or 6.4 million people.

As of March 10, around 55 percent of Israels 9 million population had been given at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, according to Health Ministry data cited by Reuters. Approximately 43 percent of the population has received both doses.

The announcement came after Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla canceled a trip to Israel; the cancellation followed a watchdog groups warning that his visit could influence the upcoming election, Israeli news outlets reported. The countrys attorney general also advised against the trip.

Bourla said he received letters from officials recommending he cancel the trip.

My job is not to do politics, he told Channel 12.

A Pfizer spokesperson told The Epoch Times last week in an emailed statement: We remain interested in meeting the scientific leaders and other important stakeholders who were vital to the successful COVID-19 vaccination program in Israel. Any company visit will likely occur once travel conditions improve and COVID-19-related restrictions are eased.
The number of people in Northern Ireland who have received their first Covid vaccination has reached almost 615,000 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

A Trinity College professor has said it would be ridiculous and stupid if there were excess vaccines in North not supplied to the republic in a bid to stamp out Covid-19 on the island of Ireland.

Prof Luke ONeill was speaking after Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster urged more cooperation on cross border vaccine sharing.

The immunologist agreed with Minister Foster, while speaking on RTE Radio earlier.

Go for it, no pride here, take whatever is going. If there are spare vaccines in the North, it is ridiculous if it wouldnt be given in the South. Its just stupid. Id have no hesitation, if anybody offers us a vaccine we should take it.

The UK is killing us; theyve vaccinated 36 people per 100 now and its incredible. The EU is only at 10, Prof ONeill said.

Over 664,000 vaccines have been administered in the North, which has seen infection rates fall to 64 cases per 100,000 people.

Prof ONeill said it was a cock-up from Astrazeneca that led to one of their two European plants in the Netherlands not receiving authorisation to produce the vaccine for Europe. He said the word is that the shelves are lined with vaccines in this plant and once Astrazeneca provides all the requisite documentation to the EU, it should clear the logjam.

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Prof ONeill said Ireland should be in a far better position when people with medical vulnerabilities and older people are protected from the virus. This will have a huge effect on the number of hospitalisations and deaths, Prof ONeill said, meaning case numbers wont be as important a metric as it is now.

We dont report the number of people dying from the flu. Once we get over this phase, case numbers wont need to be reported. They will still be there but they wont be a concern as they wont be translating into hospitalisations and severity. The vaccines break that chain.

The data from Israel continues to amaze; the efficacy in their population. Theres good evidence these vaccines are working gangbusters so the two key milestones are to protect the vulnerable and then protect the elderly. Herd immunity will take months and months so lets not worry about that, lets just get vulnerable people and older groups protected as quickly as we can."

Prof ONeill says he doesnt think the recent uptick in cases is down to the return to school for many children and said all the data is showing that schools are doing really well.

It is just a bit more mingling is whats happening, Prof ONeill said.

The immunologist said what Ireland needs to look out for is if the slight increase in cases were to translate into a rise in cases once again.

We have to hope thats not the case, he said.
A US Air Force B-1B takes off from Bod Air Station in Norway, March 8, 2021. US Air Force

US Air Force bombers deployed to Norway for the first time ever in late February.

This week, those bombers trained with troops on the ground to conduct close air support.

The deployment, and increased Arctic activity in general, comes amid high tensions between NATO and Russia.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers that deployed to Norway in late February have already demonstrated their reach in the air around Europe, and this week they tested their ability to put bombs on target in new surroundings.

On March 8, a bomber conducted Joint Terminal Attack Controller training with US Navy SEALs, US Marines, and Norwegian soldiers near Setermoen in the Norwegian Arctic.

JTACs, as they're known, direct aircraft during close-air-support missions. For this training, US and Norwegian JTACs took position "on top of a mountain and quickly established communications" with the bomber to call in targets, a Marine Corps release said.

The exercise comes as NATO militaries have increased their focus on the European Arctic, conducting more ground, air, and naval operations there.

Joint JTAC training "demonstrates our commitment to building interoperability across military services and NATO allies," Capt. Joe Roberts, a JTAC instructor, said in the release.

'A little bit different'

Norwegian soldiers and US Marines during Joint Terminal Attack Controller training in Setermoen, Norway, March 8, 2021. US Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Patrick King

US bombers deploy to Europe and train with Norwegian aircraft regularly, but the four B-1Bs that arrived in Norway on February 22 are the first US bombers to deploy there.

"There's always something that's just a little bit different" at a new airfield, Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, said during a March 5 briefing.

Changing scenery is particularly important for close air support, as working with JTACs or special-operations forces on the ground "allows that sensor on the ground to connect with the shooter, and in this case the bombers, to be able to practice dropping weapons in different environments," Basham said.

Story continues

"I can tell you, as a B-1 pilot, that not all terrain looks the same; it has a different look on radar," Basham added. "Working with different individuals, there are always the unique challenges of accent or just the ability to make sure that we understand exactly what we're doing."

Marines rotated through Norway for on-the-ground training - including familiarization with the language barrier - from 2017 to late 2020, when the Corps said that training would move to an "episodic" model.

US Marines and Norwegian soldiers during JTAC training in Setermoen, March 8, 2021. US Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Patrick King

The Marines' training focused on preparing for harsh Arctic conditions, which is also a goal of the B-1B deployment and of the JTAC training.

"Operating from Norway gives a very unique opportunity to operate in a cold-weather environment," Basham said.

During the JTAC exercise, the B-1B landed at Bodo Air Force Station in the Norwegian Arctic for "warm-pit refueling," in which the crew stays in the cockpit during refueling, allowing the bomber to get back in the air faster.

Operations like warm-pit refueling are central to the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept, which is meant to prepare aircraft and crews for more dispersed operations.

The bomber "does just fine in the cold weather," Basham said. "It's our great aviators and maintainers and support personnel who might not be as familiar with the rigors of the cold. Our Norwegian partners are helping us along in that."

The bomber circled the airfield for 45 minutes as "dense snow" was cleared so it could land, and for ground troops, Norway's Arctic "also poses many obstacles," including frostbite and mountainous terrain, "which can cause electronic communications issues," the Corps release said.

Sending a message

A B-1B bomber lands at Bod Air Station for the first time, March 8, 2021. Norwegian Armed Forces

US and NATO activity in the Arctic comes amid heightened tensions with Russia, which has the world's longest Arctic coastline and extensive economic interests there. Moscow has also increased its military activity in the Arctic.

The Norway deployment reflects several shifts in US strategy, including increased support for NATO in response to Russia's 2014 incursion in Ukraine, which has led to "a gradual increase of bombers deploying to the UK at higher tempo and flying farther east and north," Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, told Insider.

Another shift is in Air Force bomber operations overseas, moving away from longer deployments in one place and toward shorter, more frequent deployments at more bases, which in Europe "has resulted in bomber operations to Iceland and now Norway, locations where the US did not deploy bombers even during the Cold War," Kristensen said.

Russia has major military installations in the Arctic, where aerial attack has long been a major concern.

A B-1B bomber is refueled at Bod Air Station, March 8, 2021. Norwegian Armed Forces

Moscow has already demonstrated its dismay about the B-1B deployment. On Friday, its Northern Fleet said carrier-based MiG-29K fighter jets had for the first time gone on "experimental combat duty" on the nearby Novaya Zemlya archipelago.

The Russians "seem to get the message" behind the increased US bomber deployments, Kristensen told Insider, "but there is so far no indication that it is causing them to back down."

"It's a lot more controversial in Norway, where officials have been busy explaining that the operations should not be seen as an increased threat to Russia," Kristensen added.

Lt. Gen. Yngve Odlo, chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, stressed that point during the March 5 briefing.

"The communication is quite clear that this is what it is and it's not an offensive operation at all," Odlo said. "It's normal military activity between two close allies. The only special thing is the new asset being deployed to Norway."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.N. Human Rights Council is shown in session in Geneva in a June 30, 2020 photo.

The United States on Friday slammed Chinas harsh treatment of ethnic Uyghurs and other religious minority groups in an address before the U.N. Human Rights Council, describing Beijings policies in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) as genocide.

We condemn Chinas abuse of members of ethnic and religious minority groups including crimes against humanity and genocide in Xinjiang and severe restrictions in Tibet, U.S. charge daffaires Mark Cassayre told the Geneva-based U.N. rights body.

Cassayres comments followed a call on Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for China to allow international monitors to probe reports of abuses in the XUAR, where authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps since early 2017.

Reports suggest the camps in Xinjiang are used as punishment for signs of extremism that authorities say include practicing basic forms of Islam, adhering to cultural traditions, and violating strict family-planning policies.

Speaking to RFAs Uyghur Service, Dolkun Isapresident of the Germany-based World Uyghur Congresswelcomed reports that Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet on March 18 with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Anchorage, where the issue of Chinas polices in Xinjiang is likely to be on the agenda.

The Biden Administrations strong position on holding China accountable for committing both genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other indigenous people of East Turkestan give us great hope and assurance, Isa said, referring to Xinjiang by the name preferred by many Uyghurs for their historic homeland.

We hope that Secretary Blinken and Advisor Sullivan will make the following demands from Chinese officials, Isa said.

First, China must immediately and unconditionally halt the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in East Turkestan, Isa said, adding that China must close the internment camps and free all detainees, including what he called slave laborers sent from Xinjiang to work in Mainland China.

Blinken should also insist the U.N., U.S., and European Union be allowed unfettered access to the XUAR to investigate the abuses that have already taken place, Isa said.

Finally, China must pay reparations for all the pain and suffering it has inflicted on the Uyghurs and other indigenous peoples for committing genocide against them, Isa said.

'Vocational training'

Chinese officials have called the internment camps in Xinjiang centers for vocational training, but reporting by RFAs Uyghur Service and other media outlets shows that detainees are mostly held against their will in cramped and unsanitary conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination.

Under increasing international scrutiny, authorities in the region have begun to send detainees to work at factories as part of an effort to label the camps vocational centers, although those held in the facilities regularly toil under forced or coerced labor conditions.

Speaking in Geneva, British ambassador Julian Braithwaite said the U.K. remains deeply concerned by the extensive and systematic human rights violations in Xinjiang, including credible reports of forced labour and forced birth control.

Cuba, speaking in Geneva in support of China, meanwhile called on states to stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs by manipulating Xinjiang-related issues, [and] refrain from making unfounded allegations against China out of political motivations."

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken has asserted the intention of the newly minted Biden administration to rejoin the UNHRC after his predecessor, Donald Trump, withdrew from the body in 2018, in part for what it has said are membership rules that allow the election of the worlds worst human rights abusers to seats on the Council.

The European Union will target China with sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freezes targeting four people and one entity in Xinjiang, for its treatment of the Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday from Brussels.

Reported and translated by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
AUSTIN  Harris County made a big push to expand mail-in and early voting during the 2020 election, offering options never before seen in Texas such as 24-hour polling places and drive-thru voting.

Republicans in the Legislature are now moving to make sure it never happens again, targeting the county with sweeping voting restrictions they hope to enact ahead of the 2022 midterm elections that they say are necessary to prevent voter fraud.

A priority Senate bill filed this week would prohibit local election officials from sending out mail ballot applications to voters who have not requested them, another step Harris County pioneered during the 2020 election. The bill would also ban certain early voting opportunities, including drive-thru voting and early voting before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

The goal of Senate Bill 7 is to make sure that the election process is fair and, equally important, to make sure that Texans know its fair, said bill author Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola. As people lose faith in the process, as people dont think their vote is going to be counted accurately or doubt whether the process is secure, theyre going to be discouraged, theyre going to be less likely to vote.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the voting methods targeted by Senate Republicans in the bill resulted in higher turnout among voters of both parties in the county, adding that it saddens her to see any proposals to limit voting and make access to the ballot box a partisan issue.

The proposed voting restrictions in SB7 are political theater that sadly harms voters of both parties, Hidalgo said. Policies grounded in the Big Lie  the falsehood that mass voter fraud exists  are wrong and only harm our democracy.

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Former County Clerk Chris Hollins, who enacted all the get-out-the-vote measures in 2020, said the bill was certainly targeted at Harris County in particular. He noted that over 100,000 voters used drive-thru voting last year and 10,000 took advantage of extended polling hours, and not all were Democrats.

Republicans are trying to make sure that those people do not cast votes in the future, Hollins said. While election administrators come up with innovative ways to better serve voters  Republicans are doing everything that they can to disenfranchise voters.

Texas already has some of the strictest voting laws in the country. An October study placed Texas last among the states, according to a cost-of-voting index created by political scientists at Northern Illinois University, Jacksonville University and Wuhan University in China.

MORE ON THAT: Texas ranks worst in national cost-of-voting study

But Republicans say there is more to be done to prevent voter fraud.

A series of firsts

Harris County was the first in Texas history to launch drive-thru voting last November, which allowed voters to make their selections on electronic tablets through their car windows and would be outlawed under SB7. Officials at the time said the new voting method was a safer, socially distant alternative to walk-in voting for all voters.

The Texas Supreme Court and a federal appellate court both rejected an effort by Republicans to invalidate 127,000 drive-thru ballots last year. The appellate court case is still pending.

In the suit, Republicans had argued the method was an unlawful expansion of curbside voting, an option available to voters with disabilities. Hughes also equated drive-thru voting with curbside voting.

You dont have those same protections in place that we have inside the polling place, Hughes said. Poll watchers are one prominent one.  Its much easier to do inside the polling place.

The county has disagreed with that definition and has described it as a different form of a regular polling place that still follows all election laws, including the poll watcher requirement.

Harris County also moved last year for the first time to open eight polling locations for overnight voting, ultimately allowing for 36 continuous hours of voting.

Hughes bill would restrict early voting hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Doing so would standardize the hours across the state, so people know what to expect, he said.

Voting during the day is what people have historically done; its what people are comfortable with, Hughes said. Its much easier to get poll workers there when youre voting during the day.

Another provision of the bill would prevent counties from mass-mailing vote-by-mail applications to voters who do not request them. Several standalone bills have already been filed on the same subject.

Hughes said he included that because he is concerned about mail-in ballot fraud, pointing to a couple cases that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has prosecuted in recent years.

Studies have repeatedly shown that voter fraud is rare and that voting by mail does not increase the risk of it occurring. Asked about the lower number of voter fraud prosecutions in Texas and the country, Hughes said any amount of fraud is concerning.

Citing the need to make it easier to vote safely during the pandemic, Hollins mailed ballot application forms to registered voters age 65 and up. He was preparing to mail them to all registered voters when Paxton sued.

Paxton won the case in October at the Texas Supreme Court, the states highest civil court whose nine justices are all Republicans. This bill would clarify that ruling in state law.

Grant money for voting expansion targeted

The bill would also require the secretary of state to approve any donation over $1,000 received by a county commissioners court before the local government could accept it.

Harris County was among more than 2,500 jurisdictions to receive grant money from the nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life, which gained national attention after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, gave the group $350 million. The county received $9.6 million, county records show.

Thats about integrity, and thats also about appearances. We want the public to be confident that no one is buying the election  left, right, whatever agenda they have, Hughes said. This process is not for sale.

SB7 is similar to a bill that Hughes also sponsored that passed in the Senate during the last legislative session in 2019 but never made it to the House floor after a provision to require voting machines with paper trails, which had garnered bipartisan support, was eliminated.

Harris County is the largest county in the United States without an auditable paper trail, but that will soon change after the county in late January approved the purchase of such equipment for $54 million.

The paper-trail requirement is back in this years bill, which has been referred to the State Affairs Committee that Hughes chairs.

Zach Despart contributed to this report.

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After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress wanted to know how the attacks could happen and what should be done to prevent a repeat. To get the answers, lawmakers formed an independent, bipartisan commission and then-President George W. Bush named former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean to lead it.

Similar questions are being asked abut the Jan. 6 insurrection by supporters of President Donald Trump, and once again Congress is considering forming an independent panel to answer them.

In fact, thats exactly what Kean and the 9/11 commission vice chair, Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., recommended last month. And on Thursday, the two men said the best way for a Jan. 6 investigation to succeed is to make sure its findings are generally accepted by the public and if Congress enacts legislation in accordance with its recommendations.

There will continue to be unanswered questions, Kean said during a program sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center. We need to know how the Capitol was breached. It was such a shock. How did it happen? Why did it happen? Why wasnt the Capitol defended properly? Who were these groups?

We dont know the answers to those questions, he said.

Any effort to get those answers will end in failure unless party loyalties are set aside, something Kean and Hamilton said the learned during their investigation

For example, they disagreed with a proposal from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to have the president and the congressional leaders all appoint members, thus giving the Democrats a majority.

If youre not going to do it in a bipartisan manner, if youre not going to put people on the commission who will put country over party, then dont do it, Kean said. If youre going to do it, do it right.

That bipartisanship has to extend down to the staff level as well, he said.

If people had been active in either party recently, they werent qualified to serve on staff. Kean said.

Theres already a dispute on what facts a commission should try to uncover regarding the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters after a rally in which the then-president complained of a stolen election and urged them to fight.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has suggested focusing the panel on either security shortcomings on Jan. 6 or a broader look at violence, including the eruptions during last years demonstrations protesting the killings of unarmed Blacks by police officers.

McConnell expressed no interest in a detailed look at all aspects of the Capitol insurrection beyond the security issues, such as whether Trump and some Republicans lawmakers helped encourage the violence. Trump later was impeached for inciting the riot.

The pro-Trump rioters forced Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress into hiding, interrupting their efforts to certify the electoral votes that would make Joe Biden the next president.

After the insurrectionists were cleared from the Capitol, Congress resumed the certification, during which time a majority of House Republicans, including 2nd Dist. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, voted to reject some state-certified votes for Biden.

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The mandate is important, Kean said. He said that during the 9/11 commission, he would repeatedly refer to the scope of the work as approved by Congress in determining how to proceed.

Youve got to follow the investigative leads where ever they take you, Kean said. Congress has to work on making that mandate absolutely clear.

And they said subpoena power was a must, if nothing else to give an incentive to reluctant witnesses to come forward voluntarily.

Hopefully, you dont have to use it but you have to have it, Kean said.

Hamilton said he expected Congress to eventually agree to create a commission to fully investigate what happened on Jan. 6.

I have confidence in the process and have confidence in the people running the process that they will over time make the right decision and do the right thing, he said.

Kean, the son of a House member and grandson of a U.S. senator, and Hamilton, who served in the House for 34 years, said the commission also should look at how Congress works and recommend changes in its operations.

Congress is an institution today that isnt working very well, Hamilton said. Its not going to be that easy to get it back in order. Congress has to put an enormous effort and energy into making sure the Congress works as an institution.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant.

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Over 39,000 beneficiaries, including 20,275 senior citizens, received COVID-19 vaccine shots in the national capital on Saturday, according to official data.

In the age bracket, 45-59 years, 3,685 beneficiaries received the jabs, a senior official said. On Wednesday 30,940 people had received shots. The number had fallen to 29,441 on Thursday. On Friday, the count rose again to 30,575, as per the official data shared by the health department. On Saturday, 39,853 beneficiaries were given shots, officials said.

One case of minor AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) was recorded, officials said. Under the nationwide mega vaccination drive launched mid-January, a total of 4,319 (53 per cent) health workers, against a target of 8,117, were administered the shots at 81 centres across the city on day one.

In the first phase, starting January 16, over 3.6 lakh beneficiaries comprising healthcare workers and frontline workers, have been vaccinated in Delhi. Over 5,100 senior citizens in Delhi had received their first shots of the vaccine on March 1 when the second phase of the vaccination drive began in the national capital.

According to official estimates, there are around 43 lakh people in the specified priority category of 60 years or above and those within 45-59 years with comorbidities in Delhi.

People within the age group of 45-59 years with comorbidities are required to produce a comorbidity certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner.

A total of 20 comorbidities have been specified for the vaccination, the officials said.

People eligible for vaccination also have to carry their photo identity cards, including an Aadhaar card, PAN card or voter card. On Saturday, second doses were given to 10,470 people, officials said, adding, 3,117 frontline workers and 2,306 healthcare workers got their first shots.

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Reflecting on the past year as a significant learning experience, Mayor Rick Chrest said the City of Brandon is in certain ways better off for it.

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Reflecting on the past year as a significant learning experience, Mayor Rick Chrest said the City of Brandon is in certain ways better off for it.

Although 20/20 reflective vision points to certain things they might have done differently, he said it only speaks to their added level of preparedness moving into year two of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A lot of organizations and businesses and individuals are going to be better at a lot of things now that theyve had to be that resilient to get through this," he said by phone on Friday, at the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 hitting Manitoba.

"Thats the hallmark  the bright light in this whole thing is that human beings dont just roll over."

The pandemics impacts hit Brandon fast and hard one year ago yesterday, when the municipality activated its emergency preparedness centre.

"Its not stood down for 365 days straight, which is unprecedented," said Chrest, adding that at one point the COVID-19 emergency even overlapped with a summer flood emergency.

With the majority of municipal services considered essential, there was no sitting out the pandemic, and the City of Brandon had to join the rest of the world in learning about the COVID-19 pandemic on the fly.

Now-retired director of risk and emergency management Brian Kayes led the citys pandemic response during its early days, heralding the motto, "Get big, fast."

"Its a lot easier to back down from some measures if you dont need them than it is to try and ramp up in the middle of an emergency," explained Chrest. "Then, youre fighting  chasing it."

Among the strongest measures the City of Brandon undertook during the pandemics earliest days was sequestering water treatment plant staff in the facility from March 26 to May 28.

The municipality hasnt resorted to the measure since that time, even as COVID-19 numbers peaked in Brandon and resulted in the province imposing level orange restrictions throughout Prairie Mountain Health in late August.

With sequestration coming at an added cost of almost $225,000, Chrest maintains it was at the right decision at the time, but not one he would necessarily repeat if he had a time machine.

"Maybe if we knew everything then that we know now, we might have approached it differently, but in the immediacy of it, it seemed like the most prudent thing to do," he said, adding that at the time there was concern about continuity of the citys drinking water supply due to the specialized nature of work at the plant necessitating a crew trained in that particular setup of equipment.

"At the beginning, there wasnt a lot of knowledge, so we get big fast out of an abundance of caution."

Much of what the municipality has done in reaction to the pandemic has followed the advice of Manitoba chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin and whatever regulations the province has handed down.

Although the province sets minimum requirements, said Chrest, "generally speaking," there hasnt been an appetite for the City of Brandon to exceed these minimums with their own rules.

Last summer, when numbers spiked in Brandon due in part to a cluster of COVID-19 cases among staff at Maple Leaf Foods, Chrest said some people were pushing the municipality to take it upon itself to shut down the plant.

Meanwhile, he said, health officials were "all over Maple Leaf  inspecting everything backward and forwards" and determined COVID-19 transmission was not occurring at the plant itself.

"My attitude was, as soon as we start veering off of the science or what the public health people or the trained professional regulatory people are advising, then it kind of opens it up for me to vary from any one of the measures," he said, adding, "Were not health experts."

It has been interesting to see whats taken place in Texas, said Chrest, where state officials have opened up everything and done away with mask requirements.

Although he disagrees with this directive, arguing the mask requirement is what would allow businesses to be able to reopen safely, Chrest stopped short of saying hed support harsher restrictions on a municipal level if the province were to have done what Texas did.

"Id sure have to hear the reasons and whats the science, whats the medical rationale  and itd be tough for me to start trading expertise with Dr. Roussin."

Looking forward, Chrest said the past year has put the City of Brandon in the position of being more prepared than ever to take on future emergent situations.

"We were good, and now were better," he said. "I think a lot of organizations and people are, too."

Following restrictions and advice from the province, he said the city would continue what he anticipates will be a continued "safe and methodical" reopening of city facilities.

"When were allowed by public health and following all their rules  were opening things as quickly and safely as we can," he said. "I could see us do some marketing to rally the community around things. The good thing is, I think theres going to be a pent-up desire to do stuff."

On Friday, the City of Brandon announced the latest round of reopenings by re-establishing public access to both the A.R. McDiarmid Civic Complex and Fire Hall No. 1.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter; @TylerClarkeMB
Demonstrators display a banner reading "withdraw brainwashing education" during a protest against the government's efforts to implement national education in Hong Kong on July 29, 2012. (Dale de la Rey/AFP/GettyImages)

China Moves to Ban After-School Programs in Effort to Monopolize Communist Brainwashing: Expert

The after-school education market in China was shaken after Chinese Communist Party (CCP) head Xi Jinping, criticized profit-making after-school programs in mainland China during the Two Sessions.

The Two Sessions are annual plenary sessions of Chinas National Peoples Congress and the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which make national-level political decisions.

A high-quality and balanced basic public education service system is needed, Xi said at the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC in Beijing on March 6, 2021, according to Xinhua News.

On March 8, Ni Minjing, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, joined a discussion on a complete ban on after-school training institutions, during a live program of the Two Sessions.

Soon after, official documents circulated online, issued by Beijing authorities of Chaoyang district, Changping district, and Haidian district, indicating scrutiny and reopening suspension, targeting after-school institutes teaching foreign languages, primary school subjects, and university entrance examination courses.

It was not only limited to Beijing.

Ms. Zhang, who runs a private school in Shanghai, told RFA that almost all after-school institutes in Beijing, Shanghai, and even across the country had recently been called off.

This has not happened before, she said.

By the closure of NYSE equity markets at 4 p.m. EST on March 10, stocks of after-school training institutions such as TAL Education Group, GSX Techedu, and New Oriental Education & Techno were down 11.64 percent, 8.59 percent, and 14.08 percent, respectively.

The Beijing Municipal Education Commission denied the complete ban on after-school institutes on March 12 through a public post on its WeChat platform, ascribing the shutdown to bad pandemic control, false advertising, and low-quality teaching.

After-School Programs Pose Weakness to Communist Brainwashing

A China expert suggests the CCPs move is paving the way for the complete brainwashing of students with communist ideology.

China expert Xue Chi told The Epoch Times that although theres a lot of turnover in Chinas after-school education industry, such a sweeping shutdown was rare and may indicate some hidden political motive. He said he suspects what he calls complete brainwashing.

The CCP regards ideology and education as a strategic ideological battleground.  After-school training has something special: students desire for knowledge and to uphold a sense of justice. The CCP is particularly wary of these things, Xue said.

He mentioned the term seven speak-nots in the CCPs education system. No one is allowed to talk about universal values, freedom of the press, civil society, citizen rights, past mistakes of the Communist Party, the privileged capitalist class, and judiciary independence.

In 2019, the CCPs Ministry of Education moved to suspend advanced placement tests in four subjects in mainland China by 2020, including U.S. history, world history, European history, and human geography. These courses were designed to help secondary school students ease the academic workload and better adapt to U.S. universities.

In 2018, the Ministry of Education requested local departments to scrutinize textbooks of primary and secondary schools and to ban school-based curricula textbooks (curricula determined by the school itself), and overseas textbooks.

Xue said the fundamental motive has its roots in vigilance over and the rejection of Western values, especially those of the United States. He described those unmonitored after-school operators as undermining the CCPs ideological firewall.
[March 12, 2021] MSCI Prices $500 Million 3.625% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2030

MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, announced today that it priced its private offering of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% senior unsecured notes due 2030 (the "notes") at an issue price of 100.750% (the "Offering"). Interest on the notes will be 3.625%, and will be payable in cash semi-annually, beginning on September 1, 2021. Interest on the notes will begin accruing from March 1, 2021. The notes constitute a further issuance of, are fully fungible with, rank equally with and form a single series with the $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 3.625% senior notes due 2030 issued on March 4, 2020. The Offering is expected to settle on March 26, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. MSCI intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering, together with available cash on hand, to redeem all $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.750% senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes") and to pay related redemption costs. The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of MSCI and will be guaranteed by MSCI and certain of its domestic subsidiaries. This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to the 2026 Notes. The notes were offered only to (i) persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and (ii) certain non-U.S. persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and therefore may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registratin or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes, nor does it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.



About MSCI Inc. MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or to future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond MSCI's control and that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Other factors that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements can be found in MSCI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") on February 12, 2021 and in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed or furnished with the SEC. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if MSCI's underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what MSCI projected. Any forward-looking statement in this press release reflects MSCI's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to MSCI's operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. MSCI assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210312005556/en/

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At the time of writing just 3 per cent of the population have been fully vaccinated. Last week the HSE vaccinated approximately 81,843 people, falling well short of its 100,000 target.

Not surprisingly, tensions are running high, GPs are calling for more clarity, politicians are putting out fires and, at the centre of it all, some of the county's most vulnerable people are left waiting, wondering when their time will come.

Yvonne Lacey is one such person. A wheelchair user, she suffers from arrhythmia, diabetes and high blood pressure, a range of conditions which would place her in serious jeopardy were she to contract Covid-19.

From her home in Gorey, Yvonne explains how she became wheelchair-bound.

'I went to bed on an Easter Sunday ten years and when I woke up on the Easter Monday I was unable to move,' she says. 'There isn't a term for what I have but I got an infection and it travelled down to my spine and now I can't walk.

'I was morbidly obese at the time, I weighed 255 kilos, but I have since had gastric surgery and I'm now down to 130 kilos.'

Prior to the pandemic and the instruction that she should cocoon, Yvonne lived a full life, regularly travelling to Arklow, to Dublin, to meet family and friends.

She was also a regular at the Ballycanew branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), attending its centre every Friday.

'We used to call ourselves the Freaky Friday Club, we were kind of a goofy group, there was no telling what we might do at any given time,' Yvonne says.

'We did lots of arts and crafts and things like that. Since the pandemic I've only met one of those people in person, although we do things on Zoom almost every day.'

When it became clear that we were set for an extended period indoors, Yvonne, who lives alone, admits she had grave concerns about the consequences.

'I had severe depression years ago and my biggest fear when the pandemic struck was what being indoors all day would do to my mental health,' she says.

Yet the friends she made in the IWA had stayed with her, checking in on a regular basis, ensuring no-one is left alone during these difficult times.

'What I found surprising was that a lot of people contacted me to find out how I was getting on, before that I felt if I wasn't the one to reach out I wouldn't hear from anyone,' she says.

'But the friends I've made in the IWA have stayed with me throughout this.'

In addition, Yvonne receives a visits from a member of the IWA staff once a week and the Home Health Agency twice a week. The rest of the time she has what she describes as her 'godsend': the local Dunnes Stores across the road.

'In terms of getting out and about, I have a godsend, the local Dunnes is just across the road and I go in there every day,' she says. 'Thanks to Tom and Fergus and all the staff in Dunnes, I'm doing okay.

'They see me coming in every day and I chat with them, if I didn't appear for 2-3 days they'd come and knock to make sure I was alright.'

Having not seen any of her family members since last September, Yvonne says the first thing she'll do when restrictions ease and she's received her vaccine is get on the train to Dublin to see her cousins.

In the meantime, she has this message for Taoiseach, Micheal Martin.

'You need to take into consideration the people who are disabled that aren't being heard. I call my doctor's office and they'll tell me "we'll let you know", but I don't want to be told that, give me an answer, don't get to me later, get to me now.

'You might not consider people living independently as a group, but we still have a voice and we want to be heard.'

Meanwhile, Caroline Lacey from IWA Wexford has called upon the Government to recognise people in Yvonne's position as a vulnerable group.

'Many people with physical disabilities are at severe risk of Covid-19 due to health conditions that could cause complications and hospitalisation, yet they have not been recognised as a vulnerable group by the Government,' Ms Lacey said.

'People we support are eager to get the vaccine and are highly concerned about how long they will wait with vaccine supplies lower than planned.'

Compounding the issue is the fact that some of the IWA's staff, its frontline workers, have received their vaccines while the people they visit have not.

'Some of our frontline workers have received the vaccine, those working with service users are going into homes so they would have to have it,' says Evelyn Corcoran, Services Manager for Wexford IWA.

'You would have situations where the worker would have the vaccine but the service user wouldn't. In that situation you'd have hoped both would have received the vaccine.

'If frontline workers are going to be vaccinated then I think people with disabilities who they support should be also vaccinated.'

Although the IWA is determined to ensure none of its service users are left feeling alone, Evelyn says the strain has begun to show for some.

'Generally we would see them in person once a week and we run a number of Zoom programmes. But in saying that a lot of our service users might not have access to the technology or proper broadband.

'We can usually tell from a phone call how they're feeling, whether they're feeling up or down on a specific day - a lot of time its the latter.

'They miss coming here and accessing the services in person, the friendships and relationships they've developed over the years, the sense of camaraderie and being part of a community.'

Rosemary Keogh, CEO of Irish Wheelchair Association, notes the discrepancy between those living in residential settings and those living independently.

'As the Government prepares to agree revisions to the vaccination list this week, we are urging them to hear the concerns of people with disabilities, who have been confined to their homes in fear of contracting Covid since this devastating pandemic began,' she said.

'Currently, people over 65 in residential settings with disabilities have been rightly getting vaccinated. Yet those living independently in the community and being supported by homecare workers are not.

'While we welcome the Government's commitment to vaccinating frontline workers in the disability sector who are doing all they can to keep people safe, both sides of the equation need vaccinations to ensure everyone is protected. The Government must prioritise people with disabilities for vaccines, as they are among the most vulnerable to Covid in Ireland.'
MEXICO CITY, March 12 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday his administration will seek to make it easier to create new companies, after the outgoing head of the banks' association complained of excessive bureaucracy.

Lopez Obrador said changes would also be made to facilitate compliance with tax obligations, one of his government's priorities, which has led to clashes with large corporations.

"I promise that we are going to carry out a deep, radical reform, of simplification to benefit companies, especially small- and medium-sized ones," Lopez Obrador said during the closing ceremony of Mexico's annual banking convention.

The outgoing head of the Mexican Association of Banks, Luis Nino de Rivera, said in a speech it takes between 66 and 90 days to create a company in Mexico, and called the lengthy procedures prohibitive.

Mexico last year came 60th out of 190 countries in a World Bank ranking on the ease of doing business, behind such countries as Thailand, China, Turkey, Rwanda and Morocco. (Reporting by Abraham Gonzalez; Writing by Anthony Esposito Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A plan by St. Josephs Residential Services to relocate a 16-bed community residence to the location of the former Virginia Funeral Home at 1707 Hylan Blvd. will be discussed Tuesday, March 16, at a full board meeting of Community Board 2.

Also during the 7 p.m. virtual meeting, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce recovery specialists will discuss their Small Business Resource Network initiative and how the free service can help local small businesses during these challenging times.

Land use items on the agenda include an appeal of the borough commissioners decision to deny the proposed construction of a building at 3869 Victory Blvd. that does not front on a mapped city street.

Another application seeks authorizations for the development of private roads and driveways at 380 Ocean Terr. to facilitate redevelopment of a single-family residence with built-in garage, a detached garage and accessory swimming pool and cabana within the Special Natural Area District.

The public must fill out the webinar registration form on CB2si.com no later than 10 a.m. on March 15 to receive the link to join meeting.

Community Board 1

There will be a virtual meeting of the Mariners Harbor/Port Richmond area committee at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16. Contact the board at 718-981-6900 for more information.

Community Board 3

Community Board 3 has no meetings scheduled next week.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

All Community Board meetings and meetings of their committees are open to the public. They provide an excellent opportunity for residents to learn about happenings in their neighborhoods and surrounding areas.

Below is more information about the Islands three Community Boards:

COMMUNITY BOARD 1

Arlington  Castleton Corners  Clifton  Concord  Elm Park  Fort Wadsworth  Graniteville  Grymes Hill  Livingston  Mariners Harbor  New Brighton  Port Richmond  Randall Manor  Rosebank  St. George  Shore Acres  Silver Lake  Stapleton  Sunnyside  Tompkinsville  West Brighton  Westerleigh

The district manager is Joseph Carroll. The board chairman is Nicholas Siclari. The telephone number is 718-981-6900.

COMMUNITY BOARD 2

Arrochar  Bloomfield  Bulls Head  Chelsea  Dongan Hills  Egbertville  Emerson Hill  Grant City  Grasmere  High Rock  Lighthouse Hill  Midland Beach  New Dorp  New Springville  Oakwood  Ocean Breeze  Old Town  Richmond  South Beach  Todt Hill  Travis

The phone number is 718-568-3581. The fax number is 718-568-3595. The chairman is Robert J. Collegio, P.E. The district manager is Debra A. Derrico.

COMMUNITY BOARD 3

Annadale  Arden Heights  Bay Terrace  Charleston  Eltingville  Great Kills  Greenridge  Huguenot  New Dorp  Oakwood  Pleasant Plains  Princes Bay  Richmond Valley  Richmond  Rossville  Tottenville  Woodrow

The office phone number is 718-356-7900. The board chairman is Frank Morano. The district manager is Charlene Wagner.
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Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Sid Roberts is a radiation oncologist at the Temple Cancer Center in Lufkin. He can be reached at sroberts@memorialhealth.org. Previous columns may be found at angelinaradiation.com/blog.
ANN ARBOR, MI  An Ann Arbor doctor has earned high honors from the leading professional organization in his field.

Dr. Thomas ONeil, Arbor Hospice and NorthStar Palliative Care medical director, has been awarded the designation of Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, according to a news release.

The academy is the professional organization for physicians who care for patients with a serious illness.

Adding Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine after my name enables me to further support Arbor Hospices hospice and palliative programs, and enhance patient care through research, advocacy and service, ONeil said.

ONeil received his medical degree from Wayne State University and trained in family medicine at the University of Michigan. After his residency, he completed a Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the University of Michigan and joined the UM faculty. He joined Arbor Hospice full time in December 2018, officials said.

ONeil and his hospice and palliative care colleagues celebrated new honors virtually at the Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care ceremony Feb. 17-19.

The Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine status is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a physician member, according to the news release.

Founded in 1988, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine supports hospice and palliative medicine through professional education, training, research and advocacy.

READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

Ann Arbor identifying areas for downtown-style development outside of downtown

Construction on $920M Michigan Medicine hospital to resume in coming months

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DECAN, Kosovo  Inside the walls of Father Sava Janjics 14th-century monastery reign silence and calm, interrupted by the occasional soft footfall of the few monks remaining in this revered outpost of the Serbian Orthodox Church in a hostile western Kosovo.

But outside the Visoki Decani Monastery, which is still protected by NATO troops more than two decades after war in the Balkans ended, is the persistent clamor of what Father Sava calls a rabid nationalism directed at him from all sides.

This might be a sign that I am not wrong, that I am not on the bad side, said the 56-year-old abbot, dressed in a long black cassock, standing near the altar of his monasterys medieval stone church. Im now attacked by extremists on all sides.

A longtime critic of the ethnic chauvinism that drove his former homeland of Yugoslavia into a frenzy of violence in the 1990s, Father Sava  whose father was a Serb and mother a Croat  has won few friends but gained many detractors in the Kosovo that emerged from that chaos.
AN EX-SOLDIER accused of stealing two excavators was arrested after cops tracked the industrial vehicles being moved to his home address less than half an hour after they were stolen, a court heard on Saturday.

Philip Harris (32), a former British soldier who served in Iraq, appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast charged with the theft of two Hitachi diggers last week with a combined value of 24,000.

Cops told the court the excavators were taken from an address on Manse Road near Saintfield, Co Down, shortly after 8.30pm on March 10.

Both machines were fitted with tracking devices and police were able to establish their last known location at the defendants home address on Newcastle Road, Ballynahinch. Officers attended the address within 24 hours thanks to the tracking devices and located one of the diggers secreted in shrub land 200 yards from his home.

Data from the tracker installed on the digger showed it arriving at the location adjacent Harris home address 25 minutes after being stolen.

Investigators told the court when police arrived to conduct searches at the address Harris attempted to dispose of his mobile phone by throwing it out of a window but the device was later recovered.

No plea was entered and Harris was granted bail. He is due to reappear at Newtownards Magistrates Court on April 20.




Since the Bay of Plentys first representative game in 1932, only three players have managed to earn double-ton bragging rights.

The most recent inductee into this illustrious club also happens to be the youngest. At just 19-years-old, Taylor Bettelheim is a name New Zealand cricket fans would do well to remember.

He crafted an impressive 211 not out against Waikato Valley at the end of last month, joining Alex Lees and Joe Carter as Bay of Plenty batsman to have smashed a double century.

The fact that it followed a century in his previous innings just further highlights this run-scoring openers talent, as he also claimed the February BOP Cricket Player of the Month Award.

Taylor is fairly modest when discussing the feat. The Tauranga Boys College alumnus, who also spent time at Saint Kentigern College in Auckland on a cricket scholarship, simply smiles when remembering his impressive recent knock.

But whilst humble, Taylor is also clearly ambitious when it comes to his future.

I mean, hopefully, the dream is to play for the Blackcaps, says Taylor.

But first I am just trying to make the Northern Districts Knights side and go from there. Thats the long-term plan.

Immediately, comparisons to Kane Williamson spring to mind when thinking of a free-scoring batsman from Tauranga.

Taylor admits that it would be really cool to one day play alongside the Blackcaps captain at the Bay Oval.

Obviously Kane Williamson is the main one I model my game around.

But his BOP coach Daniel Flynn, himself a former Blackcap, believes Taylor is forging his own path.

Hes got his own way of going about things, says Daniel. Hes got a real solid technique, but it is also unique as well, which is good.

He is not trying to imitate anyone. He just goes about his own business.

Taylor and the Kiwi sporting star do share one trait in common, other than being prolific at the crease. Taylor is not afraid to work hard for his goal. He recently took the step of putting his higher education studies on hold to focus on his cricketing dream.

It is pretty impressive to watch the way he goes about things, admits Daniel, and his form this season is a pretty good reflection of the hard work he has been putting into his game.

It goes hand-in-hand. You can have all the skill in the world, but you have got to have the work ethic to back it up to make the most of it. He has certainly got that.

The next step for Taylor is to establish himself in the Northern Districts set-up, and he hopes to be making his first-class debut soon.

Hopefully, in the next couple of years, that would be ideal, says the teenager. Then I can start pushing for the Blackcaps.

If Taylor keeps scoring runs at his current rate, it seems like a matter of when, not if, he earns international recognition.
Passengers from Niue can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand on Wednesday March 24.

The announcement has been made by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Premier of Niue Dalton Tagelagi.

Niue has no reported cases of Covid-19 and its stringent border controls mean we can be confident it is safe to commence quarantine-free travel to New Zealand from Niue, says Ardern.

Premier Tagelagi says, Niue welcomes being able to travel to New Zealand without the need to quarantine. Niue is one of the few countries in the world that is completely free of COVID-19 and we pride ourselves on protecting our people through maintaining our borders and health system. This one-way quarantine free travel will enable Niueans to receive essential healthcare, access education and economic opportunities, and reconnect with their families in New Zealand.

He adds that Niue will maintain its current border settings, so only returnees with Government approval may enter Niue and will need to quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.

Officials of both governments are working towards ensuring all safety protocols and response capabilities are in place for the resumption of two-way quarantine free travel between the two countries.

Further information on safety protocols for travel

To be eligible to enter New Zealand, people in Niue must meet particular conditions, including:

Not having been overseas outside of Niue or New Zealand in the past 14 days.

Not having had contact with a confirmed Covid -19 case within the past 14 days.

Having maintained physical distancing (to the greatest extent practicable) from any person, at the airport at which they arrive, who did not arrive from Niue.

Having worn a face covering while in the airport at which they arrived in New Zealand.

There are no reasonable grounds (as determined by a suitably qualified health practitioner) to suspect that the person may have COVID-19. That might include, among other things: Having had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case within the past 14 days. Having any COVID-19 symptoms. Be awaiting a COVID-19 test result



New Zealand public health officials will be undertaking random temperature checks of passengers on all flights arriving from Niue into New Zealand.

Auckland Airport will use a streamlined Safe Travel Path to process passengers arriving quarantine-free from Niue. The Safe Travel Path creates separation from other arriving passengers by giving quarantine-free travel zone flights exclusive use of the international terminal for arrivals processing  with no other arriving flights within 90 minutes either side of the scheduled arrival time.

The Safe Travel Path is created by:
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 06:24:48|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Europe must take concrete steps to improve the return of migrants with no permission to stay inside the European Union (EU) as well as the readmission into countries of origin, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference following a virtual informal meeting of EU home affairs ministers, the commissioner said it was time "to go from talking to acting" on return and readmission and to step up cooperation with third countries.

"We need to urgently agree on a limited number of countries that we should focus on, set up a timetable so that the commission, together with member states, should reach out to negotiate with these countries," she explained.

She warned, however, that she was ready to take decisive action if no progress is reached.

"If we do not reach sufficient progress, I am ready to table a proposal to the commission by summer to make restrictions on the visa policy," she said.

On the other hand, if sufficient progress is made or cooperation goes on well, "we are also ready to put forward on the table proposals for more generous visa policies," she added.

She said cooperation with third countries must be comprehensive and include enhancing capacity, helping build asylum systems, border management, fighting human smugglers and police cooperation to help counter terrorism and fight organized crime. Enditem
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

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TORRINGTON  A group of 30 dancers were working hard on a recent afternoon on their moves for upcoming performances of selected dances from Coppelia, a standard ballet for any student of the art.

The group of Nutmeg Conservatory of Dance students, dressed in black leotards and toe shoes, all wore protective masks, a requirement in pandemic times. Those playing principle roles in Coppelia wore flowing skirts in lavender or pink. The groups of dancers leaped and twirled through their parts, pausing at prompting by artistic director Victoria Mazzarelli to raise their arms higher, point a toe or bend a knee in the right direction.

Thats good, there we go, she said encouragingly, as the group moved from one dance scene to another. Mazzarelli danced along with her students, or tapped her feet and snapped her fingers in time to the music piped into the rehearsal studio, with its floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking downtown and balance bars and mirrors on every wall.

The Nutmeg, as its fondly called by all who know it, welcomes students from near and far. Many return annually through their high school years, while others are high school seniors, attending the school for the first time. Day students from area towns are also part of the Nutmeg family, and many are taught by Mazzarelli, an award-winning dancer who has dedicated herself to the schools mission and vision for the future.

Melissa Glen, a Colorado resident, is spending a year with Nutmeg to immerse herself in dancing and focus on her skills. Everyone knows Coppelia, she said.

We do it all the time, but at the end of the day, we love it, because its just a beautiful ballet, Glen said.

During a recent rehearsal, Mazzarelli called the group of young men and women into a circle for a chat. It was one year ago today that we had to send you home, she said, gazing at the faces of her pupils. Take a deep breath ... Were all here together. We made it.

The impact of COVID-19 restrictions hit the school hard, since it was then in the midst of preparations for spring performances. The school persevered under the direction of Mazzarelli and the other master dance instructors at the Nutmeg. Mazzarelli was vaccinated this month.

As for her students, Weve kept them in a bubble, she said. Theyre all wearing their masks. Theyre used to it now. We keep the day students in their own group, and they all stay together for their rehearsals and classes.

Theres been a lot of managing to keep them safe, Mazzarelli said. But its been working very well.

Emily Janco, who is from Massachusetts, said her dance teacher recommended the Nutmeg. There wasnt a lot of places to train where I am, and it was a great opportunity to learn here, she said.

Harry Hefner, 18, is also a new student, and came to Torrington from Oklahoma. Hes graduating this year and plans to major in dance in college. And he wanted to be trained at the Nutmeg.

Even though I was new, and a lot of people knew each other for years, everyone was very welcoming, and warm, he said.

Nutmeg founder Sharon E. Dante opened the ballet school in Torrington in 1969. The one-room studio was open to a small group of students until growing enrollment necessitated a move down the street to a much larger facility. In 1984, under Dantes guidance and tutelage, Mazzarelli won the only gold medal awarded at the first New York International Ballet competition, and The Nutmeg was further recognized as a respected, international ballet training center.

For 24 years, Dante worked in the space to train students who would go on to become world class dancers or who would enter other professions with the lessons of details instilled in them. In 2001, she fulfilled a dream to build a state-of-the-art international training center and the school moved to its location in the heart of downtown Torrington. Dante is now retired, but remains active with the school and its mission.

The conservatory on Main Street includes five dance studios, seven dressing rooms, a main community/academic study room with several smaller study rooms, a costume and dance shop, three student lounges, a board room, office spaces, fitness room, physical therapy room, library, and viewing area. Contained in the building are accommodations for up to 12 dormitory rooms along with bathrooms, and laundry areas. The building also is home to The Nutmegs children's division, The Torrington School of Ballet.

Like their performances of Coppelia, the Nutmegs students presented the annual Nutcracker shows, performing and recording them and presenting them digitally for the public. But all are waiting for the day when they can dance in front of an audience again.

Roomates Gianna LaRoche of Massachusetts and Sarah Frank of Torrington said the conservatory is a wonderful place to be.

Even while were enduring (the pandemic), we love dancing, so were lucky to be here, Frank said.

Being around so many dedicated people and being able to dance; its great, LaRoche said.

Coppelia will be shown online to family and friends starting March 23.

For information on the Nutmeg Conservatory of Dance, visit www.nutmegconservatory.org/
A bill making its way through the Illinois legislature would require Illinois lawmakers  both senators and representatives  to become keepers of the peace, giving them limited policing power.

House Bill 724  sponsored by Curtis J. Tarver, D-Chicago  would require lawmakers to attend and successfully complete a police training course administered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board that would give them the power to arrest anyone breaking a law or violating an ordinance of the state. It also would allow lawmakers to detain a person overnight in a safe place until they can be brought before a court.

Tarver had not returned a call for comment as of Friday.

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, opposes the bill, saying it contradicts the police reform bill that was passed during Januarys lame-duck session and undercuts trained law enforcement officers who have extensive experience as peace officers.

Under the new reform bill, even the police cant contain someone unless its an immediate threat, Davidsmeyer said.

Davidsmeyer said the proposal is hypocritical, because it would mean trained law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard than untrained lawmakers would be in making an arrest.

The only training lawmakers have is being on the ballot and being elected, he said.

Other items that would need to be addressed include the insurance that would be required for a lawmaker with the ability to arrest people, the guidelines lawmakers would need to follow in questioning and detaining someone, and where a detained person legally could be held.

Theres just a ton that goes into this, Davidsmeyer said.

Jacksonville Police Chief Adam Mefford has not had the opportunity to read the bill in its entirety but is concerned that it would blur the lines of lawmakers and police.

Whats concerning to me is that were supposed to have separation of powers, Mefford said. It doesnt look like a very good idea to me.

The new police reform legislation requires changes to how law enforcement officers do their job, including requiring additional training and certification. Adding another element by allowing lawmakers to arrest people could jeopardize public safety, Mefford said.

My job is to respond to 911 calls and, when we show up, we provide a quality of service to the community, he said.

Mefford said its not his job to take political stances, but he will speak up when he believes public safety is at risk.

I dont get into the political jargon, but I do speak up when it comes to protecting the citizens of this community, he said.
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Associated Press

The largest warship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances, the latest calamity to strike one of the countrys vessels in recent years amid tensions with the West. The blaze began around 2:25 a.m. and firefighters tried to contain it, the Fars news agency reported, but their efforts failed to save the 207-meter (679-foot) Kharg, which was used to resupply other ships in the fleet at sea and conduct training exercises. The vessel sank near the Iranian port of Jask, some 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) southeast of Tehran on the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz  the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
A long and winding debate over renaming the long and winding Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Marin County appears headed to a conclusion  a patchwork approach that will leave the old name in some places, scrap it in others, and give it a second name elsewhere.

The complicated outcome results from a complicated situation: Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is a 43-mile road that runs through five separate jurisdictions in Marin County, each of which has its own decision-making authority.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday backed co-naming its portion of the boulevard, in the unincorporated county. The 4-1 vote rejected a wholesale renaming of the road but supported two options for adding an additional name  either an official one or a ceremonial one.

It was the final vote among the five jurisdictions  each of which made different decisions and will make different changes to its piece of the east-west route.

The move to rename Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is one of many renaming efforts around the country, a trend that accelerated after the killing of George Floyd by Minnesota police sparked a yearlong national discourse on systemic racism and how historical figures should be honored. The streets namesake, Sir Francis Drake, was a 16th century English explorer who many say should not be honored because of his slave trading and colonial background.

In Marin County, a grassroots effort mobilized over the past year to rename the road. Supporters called for the removal of public monuments of individuals associated with slavery and oppression, identifying a high school and a statue in Larkspur named after Drake, in addition to the boulevard.

Google Maps

Marin County Supervisors Katie Rice and Dennis Rodoni assembled a working group that has been exploring the renaming issue since last summer, comprising council representatives from each municipality crossed by the boulevard: Larkspur, Ross, San Anselmo and Fairfax, plus Marin County.

The street is home to many businesses and residents, many of whom were concerned about the time and expense that would be required to change their addresses, especially during the pandemic.

That, in part, drove the group to consider the relatively less involved process of adding a second name that wouldnt require businesses or residents to deal with added paperwork, Rodoni said.

Anna Buchmann / The Chronicle

Each jurisdiction has its own road-naming authority for its portion of the boulevard. They solicited feedback from residents on the proposal, and each council reached a different conclusion: Ross decided to keep the name; Larkspur decided to keep the name and adopt a co-name or explore a historical designation; Fairfax decided to change the name; and the San Anselmo council voted to take no action.

Supervisor Damon Connolly cast the sole dissenting vote on the Marin board, saying he preferred a full replacement of the street name, according to a news release from the county.

Rodoni on Thursday told The Chronicle his preference would be to work with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria  a federally recognized tribe that represents the Coast Miwok  to come up with a name that they feel would be appropriate.

This is all driven by the need to address racial equity in and throughout the county, Rodoni said.

The next step  to choose a name  will probably move forward over the next two months, Rodoni said. The bigger goal, he said, was for supervisors and council members to engage in a healthy and robust discussion with the countys residents.

County officials said they have already received more than 600 comments on the topic. During a virtual listening session in June, county residents shared a number of concerns about the renaming at large, including that if Sir Francis Drake Boulevard were to be renamed, so should other localities with problematic namesakes.

In San Anselmo, Sir Francis Drake High School is in the final process of being renamed to either a Native American name or after a natural landmark, and the sculpture was removed from Larkspur Landing.

During the listening session, one person said the county would do far more good repaving the boulevard than renaming it, and another said cancel culture should not be imposed on Marin. Another resident said she wondered how many of the people who favored renaming also signed petitions opposing affordable housing projects in Marin County.

I want to address the elephant in the room. ... How many people of color live and work in these communities, and when the day is done, where do they go home? she said. We can spend a lot of time, energy and money changing the name of the streets and schools, and what will we have done at the end of the day? Will we have done anything to lift up the lives of those people?

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
DALLAS, March 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Trees Foundation partnered with Atmos Energy to safely plant a total of 100, 30-gallon trees in Oak Cliff Founders Park and Harry Stone Park to combat Dallas' urban heat island, contribute to its overall tree canopy, and provide healthy, safe and green outdoor spaces for North Texas residents.

Both organizations will come together on March 17 for a public tree dedication at Oak Cliff Founders Park at 9 a.m. and Harry Stone Park at 11 a.m. to celebrate the newly revitalized outdoor spaces.

"This partnership is another illustration of our commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities we call home," said Oric Walker, Atmos Energy vice president of public affairs. "We are proud to partner with Texas Trees Foundation to enhance our neighborhood parks and trails, and we remind everyone to dial 8-1-1 before starting any digging project, no matter how large or small. Calling 811 is free, it's safe and it's required by law."

Texas Trees Foundation's Urban Heat Island Management Study found that Dallas is heating up faster than every city in the country except for Phoenix.

Heat-related deaths in the United States account for more deaths annually than all other natural disasters combined, and tree plantings in the hottest areas with high-density residential was found to reduce deaths by more than 20 percent.

"The Texas Trees Foundation is proud to be working alongside Atmos Energy to combat Dallas' urban heat island through the expansion of our public green spaces," said Janette Monear, Texas Trees Foundation CEO/President. "The 100 newly planted trees will preserve Dallas' urban forest and provide an outdoor sanctuary for North Texas residents to experience the joy nature can provide.

Volunteers recruited by the City of Dallas planted 13 different types of trees at both parks including American Elm, Bur Oak, Carolina cherry laurel, Lacebark Elm, Chinese Pistache, Chinquapin Oak, Roughleaf Dogwood, Eve's Necklace, Mexican Sycamore, Mexican White Oak, Pecan, Possumhaw Holly, and Vitex.

To learn more about the tree dedication events, please contact Joshua Wilbanks at 682-305-0417.108 or email [email protected].

Related Images

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Oak Cliff Founders Park Planting

Related Links

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SOURCE Texas Trees Foundation
French star Corinne Masiero stripped naked on stage at an awards ceremony in Paris to protest the months-long closure of cinemas and theatres because of the pandemic.

The actress, on stage to present the gong for best costume, appeared wearing a full sized donkey suit over a blood-stained dress before slipping out of both.

Written on her chest was 'no culture, no future' while scrawled on her back was 'give us art back Jean, in a message to Prime Minister Jean Castex.

Corinne Masiero, 57, stripped on stage to protest the ongoing closures of cinemas and theatres

When the 57-year-old came on stage wearing the outfits, which also included tampons for earrings, she asked the audience: 'Is that too trash?'

As she peeled off her donkey look she added: 'I have a last one.'

She had earlier arrived in a black outfit and a yellow high-vis jacket which had 'no culture, no future written' on it, as well as a face mask.

Several people took to social media to throw their support behind Ms Masiero, star of popular detective series Capitaine Marleaus.

One said: 'Thank you.

She had walked on to the stage wearing a donkey outfit over a blood-stained dress

The message on her back was directed at the French Prime Minister Jean Castex

'Thank you to her for shouting her revolt, awkwardly perhaps, but sincerely.'

Another added: 'What a way to get your point across, I applaud you Corinne Masiero!'

But some were opposed with one user saying: 'This concept of getting naked never serves your cause.

'Everyone will be talking about the fact that you were naked and not your claim. I thought she was going to deliver an anti fur or anti meat message.'

The Cesar Awards are the French equivalent of the Oscars but last night's event was scaled back with no partners allowed on the arms of nominees.

She arrived at the 46th Cesar Film Awards, their version of the Oscars, in a high-vis jacket

They came amid frustration from performers, directors and musicians as no date has been set for the reopening of museums, galleries, concert halls and cinemas.

Opening the night French comedian and host Marina Fois took aim at the government's months-long closure of theatres and cinemas in a searing speech.

Taking a swipe at culture minister Roselyne Bachelot, she said: 'I'm losing confidence in you.

'They cooped up our youngsters, closed our cinemas and theatres and banned concerts so that they could open churches, because we're a secular country, so that old people could go to church.'
RTHK: UK police say body found is that of missing woman

British police said on Friday that human remains found in a wood outside London belonged to Sarah Everard, whose disappearance last week has sparked anger and fear among women about their safety.

Everard disappeared while walking home from a friend's house in south London last Wednesday and police have arrested a serving officer on suspicion of her kidnap and murder.

Detectives discovered a body in woodland two days ago and London Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave confirmed that it was of the missing 33-year-old.

"I know that the public feel hurt and angry about what has happened, and those are sentiments that I share personally," Ephgrave said outside the London police headquarters.

"I also recognise the wider concerns that are being raised quite rightly about the safety of women in public spaces in London and also elsewhere in the country."

Detectives on Thursday were given extra time to question the arrested officer, who is aged in his 40s and whose job is to guard diplomatic buildings.

A woman in her 30s, who media said was his partner, was released on police bail having been detained on suspicion of assisting an offender. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-03-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Questions over who helped Boris Johnson pay for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat are the latest in a series of controversies over how open he is about where his money comes from.

He was warned two years ago he would be punished if he continued to flout Commons rules on disclosing his outside interests.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, said Mr Johnson had failed to 'demonstrate leadership' by omitting to register a 20 per cent share of a property in Somerset.

Questions over who helped Boris Johnson pay for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat are the latest in a series of controversies over how open he is about where his money comes from

MPs on the Commons standards committee said his 'over-casual attitude' to parliamentary rules was a 'pattern of behaviour'.

They warned he would face a 'more serious sanction'  a thinly veiled threat to suspend him as an MP  for any further breaches. Only months earlier, Mr Johnson had to apologise in the Commons for the late declaration of nine payments totalling 52,000 of outside earnings.

Which, in my view, is why the Prime Minister cannot dismiss similar concerns raised by the flat makeover. The central allegation is familiar: his alleged failure to disclose openly and promptly what other sources of income or benefits he has received.

According to insiders, Mr Johnson secretly got a Tory donor to help pay for the refurbishment via the Conservative Party, failed to declare it, subsequently set up a 'Downing Street Trust' to hide the money trail  and tried to cover up the whole affair.

The Commons Register of Interests is clear: MPs must declare 'any pecuniary or other material benefit which might influence his or her action'. And do it within four weeks.

The code says politicians must not act 'to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, family or friends'.

If 60,000 of Tory party money was secretly used to pay for new decor in the Downing Street flat, it is not difficult to see how some could argue it is against the rules.

In one discussion with aides, he referred to the way David Cameron and wife Samantha (pictured) paid 25,000 of their own money towards the cost of a new No 11 kitchen

Mr Johnson appears to be pinning his hopes on avoiding a scandal by setting up the trust. The aim is to use it to maintain the state rooms in Downing Street, and  in the words of one aide  'hope that no one notices it also pays for Mr Johnson and Miss Symonds' expensive taste in wallpaper'.

It is based on the Chequers Trust which maintains the Prime Minister's official country home. That trust is funded by an endowment from Lord Lee who gave it to the nation a century ago.

Key trustees are appointed by the Prime Minister, it meets behind closed doors and does not say how it spends its money.

You can see the attraction of having a similar arrangement for the Prime Minister's official London home. However, unlike the Chequers Trust, the Downing Street Trust will reportedly be bankrolled by Tory donors, making it overtly political. The risk of a conflict of interest would appear obvious.

Publicly, Downing Street claims the row over the refurbishment is a storm in a teacup. Privately, Mr Johnson is worried.

In one discussion with aides, he referred to the way David Cameron and wife Samantha paid 25,000 from their own money towards the cost of a new No 11 kitchen.

'Cameron got screwed in public even though he paid for it himself,' he said.

'If it gets out that I want donors to pay, it'll be a disaster.
Birmingham police are conducting a homicide investigation Friday afternoon after a man was shot and killed in an apartment in Woodlawn.

Police received a call around 3 p.m. Friday about a physical altercation that took place inside an apartment in the 900 block of 53rd Street North, said Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Rod Mauldin.

When they arrived, they found the man, who was not publicly identified, laying on a sofa suffering from a gunshot wound that proved to be fatal, Mauldin said.

Police detained one person for further questioning, the sergeant said, and authorities are in the process of canvassing the area for witnesses.
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Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. High 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Director of the Institute of Caribbean Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Dr. Sonjah Stanley Niaah, is calling on older Reggae and Dancehall music producers to help to nurture and mentor their younger counterparts in the industry.

She made her comments recently on Radio Jamaicas Two Live Crew, after host Wesley Burger asked whether or not she was worried about preservation of the music genres, or had any concerns that the music was losing its identity, as some industry stakeholders have been contending.

I want the producers who were there long ago, to engage with the younger artistes; engage with the younger producers. There is a big conversation going on at Clubhouse now, because the young people dont feel like the older producers are giving them the time of day, guiding them enough, appreciating what they are doing, the Reggae Studies Unit senior lecturer said.

So I am here to say one of the things that must happen, is that conversation between the generations. My music is not going to be your music but they are still up for that conversation. So one of the things that I want to see, is that. I want to also see the ways in which for future, the quality  and the question of quality obviously is subjective  what makes your music timeless. There is some formulae that you can use. There are things that you can detect about a hit song; whether it has a proper chorus; how the rhyming guh, she said.

When asked to make a comparison between the music of yesteryear and contemporary Dancehall and Reggae music, the culture doctor said there always have been and will always be nostalgia and differences in appreciation of music across every generation, so the matter of which is better would be immaterial in the scheme of things.

One of the things I never get into a conversation about is the difference in appreciation across generations in relation to music. Music is one of those things that because of its sensory nature, the nostalgia that you can achieve with something as powerful as music in time to come, 20 years time, they will be talking about their time in music. They will be taking about the music of now that they appreciated. That will be their moment of nostalgia while for us it is the 90s the 60s, 80s, the 70s So I dont get into those conversations, she explained.

The professor said she is enthused, though, about the fact that many of the young artists have been drawing for older riddims, rhyme schemes, and styles dating back to the 70s and 80s, and incorporating and interpolating them in their newer productions and giving to the world, masterpieces.

What I am very curious about  two things  I am always looking to the future where our music is concerned. I am always interested to know what are the points of innovation that would come to stir my music of old. I am always looking to see what will come. And let me tell you what stirs me now: I am stirred by an artiste like Chronixx for example what hes been doing; I am stirred by an artiste like Koffee. I dont know who it is thats producing around them. I know Chronixx has a lot to do with his own productions, she said.

But, I am stirred by these artistes because they are obviously dipping into some of the older riddims, some of the older mechanisms for producing music, and so I salute those people. Not because what they are producing can make me think about my music in the past when I was appreciating those forms, but certainly, it is the sign of respect that is evident in how they are treating with this body of music that we have given the world. The other person who I particularly like in that way, is Busy Signal; he is constantly dipping into those riddims, she added.
New Delhi, March 13 : As the country prepares to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence this year, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said this is the moment to reflect on how far we have come since independence as well as envision what we want to achieve in the next 25 years.

Addressing the media after launching the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava exhibition at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune, where Mahatma Gandhi was detained for 21 months in 1942 during the Quit India Movement, Javadekar said this is the core belief that informs these exhibitions.

Javadekar further said that freedom for the country came at a great cost, and this exhibition seeks to narrate the story behind those sacrifices. He also inaugurated a photo-exhibition at the National Media Center in New Delhi.

The exhibition, set up by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication, is part of a massive awareness campaign by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav-- a series of events to be organised by the Central government to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India's Independence.

The Mahotsav will be celebrated as a Jan-Utsav in the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari.

A National Implementation Committee headed by the Home Minister has been constituted to chalk out policies and planning of various events to be undertaken under the Commemoration. The curtain raiser activities are beginning from March 12, 75 weeks prior to August 15, 2022.

The event will witness the inauguration of the curtain raiser activities planned under the theme India@75 such as films, songs, Aatmanirbhar Charkha and Aatmanirbhar Incubator.

Amit Khare, Secretary, Ministry of I&B said that the National Committee headed by Union Minister of Home Affairs has tasked every ministry to work towards educating people on the efforts of the people who contributed to the freedom struggle.

The Secretary said a digital version of these exhibitions is in the making and is expected to be unveiled before August 15.
(Natural News) The Texas GOP has refused to back down following criticism of Gab by their own governor and party vice-chair.

(Article by Evan James republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com)

On Wednesday Gov. Greg Abbott denounced the alternative social media platform as anti-Semitic, for whatever reason. Its an absurd accusation, and it didnt take long for Twitter users to notice that the Texas GOP had a verified Gab account and promoted it back on January 23:

In response, Texas GOP Vice-Chair Cat Parks asked the party to deactivate its Gab account in a statement. She claimed that multiple comments on the posts of the Texas GOPs Gab account contained anti-semitic and racist tropes and that this was a common theme on Gab.

We cannot allow the Republican Party of Texas page on Gab to be a corkboard for anti-American values, she added. The Republican Party of Texas will not tolerate antisemitism and racism to proliferate under our watch. The Democrats may struggle to denounce blatant antisemitism from their own lawmakers, but Republicans in Texas do not share that issue. We fully condemn any form of antisemitism and racism.

Parks concluded by hedging her commitment to free speech, saying that we will be able to remain committed to that fight on the platforms that a majority of our voters are on, and by formally requesting the partys communications team to deactivate the Gab account.

Thankfully they did not listen. The Texas GOP tweeted the following late Thursday afternoon: The RPT will always fight censorship. We support the 1st Amendment, including free speech platforms & VC @CatParksTXs right to criticize such. Texas GOP has no plan to deplatform from any of our social media accounts. The 1st Amendment still shines brightly in the Lone Star State.

The RPT will always fight censorship. We support the 1st Amendment, including free speech platforms & VC @CatParksTX's right to criticize such. TexasGOP has no plan to deplatform from any of our social media accounts. The 1st Amendment still shines brightly in the Lone Star State pic.twitter.com/mDsEb5hCYa  Texas GOP (@TexasGOP) March 11, 2021

Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com and FirstAmendment.news.
Since India is now going to sit at the high table to decide the future of Afghanistan it must seriously consider what real strategic interests it has in Afghanistan. (Photo: AP)

Consider the following vignettes. A child born in the December of 1979 in Afghanistan would be today 41 years old. Across four decades that middle-aged person now has only known strife, violence and bloodshed as the only normal. It was on the 24th of December of that year, Soviet Tanks had rolled across the Amu Daraya to commence a brutal nine-year occupation of that antediluvian acreage situated on the crossroads of time.

It was the year 2016. For 15 long years Afghanistan had now been free of the malevolent influence of the Taliban. At a Track-2 event, I ran into a former chief of the Afghan National Army early one morning. I asked him, how is the situation in Afghanistan currently? He said we have democratic government, a free and a vibrant press  print, TV, radio and digital  encompassing over 1,800 media outlets, girls and women in schools and colleges. Any Afghan can even tell the President that he is in the wrong. It was a learning to see that a former military man was calculating the achievements of the past decade-and-a-half in intangibles rather than gain or loss of territory qua the Taliban.

Cut to 2021 and Joe Biden is the third consecutive President wanting to end Americas longest war. Two decades ago, the Americans had gone into Afghanistan after 9/11 hunting for Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda after the Taliban leader Mullah Omar refused to turn them over to the US. While Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar were both dead, the Taliban and even the Al Qaeda are both alive and kicking.

In fact, the United States, after holding leading elements of the Taliban leadership in primitively medieval incarceration in Guantanamo Bay for over 15 years or more, in a complete volte-face on February 29, 2020, cut a deal with the same eminences in Doha. One of the essential elements of the deal being total withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan by 1st of May 2021.

In a recent letter to President Ashraf Ghani, the new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken virtually read out the riot act to the Afghan government to fall in line with the latest US approach to the Afghan quagmire. The letter has been made public by the Afghan news outlet Tolo News. Neither has it been denied by the US or the Afghan government, respectively.

The missive sketches out the following modes for an across-the-board settlement to the Afghan imbroglio pegged on the desirability of an enduring ceasefire by the Taliban. It, therefore, envisages ministerial-level parleys under the auspices of the United Nations between Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran and India and the United States of America to deliberate upon a unified approach to supporting peace in Afghanistan, a senior-level meeting between the Taliban and the Afghan government hosted by Turkey to take place shortly to finalise a peace agreement between the two.

It mentions a revised plan to operationalise a ninety-day reduction in violence programme predicated upon thwarting a spring offensive by the Taliban. The dispatch further calls upon President Ghani to consider US proposals for a roadmap targeted at a new and inclusive Afghan government.

The letter closes with a rather portentous caveat stating: We are considering the full withdrawal of our forces by May 1st, as we consider other options. Even with the continuation of financial assistance from the United States to your forces after an American military withdrawal, I am concerned the security situation will worsen and that the Taliban could make rapid territorial gains.

Since India is now going to sit at the high table to decide the future of Afghanistan it must seriously consider what real strategic interests it has in Afghanistan.

Writing a decade earlier on the same question veteran journalist Shekhar Gupta opined, It will still be a country of great strategic importance. But for whom, is the question. It will be of no strategic importance to us. None of our supplies or trade comes to Afghanistan. None of our bad guys hide there. No Afghan has ever been involved in a terror attack on India. In fact, almost never has a terror attack on us been even planned in the more precise Af-Pak region. They have all been planned and executed between Muzaffarabad, Muridke, Karachi and Multan. Almost never has an Afghan, Pakhtun, Baluch, Tajik, any ethnicity, been involved in a terror attack in India.

It's always been the Punjabis. Ask anybody in the Indian army who has served in Kashmir and he will tell you that the intruders he fought were exactly of the same ethnic stock as the bulk of the Pakistani army he may have to fight in a real war: the Punjabi Muslims. Leave Afghanistan to the Pakistanis. If the Pakistani army thinks it can fix, subdue and control Afghanistan, after the British, Soviets and Americans have failed to do precisely this at the peak of each ones superpowerdom, why not let the Pakistanis try their hand at it? If they pour another ten divisions and half of the ISI into that hapless country now, isnt it that much of a relief for us on our western borders?

This assessment is as relevant today as it was a decade ago. Hard questions with regard to our real interests in Afghanistan were never asked then and are not being asked even now. Would a foothold in Afghanistan help us in the event of a two-front war with China and Pakistan? Highly unlikely till the time we are not willing to put boots on the ground in Afghanistan. Is it desirable to put boots on the ground even if the Afghans were to request Indian military presence after the Americans leave? Highly undesirable. The last time India had seriously considered such a request was in early 2003 to deploy US forces in Iraq. Prime Minister Vajpayee had rightly refused to do so. Does a presence in Afghanistan open up new vistas for India in Central Asia? Not really, after Iran dropped India from the Chabahar to Zahedan just before it inked a USD 400 billion 25-year strategic partnership with China.

While it is heady to be invited to the high table, as the saying goes, there is no free lunch in life. India needs to be careful.
Police investigating the mysterious disappearance of Russell Hill and Carol Clay say they know who was near their campsite before it was found burned to the ground.

Mr Hill, who was married, had been in a decades-long affair with Ms Clay when they vanished during a camping trip in Victoria's Wonnangatta Valley.

Next Saturday, March 20, will mark one year since the pair were last seen.

Despite having little clues to work with and no witnesses, police say they are slowly unravelling the mystery and know the identities of a handful of people who were in the remote area at the time.

The remains of the campsite, with friends suggesting the pair were victims of foul play

Carol Gray told those close to her she was going away for a few days and planned to return on March 29 last year

'We're pretty confident that we've got a good picture of movements in the valley and around the campsite on that day, which is pretty good considering we started with not much,' missing persons squad head Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper told the Herald Sun.

'A little win could be just eliminating someone... twelve months down the track, we are more focused than ever.'

Campers, deer hunters and four-wheel-drive owners are known to frequent the Valley area.

Early speculation suggested that Mr Hill and Mrs Clay 'may have witnessed something they shouldn't have'.

Russell Hill (pictured, left) had been friendly with Carol Clay (right) for decades before they had an affair

Mr Hill's $2,000 drone was missing the scorched scene, along with phones, car keys and bank cards. A drone was found in the area over the weekend, but has been confirmed as not Mr Hill's

The new development followed recent confirmation a drone found in the area didn't belong to the pair.

The secret lovers vanished on March 20, 2020 while on a camping trip in the rugged high country, with their burnt, empty campsite found days later.

The drone, though to be a breakthrough in the year-old case, was handed in to Victoria Police at East Gippsland last weekend but officers confirmed it wasn't the DJI Mavic belonging to Mr Hill.

Police have repeated their plea for information about a white dual cab ute seen in the area where Mr Hill and Ms Clay were camping before they disappeared.

The four-wheel-drive was the only car seen in the area on March 20, and has not been ruled out of the investigation.

The vehicle has remained a mystery despite almost 12 months of meticulous checks by the squad.

'It might seem like only a very small possibility that those in the white ute will have information about Russell and Carol's disappearance but we can't afford to leave any stone unturned,' Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said.

'We cannot leave any "what ifs" when it comes to an investigation like this.'

Mr Hill, 74, left his Drouin home on March 19, 2020 and collected his friend Ms Clay, 73, from her home in Pakenham in his white Toyota LandCruiser.

Victorian detectives have released a new map of an area where a mystery white ute was spotted on the day the campers went missing

They travelled through Licola, spending one night at Howitt High Plains before heading into Wonnangatta Valley.

Mr Hill was last heard from on March 20 over HF radio, while Ms Clay had told friends she was heading away and was expecting to return by March 29.

Authorities found the couple's campsite burned to the ground near Mr Hill's car days later, before it was discovered their their sleeping bags, phones, and his drone were also missing.

Theories about what happened to the pair include that the drone witnessed illegal activity, which led to them being murdered.

Pictured: The destroyed campsite where Mr Hill and Ms Clay were staying before they disappeared

Recently, the bushman's best friend, Rob Ashlin, claimed the pair could have been slain by illegal hunters after the drone - which Mr Hill was flying that day - captured footage it shouldn't have.

'The fact that it's been reported that those sleeping bags were missing, makes me feel that those sleeping bags were carted out of there and... used as body bags,' Mr Ashlin told Liz Hayes on Channel Nine's Under Investigation.

'There are a lot of places - the country is very rugged - where they can be got rid of, never to be found again.'

High country musterer, Lachlan Culican, who helped police during the search, also believes the pair may have accidentally captured footage of illegal hunters in the area.

He was shocked by the the sheer quantity of dead deer in the area where their scorched campsite was found, explaining he saw a new carcass every '200m or 300m'.

Mr Hill's friend Rob Ashlin (pictured) believes the couple were murdered in their sleeping bags

Mr Ashlin, who was friends with Mr Hill for 30 years, also suggested there might be someone sinister lurking in the mountains.

He had a friend who was hunting deer in the region and set up camp for the night with someone else.

As they sat around the fire, they saw a person standing at the edge of the light, staring at them.

'One of them shot over to his vehicle and this person who was standing there just wandered behind the shadow of a tree and was gone,' he said.

'They were being stalked without knowing about it for some time.'

Russell Hill and Carol Clay were last heard from on March 20, with Mr Hill's wife unaware he was travelling with another woman

The pair went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley, more than 200km north east of Melbourne

Mr Ashlin said the idea that there could be a suspect hiding in the mountains was 'driving' him to search for answers.

He also found the image of their burnt campsite, taken by two passers-by a week later, startling because the site was not set up the way Mr Hill arranged his campsites.

He said the experienced camper would have known better than to make a campfire close to flammable material such as gas bottles or their tent.

Mr Ashlin went camping with Mr Hill on many occasions, and described his friend as 'cautious'.

A new image of Mr Hill's white Toyota Landcruiser. It was found with minor fire damage at their burnt campsite near Dry River Creek Track in the valley on March 21

Mr Ashlin had been camping with Mr Hill (pictured) on a number of occasions, and described his friend as 'cautious'

When he saw the jumble of burnt equipment, he knew something was amiss.

'I knew straight away in my own mind that something really unforgiving had happened,' he said.

Fire forensics expert Greg Kelly experimented with tent fibers and ropes to see if an accidental fire could have started, but said the materials burned too slowly and extinguished themselves before a blaze could have properly ignited.

Carol Clay, 73, who was once the President of the Country Women's Association of Victoria, had been in a relationship with Russell Hill for many years in the lead up to their disappearance

There were also no burn marks across the car doors, which were nearby, the tyres weren't melted, and the esky - which was underneath the car - was intact.

Mr Kelly said the scene suggested the fire was short and hot, which was likely caused by an accelerant - such as the gas canisters inside the tent.

Detectives have believed since December that the potential attackers may have torched their campsite to destroy forensic evidence of a crime.

Police are confident the pair did not fake their own deaths and do not believe it is case of murder suicide.

That the car was locked likely indicated the pair left the campsite voluntarily, probably to go for a walk or fly the drone.

Mr Hill (pictured) had left his Drouin home on March 19 for a camping trip along the Dargo River in Victoria's northeast and planned to leave the region on March 26

Mr Hill had been a keen amateur radio enthusiast and made his last broadcast from the bush on March 20.

Police are now certain the couple died within 18 hours after Mr Hill's last message, as a passing hiker saw the burned-out campsite about 2pm the next day.

Because the pair weren't due back until up to a week later, the alarm wasn't raised for days and precious time was lost.

A police source said despite the delay in the missing person squad being brought into investigate the case, the fire ravaged camp site was thoroughly investigated at the time.

In May, bizarre details emerged of an 'oddball loner' living in the Victorian Alps, who has been questioned over a number of mysterious disappearances.

Known as 'Buttons' or ominously, 'the Button Man', the expert bushman became a person of interest after concerns about his odd behaviour was raised by locals.

Personal belongings (circled) were left in Russell Hill's vehicle, which sustained fire damage when his tent went up in flames

He is understood to have earned his nickname due to his hobby of using deer antlers to make buttons - which he then uses as large ear piercings.

'Being creepy is not illegal,' a police source has told Daily Mail Australia.

A police source confirmed there was nothing to indicate the mysterious loner had killed the couple, but what happened to them remains unknown.

'We don't think they're in Queensland living (a secret) life. They're too old really to drop off the grid and why would they?' the source said.

While cold-blooded murder is an avenue of investigation, detectives remain open to all kinds of scenarios.

'There are a lot of people who go up there and do illegal stuff. Like people who go hunting in the national park and ride motorcycles. Has he had a dispute with one of them that turned bad?' the source said.

Months of searches have found no trace of the pair. Detective Stamper believes if the pair were still in the valley, searchers would have found some evidence

The pair had been carrying out a secret affair for years behind the back of Mr Hill's wife Robyn, who has described Ms Clay as a 'long time family friend'.

While the relationship was largely hidden from Mr Hill's devastated wife, it has been well known to police since the pair were reported missing by Mrs Hill days after her husband last made contact via radio.

When questioned about the couple's relationship in April, Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper skirted around the question.

'It is delicate and we are being very respectful of both families wishes and concerns here,' he said at the time.

'Both of these people have large and loving families who are grieving at the moment, and they want answers about where their loved ones are.'

While detectives probed the couple's relationship, it was quickly ruled out as a likely reason for their mysterious disappearance.

Police are desperate for people who may have been in the area at the time to let them know so that they can be ruled out of the investigation.

Detectives are also keen to learn if anyone may be hanging onto dashcam footage that could help identify other leads.

It is understood the case remained 'very wide open'.

'It's a genuine mystery,' the source said.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, on March 12, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Tariffs Not on Top Agenda During USChina Meeting: Sullivan

Trade wont play a central role when the Washington delegation meets with its Beijing counterparts in Alaska next week, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on March 12.

Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will join talks with Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi and senior foreign policy diplomat Yang Jiechi on March 18, marking the two countries first top-level meeting in person since President Joe Biden took office.

Asked about trade sanctions on China, Sullivan said he doesnt expect the phase one trade deal is going to be a major topic of conversation next week.

This is our effort to communicate clearly to the Chinese government how the United States intends to proceed at a strategic level, what we believe our fundamental interests and values are, and what our concerns with their activities are, Sullivan said in a press briefing at the White House.

The United States will voice concerns on March 12 about the regimes actions on Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, and issues raised by Asian alliesBeijings coercion of Australia, their harassment around the Senkaku Islands, their aggression on the border with India, Sullivan said.

So this will stay more in that zone than get into the details of questions around tariffs or export controls.

He added that theyll convey the message at a broad level that the administration will take action to protect U.S. technology from being used in ways that undermine American values or security.

But in terms of the details of these issues, we have more work to do with our allies and partners to come up with a common approach, a joint approach, before we go sit down point by point with the Chinese government on these issues, he said.

Biden held his first summit on March 12 with leaders of Japan, India, and Australia, an informal alliance known as the Quad. Sullivan, during the press conference, said they spoke to the competition of models between autocracy and democracy and expressed confidence that democracy is the best system to meet with challenges of the 21st century.

The four leaders made clear that none of them have any illusions about China, according to Sullivan.

On March 11, the last day of Chinas annual legislative meeting in Beijing, the regimes 2,895-member Congress rubber-stamped a draft decision to control Hong Kongs elections. The electoral overhaul will make sure only Beijing loyalists can govern the city, a move that U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price has described as a direct attack on Hong Kongs autonomy, its freedoms, and democratic processes.

While Price said the administration will certainly not pull any punches in discussing our areas of disagreement, Beijing has signaled that it would not likely budge.

Zhao Lijian, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, cast as lies and disinformation the persecution of Muslim-practicing minorities in Xinjiang, which the State Department in January recognized as a genocide.

He warned the United States to stop interfering in Chinas Hong Kong affairs.

China will make its position clear, he said in a regular press conference March 12, adding that the meeting, proposed by the U.S. side, should focus on cooperation.
(@FahadShabbir)

A university in Pakistan expelled two students who embraced after getting engaged on campus, after a video of the incident spread on social media this week

Lahore, Pakistan, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Mar, 2021 ) :A university in Pakistan expelled two students who embraced after getting engaged on campus, after a video of the incident spread on social media this week.

In the clip, a female university student gets down on one knee and proposes to her boyfriend; the couple can then be seen hugging and holding bouquets of flowers as onlookers cheer them on and film the scene.

The University of Lahore said the pair had acted "in violation of university rules".

It added in a statement on Friday that they had failed to appear before a disciplinary hearing and were later expelled for "serious infraction of the code of conduct".

Public displays of affection between couples -- whether married or not -- are viewed as culturally and religiously unacceptable.

The couple has refused to apologize.

"We did nothing wrong, and we are not sorry for this," Hadiqa Javaid tweeted.

"Can anyone explain to us what wrong we did by proposal in public in University of Lahore?", her fiance Shehryar Ahmed said, adding that couples had previously proposed to each other on campus.

They said they had received online threats for the show of affection.

Condemning the university's decision, the Progressive Students' Collective union on Saturday tweeted that "moral policing in universities has become a norm lately".

Some universities in Pakistan have barred female students from wearing jeans, tank-tops or makeup, while others regulate interactions between male and female students.

The annual rallies calling for women's rights have received a fierce backlash since they first began in Karachi in 2018, including legal challenges to have them banned.
Drilling activity remained stable this week, according to the weekly rig count released by the oilfield services firm Baker Hughes and data analytics firm Enverus.

The two companies said the US rig count dipped by one rig to 402. That is 390 fewer rigs at work nationwide than the 792 active last year.

There were 309 rigs drilling for oil, down one and 374 below the 683 drilling for oil last week. There were 92 rigs drilling for natural gas, unchanged from the previous week and 15 rigs below the 107 drilling for natural gas last year.

Texas added one rig for 203-- 205 rigs below the 408 rigs drilling statewide last March. New Mexico dipped one rig to 60 for the week. West Virginia and Ohio joined Texas as producing states adding rigs while North Dakota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania joined New Mexico as states losing rigs.

The Permian Basin added one rig to 212, 206 fewer than the 418 rigs reported in the region last year.

Eddy and Lea counties in New Mexico were the most active counties in the Permian with 30 rigs each, up two for Eddy County and down three for Lea County.

Midland and Reeves counties each reported 22 rigs, up one rig for each county. Howard County reported 19 rigs, up two for the week. Martin County had the steepest decline, falling six rigs to 18. Loving County lost one rig to 15 Upton County has 12 rigs, unchanged for the week. Glasscock County showed the largest gain for the week, rising three rigs to four at work within county lines.

Dawson County saw no activity during the week, losing its one rig. Ector County had lost its one rig the week before.

According to Enverus Rig Analytics, the US count is up 7 percent in the last month but remains down 43 percent year-over-year.

Enverus noted that this week marks one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and one year since companies started looking to shed rigs. Declines continued through early July, when the US count bottomed out at 266. Today, the rig count is 76 percent higher than the 2020 bottom.

In the last year, two regions have actually seen an increase in drilling, both of which are gas focused. The Ark-La-Tex count is up by three rigs year-over-year at 52. In the Northeast, two rigs have been added in the last year, bringing the total to 44. The rest of the major US oil and gas regions lost 43-62 percent of their rigs, with the Rockies declining 62 percent, or 63 rigs, to 38 as of March 10. Tallying a more-than-50 percent drop were the Gulf Coast (minus 46 rigs to 43) and West Coast (minus seven to six).

It follows that the companies that have added the most rigs year-over-year are Marcellus and Haynesville producers. CNX Resources went from no rigs this time last year to two presently, while Marcellus peers HG Energy and National Fuel Gas each added two, bringing their totals to two and three rigs, respectively. In the Haynesville, Comstock Resources and Indigo Natural Resources are also both up by two rigs YOY, to totals of seven and six, respectively.

Declines by major operators included ExxonMobils running 57 fewer rigs year-over-year at eight. ConocoPhillips is down by 21 rigs at 14, and Chevron is down by 19, to nine. Other multi-basin drillers with double-digit declines were Continental Resources (down 14 to six), Devon Energy (down 10 to 17) and EOG Resources (down 10 to 22).

Permian pure-plays Pioneer Natural Resources and Diamondback Energy dropped the most in a single basin, with Pioneer shedding 17 rigs to land at 21 and Diamondback losing nine and now at 16.
Photo: BC gov. Flickr Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry

One day after Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the first easing of COVID-19 restrictions, British Columbia has recorded the largest jump in single-day new cases since early January. But for the first time since early November, there have been no new COVID-19 deaths in the province.

Another 648 more British Columbian have contracted the disease, including 39 in the Interior.

The new cases bring the total positive tests since the beginning of the pandemic to 86,867, and there remains 5,070 active cases. Active cases increased by 209 since Thursday.

Of these, 255 people are currently hospitalized with the disease  up by 11 since Thursday  67 of whom are being treated in ICU.

There are 378 active cases of the virus in the Interior. Of these, 15 people are hospitalized, five of whom are in ICU.

Another 9,155 people across the province are self-isolating after coming into contact with a COVID-positive person.

For the first time since Nov. 5, no new COVID-related deaths have been recorded across all of B.C. There remains a total of 1,397 total deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

Two new outbreaks have been declared at White Rock's Oceana Park Retirement Living and at Ridge Meadows Hospital.

Since Thursday, 13,952 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, for a total of 380,743 doses, 87,024 of which are second doses.

There were 79 new variants of concern cases identified in the past 24 hours for a total of 717. To date, 667 cases of the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, 36 cases of the B.1.351 (South Africa) variant and 14 cases of the P.1 (Brazil) variant have been discovered in B.C. Of these, 99 remain active.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.




Haiti - USA : The Ambassador of Haiti disappointed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC)





Statement by Haitian Ambassador to Washington Bocchit Edmond on the composition of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) panel and the message it sends.



Statement by Ambassador Bocchit Edmond :



""Haiti currently faces a turning point and enormous challenges as we work to preserve and strengthen our nations democracy. Our Government welcomes the U.S. Congress engaging on developments in Haiti at this important time. We value the US-Haiti partnership.



However, we must express our concerns about the composition of todays House Foreign Affairs Committee panel and the message it sends. The Government of Haiti is first to acknowledge that, often, difficult conversations must be had and difficult steps must be taken to make progress.



It is in the furtherance of taking these steps that President Jovenel Moise is engaging in a national dialogue with members of the political opposition to create consensus around the plans for legislative and presidential elections.



Our concern with todays hearing is that the selection of panelists exhibits a failure to hear from all sides  a crucial component to effective dialogue and analysis.



While we commend inclusion of civil society orgs and encourage voicing all views govt critics and supporters we encourage HFAC to strive for a reasonably balanced dialogue grounded inand informed by facts. Our nations most pressing issues deserve to be treated with seriousness.



It's a missed opportunity to hear from a representative, inclusive range of Haitian voicesand hold a robust discussion. Despite the importance of the topics, HFAC has included no independent experts eg. constitutional and election scholars, economists, public health experts.



During the Moises administration final year in office, well continue to work with all sectors in Haiti, our partners in the US government and the International community to create a brighter tomorrow for the people of Haiti."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The coronavirus has been running rampant for months through Immigration and Customs Enforcement's network of jails holding civil immigration detainees fighting deportation - but the agency has no vaccination program and, unlike the Bureau of Prisons, is relying on state and local health departments to procure vaccine doses. Nobody can say how many detainees have been vaccinated.

The Biden administration says it wants to make every adult in the United States eligible for vaccination by May - and immigration agents have said they would not interfere with efforts to vaccinate undocumented immigrants outside of detention. But lawyers for immigrants who are detained say there is no urgency to vaccinate those in federal custody against a deadly pathogen that can spread fast in confined spaces.

"ICE has no plan to provide vaccines on a systemwide basis," said Melissa Riess, a staff attorney for Disability Rights Advocates in California, one of several nonprofits that filed a federal lawsuit in California seeking the release of detainees with high-risk health conditions. "That's having horrendous consequences. It seems like they're doing nothing."

The California case is one of dozens of legal battles riveted on the immigration agency's treatment of civil immigration detainees during the pandemic. The coronavirus has ripped through many of ICE's detention facilities, infecting nearly 10,000 detainees and killing nine. At least 370 detainees are currently positive for the virus, according to agency records.

Prisons and detention centers - like nursing homes, college dorms and other communal living settings - are places where the virus has spread rapidly because their shared spaces can make it difficult to stay apart. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended vaccinations for people in prisons and jails, but the limited supply so far has led to debates at the state and local levels over who should get them first.

Unlike ICE, the Bureau of Prisons has a program to vaccinate federal inmates imprisoned for criminal cases, and vaccine doses are shipped directly from manufacturers to the prisons. Since staffers come and go, they get the shots first, followed by prisoners. Approximately 14,700 of the 152,000 inmates have gotten the injections so far - a small but growing share that the BOP updates each weekday online.

No similar system exists at ICE, and a Business Insider investigation last monthfound that the agency had no vaccination plan.

Dr. Ada Rivera, a top medical official at ICE, said in the federal lawsuit in California last month that officials told the Department of Homeland Security earlier in the pandemic that they needed thousands of vaccine doses for detainees, and DHS officials relayed that information to those running Operation Warp Speed. But ICE has not received any vaccine doses directly and is relying on state and local health departments to deliver them, an ICE spokeswoman said. Most have not provided any doses.

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody," spokeswoman Danielle Bennett said. "A limited number of ICE detainees have begun to receive the coronavirus vaccine based on availability and priorities for vaccinating individuals in the state where they are currently detained."

DHS declined to comment, and the Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment.

ICE runs a network of more than 200 public and privately run facilities and county jails, which at one point during the Trump administration held an average of more than 50,000 people a day, a record high. The agency is now detaining fewer than 14,000 people a day, its lowest average in decades, in keeping with CDC recommendations and court orders. Unlike convicted criminals in federal BOP prisons, immigrants are held for the civil purpose of attempting to carry out their deportations.

Records show that the virus has spread through ICE facilities over the last year, with hundreds infected in states such as Texas, Georgia, Arizona and Virginia.

Eloy Detention Center, in the Arizona desert, is monitoring 47 active coronavirus infections, according to ICE. The South Texas ICE Processing Center outside San Antonio has 38 active cases, while a facility in Batavia, N.Y., has 51 cases.

In Batavia, a small federal detention facility near the Canadian border, detainees said in interviews that they can hear sick immigrants coughing in their bunks. Some moan with headaches.

"I'm trying to stay alive. Right now this place is infested with the virus," Aldwin Brathwaite, 59, a grandfather from Trinidad and Tobago who came to the United States in 1979 with a green card, said in a phone interview this week.

Brathwaite said he has cancer and has been detained since January 2019, longer than he spent in state prison for felony identity theft and other nonviolent crimes. ICE did not respond to his claims. He remains negative for the virus, his lawyer said.

"Honestly, I'm scared," he added. "I don't want to be the first one to die here."

Elvin Minaya Rodriguez, 38, said he is facing deportation to the Dominican Republic because he has a state drug conviction, which he is appealing. He said he is married to a U.S. citizen, has a green card, and has spent two years in detention trying to keep it.

Rodriguez said he wears a mask and tried to stay away from others to avoid becoming infected, though he has a low-paid prison job serving food to other detainees. In late February, his head and limbs throbbed with pain. Phlegm filled his lungs. His pale skin turned red.

"The virus got me," he said in Spanish from detention, where he recovered. "I thought I was going to die."

Without a vaccination, he fears he will catch the virus again. He said he has high blood pressure.

ICE officials say they are taking precautions inside the centers, testing immigrants for the coronavirus and quarantining them upon arrival, and isolating and caring for those who test positive.

"Detainees who test positive for COVID-19 receive appropriate medical care to manage the disease," ICE said in a statement.

But lawyers say immigration officials are still holding too many immigrants at high risk of the disease, making the lack of vaccinations even more pressing.

U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal ruled Wednesday that he would appoint a special monitor to oversee ICE's compliance with his order last year to consider releasing detainees with serious medical conditions or disabilities, calling ICE's latest efforts "exceedingly slow."

"This is particularly concerning as the public health emergency rages on," he wrote.

Other lawsuits are fighting for detainees' health in county jails or federal facilities.

In western New York, lawyers have begged a federal judge for weeks to make sure 85 detainees with medical conditions at the Batavia detention center get vaccinated.

Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo in New York has warned officials that "this is life-threatening stuff," and he told lawyers at a hearing Thursday to vaccinate detainees.

"Guys, this is not rocket science," said Vilardo, who criticized the agency last week for doing "zero" to get vaccine doses. "We can get this done."

Government lawyers said they would abide the court's orders, but in court filings they suggested that the immigrants sue the New York state government to secure vaccine doses instead.

"If we had unlimited resources, we would vaccinate everybody," Justice Department lawyer Adam Khalil said during the hearing Thursday. "Unfortunately, that's not the case."

He said detainees were also spreading the virus by not wearing masks or social distancing.

"You have to take some self-responsibility," Khalil said.

John Peng, a lawyer with Prisoners' Legal Services of New York who is representing the immigrants at the Batavia facility with the New York American Civil Liberties Union, said ICE should ensure that the detainees are protected.

"This is ICE's responsibility," he said in an interview. "The government is choosing to detain someone."
A teenager who stabbed with a screwdriver a man who did not give him a cigarette has been jailed for ten months.

Dubliner Ross Crea (18) was aged 16 when he committed the completely senseless act of violence and upon his arrest he was extremely intoxicated to the point of being unable to get to his feet in a garda station.

Crea of Hardwicke Street in the city centre pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Cope Street, Dublin 2 on April 18, 2019. His previous convictions include robbery, attempted robbery and criminal damage.

Garda Stephen Wade told Eoghan Cole BL, prosecuting, that in the early hours of the morning on the date in question, the victim had left his place of work with a friend and was walking in the city centre when he was approached by the accused and another person.

Gda Wade said Crea asked them for a cigarette, but they said they did not smoke and tried to leave. Crea blocked them from leaving and stabbed the victim in the shoulder with a screwdriver before running away.

The victim sustained a puncture wound to his shoulder which did not require inpatient treatment at a hospital and he went back to work the next day. He has since returned to his home country.

Gda Wade said he believed Crea had lost his temper when the victim would not give him a cigarette.

The garda agreed with Jane Murphy BL, defending, that her client was extremely intoxicated upon his arrest and was unable to get to his feet in a garda station. He agreed the screwdriver had the diameter and the length of a pen.

Ms Murphy said her client had previously been living with his grandmother and had moved back to the city centre to live with his mother and step-father after they had come out of a period of homelessness.

Counsel said there was a lack of structure in which her client was not attending school, was staying out late at night, and was drinking alcohol and taking pills.

She said this was a completely senseless act of violence. She said her client has little recollection of the offence, but he accepts full responsibility for it and is remorseful.

Judge Martin Nolan said that thankfully it was not a serious injury. He said the accused does deserve a custodial sentence, but that it was be lessened on the basis of his youth at the time and the hope for rehabilitation.

Judge Nolan sentenced Crea to two years imprisonment, but suspended the final 14 months on strict conditions.
(Newser)  Russian police detained some 200 peopleincluding high-profile figures opposed to Russian President Vladimir PutinSaturday after breaking up an conference being held at a Moscow hotel, the BBC reports. The action came amid a multi-pronged crackdown on dissent in that country, per the AP. Authorities said that participants were not adhering to coronavirus precautions and that the event was linked to an undesirable organization, according to Reuters. Those detained would be charged with administrative violations, police said. Among those detained was Ilya Yashin, an opposition politician who leads one of Moscow's municipal districts; former Yekaterinburg mayor Yevgeny Roizman; and Moscow municipal council member Yulia Galyamina. Their goal was to scare people away from engaging in politics, politician and event organizer Andrei Pivovarov said in a video he recorded while in a police van.

story continues below

Pivovarov has played a leading role in Open Russia, a group funded by Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Khodorkovsky moved to London after spending 10 years in prison in Russia on charges widely seen as political revenge for challenging President Vladimir Putins rule. The crackdown on the forum follows the arrest and imprisonment of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. Putins most determined political foe was arrested on Jan. 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Last month, Navalny was sentenced to more than two years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany, a sentence he says is retribution from the Kremlin. The government has been targeting opposition recently ahead of parliamentary elections set for September, per the AP. (Read more Moscow stories.)
Pelosi Kicks Off Infrastructure Debate, Teases Big, Bold, and Transformational Package

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on March 12 that she has directed key Democratic lawmakers to work with Republicans on drafting the next big legislative push from Congressthe much-anticipated infrastructure package. Pelosi said it would be big, bold, and transformational, but its also drawing scrutiny on how it will be paid for.

Pelosi made the announcement in a statement infused with hope for bipartisanship, which fell short in the American Rescue Plan. Democrats passed the $1.9 trillion package along strictly partisan lines, with Republicans denouncing it as a liberal wish list that was packed with non-pandemic-related spending.

Building our transportation system has long been bipartisan, Pelosi said. It is our hope that spirit will prevail as we address other critical needs in energy and broadband, education and housing, water systems and other priorities.

Fresh off the American Rescue Plan clearing the Senate through a budget reconciliation process that let Democrats avoid having to get any Republican buy-in, Democrats are anxious to get some members of the GOP on board, both to satisfy optics and to avoid taking the drastic step of removing the filibuster.

Biden campaigned on being a unity candidate who could work across the aisle to get important legislation through Congress, but the partisan passage of the American Rescue Plan, adopted over the objections of Republicans, has undercut that image. And reaching for the so-called nuclear option of scuttling the Senate filibuster rulewhich makes it so that most legislation has to meet a 60-vote supermajority thresholdis both highly contentious and vocally opposed by some Democrats.

One of those to go on the record against doing away with the filibuster is Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who has also emerged as a champion of bipartisanship, warning his Democrat colleagues against riding roughshod over Republican objections.

Manchin told Axios on HBO in an interview published March 8 that hell block Bidens next major legislative thrust unless more effort is made to include Republican voices.

In the interview, Manchin said the American Rescue Plan could have won some Republican backing if just a few concessions had been made.

I am not going to get on a bill that cuts them out completely before we start trying, Manchin said. I would say this to my friends. Youve got power. Dont abuse it. And thats exactly what youll be doing if you throw the filibuster out.

A big question mark remains in how to pay for the massive boost in spending that the infrastructure package would surely entail. Concerns about the topline cost and competing visions for how to raise the money have prevented Congress from approving a big infrastructure package for more than a decade.

So far, Democrats have been careful to avoid putting a price tag on the initiative, which is rumored to be worth at least $2 trillion.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), in an interview with The Sacramento Bee, said Biden is considering raising taxes as a way to pay for the infrastructure planincluding an excise tax on fuel, some form of a user fee for electric vehicles on highways, and a carbon tax. Garamendi didnt provide specifics on taxes, nor on the overall cost of the package.

No price tag right now, because were going at this from the bottom up, Garamendi told the outlet. Well say, Whats the cost of broadband, whats the cost of repairing bridges? and go from there.

Pelosi, in her March 12 statement, said she hoped the measures would address transportation as well as other critical needs in energy and broadband, education and housing, water systems, and other priorities.

During his presidential campaign, Biden pledged to invest $2 trillion in fixing highways, bridges, and airports; building climate-resilient homes; wiring cities for broadband internet; and encouraging the manufacturing of fuel-efficient cars and installing electric vehicle charging stations.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) told Reuters on March 10 that his tentative timeline is to have his committees portion of the infrastructure bill approved by the panel in May.

It is going to be green and it is going to be big, he told the outlet.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), wrote on Twitter on March 13 that bipartisan legislation to fix our nations infrastructure is essential to the long-term, comprehensive solutions our country needs and that she looks forward to working on both sides of the aisle to deliver for the American people.

In an accompanying video interview, Capito said Republicans would start the infrastructure discussions in the spirit of bipartisanship and would use a surface transportation reauthorization bill that the EPW advanced last Congress by a unanimous 210 vote as a baseline.

Capito expressed optimism for a bipartisan package in a recent op-ed in USA Today, but warned Democrats against padding the bill with unrelated spending priorities.

I am optimistic that we can move a bipartisan surface transportation bill across the finish line, but I want to temper my optimism with a word of caution, she wrote. The strong bipartisan support that exists will not extend for a multi-trillion dollar package stocked full of ideologically driven, one-size-fits-all policies that tie the hands of states and communities.

Republicans objected to many of the line items in the American Rescue Plan, including some $850 billion for state and local governments, which the GOP has repeatedly called a bailout for mismanaged, Democrat-led states and cities.
The state and the city of Chicago are partnering with building owners to make vaccination clinics available to workers in major commercial buildings in downtown Chicago and other cities across Illinois
Another scandal involving obscure little governmental agencies, another pledge by legislators to clean up the symptom.

This time its the story of corruption that reporters working on The Post and Couriers Uncovered team discovered in a Greenville suburb, where a handful of write-in candidates managed to get themselves elected, with fewer than three dozen votes each, to the commission that oversees the $2.1 million-a-year Clear Spring Fire and Rescue department. They proceeded to lavish themselves with taxpayer-funded perks, make extravagant purchases for the department, get a commissioner's husband promoted way past his level of competence, get others fired when they asked questions and send firefighter morale plummeting.

In response, Upstate legislators vowed to inject some accountability and scrutiny into special-purpose districts, perhaps by requiring more proactive disclosure, perhaps by making changes aimed at improving the visibility of elections.

Just like legislators promised last month to require some special-purpose district commissioners to comply with the same ethics reporting requirements as other state and local officials after our reporters revealed lavish spending by the part-time board members who oversee five public gas utilities.

Just like they will no doubt promise to make reforms that address whatever discrete abuses our reporters reveal in the next chapter of their yearlong investigation into the hundreds of special little governments that usually slid below the radar even when South Carolina had more and larger newspapers than we have today.

Just like every little scandal of these special little governments has elicited calls for change and promises of reform. For decades.

Legislators might indeed follow through on some of the reforms theyve promised for these latest scandals. And they need to, because changes could be made immediately to stanch the bleeding.

But the reforms inevitably target the specific abuse this time around  what generals call fighting the last war. So over time, the obscure little officials who run the obscure little governments will find another way to abuse the public trust  just like officials with our special little governments have done every time they've been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

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Of course, this happens with any sort of reform to government, or to businesses. The difference is that these are not necessary little governments. They are an extra layer of government, whose cumulative effect is to increase the overall cost of government and increase the opportunities to abuse the taxpayer and therefore increase the opportunities to erode public trust in government, by giving us more targets about whom we can say: typical government abuse.

Oh, most of these special little anachronisms provide needed services. Most were created back when there were no county governments to meet a need; the resident state senator pulled together a few supporters to provide a specific service  electricity, fire, water, recreation  in a specific area, and then wrote a law to keep the program operating in perpetuity. But the Legislature empowered county governments to provide services almost 50 years ago; it just never absorbed its special little governments into them.

Or, in cases such as Clear Spring Fire and Rescue, the county government actually created the special little governments, rather than creating a countywide fire agency that could operate more efficiently and with county oversight.

The good thing about locally created special governments is that a county council doesnt need the Legislatures blessing to reform or even abolish them. Thats why the Greenville County Council was able to replace the Clear Spring elections  which clearly did not interest voters  with council appointment.

Its the least counties throughout the state should do with all the special little governments they created, because voters elect county councils to provide countywide services  and reasonably expect that includes all of those services that some have doled out to independent commissions.

Unfortunately, counties and cities have no control over most special-purpose districts, and state law makes it extremely difficult to disband them unless they want to be disbanded. In any event, the last time the S.C. Supreme Court spoke on this topic, it said the Legislature couldnt eliminate a single special-purpose district  it had to abolish all or none of them.

Thanks to the work of Tony Bartelme, Joseph Cranney, Glenn Smith and Avery G. Wilks, its becoming clear  and no doubt will continue to become even clearer as the months go on  that the right choice is abolishing them all.
Amazon.com Inc's Canada division has been ordered to close its Brampton facility in southern Ontario, with workers being asked to self-isolate for 14 days, according to a statement from Peel Public Health on Friday.

Over the past few weeks, the rate of COVID-19 infection across Peel has been decreasing while the rate inside Amazon's fulfillment center has been increasing significantly, according to Peel Public Health.

Amazon said it will appeal the decision, adding that the facility closure may have some short-term impact on its Canadian customers.

The company said that in its most recent round of mandatory testing in the facility, COVID-19 positive cases were less than 1%.

Peel Public Health said a current investigation determined high-risk exposure to COVID-19 for everyone working at the facility cannot be ruled out.

All employees will be required to self-isolate through March 27, unless they have tested positive in the last 90 days and completed their isolation period, the health agency said.

Last month, New York's Attorney General Letitia James sued Amazon over its handling of worker safety issues related to the pandemic at two warehouses, a Staten Island fulfillment center and a Queens distribution center, both in New York City.

Also read: ICICI-Videocon case: Venugopal Dhoot appears before court, gets bail in money laundering charges
At least 12 people were killed in Myanmar after violent crackdowns on anti-coup protesters on Saturday, making it one of the deadliest days since the military regime took power last month.

Four protesters were killed, and 19 others were injured with nearly half of them in critical condition in Sein Pan ward of Mandalay, the nations second largest city, according to authorities. Witnesses and local media outlets said three protesters were killed in Yangon overnight, two died in the Bago region and one protester was shot dead in the Magway region.

The death toll was 81 as of Friday, according to the UN Human Rights Office, with the latest fatalities yet to be tallied. On March 3, 21 protesters were killed, while 12 died in crackdowns on March 11.

Demonstrators continued to take to the streets in Mandalay on Saturday evening, with tens of thousands of engineers and engineering students chanting for an end to military dictatorship and the release of detained leaders including democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
Saudi Arabia requires foreign companies to establish their regional headquarters in the capital. The law will come into force in 2024 and leaves ample time (and room for negotiation). Analysts and experts speak of whim of bin Salman. The emirate remains more attractive not only for funding, but for greater freedom (including of faith).

Riyadh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Political allies, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) represent an economic and commercial rival for Riyadh on a regional and international level, capable so far of better attracting wealth and investments than the Wahhabi kingdom.

However, the picture could change in the not too distant future, thanks to investments and (attempts at) reforms launched by the house of the Saud. First of all, the ambitious decades-long "Vision 2030" plan promoted by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (Mbs), who would like to redesign the face of the nation with openness to modernity, glossing over draconian human rights abuses.

Riyadh recently announced its intention to close existing contracts with companies and commercial entities whose regional headquarters are not established in the kingdom. The provision, which is not intended to affect investors' ability to enter the domestic market or pursue activities in the private sector, will come into effect on January 1, 2024.

Some analysts and local investors have dubbed it a whim" by MBS, because setting such a distant date is a way to grant ample room for negotiation to the companies already operating and find a solution with the government. While remaining the most important economy in the Arab world, in fact, Saudi Arabia also has to face the repercussions due to the new coronavirus pandemic and the collapse in oil prices. In addition, the unemployment rate reached 15%, although foreign companies present in the country are forced by law to reserve a quota for Saudi citizens in terms of workforce.

In the meantime, a working group linked to the Saudi Ministry of Investments has launched a real recruitment campaign to persuade companies, multinationals and businesses to set up regional offices in Riyadh. Among the bonuses proposed are favourable taxation, waivers on visas to passports for at least 10 years and economic incentives for hiring local staff. A not too veiled way to align with the positions of Dubai and compete with what, at the moment, remains the pole of greatest attraction in the whole Middle East. In reality, the offer did not have the desired effects and the gap with the emirate still remains wide to bridge.

To encourage development and free the nation from oil, the crown prince personally approved the project that will lead to the birth of the futuristic city of Neom. North of Riyadh rises the al-Aqiq district, a financial centre launched in 2006 and dotted with skyscrapers and modern buildings on a total of 1.6 million square meters. Construction work is still in progress, but the area is already a popular walking destination for many citizens, although inside many offices remain empty. A merciless confrontation with the financial center of Dubai, born two years earlier and characterized by a vibrant atmosphere and a volume of business among the first in the world.

The goal of the Saudi authorities is to convince at least 500 foreign companies to establish their regional headquarters in the capital within the next 10 years, while creating 35,000 new jobs. Nevertheless, Dubai maintains the primacy for the best investment opportunities offered, greater freedom of life and the nationality granted to certain categories of workers. The common opinion is that "Dubai remains 10-15 years ahead" compared to Riyadh and the Saudis, who in addition to the economy should look to rights and freedoms, even that of worship today prohibited in the kingdom except for Sunni Islam, to attract investors and capital from abroad.
Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka said his country may submit a new entry to the Eurovision Song Contest after the first one was rejected for being political.

The song I'll Teach You by the band Galasy ZMesta sparked a backlash for singing the praises of Lukashenka with lyrics such as, "I'll teach you how to dance to the tune, I'll teach you to take the bait, I'll teach you to walk the line."

Eurovision organizers on March 11 rejected Minsks entry and threatened Belarus with disqualification if it did not submit a modified version of the song or a new entry.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said the song would put the nonpolitical nature of the contest in question, and that recent reactions to the proposed entry risk bringing the reputation of the ESC into disrepute.

Lukashenka has faced nearly daily protests to step down since the country's presidential election on August 9 handed him another term despite charges the election was rigged.

More than 30,000 people have been arrested, hundreds beaten, and several people killed in the government crackdown on protesters.

Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent.

Calls to kick out Belarus's entrant to the annual Eurovision Song Contest had been growing in the run-up to the event in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam on May 18-22.

"They are starting to press us on all fronts, Lukashenka said on March 13 in his first remarks on the row. Even at Eurovision, I see.

"We'll make another song," he added, according to the presidential press service.

Belarus's national broadcaster, BTRC, on February 9 announced it had selected Galasy ZMesta to represent the country at the contest.

Galasy ZMesta has slammed the country's pro-democracy movement, writing on its website that the group could not stay "indifferent" while "political battles try to break the country we love and in which we are living."

The five-member group has backed Lukashenka, and its front man, Dzmitry Butakou, openly laments the breakup of the Soviet Union.

With reporting by Reuters
The Bihar Vidhan Sabha saw BJP and RJD MLAs involved in scuffles and hurling abuses at each other on Saturday over the liquor smuggling allegation against Minister Ram Surat Rai.

MLAs led by Sanjay Sarawgi and Janak Singh went into the well of the Assembly and were involved in scuffles with the MLAs who were already present in the well and protesting against the minister.

The incident happened after Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav addressed the House on the health budget. During his speech, he used the word 'liquor' once as he and his party leaders were protesting against Ram Surat Rai since the morning. This led to heated arguments between the BJP and RJD MLAs.

RJD leaders alleged that the BJP MLAs deliberately interrupted Tejashwi Yadav and did not allow him to address the House. The RJD MLAs then trooped into the well of the House. Subsequently, the BJP leaders also jumped into the well and were involved in scuffles with the RJD MLAs. Both the sides hurled abuses at each other. Seeing this, Speaker Vijay Sinha adjourned the House till 3 p.m.

When the House resumed at 3 p.m., Vijay Sinha said: "Such behaviour of elected public representatives is extremely painful, unfortunate and cannot be justified. It is against democracy. The House is run under guidelines of the Vidhan Sabha."

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav also expressed the same view and said that what happened a few hours ago was extremely unfortunate.

"I want to point out that some leaders from the ruling party were dictating to the chair (Speaker). It was highly objectionable. It is against the rules of the Vidhan Sabha. I also point out that the Speaker, Chief Minister, other ministers and Leader of Opposition are constitutional posts in a democracy. On the other hand, the post of Deputy CM is unconstitutional. There is no such post in the Constitution. In this case, why did MLAs and Deputy CM dictate to the Speaker and why did they not allow the Leader of Opposition to complete his statement," Tejashwi said.

--IANS

ajk/bg

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A cold front is blasting toward Northern California and expected to bring moderate rain to the Bay Area tomorrow through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

The unstable system could bring 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch of rain in lower elevations and up to an inch in higher locations, said Jeff Lorder, a NWS meteorologist.

There should be light to moderate rain, Lorder said. And briefly some gusty winds as it comes through and behind the front.

The system could also bring thunderstorms late Sunday or early Monday.

The cold air will drop temperatures in the interior region to close to freezing, particularly in the North Bay valleys. The drop in temperatures has led to at least one county activating a warming shelter over the weekend.

Santa Clara County officials are encouraging homeless individuals, particularly those in the south portions of the county, to take advantage of shelters and to protect themselves against hypothermia. Outreach teams are distributing ponchos and blankets to encampments and urging unhoused people to go to the Gilroy Armory shelter, located at 8490 Wren Ave., where there are beds for people seeking refuge from the cold.

The storm is expected to bring snow to the Sierra as well and coincide with Daylight Saving Time, with clocks jumping forward an hour Sunday.

And more rain and snow are forecasted for the end of next week, Lorder said. A second system could arrive Friday or Saturday, and a third system Sunday or Monday, he said, bringing more needed rain.

Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni
Second Winter: Anchorage Gets up to 18 Inches of Fresh Snow

ANCHORAGE, AlaskaResidents in some parts of Alaskas largest city woke Thursday to a surprise: up to 18 new inches of snow.

The storm, however, caused few headaches in Anchorage.

Luckily, were pretty familiar with big snowstorms, said Chelsea Ward-Waller, a special assistant to the acting mayor.

The state closed all Division of Motor Vehicle offices throughout southcentral Alaska on Thursday because of the widespread storm.

Anchorage police say compared to March 4, there were more than twice the number of vehicles in distress. However, there were fewer accidents and fewer people sustaining non-life threatening injuries, department spokesman MJ Thim said.

This storm was unusual in that east Anchorage, or the side of town closest to the Chugach Mountains, got hammered while the west side, or closet to the ocean, recorded only about 3 inches of snow, said Michael Kutz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Anchorage.

I live on the east side of town, and I had 16 inches of snow on the ground when I woke up this morning, Kutz said.

Thats where we get the mix of the snow to come over the top and dumps all over us, he said. Snowfalls varied, from 15 inches or 16 inches in east Anchorage to about 18 inches on the Anchorage Hillside.

Dirk Westfall operates a snowblower at his home in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 11, 2021. (Mark Thiessen/AP Photo)

Judi Westfall had just returned to Anchorage from Sedona, Arizona, where she thought she was going to escape a forecast of snow in the high desert city.

It was snowing when I got home last night, but I didnt expect it to be over a foot of snow today so a little bit of a shocker for us, she said while taking a break from shoveling at her East Anchorage home.

She was taking care of the first layer of snow because it was too tall for their snowblower, being operated by her husband, Dirk.

An Alaska resident since 1992, she said shes accustomed to these late season storms, which she said some call second winter.

Yet, with blue skies last week and increased daylight returning to Alaska, she said you start thinking maybe winter is actually overeven though you know another storm is probably coming.

And when it happens, it is demoralizing because I did, I felt really sad when I saw all this today, she said.

It may not have felt like it to anyone shoveling, but Anchorage is actually below the average snowfall amount so far this year. Normal seasonal snowfall for March 11 is 64 inches, but only 62.5 inches have fallen so far this year.

And this storm wont help increase the total since the citys official recording station is at the airport, on the west side town, which was spared deep snow.

By Mark Thiessen
Associated Press

The largest warship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances, the latest calamity to strike one of the countrys vessels in recent years amid tensions with the West. The blaze began around 2:25 a.m. and firefighters tried to contain it, the Fars news agency reported, but their efforts failed to save the 207-meter (679-foot) Kharg, which was used to resupply other ships in the fleet at sea and conduct training exercises. The vessel sank near the Iranian port of Jask, some 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) southeast of Tehran on the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz  the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
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Kolkata, March 13 : As promised by her for the hospital bed, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will kick-start her poll campaign on a wheelchair from Monday.

The Trinamool Congress supremo had returned home from the state-run SSKM Hospital on Friday evening, after receiving treatment for the injuries she sustained while campaigning in her constituency in Nandigram in East Midnapore earlier this week.

She will first visit the Purulia district where the Trinamool chief is scheduled to address two public meetings - one at Baghmundi's Jhalda area and another at the Balarampur Rathtala ground.

As per her earlier campaign schedule, she will visit two other districts - Bankura and Jhargram. Sources said that the CM will travel to all these districts by helicopter, but she would remain seated on a wheelchair as she still has a leg injury which has not healed totally.

Banerjee had sustained leg injuries during a poll campaign in Nandigram on Wednesday evening. She got admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital that night itself after she was rushed back to Kolkata via a green corridor. She was discharged from the hospital on Friday.
On Thursday, the former leader of the Honduran drug cartel Los Cachiros, Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, testified before the US District Court for the Southern District of New York that he had bribed three successive Honduran presidents in exchange for protection and government contracts to launder drug proceeds.

Juan Orlando Hernandez (Credit: Alan SantosPR)

According to his testimony, the bribes include hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to the current President Juan Orlando Hernandez (2015-today) through his siblings, and to his Vice-President Ricardo Alvarez, when he was mayor of Tegucigalpa. He said he paid half a million dollars to President Manuel Zelaya (2006-2009) and carried out several deals with President Porfirio Lobo (2010-2014) during their tenures.

Hernandez, Alvarez, Zelaya and Lobo have all published tweets denying any wrongdoing.

Maradiaga had been summoned by US prosecutors to testify in the trial of Geovanny Fuentes, whose partnership with the Cachiros turned into a bloody rivalry around 2013.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution insisted that an alliance with the Hernandez administration helped Fuentess business to flourish.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Jacob Gutwilling said Fuentes was untouchable, a key part of the Honduran narco-state  who worked with police, military, politicians, including the president, who made millions helping the president traffic cocaine.

Evidence includes contact information for the current president as well as for Manuel Zelaya and several high-ranking military and police officials on Fuentes electronic devices.

The US indictment against Fuentes names Hernandez as a co-conspirator who received tens of thousands of dollars in 2013, when Hernandez was president of the Congress and a presidential candidate, in exchange for promises to provide military protection and other assistance.

Hernandez allegedly told Fuentes that he wanted to shove drugs right up the noses of the gringos and to end the extradition agreement with the United States, the indictment says.

The document also indicates that Fuentes used the presidents brother, Tony Hernandez, as an intermediary. In 2019, a New York jury found Tony Hernandez guilty of trafficking cocaine in large scale between 2004 and 2016.

The current trial has received major coverage by Honduran and international media outlets, whose reports have often mentioned that, during the 2019 trial, a witness testified that Tony Hernandez received $1 million from the Sinaloa Cartel leader, Joaquin Chapo Guzman.

While formal charges have not been made public, the open admission by the US Department of Justice that Juan Orlando Hernandez leads a narco-state not only incriminates the entire government and security forces but constitutes an indictment of the Trump and Obama administrations, which propped up his rule with hundreds of millions of dollars.

Amid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes Eta and Iota last November, such allegations threaten to light the fuse of mass opposition to the Hernandez regime. At the same time, it has been a staple policy of US imperialism to scapegoat selected officials in the region when facing mass social opposition to their right-wing policies.

Last year, unemployment nearly doubled to 11 percent, and official poverty jumped to almost 60 percent. The pandemic is surging, and a streak of drought years is expected to continue. On the other hand, Wall Street and the local oligarchy demand social austerity and a regressive economic adjustment, including to pay back the $3.35 billion in loans requested last year.

A BNAmericas report this week cites Ismael Zepeda of the think-tank Fosdeh, who suggests the government offer fiscal adjustment, including taxation, rate reforms, and lower education and health spending in the negotiations for an IMF loan in November. The oligarch Luis Larach cried to the business website, we have the highest taxes in Central America. The solution is to streamline/slim down the government and stop stealing.

Presidential elections are scheduled for November 28, and Hernandez is not running for re-election. Sitting on a social powder keg, Wall Street and the handful of Honduran multimillionaires and billionaires hope to keep plundering the country by placing corruption and drug allegations at the center of the electoral campaign to cover over social questions. While neck-deep in corruption, Hernandez is being thrown to the wolves for this purpose.

This is also the context of Joe Biden administrations $4 billion plan for the Northern TriangleHonduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador supposedly to deal with the roots of mass migration.

The presentation of the plan on the Biden campaign website indicates that its first pillar is attracting greater private investmentboth from international sources and from their citizens being willing to invest at home. The second pillar is improving security and the rule of law, which is followed by addressing endemic corruption and prioritizing poverty reduction and economic development.

However, the Northern Triangles place in global capitalism is as a source of cheap labor and cheap natural resources for US imperialism. Massive poverty to keep wages low, tax incentives, the resulting extreme social inequality, police-state regimes and endemic corruption constitute the basis for attracting greater investments. The social catastrophe today that hundreds of thousands are desperately seeking to escape is the result of more than a century of this imperialist oppression.

Regarding the Maradiaga revelations, it is worth noting that Gen. Julian Pacheco Tinoco (ret.), the countrys security minister since 2015 and the official with the closest ties to Washington, has not been mentioned. During trials in 2017 and 2019, the Cachiros leader had testified that he bribed Pacheco. This can only be interpreted as the US governments assurance of impunity to the Honduran security forces.

According to The Intercept, Pacheco graduated from courses on counterinsurgency tactics in 1979 and psychological operations in 1986 at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Throughout the 1980s, Honduras provided the main base for the Pentagons training and arming of the Guatemalan and Salvadoran militaries to repress left-wing guerrillas, and the CIAs organizing of the terrorist Contra forces to overthrow the Sandinista government. As part of these activities, the Reagan administration consistently protected and financed local officials and Contra leaders who were known drug traffickers.

After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 and the transformation of the guerrillas and Sandinistas into bourgeois parties subordinate to US interests, Washington switched its banner from the war on Communism to the war on drugs to continue its military presence. Honduras has been key in this campaign, which has been escalated as US imperialism seeks to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the hemisphere.

When Honduran President Manuel Zelaya began to establish closer relations with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, a close partner of Russia and China, the Honduran military overthrew him in 2009 with the support of the Obama administration. Pacheco, as reported by The Intercept, was the envoy of the Honduran military to Washington D.C. to defend the coup and re-stabilize collaboration.

The coup regime launched a wave of privatizations and social austerity that plunged millions into poverty. It has remained in power through murderous repression and fraudulent elections, while the Obama and Trump administrations have backed it with hundreds of millions of dollars in aidat least $500 million since 2016, going largely to the military.

This support for a dictatorial regime that speaks for such a venal elite entirely subordinated to Wall Street exposes as ludicrous any claim that the Democratic Party administration has the slightest concern over corruption, democratic rights or the development of Honduras or any other country.
For Subscribers Gov. Noem hires jet consultant to help South Dakota buy new aircraft

An out-of-state consultant has been hired for $195,000 by Gov. Kristi Noem's administration to help the state of South Dakota buy a new aircraft.
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Two men have appeared before a special sitting of Sligo District Court on Friday evening last (5th) after they were arrested following the discovery of drugs totalling over 9,000 in a car.

The two men appeared before the court at 7.30pm on Friday.

Poloko Melato (31) of 45, Ashgrove, Glencairn, Dooradoyle, County Limerick and Maciej Rudnicki (28) of Apt 3, Upper Cecil St, Limerick City were arrested in the early hours of Friday morning (5th) on the Bundoran Road (N15) in Sligo.

Rudnicki was charged with possession of 7,500 worth of cannabis for sale or supply, possession of 2,100 of amphetamine for sale or supply, two counts of simple drug possession for each of the drugs, possession of a knuckle duster and a flick knife.

Melato was charged with the unauthorised taking of a vehicle from his address in Limerick on March 3 last.

Garda TJ Gallagher told the court the men were stopped on the Bundoran Road at 1.35am on March 4 last and were later charged at Ballymote Garda Station.

Expand Close Gardai released this picture of items they say was seized from a car they stopped last Thursday morning (4th) in Sligo on the Bundoran Road / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gardai released this picture of items they say was seized from a car they stopped last Thursday morning (4th) in Sligo on the Bundoran Road

They were cautioned and neither of the men made a reply to the charges.

Bail was granted to both men who were both represented by Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor.

Conditions for bail include they are to reside at the above addresses, comply fully with Covid travel restrictions, and sign on at their local garda stations in Limerick.

Rudnicki, a Polish national was required to surrender his passport and abide by a curfew.

He told the court he has a partner and one child, had been living in Ireland for over seven years and was currently on the 'Covid payment'.

Both men were remanded on bail to April 8th next, awaiting DPP directions. Legal aid was granted. The court was told further charges may be brought at a later date.

When asked how they would make their way back to Limerick, Melato told the court he had an aunt who lived in Tubbercurry who could assist them.
To his Afton Oaks neighbors, Mohamed Mokbel was notorious for hosting extravagant parties and having a Bentley and a Ferrari adorn his driveway.

Now, the 4M Pharmaceuticals CEO is sitting under house arrest inside his lavish $2 million mansion after being charged in a $134 million Medicare scheme.

On Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison approved bond for Mokbel but under specific restrictions. According to his attorney Charles Flood, Mokbel had to provide $250,000 for a secured bond in addition to wearing an ankle monitor.

Federal prosecutors argued Thursday that Mokbel might be a potential flight risk. Attorneys portrayed Mokbel as being a criminal mastermind since the 1990s, according to ABC's 13 Miya Shay. When Mokbel's mansion was raided, agents discovered $100,000 worth of casino chips, $32,000 in gift cards, numerous bank accounts, and details of ownership for a 12-story building in Egypt.

"As Judge Edison pointed out, it's not against the law to be wealthy. It's not against the law to be successful," Flood told ABC-13. "It's not against be successful, make a lot of money running a pharmacy."

Judge Edison who presided over Mokbel's hearing ultimately decided against Mokbel being locked up in federal custody after weighing certain considerations. Specific factors, including the fact that Mokbel has a small child and that he was a U.S. citizen, led to the judge's decision.

Mokbel, 56, and his accountant, Fathy ElSafty, 62, were both charged on one count to commit healthcare fraud, three counts of healthcare fraud and four counts of money laundering, acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery announced on Tuesday.

Federal investigators allege that Mokbel and ElSafty preyed upon the most vulnerable individualsthose over the age of 55. Within the eight-count indictment, investigators claimed 4M Pharmaceuticals functioned as an outbound telemarketing call center that solicited Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance patients.

Medicare payments were allegedly used to pay for lavish luxury items for Mokbel, according to the indictment.

"The funds were allegedly used, in part, to pay for Mokbel's $1.5 million residence, $15 million in gambling and casino expenses and purchases and payments for a Ferrari and Bentley autom0bile," the U.S. Attorney's Office stated.
Chennai, March 13 : Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Puducherry, V. Narayanasamy, has opted out of his constituency in Nellithope, which he had represented after winning a by-election in 2016.

Narayanasamy has been replaced by V. Karthikeyan of the DMK, which is an ally of the Congress in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Karthikeyan is the Chairman of a rural women's college in Puducherry.

"Yes, I have opted out of Nellithope and the Congress list of candidates will be announced by Sunday evening. Please let us wait till the list comes out," Narayanasamy told IANS.

The DMK-Congress alliance is an underdog in Puducherry with several surveys and opinion polls giving a huge mandate to the AIADMK-BJP combine.

However, Congress leaders have put up a brave face and Narayanasamy said, "The Congress-DMK combine is very powerful and we will be forming the next government. The BJP will not survive in this state by using divisive politics. The Congress-DMK combine has the upper hand as the people are with us." With the 30-member Puducherry Assembly going to the polls on April 6, both the AIADMK front and the DMK front are in collision course raising allegations and counter allegations.

BJP's Puducherry unit president V. Saminathan told IANS, "We are not concerned whether Narayanasamy is contesting. He has run away from Nellithope as he knows that he will not win or may even loose the deposit money in that seat." He also said that the BJP-AIADMK combine will sweep the polls and form the next government in Puducherry.
The first non-governmental legal examination of China's abuses in the Xinjiang province has been published by the U.S-based think tank, the Newline Institute for Strategy and Policy.

According to The Guardian, the report foundhow the Chinese government has "breached every single article of the UN genocide convention" while carrying out its human rights abuses to the Uyghur communities in Xinjiang province. The report named China as the sole entity responsible for their genocide.

The 25,000-word report is one of the first major independent, non-government legal examinations of communist China's treatment of the Uyghur community in Xinjiang under the United Nation's Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, a treaty that was adopted in December 1948. The convention is international law that codifies the crime of genocide.

The U.N. convention is signed by 152 countries, including communist China, and outlines the five acts of genocide defined by acts "committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group," including the killing of its members, causing serious bodily or mental harm to them, deliberately inflicting physical destruction on the group's condition of life, imposing measures to prevent childbirth within the group, and forcibly transferring children from one group to another.

The Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy report found that China has violated not one, but all five acts of genocide. The report also revealed proof of interrogations and indoctrination, the targeting of Uyghur leaders, forced sterilization, family separation, selective death sentences, systemic torture, sexual abuse and torture, and mass deaths. It is up to the United Nations to determine how to prosecute and charge the Chinese government for their human rights abuses.

"The evidence is overwhelming that China is clearly in breach of the 1948 Genocide Convention," said Dr. Azeem Ibrahim, co-author of the Newline Institute for Strategy and Policy report, in a conversation with CBN via Faithwire. Such evidence includes "public and leaked Chinese state documents, testimony from more than ten thousand eyewitnesses and satellite images."

This proof that China is committing genocide against Uyghurs is indicative that President Xi Jinping is truly acting upon his desire to consolidate the communist state's ethnic minorities into the Han culture.

"(Xi) himself, is less of a Communist and more of a Han nationalist." Dr. Ibrahim explained. "He's in the process of Sinification of the entire country; and it's not just Uighur Muslims. There's Kazakhs, Uzbeks and even actually Christians minorities, which they have a process of bulldozing their churches."

Indeed, various groups have reported of the Chinese Communist Party's attempts to either erase Christianity from China or to subdue Christians and make them submit to its communist rule. Dr. Bob Fu, founder and President of ChinaAid, says Xi's goal is to completely rid China of independent faiths and stop all people from believing any faith.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet with top Chinese officials next week in Alaska, during which he plans to question them about the evidence of abuses and genocide against Uyghurs in the communist state.

He already publicly condemned China's abuses, challenging them to give access to the United Nations and the international community "if there is nothing going on, if they have nothing to hide."
President Donald Trump's name is seen on a stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, in San Antonio, Texas, on April 23, 2020. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

IRS Starts Processing $1,400 Stimulus Checks, Payments to Start Showing up This Weekend

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began processing a new wave of stimulus payments with the first checks expected to appear in bank accounts this weekend.

The $1.9 trillion stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden on Thursday includes $1,400 direct payments to qualifying individuals.

The payments will be delivered automatically to taxpayers even as the IRS continues delivering regular tax refunds, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement.

The government is aiming to disburse the payments in the next few weeks. Roughly 85 percent of Americans are eligible for the payments.

The stimulus bill is the first of all pandemic relief measures to not receive bipartisan support in Congress. No Republicans voted for the measure, which features a wish-list of left-wing programs, including the biggest expansion of Obamacare in a decade and a refundable child tax credit which is one step removed from universal basic income.

Republicans have argued that only 9 percent of the funds from the package go toward public health.

The $1.9 trillion bill mostly reflects the legislative proposal introduced by Biden. The $1,400 payments will go to each adult, child and adult dependent, such as college students or elderly relatives. Adult dependents were not eligible to receive payments in the previous two rounds of payments.

People with adjusted gross income exceeding $75,000 will receive smaller payments, which drop to zero once income hits $80,000. The payment starts declining for married couples when income exceeds $150,000 and goes to zero at $160,000.

People can check the IRS website beginning on Monday to check the status of their payments. Taxpayers who provided their bank information to the IRS will have the stimulus payments sent directly to their accounts. Others will receive paper checks and debit cards.

In a bid to save time, the IRS will use the bank info from the 2019 tax returns for those who have not yet filed their taxes for 2020.

If a persons job situation changed last year because of the pandemic, which led to millions of people losing jobs or being forced to work reduced hours, officials said that the IRS will adjust the size of the new impact payments after the 2020 return has been filed and provide a supplemental payment if that is called for. Officials said those adjustments will be made automatically by the IRS for people who have already filed their 2020 returns.

Officials said they wanted to handle the payments this way rather than waiting for the 2020 tax return to be filed in the interest of speeding up payments to taxpayers.

Biden and his cabinet officials are planning to go on tour to celebrate the passage of the package. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia as part of the tour.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mayors of the BJP-led municipal corporations on Friday alleged that the in its budget has reduced allocation to the local bodies as it wants to paralyse the three civic bodies.

The charge was made in a joint press conference held by North Delhi Mayor Jai Prakash, South Delhi Mayor Anamika and East Delhi Mayor Nirmal Jain at the Civic Centre, where other senior officials were also present.

The three mayors jointly said that the has reduced budgetary allocation of all three corporations as it wanted to paralyse the civic agencies, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation said in a statement.

The three leaders claimed that the Delhi government's budget has been increasing every year while the corporations' share is decreasing.

The on March 10 had presenteda Rs 69,000-crore budget themed on "patriotism" for financial year 2021-22, announcing free COVID-19 vaccination to all in its hospitals in the coming phases of the ongoing inoculation drive.

Presenting the budget for the seventh consecutive time in the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had proposed to allocate Rs 16,377 crore, one-fourth of total budget for the education sector while the health sector got Rs 9,934 crore.

In other allocations, Sisodia had said, "Our government will provide financial support of Rs 4,367 crore to the local bodies. This includes an amount of Rs 2,298 crore as tied fund for the implementation of schemes, programmes, projects by the local bodies and Rs 2,069 crore as Basic Tax Assignment (BTA)".

In addition to the above, an amount of Rs 1,805 crore has been provided for the local bodies as share in stamps and registration fee and one-time parking fee. The government is thus giving a total financial support of Rs 6,172 crore to the local bodies in budget, he had said.

South Delhi Mayor Anamika alleged that the Delhi government is paralysing the civic agencies by reducing budget allocation every year.

She said the government is trying to derail ongoing development works of all three corporations so that it could get political benefits in the upcoming municipal elections.

North Delhi Mayor Prakash said the budget presented by Delhi government was baseless and far from the reality.

He said in 2018-19, the Delhi government made a provision of Rs 6,930 cr for the corporations, in 2019-20 it was Rs 6,380 cr, in 2020-21 it made a provision of Rs 6,828 cr and in 2021-22 it is just Rs 6,172 cr, which is nearly Rs 700 crore less than the last year.

East Delhi Mayor Jain said that the city government is busy with sloganeering and releasing advertisements as they have nothing to do with development of the city.

The AAP government has constantly accused the three corporations of indulging in corruption and misusing funds.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Deputies Seek to Locate Water Valley Teen

By West Kentucky Star Staff





GRAVES COUNTY - Deputies are requesting the public's help with locating a missing teen.The Graves County Sheriff's Office is searching for 18-year-old Adrian Morris. He was last seen at his home in Water Valley on Wednesday.Morris is described as biracial with a thin build, brown hair and blue eyes.Anyone with information on Morris' whereabouts is asked to contact the Graves County Sheriff's Office at 270-247-4501.
Minneapolis: The city of Minneapolis on Friday agreed to pay $US27 million ($34 million) to settle a civil lawsuit from George Floyds family over the black mans death in police custody on May 25 last year, as jury selection continued in a former officers murder trial.

Council members met privately to discuss the settlement, then returned to public session for a unanimous vote in support of the massive payout. It surpassed the $US20 million ($25 million) the city approved two years ago to the family of Australian woman Justine Damond Ruszczyk, who was shot and killed by a police officer responding to her 911 call in July 2017.

Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump called it the largest pre-trial settlement ever for a civil rights claim, and thanked city leaders for showing you care about George Floyd.

Quincy Mason, centre, the son of George Floyd, and family lawyer Ben Crump, left, kneel, as they visited the memorial on the site where Floyd was arrested and then died in police custody. Credit:AP

Its going to be a long journey to justice. This is just one step on the journey to justice, Crump said. This makes a statement that George Floyd deserved better than what we witnessed on May 25, 2020, that George Floyds life mattered, and that by extension, Black lives matter.
And though having ones brother in the White House may seem like a benefit, for Thrive, the questions mostly arose about whether the Trump connection would hamper its ability to invest in start-ups, especially those run by liberally minded entrepreneurs.

That filial bond had put Mr. Kushner in an awkward position, subject to calls to push his brother and sister-in-law, Ivanka Trump, to change administration policies. But Mr. Kushner steadfastly refused to do so, at least publicly.

Now that Mr. Trump is out of office, that complication may be reduced. But dont expect Mr. Kushner to say much about the challenges of the Trump years, or whether there are any lingering effects on Thrive, good or bad.

He declined to comment for this article.

The family

The Kushner brothers are close. Associates say the two drew even tighter after their father, the real estate developer Charles Kushner, was imprisoned for two years after pleading guilty to illegal campaign donations and witness tampering in 2005. The brothers have also done business together, co-investing in ventures like Cadre, a real-estate technology start-up. (The younger Mr. Kushner has never formally worked for the familys real estate business.)

Jared Kushner divested his holdings in Thrive before joining the White House, and no member of the Trump family has invested in the firm, according to a person briefed on the matter. After leaving the White House, Jared has not invested in Thrive.
TUNIS, Tunisia  Human Rights Watch reports that a Tunisian court sentenced LGBT rights activist Rania Amdouni to six months in prison March 4 and fined her 18 Tunisian dinars ($6.50) for shouting outside a police station after police officers refused to register her harassment complaint. The rights group said the ruling was appealed March 5.

Tunisian authorities should ensure that complaints, including Amdounis, are handled confidentially and swiftly, following a clear procedure, and that people can submit complaints without fear of reprisals, Human Rights Watch said in its March 9 report.

On Feb. 27, Amdouni headed to a police station in downtown Tunis to file a complaint against the administrators of police unions' Facebook pages that published her photos and sent her rape and death threats. However, police officers at the station refused to register her complaint.

Amdouni, 26, is a prominent LGBT rights activist known for her participation in the protests calling for democracy. She became the target of police unions after taking part in protests condemning police repression in January.

One of Amdouni's lawyers, Mohamed Ali Bouchiba, who assumed her defense on behalf of the Damj Association for Justice and Equality, told Al-Monitor that Amdouni is now in a women's prison in Manouba, in the western part of Greater Tunis, following the emergency ruling against her. Setting a date for an appeal in this miserable judiciary takes over a month, which means Amdouni would have served half her sentence by then, he said.

Bouchiba said the officers in the police station refused to register Amdouni's complaint about repeated harassment by officers from the police unions in the streets and online because of her sexual orientation and against the backdrop of her participation in a protest against the law criminalizing attacks on security forces.

He said the officers proceeded to harass her as she tried to file her complaint.

Human Rights Watch reported that another lawyer for Amdouni, Hamadi Hanchiri, said Amdouni then shouted on the street outside the station and cursed the Tunisian police system.

Bouchiba said the public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance in Tunis referred to her behavior outside the station and accused her on March 1 of verbally insulting an on-duty public official, a crime punishable by up to a year in prison under Article 125 of the penal code, claiming she was in a disorderly state.

Bouchiba said, Amdouni had filed five complaints against people sending her threatening letters, but none were followed through. However, an emergency ruling was issued against her in less than 72 hours.

Article 125 of the penal code stipulates that anyone who insults public officials, be it verbally or physically, or threatens them, shall be punished with imprisonment for a year and a fine of 120 Tunisian dinars ($43.57). In a statement issued in July 2017, Human Rights Watch called on the Tunisian parliament to remove this article because it is a flagrant violation of human rights.

Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi said in a March 8 interview on Elhiwar El-Tounsi channel on the occasion of International Women's Day that he sympathizes with Amdouni but cannot interfere with the judiciary. He did say, I hope to see Amdouni outside prison walls.

Speaking on the Midi Show on Mosaique FM on March 8, Bassam al-Tarifi, vice president of the Tunisian Human Rights League, said Amdouni does not deserve the six-month punishment, stressing that she is not a criminal but only an activist who loves life. He blamed the Justice Ministry and the Interior Ministry for what is happening.

In a joint statement March 7, 21 human rights organizations condemned Amdouni's imprisonment, saying it is a clear violation of legal procedures. They stressed the need to immediately release Amdrouni and drop the charges against her, calling on authorities to respect the constitution and to refrain from selectively implementing the laws on freedom of expression.

The Working Women Committee at the Tunisian General Labor Union published a statement March 7 marking International Women's Day and calling for Amdouni's release. She is a victim of police repression and failure to accept the right to be different, the committee said.

Naila Zoghlami, secretary-general of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women defending womens rights, told Al-Monitor that Amdouni has been subjected to a flagrant violation of her rights and legal procedures. This proves that the Tunisian government's claims that it is committed to protecting individual freedoms are false, she said, stressing that Tunisian authorities should investigate police harassment.

Tunisia has made important steps since the 2011 revolution that toppled the regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in the field of freedom of expression and human rights, but the security and police apparatus still needs more reforms, Zoghlami added.
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Health Minister Adrian Dix looks on during a press conference at the Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday May 6, 2020. Health officials are calling on British Columbians to balance the easing of some outdoor restrictions by keeping up safety measures when indoors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
DEAR ABBY: My twin sister moved to another state years ago. We always kept in close contact through telephone calls. But since the invention of caller ID, call waiting, cellphones, texting, etc., things have changed.

Examples: She'll cut off a conversation to answer another nonemergency call. She frantically texts that she needs to talk right now, then doesn't call and won't answer when I try to call her. She doesn't return calls or texts for days.

When we do talk, she complains nonstop, and if I try to chime in about what's happening in my life, she cuts off the conversation. Also, we have a two-hour time difference, so when she does call, it's either super late or the dinner hour. If I can't talk long, she gets mad and blocks me for days.

I don't want to be the etiquette police, but something is off. Advice? -- JUST ABOUT HAD IT IN ILLINOIS

DEAR HAD IT: Has your twin always been this self-centered and rude, or is it relatively new behavior? Do not blame advances in technology for it. Accept that she may have a low level of tolerance for frustration and little interest in what is going on in your life.

If I were you, the next time she blocks you, do not repeatedly try to reach her. Wait until she calls back. If you haven't already taken this up with her directly, you should, because her phone manners are atrocious.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are elderly. We live in a renovated shack I inherited from my family. The neighborhood is degrading, and I'm trying to decide whether to build a new home out in the country on property I own.

If I do, my family, which needs a better place to live, could live in my current house. But I'm worried about the physical and emotional toll it will take on my husband and me to improve the wooded property. I also worry about issues like potential dementia living nearly 30 miles from town in the country.

No matter how much I weigh the pros and cons, I can't reach a decision whether to build or not. Because of our ages, it's now or never. Can you please help me decide? -- STUMPED ABOUT THE FUTURE

DEAR STUMPED: Allow me to offer a third alternative. You described your husband and yourself as elderly and expressed concern about the physical and emotional toll building a new home far from town could cause. It might make more sense to consider selling your current home and/or the rural property and using the money to buy a place in town in a neighborhood that isn't degrading and is near medical facilities should you and your husband need them. At this point in your lives, the last thing you need is stress and isolation.

Couple works to overcome revelation of man's affair

DEAR ABBY: I have been married to my husband for 13 years. He has lied about little things and also about emotional relationships he has had with co-workers. It went on for years, as he moved from one job to another.

A few months ago, I found out from the other woman that he'd had a sexual affair with her. He had been in counseling for months prior because of what he said were mental health issues. In reality, it was because of his guilt.

We are now in marriage counseling and individual counseling, as well. I don't know if it will help because he has been a gaslighter for years. Please tell me what you think. -- PATIENT WIFE IN MINNESOTA

DEAR WIFE: Give the counseling a try. But because of your husband's long history of lying to you, things will have to drastically change in your relationship. Until trust can be established, his life must be an open book -- including his phone messages, texts and credit card statements. That he felt enough guilt that he started counseling is a hopeful sign, but there are no guarantees that your marriage can be saved.

DEAR ABBY: This message is for all those well-meaning people who ask women if they plan on having children (or more of them). Just don't! They may not want children or the inevitable discussion about why they have made that choice. They might be "one and done," and that's OK, too. They may be trying without success or had miscarriages. Or they might even be pregnant but not ready to announce it to anyone.

The last time I was asked was the day I found out I was pregnant. I lost the pregnancy a month later. This line of questioning is not meant to be anything more than curious and kind, but at best it can be uncomfortable, and at worst, painful. Thanks for letting me vent. -- CAREFUL IN CONNECTICUT

DEAR CAREFUL: You're welcome. You have stated it well, and I agree with you. Another common question that can be emotionally loaded is, "Do you HAVE children?" For someone who has lost a child, or has one in rehab or in jail, a truthful answer can also be painful.

DEAR ABBY: A co-worker moved into my town about 18 months ago. Because we have the same schedule, he asked me for a ride to and from work one day. Well, now it seems that I drive him about three times a week.

When he works and I'm off, he takes an Uber, which costs around $25 round trip, but he has never even offered to buy me a cup of coffee. I stopped to buy gas one morning and mentioned I was only going to get $10 worth because it was all the cash I had. He didn't even blink! My daughter says I should charge him a weekly amount or quit taking him. What do you think? -- FROSTED IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR FROSTED: Shame on him. Feel free to tell your co-worker that providing transportation on a regular basis (three times a week?!) is not a free service, and in the future you expect compensation for your efforts. Frankly, he should have offered when it turned out he needed transportation so often. If he gives you an argument, quit allowing him to use you because that is exactly what he is doing.

DEAR READERS: This is my annual reminder to all of you who live where daylight saving time is observed: Don't forget to turn your clocks FORWARD one hour tonight at bedtime. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. tomorrow. It's a ritual I love because it signals the coming of spring, and with it longer, brighter days and warmer weather. -- ABBY

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 15:44:00|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and 12 others injured, some of them critically, after a passenger vehicle collided with a truck on Saturday in India's western state of Rajasthan, police said.

The accident took place in Phalodi of Jodhpur district, about 404 km west of Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan.

"This morning an accident took place between a mini-bus and a truck at Bap area of Phalodi. Five people were killed and 12 others injured in the accident," a police official said. "The victims hailing from Delhi were local tourists heading to Jaisalmer."

Meanwhile, the injured, including six children, were rushed to the nearest hospital.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has expressed grief over the deaths.

Deadly road accidents are common in India often caused due to overloading, bad road condition and reckless driving.

According to federal road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, every day 415 people die in the country due to road accidents. Enditem
Mar. 13Attorneys presented closing arguments in the jury trial of a man charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder related to a car-to-car shooting.

Avery Sanchez, 22, has been in custody since May 2019 for his alleged part in a shooting on Highway 70 that killed Alejandro Escobar, 38, and injured one of the other two occupants of the car.

Vivion Wallace, 23, pleaded guilty to murder and two counts of attempted murder and is currently serving 62 years to life in state prison. Juan Barajas was driving the car carrying Wallace and Sanchez and pleaded no contest to being an accessory to murder. He will be sentenced in April.

The prosecution's theory is that Wallace shot at the victims' car through the back window and that Sanchez stood up from the front passenger seat through the sunroof and fired at the other car as well.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Shiloh Sorbello began his closing argument by saying the color of a hat on the dashboard of the victims' car led to the shooting. A blue cap allegedly caught the eye of the occupants of the attacking car, who Sorbello said were members of or had affiliation with the Norteno criminal street gang. The rival Sureno gang is associated with the color blue.

Sorbello said Roberto Melendez, an occupant of the victim's car looked at the car carrying Sanchez, Wallace and Barajas, but that was taken as "mean mugging" by the assailants.

"Apparently he did not look away quickly enough," Sorbello said.

Approximately 13 minutes passed between when the occupants first saw each other at a stop light in Marysville to when the shooting occurred just before the Feather River Boulevard exit on Highway 70. Sorbello said that was enough time for premeditation on the part of Sanchez to take place.

He pointed to Barajas' account of what happened, that he saw Sanchez stand up outside the car and that Sanchez had a gun.

"He has zero reason to make up a story about Sanchez," Sorbello said.

Story continues

Sorbello reviewed the evidence collected in the case including 10 shell casings found in a 120 yard span of the highway; the nine bullet holes in the car and six bullets found in the car that were traced back to a .40 caliber Glock handgun. He said Sanchez was in possession of a handgun two days prior that could have fired those bullets.

Sorbello said Sanchez sent Instagram messages to the other suspects after the shooting. In addition, Barajas testified that Wallace and Sanchez "high-fived" upon hearing someone had been hit on the police scanner. Sorbello used both examples as evidence that Sanchez had a relationship with Wallace and Barajas.

Prior to closing arguments, Judge Julia Scrogin read instructions to the jury about what laws applied to the case. Sanchez is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. If the jury finds Sanchez not guilty of first-degree murder they can find him guilty of second-degree murder. The lesser offense of second-degree murder does not include premeditation. In addition, Sanchez does not have to be the perpetrator of the murder to be convicted of murder if the prosecution proved that Sanchez aided or abetted Wallace in the commission of the crime.

Sorbello said he believed there was premeditation and that there was evidence Sanchez aided and abetted.

"The motive doesn't have to make sense to regular folks," Sorbello said.

He closed by saying that there are multiple paths for the jury to find Sanchez guilty and none that lead to acquittal.

Defense attorney Roberto Marquez said the mantra of Sorbello's case was "'I don't know.'"

Marquez told the jury of the burden on the prosecution to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt and he said that there was plenty of doubt and not enough evidence presented.

"You're not here for revenge," Marquez said. "That is not your job."

Marquez said several of the prosecution's witnesses had trouble remembering what happened or refused to answer questions and that meant there was a lack of evidence.

"You need a lot more to convict," Marquez said.

He said the shots came from one gun, fired by Wallace from the back seat.

"This is not a who done it," Sanchez said. "We have the killer."

Barajas testified that Sanchez told him to catch up to the other car while on the highway but Marquez said there was no evidence that meant Sanchez intended to kill the occupants of the car. He said the blue cap by itself wasn't evidence that Sanchez wanted to or did shoot and kill anyone.

"The capacity to do something doesn't mean you did it," Marquez said.

During his closing argument, Sorbello questioned the credibility of the defense's ballistic expert who said the shots from the attackers' car could not have come from Sanchez standing through the sunroof. Marquez said he agreed with his witness' assessment and that his credibility or lack of credibility was not evidence that Sanchez committed the crimes.

The jury began deliberating Friday afternoon and went home without a verdict around 5 p.m. The jury will resume deliberations on Monday at 9 a.m.
As pharmaceutical companies raced to develop Covid-19 vaccines, crossing the finishing line in record time, the worlds three biggest vaccine makers were also-rans.

GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Sanofi are now left playing catch-up, after upstarts including Moderna and BioNTech demonstrated their mastery of new technologies that will shape the industry for years to come.

New Jersey-based Merck recently dropped its vaccine development programme completely, while Paris-based Sanofi and the UKs GSK are having to redo an early-stage trial of the jab they are jointly developing, after a dosing mistake.

According to Zain Rizvi, a medicine access researcher at advocacy group Public Citizen, the immense scarcity of vaccines around the world is directly connected to these big pharma groups being missing in action.



The vaccine market already looks completely different this year  and depending on variants in the virus that causes Covid-19 and the need for boosters, some of the changes could stick. In 2020, GSK, Sanofi, Merck and Pfizer dominated the market with best-selling vaccines for flu, pneumonia, HPV and shingles. Among the top vaccine makers, only Pfizer has a successful Covid-19 vaccine, developed with German company BioNTech.

This year, life sciences data platform Airfinity forecasts Pfizer will triple its vaccine revenue thanks to its Covid-19 vaccine, while vaccine sales at Novavax and Moderna will overtake those at Merck, GSK and Sanofi.

Even the cheaper vaccines from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson means they are forecast to generate more vaccine sales in 2021 than some of the top four did in 2020.

The share prices reflect this dramatic change. Since the start of 2020 Novavax has rocketed more than 6,400 per cent, Moderna is up over 850 per cent and BioNTech more than 190 per cent. GSK, Merck and Sanofi shares have fallen between 13 and 30 per cent.

Resistance to new technology

It is the new messenger RNA technology  which instructs the body to make part of the virus to provoke an immune response  used by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna that has ripped up conventional timelines and allowed them to produce trial vaccines for testing within weeks.

But their success was far from assured: before the pandemic, no mRNA vaccine had ever been approved and in May, Ken Frazier, Mercks chief executive, said the idea of producing a new vaccine in 12 to 18 months was very aggressive. Less than a year on, mRNA vaccines look likely to change the industry forever.

For the interlopers, the crisis was an opportunity. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine, said they had more to gain, so pushed hard for regulatory acceptance and financial support from governments.

The ones who rushed into this were not the big vaccine companies. They were companies that were interested in accelerating their technology, he said. The first approval for mRNA vaccines has come three or four years ahead of Modernas previous projections, because of the pandemic.

The crisis also accelerated vaccine programmes at Johnson & Johnson, which entered the market by acquisition in 2011 after a prior partnership with Crucell in the Netherlands, and AstraZeneca, which had no conventional vaccine on sale, just an unusual inhaled version for flu.

The big three incumbents preferred to prioritise their tried and tested methods. Companies tend to rely on their proprietary technologies because they think they can trust them  and dont want to infringe on rivals intellectual property, said Mansoor Amiji, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Northeastern university.

Modernas shares are up more than 850 per cent since start of last year  Jon Cherry/Getty

Mercks efforts were mainly based on its own Ebola vaccine and a candidate being developed by an Austrian biotech it bought last year. Frazier in May said it helps to start with hardware you know, and that there were questions about how the new approaches would be scaled up.

Yet Merck walked away from both of its trial vaccines after disappointing early test results. The Sanofi/GSK vaccine has been delayed by about six months after trial participants were mistakenly given a less concentrated dose, resulting in data that showed a weaker immune response in older people.

Soren Christiansen, Mercks former head of vaccine development, now chief executive of Sharps Technology, said that after early negative data, Merck probably concluded it had missed the boat and that mRNA vaccines were likely to become a very competitive market.

Its all about decision-making and do we want to take the risk on allocating resources and money and people to do something like Covid-19? he said.

Once bitten, twice shy

Before the pandemic, Pfizer and Sanofi had both begun to dabble in mRNA vaccines through partnerships  but Pfizers partner BioNTech was far further along than Sanofis partner Translate Bio, which had not yet tested its method of delivering the mRNA into people.

When Covid-19 hit, Sanofi initially prioritised the technology it uses for its flu jab, which is a recombinant-protein based vaccine, even though it takes longer to get a programme of this type off the ground. It therefore did not begin testing in humans until September 2020. In parallel, in March it announced that it would work with Translate Bio on an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.

Rather than develop its own vaccine from scratch, GSK decided to offer its adjuvant  an ingredient that can be added to vaccines to boost immune response  to several vaccine makers, most prominently Sanofi. This surprised some in the industry, who thought GSK the obvious partner for Oxford universitys vaccine development. In the event, it was AstraZeneca that worked with Oxford.

Dan Mahony, who co-leads the healthcare business at Polar Capital, said it was a bit weird that it was not GSK, the UKs largest vaccine maker, that stepped in to help with the UKs homegrown vaccine.

Thomas Breuer, chief medical officer of GSK Vaccines, said the company chose to prioritise the adjuvant, including hiring hundreds of people to expand manufacturing, as this was deemed the broadest contribution it could make to fighting Covid-19. The GSK adjuvant is being used by Canadian biotech Medicago, which is about to enter phase 3 trials, as well as by Sanofi.

Breuer said the Sanofi trial delay was disappointing and unfortunate, but early science is unpredictable, though he still sees great promise in the data.

Some suspect the big three vaccine makers may have also been wary of being distracted from their core businesses by wholeheartedly pursuing a Covid-19 vaccine. Previous epidemics, including Sars and Mers, have run their course before a vaccine was ready or pharma groups had even been able to complete trials.

The failure of three of the largest vaccine producers in the world to take a crisis seriously and respond with an all-hands-on-deck response is indicative of the larger failure in the industry business model to prioritise public health needs, said Rizvi from Public Citizen.

Hotez from Baylor College said it may have been a case of once bitten, twice shy. Sanofi spent more than a decade developing a dengue fever vaccine but it flopped after it raised the risk of the disease in some children. GSK invented the first malaria vaccine  but it took 30 years. Mercks Ebola vaccine had been a humanitarian triumph  but it was not a moneymaker.

Until about 15 year ago, vaccines had been a backwater, said Mahony. New growth products such as Mercks Gardasil, for HPV, and GSKs Shingrix, for shingles, broke the mould, he said, but they were not enough to entice companies to pour money into development. When pharma companies were retrenching 10 years ago, he suspects early stage vaccine programmes were among those cut.

Instead, drugmakers have invested in blockbuster drugs to treat cancer and rare diseases, where technological leaps have fuelled demand and higher prices.

Sanofi last June expanded its partnership with US-based Translate Bio to begin testing an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in the first quarter, and an mRNA flu vaccine at some point this year  Joel Saget/AFP/Getty

Even a year ago, vaccines were still seen as stable, good businesses but unsexy, said Laura Sutcliffe, an analyst at UBS. Now thats all changed, investors are paying more attention, she said.

Jo Walton, an analyst at Credit Suisse, said the incumbents had reaped the benefits as amazingly large businesses with apparently high barriers to entry. Its very, very expensive to build one of these vaccine facilities, she said.

But she said one of their major advantages in the routine vaccine market  their distribution networks  did not give them an edge during the pandemic, when governments have largely taken over delivery.

Aiming to be fast followers

With Moderna and BioNTech hoping to use their Covid-19 success to march into other vaccine markets, the incumbents are now turning their focus to mRNA.

In June, Sanofi expanded its partnership with Translate Bio, a US-based company that it has worked with since 2018 to explore mRNA vaccines for all infectious diseases. The pair plan to begin testing an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in the first quarter, and an mRNA flu vaccine at some point this year.

Ron Renaud, Translate Bios chief executive, said Covid-19 is giving Sanofi a preview of how useful mRNA could be in flu, a market where it is the largest competitor and that generates the company about 2.5bn a year in revenues.

GSK, which had previously partnered with German biotech CureVac, announced last week it will extend the partnership to include CureVacs Covid-19 jab. The UK drugmaker will help with manufacturing of the mRNA vaccine and the two will work together to develop a vaccine to target many strains of the virus at once, projected to arrive in 2022.

It hopes to be a fast follower, Breuer said. At the start of the pandemic, mRNA was unproven and GSKs own mRNA platform was not as prepared as some of the specialist players to move immediately, he said. When variants started to emerge and it became clearer that existing vaccine efficacy declined for some variants, we felt GSK could play a leading role in the development of next generation vaccines.



Financial Times

Ukrainian sailors rescued from the ship Volgo Balt 179 that sank in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania may return home next week, the Ukrainian Embassy in Romania reported.

At the same time, the Romanian military rescuers continued their search operation on Saturday. "Rescuers are looking for the body of the deceased captain of the sunken ship (at the very beginning it was recorded in the area of the accident, but could not be lifted aboard the rescue ship), as well as the first mate, who has been considered missing since the beginning of the search operation," the Embassy said on Facebook on Saturday.

The report notes that the condition of the rescued sailors is satisfactory. All of them will be under medical examination at the Constanta hospital until March 15. They were given certificates for returning to Ukraine.

"Depending on the state of health and the term of completion of a number of investigative actions of the Romanian law enforcement agencies, the return of Ukrainian sailors to their homeland should be expected next week," the message says.

The sailors are provided with clothing and appropriate food.

As reported, the Volgo Balt 179 with 13 Ukrainians onboard sank in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania. Ten sailors were rescued, two sailors died.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. arrives at New York City Criminal Court for the Harvey Weinstein trial last year. Photo: Getty Images

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said Friday hell be stepping down at the end of his term, just as his office takes on the biggest case of his career or of any prosecutors in history: a criminal investigation into an ex-president, Donald Trump.

Vances announcement that he will not seek a fourth term comes weeks after his team won a critical battle at the Supreme Court to obtain millions of pages of tax records and other documents related to Trumps company. Over the past year, prosecutors revealed in court papers they were probing public reports of possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization, including potential tax fraud. Vance has also hired financial accounting experts and brought on Mark F. Pomerantz, a former federal prosecutor with extensive experience in white-collar crime, for this probe. Investigators seem to be poring over just about everything in Trumps business empire, from ice-skating rinks he owns in Manhattan to a property in Chicago, and digging in on the Trump Organizations chief financial officer, Alan Weisselberg, and his family.

Despite the conviction of Harvey Weinstein last year, Vance has faced severe criticism during his tenure: He didnt prosecute Weinstein earlier, declined to prosecute Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. for real-estate fraud, but was accused of throwing the book at people of lesser means, especially people of color. As such, he faced steep reelection odds against no fewer than eight Democratic candidates vying for whats been described as the most prestigious law-enforcement job in New York City. (No Republican is running.) Five of the eight candidates have worked as prosecutors; not surprisingly, all eight insist they are uniquely suited to the job. While these candidates have all made some type of criminal-justice reform key to their campaign, the victor will inherit Vances investigation into Trump.

Several former prosecutors emphasized that the new district attorney must have the legal and managerial background for the office to work well  not just for the Trump investigation, but for other complex inquiries routinely handled by its prosecutors. Intelligencer spoke with these attorneys prior to Vances announcement, given that he telegraphed his decision not to run by raising almost no money for reelection.

I think its really important for the incoming district attorney to have experience prosecuting and managing white-collar cases, in part because of the importance of the investigation into Trump and his organization, said Rebecca Roiphe, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan DAs office whos now a professor at New York Law School. Traditionally, white-collar cases have been a central part of the mission of the district attorney in Manhattan.

Roiphe pointed out that its unclear where the investigation will end up  such as whether indictments will come down and if they did, who would be indicted. No matter what, I think its critically important that the person has those managerial skills and experience in the complexity of white-collar crime.

Daniel R. Alonso, a partner in Buckley LLPs New York office who previously worked as a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, voiced similar views, emphasizing the importance of a DAs relationships with their staff.

One would hope that the new district attorney would keep the team in place, and also protect the team from any potential political interference, or media firestorm, or physical threat. Thats going to be his or her job to protect the team, make sure the team keeps their heads down and handles the case, Alonso said. For that reason, you need somebody who both understands complex, difficult prosecutions and has the judgement to make difficult choices in this precise context.

Not everyone in the field has the judgement and experience, Alonso said, later adding: One risk is that a person will have no experience with these kinds of cases, but will want to be very hands on. The risk there is they make ill-advised decisions, Alonso also said.

Experience also plays into combatting Trumps allegations that this investigation is politically motivated  which would only heighten if he or his associates are charged.

Whoever takes over the office has to have credibility as a fair and impartial prosecutor, Roiphe explained. If there is an indictment in that case, no doubt there will be criticism from Trump supporters, considering this jurisdiction is a Democratic stronghold. In order to combat that, you need somebody who can project that kind of professional stance  I think its important for that high-profile case, and any high-profile case, that an incoming district attorney not appear as a politician.

This is where it gets tricky. The district attorney is an elected position, so candidates are obviously on some level a politician, Roiphe said. And given that its a tight race with a crowded field, candidates have to be careful not to court voters with rhetoric that could imperil investigations.

Alonso said this is the other risk posed by someone without experience.

Theyve just been through a political campaign. If they dont have the right experience and theyve just been through a campaign, they might have a tendency to think politically, he said. Thats fine for a district attorney in terms of policy  deciding where to allocate resources  but its not fine when youre making case-related decisions.

Trump is a perfect example. It would be wildly popular in Manhattan to charge him, to convict him, and to seek a tough sentence  but that would be wrong for the prosecutors to do that if theyre at all influenced by how popular that decision would be, he said. That could be just a catastrophic outcome. What Trump is saying right now is that every single decision made against him is political  what you dont want is to play into Trumps hands.

Eugene ODonnell, a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who worked as a state prosecutor in Brooklyn and Queens, after working as an NYPD officer, said that while a changing of the guard can shift focus, he doesnt see that dramatically changing a Trump investigation.

Some cases are more affected than others, because the thrust and focus of the district attorneys themselves can be different, but [Trump] is not likely to be a case where there will be a markedly different approach by the district attorney, ODonnell said.

The successor to Vance is [likely] more harshly critical of the Trump regime, he continued. If anything, they will double down on whatever Vance has done, thats the likelihood  especially since it appears to be a no-lose proposition, because its New York City and Trump is a persona non grata.
India's coronavirus graph rose to 1,13,33,728, with 24,882 new cases in the last 24 hours. Out of these, 1,09,73,260 people were discharged, pushing the national recovery rate to 96,82 per cent. The COVID-19 death toll surged to 1,58,446, with 140 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, pushing the death rate to 1.40 per cent. India has recorded 2,02,022 active COVID-19 cases as of March 13.

States like Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu contribute maximum to India's rising COVID-19 cases. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state, with a total of 22,82,191 COVID-19 cases. Out of these, 1,11,724 people have succumbed to the contagion whereas 21,17,744 people have been discharged. The state has 52,723 active cases as of March 13, 2021.

Punjab (1,94,753), Kerala (10,87,443), Karnataka (9,58,417), Andhra Pradesh (8.91,388) and Tamil Nadu (8,58,272) have reported a growth in the number of cases as well. As on March 13, over 2.82 crore doses were administered. Out of these, 20,53,537 doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

A total of 2.30 crore people received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose as of March 13, out of COVID-19 in India which 16,39,663 people were immunised in the last 24 hours. A total of 51,42,953 people received the second dose of the lifesaving jab as of March 13, out of which 4,13,874 people were administered the second dose in the last 24 hours.

Earlier this week, the Centre had a word of advice for states like Maharashtra which have reported a rise in the COVID-19 cases. NITI Aayog's Dr VK Paul said, "Don't take this virus for granted. It can come up unexpectedly. If we have to remain free of this virus, COVID-appropriate behavior, containment strategy as well as vaccination have to be brought in."

Also read: US to provide funds to Biological E for making 1 billion doses by 2022

Also read: COVID-19 crisis right time for world to embrace Ayurveda: PM Modi

Vaccines mean we are hopefully coming to the end of COVID-19s most-lethal phase. But really, were at the start. This is the rebirth of the pandemic age, Professor Doherty says. We need to treat COVID-19, painful though it is, as a trial run. *** Today, Turkeys central plains are a patchwork quilt of broad-acre farming that feed a growing nation. But about 9000 years ago, parts of them were fertile wetland that played home to fish and waterbirds. Wild animals roamed the plains. There, a small band of stone-age humans established one of the first known cities: Catalhoyuk.

Cities, experts believe, are made possible by farming, which allowed us to produce more food and store it, allowing nomadic hunter-gatherers to settle down. And exploiting livestock, particularly sheep, goat and cattle, was central to Catalhoyuks existence. They were the centrepiece of the citys feasts and banquets, their bones and horns becoming part of the mud-brick architecture, their painted images adorned the citys walls. Catalhoyuks early residents paid the price. Evidence from fossilised bones shows a third were affected by serious disease, many likely to have jumped from animals. When we lived in very small hunter-gatherer populations, there are so few hosts any virus would not have been able to spread that far. As we became farmers, we would have experienced more. In the first cities, we would have had even more, says Professor Holmes. *** Catalhoyuks honeycomb of mud-brick apartments laid the foundations for how we live now: in density. More than 50 per cent of humanity lives in cities; that number could rise to 70 per cent in the next 30 years.

Cities are naturally vulnerable to pandemics simply because they pack so many targets into a small space, according to a recent report from the UN-backed Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Dense city apartments were the site of superspreading events for the original SARS, while urban centres rapidly amplified West Africas Ebola outbreak, the report notes. Burial workers in protective gear carry the remains of someone that died of Ebola in Beni, Congo in 2019. Credit:AP Its not clear where or when COVID-19 jumped from bats to humans, but it was in Wuhan the outbreak took off. Wuhan is a city of more than 11 million people  all susceptible targets. Mega-cities like this are like fuel on the fire, says Professor Holmes. At the time the virus was spreading locally, Wuhan was celebrating Lunar New Year, a time that sees the city  a local and global travel hub  flooded with visitors from across China and the world. As they returned home, many they took the virus with them.

Its in Wuhan in the morning, and Singapore in the afternoon, and from there everywhere, says Professor Holmes. The Black Death took five years to circle Europe. An emerging virus in a city with an airport is instantly a global threat. When the emergence of a possible new pandemic virus is detected, we need some sort of global agreement to instantly ground the worlds airplanes, says Professor Doherty. We stopped it from getting to Australia by stopping the planes, he says. We have to stop the planes. And we have to notify everyone so they have to stop the planes. ***

Exploiting animals exposes us to their viruses, though the vast, vast majority cannot infect humans. But very occasionally they will. And if we keep exposing ourselves, its just a numbers game. Somethings going to happen, says Professor Holmes. Modern humans have been around for a few hundred thousand years. Mammals have been around for hundreds of millions of years. Thats a long time for their viruses to diversify. Examine newsletter Science and health explained and analysed with a rigorous focus on the evidence. Examine is a weekly newsletter by science reporter Liam Mannix. Sign up to receive it every Tuesday. Scientists estimate there are something like 1.67 million viruses circulating in mammals and waterfowl  although thats a very rough guess. In complex life, there is maybe 87 million viruses. We have managed to catalogue perhaps 0.1 per cent of them.

How many virus species currently infect human cells? Two hundred and nineteen. More than 60 per cent of emerging infectious diseases in humans come from animals, with that number increasing over time. To go from animal to human, a virus first needs to randomly develop a mutation that allows it to survive and replicate in two entirely different species. Then, it needs to be able to jump from human to human  all the while evading our immune systems defences. Lastly, it needs the opportunity: the bat with the ultra-rare new disease needs to come into contact with a susceptible human, and that human then needs to spread the virus. If we keep our contact with animal viruses low, maths is on our side. But given there are so many animal viruses, as we increase our contact with animals the maths starts to swing sharply the other way. And new animal viruses are likely jumping over to humans way more than we think, experts suspect. Its just that, in nearly every case, the virus cannot spread from patient zero. Ninety per cent of the time, the farmer gets sick and does not give it to anyone else, says Peter White, a professor of microbiology at the University of New South Wales. Minks in cages on a farm in Gjol, Denmark. Credit:Cathrine Ertmann/Bloomberg

*** Livestock is just one part of the problem. Pandemic threats lurk far from human eyes, in dark caves, wet rainforests, dense jungles. Places where biodiversity, and hence viral diversity are highest. Every year, we intrude more and more into these spaces. Humans have already brought 70 per cent of the worlds habitable land under control. Our species population grew by 30 per cent in the last 20 years. Were likely to have cleared 1 billion hectares of land by 2050 as a species, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report predicts. Its easy to blame local farmers for cutting down rainforest. But much of that virgin land will be planted with cash crops like palm oil to put in cosmetics sold to Western consumers, says Dr Michael Walsh, co-leader of the One Health Node at Sydneys Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity. Countries are losing their forests, their wildlife, for cash crops for export. And the people who are suffering, the ones who the diseases are spilling over into, they dont have any control. They are not profiting off the forest loss, says Dr Walsh.

With the forest gone, the animals that survive have nowhere to go but into human communities. Their viruses come with them. A section of Amazon rainforest stands next to soy fields in Belterra, Para state, Brazil. Credit:AP Ebola and Lassa fever in Africa and Machupo virus in South America have all been linked to land-use changes, according to the IPBES report. We need to stop agricultural expansion at the rate its going, says Dr Katie Woolaston, one of the reports authors and a Queensland University of Technology international wildlife law researcher. One way of doing that: a tax on meat consumption, as proposed by the IPBES report.

Thats very controversial, says Dr Woolaston. But we need to really transform society. And if were going to do that, we need some radical changes, to make sure this does not happen again. This is the start of a pandemic era, because of human activity. This is a wake-up call. As the climate crisis boils over, it will push animals even further from their normal ranges and into ours. Warmer temperatures also open up communities to new threats. Bluetongue disease  an African virus that can kill sheep  has spread to Europe over the last two decades, as the ticks that carry the virus move into the warming continent. Warmer temperatures are allowing a tick that spreads Lyme disease access to northern parts of America that were once too cold. ***

A dead crocodile is seen on the floor of Huangsha Seafood Market in Guangzhou. Credit:AP The growing wildlife trade, which brings humans into close contact with exotic animals, poses serious epidemic and pandemic risks, with Ebola, SARS and HIV likely among the diseases that have resulted. Over the last two decades the trade has expanded significantly. The legal trade has grown by 500 per cent since 2005, per the IPBES report, and thats not counting the often-invisible illegal trade. About a quarter of all land-dwelling species are now traded. Many of these animals end up at wet markets, such as the Wuhan market from which the virus is believed to have spread. Loading There is evidence wet markets do pose risks, as viruses are able to jump from one animal to another and then to humans. But blaming wet markets alone  which include Sydneys Fish Market  is simplistic, says Dr Woolaston. A lot of people talk about it as a global south, a Chinese problem, but the driver of their trade is consumption. And that consumption comes from the global north, says Dr Woolaston.

The USA is among the biggest importers of wildlife, closely followed by Germany. Traditional Chinese Medicines demand for exotic animals is large, and Chinas growing middle-class is inflating the market. But so is the demand from Americans keen to own an exotic pet. Netflixs Tiger King doco shocked American viewers who were unaware the country has more pet tigers than there exist tigers in the wild. America has more pet tigers than there exist tigers in the wild. Credit:Netflix *** Mike Pritchett flew into Australia early in the pandemic, after spending three years living between Australia and Singapore working on the video production start-up he founded, Shootsta.

The contrast, as he touched down in Sydney and then walked through the city, could not have been more jarring. Both countries have led the world in the effectiveness of pandemic response  but one, already scarred by the SARS shock, was far better prepared than the other. Lockdown was lockdown. You were allowed out once a day. If you were seen without your mask on, just going for a walk, people would take a photo of you on the street and youd be busted. And you just would not break the rules  no one does that over here, says Pritchett. Asia was ready. They already have biometric security. They take your temperature when you walk through the airport. Australia was left sitting there going whats happening?. A body temperature scan at Singapore Airport. Credit:Getty Images In our new pandemic age, every society that wants to weather the storm is going to need to become pandemic resilient  learning the same lessons Singapore and Taiwan learnt after SARS, says Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott, an expert on pandemic preparedness at the University of Sydney.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Cap-Haitien : Seizure of weapons and ammunition

Thursday at the customs of the port of Cap-Haitien, during an inspection of customs agents and the Brigade for the Fight Against the Trafficking of Narcotics (BLTS) we discovered hidden in a container from the USA, 3 weapons including 2 rifles of assault 3 magazines and 7,850 ammunition that were seized. An individual has reportedly been apprehended in connection with this arms trafficking.



Petit-Goave : Release against ransom of Maxon Fleury

Friday March 12, 2021, good news: ing Maxon Fleury was released this afternoon by the kidnappers. Kidnapped and sequestered in Port-au-Prince by armed men for more than 5 days, the engineer and professor Maxon Fleury, a Petit-Goavien, regained his freedom after the payment of a heavy ransom ...



During an interview he gave to Preference FM radio, he wholeheartedly thanked the population of Petit Goave for their solidarity. "As soon as the kidnappers learned over the air that the Petit-Goaviens were demonstrating in my favor https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-33203-icihaiti-petit-goave-kidnapping-of-maxon-fleury-the-kidnappers-are-increasingly-threatening.html they have become less hard on me. The mobilization of people was important," declared ing Maxon Fleury inviting all those who go to Port au Prince to be vigilant and careful. See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-33203-icihaiti-petit-goave-kidnapping-of-maxon-fleury-the-kidnappers-are-increasingly-threatening.html HL/ HaitiLibre /Guyto Mathieu (Correspondent Petit-Goave)



NOTICE : Binational Program, information session for call for proposals

Do you work in the field of education, culture or sport in Haiti or the Dominican Republic ? Are you interested in cooperation between the Haitian and Dominican peoples and you want to promote exchanges between the citizens of these two countries? This call for proposals is for you! We answer all your questions Tuesday, March 16, from 3:00 p.m.



Online registration for the information session : https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlceiuqDksHtV1cZ4QNvzb6z1UxtweK759?fbclid=IwAR34oFHJJDFt61PJyKGaiAwJOnAVUQijN2-duZu2wo9zFn70j0IESQKC8Cw



Launch of the CARIBACT International Joint Laboratory

This week took place the Launch of the CARIBACT International Joint Laboratory, funded by the Research Institute for Development (IRD) and which associates the UrGeo laboratory of UEH Haiti, the University of Cote d'Azur, the Center Nartional de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS France). France is working alongside Haitian researchers to enable them to develop a Caribbean center of excellence in the fields of seismology and climatology.



REMINDER : Time change

Under the provisions of the Presidential Decree of Wednesday March 7, 2012, national time will be brought forward by 60 minutes, from 2:00 am, on Sunday March 14, 2021 See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-33223-icihaiti-flash-time-change.html



"Dapre dispozisyon ki pran nan Arete Prezidansyel 7 mas 2012 la, n ap ajoute 60 minit sou le a apati 2 ze nan maten jou k ap dimanch 14 mas 2021 an. Kidonk le pou l ta 2 ze, se 3 ze l ap ye an reyalite."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















While London, Paris, Berlin and Stockholm feature regularly in tech coverage, the rest of Europe has been busy.

The Czech Republic may be better known for beer, hockey, and the sights of Prague, but its entrepreneurial community is as ambitious as any.

For instance, there is Integromat, which did not raise any external capital but sold for around 2.5 billion crowns ($114 million), making its seven Czech founders into multimillionaires. Prague's Memsource is valued at approximately 1.3 billion crowns or $59 million. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

To unpack this rare gem of Europes startup scene, we spoke to eight area investors.

Among the trends they identified are startups in B2B, business automation processes, e-commerce, AI, SaaS and COVID-19-related solutions, as well as "smart" everything: factories, cities, offices, etc. Other themes included cybersecurity, AR/VR, remote work, and cybersecurity.

Saturated areas included cryptocurrency, blockchain, fintech and martech. The people we spoke to said they see travel, dating apps and other businesses traditionally based on physical interaction as weaker segments. Still, new opportunities are popping up in remote work, psychedelics and wellness.

Use discount code CZECHIA to save 25% off a 1-year Extra Crunch membership.

This offer is only available to readers in Europe and expires on April 30, 2021.

Respondents said they invest around 50% inside Czechia and 50% across Central and Eastern Europe, while some are more focused across CEE generally, with some percentage of the fund supporting startups that have scaled to the U.S.

Most said their investments hadn't been significantly impacted by COVID-19, but future uncertainly is a concern. The advice is to be frugal to accommodate to the new situation and roll on.

As far as green shoots, COVID-19 has played a role of an accelerator for innovation in many business areas and even e-government and other rigid/conservative industries, said one. D2C startups have benefitted and Zoom selling" now seems totally plausible.

Story continues

We surveyed:

Petra Koncelikova, partner, Nation1.vc

What trends are you most excited about investing in, generally?

Innovative.

Whats your latest, most exciting investment?

Snuggs.

Are there startups that you wish you would see in the industry but dont? What are some overlooked opportunities right now?

I miss a more innovative approach.

What are you looking for in your next investment, in general?

Steady rapid growth, innovative mind.

Which areas are either oversaturated or would be too hard to compete in at this point for a new startup? What other types of products/services are you wary or concerned about?

Social media, logistics, travel.

How much are you focused on investing in your local ecosystem versus other startup hubs (or everywhere) in general? More than 50%? Less?

We are solely focusing on the European market, with an impact on the Czech Republic.

Which industries in your city and region seem well positioned to thrive, or not, long term? What are companies you are excited about (your portfolio or not), which founders?

Healthcare, industry 4.0.

How should investors in other cities think about the overall investment climate and opportunities in your city?

Huge potential.

Do you expect to see a surge in more founders coming from geographies outside major cities in the years to come, with startup hubs losing people due to the pandemic and lingering concerns, plus the attraction of remote work?

Remote work is not an issue, but the pandemic has of course huge impact on startups. They are forced to pivot and accommodate to this new world.

Which industry segments that you invest in look weaker or more exposed to potential shifts in consumer and business behavior because of COVID-19? What are the opportunities startups may be able to tap into during these unprecedented times?

Travel and gastro.

How has COVID-19 impacted your investment strategy? What are the biggest worries of the founders in your portfolio? What is your advice to startups in your portfolio right now?

Accommodate to the new situation and roll on.

What is a moment that has given you hope in the last month or so? This can be professional, personal or a mix of the two.

Vaccination.

Who are key startup people you see creating success locally, whether investors, founders or even other types of startup ecosystems roles like lawyers, designers, growth experts, etc. Were trying to highlight the movers and shakers who outsiders might not know.

Financial experts  financial planning, CFOs to hire as an service from agencies.

Oleksander Bondarev, associate, Credo Ventures

What trends are you most excited about investing in, generally?

Developer tools, communication apps, applied AI.

Whats your latest, most exciting investment?

Around.

Are there startups that you wish you would see in the industry but dont? What are some overlooked opportunities right now?

Cloud CI/CD.

What are you looking for in your next investment, in general?

Great team.

Which areas are either oversaturated or would be too hard to compete in at this point for a new startup? What other types of products/services are you wary or concerned about?

Martech.

How much are you focused on investing in your local ecosystem versus other startup hubs (or everywhere) in general? More than 50%? Less?

Only in founders from: Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania or Hungary.

Which industries in your city and region seem well positioned to thrive, or not, long term? What are companies you are excited about (your portfolio or not), which founders?

Productboard, UiPath, Pricefx, Supernova, Spaceflow.

How should investors in other cities think about the overall investment climate and opportunities in your city?

Maturing.

Do you expect to see a surge in more founders coming from geographies outside major cities in the years to come, with startup hubs losing people due to the pandemic and lingering concerns, plus the attraction of remote work?

Yes.

Which industry segments that you invest in look weaker or more exposed to potential shifts in consumer and business behavior because of COVID-19? What are the opportunities startups may be able to tap into during these unprecedented times?

Enabling communication, transparency within the remote workforce.

How has COVID-19 impacted your investment strategy? What are the biggest worries of the founders in your portfolio? What is your advice to startups in your portfolio right now?

Be frugal.

Any other thoughts you want to share with TechCrunch readers?

We are trying to be the most founder-friendly fund in the region. As an ex-founder (Olek) I love speaking with and advising all startups that come my way :)

Ondrej Bartos, founding partner, Credo Ventures

What trends are you most excited about investing in, generally?

Automation, AI, enabling remote, authentication.

Whats your latest, most exciting investment?

TypingDNA.

What are you looking for in your next investment, in general?

Outstanding founders tackling big opportunity.

Which areas are either oversaturated or would be too hard to compete in at this point for a new startup? What other types of products/services are you wary or concerned about?

VR/AR has been an area with lots of investment, therefore very competitive. AI is overhyped but most AI are actually not that intelligent.

How much are you focused on investing in your local ecosystem versus other startup hubs (or everywhere) in general? More than 50%? Less?

Less. We focus on Central Europe as a region (if that would count as local, then more than 50%).

Which industries in your city and region seem well positioned to thrive, or not, long term? What are companies you are excited about (your portfolio or not), which founders?

Central Europe is well positioned in automation, security, developer tools and analytics. I'm most excited about UiPath, Productboard, Pricefx, TypingDNA, Spaceflow, Around (in our portfolio). Best CE founders are in my view Daniel Dines, Hubert Palan, Marcin Cichon plus Oliver Dlouhy (Kiwi.com).

How should investors in other cities think about the overall investment climate and opportunities in your city?

There are a lot of great developers in Prague, good energy and enough success stories and role models to follow. There is a lot of investment capital there (just as everywhere else I guess), not too much smart money yet, so definitely opportunity for good VCs to take a look (and they are looking).

Do you expect to see a surge in more founders coming from geographies outside major cities in the years to come, with startup hubs losing people due to the pandemic and lingering concerns, plus the attraction of remote work?

I have no doubts that the pandemic has been accelerating remote work, which ultimately should lead to more remote-first startups which might benefit new geos.

Which industry segments that you invest in look weaker or more exposed to potential shifts in consumer and business behavior because of COVID-19? What are the opportunities startups may be able to tap into during these unprecedented times?

Travel and hospitality seem most fragile and unpredictable due to COVID-19. Remote and enabling remote seem like the biggest opportunity; automation and enabling digital transformation are attractive as well.

How has COVID-19 impacted your investment strategy? What are the biggest worries of the founders in your portfolio? What is your advice to startups in your portfolio right now?

Our investment strategy is unchanged; actually we'll double down on it. There is a lot of opportunity for good tech startups, technology is what's helping people and countries to get out of crises faster with less damage. Our advice to startups is still the same: Focus on your cause and try to solve problems in your space better than anybody else.

Are you seeing green shoots regarding revenue growth, retention or other momentum in your portfolio as they adapt to the pandemic?

We definitely see green shoots in some of the enterprise software companies. "Zoom selling" now seems totally plausible, sales cycles shortened in some verticals as companies need to digitize and enable remote work.

What is a moment that has given you hope in the last month or so? This can be professional, personal or a mix of the two.

I've always had hope. Yes, there have been low moments especially when quarantined, but overall I haven't lost hope for people to cope with this unprecedented situation, and for technology to play a significant role in the recovery. I still have this hope :)

Any other thoughts you want to share with TechCrunch readers?

I feel like I had been traveling too much, two- or three-day transatlantic trips make little sense and I think I won't go back there. Also, I don't think I'll go back to 5+ days in the office every week, home office works fine with me and it will stay with me and the company in some capacity. That being said, it is what I feel now. I may be wrong and things may go back to "old normal"  which I would consider a big mistake and lost opportunity.

Osman Salih, associate, Bolt Start Up Development a.s.

What trends are you most excited about investing in, generally?

We are looking for synergies with our parent company O2 Czech republic.

Whats your latest, most exciting investment?

IP Fabric.

Are there startups that you wish you would see in the industry but dont? What are some overlooked opportunities right now?

We would like to see more insurtech startups in Europe.

What are you looking for in your next investment, in general?

We are looking for synergies with our partner companies rather looking into a specific branch.

Which areas are either oversaturated or would be too hard to compete in at this point for a new startup? What other types of products/services are you wary or concerned about?

Fintech is oversaturated with very low margins.

How much are you focused on investing in your local ecosystem versus other startup hubs (or everywhere) in general? More than 50%? Less?

We mostly invest locally, but our most successful investment was in Taxify (now Bolt).

Which industries in your city and region seem well positioned to thrive, or not, long term? What are companies you are excited about (your portfolio or not), which founders?

Definitely security domain is best positioned. We are excited about IP Fabric (founder is ex-Cisco CEO Pavel Bykov), Whalebone (R. Malovic), Wultra (P. Dvorak).

How should investors in other cities think about the overall investment climate and opportunities in your city?

The interest is bigger, a lot of successful startups raise demand for opportunities.

Do you expect to see a surge in more founders coming from geographies outside major cities in the years to come, with startup hubs losing people due to the pandemic and lingering concerns, plus the attraction of remote work?

We don't think so, local network is important. Remote work is not for everyone.

Which industry segments that you invest in look weaker or more exposed to potential shifts in consumer and business behavior because of COVID-19? What are the opportunities startups may be able to tap into during these unprecedented times?

There will be shifts in retail. This is an opportunity for startups like Pygmalios, which provide analytics for retail.

How has COVID-19 impacted your investment strategy? What are the biggest worries of the founders in your portfolio? What is your advice to startups in your portfolio right now?

Luckily the impact is not big. Biggest worries are about difficulties with travel abroad for business meetings. Our advice is hold the runway longer :-)

Are you seeing green shoots regarding revenue growth, retention or other momentum in your portfolio as they adapt to the pandemic?

Yes, demand for call center tools like omnichannel solution mluvii.com, which works at the home office move up significantly.

What is a moment that has given you hope in the last month or so? This can be professional, personal or a mix of the two.

At spring our country was "best in COVID" and now it is "worst in COVID." Last spring thousands of people from the startup community helped and came up with brilliant ideas, apps and solutions but at the end most outcomes (like eRouska and https://koronavirus.mzcr.cz/en/) were screwed by slow or faulty decisions of government. Instead of hope I'm disappointed, but I believe that vaccination will help us to get life back on the track.

Who are key startup people you see creating success locally, whether investors, founders or even other types of startup ecosystems roles like lawyers, designers, growth experts, etc. Were trying to highlight the movers and shakers who outsiders might not know.

Patrik Juranek from Startup Disrupt community.

Any other thoughts you want to share with TechCrunch readers?

Prague is great and safe city for living  when you setup a branch in Prague you can attract people from all of the CEE region to move in.

Lukas Konecny, principal, Y Soft Ventures

What trends are you most excited about investing in, generally?

Anything that helps businesses run smarter is something we would like to take a look at. More specifically we are interested in areas such as Internet of Things, smart factories, smart cities, smart office, cybersecurity, big data and AR/VR. And especially when there is some kind of hardware involved  that something we really love.

Whats your latest, most exciting investment?

VRgineers.

Are there startups that you wish you would see in the industry but dont? What are some overlooked opportunities right now?

It would be great to see more startups focusing on hardware. Admittedly, creating hardware and scaling-up a hardware-focused business is always a bigger challenge, but the opportunities are so vast and many are yet untapped.

What are you looking for in your next investment, in general?

Apart from the "obvious" aspects such as innovativeness, global potential, scalability, strong team and fit with our investment thesis, we look for founders who show great strategic thinking and execution skills, who really understand the market and their customers' needs and listen to feedback.

Which areas are either oversaturated or would be too hard to compete in at this point for a new startup? What other types of products/services are you wary or concerned about?

Considering our focus on B2B, we have better overview of this part of the economy. Lately, we have seen a huge number of startups using AI/ML for computer vision or natural language processing use cases creating very similar products, meaning it will be rather difficult for them to differentiate and outperform the rest of the competition. But that does not mean that a new revolutionary idea cannot appear.

How much are you focused on investing in your local ecosystem versus other startup hubs (or everywhere) in general? More than 50%? Less?

Our focus is on the Central European region  so far we have invested in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but we are open to founders from other neighboring countries as well. The majority of our portfolio is located in the Brno/South Moravia region, where Y Soft is based. It is not an outcome of an intentional strategy, but just the reality of which startups interested us the most.

Which industries in your city and region seem well positioned to thrive, or not, long term? What are companies you are excited about (your portfolio or not), which founders?

Generally, the Czech startup ecosystem is getting more mature, especially thanks to serial entrepreneurs as well as more experienced first-time founders, and the developing business angel/VC ecosystem. It is hard to pick just one industry, as the spectrum of companies is very vast.

How should investors in other cities think about the overall investment climate and opportunities in your city?

From the investors' point of view, the Czech startup ecosystem can provide a lot of interesting opportunities, and especially for foreign investors the investments can be a "good value for money," even though the VC ecosystem has become more competitive in the last years due to influx of new money. The seed and partly Series A segment can be seen as rather saturated, but there is a significant potential in the larger Series A or later-stage investments.

Do you expect to see a surge in more founders coming from geographies outside major cities in the years to come, with startup hubs losing people due to the pandemic and lingering concerns, plus the attraction of remote work?

The main Czech hubs, Prague and Brno, are probably not going to see their status weakened, as they are not only business centers, but also have the main universities where the talented people are and are hearts of the cultural life that is attractive to many. But we will see a shift toward remote woking, allowing founders to tap a wider talent pool.

Which industry segments that you invest in look weaker or more exposed to potential shifts in consumer and business behavior because of COVID-19? What are the opportunities startups may be able to tap into during these unprecedented times?

We believe that after the shock caused by COVID-19 fades away, there will be more opportunities for the companies in segments we invest in, as the induced trends are only forcing businesses to run smarter. The trends most relevant to us will be those associated with accelerated digital transformation, changes in supply chains and evolution of workspaces.

How has COVID-19 impacted your investment strategy? What are the biggest worries of the founders in your portfolio? What is your advice to startups in your portfolio right now?

COVID-19 has not impacted our strategy. The only changes were on the tactical level, as for a certain period of time we shifted more capacities to portfolio support. Most of our founders had to deal with a negative impact on their sales funnel, as some customers postponed or cancelled the planned deals. Some of the founders had to deal with disruptions in the distribution channels, as some of their partners' businesses were hit rather hard, and a small number of companies had to resolve issues with their supply chain. These challenges are still, to an extent, worries to our portfolio companies, as the economic development is still uncertain. To deal with the situation, cash flow became the main focus, together with more active communication with key business partners throughout the value chains.

Are you seeing green shoots regarding revenue growth, retention or other momentum in your portfolio as they adapt to the pandemic?

We have seen a lot of positive signals in retention and some green shoots regarding revenue, but the situation is still too fragile.

What is a moment that has given you hope in the last month or so? This can be professional, personal or a mix of the two.

It is hard to find glimmers of hope lately, as the situation in the Czech Republic is really not developing well. However, I was recently able to participate in several online events that young entrepreneurs, in some cases even high school or university students, attended to present their projects or to improve their business skills. And it was great to see people who are still deeply interested in  and invested in  the entrepreneurial path, regardless of the current situation.

Vaclav Pavlecka, managing partner, Air Ventures

What trends are you most excited about investing in, generally?

We are sector agnostic, so it's not so much about "trends," rather than other aspects of startups in our pipeline.

Whats your latest, most exciting investment?

Cross Network Intelligence.

Are there startups that you wish you would see in the industry but dont? What are some overlooked opportunities right now?

Many sectors are "to-be-disrupted yet" but for example I believe that the predictive medicine (that helps you avoid the problem instead the one that is helping to solve the problem that is already there) will be one of the major trends for the near future.

What are you looking for in your next investment, in general?

Distinctive unique selling proposition, market-oriented and sales-hungry team, disruptive potential, upmarket potential.

Which areas are either oversaturated or would be too hard to compete in at this point for a new startup? What other types of products/services are you wary or concerned about?

Social networks in general are the type of services I am concerned about due to a long-term impact on one's mental health and due to social confirmation bias and decreasing ability for a healthy unheated critical discussion in society. As for oversaturation, it is hard to generalize, since every industry still has its niches. But a top of my mind idea for an oversaturated market is the marketing technologies sector (as well as many other software products). Solutions are easily replicable (think chatbots) and successful only at the limited market.

How much are you focused on investing in your local ecosystem versus other startup hubs (or everywhere) in general? More than 50%? Less?

We tend to focus on companies with the local strings (with exceptions made  e.g., Californian clothing startup Nahmias).

Which industries in your city and region seem well positioned to thrive, or not, long term? What are companies you are excited about (your portfolio or not), which founders?

We see a huge potential of local talents in cybersecurity, industry automation (due to the fact that Czechia has one of the densest "per capita" car production in the world), gaming industry (including esports), crypto and health. As for companies I think Apiary, Beat Games, Warhorse gaming studio, Mews.com, Kiwi.com, Snuggs, Prusa Research, Productboard, Rossum, Integromat and Alheon.

How should investors in other cities think about the overall investment climate and opportunities in your city?

"Local" VCs and investors are definitely willing to make meaningful connections and co-invest. The ecosystem is more mature every year and grows stronger. Prague and the surrounding region also has its charm that attracts many talents as the city has an ideal balance between the life quality and costs in comparison to other metropolitan areas.

Do you expect to see a surge in more founders coming from geographies outside major cities in the years to come, with startup hubs losing people due to the pandemic and lingering concerns, plus the attraction of remote work?

I believe that we will see a big "return to the good part of the old system" in the end of this year/early 2022, so I won't expect the big shift in the sense of geographic "founder density" outside of the major cities. If, however, the COVID-19 restrictions should last more years, then many social changes can be sparked, including geographic mobility and flexibility.

Which industry segments that you invest in look weaker or more exposed to potential shifts in consumer and business behavior because of COVID-19? What are the opportunities startups may be able to tap into during these unprecedented times?

No surprise there  the whole travel industry, gastronomical industry and culture tech are in the deepest crisis in decades. Many other industries are under big pressure to increase the speed of change, e.g., the education industry, the entertainment industry. Also in general small to medium businesses are having tough times locally, since the government restrictions are not being implemented efficiently and their communication isn't built around a sound strategy.

How has COVID-19 impacted your investment strategy? What are the biggest worries of the founders in your portfolio? What is your advice to startups in your portfolio right now?

Our investment strategy is built around long-lasting principles and therefore we didn't have to change it completely. Of course the investment appetite in sectors hit by crisis decreased significantly but other opportunities emerged. As for portfolio impact, proptech vertical was hit heavily and some of our companies had to reiterate their product offering. Our general advice to any startup in our portfolio is to boost the dialogue with their customers, learn how their needs are shifting (if so) and try to steer the wheel in the right time. If needed, we are ready to support our founders financially and also teamwise, since we are hands-on investors.

Are you seeing green shoots regarding revenue growth, retention or other momentum in your portfolio as they adapt to the pandemic?

D2C startups with a sound unit economy and their own strong distribution channels are thriving (not only locally). This includes our portfolio.

What is a moment that has given you hope in the last month or so? This can be professional, personal or a mix of the two.

Not losing hope really. I think people were in much deeper crises and that we refer to the current situation as we do only due to lack of historical comparability. We are still living in times of prosperity and the pandemic will eventually go away thanks to the scientific progress people have achieved. So I think the beacon of positive change are all the RNA vaccines out there. I am thrilled by the restless work of scientists involved in their development and I believe they should receive much greater social credit than they do nowadays.

Who are key startup people you see creating success locally, whether investors, founders or even other types of startup ecosystems roles like lawyers, designers, growth experts, etc. Were trying to highlight the movers and shakers who outsiders might not know.

Cedric Maloux, Lubo Smid, Dita Formankova, Tomas Cironis, Ondrej Bartos.

Roman Horacek , partner, Reflex Capital

What trends are you most excited about investing in, generally?

B2B, business automation processes, e-commerce, AI, SaaS, COVID-19-related solutions  across verticals (remote work, conferencing, etc.).

Whats your latest, most exciting investment?

Webnode, SignageOS and some others that unfortunately cannot be disclosed yet :)

Are there startups that you wish you would see in the industry but dont? What are some overlooked opportunities right now?

I would like to see more AI startups (actually using AI).

What are you looking for in your next investment, in general?

Rockstar founders, existing and real market need, scalable solution with solid IP.

Which areas are either oversaturated or would be too hard to compete in at this point for a new startup? What other types of products/services are you wary or concerned about?

Cryptocurrencies, blockchain, talent marketplaces.

How much are you focused on investing in your local ecosystem versus other startup hubs (or everywhere) in general? More than 50%? Less?

As of now our portfolio is approximately 75%/25% (75% CEE and 25% USA/other).

Which industries in your city and region seem well positioned to thrive, or not, long term? What are companies you are excited about (your portfolio or not), which founders?

Our companies  APIFY, Productboard, Smartlook, Alice Technologies, SingageOS. Other companies  DoDo, Around, UiPath, Pex,

How should investors in other cities think about the overall investment climate and opportunities in your city?

Great technical talent with superb ideas falling behind with go-to-market and sales skills.

Do you expect to see a surge in more founders coming from geographies outside major cities in the years to come, with startup hubs losing people due to the pandemic and lingering concerns, plus the attraction of remote work?

I don't think so, I believe the talent will still be attracted by existing major hubs. Smaller the team, more interaction is needed. Despite all the innovations in remote work one-to-one interactions and social time cannot be fully replaced (yet).

Which industry segments that you invest in look weaker or more exposed to potential shifts in consumer and business behavior because of COVID-19? What are the opportunities startups may be able to tap into during these unprecedented times?

Exposed  travel, dating apps  all businesses traditionally based on physical interaction. Not a surprise I guess :) Opportunities  remote work applications, psychedelic applications, well-being startups, life science solutions, logistics and related industries, e-commerce for SMEs.

Has COVID-19 impacted your investment strategy? What are the biggest worries of the founders in your portfolio? What is your advice to startups in your portfolio right now?

Not really. Our No. 1 investment criteria is strong founders. Most of them were able to adjust their business models to the new market conditions. Spring 2020 advice was cash is king, stay frugal and adjust your business to the new market conditions ASAP or others will.

Are you seeing green shoots regarding revenue growth, retention or other momentum in your portfolio as they adapt to the pandemic?

Yes. I believe COVID-19 played a role of an accelerator for innovations in many business areas and even e-government and other rigid/conservative industries.

What is a moment that has given you hope in the last month or so? This can be professional, personal or a mix of the two.

Given all the events of 2020 we had a solid year as a fund. What was inspiring  seeing founders coming across whatever obstacles thrown under their legs  overcoming them with new ideas/inventions and unbreakable entrepreneurial spirit.

Who are key startup people you see creating success locally, whether investors, founders or even other types of startup ecosystems roles like lawyers, designers, growth experts, etc. Were trying to highlight the movers and shakers who outsiders might not know.

Hard to name one or a few  every single player plays a different role and one individual is unimportant without others. Same as in nature, even the strongest/biggest predators cannot thrive without a thriving ecosystem as a whole.

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Kilmore Quay-based company Sofrimar has received 28,260 in grant funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme (EMFF).

The money will be used for the trial and rental of equipment for converting waste products to powder for use in horticulture and is part of national funding worth than 1 million to nine seafood processing companies.

Announcing the funding, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., 'I am very pleased to support these nine seafood enterprises to further grow their business.

'These are particularly challenging times with both Covid and Brexit impacting on markets and the ongoing capital investment by our seafood sector is evidence of its resilience and its optimism for future growth prospects.'

Minister McConalogue added, 'My Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme has provided in excess of 230 million over the past seven years to support the sustainable growth of our seafood sector. A new Seafood Development Programme for the 2021-27 period is presently being drafted and I expect it to commence later this year.'
SACRAMENTO  An East Bay woman convicted of bludgeoning her stepfather to death with a lead pipe will leave prison 32 years after the killing.

Gov. Gavin Newsom granted commutation Friday for Teresa Paulinkonis, who killed her stepfather in San Leandro on New Years Eve 1989. The order reduces her sentence and makes Paulinkonis immediately eligible for release on parole.

Newsoms order states that Paulinkonis, who was 24 at the time of the killing, has worked hard to better herself during her time in prison. She earned an associate degree and guards praised her good behavior, the governor said.

The act of clemency for Ms. Paulinkonis does not minimize or forgive her conduct or the harm it caused, Newsom said in a statement. It does recognize the work she has done since to transform herself.

Prosecutors said Paulinkonis and her mother first sought to kill the stepfather, 67-year-old Paul Paulinkonis, by serving him meatloaf and cocktails laced with oleander, a poisonous plant, thinking it might kill him and leave no trace.

He got sick for a short time and recovered. Authorities said Teresa Paulinkonis then attacked her stepfather with a lead pipe while he watched television, beating him to death. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.

Advocates and friends have been working to free her for years, saying many details of the case werent fully vetted at trial.

Paulinkonis attorney, Lilli Paratore, told the Appeal that Paulinkonis had been sexually abused by her stepfather for many years. Paratore said the state clemency board had not given appropriate weight to that factor.

Elayne Clift, a friend and supporter of Paulinkonis, has corresponded with her for 28 years. Clift said a network of women from around the world has been fighting for her release.

You have to look at womens experiences through the lens of gender, because context is everything, Clift said. Shes really an amazing woman and this has been a really long journey for her.

Newsoms commutation statement made no mention of abuse allegations against the stepfather. The governor wrote that he concluded Paulinkonis, now 57, was ready for parole after considering her youth at the time of the crime, positive conduct in prison and preparedness to re-enter society.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
Being a certified K-drama-obsessed is not just simply because of the actors, but also the fancy costumes and jewelries worn by your favorite Korean celebrities.

The Korean culture has become one of the most popular and well-preserved identities in Asia. Lots of TV dramas and movies are influenced by the country's culture and even set new trends. Just like in the recent sageuk (historical dramas), fantasy drama "Mr. Queen" and Netflix's Joseon Kingdom series "Kingdom," which captivated viewers' interest for its costumes and jewelry, all of which are historically genuine but with new creative and artistic approaches.

Jewelry designer and the owner of NASCHENKA, Kim Soung Eun, sat down for an interview with a famous publication to further explain the story and inspiration behind the jewelries used in some of your favorite Korean dramas.

The Story Behind the Jewelries Used in "Mr. Queen," "River Where the Moon Rises," & "Kingdom"

Her items already appeared in over 70 period K-dramas and movies, specifically in the most recent shows "River Where the Moon Rises," "Mr. Queen," and "Kingdom." According to her, those jewelries are not just for visual treat, but rather, they symbolize the identities and social statuses of the characters wearing it.

In the latest megahit drama "Mr. Queen," actress Shin Hye Sun played the role of Queen Cheorin from Joseon Kingdom's mid-19th century. Kim Soung Eun explained that in order to show the royal status of the queen, she made a phoenix binyeo (hairpin) and to identify the contrast between the queen and Jo Hwa Jin (King Cheoljong's courtesan) played by actress Seol In Ah, the designer customized a lovebird binyeo.

Kim Soung Eun said, "In the Joseon Kingdom, it was normal for queens and princesses to wear a phoenix binyeo. And royal courtesans usually wore a lovebird binyeo."

Kim Soung Eun also said that she created the gold peony blossom-shaped crown for the "River Where the Moon Rises" star Kim So Hyun, who plays as the princess whose desire is to become the first-ever woman to lead the kingdom. In the culture of Korea, traditionally, peony means honor, wealth, and high position. It is is said to signify peace and stability.

She also customized the sangtugwan, a crown to protect the topknot, for actor Park Bo Gum in the 2016 drama "Love in the Moonlight." Kim Soung Eun also gave a hint that one of his creations will be seen in the upcoming Netflix series "Kingdom: Ashin of the North."

Kim Soung Eun Also Worked with BTS member Suga, a.k.a. Agust D

The designer also wishes to work with K-pop stars and luxury brands to promote the beauty of Korean traditional jewelry. But recently, she designed the sangtugwan that BTS's Suga wore in his music video of "Daechwita."





Through this, Korean culture has become prominent in the eyes of viewers and potential tourists. It also gives the opportunity for the Korean people to introduce their lifestyle in such a creative way. The economy of South Korea also increases every year, thanks to Hallyu!

Kim Soung Eun is just one of the many brilliant people in South Korea, gifted to make such magnificent creations, the kinds that represent the past and present of South Korea.

What are your thoughts about Kim Soung Eun's masterpieces? Share your thoughts with us 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
Indianapolis, IN (46208)

Today

Rain. High 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Showers and scattered thunderstorms. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
A number of women have said they will attend the London vigil for Sarah Everard regardless of the outcome of campaigners discussions with police.

Organisers Reclaim These Streets are continuing talks with the Metropolitan Police to work out how the event could go ahead safely, after the High Court earlier refused to make a declaration on the matter.

Becki Elson was one of many to say they will be attending the vigil regardles on social media  telling the PA news agency she will be at Clapham Common Bandstand at 6pm on Saturday with her 19-year-old daughter.

My daughter's sign.

We're still going.

We've had enough of being told what to do to stay safe by men. We're still not safe.

This is too important.

We will of course mask & social distance & I have been vaccinated.@ReclaimTS #ReclaimTheseStreets pic.twitter.com/VAmAPtEdPO  Irate Socialist  #ReclaimTheseStreets (@iratesocialist) March 12, 2021

Even if no one else shows up, we will take a moment to remember Sarah and leave a candle for her, said the 35-year-old from Brixton.

Im angry for the response of the police to be to tell women to further restrict their behaviour, and then the courts to refuse our right to hold a vigil for Sarah, Im incandescent.

Its time for women to fight back, to take control, to lead the way out of this nightmare that has lasted the entire span of human history.

Ms Elson said police should work with campaigners and stand, socially-distanced, with those taking part in the demonstration.

Following the High Court decision and as police discussions continue, a number of MPs shared messages in support of the proposed vigils.

Cmon @metpoliceuk now agree a way for this vigil to happen safely. Many women want to show their concern. Including women met police officers! https://t.co/eS0jw7ABUX  Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman) March 12, 2021

Labour MP for Camberwell and Brixton Harriet Harman tweeted: Cmon (Metropolitan Police) now agree a way for this vigil to happen safely.

Many women want to show their concern. Including women met police officers!

However, the High Court ruling has also caused some vigils for Ms Everard, which have been planned in dozens of locations across the UK over the last week, to be cancelled.

The organisers of the #ReclaimTheStreets event in #whitstable have decided to cancel tomorrow's vigil for #Sarah. Having spoken to @kent_police earlier, I totally support their decision. pic.twitter.com/lEojfJQ3Q5  Rosie Duffield MP  (@RosieDuffield1) March 12, 2021

Labour MP for Canterbury Rosie Duffield confirmed that organisers of an event in Whitstable cancelled their event, adding: Having spoken to (Kent Police) earlier, I totally support their decision.

Further afield, a Scottish woman said she is organising a vigil in Brussels on Saturday at the same time as the planned UK demonstrations.

Entrepreneur Rozina Spinnoy, who moved to Belgium almost 20 years ago, said she expects a small group to gather for an hour for a peaceful vigil on the steps of the Brussels Stock Exchange.

Rozina Spinnoy has organised a vigil in Belgium for Sarah Everard (Rozina Spinnoy)

Women wish to come together across many cities across the UK and beyond, the 49-year-old mother of three told PA.

Belgium and Europe is in solidarity with the UKs vigil for Reclaim These Streets and is saddened by the tragic events surrounding Sarah Everard.

Whether the events (in the UK) are allowed to go ahead or not and permission granted  women will not be silenced.

Ms Spinnoy said the vigil would be in line with Belgian Covid rules, which allow groups of up to 10 to gather outside, and is being promoted with fliers translated into French and Dutch.
Urban and suburban schools are rapidly adopting versions of Critical Race Theory (CRT), a Marxist pedagogy based on the assumption that racism is endemic and impossible to eradicate in white people. As CRT is implemented across America, classical textbooks in English, American history, and traditional mathematics are being tossed aside and replaced with propaganda written by progressive activists and anti-math agitators. Even at prestigious private schools, the principles of physics, such as Newton's Laws, are being canceled or renamed.

Let's stop and ask a basic question: how is the obsession with race good for the education of children or their future participation as adults in a pluralistic society in a competitive world?

When American school systems adopt changes in curricula, the changes should be intended to improve student achievement. Boards of education and administrators regularly review the results of the proposed curricula in other school systems. But with CRT, there are no empirical studies showing any educational benefits to K12 children from CRT or its many variants, including Culturally Responsive-Sustaining education (CR-S) and the diversity and inclusion curriculum. And school systems aren't asking any questions, much less hard ones.

However, there are plenty of studies showing deteriorating student achievement in urban school districts, like New York City, Baltimore, and other large progressive-run large cities, where CRT and aggressive diversity training have been in place for several years. In states and cities where charter schools are an option, there is indisputable evidence that irrespective of their racial constituencies, charter schools outperform regular public schools.

Well intentioned parents, teachers, and administrators are lulled into inviting diversity and inclusion training consultants into their schools. This is only the first step for a much broader CRT re-education effort that puts a racial interpretation on all subjects, from math to English language arts.

CRT curriculum evaluation techniques that focus on cultural representation and social justice have the potential to adversely impact math and science instruction. For example, a toolkit provided on New York University's Steinhardt Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools' website asks teams to assess math curricula from the standpoint of the diversity of ethnicity and sex identification. CRT implementation introduces the threat that the mathematical principles discovered by Euclid, Fibonacci, Pythagoras, Archimedes, and Newton be canceled because they are dead white men and not non-binary or BIPOC.

NYU/Steinhardt's cultural representation analysis asks whether the curriculum centers on the origins of science and math within BIPOC communities. The social justice analysis asks whether the curriculum highlights and affirms the knowledge systems of indigenous, black, brown and non-Western conceptions of science and math and the role math plays in social structure.

As far as the effects on the psychological well-being of students, it is well established that when African-American and Hispanic-American school-aged children are made aware of negative racial stereotypes, they perform less well than white and Asian students. When negative stereotypes are assigned to high-performing and motivated white students, what is the likely outcome? Why, then, should any parent, board of education, teacher, or administrator want to put in place CRT, CR-S, or diversity training meant to emphasize racial differences and castigate white children for their supposed white privilege?

There are also many examples of the toxic effects CRT and training have on children's attitudes toward schooling. Increasing numbers of parents in suburban schools are becoming concerned that their children, who are taught at home to ignore skin color, are being taught in school to obsess over it. Parents in suburban Westchester County, where CR-S and diversity programs are being introduced, are coming home asking questions like "why do we hate black children?" Other Westchester parents report that students are angry, resentful, or disgusted with the racial pedagogy.

The racial training is also undermining the institution of the family. Grace Church School in New York City sent students and teachers guidelines to eliminate the words "mom," "dad," and "family" to encourage inclusivity.

That leads to a second question: what is the logical extension of the adoption of CRT by K12 public schools? The roll-out of CRT, CR-S and diversity training should be a warning sign that our educators are planning the destruction of classical education and of parental rights to oversee the moral development of their children. The dilution of academic rigor will inevitably make the next generation academically, intellectually, and emotionally unprepared for the challenges of the future.

You can bet that Chinese, Eastern European, and Indian children aren't studying CRT-approved math, engineering, chemistry, physics, or languages. Our enemies in Communist China must be laughing as they watch the spectacle of America's elite public and private schools dumbing down their curricula at the behest of hard leftleaning educational consultants.

Image via Pickpik.
Thousands of families forced from their homes. Homelessness at historic levels. A city already devastated by COVID-19 facing yet another crisis.

Newark is on the brink of a housing emergency  hastened by the coronavirus  that could have cascading effects across New Jersey.

More than 14,000 eviction cases are pending in Essex County court  most of them thought to involve Newark tenants  delayed because evictions have been suspended during the pandemic under Gov. Phil Murphys emergency order.

But as more people get vaccinated and the state climbs out of the devastation wrought by the pandemic, Newark and other cities could be plunged into an eviction crisis theyre not prepared to face.

Unless there is something systemically done to address this overwhelming backlog and imminent avalanche (of evictions), I do not think things are going to be back to normal, said Khabirah Myers, a lawyer in Newarks Office of Tenant Legal Services. Were going to see potential homelessness at historic levels.

The problem is not confined to Newark. A staggering number of New Jersey residents could be thrown out of their housing unless substantial funding is earmarked for rental assistance for tenants who have fallen behind on rent and evictions are further delayed, experts say.

Around 60,000 evictions are pending across the state, data from the state judiciary shows. Matt Shapiro, president of the New Jersey Tenants Association, said those likely represent only a fraction of evictions that will be filed once the moratorium ends.

Most landlords havent filed evictions because of the lockout moratorium, Shapiro said. If we dont do something, youre going to see 200,000, 300,000 pending evictions.

Eviction filings declined dramatically in 2020 after the moratorium went into effect, according to judiciary data. From April through the end of the year, 46,245 evictions were filed across the state, down nearly 60% from the 112,888 filed during the same period in 2019.

If evictions had not been on hold, its likely the number of 2020 evictions would have been much higher than previous years. One estimate said almost one-third of renters failed to pay their rent fully and on-time in July.

But even with evictions on hold since the pandemic began, some renters in New Jersey have still been forced from their homes, both legally and illegally, tenant advocates say. Dozens of people in Newark and beyond have reported being locked out of their homes without a warrant allowing it, according to a story published this week by NorthJersey.com.

While the potential eviction crisis will affect most of the state, Newark will likely be the epicenter, much like it has been during the pandemic.

In every city, renters will face an enormous crisis when eviction moratoriums expire, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement. This is acute in Newark where 78% of our residents are tenants. Unless the federal government treats emergency rental assistance as an urgent priority, Newark will face a tsunami of evictions.

Newark is particularly vulnerable because of a dire shortage of affordable housing, a situation underlined in a new report from Rutgers University researchers. That report, released last month, found that nearly two-thirds of Newark tenants are rent-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income on rent, a federal benchmark of affordability. Nearly a third spend at least half their income on rent.

The median rent in Newark is about $1,100 a month. That is far more than the $763 mark that would satisfy the 30% affordability threshold, based on the citys average household income of $30,000. This disparity leaves the city short about 16,000 affordable units.

Now add thousands of pending evictions and an unknown number yet to be filed, and you have a full-blown housing crisis.

With unemployment hovering above 7.5% in New Jersey, many of those facing eviction will have few options beyond a relatives couch or the streets.

Our understanding is that people move in with others, people are homeless or live in their cars or people leave the region, said David Troutt, one of the researchers who published the Rutgers affordability report. You dont have many options if youre unable to stay where you are.

Newark has already been devastated by COVID-19. The city has recorded the most coronavirus cases (32,745  4.5% of the states total) and the most deaths (886  4.2% of the states total), despite having little more than 3% of New Jerseys population.

Since Murphy declared a public emergency one year ago, evictions have mostly halted, with the governor acknowledging that kicking people out of their homes would likely spread COVID-19. Murphys order included a moratorium on lockouts, meaning landlords cant shut people out of their homes, even if theyre behind on rent or have eviction proceedings started against them. The state Supreme Court has also pushed pause on eviction cases, hence the huge backlog of cases.

But the moratorium on lockouts is set to expire two months after Murphy rescinds the emergency declaration  though there is no indication that action is imminent  and tenant advocates fear that courts could soon grind back into gear. That could push tens of thousands of people out of their homes while COVID-19 is still smoldering.

We are definitely heading toward an avalanche of evictions, an ultimate crisis, said Shapiro, of the tenants organization. If its not prevented... if we have had a tamping down of the pandemic, that will change. The conditions of 100,000, 200,000, 300,000 evictions, the conditions that those people will be forced to live in are ones that are ripe for spreading the virus.

Thousands of New Jersey residents have fallen behind on their rent, having lost their jobs or faced reduced hours or diminished business.

That also means that thousands of landlords have gone without some or all of their income. The impact has been particularly hard on smaller landlords, said Derek Reed, a past president of the New Jersey Property Owners Association.

I do know that landlords are struggling, Reed said. Theres quite a few folks out there with tenants who havent paid in 12, six months.

Even if tenants are unable to pay rent, landlords are still required to pay property taxes, maintenance and mortgage notes, though there has been some mortgage forbearance during the pandemic. Reed said that direct rental assistance is key to helping both landlords and tenants.

Lawmakers are attempting to oblige. In January, Newark received $8.4 million in rental assistance from the stimulus package passed by Congress in December. On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package that includes billions in funds for state and local governments.

Baraka said Newark needs these funds used to help people stay in their homes.

I am working with Governor Murphy and the states federal legislators to ensure that a major share of un-earmarked funds from the presidents $1.9 trillion stimulus bill are directed to rental assistance, the mayor said. This is on top of funds specifically dedicated to rental assistance in the federal bill. We will also set aside part of the stimulus funds coming directly to Newark for rental assistance.

State legislators have also introduced bills aimed at preventing widespread evictions. One bill calls for the pause on evictions to extend one year beyond when it is currently set to expire, while another aims to limit evictions for nonpayment of rent. Neither bill has passed both chambers of the Legislature.

Myers, from Newarks Office of Tenant Legal Services, said additional protections for renters is badly needed if Newark, and New Jersey as a whole, is to avoid yet another catastrophe.

Where are they going to go? There are only but so many shelters that the city of Newark has, Myers said. We need to make housing a priority. If we can get our legislators to understand that, then we will start to see less of a crisis.

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Payton Guion may be reached at pguion@njadvancemedia.com.
Cayuga: Voters can make their selections for mayor and two trustee seats, all carrying two-year terms, from noon to 9 p.m. at the Cayuga Village Office, 6205 Railroad St. Running for mayor are Cayuga First Party candidate William Sherman and Citizens for a Better Cayuga Party candidate Shane Ellis. The trustee candidates are Chris Ryan (150+ Party) and Donald Wilson Jr. (Cayuga Loyalists Party).

Jordan: After more than four decades as Jordan's mayor, Richard Platten will not be running for the seat this year. Platten's run as Jordan village mayor began when he took office in 1979. Two candidates, both members of the Citizen Party, are running for the four-year post: Mark Gustafson and Casey Brim. There are also two trustee seats with four-year terms, and that race features Citizens Party candidates Karen Simko and Timothy T. Stapleton. The polling place is the Whitely Community Building located, 13 Mechanic St., and voting hours run from noon to 9 p.m.

Jordan mayor looks to continue serving 'full-service community' after nearly 40 years in seat Jordan Mayor Richard Platten stands in the village board meeting room in front of a painting of the Erie Canal in the village in 2017.

Meridian: Polling hours run from noon to 9 p.m. at the Town of Cato Office, 11320 Short Cut Road, with four-terms for mayor and a trustee slot on the ballot. The mayoral candidate is Donald Bratt Sr. of the Carpenter Party, and trustee candidates are Amed Perrotta on the Shamrock Party line and Theresa Hirsh on the Pug Party line.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Archie pictured together in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2019. Pool/Getty Images

Facing mounting pressure to respond to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's shocking sit down with Oprah, brother Prince William told reporters Thursday that the royals are "not a racist family."

But the rebuke from the second in line to the thrown did little to calm the growing outrage from Black Brits, and those living within the Queen's Commonwealth Trust - a political association representing the former colonial empire.

"We've been saying that institutionalized racism is a problem. We've been saying it for a very long time," said Renee Alleyne of London.

For the 2.4 billion nationals of the Commonwealth's 54 countries, the revelations invoke a painful legacy of British imperialism throughout Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific.

The highly-anticipated interview brought the racial reckoning straight to the front doors of Buckingham Palace, with Harry and wife Meghan Markle revealing they left the United Kingdom after royal family members failed to protect them from racism and harassment.

The Queen tried softening the ensuing blow back with an address to member states for the association's annual celebration known as Commonwealth Day, but viewers still focused on the eyebrow-raising comments made about the royal couple's young son.

Former and current members of Commonwealth countries spoke with Insider about the impact of those alleged remarks.

People of color and Commonwealth citizens told Insider they weren't surprised

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace on April 19, 2018, in London, England. WPA Pool/Getty Images

In the interview Markle alleged that a family member had expressed "concerns" to Prince Harry about how dark Archie's skin color would be.

Story continues

"Colorism is a painful reality," said Sekiya Dorsett, a filmmaker living in New York. "As adults, we are faced with its reality. But for a baby - before its birth - to be faced with that reality is beyond painful."

Dorsett grew up in the Bahamas, among the 16 mostly Caribbean countries that still consider Queen Elizabeth its head of state. She recalled stories of "iconic waving and school kids screaming with glee" from older generations who revered the Queen - a tone she said had shifted in recent years.

Founded in 1949, the modern Commonwealth includes nations like Nigeria, Pakistan, Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand, and South Africa. However, the Queen, and the British royal family as a whole, never acknowledged its historic role in the Transatlantic slave trade and colonization that created this multinational coalition.

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Ivy Prosper, a journalist and TV host in Ghana, noted that while Black expats living in the country weren't surprised, for locals the comments where no less hurtful.

"I think the shocker for a lot of people was that it came from the Monarchy," Prosper said."It came from an institution that people thought would not say things like that."

Calling the royal family a "bastion of white supremacy," Adeyela Albury Bennett, CEO of the Alabama-based nonprofit, Women in Training, argued Markle's treatment by the royal family should surprise no one.

"What [the royals are] doing is their nature," she said. "They have maintained a system of white supremacy through colonization, through slavery, the whole concept of becoming wealthy nations with the Commonwealth."

The Bahamas-raised non-profit officer recalled a childhood in Nassau where the royals were admired, relaying she cried following Princess Diana's death in 1997. Still, the anger permeated family and friend groups chats as word of the comments spread.

Bennett wrote in response to the interview that while the crown's rejection of a biracial American in Markle is expected, "for [Queen] Elizabeth to also reject her own grandson and great grandson" means that "racism, apparently is thicker than blood."

The Commonwealth has been accused of reinforcing colonialism - and some countries have already severed ties

Queen Elizabeth II receives Governor-General of Barbados Dame Sandra Mason during a private audience at Buckingham Palace on March 28, 2018 in London, England. WPA Pool/Getty Images

Outcry spread from WhatsApp chats to parliaments, with Commonwealth leaders including former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Canadian politician Michael Connolly, calling for countries to leave or abolish the association altogether.

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Global newspaper, News America Now, implored Caribbean nations to drop the Queen as head of state in an op-ed Monday, defections that would follow Barbados, which announced in September it would remove Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and officially become a republic.

"I do think that it would be a good idea for Commonwealth countries to do their best to cut the ties as much as they can," said Prosper. "I don't really see a purpose for them still having strong ties with the monarchy."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry acknowledged the "uncomfortable" past of the Commonwealth

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a Creative Industries and Business Reception on October 02, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Markle last spoke out about racism and the Commonwealth in 2015 while serving as president and vice-president of the association. Back then Harry argued "there is no way that [the Commonwealth] can move forward unless [it] acknowledge[d] the past."

Since then, many touted Markle's reign as a potential symbol for the Commonwealth's reconciliation and healing.

But while the royal family acknowledged the couple's allegations, officials responded in a statement that the controversy would "be addressed by the family in private". Now Commonwealth countries with mostly Black and brown residents facing the generational consequences of British colonialism are left to grapple with reverberating shock.

Dorsett called for a "truth and reconciliation commission across the Commonwealth," as well as reparations as compensation for colonized countries of the Commonwealth. That effort began in 2013 when 14 Caribbean nations sued the United Kingdom, France and Netherlands. But Dorsett isn't holding her breath.

"How do we expect an entity or country that has not apologized for its racist and colonial past to be a place of change," Dorsett asked, pointing to the Commonwealth's predominately Black and brown residents who still face the economic fallout of colonialism.

With what she called "safe statements that never directly take culpability," Dorsett argued accountability may not be on the horizon so long as a monarchy rules over Britain - even if only symbolically.

Read the original article on Insider
Kathmandu, March 13

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 275,178 as of Saturday afternoon.

The ministry says 60 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 2,362 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million and 212,796 people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 915 cases are active.

Of the total cases so far, 271,249 people have achieved recovery whereas 3,014 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 72 people have been discharged whereas two deaths have been reported.

Over 40 people are quarantined across the country.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Officers found a crowbar, hammers, bear spray and firearms after they corralled a group of about 100 protesters, Portland police said Saturday.

In a news release, the police bureau said officers surrounded the protesters about 15 minutes after the march began Friday night in the city's Pearl District at 9 p.m. because some began smashing windows.

The department said it warned the crowd that failure to comply with lawful orders could result in arrest and exposure to tear gas, and it invited news reporters, legal observers and anyone with medical conditions to leave the enclosed area.

Those who left were identified and photographed as part of an investigation, police said. Others locked arms and refused; officers escorted them away and arrested them, including a suspect in the earlier window vandalism, officers said.

Some of the protesters also confronted the police, throwing rocks and full cans of beer, the department said. Officers used pepper spray.

Among the items left behind by the protesters were crowbar, hammers, bear spray, knives and what the department described as a slugging weapon with rocks.

Thirteen people are facing charges from the protest, including disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and interfering with police.

One, identified as Katrina Walker, 26, of Portland, was cited for unlawful possession of a firearm; another, Tara Walker, 34, was booked for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a loaded firearm in a public place, among other charges. It was not immediately known if they were related or if they had attorneys who might speak on their behalf.

On Saturday, three civil rights groups called for U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the Portland Police Bureau in light of Friday's arrests.

In a statement, the Oregon Justice Resource Center, the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Oregon and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon said: Under the authority of Mayor and Police Commissioner Ted Wheeler and Police Chief Chuck Lovell, what PPB did last night  kettling  is an aggressive and indiscriminate police tactic of surrounding and boxing in a group of people and blocking off all exit points.

Story continues

Both the Oregon Justice Resource Center and ACLU of Oregon are currently representing clients in federal lawsuits against PPBs use of the kettling tactic against anti-Trump protesters in 2017. In neither case has the court approved of or found constitutional this abusive tactic.

Portland has been the site of frequent protests, many involving violent clashes between officers and demonstrators, ever since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Over the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 straight days.

Mayor Ted Wheeler has decried what he described as a segment of violent agitators who detract from the message of police accountability and should be subject to more severe punishment.
I couldnt be there to protect them: Pastor grieves loss of 2 daughters, 3 grandkids killed in crash

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A Florida pastor grieving the loss of his two daughters and three grandchildren who were killed in a fatal crash said he has yet to share the tragic news with his wife, a stage-4 cancer survivor, who's in the hospital.

Just imagining that final impact and what my kids were going through and what my grandchildren were saying and I couldnt be there to protect them, Pastor Anthony Oliver of Taft Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida, told Fox 35 News. Because anytime anything happens, theyre always calling for me, Papa, Papa. And I could imagine them calling my name. Thats what hurts. That I wasnt there.

The accident involved two vehicles  a Hyundai carrying six people and a Suburban  occurred at the intersection of Clarcona Ocoee Road and Gaymar Drive in Orlando late Thursday evening, killing a 5-month-old baby boy and 5- and 4-year-old girls, as well as two women aged 30 and 25.

Last night was the last time my grandbabies talked to me and told me, Pop Pop, I love you. I wont hear that no more, the pastor said, according to Click Orlando. Any parent would rather their kids bury them than them burying their kids and now Ive got to bury five, Oliver said. Love on them while theyre here, because when theyre gone thats it.

We had a Hyundai passenger vehicle with six occupants inside that was traveling westbound on Clarcona Ocoee Road. The driver attempted to make a left turn on Gaymar Drive. As she made the left turn, an eastbound Suburban collided with the side of the Hyundai, said Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson Lt. Kim Montes. Inside the Hyundai, we had three children pronounced deceased on scene and [two adult women].

Both drivers, a 51-year-old Orlando woman and a 28-year-old Apopka man, survived.

According to the FHP, some of the victims had apparently not been wearing seatbelts. Both vehicles overturned, and five people in the Hyundai were ejected.

Such a horrific crash that happened on Clarcona-Ocoee Road Thursday night. Five people were killed, including three young children. I cant imagine the pain this family is going through, Mark Lehman, a reporter for News 6, wrote on Twitter.

We appreciate all who have reached out with such love and selflessness during this very difficult time, the church wrote on its Facebook page.

The church earlier announced: Taft Missionary family and friends, please keep our humble leader Pastor Anthony Oliver and family in prayer. Our family has suffered a great loss as Pastor's 2 Daughters and 3 grandchildren were taken from this earth in a tragic car accident Thursday evening. Although we grieve we also love ... In Jesus' name!
In November 1970, two brothers, ages 11 and 14, were out for a hike in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and found the remains of 18-year-old Paula Oberbroeckling, who had been missing for four months. Her wrists and ankles had been bound, indicating foul play, but the criminal investigation into her murder lasted less than a year and a half, and her killer or killers have never been apprehended.

PW spoke with journalist Katherine Dykstra, author of What Happened to Paula (Norton, June), about the case, and the ways in which gender, and occupying a female body, intersect with Oberbroecklings life and death.

How did you hear about this case?

When I met my husband in 2006, his family was working on a documentary film about Paula Oberbroecklings death. His mother had gone to the same high school as Paula, and Paulas unsolved homicide had haunted her for more than 35 years. Susan, my future mother-in-law, asked then if I wanted to be a part of the project. I was a journalist and capable of conducting interviews, but I was a firm no. At that time, the idea of thinking about how this girl had been killed frightened me.

What made you come back to it?

Years later, after I married and had my first child, my mother-in-law approached me again. Her documentary had never come to fruition, but she hadnt given up on telling Paulas story, and now she thought that the case might be fodder for a book. By that time, marriage and motherhood had changed my conception of my womanhood so drastically that when I thought about Paula, rather than fear, what I felt was anger at all the ways she had been hemmed in by the circumstances of her lifechief of which, for me, having just given birth, was the fact that she was possibly pregnant when she disappeared.

Does this case look different in the wake of the #MeToo movement?

It does in that the indignities that Paula and the other women of her time had to endure, from unwanted advances to domestic violence, were both accepted and to be expected. Women were often put in uncomfortable situations and then they were told that they should feel no discomfort. Today women can, at the least, point to others who have stood up for their rights over their own bodies and they can feel emboldened by those examples. But even in the midst of #MeToo, women are still being killed by their partners, they are still the victims of sexual violence. The pandemic has only put a point on this. Women who have been caged with their abusive partners cant escape the violence.

How do you hope learning Paulas story will affect readers?

So much of womanhood is ensconced in shame. Women are shamed for the way they dress, the things they say, their very bodies and biology. Theyre shamed for their approaches to work, for whether they decide to marry, to have children, for the ways in which they choose to mother. The judgment is endless. Paula was shamed for her behaviors in life and she was practically blamed for her own death. My hope is that by telling Paulas story, and the stories of the other women in [the book], Ill be able to illustrate how this type of shaming traps women, and also that readers will feel less inclined to feel shame over their own choices.

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India, the second most populous country in the world, has administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 3.06 crore people till March 18, 2021. However, this figure represents only 2.3 per cent of India's 135.5 crore population. Full vaccination (both doses) has been given to only 0.5 per cent of the total population. At this rate, India will take 10.8 years to administer both doses to 70 per cent of its population to attain herd immunity.

As per the vaccination data of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India administered 1,87,55,540 first doses of the vaccine in the first 17 days of March (from 7am on March 1 to 7am on March 18). This translates to an average of 11,03,267.1 first doses per day. At this rate, it will take 2.36 years for India to vaccinate 70 per cent of its population and 3.4 years to vaccinate the entire population with the initial dose of the two-dose regime vaccination programme.

However, the vaccination time period is even higher if data for administering second dose is considered. A total of 40,86,218 second doses were administered in the first 17 days of the month, an average of 2,40,365.8 doses per day. At this rate, it will take 10.8 years to vaccinate 70 per cent of India's population and 15.4 years to cover the entire population.

While there is no clear number for herd immunity, experts believe that vaccinating about 70 per cent of the population should be enough for developing herd immunity to break the transmission of coronavirus.

India began its COVID-19 vaccination programme on January 16, covering healthcare workers in the first phase. In early February, the vaccination programme was expanded to include frontline workers. In the ongoing second phase, which began on March 1, people aged above 60 years and those above 45 years of age with co-morbidities are being vaccinated.

Oxford University-AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin are being used for the vaccination programme.

Drug firm Dr Reddy's application for emergency use authorisation (EUA) for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is currently awaiting approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). In September 2020, Dr Reddy's had partnered with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to conduct the clinical trials of Sputnik V, and for its distribution rights in India.

India currently has 2.52 lakh active COVID-19 cases, while 1.59 lakh people have lost their lives because of the disease. The number of cases has seen an upsurge in some states in the last few days.

Also read: COVID-19 tests cross 23 crore-mark in India
ITV was last night forced to edit part of Oprah Winfrey's explosive interview with the Sussexes after it was revealed that it included misleading and distorted headlines which portrayed British press coverage of the couple as racist.

Headlines that were flashed on the screen during the controversial interview with the US chat show host were cynically manipulated to back up the couple's assertion that they were the victims of bigoted coverage.

Associated Newspapers, the publisher of The Mail on Sunday, Daily Mail and MailOnline, complained to Viacom CBS  the US TV giant which aired last week's two-hour programme  about 'the deliberate distortion and doctoring of newspaper headlines'.

It also demanded that ITV remove the 'misleading and inaccurate headlines' from the programme, which remains available on its ITV Hub catch-up service. ITV said it would remove four of the misleading headlines but not all of them.

ITV was last night forced to edit part of Oprah Winfrey's explosive interview with the Sussexes after it was revealed that it included misleading and distorted headlines which portrayed British press coverage of the couple as racist. Pictured: Analysis of the headlines

ITV was last night forced to edit part of Oprah Winfrey's explosive interview with the Sussexes after it was revealed that it included misleading and distorted headlines which portrayed British press coverage of the couple as racist. Pictured: Analysis of the headlines

During the interview, which was watched by 11.1 million viewers in the UK and 17.1 million in the US, Ms Winfrey said Meghan had been the victim of racism by the British press.

'There were undeniable racist overtones,' she said. 'There was constant criticism, blatant sexist and racist remarks by British tabloids.'

To illustrate the point, viewers were presented with montages of supposedly bigoted headlines. However, analysis showed 11 of more than 30 headlines were from American and Australian publications, including tawdry gossip magazines.

In a complaint to CBS on Friday, Liz Hartley, editorial legal director at Associated Newspapers, said: 'Many of the headlines have been either taken out of context or deliberately edited and displayed as supporting evidence for the programme's claim that the Duchess of Sussex was subjected to racist coverage by the British press.'

She added: 'This editing was not made apparent to viewers and, as a result, this section of the programme is both seriously inaccurate and misleading.'

The programme makers seemingly felt the need to create the headlines in the absence of evidence to support the point they were trying to make about racism, Ms Hartley said, adding: 'It reflects very badly on them and does the debate on the vital subject of racism considerable harm.'

Headlines that were flashed on the screen during the controversial interview with the US chat show host were cynically manipulated to back up the couple's assertion that they were the victims of bigoted coverage

In a second letter sent last night, Ms Hartley said: 'It is hard to conceive of anything more socially inflammatory, or of more morally irresponsible journalism.'

The most egregious example involved a story published by The Mail on Sunday in January 2018 which revealed how the girlfriend of the then Ukip leader Henry Bolton had made racist remarks about Meghan.

Producers chose not to show the newspaper's headline about the 'Vile Racist Attack' but instead used a small part of a MailOnline headline which quoted one of the woman's vile messages  but omitted the rest of the headline.

'In doing so, it removed all context and inaccurately suggested that MailOnline made or agreed with the statement, which it plainly did not,' Ms Hartley said in her complaint.

Another example in the headline montages featured a supposed Guardian headline reporting on an incident when radio DJ Danny Baker posted a picture of a chimpanzee on Twitter after the Sussexes' son Archie was born.

The Guardian said it did not believe it ever headlined an article 'with the specific phrasing shown in the montage', and The Mail on Sunday has established that it came from an article published by the New York Post, a US tabloid.

Associated Newspapers, the publisher of The Mail on Sunday, Daily Mail and MailOnline, complained to Viacom CBS  the US TV giant which aired last week's two-hour programme  about 'the deliberate distortion and doctoring of newspaper headlines'

The programme also showed a headline from The Daily Telegraph that read: 'The real problem with Meghan Markle: she just doesn't speak our language.'

The second line of the headline, which was not shown, made clear the newspaper's sketch writer was not mocking her ethnicity, but her habit of what he later called 'hippie corporate management speak'.

Meanwhile, a front-page headline from the Daily Mail was also shown with the innocent word 'niggling' blanked out. Ms Hartley said the word 'carries no colonial or racist undertones' and by blanking it out viewers could reach 'a false and damaging conclusion that it was racist'.

During the interview (pictured), which was watched by 11.1 million viewers in the UK and 17.1 million in the US, Ms Winfrey said Meghan had been the victim of racism by the British press

An ITV spokesman said it would remove three manipulated Daily Mail, MailOnline and Mail on Sunday headlines, plus the headline wrongly attributed to the Guardian. However, the out-of-context Daily Telegraph headline and the misleading use of foreign tabloids will remain.

The spokesman said: 'Regarding the headlines The Mail on Sunday have drawn to our attention, we are now taking steps to edit these on the ITV Hub.' A source said it would examine any other complaints that were received.

Conservative MP Giles Watling, a member of the Commons Media Select Committee, last night described the broadcast as 'fake news' and demanded that ITV broadcast a disclaimer.

'This kind of distortion of the facts is utterly appalling,' said Mr Watling, a former actor.

'We should call it exactly what it is: fake news. What is really disturbing is that because of social media, these lies become true once they are repeated enough online.

'Any future broadcasts of this interview should come with a health warning for viewers. People need to know that what they are watching is not necessarily the truth and, in the use of newspaper headlines, a complete distortion of the facts.'

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: 'This is another example of a stage-managed and set-up interview. It is extremely sad that the facts have been manipulated to make these kinds of allegations.'

Broadcasting regulator Ofcom last week launched an investigation after TV presenter Piers Morgan dismissed the Duchess of Sussex's account of suffering suicidal thoughts and experiencing racism.

Broadcasting regulator Ofcom last week launched an investigation after TV presenter Piers Morgan (pictured left on ITV's Good Morning Britain following the broadcast) dismissed the Duchess of Sussex's account of suffering suicidal thoughts and experiencing racism

The watchdog received more than 41,000 complaints, including one from the Duchess herself. Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union, called on Ofcom to also investigate the doctored headlines controversy.

'Ofcom was very quick to open an investigation into Good Morning Britain because Piers Morgan questioned the truthfulness of Meghan's claims,' he said.

'It now looks very much as though Piers Morgan was quite right to raise those questions. Ofcom should be investigating ITV for disseminating this fake news, not Good Morning Britain for challenging it.'

Ms Winfrey's company, Harpo Productions, said: 'Prince Harry and Meghan shared in the interview their personal story. We stand by the broadcast in its entirety.'

CBS did not respond to a request for comment.
Associated Press

The largest warship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances, the latest calamity to strike one of the countrys vessels in recent years amid tensions with the West. The blaze began around 2:25 a.m. and firefighters tried to contain it, the Fars news agency reported, but their efforts failed to save the 207-meter (679-foot) Kharg, which was used to resupply other ships in the fleet at sea and conduct training exercises. The vessel sank near the Iranian port of Jask, some 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) southeast of Tehran on the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz  the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Paris, March 13 : France on Friday reported 25,229 new coronavirus cases in a 24-hour span, taking the total to 4,015,560, and the cumulative number of related deaths passed 90,000, according to data released by health authorities.

Since the epidemic outbreak, a total of 90,146 Covid-19 patients in France had died, representing a single-day rise of 228, official data showed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients dropped by 109 to 24,749. But the number of those who need life support increased by 41 to 4,033, the highest level since late November 2020.

The highly contagious variant of the Covid-19 virus first detected in Britain represents now more than 67 percent of all new infections in France, while the new strains found in Brazil and South Africa account for up to 6 percent of the total positive cases in France, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday.

In the greater Paris region, home to 12 million inhabitants and France's main economic hub, the coronavirus indicators were "particularly worrying" with one Covid-19 patient admitted to the intensive care unit every 12 minutes, said Veran.

When visiting a Paris hospital on Friday evening, Prime Minister Jean Castex said: "The reality of the hospital situation in Ile-de-France (greater Paris region) is extremely tense, difficult." "We are monitoring this situation from day to day to be ready at any time to take the measures that it calls for," he added.

Paris police prefecture announced on Friday that more than 4,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed in the capital at the weekend to ensure the respect of mask-wearing and nightly curfew and evacuate crowded public places where barrier gestures are not applied.

Since late December last year, France has administered 4,569,849 first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, with priority given to the elderly, the vulnerable and frontline health workers.

After Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, France's health regulator on Friday approved Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for use at home for all adults, including people aged 65 and over with comorbidities or not, in a move to speed up vaccine rollout.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
OSAGE, Iowa - As the state of Iowa continues to get vaccines out to those who want them, Governor Kim Reynolds is getting a closer look at the process in action.

Reynolds toured a mass vaccination clinic in Osage this morning, and is pleased with the high volume of doses being administered, around 400 per day.

"They called and said, 'this is the numbers that they've been doing, we have the capacity to do even more.' Very organized, lots of volunteers, community engagement. A lot of happy citizens that were able to get their shot."

She reiterated the state's vaccination efforts are going well, including hitting the milestone of administering 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. She's upbeat about the arrival of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the state's ability to efficiently distribute the single-dose option.

"We were able to get out all of the Johnson & Johnson, 25,600 in a week, and that really took care a lot of our processing plants, food production. That's where we started with that, about 17 counties, many businesses we were able to work with and get vaccinated. Hy-Vee, who is one of our pharmacy retail partners, are also receiving Johnson & Johnson and they too, are working with different companies to schedule getting their employees vaccinated."

With President Biden's commitment to opening eligibility to every American adult by May 1, she feels that goal can be accomplished in Iowa.

"If they can produce and manufacture the vaccine and get it allocated to states, we'll be able to get Iowans vaccinated."

The Governor mentions that the state is working with partners to establish regional mass vaccination clinics, among other initiatives, in case the state's allocation increases.

"Next week will probably be lower again, and by the third week, they're anticipating that they'll start ramping up again. Once we get those allocations back on track, it'll take about three weeks to get through all of our manufacturing companies, and that's really good news."

Reynolds praises the amount of work that's been put into this effort within a year's time since the announcement of the first COVID case in Iowa.

"In 8 months since the first cases were identified, we have two vaccines available. They were on the way to states across the country and into the arms of our health care workforce and our long-term care residents. A couple of months later, we had the third vaccine. And all of that before the 1-year anniversary of when we first experienced some of our first COVID-positive cases in the state. That's a tremendous milestone. And to be able to ramp that up, with this administration to keep things going, is really important."

At the Osage clinic, Mitchell Co. Home Health Care & Public Health administrator Laura Huisman says the department will be getting a shipment of 1,170 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday, and will be doing vaccination clinics almost every day next week.
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From her headquarters on Potrero Hill, Jessica McClintock oversaw a clothing empire that, at its height, operated dozens of stores across the country and outfitted women in dresses, handbags, watches, eyeglasses and a perfume that hinted of jasmine.

The influential designer died in her sleep on Feb. 16, smack in the middle of what her website declared to be the month of romance, when most weddings are planned. McClintock was 90.

McClintock sold fantasy as much as she sold finery. Her silky, satiny creations cost three figures, not four or five. In later years they were sold at Marshalls, not Saks, and at Nordstrom Rack, not Nordstrom. But at the height of her empire, in the 1970s and 1980s, she adorned scores of women in calico, jute and lace for proms, graduations and the wedding altar.

One of them was Hillary Rodham, who wore a frilled, long-sleeved McClintock gown in 1975 when she married her law school sweetheart, Bill Clinton.

The Jessica McClintock look was called a prairie girl aesthetic and it was very, very big until, in the way of all fashion, it wasnt.

Her success was a mix of inspiration and a near-consuming work ethic.

Time is everything, she liked to say. Competition is fierce. Decisions have to be made quickly.

McClintock was born Jessica Gagnon on June 19, 1930. The daughter of a shoe salesman and a beautician, Gagnon was a native of Presque Isle, Maine, who picked up dressmaking skills from her grandmother and never formally studied design. She graduated from San Jose State University and, in the 1960s, taught young students at Nimitz Elementary School in Sunnyvale. Her first husband, Al Staples, died in 1963. She and her second husband, Fred McClintock, a commercial airline pilot she once described as the love of my life, divorced in 1967.

Jessica McClintocks reinvention as a style maven began a couple years later. She recalled selling dresses barefoot in Berkeley in 1969. A year later, she invested $5,000 in a friends San Francisco dress store, called Gunne Sax, and in a few years her fashions were being sold around the world. She opened her first store in San Francisco in 1981. Her empire was said to do $100 million in annual sales.

McClintock not only worked long hours but demanded the same of her colleagues. Her half brother and company vice president, Jack Herich, thought moving to California in the 1960s to work for McClintock would lead to an easy life.

I thought I was going to be a beach bum, he said in 2011. Ive been to the beach once in 40 years.

McClintocks half-century career was not without controversy. Two decades ago, a Mission District garment shop that sewed her clothes was found to have violated labor standards and was liable for unpaid wages. She and others paid $120,000 to settle the case.

After her stores closed, McClintocks fashions and other products were licensed and continued to be sold at stores without valet parking. She was still at work in her 80s, overseeing licensing deals and marketing strategies. A Chronicle reporter asked her in 2011 whether it was OK to sell strapless, mid-thigh dresses to young girls.

Are you kidding? McClintock said. With everything in the world today? Everything is so seductive! Sure, I make the dresses short. But the girls can wear leggings.

McClintocks company website, which survives her, described the domain as an enchanted life style brand ... always in touch with what young women want.

In 2018, McClintock and her son founded the Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation to support environmental causes, particularly those relating to elephants, rhinoceroses and mountain lions.

She is survived by her son, Scott. A memorial celebration will be held in San Francisco at a later date.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF

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Thailand has delayed the use of AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine that was scheduled to start on Friday with the public vaccination of the prime minister and cabinet members, amid concerns about reports of blood clots in some vaccinated people.

Thailand joined the ranks of Denmark, Norway and Iceland who have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after about 30 cases of thromboembolic events or blood clots were reported out of the five million Europeans who received the vaccine.

AstraZeneca is still a good vaccine but with what has happened ... the health ministry based on this advice would like to postpone the usage of the AstraZeneca vaccine momentarily, Kiattiphum Wongjit, permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry of Thailand, said.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was due to start the vaccine drive by receiving the jab at 9 am.

The European Medicines Agency, however, sought to assuage apprehensions by saying that there was no indication that the vaccine was causing the blood clots.

The company also said on Thursday that it did not find any evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis, marked by the formation of blood clots.

An analysis of our safety data of more than 10 million records has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country with Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, said the company in a statement.

In fact, the observed number of these types of events are significantly lower in those vaccinated than what would be expected among the general population.

Thailand, which has so far recorded over 26,500 coronavirus infection, received 117,300 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines on 24 February along with 200,000 Chinas Coronavac.

The country has recorded only 85 fatalities in a population of 66.5 million and more than 30,000 people have received the Coronavac jabs since it kicked off the vaccination drive on 28 February.

The southeast Asian country which aims to inoculate 50 per cent of its total population by the end of this year, has been under fire from the opposition who said that the vaccine procurement by the government was too slow.

Additional reporting from the wires
New Delhi, March 13: Indian government organisations such as Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) and National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) have reported that Chinese hackers have attempted to infiltrate the countrys cyberspace after troops from the two neighbours disengaged from Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh.

On February 28, the 'Red Echo' group targeted NTPC Infrastructure with a malware that it had planted, establishing a connection that fed into the hacker's server, as reported by Recorded Future, a cybersecurity firm.

NCIIPC's Threat Assessment group has identified Emissary Panda, also known as APT-27, which is a China-based threat actor that targets foreign embassies for stealing data related to technology, government and defence sectors. NCIIPC has further warned in its report published in October 2020 that is if these malicious attackers gain access to industrial control system, they will be able to disrupt safety processes leading to damaged turbines, threats to personnel safety, costly outages and even environmental damages.

The Recorded Future report further states that Chinese state sponsored group named Red Echo has been utilising advanced cyber-intrusion techniques to gain foothold in around a dozen critical nodes across the Indian power generation and transmission infrastructure. The attacks have been thwarted with no impact on the functionalities carried out by the Power Sector Operations Corporation (POSOCO).

Also, no data loss or data breach has been detected from the referred threat. Chinese malware was also being used to target power systems at Telangana's TS Transco and TS Genco that run utilities in the state.

The hackers were attempting to steal data and disrupt the power supply in the state. The attempt was successfully thwarted because CERT-IN has issued an alert and subsequently GENCO blocked the suspected IP addresses and changed the user credentials of all officials operating remotely as precautionary measure, as reported by the local media.

China's involvement in these cyber-attacks can be assessed by the fact that pattern and infrastructure used by the group 'Red Echo' is the same as that used by the Chinese government. Also. the aim of the cyber-attack has been to cripple the critical infrastructure of India.

China is the only country that has the capability and the intention to carry out an amplified cyber-attack of such magnitude. The Recorded Future report further states at least one connection opened by the Chinese state-sponsored hackers is still active in the network system of an Indian port.

To this end, Cyfirma, a cyber intelligence firm has reported that Chinese hacking group APT10, also known as Stone Panda, had identified gaps and vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure and supply chain software of Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India (SII) and subjected them to cyber-attacks.

The aim of these virtual attacks is to gain access to the cold storage facilities where the vaccine is kept and disrupt the supply chain. All Indian vaccines have to be stored at a temperature of 2-8 degree Celsius and can be destroyed if any foreign actor takes remote control of the storage facilities and raises the temperature7.

Another spike in the number of cyber-attacks was noticed after the face off at Galwan valley with around 40,000 attacks on the Indian Cyber Space. Information available with the agencies suggests that most of these attacks have originated from Sichuan province of China that is the headquarters of China's Cyber warfare.

A report by the local media has revealed that the Indian Cyber Space is being mainly targeted using two technologies, namely 'Distributed Denial of Service' and 'Internet Protocol Hijack'. 'Distributed Denial of Service' involves overloading a Utility Private website that is designed to accept only a thousand request with around ten lakhs requests to crash the system and knock the website off the internet.

'Internet Protocol Hijack' involves diverting the data being sent through the internet to China for surveillance purposes.

India's response to these cyber-attacks has been restrained, and in the short term can be considered rational. Attribution remains a problem in the cyber domain, since the Chinese government has repeatedly denied responsibility for these actions.

Unlike with the use of conventional weapons that are the domain of the country's military, the government can deny its connection to hackers that makes threat of escalation risky.

Turning to conventional military weapons as a deterrent to cyber-attacks can escalate the conflict even more, enhancing the dangers of an outright war. Till now, China's cyber-attacks have been unable to damage India's infrastructure or resulted in casualties to justify a more provocative conventional attack.

Yet because short term strategy of restraint might encourage China to simply continue with the attacks, India has taken more proactive steps to strengthen national security. India has announced the formation of a Defence Cyber Agency that will rely on the existing capability from the armed forces to better respond to cyber-attacks which is a promising start.

Another preventative measure put in place is aimed at developing indigenous microprocessors and reducing the dependence on the country's import of military software. Experts also advise India to benefit from leading an effort to create a multinational cyber coalition (MNCC) in partnership with other countries in Asia that are a high risk of cyber-attacks from China.

The MNCC countries would be able to harness their collective cyber capabilities to better identify and respond to cyber-attacks.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
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Next weekend Line Of Duty returns for a sixth series and not a moment too soon. The hugely popular police drama is a must-watch for armchair sleuths.

At the heart of the action is AC-12, the anti-corruption squad headed by Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) and his two trusty sidekicks, Detective Inspector Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston).

'My department carries out its duties to the letter of the law,' says Hastings. Yet, week after week, viewers are lured into a dark and complex world of police-on-police crime that is sometimes shocking and often confusing.

Next weekend Line Of Duty returns for a sixth series and not a moment too soon. The hugely popular police drama is a must-watch for armchair sleuths. DI Fleming is pictured left in the series, played by Vicky McClure (right)

How much do you know? What do you remember from the past? Please step into our interrogation room where you are still under caution.

For the purposes of the tape, we need to ascertain how much you have learned from what has gone before to inform the quality of your Line Of Duty viewing experience in the future.

You have the right to be questioned by an officer at least one rank senior  but please answer truthfully. BEEEEEP!

1) At the heart of every series is the Hunt for H, the quest to uncover the identity of the mysterious high-ranking criminal mastermind who commands a network of corrupt police officers. Three people have already been unmasked in the H block, but the identity of the fourth and final villain remains a mystery. How much do you know about this?

A Not much, like everyone.

B Please don't let it be Ted.

C Sorry, I got confused back in series two.

D Haven't they solved that yet?

2) In his dying declaration in the series three finale, DI Matthew 'Dot' Cottan (Craig Parkinson) revealed essential information to Kate Fleming about H's identity. How did he convey this intelligence?

A He wrote a note in blood.

B By blinking, finger tapping and Morse Code.

C He left a message on Ted's phone.

D By using semaphore flags.

3) One clue was the misspelling of a word in series five. What was it?

A Certainly.

B Absolutely.

C Positively.

D Definitely.

Detective Chief Inspector Roz Huntley is pictured left, played by Thandie Newton, right

4) In the last series, the organised crime group was infiltrated by an undercover officer played by Stephen Graham. What was his name?

A John Corbett.

B Harry H. Corbett.

C Keir Corbett.

D Norbert Corbett.

5) Who is in the Balaclava Gang?

A I don't know, they all wear balaclavas.

B That dodgy lawyer back in series four.

C Spider-Man.

D No comment.

6) Operation Pear Tree was the investigation launched in series five aimed at infiltrating criminal networks and uncovering links between such groups and corrupt officers. Who is in charge of it?

A Haven't a clue, guv.

B Professor Plum in the study with the truncheon.

C Alison Powell.

D Police and Crime Commissioner Rohan Sindwhani.

7) At the conclusion of Operation Pear Tree, it was announced that it had uncovered no links between the police and organised crime. Was this true?

A Pull the other one, it's got bells on.

B You are having a laugh.

C No, lawyer Gill Biggeloe was exposed as corrupt.

D Nothing to see here, move along.

8) What happened to senior legal counsel Gill Biggeloe?

A PC Tina Tranter tried to stab her in the AC-12 loos.

B She gave testimony against the OCS (organised crime group).

C She was given a new identity.

D All of the above.

Lindsay Denton is pictured above, played by Keeley Hawes

9) In series four, Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott goes to lawyer Nick Huntley's office after discovering holes in his alibi. He exits a glass lift. What happens next?

A He gets off at the wrong floor.

B He is thrown down the stairs by a man in a balaclava.

C He realises he has left his phone at home.

D He notices a coffee stain on his favourite waistcoat.

10) In the same series, what did Thandie Newton's DCI Roz Huntley say when Hastings called her 'darling'?

A Your place or mine, big boy.

B I'd thank you to use gender-neutral language.

C I am not your darling, I am your destiny.

D Ma'am will suffice.

11) Back in series two, DI Lindsay Denton (Keeley Hawes) has a confrontation with then DC Kate Fleming. 'People have underestimated me my whole life,' says Denton. Then she . . .

A Punches Fleming in the stomach.

B Arrests Fleming.

C Gives Fleming a Chinese burn.

D Admires Fleming's lipstick.

12) Speaking of Denton, she accuses Hastings of being vulnerable to corruption by having what?

A An affair with Biggeloe.

B Links to terrorism in his past.

C A problem with alcohol and gambling.

D High levels of undisclosed financial losses.

13) Which of the following is not a Tedism?

A Hastings, like the battle.

B Mother of God.

C I didn't float up the Lagan in a bubble.

D Put your knickers on and make a cup of tea.

14) Finally, how much are you looking forward to Line Of Duty series six?

A Not a lot.

B I'm not at liberty to say.

C It's the best news since the vaccine.

D Now we are sucking diesel.

Five series with more twists and turns than the River Lagan

Nearly two years have passed since series five of Line Of Duty ended. So, to bring you up to speed, ALISON BOSHOFF gives you a crash course on everything you need to know.

The gang of three

The three central characters are DSI Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), who is in charge of anti-corruption unit AC-12. He is assisted by DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston).

The hunt for 'H'

H is the codename for a group of senior-ranking, corrupt officers who are in cahoots with criminal gangs. Their inside knowledge means they have previously been able to foil police investigations.

In the last outing, it was revealed that H is not an individual but four people. We now know the identity of three members of H and only one name  that of the kingpin  remains a mystery.

Those twisted plots: series one

The tangled loyalties of copper Tony Gates (Lennie James), are the focus of series one.

He is named officer of the year but one-time lover Jackie Laverty (Gina McKee) embroils him in a plot to kill her accountant, who had discovered that she was laundering money for gangster Tommy Hunter.

Jackie is murdered and Gates is blackmailed and framed. He walks on to the motorway to perish under the wheels of a lorry. But AC-12 discover there is a corrupt man in the force known as 'The Caddy'.

One of the three central characters is DSI Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), who is in charge of anti-corruption unit AC-12

Series two

There is an armed attack on a police convoy transporting a protected witness. The only survivor is DI Lindsay Denton, (Keeley Hawes). She is eventually convicted of conspiracy to murder. Meanwhile corrupt copper DS Matthew 'Dot' Cottan (The Caddy) becomes a member of AC-12.

Series three

Sergeant Danny Waldron (Daniel Mays) is the focus of investigations  shot dead by a member of his own armed response team. The trail leads to a paedophile ring, which Waldron was taking revenge on.

At the end of the series Lindsay Denton is freed and gives a copy of the list of abusers to AC-12. Dot is unmasked as The Caddy and escapes the interview room, only to die after offering up a 'dying declaration'.

Series four

DCI Roz Huntley (Thandie Newton) kills forensic coordinator Tim Ifield after he becomes suspicious that she is manipulating evidence. A man in a balaclava almost kills Steve Arnott and DSI Ted Hastings is accused of being corrupt copper H.

Series five

Undercover officer John Corbett (Stephen Graham) is at the centre of the plot. It transpires that Hastings had a relationship with Corbett's mother while he was working for the RUC, and was the last person to see her alive. Corbett is killed after a tip-off to the OCG (organised crime gang) where he is embedded.

Eventually, Gill Biggeloe (Polly Walker), a legal adviser, is unmasked as a corrupt senior member of police staff after an attempt to frame Hastings.

In the finale, Arnott re-examines the footage of Dot Cottan's dying declaration and suggests that he was tapping out H  four dots in Morse code  to suggest that there were four police staff in league with organised crime.

With corrupt Assistant Chief Constable Derek Hilton, legal counsel Gill Biggeloe and Cottan himself already discovered, that means one remains.

What to expect in season six

The big question: is Ted Hastings really H? A trailer has been released by the BBC.

Confusingly, there is a series of 'Easter egg' clues that can be reached if fans follow a trail from a QR code on the front of a magazine in the original trailer.

What is confirmed is that Trainspotting actress Kelly Macdonald will appear as new character DCI Joanne Davidson.

There are shoot-outs, a car crash, a balaclava man in police custody and the usual allegations that somewhere a rotten apple is preventing the course of justice.

In the trailer, Steve Arnott declares: 'A whole line of inquiry has been deliberately suppressed to protect organised crime.'

Ted is angry, shouting about a 'bare-faced liar promoted to our highest office'.

The trailer also shows a prescription for addictive painkillers in the name of Steve Arnott, who has suffered back pain after being almost killed in series four.

Steve is also seen meeting up with former girlfriend Nicola Rogerson (Christina Chong) and telling her he wants a transfer out of AC-12.

Recognition

Line Of Duty was named the third best British crime drama of all time by the Radio Times in 2018  behind Inspector Morse and Foyle's War.

Line Of Duty is on BBC1 at 9pm on Sunday, March 21.
(TNS)  After repeated denials, Virginia Beach police admitted last week some of their detectives used a controversial facial recognition program during criminal investigations.In February 2020 and again in September, the Police Department toldit had never used Clearview AI. It also denied using any other facial recognition technology recently, though the department briefly experimented with an in-house system at the Oceanfront in the late 1990s and early 2000s.But records obtained bythrough the states open records law revealed 10 detectives signed up for Clearview accounts, from November 2019 to at least late February 2020. Only after those detectives asked the department to pay to use Clearview on a more permanent basis did police officials realize theyd been wrong when they repeatedly told the newspaper the department had never used Clearview, police spokeswoman Officer Linda Kuehn said Tuesday. She said thats what shed been told, which is why she issued the denials toin February 2020 and in September.And so Chief Paul Neudigate has ordered a department-wide review of how new technology is evaluated and adopted, especially when it has the potential to impact peoples privacy, Kuehn said.A department supervisor said its common for officers to try new tools without telling their bosses at first, especially if they can get free trials. But this wasnt just any app  its one so controversial its led to calls for federal regulation. And Virginia lawmakers just unanimously passed a bill that would bar local police from using a tool like Clearview without explicit state permission.The Virginia Beach detectives who tried Clearview were not alone. The department was one of more than 600 law enforcement agencies across the country which, between Jan. 1, 2019 and January 2020, started using Clearview AI, an app made by a tech startup of the same name thats been aggressively marketing its services to law enforcement, according to a January 2020 investigative report inClearview enticed police detectives to their program by promising it was like Google Search for faces. For police, the process is simple: Upload a photo of an unknown person or suspect to the companys app, which then spit out public photos of those people, along with links to where those photos appeared. The system  powered by a database of more than 3 billion images that Clearview claims to have scraped from Facebook, YouTube, Venmo and millions of other websites  goes far beyond anything ever built by the United States government or Silicon Valley heavyweights, according to thereport.Though Virginia Beach officers signed up for Clearview accounts, Kuehn said, the police department never paid for or officially OKd using the facial recognition program, which is why none of the top brass knew Clearview was being used until later. Detectives started using the program on their own and, after it helped them solve two cases, they eventually suggested to their commanding officer that the department consider paying for a license to use the program.The boss rejected their proposal, Kuehn said. That commanding officer was Capt. Theresa Orr, head of the detective bureau. In an interview, she said that, after detectives pitched her, she researched Clearview, discovered peoples concerns about privacy and decided the department didnt want to jump into those shark-infested waters. She also said go-getters often try out technology without telling their superiors until theyve vetted it. If detectives are impressed, then they run it up the flagpole to ask the department to pay for something beyond a trial run. Without test driving a new service or thingamajig, investigators dont know whether its worthwhile. Thats what happened with Clearview.It was one of those, What comes first: the chicken or the egg? Orr said. Many of the detectives who signed up for Clearview are in the property crimes unit, she said. Property crimes detectives dont get the cutting-edge tools afforded to their coworkers who investigate child porn or drug trafficking. Plus, they work a lot of cases. Anything that gives them just a little bit of an edge is going to be attractive.They are often trying to do the best they can to stay ahead of things, Orr said. At the end of the day, its people trying to get cases solved. There was no nefarious intent. Nevertheless, Orr said that, after Clearview, she ordered her detectives to stop using their police department emails to try out a product or service, unless a supervisor has approved it.Because of the way Clearview offers trial accounts, its not unheard of for police supervisors to not know individual officers have signed up for the companys program. Law enforcement officers can start using the app with little more difficulty than downloading Facebook or Twitter. (Vendors like Clearview) make it easy, Orr said.BuzzFeed News reporters found the top brass in some law enforcement agencies appear not to have known officers were using Clearview. The New York Police Department, the nations largest, initially denied it had any formal relationship with Clearview, but records showed officers there had run more than 11,000 searches, the most of any entity in the records obtained by BuzzFeed News. More than 30 officers had Clearview accounts, according to that internal Clearview data.The Norfolk Police Department is the only other Hampton Roads law enforcement agency thats said its used Clearview. Like in Virginia Beach, Norfolk detectives signed up for free, trial accounts  almost at exactly the same time as their colleagues in the Beach. When the Norfolk detectives pushed their superiors to pay for permanent licenses, Chief Larry Boone rejected their bid. And so Norfolk police stopped using the program in February 2020.That can be perceived to be so intrusive  Big Brother is watching, Boone said during an interview last year. Our current society isnt quite ready for that. Even though Virginia Beach and Norfolk police have stopped using Clearview, questions remain about the use of such technology to investigate crimes, whether in Virginia or across the country. Theres little oversight, legal or scientific, of how peoples images can be collected and used  even when they could help send people to prison.Investigators in the nations roughly 18,000 law enforcement agencies are often able to unilaterally adopt whatever investigative tools they want, whether or not theyve been rigorously tested by scientists or other law enforcement professionals.And they often dont have to tell anyone. In Virginia Beach, the top brass within the department didnt know its own officers were using it, at least a first. In Norfolk, the mayor and a majority of City Council members said they didnt know police had been using facial recognition technology.(That) really struck me as unacceptable, said Del. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg.So Aird earlier this year introduced legislation, House Bill 2031, to tightly restrict how police can use facial recognition technology. Last month, Virginia lawmakers unanimously passed it, which Aird said was the result ofinvestigation into how the Norfolk Police Department had been using facial recognition technology. Aird called her legislation a de facto ban because it would, among other things, require the General Assembly to pass a law specifically authorizing a police department to use the technology.Gov. Ralph Northam has until March 31 to decide whether to sign the bill, but given the bipartisan support, it seems likely to become law one way or the other.
Car door caused injury Mamata Banerjees leg: Bengal chief secretary

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kolkata, Mar 13: The injury caused to West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee at Nandigram was due to the car door, West Bengal Chief Secretary said in his report to the Election Commission.

The report says that the injury was caused by the car door, but there is no mention of what led to the slamming of the door on her leg.

It, however, referred to the presence of a huge crowd at the spot where the incident took place, he said.

Mamata Banerjee injury: Bengal govts report to EC finds no mention of 4-5 attackers

The report also mentioned that there was no clear footage available of the spot where the incident took place from anywhere in the vicinity, he said.

Banerjee had been injured at Birulia Bazar in Nandigram in East Midnapore district on March 10 while campaigning hours after she filed her nomination from the seat.

YASHWANT SINHA JOINS TMC and more news | Oneindia News

"The only CCTV in the area which was in a shop was not working. Even the versions of the locals, considered to be eyewitnesses of the incident, was mixed. So reaching a conclusion is not possible," a senior official of the district administration told PTI.

The EC had sought a report from the state chief secretary and the two observers appointed for the state for the coming Assembly poll following the incident.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 9:36 [IST]
The council member reacted angrily and told colleagues he blamed Mr. Aymaq for the entire investigation, according to officials and journalists.

Two weeks after the reporter was killed, Mr. Bik was dead, too.

He died of wounds suffered during a shootout on Jan. 14 with National Directorate of Security agents who went to arrest him at his home in connection with Mr. Aymaqs death, the police said. Three of Mr. Biks bodyguards were wounded in the clash, said Fazlulhaq Ehsan, head of Ghors provincial council.

The National Directorate of Security office in Ghor declined to comment.

Then came the targeted killings on Feb. 25 of the slain reporters relatives in what the police said was a revenge attack.

Provincial officials blamed the Taliban. Ehsanullah Bik, Mr. Biks brother, is a commander for the insurgent group, said Amirdad Parsa, the police spokesman for Ghor Province.

This type of vendetta killing is a pattern, said Abdul Basir Qadiri, a member of the Ghor provincial council. When people see a rival tribe become powerful, they join the Taliban or kill the leader of the rival tribe so they can remain the only powerful family in that area, he said.

Mr. Aymaqs brother, Sebghatullah, 28  a police officer  and his cousin, Gol-Ahmad, 35, were shot and killed during the attack on Sebghatullahs home in the village of Tigha-e-Timor, the police said. Also killed was Mr. Aymaqs 13-year-old niece Arefa.

Five other relatives, including a 3-year-old niece, were shot and wounded. The gunmen abducted three male relatives, including Mr. Aymaqs 11-year-old nephew, police said. They have not been heard from since.
WEEKEND SERIES

This story is one in a weekend series looking back at the past 12 months during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kern County.
The body of Ivory Coast Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko was flown home on Saturday, two days after he died in Germany.

Bakayoko, who turned 56 last Monday and died following cancer treatment in Germany, was popular for reaching across the political spectrum in the bitterly divided West African country.

His death came just days after a rare trouble-free election in which all sides took part.

President Alassane Ouattara, dressed in a dark suit and wearing a black hat, welcomed the coffin at Abidjan's international airport.

Hundreds of supporters of Bakayoko -- known as "Hambak" -- looked on from the sidelines as the coffin was taken to a funeral home, many of them wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with slogans including "Farewell HamBak, our inspiration!" or "HamBak forever in our hearts".

At ease in all walks of life, Bakayoko met regularly with religious leaders of all communities and ethnicities, political leaders and young people to urge them to listen to each other and not to resort to violence.

Earlier in the week, Ouattara called Bakayoko "my son and close collaborator, torn from us too soon".

Bakayoko took over as prime minister in July last year after his predecessor Amadou Gon Coulibaly died following treatment in France for heart problems.

Coulibaly had been chosen to run in last year's presidential election but his death prompted Ouattara to stand for a third term, a move that triggered a crisis with the opposition.

ck/jxb/har

Hundreds of COVID-19 Vaccines Discarded Due to Storage Error at Kansas Hospital

A hospital in Kansas had to discard about 600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines on March 11 due to mistakenly storing them in a freezer, a hospital spokesperson said.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) received 570 doses of the J&J vaccines on March 10 in a refrigerated state and placed them into a freezer, a standard hospital procedure normally done for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines that require extremely cold storage.

But unlike the mRNA vaccines, the J&J vaccines only need to be refrigerated at a certain temperature and cannot be put into the freezer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Once the hospitals vaccine team recognized the error, they immediately reached out to J&J for guidance, Rebecca Smith, vice president of strategic communications at LMH, told The Epoch Times.

Johnson & Johnson did indicate that those doses should be discarded, Smith said.

In addition, Smith said that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) was informed of the vaccines wasted and the hospital has secured additional vaccines.

We anticipate that our state health department will send Douglas Countys 600 replacement vaccines next week, Smith said.

This is the first time the hospital has reported a vaccine wastage. The staff is reviewing these processes to prevent future errors, LMH Health President and CEO Russ Johnson said in a press release.

We have had a nearly flawless process to date and we will determine where our processes failed and fix them, Johnson said. What we learn will be shared with our community partners to prevent issues down the road.

A vial of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is displayed at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, N.Y., on March 3, 2021. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)

The CDC requires all organizations that administer COVID-19 vaccines to report the number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine and adjuvants that were unused, spoiled, expired, or wasted as part of its requirement for providers.

Failure of any enrolled COVID-19 vaccination provider organization or vaccination location under its authority to meet the conditions of the agreement may impact whether COVID-19 vaccine product orders are fulfilled and may result in legal action by the federal government, the CDC says.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Kansas Department of Health did not confirm to The Epoch Times whether it is tracking these instances of wastage statewide.

Minnesota Department of Health said it is tracking vaccine disposal and wastage as part of vaccine inventory and requires vaccine providers to report any doses that are thrown out.

So far, 320 doses have been discarded since the rollout of vaccines began in Minnesota, where more than 570,000 people (10.2 percent) have been fully vaccinated and over a million have had at least one shot, according to MPR News.

In Texas, more than 6,800 doses of vaccines out of 7.6 million were thrown out, according to a March 5 report by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Over half of the vaccines wasted were a result of natural disaster or power outage, while other reasons included inappropriate storage temperature, expired or spoiled vaccines, and defective syringes or vials.

The Texas Department of State Health is keeping track of data on vaccine wastage and says providers must report doses that are thrown out within 24 hours.

But not every state is mandating vaccine providers report instances of vaccine wastage.

In Maryland, the states department of health says it is not tracking specific instances of accidental vaccine wastage at the local level unless the providers report them, according to ProPublica.

Whether this type of data is being tracked at the federal level remains unknown. Health and Human Services did not reply to an email from The Epoch Times seeking comment.

More than 133 million total vaccine doses have been delivered to providers across the country as of March 12, with over 101 million administered. In addition, more than 65 million Americans have received at least one dose and 35 million are completely vaccinated, according to the CDC.

President Joe Biden announced in his first address to the nation on March 11 that he will make the vaccines available to every adult by May 1.

Let me be clear: That doesnt mean everyones going to have that shot immediately, but it means youll be able to get in line beginning May 1. Every adult will be eligible to get their shot, Biden said, later adding, I need you to get vaccinated when its your turn and when you can find an opportunity, and to help your family and friends and neighbors get vaccinated as well.
Thousands of protesters took to the street of Algiers on Friday to demand changes in policies and the government. Supporters of the Hirak protest movement, that pushed out former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019 after 20 years in power went back to the streets after president Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced early parliamentary elections in June.

Activists are pressing for a full makeover of the opaque system governing Algeria, with the military in the shadows, which has been at the helm since the country won its independence war against France in 1962. Tebboune announced last month that he would dissolve parliament to open the way for a new batch of candidates from outside the power structure.

He also reshuffled the government and released around 30 detained activists, though dozens more remain jailed. On Thursday, he announced a date for the new legislative elections: June 12, instead of next year as originally scheduled. They will be followed by local elections for mayors and town councillors.

In another effort to satisfy protesters, Algerias government finalized a new electoral bill Sunday aimed at limiting corruption and giving voters more choice. The last legislative election, in 2017, was marred by financial scandals that eventually sent several top officials to prison.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Rome, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Mar, 2021 ) :Schools, restaurants, shops and museums were ordered Friday to close across most of Italy from next week, after Prime Minister Mario Draghi warned of a "new wave" of coronavirus infections.

One year after it became the first European country to face a major outbreak, Italy is once again struggling with the rapid spread of Covid-19, this time fuelled by new, more contagious variants.

A majority of regions -- including those containing Rome and Milan -- were classified by Health Minister Roberto Speranza as high-risk red zones from Monday, with all residents told to stay home except for work, health or other essential reasons.

The extra restrictions will last until Easter, according to Draghi's office. During the Easter weekend of April 3-5, the whole of Italy will become a red zone.

"More than a year after the start of the health emergency, we are unfortunately facing a new wave of infections," Draghi said during a visit to a new vaccination centre at Rome's Fiumicino airport.

He added: "The memory of what happened last spring is vivid, and we will do everything to prevent it from happening again." - Infinite patience - More than 100,000 people with coronavirus have died in Italy since the pandemic swept over the eurozone's third largest economy one year ago, sparking a months-long lockdown and triggering its worst recession since World War II.

Draghi said more than 150,000 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last week, up from just under 131,000 recorded the week before.

The GIMBE health tank on Thursday said the increase in the number of new cases for three consecutive weeks "confirms the start of the third wave".

It warned that in more than half of Italy's regions, "hospitals and above all intensive care units are already overloaded".

A health ministry source said that eight regions, mostly in Italy's north and central areas, would become red zones, along with the autonomous region of Trento.

That brings to 11 the number of regions considered red as of Monday.

All other regions will be in medium-risk orange, meaning museums, restaurants and bars are closed but schools remain open. Only Sardinia escapes restrictions, designated a low-risk "white" area.

Earlier Friday, Draghi thanked Italians for their "infinite patience" and said the new measures would be accompanied by fresh support for families and businesses.

But he acknowledged there would be "consequences for the education of children, for the economy and also for the psychological state of us all".

- Vaccine campaign - Italy began its coronavirus vaccination campaign in late December but, as elsewhere in Europe, it has been dogged by delays in deliveries of the jabs.

Draghi has made stepping up the pace of vaccines one of the priorities of his new national unity government, and on Friday said this "alone gives hope of a way out of the pandemic".

Concerns over reported side effects of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine prompted Italy's health regulator on Thursday to suspend a batch of the jabs, even while saying there was no evidence of a suggested link with blood clots.

Draghi noted the review underway by the EU's medicines regulator, saying that whatever the outcome, "I can assure you that the vaccination campaign will continue with renewed intensity".

He has put a senior military officer, General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, in charge of the coronavirus crisis and has vowed to open vaccine centres wherever possible, including gyms and car parks.

About 170,000 vaccines are currently being administered each day, Draghi said, but "the target is to triple that soon".
Nguyen Thanh Ha Lawyer, SB Law.

Two changes that should be most interesting for foreign investors were the assets contributed as capital and the time limit for capital contribution in limited liability companies with two or more members. These regulations are expected to make notable changes on the market, from the perspective of both enterprises and state management.

Under the Law on Enterprises 2014, assets contributed as capital could be in the form of VND, freely convertible foreign currencies, gold, the value of land use rights, the value of intellectual property rights, technologies, technical know-how, and other assets that can be valued in VND. Only individuals and organisations that were lawful holders of the above-mentioned rights could use such assets for capital contribution.

Article 34 of the Law on Enterprises 2020 stipulates that assets contributed as capital shall be in the form of VND, freely convertible foreign currencies, gold, land use rights, intellectual property rights, technologies, technical know-how, and other assets that can be valued in VND. Only individuals and organisations that are lawful owners or have lawful use right of assets prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 34 have the right to use such assets for capital contribution in accordance with the laws.

Therefore, in comparison with the provisions on assets contributed as capital outlined in both laws, the Law on Enterprises 2020 has changed the terms value of land use rights, value of intellectual property rights into land use rights, intellectual property rights. This change is in line with the nature of rights of property according to the provisions set out in the Civil Code 2015.

Regulation on assets contributed as capital under the Law on Enterprises 2020 have changed from only individuals and organisations that are lawful owners to only individuals and organisations that are lawful owners or have lawful use rights. Lawful owners set forth herein is construed as individuals and organisations that have the lawful right to own property.

Individuals and organisations that have lawful use right specified herein are not the owners but have the right to use the property as agreed by the owners or in accordance with regulations stipulated by laws. Therefore, the Law on Enterprises 2020 has broadened the subjects used for capital contribution in comparison with the 2014 version of the law. Foreign investors should pay attention to this regulation upon contributing capital to enterprises in Vietnam.

Under the Law on Enterprises 2020, the time limit for capital contributions has not been changed (within 90 days after the enterprise registration certificate is granted). Nevertheless, it clarifies that this time limit excludes the time of transporting and importing assets contributed as capital and performing administrative procedures to transfer the ownership of assets.

This new provision may assist investors to avoid violating regulations on the time limit for capital contribution due to taking too much time to implement procedures for importing, transporting, and transferring the ownership of assets contributed as capital. However, the crucial point here is when do capital contributors have to commence the aforesaid procedures? We can determine this with the expiration date which is based on the time limit without commencement date. In addition, it is easy to take advantage of this regulation and extend the time limit for capital contributions such as registering capital contribution with very small amounts of money, with tremendous assets.

Registered capital can be enormous, but the de facto capital contributed within the first three months can be very small. Otherwise, enterprises may register small initial capital contributions and then greater additional ones as the Law on Enterprises 2020 sets no time limit for these.

Furthermore, within 90 days after the enterprise registration certificate is granted in case any capital contributors fail to contribute or insufficiently contribute capital as committed, enterprises shall register for the adjustment of its charter capital and capital contribution ratios of the members according to the paid-in capital amount within 30 days from the last date the charter capital was due to be contributed in full. Under Clause 4 of Article 48 of the Law on Enterprises 2014, the time limit previously was 60 days.

If an enterprise fails to register for the adjustment of its charter capital within 30 days as aforesaid, the enterprise will be fined according to the provisions outlined in Clause 3 of Article 28 of Decree No.50/2016/ND-CP.

Accordingly, a fine of VND10-20 million ($430-870) shall be imposed for failure to register changes to the business registration authority when charter capital is inadequately contributed as registered. Investors should concentrate on this to avoid incurring penalties upon contributing capital to limited liability companies with two or more members.

The law has amended and supplemented regulations to be more consistent with reality. It also creates a favourable investment and business environment, concurrently in line with global trends. Nevertheless, enterprises need to be carefully instructed on risks that may arise.
[Photo/Xinhua]

By Martin Sieff

The US and British media have condemned the electoral system reform in Hong Kong, claiming it undermines the special administrative region's political system. But, in reality, the opposite is the case. Far from destroying the credibility, prosperity and economic dynamism of Hong Kong and leading its people to oppression and ruin, the electoral system reform will save them from that fate.

The loudest voices of condemnation are of some politicians in the United States who, ironically, have turned a blind eye to the demonization of political protests in their own country.

The attack on the Capitol building on Jan 6 was ugly, chaotic, and shamed the US across the world. But it certainly was not a violent insurrection. The rioters, some of whom were white supremacists or slobs, were not out to kill, massacre or wage violence; they were not carrying weapons needed to do so. They seemed more interested in taking "selfies" and videos of themselves in the lawmakers' offices.

However, terrified, even hysterical, Congress members including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi have repeatedly pressured the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to hunt down and prosecute every member of the crowd on Capitol Hill and, if necessary, ban them from flying.

Just imagine how these very same people would have reacted if the Chinese government ordered the arrest of every person who participated in the violent protests and unleashed mayhem in Hong Kong.

Every state, including the US and China, has the obligation and right and moral duty to maintain public safety and protect its citizens from intimidation and violence. Failure to do so, as the British government discovered in my native Northern Ireland in the late 1960s, very rapidly leads to a total breakdown of law and order, forcing the government to send in armed forces and even impose marital law. Such upheavals set off disastrous spirals where loss of confidence among business leaders prevents them from investing in the territory. This happened in Northern Ireland, leading to an economic collapse that took generations to reverse.

Far from ensuring the peace, security and prosperity of Hong Kong, any failure by China to end violent public demonstrations against law enforcement authorities would instead destroy the economic dynamism of the SAR, which has flourished since its reunification with the motherland nearly 24 years ago.

The electoral system reform has once again sparked a heated debate on whether Hong Kong's democracy is being undermined. However, it will not undermine the world's confidence in Hong Kong. On the contrary, the continuation of violent protests and subversion would do that.

I am not speaking theoretically like the endless legions of sleek, well-paid political pundits in the West who endlessly lecture China and even accuse it of using excessive force in an effort to maintain, peace and security in Hong Kong, and help and its economic development. For I lived through and witnessed the consequences of a similar destabilization process run amok in my native Northern Ireland more than half a century ago. Since then, I have seen societies similarly descending into mad sectarian conflicts and violence across the world, from the Balkans to Central Asia.

The most basic rule of political discourse in any society is that all participants in the political process are loyal and constructive in their efforts to both uphold and strengthen it by advocating reforms. Martin Luther King Jr, for example, loved the US and called upon the political leaders and citizens of his country to be true to the ideals they expressed.

Similarly some US politicians who are now witlessly and irresponsibly trying to demonize China would do better to focus on reforming and improving their own society.

What will revive global investor confidence in Hong Kong? The restoration of peace, stability and law and order. I have taught graduate courses on the principles of business confidence in developing countries around the world and the same basic truth has emerged every time.

Foreign direct investments flow into politically stable economies that have policies fostering economic growth and business confidence. Security and predictability make investors more confident.

The Chinese government continues to work hard to restore and maintain these conditions in Hong Kong. That is the way to restore the world's confidence in Hong Kong. And Beijing is doing that.

The same policies that have raised hundreds of millions of people out of poverty on the Chinese mainland over the past 40 years will continue to work in Hong Kong and make it more prosperous.

The author is a senior fellow at the American University in Moscow.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
[March 12, 2021] UNITE HERE Local 11 Asks Children's Hospital Los Angeles to Cut Ties with 'Pariah Employer' Terranea Resort

UNITE HERE Local 11 sent a letter to Children's Hospital Los Angeles this week requesting that the hospital use any contributions made by Terranea Resort or its owner, Lowe Enterprises, to pay for medical expenses of the children of terminated Terranea workers. In May 2020, the Terranea Resort made the cruel decision to terminate workers like Antonio Rodriguez, a 10-year banquet server, leaving him and his family without healthcare in the middle of the pandemic. The resort has made no binding commitment to bring back its workers once business resumes as the pandemic subsides. "Moments after I was discharged from the hospital for COVID-19 in January, my daughter was admitted with kidney failure from the virus. I have exhausted my 401k to stay afloat and now I do not know what I am going to do with my medical bills. The Teranea could have done the right thing and supported me but they chose not to," said Rodriguez, a fired banquet server from the Terranea Resort.



The letter which is addressed to Paul Viviano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and Jeff Worthe, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, also asks that Hospital leadership issue a statement formally disavowing any partnership with the Terranea Resort. "I am confident that you will join us in the community's collective shunning of the Terranea Resort as a pariah employer. A partnership with the Terranea Resort undermines the Hospital's extraordinary mission to create hope and build healthier futures," said Kurt Petersen, Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11.

The letter also addresses the Terranea's troubling history, noting that hundreds of faith and community leaders and elected officials are boycotting the hotel after multiple women came forward with allegations that they experienced sexual harassment or other misconduct while working at the resort. UNITE HERE Local 11 is the union of more than 32,000 workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, sports arenas & convention centers in So. California & Arizona. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210312005560/en/

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On a chilly Thursday morning, Marcus Lowe sat on a chair contemplating his plans for the day after getting his second Moderna shot at Oaklands Trust Health Center.

I think Im just going to rest with some aspirin and Tiger Balm, said Lowe, 61, who lives alone in transitional housing in the city.

Lowe was one of 15 shelter residents and unhoused people lined up at 10 a.m. to receive COVID-19 vaccines at the clinic for underserved people. Organizers of the vaccination site, set up in a parking lot behind the clinic, expected more than 50 people that morning, after Alameda County expanded vaccine access to the broader homeless population on March 5.

Lowe said he was lucky to hear about the vaccination site. Despite accumulating financial woes from an onslaught of medical issues during the pandemic, he still had a working cellphone and could be reached by his doctors, who reminded him of his appointment that day, he said.

At least three Bay Area counties  Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara  have already expanded vaccination distribution to all unhoused people. San Francisco planned to do so starting Monday.

As of Friday, Alameda and Santa Clara counties were also sending mobile street teams to outdoor encampments to inoculate those often left out of the vaccines reach because they arent connected to shelters or safety-net programs.

These counties are diverging from a California vaccine plan that hasnt prioritized people experiencing homelessness unless they meet age or occupation requirements. Thats a mistake, some local health officials say.

The burden of COVID is mostly felt by these vulnerable people, said Dr. Michael Stacey, chief medical officer of LifeLong Medical Care, which runs the Trust Health Center. By not having a targeted approach in testing and vaccine distribution for the homeless, it exacerbates the inequity that already exists.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

San Mateo and Sonoma are vaccinating homeless people only if they fall under the states eligibility tiers of being at least 65 or holding jobs as frontline workers, county officials confirmed. Marin, Napa and Solano did not respond to requests for information about whether their vaccine distribution plans account for people experiencing homelessness.

Some local health representatives cite the states guidance as the reason theyre not prioritizing homeless people for vaccines.

Because the unhoused are not a distinct eligible group within the states framework, we have not had the flexibility to adapt other efforts targeting the homeless for vaccination, Srija Srinivasan, deputy chief of San Mateo Countys health department, said in an email.

California initially included vulnerable populations such as the incarcerated and unhoused in the second tier of Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan, which is currently under way, but those plans were scrapped Jan. 25. The states current plan does not include people experiencing homelessness as a distinct category, and the state is not tracking whos unhoused in its vaccine registry, making it hard to quantify how many have received the nearly 11 million shots delivered statewide as of March 10.

The nine-county Bay Area has a baseline homeless population of just under 40,000, according to one- or two-night surveys in 2019 and 2020, which do not account for all sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness. Its unclear how many have been vaccinated.

Sonoma County, for example, counted 2,745 individuals experiencing homeless in its 2020 survey. The county doesnt know how many have been vaccinated, a spokesperson said. In Contra Costa County, 1,892 unhoused people were given at least first doses of the vaccine, representing more than half of its known homeless population, a spokesperson said.

Requiring identification to receive the inoculation, vaccine hesitancy and the logistics of delivering two doses spaced weeks apart make it challenging to reach people in shelters, transitional housing and in encampments who may not have access to smartphones, internet or transportation, homeless advocates say.

When you have a vaccine system thats so reliant on technology, its a huge barrier for unhoused people, said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness in San Francisco.

Set up walk-in sites that require no ID and go to the encampments and administer vaccines on the spot, Friedenbach added. We need this to be as simple and low-tech as possible.

Dr. Deborah Borne, who oversees San Francisco Countys vaccine rollout to people experiencing homelessness, wants to set up mobile vaccine units as soon as possible. Last week, she did rapid COVID testing on a 68-year-old homeless man who refused to go to a clinic for a vaccination afterward because he feared losing his belongings, she said.

He would be someone wed be able to serve right away if we did targeted vaccinations, Borne said. Were working on that now.

Compounding the challenges are the logistics of administering two-dose vaccines, which are in short supply and have to be kept frozen, unshaken while in the vial and injected soon after defrosting.

But logistical challenges shouldnt be a reason for delay, according to the National Healthcare for Homeless Council, an advocacy group in Nashville. In a letter sent last month to every state governor, the council said delaying vaccines for homeless populations until Johnson & Johnsons single-dose vaccine was available would undermine both access and trust.

All states should immediately prioritize homeless populations and use currently available vaccines. There is no reason to delay care or wait for another vaccine, the letter read.

For now, efforts to inoculate people experiencing homelessness remain scattershot but growing.

San Francisco announced it would expand its limited vaccine supply to all people experiencing homelessness, as well as those who live or work in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and other congregate residential care and treatment facilities, starting Monday. While people would need to make appointments to get the vaccine through health care providers or by booking them online, the county said in a release that its public health department would work with organizations serving people experiencing homelessness and with disabilities to reach these communities.

Some medical centers, such as UCSF, offer vaccines to all unhoused people at its clinics, Borne said.

Lifelong Medical Care in Oakland sent five street teams this week to outdoor dwellings and encampments to deliver the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, said Rina Breakstone, a social worker at the clinic.

For Andrea Osibin, 58, getting the one-shot vaccine at the Trust Health Center on Thursday was ideal. She moved into transitional housing in Oakland a month and half ago. She had been in a hotel that was part of the Project Roomkey program, and before that she was in a shelter, she said.

Because my living situation changes every few months, I like the one shot, she told The Chronicle. I dont have to come back, and that saves me a lot of time and worry.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Instagram: @shwanika
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Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended the nationwide 22:00-04:00 curfew by 60 days.



He has also banned all political gatherings for 30 days and put further restrictions on weddings and funerals.



It has been close to a year that Kenyans have had to stay indoors overnight, but the president said the extension was needed because of a surge in infections



In January there were less than 100 new infections a day, but in March the numbers rose to as high as 750 a day.



Mr Kenyatta has blamed a failure to observe Covid-19 restrictions behind the rise, and ordered authorities to crackdown, especially on politicians, whose recent rallies have widely been seen as super-spreader events.



The country has had a series of by-elections following the deaths of politicians, some because of Covid-19.



Opposition leader Raila Odinga has been put into quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus on Thursday.



Struggling pubs and restaurants, many barely afloat, must still close by 21:00.



President Kenyatta said these restrictions had cost the Kenyan economy more than $5.1bn (3.6bn) last year.



But he insisted this was better than possibly losing 150,000 lives over the same period as projected by scientists, if restrictions were not in place.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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In mid-March last year, staff members at an assisted-living community in Ridgefield realized that Fred Marchionnas week-long cold symptoms had gotten much worse.

The cough and a runny nose that the 88-year-old retired businessman had suffered all week and downplayed to his family, had now descended into his chest. His breathing grew more labored, a sign of pneumonia.

It was clear on Friday March 13th that Marchionna needed medical help.

That was the day when much of normal life throughout the United States ceased. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, and amid pressure over the shortage of testing capacity for the new coronavirus, he declared, I dont take responsibility at all.

In Connecticut, 2,000 people applied for jobless benefits that day, signaling an abrupt recession. The Department of Public Health reported that among the dozen Connecticut residents with COVID-19, most were middle-aged or younger.

Marchionnas eldest son, Michael, had last visited on Wednesday, the day before Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossings closed to outsiders. He just seemed to be getting worse, Michael recalled this month.

That Friday night, Fred struggled to catch his breath. An ambulance crew arrived and rushed him the 7.7 miles to Danbury Hospital.

Emergency room staff including Dr. Paul Nee gave Marchionna a coronavirus test. An infectious disease expert, Nee was on the lookout for the next COVID-19 patient, a week after Connecticuts first confirmed case appeared in that same hospital.

Lynn Ecsedy, Michaels sister, met her father in the hospital Emergency Department that Friday night.

By Sunday, the test report came back showing Marchionna was positive for COVID-19. His breathing was becoming more difficult. The virus was going about its deadly business.

The hospital staff gave Fred oxygen therapy. When that didnt help he was put on comfort care, because his living will prohibited intubation  a ventilator tube down his windpipe to keep him breathing on a machine.

Marchionna has not been identified until now and his family has not previously spoken about his case.

The cascade of dire symptoms continued. When Lynn came back to see him on Monday the 16th, he was able to speak, but just barely.

The governor

Connecticuts first case was reported on March 6, a New York resident who worked in Danbury and Norwalk hospitals. Now, top government and medical officials were preparing for the worst.

We just knew that New Rochelle, then New York City was the hot spot and it was coming our way, Gov. Ned Lamont recalled recently. We had talked to Phil Murphy, he said of the New Jersey governor, and it was coming his way.

Working the phones to the White House, which Lamont described as pretty dysfunctional, led to little help. They kept talking about it in terms of states. We said its a not a state, its a region. This is a contagion that knows no borders.

Information on the virus was still scant.

What you dont know can kill you and we didnt know a lot, Lamont said in his State Capitol office. And there werent many people you could go to. Lets face it. There was no PPE stockpile. Washington D.C. was, on a good day, AWOL, and generally negative...or youre getting absolutely wrong-headed signals that were dangerous.

Lamont started working with the northeast-region governors, whose chiefs of staff, including Paul Mounds in his office, set up close contacts. Lamont was terrified that hospitals would get overwhelmed. He wondered, Are we going to have gurneys sitting in the hallways?

Just days earlier, experts such as Dr. Albert Ko at the Yale School of Public Health and Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases were saying the general public didnt need to worry about wearing masks. That changed quickly, worsening the shortage at hospitals.

If I couldnt get the masks, you couldnt get the nurses in and if you cant get the nurses in, whos going to take care of people? Lamont said.

He and other governors in the region launched daily news conferences that included medical experts as guests.

You cant pretend you know the answers, Lamont said, looking back on those briefings. But you have to tell people why youre thinking about it, and if you change, why you changed. I think people gave all the governors a little bit of the benefit of the doubt, because we were thinking out loud together.

The doctors

Dr. Michael F. Parry, chairman of infectious diseases at Stamford Hospital, saw it coming from Asia in early January. By February, he called for town-hall style meetings with staff to discuss the new pneumonia working its way across the Pacific Ocean to Washington State.

We talked about the kind of ER management to observe in case we ran into someone from overseas and if you happened to see a patient from China and hes febrile and short of breath, Parry recalled of the telltale fever and signs that COVID was working into patients lungs.

By the first week of March, the hospital was stocking up on supplies and establishing a coronavirus protocol.

Parry, who turns 76 this month, came back from semi-retirement for the pandemic. Stamford Hospital saw its first case around the time Fred Marchionna was diagnosed in Danbury Hospital.

The shortage in COVID tests limited their availability to patients with symptoms. Results could take a week.

Our percentage of positive tests was about 50 percent. The need for PPE was intense, Parry recalled. Nursing home populations were heavily infected.

At Danbury Hopsital, Dr. Nee and his colleagues established procedures for treating people with COVID-19. Daily conference calls tracked N95 masks, gowns and gloves. The staff started planning what could happen if a major outbreak occurred. Testing simply wasnt available.

We werent sure whether we were preparing on the hospital level, Nee said, And on the 6th, it hit us like an unexpected left hook.

All of that was on Nees mind one week later when he spoke with Ecsedy after Fred Marchionna arrived from Ridgefield Crossings.

The patient

Most weeknights in the year following the death of his wife, Beverly, Fred Marchionna would get a visit from Michael, an aerospace-software engineer who worked nearby. They would watch some of the early news on TV, chat about the day for 15 or 20 minutes, then walk to the elevator for dinner downstairs.

Michael would exchange pleasantries with his fathers table mates, then head home for his own dinner in Southbury with his wife, Laura.

A longtime employee and executive at PerkinElmer, Fred Marchionna was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Washington, D.C. He met Beverly Wheeler when they were students at the University of Maryland, in the early 1950s  when she was dating someone else.

After serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Marchionna joined RCA, working on that companys radar division in southern New Jersey. In 1965 the family moved to Connecticut, where Fred took a job at PerkinElmer, one of the regions major employers.

He loved model trains, science fiction and gadgetry, rising in the company to business administrator, focusing on large-scale planning, including the construction of the companys Danbury headquarters, and working on its best-known project: the Hubble Space Telescope.

Fred and Beverly lived in Bethel, Newtown, Cornwall and New Milford, where Fred ran the annual holiday train show. They raised four children: Michael, now 65; and Lynn, Susan and James. In 1973, Fred was endorsed to fill a vacancy on the Newtown Board of Finance. After retiring from PerkinElmer in 1988, he soon became the office manager for a Waterbury law firm.

In their New Milford ranch house, chock-full of dozens of antique clocks the couple collected, Fred had a perfect set-up: a full basement for his wood shop and elaborate, L-shaped model-train layout. An accomplished woodworker, Fred presented each of his four children with handmade Shaker-style, slant-top secretary desks as marriage gifts. The first grandkids got custom, hand-hewn oak rocking horses, for family heirlooms.

But by 2016 or so, Beverly was developing some age-related health issues and Fred became worried about their future.

Michael took some of the tools and trains when Fred and Beverly moved into a one-bedroom unit at Ridgefield Crossings on busy Route 7. His parents didnt have to worry about cooking or keeping up a property, and could enjoy each others company in what would become the last year of Beverlys life.

On Monday, March 9, 2020 just four days after the first anniversary of his mothers death at age 86, Michael noticed that his father had cold symptoms.

I generally didnt see him over the weekend, but he was coughing and his nose was running more than normal, Michael said. By Wednesday it was escalating. Lynn, 64, visited her father that night, watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, then a nature show.

He kept coughing, but said its just a cold, Lynn recalled Friday.

She told him she was worried. He didnt want to see the staff nurse. That generation didnt really want to talk about things like that, she said.

On Thursday, Fred called Michael to tell him not to come by after work. Management had put the facility in lockdown as part of Lamonts early round of executive orders, limiting visitors in long-term care facilities.

Michael worried about the outbreak. He was scared that healthcare workers from Norwalk and Stamford could bring the virus to Ridgefield Crossings vulnerable elderly population of 138 residents in the three areas of the complex: assisted living, memory care, and rehabilitation.

The chief of staff

Paul Mounds had just been promoted to Lamonts chief of staff at the end of February. A former aide to U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1, then a legislative liaison in the State Capitol under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Mounds remembers a blur of meetings that week, as Marchionnas illness emerged.

On Saturday the 7th, while his wife and parents took him out to Ruths Chris steakhouse to celebrate his 35th birthday, Mounds kept looking down at his cellphone to track events the day after Lamont joined Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton to announce the states first COVID case.

By 9:30 Sunday morning, Mounds and Josh Geballe  who as Lamonts chief operating officer would emerge as the governors point man in the COVID crisis  were meeting with state health officials, Lamont adviser Jonathan Harris, and Bob Clark, Lamonts chief legal counsel, to discuss strategy. They mapped out drafts of emergency declarations.

On Monday March 9, as Fred Marchionna was showing the first signs of his infection, Lamont got on a call with a dozen other governors and the White House.

That week was a real trial by fire, Mounds recalled, with Lamont engaged in back-to-back meetings with staff, leading lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and corporate CEOs.

It was frantic, Mounds remembered. There was no playbook for this. Its so easy to overthink. Its so easy to underthink. Its hard to calmly think. I couldnt catch my breath. There were life-and-death situations and we didnt know how rampant COVID was in our state. The good thing was, we had leadership in our commissioners and we were rowing in the same direction. But there were so many unknowns.

The death

Lynn stayed overnight with her father that Friday night at Danbury Hospital. Family visits were not yet barred but were supposed to last for just an hour. He was really very quiet and pretty much slept the whole night, she said.

She recalled being masked up and likely exposed to the virus. An antibody test later indicated that she was never infected. Her father was finally admitted around 4 a.m. and she stayed another few hours, getting home to Brookfield at around 9.

Michael visited on that Sunday, the day the test came back, and Lynn was there the following day. Their father was able to talk but was sleepy. He was very, very tired, but he knew I was there, Lynn said. I told him I loved him.

The nursing staff gave Lynn his blood oxygen-level readings, announcing when he reached the level at which a patients condition was dire enough to normally go on a ventilator.

The hospital was very nice to let us visit, Lynn said. I dont know if there was anything they could have done for him.

But in the pandemic, they could not remain with their father.

Marchionna was taken to the seventh floor, to a comfort-care area near the intensive care unit, a signal to the family that their father was dying. The hospital staff arranged for a brief video visit for Fred with Lynn and Michaels younger sister, Susan, in North Carolina.

James, their younger brother, was supposed to drive down from Vermont on the 17th, but Lynn doesnt know if he did. They havent talked about it.

Frederick H. Marchionna died at 10:24 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020  Connecticuts first COVID fatality. The state would not learn of his death until well into the following afternoon.

Dr. Nee phoned Lynn to say her father had died. His death certificate lists acute respiratory distress, pneumonia and COVID-19 as the causes of death.

Soon after, all visitors were prohibited at Connecticut hospitals. Im sure its been very difficult for the hospital staff, Lynn said. The staff has been filling in for families. She doesnt know if anyone was with Fred when he died.

The announcement

On the day after his father died, Michael Marchionna began showing his first symptoms of COVID: massive aches across entire muscle groups, as if his entire body were cramping up. Symptoms lasted for about five days, with a couple days of slight fevers. He rated the pain level at eight out of 10.

That afternoon, Lamont stood on the north steps of the historic State Capitol, and solemnly announced the states first COVID fatality. I regret to inform you that weve had our first Connecticut fatality.... And the first death is not unexpected, but its a shock. Its a shock because it makes this so real for all of our families. Our hearts go out to that man and his family.

Lamont called for a moment of silence. Our hearts go out to all the families across the state of Connecticut and our great state.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal issued a statement acknowledging the death of Marchionna, though not by name, offering his thoughts to the family.

This tragic death demonstrates the critical need for more robust federal action to fight this insidious deadly epidemic, he wrote. Swift, strong federal action  a true medical surge  must include more tests, ventilators, personal protective equipment, and other vital supplies.

For Nee, it was the start of a cascade of infections. He was from a facility that was hit hard, the physician said of Fred Marchionna. The state Department of Public Health reports that 29 residents at Ridgefield Crossings died from COVID-related causes by the end of 2020.

As we reflect on the past year, we first honor the fond memory of this resident, as we do for his fellow, beloved members of our community who have passed during the global pandemic, said William Crawford, executive director of Ridgefield Crossings, in a statement on Friday. We will never forget those we lost due to the pandemic and look toward the future with immense hope that the worst of the global spread of COVID-19 is far behind us.

Theres been a lot of tragedy, Dr. Nee said. But there are a lot of people we saved who got very sick. We prevented moms and dads from dying. We all do our best every day at the hospital. Everyone has become so much closer, the nurses, the technicians.

As of Friday 7,765 Connecticut residents had died with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, well more than half of them 80 or older. A memorial service is being planned for Fred Marchionna on April 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Southbury.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
Recent official statements on an expected earthquake in Istanbul underscore that millions of people living in Turkeys largest city face an impending disaster due to official inaction.

On February 18, officials from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and the Esenler and Avclar municipalities presented studies to the Turkish Parliaments Earthquake Measures Research Commission. The Esenler and Avclar districts are in the high-risk category.

Members of rescue services search in the debris of a collapsed building for survivors in Izmir, Turkey, early Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Their statements made clear that the dimensions of the destruction caused by an expected earthquake in Istanbul could be much greater than thought.

Speaking at the commission meeting, IMM Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat said that it is estimated that 200,000 buildings in Istanbul will suffer moderate to severe damage in the expected earthquake. As a result, approximately three million people might be affected.

He said that the figures obtained as a result of building surveillance in the Avclar region quadrupled previous estimates and doubled those in the Silivri region. We predict that the number of buildings to be damaged across Istanbul will be double the most optimistic figure, he said, adding, The number of buildings in Istanbul built before 2000 is 790,000.

Tayfun Kahraman, head of the IMM Department of Earthquake Risk Management and Urban Improvement, said that there are 1.16 million buildings in Istanbul. One-fifth will become unusable in a possible major earthquake, and many will risk complete collapse.

Stating that 48,000 buildings are expected to be damaged and risk collapse in a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Istanbul, Kahraman said that they expect damages to water mains, waste water and natural gas systems in a major earthquake. Residents would also face the threat of severe epidemics, should an earthquake erupt amid a raging COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Haluk Sur, president of the Urban Transformation and Urbanization Foundation (KENTSEV), cited the data of Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute and announced that there are 1,164,000 buildings registered in Istanbul and 4,500,000 residents in those buildings.

According to Surs interview with the Anadolu Agency on February 23, 22 percent of all buildings in Istanbul were built before 1980. It is estimated that there are 1,051,000 residences, and 3,152,000 people live in these buildings. Given that even the youngest of these buildings are over 40 years old and many are 50 to 60 years old, residents of these buildings are expected to be at serious risk in a major earthquake.

In fact, many more buildings and people are at risk. After the Marmara earthquake on August 17, 1999, building construction regulations in Turkey were changed. In evaluations made so far for a possible earthquake in Istanbul, the year 2000, when the new regulations and laws went into effect, is taken as a landmark in terms of building construction.

The 790,000 buildings built before 2000 are considered risky in terms of materials and engineering. These buildings contain 3,054,123 residences. If these buildings contained the average number of 3.3 inhabitants per residence that prevails in the Istanbul area, the number of people in danger in an earthquake could be three times higher than the number cited by Sur.

These buildings are, moreover, concentrated in the working class districts of Istanbul.

Turkey is an earthquake-prone country, many of whose cities are built on active faults, and has a disastrous earthquake record. In the 1999 Marmara earthquake, official reports said about 18,000 people lost their lives, and more than 25,000 were injured. Unofficial reports estimated that the real death toll was 50,000, and there were 100,000 injured.

A 2011 earthquake in the eastern province of Van left more than 600 dead and nearly 4,200 injured. In the 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Elazg on January 24 last year, 41 people died and more than 1,600 were injured. After the 6.9 magnitude earthquake off the Samos Island of Greece on October 30, 2020, 117 people died, 1,034 were injured and 15,000 were left homeless in the Turkish city of Izmir.

As scientists continue to warn of dangers, President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) national government as well as municipal governments, including those under the control of the opposition parties, are wasting valuable time and concealing official crimes by preparing only optimistic reports on the earthquake.

While the government undoubtedly bears the main responsibility for this great destruction and death endangering millions of workers, the opposition parties are also complicit in the earthquake disasters caused by the capitalist profit system. Last year, the report prepared by the IMM, controlled by the Republican Peoples Party (CHP), claimed that there would be only 14,000 deaths after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Istanbul, where 16 million people live.

This is not true, well known geologist Professor Naci Gorur stated bluntly, describing the dangers facing millions of working people in Istanbul. A simple account: there are 1.6 million buildings. Lets reduce all mortal cases to one percent in Istanbul. This means 16,000 buildings. Suppose that each building has four floors. It means 64,000 floors. If we think two apartments on each floor, it means 128,000 apartments. Put four people in each apartment. Does it exceed 400,000 [deaths]?

Research carried out especially after the 1999 earthquake shows that the anticipated earthquake on the North Anatolian Fault Line will likely be at least magnitude 7.2 in the Marmara Sea, off Istanbul. This would cause a disaster not only in Turkeys biggest city, but also in neighboring industrial cities such as Kocaeli, Bursa and Tekirdag.

Nonetheless, the ruling class and governments from all establishment parties have done nothing against this coming disaster in Istanbul, where 16 million people live, or almost 20 percent of Turkeys population. Instead of preparing for a massive earthquake that scientists have warned about for years, the wealth created by the workers has been transferred to the capitalist class.

For years especially in Istanbul, urban transformation, which has been presented as an earthquake preparedness measure, has been a way to drive working class residents from the city centre and build luxury residences for the affluent. The underlying aim of this policy is not to protect residents from earthquakes but to boost profits for construction firms and enrich the wealthiest layers of society.

At the same time, workers are consigned to districts where buildings are largely older and risk turning into death traps in a major earthquake.

This is all the more politically criminal in that tens of thousands of residences remain empty in Istanbul, and the technology and labor exist to rapidly build hundreds of thousands of homes. Such solutions are not implemented by the ruling class and its political representatives, however, because they cut across the profit interests of the construction firms and the political objectives of the capitalist state.

The Erdogan government is allocating billions of Turkish liras to a canal project between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Canal Istanbul. At the same time, construction contractors are receiving billions of liras in tax relief, and hundreds of billions are being transferred to the financial oligarchy in bailout money after the pandemic. It is then claimed that there is no money for urban transformation to save hundreds of thousands, even millions of lives.

The contrast between the capitalist system based on private profit and the basic needs of society was recently revealed in the disastrous official handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent breakdown of electricity supplies is the US state of Texas.

A massive plan of public works is necessary to reconstruct cities across the world threatened by natural disasters based on scientific planning and the highest level of security to provide everyone with the fundamental right to safe housing. The implementation of this solution requires the conscious struggle to transfer power to the working classin a struggle for international socialism, based on planning global economic life around social needs not private profit.
NEW YORK, March 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --



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When the unrest in Hong Kong started in 2019, Western governments and corporate media showed sympathy and support to the violent protesters.

Chris Patten, the last governor of colonial Hong Kong which was then backed by London's dictate under a racial hierarchy, has always viewed Hong Kong's troubles through the lens of Cold War antagonism. In his view, the UK and all liberal democracies have a right to have a say in Hong Kong's running.

The U.S. has funded protest groups through its front NGO The National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Senior U.S. diplomat Julie Eadeh has even been seen meeting the protest leaders.

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) conducted a study of CNN and the New York Times' coverage on the protests in Ecuador, Haiti, Chile, and HKSAR from when the protests started to November 22, 2019. Hong Kong protests had 737 articles compared to a collective 76 articles for the other locations.

FAIR goes on to say, "This enormous disparity cannot be explained by the other protests' size or significance. After barely a week's worth of turmoil, the death toll in Ecuador was eight, while the UN confirms that 42 Haitians have been killed in the last two months alone." Chile has been just as serious, by November 23, 2019, there had been 23 people killed in these protests.

Using the same method as FAIR, I searched for articles relating to the unrest in Chile and Hong Kong from June 1, 2019, to December 8, 2020, on CNN. There were 77 articles about Hong Kong compared to 7 articles about Chile. Only a couple of the stories about Chile were directly about protests. It took a Chilean policeman charged with the attempted murder, of a teenage protester thrown off a bridge, to become newsworthy to CNN.

It is no wonder that China has criticized the West for the hypocritical reaction to Hong Kong protests. Unrest in Hong Kong shut down Hong Kong's economy for nearly a year and caused wanton destruction of public property. During the time, children of policemen being victimized, violent deaths, and an elder being set on fire by protesters, were caught on camera. And yet, Western politicians and media seemed to be far more focused on "championing" democracy.

With the preponderance of chaos and external interference, China passed the National Security Law for Hong Kong in June 2020. But when the Western media caught wind of the news, they immediately resorted to the Cold-War colonial rhetoric that defined the bygone era.

The New York Times said the law "imposed on Hong Kong, [is] aimed at stamping out opposition to the ruling Communist Party in the former British colony." This highlighting of the Chinese central government's "imposition," juxtaposed with "Hong Kong the former British colony," could almost be satirical and sums up the myriad of contradictions inherent in Western political and corporate media circles.

The Washington Post gave out the most succinct demonstration of West's entrenched logic by calling the law as "nothing less than imperialism with Chinese characteristics."

CNN was quick to criticize the arrests of certain Hong Kong citizens after the passing of the law, such as the owner of the Apple Daily Jimmy Lai, without detailing his suspected collusion with foreign powers and violation of the national security law for HKSAR.

What's been left out of all Western corporate media reports is any concern for China's sovereignty. They seem to have forgotten that the days of foreigners dictating China's affairs in Hong Kong finished in 1997. Now, Hong Kong, according to its Basic Law, comes "directly under the Central People's Government." As such, while Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy, it isn't independent. Simply put, it is part of one country with two systems.

With China being criticized for its security law and the disproportionate coverage of Hong Kong in the Western corporate media, one would assume this same media upholds similar standards for itself in the West. However, the large protests taking place across France against France's security laws in early December 2020 received little to no attention from CNN or the New York Times. This was despite the looting of banks, cars being set on fire and 68 police officers being injured.

Obviously, little has changed in the western media's reporting. And from what has happened, it seems that Western corporate media's effort to delegitimize China's system and infringe on its sovereignty will continue. Most likely, it will disguise its concerns as being for the cause of liberty and freedom all the while ignoring the truth across the globe and at home.

By Keith Lamb, a University of Oxford graduate with an MSc degree in Contemporary Chinese Studies. (Source: CGTN)
The possibilities for extension of the minimum support prices to ensure a decentralised procurement system in a diverse range of crops are discussed. How the architecture of this system in partnership with the private sector can be developed and how this could be made market-facing without compromising the primary interests of the farmers is also looked at.

The nationwide protest by farmers brings to the fore issues of distress and problems in agriculture. While attempts by the state to address the problems through the three farm laws are being met with resistance, and much discussion has happened on their merits and demerits, it is important to step back and understand the crisis in agriculture and also look at some significant initiatives that could be taken to modernise the value chain, and examine where markets and private sector could come in, without necessarily compromising farmer interests. The state has been asking farmers to provide a clause-by-clause objection to the laws. But if we look at the legislations closely, it is evident that it is impossible to provide a clause-by-clause objection on an issue that has fundamental problems at the conceptual level. The farmers are correct in asking for the repeal of the three acts, as a repair is not going to address the fundamental issue at all.

The first of the three actsthe Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 is about the freedom given to farmers to sell their produce anywhere, and colloquially called the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) bypass act (Narayanan 2020). This act makes two significant points. The first point is in demarcating the jurisdiction of the APMC to regulate trade and impose levies; thereby removing a barrier for trade outside the APMC market yard and extending it to the whole country. The second is in providing a rather loose definition of a traderbeing any person or entity with a permanent account number (PAN) card issued by the income tax department. The actual trade could be in any mode, including on electronic exchanges. The rest of the clauses were detailing of the conceptual framing of the APMC bypass programme.
I've learned that, if I apply my natural cynicism and pessimism to anything that originated with leftists, I will almost invariably correctly predict the future. Nevertheless, there's a small part of me that always hopes things will get better. Perhaps that's why I'm reading a lot into three reports on Friday about people pushing back on cancel culture.

The first story involves Piers Morgan, the British commentator. Morgan was unimpressed after listening to Meghan and Harry emote to Oprah. Indeed, not only was he unsympathetic, but he was pretty sure that Meghan was lying about her travails, and he said so out loud. When he said so during his gig on Good Morning Britain, he ended up storming off the set. He then tweeted out more statements supporting his belief that Meghan and Harry were not being honest.

What happened next was cancel culture on steroids  41,000 people complained to Good Morning Britain about his daring to challenge Meghan. With that, ITV, the station running Good Morning Britain, terminated Morgan. That termination may have had a little help from...Meghan herself. The fabulously wealthy B-television actress and diva who feels free to badmouth the queen of England made a formal complaint to ITV because a TV presenter badmouthed her.

Morgan, to his credit, did not bow down to this cancel culture bullying:

On Monday, I said I didnt believe Meghan Markle in her Oprah interview. Ive had time to reflect on this opinion, and I still dont. If you did, OK. Freedom of speech is a hill Im happy to die on. Thanks for all the love, and hate. Im off to spend more time with my opinions. pic.twitter.com/bv6zpz4Roe  Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 10, 2021

In the face of Morgan's refusal to do the usual groveling that we've come to expect from celebrities on the receiving end of the woke mob's cancel culture, something amazing happened. While 41,000 may have whined about Morgan, over 220,000 people had petitioned for Morgan to be returned to Good Morning Britain.

Those numbers are an excellent and much needed reminder that cancel culture is driven by a vocal minority. The majority of people who resent it still have the power to push back.

Another example of a pushback came from a teacher in Loudon County, Virginia, the county in which the school district was the first to ban Dr. Seuss thanks to a leftist think-tank's insistence that Seuss is an avatar of racism. Just listen to this brave teacher not only pushing back on the unconstitutionally racist Critical Race Theory being pushed on government employees  which is a form of canceling whites. I hope you enjoy the way in which she hurls it back at the school board: "You are the face of privilege!"

This Loudoun County, Virginia teacher delivered withering remarks against Critical Race Theory indoctrination at the latest School Board meeting.



Here's what EVERY parent should know about this toxic, racist ideology: https://t.co/PP93a5BrKw pic.twitter.com/8wUY0BbLtH  The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) March 12, 2021

It remains to be seen whether she gets fired, but I'm betting that, if she does, the Loudon County School District will find itself the focus of anticancel culture, antiCritical Race Theory rage.

By the way, if you want to help push back against Critical Race Theory, here's a good cause: William Clark is a high school senior in Las Vegas. He is biracial, with the "bi" in his racial being black. His mother, also biracial, is raising him alone. William attends a charter school, where he is the student with the lightest skin. The school, therefore, insisted that he denounce himself as a "privileged" "oppressor." When he refused, the school gave him a failing grade. Instead of caving, he sued. You can see his mother on Tucker Carlson here and donate here to help his legal fund. (I did.)

And there's one more entrant in the category of people pushing back against cancel culture: Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo has a lot of blood on his hands because he insisted on warehousing COVID-infected patients in old age homes long after it became clear that doing so was unnecessary (Trump had made enough hospital beds available) and that it turned old age homes into slaughterhouses. It doesn't matter why he did it; it's enough that he knowingly, unnecessarily, and cruelly brought about the premature and lonely deaths of thousands of elderly people  and then lied about it afterward.

However, Democrats are afraid to attack him on these grounds because it will expose several other governors to impeachment or criminal prosecution (e.g., Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey). Because he's a liability, though, they need him gone  and so they've rediscovered what everyone has known forever, which is that, like innumerable powerful Democrat feminist politicians, he's a groper and a lech.

And it's on those grounds, not on manslaughter and dishonesty, that his fellow Democrats are now demanding he resign. What's so funny is that Cuomo is refusing to resign and, instead, is attacking...cancel culture:

"I did not do what has been alleged. Period," he said[.] ... "People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth."

When you stop laughing at Cuomo's defensive use of a Democrat stock-in-trade, think about the fact that, when leftists start calling out and opposing the cancel culture mob, maybe the end really is near.

Image: Piers Morgan storms off the Good Morning Britain set. Twitter screen grab.

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In Iraqs holiest city, a pontiff will meet a revered ayatollah and make history with a message of coexistence in a place plagued by bitter divisions.

One is the chief pastor of the world-wide Catholic Church, the other a pre-eminent figure in Shiite Islam whose opinion holds powerful sway on the Iraqi street and beyond. Their encounter will resonate across Iraq, even crossing borders into neighboring, mainly Shiite Iran

Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani are to meet on Saturday for at most 40 minutes, part of the time alone except for interpreters, in the Shiite clerics modest home in the city of Najaf Every detail was scrutinized 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 a viral pandemic and ongoing tensions with rocket-firing 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 Shiite 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 Iran's influence. With the meeting, Francis is implicitly recognizing him as the chief interlocutor of Shiite Islam over his rival, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei News of the meeting heightened long-standing rivalries between the Shiite seminaries of Najaf and Irans city of Qom over which stands at the center of the Shiite world.

It will be a private visit without precedent in history, and it will not have an equal to any previous visits, said a religious official in Najaf, involved in the planning.

For the Vatican, it was a meeting decades in the making, one that eluded Francis predecessors.

Najaf did not make it easy, said one Christian religious official close to the planning from the Vatican side, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the visits delicacy.

In December, Louis Sako, the patriarch of Iraqs Chaldean Catholic Church told The Associated Press the church was trying to schedule a meeting between Francis and the ayatollah. It was included in the first draft of the program, but when the (Vatican) delegation visited Najaf, there were problems, he said, without elaborating.

The church kept insisting.

We know the importance and impact of Najaf in the Iraqi situation, Sako said. What value would the popes message of coexistence in Iraq have, they determined, if he did not seek the support of its most powerful and respected religious figure?

Sako finally confirmed the meeting in January, weeks after the pontiffs itinerary had been assembled.

Rarely does al-Sistani weigh in on governance matters. 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 U.S.-led invasion. His 2014 fatwa calling on able-bodied men to fight the Islamic State group massively swelled the ranks of Shiite militias. In 2019, as anti-government demonstrations gripped the country, his sermon lead to the resignation of then-prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.

The Vaticans hope was that Francis would 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 was among many elements the two sides negotiated over extensively. In the end, Shiite 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 will likely 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 Shiites.

To the side is an alleyway too narrow for cars. Here, Francis will walk the 30 meters (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.

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 been firmly ensconced indoors. Francis suffers from sciatica.

The Pope will be offered tea.

His Eminence will provide His Holiness a message of peace and love for all humanity, said the official.

Gifts will be exchanged.

It is not clear what Najaf will bestow, but Francis will almost certainly present al-Sistani with bound copies of his most important writings, top among them his latest encyclical Brothers All, about the need for greater fraternity among all peoples to bring about a more peaceful, ecologically sustainable and just world.

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.

One setback after another nearly scuttled this one too.

Iraq fell to a second wave of the coronavirus last month spurred by the new, more infectious strain that first broke out in the U.K. At the same time, a spate of rocket attacks resumed targeting the American presence in the country. The U.S. has blamed Iran-aligned militias.

Those same groups, strengthened after al-Sistanis fatwa, are accused of terrorizing Christians and preventing them from returning home. Iraqi government and religious officials are concerned these militias could carry out rocket attacks in Baghdad or elsewhere to show their displeasure over al-Sistanis meeting with Francis.

As pope, Francis sits atop an official hierarchy ruling the Catholic Church. Al-Sistanis position is more informal, based on tradition and reputation. He is considered one of the most prestigious Shiite religious scholars in the world, the leading light at the Najaf seminaries, earning him worldwide reverence.

Irans Khamenei and the Qom seminaries compete for that prestige. Al-Sistani's school of thought opposes direct rule by clerics, the system in place in Iran, where Khamenei has the final word in all matters.

The visit could potentially upset some people and they might try to delay or cancel the visit, I hold this concern, said a second official in Najaf. Who could be upset? Qoms Hawza, he said, using the Arabic term referring the seminaries.

Ebrahim Raisi, Irans chief justice, considered a potential presidential candidate or even successor to Khamenei, was unsuccessful in his attempts to meet al-Sistani on a recent trip.

This increased tension with the Iranians, as His Eminence did not see Raisi but will see His Holiness the Pope, said the official.

Politics and rivalries aside, almost everyone across Iraqs multi-confessional fabric 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.

___

Associated Press writer Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
The Duchess of Cambridge has visited a south London memorial for Sarah Everard, close to where the 33-year-old went missing.

Kate made a visit to Clapham Common on Saturday afternoon to pay her respects to Ms Everard and her family in the wake of the marketing executives murder.

The duchess visited a bandstand in the south London park where dozens of floral tributes have been placed for Ms Everard, whose body was formally identified on Friday.

She was seen pausing in front of the sea of tributes, which have grown substantially in the last day.

As well as flowers, the memorial also features signs, with the duchess seen near a sign reading I am Sarah.

It is understood Kate also made the visit in part because she remembers what it felt like to walk around London at night before she got married.

Vigils had been organised across the UK in memory of Ms Everard, as well as to urge that more is done to tackle violence against women.

People gather at the bandstand in Clapham Common (Victoria Jones/PA)

Organisers Reclaim These Streets announced that a vigil planned for Saturday in Clapham Common had been cancelled and said a virtual gathering will take place instead.

A fundraiser set up by the group for womens charitable causes was less than 10,000 away from its 320,000 target as the virtual gathering began shortly after 6pm.

Reclaim These Streets has also encouraged people to join a doorstep vigil at 9.30pm, with the group saying it would be joining people across the country and shining a light, a candle, a torch, a phone, to remember Sarah Everard and all the women affected by and lost to violence.
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Zahida Khatun Sherwani (1894-1922) is one of the early female poets of Urdu literature who took the giant leap of challenging the normative structure. The courageous young mind challenged the prevalent hierarchy and paved the way for upcoming female poets to make their presence felt in the world of Urdu literature.

Shah Alam, TwoCircles.net

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Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind, asserts Virginia Woolf in her extraordinary work A Room of Ones Own.

There exists a long queue of many such progressive minds whose feminist writings have contributed enormously to the cause of womens emancipation even from the confinement of four walls of their houses. Unfortunately, their works and voices could not receive due credit and acknowledgment even today. A century ago, when the doors of formal education were almost closed for most Muslim women of the subcontinent, some audacious Muslim girls countered the established hegemonic patriarchy by exercising their literacy senses and speaking their hearts through writings.

Zahida Khatun Sherwani (1894-1922) is one of the early female poets of Urdu literature who took the giant leap of challenging the normative structure. The courageous young mind challenged the prevalent hierarchy and paved the way for upcoming female poets to make their presence felt in the world of Urdu literature. Her allegiance to bring reality to the fore made her the first woman poet to appear on Urdus literary horizon and be followed by poets of successive generations like Ada Jafri and others. Her magnum opus Masnavi Aina-i-Haram, on womens rights, has been considered at par with Allama Iqbals Shikwa. Lauding her poetic work, Allama Iqbal extolled, When Zahida attains my age, she will be considered among the best poets of the country.

The walled poetess, Zahida Khatun Sherwani (Zay Khay Sheen), was a remarkable woman about whom very few people know today. She made her prominence in literary circles as a distinguished writer and poet and used her pen to raise her concern for womens rights when women, particularly Muslim women, faced gender discrimination in the landmass. She preferred not to disclose her identity and used to be known by the initials of her name Zay Khay Sheen because her conservative family did not allow her to pursue a career as writer or poet or even raise her voice for the rights of women.

Zahida was born into a politically and intellectually vibrant family that blended with a progressive and conservative system. On the one hand, the family was an ardent supporter of education, whether Islamic or western, and promoters of womens education, but on the other, they were of the view that the women of the family should be educated under strict purdah within the households.

Zahida lost her mother at a tender age and was brought up by her father. Zahida expressed her dream to become an established poet when she wrote a couplet at the age of ten:

Aisi banuun main shairah jaisi koi na ho,

Saara jahaan nazm meri dekhta rahe.

(May I become like no other poetess,

That the whole world reverberates my verse.)

Zahida assiduously wrote on womens issues by contributing her poems and articles either under the pseudonym Zay Khay Sheen or as Nuzhat to the well-known magazines and periodicals like Khatun of Aligarh, Ismat of Delhi, Sharif Bibi of Lahore, and others. Her poems were read and acclaimed by the readers, but they were not aware of who Zay Khay Sheen or Nuzhat was. Apart from her devoted love for his father, Zahida felt scared that she had hidden the fact from him that she was publishing her poetry.

Living under the confinement of four walls and under the shadow of family restrictions, she renegaded against the established structure of gender bias from a very early age. At the age of nine, Zahida started a campaign for womens rights from the Young Sherwanis League platform and used to have meetings periodically with a formal list of aims and objectives. The platforms main goals were to start schools for Bhikampur and Datauli and donate money as a part of a drive for a boarding house at Aligarh Girls School.

She belonged to a family that played a significant role in establishing Aligarh Muslim University. Being the daughter of Nawab Muzamillah Khan, a friend of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Zahida took part in various feminist activities to promote and encourage womens right to education and empowerment. A young lady with a vision and progressive mind courageously carved out her path. She wrote poems on farming and farmers, the World War, Politics, Nationalism, Aligarh Muslim University, and the Khilafat Movement. A staunch supporter of Mahatma Gandhis Swadeshi Movement, Zahida left this world succumbing to an unspecified fever on 2 February 1922, at the age of 27.

___

Shah Alam is an Assistant Professor, Advanced Centre for Womens Studies, Aligarh Muslim University
(This March 10 story corrects headline to 'U.S. state troopers' from 'U.S. border patrol agent')

(Reuters) - Lying patiently in the long grass near the Rio Grande in Texas on Tuesday, Reuters photographer Adrees Latif was watching and waiting.

A native Texan, Latif has been covering the ebbs and flows of the migration story at the border since 2018. In recent weeks, a humanitarian crisis in Central America paired with changes in migration strategy in the White House have led to a surge in those trying to cross north to what they hope will be a better life in the United States.

Within the heavily trafficked Rio Grande Valley sector of the border, Latif has seen the people smugglers move their operations around to evade the border patrol in the last three years, shifting just like the wide river that divides the United States and Mexico.

To get the pictures he is looking for, Latif needs to be on site from dusk to dawn, waiting to catch the moment once or twice a day when a vehicle will appear on the Mexican side to transport migrants to a waiting raft. Within five minutes, they are across the river and into Texas.

He does not want to miss that moment.

"It's like a whole day's work lying in wait and then you only have a few moments to produce the images," said Latif.

On Tuesday, Latif saw a scout on the Mexican side, just as a border patrol helicopter passed overhead. It hovered over Latif, kicking up dust. The smugglers likely saw that and chose to cross further upriver.

Moving to where he thought the migrants would disembark, the helicopter still overhead, Latif saw a migrant couple walking through the brush. It's uneven territory, heavy with Lyme disease-carrying ticks, and he advised them to use the road.

They told him others were hiding further back. He headed in that direction, as agents began arriving. Suddenly, he came across the scene captured in the photograph. A Texas state trooper, dressed head to toe in green and clutching handcuffs in one hand, was beckoning to a migrant family to come out of the brush.

Story continues

In the photo, four-year-old Harbin Ordonez, who traveled from Honduras with his mother, looks at the man, while his mother, Edith, holds on to him tight. The boy was crying just a moment before and will later cry again but in this moment he stares, fear and defiance mixing on his young face. The sound of the helicopter is so loud, it is impossible to hear conversation.

A minute or so later, the trooper accompanied the two and another migrant mother and child to pick-up trucks, where they were driven up to the border wall, about two miles away. There, about a dozen migrants followed the usual routine - showed identification, removed jewelry and shoelaces, and had the bands the smugglers used to identify them clipped off their wrists.

They were then taken away in buses - family groups on one bus, unaccompanied minors on another - to whatever future awaits them in the United States.

(Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Howard Goller)
South Dakota AG Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Crash Hearing

PIERRE, S.D.South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg pleaded not guilty in an initial court hearing Friday for three misdemeanor charges he is facing for striking and killing a man with his car last summer.

The Republican attorney general did not appear at the courthouse in Pierre, South Dakota, but his lawyer Tim Rensch made the plea on his behalf. The prosecutor noted that it is typical for defendants to plead not guilty at this point in the case before defense lawyers have a chance to look at the evidence.

Besides the misdemeanor charges, the states top law enforcement officer is facing calls for his resignation from Republican Gov. Kristi Noem and law enforcement groups.

But Ravnsborg has said he will not step down and for nowmaintains he is not guilty of breaking the law on the night of Sept. 12 when he struck a man walking on the shoulder of a rural highway. However, he could face up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine on each misdemeanor charge: careless driving, driving out of his lane and operating a motor vehicle while on his phone. Though prosecutors said he was not using his phone at the time of the crash, he had been using it while driving about one minute before the crash occurred.

Rensch requested 60 days to look over the evidence in the case, to which the judge and prosecutors agreed.

In some cases, there is a mountain of discovery, Rensch told the judge. In this case, there is a mountain range of discovery.

He declined to comment further to reporters.

Ravnsborg, who was elected to his first term in 2018, initially told authorities he thought he had struck a deer or another large animal as he drove home to Pierre from a Republican fundraiser. He said he had searched the unlit area with a cellphone flashlight and didnt realize he had killed a man 55-year-old Joseph Boever until the next day when he returned to the crash scene on U.S. 14 near Highmore in South Dakota.

After an investigation that stretched over five months, prosecutors said they still had questions about the crash but were unable to file more serious criminal charges such as vehicular homicide or manslaughter, which could have meant years of prison time.

Boevers family members, including his widow Jenny Boever and his mother, traveled to Pierre for the hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes. But for several minutes on Friday, the normally sleepy courthouse was crowded with lawyers, reporters and Boevers family members. His widow is planning to file a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Ravnsborg for her late husbands death.

Jenny, the widow, just wants to make a presence, said Boevers cousin, Nick Nemec, who has been outspoken in questioning the attorney generals account of the crash.

Nemec called Ravnsborgs decision not to plead guilty at the outset of the case troubling.

He was obviously outside of his lane. The skid marks on Highway 14 are still visible, he said. I think hes just as guilty as can be.

Emily Sovell, the Hyde County Deputy States Attorney who is the lead prosecutor, said it is not uncommon at all for defendants to initially plead not guilty before viewing the evidence.

Prosecutors declined to discuss details of the crash further, noting they are under a gag order from Retired Sixth Circuit Judge John Brown.

Brown made that order last month at the attorney generals request after Noem released videos of investigators questioning Ravnsborg on two separate occasions after the crash. Detectives were incredulous that Ravnsborg did not realize he had struck a man, telling him that Boevers face had smashed through his windshield and Boevers glasses had been found in his Ford Taurus after the crash.

House lawmakers had moved to begin impeachment proceedings against the attorney general last month, but took a step back after the judges order.

Lawmakers have said they will consider whether Ravnsborg should be impeached after the criminal case concludes.

By Stephen Groves
St Patrick's Day 2021 Global Greening Belgium

Event

Tourism Ireland's Global Greening initiative sees famous attractions and sites around the world go green to mark St Patricks Day. This year the Global Greening aims to bring positivity to the 70+ million people around the world with links to the island of Ireland. Tourism Ireland wants to shine a green light in as many locations around the world as possible, giving our Diaspora a sense of connection with home.

The Embassy of Ireland is proud to participate, with our Tourism Ireland colleagues, in the Global Greening initiative and we're looking forward to seeing Belgian icons and landmarks turn green, thanks to Belgian authorities, friends of Ireland and Irish in Belgium. The full Global Greening line-up is available here.

2021 Greenings in Belgium

Greening of the Smurf statue, Brussels

17/03/2021

The Smurfs were created by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford, who wrote under the pseudonym Peyo, and have long held the status of cultural icons in Belgium.

The Smurf Statue is located in front of the Museum of Original Figurines next to Horta Gallery at Brussels Central Station. The statue is almost 5 metres tall and weighs 10 tons.

Were thrilled that this legendary Bruxellois has agreed to go green for a second year, as part of the Tourism Ireland Global Greening 2020, with thanks to Visit Brussels.

Dressing of the Manneken Pis, Brussels

17/03/2021 (09:00-18:00)

Located near the Grand Place, the Manneken-Pis is one of Europes most visited statues and was created in the 17th century. A Belgian national treasure, the Manneken-Pis can be seen dressed in traditional Irish clothing as part of Tourism Ireland's Global Greening on St Patrick's Day, with thanks to the Friends of the Manneken-Pis.

Greening of The Hotel, Brussels

17/03/2021

Towering high above the Brussels skyline and located in the heart of the fashion district just minutes from the historic Grand Place, The Hotel is an iconic building offering spectacular views of the city. This year, The Hotel will be illuminated green for the first time as part of Tourism Ireland's Global Greening.

Greening of BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels

17/03/2021

BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts Brussels is a cultural mecca and architectural masterpiece created by Victor Horta. Opened in 1928, this palace of the arts combines three concert halls, exhibition spaces, cinema and lecture rooms.

Located in the Mont des Arts, Belgiums most visited cultural destination will be turning green on St Patrick's Day as part of the Global Greening.

Greening of the City Hall, Brussels

17/03/2021

On the occasion of St. Patricks Day, Brussels City Hall will once again be lit in green as part of Tourism Ireland's Global Greening.

This gothic building from the Middle Ages is located in the heart of the historical centre at Grand Place, a UNESCO's World Heritage Site.

The building is the jewel of Brussels' architectural heritage and is currently home to the Tourist Office. (More info)

Greening of the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Brussels

17/03/2021

Designed and built by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer and opened in 1847, the beautifully glazed Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert includes boutiques, auditoriums, cafes and restaurants.



Located a stone's throw from the Grand Place, it was one of Europe's first shopping arcades (more details & location).

Greening of the Burg Square, Brugge/Bruges

17/03/2021

Featuring a variety of building from the Gothic, Renaissance and Neo-Classicist eras, the Burg Square in Bruges is a location steeped in history. To celebrate St. Patricks Day, Bruges City Council has decided that City Hall and the Burg Square, one of Belgium's two Medieval squares, will turn green as part of Tourism Irelands Global Greening, in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland to the Kingdom of Belgium. (more here)

Greening of the Celtic Cross, Fontenoy

13/03/2021 - 18/03/2021

The Celtic Cross in Fontenoy was erected in 1907 to commemorate the famous Battle of Fontenoy in 1745.

The cross stands as a memorial to all the Irish who lost their lives in the battle. The Celtic Cross will be illuminated green from 13 March. (Location)

Greening of the Beffroi / Belfry, Mons

17/03/2021

Built between 1661 and 1672 by Louis Ledoux, le beffroi is an important landmark and a proud symbol of Mons identity. The Belfry will once again be illuminated as part of the 2020 Global Greening. Listed by UNESCO in 1999, it is the only baroque belfry still in existence.

This fabulous structure accommodates an interpretive centre enabling visitors to enjoy panoramic views. Members of the public can see the Belfry in Mons go green on St. Patricks Day. Learn more about Mons Belfry here.

Greening of the Lille Gate, Ieper / Ypres

11/03/2021  18/03/2021

The Lille Gate was the original southern gateway to Ieper and one of several entrances into the old fortified city. It was the only one to survive the bombardment of World War I and has been preserved thereafter. The Burgundian towers stand next to the bridge, the 14th century lock room and Gatekeeper's house. (Location)

Greening of the Provinciehuis Antwerpen

17/03/2021

The Provincial Government Building in Antwerp is an eye-catching addition to the Global Greening lineup. This 58 metre tall 14 story building with unique triangular windows only came into use in 2018 and achieves the feat of casting no shadows upon the adjacent buildings owing to the twist structure in its design. It will go green on St. Patrick's Day as part of the Global Greening. (Location)

Greening of the Bourse & Belfry, Namur

17/03/2021

The Namur Belfry or Tour de Saint-Jacques (Tower of St. James) dates back to 1388 and once served as part of the fortification of the old city. The Belfry became a UNESCO listed structure in 1999.



Situated in the heart of the Walloon capital, the Bourse or old stock exchange at Place d'Armes is the former seat of the Walloon Parliament.



Were delighted to welcome these new sites to the Global Greening line-up.

Greening of the Lion's Mound & Wall of Memory, Braine l'Alleud

17/03/2021

The Lion's Mound, overlooks what once was a battlefield and commemorates victory over Napoleon. The beast is located on top of this 40 metres hill. It was built between 1823 and 1826. It has a colossal lion at the top, made of cast iron, weighing 28 tonnes. (more details & location)

Greening of the Mont-Saint-Jean Farm, Waterloo

17/03/2021

The Mont-Saint-Jean Farm in Waterloo is home to a museum and the John Martin microbrewery. This historical location served as a surgical hospital for the allied troops during the famous battle. (more details)

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The boyfriend of Breonna Taylor on Friday filed a federal lawsuit against the Louisville government and the police officers involved in the botched raid in which his girlfriend was killed, alleging law enforcement made false claims to get a warrant to search Taylor's apartment and violated his constitutional rights.

The 38-page lawsuit by Kenneth Walker casts Taylor's death as preventable and alleges broad, problematic practices of the Louisville Metro Police Department: nighttime raids and a failure by officers to clearly identify themselves.

Louisville police killed Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, last March while executing a no-knock warrant at her home in search of drugs. Authorities found no illegal substances, and the case helped fuel national outrage and demonstrations about police treatment of minorities.

According to his lawsuit, Walker was inside the apartment at the time and fired a shot at the officers, whom he believed to be "intruders." The officers, according to the suit, "responded with a fusillade" that struck Taylor.

"Mr. Walker survived the onslaught, but was forced to lay helplessly beside Ms. Taylor as she bled to death on the floor from her gunshot wounds," the suit alleges. "This senseless tragedy occurred because of the willful disregard for the constitutional rights of Mr. Walker and Ms. Taylor shown by the LMPD officers who planned and carried out the raid on Ms. Taylor's residence."

A Louisville Metro Police Department spokeswoman declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

Walker already had filed a lawsuit in Jefferson Circuit Court. The suit Friday was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Among those representing Walker is Donald Verrilli Jr., a former U.S. solicitor general. Taylor's family separately settled a wrongful-death suit against the city of Louisville for $12 million.

Walker's suit alleges that the warrant used to justify searching Taylor's apartment was deeply flawed, as it was mostly based on evidence focused on a different address where police believed two other men, including Taylor's ex-boyfriend, sold drugs. A detective, according to Walker's suit, sought to link Taylor's apartment to the activity by falsely claiming a U.S. Postal inspector had confirmed her ex-boyfriend received packages at her address.

The suit also alleges that Louisville police supervisors had a general practice of lax supervision of warrants and that officers were not adequately trained on using force.

Police initially charged Walker in connection with shooting an officer in the leg during the raid, though prosecutors later dropped the case and a judge this week dismissed it in such a way it cannot be refiled.

A grand jury in Jefferson County, Ky., last year indicted a former Louisville police officer, Brett Hankison, in connection with the case for endangering lives in a neighboring apartment unit. Hankison had earlier been fired in connection with the raid, as the department said he "wantonly and blindly" fired 10 rounds into Taylor's home in "extreme indifference to the value of human life."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Over the years, Princes Bay resident Drew Denmark, 12, who suffers from Phelan Mcdermid Syndrome, has received support from a myriad of Staten Islanders and local businesses in the quest to raise money for research about the rare disease.

And now he has the support of the South Shore Rotary Club.

His mother, Debra Denmark, Region 4 Representative of the Phelan Mcdermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF), recently spoke on behalf of her son via a club Zoom meeting. The recent presentation started with a look into Drews life, and ended with a plea to support PMSFs yearly fundraiser, called Phelan Lucky.

Drew is one of 2,800 people diagnosed with the rare disease (PMS), which is a genetic condition caused by the deletion of chromosome 22 or the mutation of the SHANK3 gene.

I call it serendipity... A story told through his mothers eyes, as Drew is 99% non-verbal. I was so touched, it became my internal desire to help raise funds, and help create awareness through the club and in the community, said Dean Balsamini Sr., regional director of the Staten Island Small Business Development Center, and past president of the South Shore Rotary Club, who invited Denmark to address the group.

My interest is also a testimony on behalf of my late wife, Joann, who was a giver. So in maintaining her legacy for helping others, I feel gratified to help Drew and others diagnosed with PMS. After meeting Drew face-to-face, I felt a very special connection to him, so I am even more committed to this cause. My plan is to have Debra present to the rest of the Staten Island Rotary clubs, so as I stated, this is only just the beginning, he added.

Princes Bay resident Drew Denmark, 12, who suffers from Phelan Mcdermid Syndrome, recently received support from the South Shore Rotary Club. From Left: James Young, Joseph Torres, Drew Denmark and Dean Balsamini Sr. (Courtesy of Debra Denmark).

WHAT IS PHELAN LUCKY?

Phelan Lucky is a fun way to celebrate St. Patricks Day, or any day you are feeling lucky while supporting those diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder known as Phelan Mcdermid Syndrome, said Denmark.

Debra Denmark and her son, Drew Denmark, with Dean Balsamini Sr. of the South Shore Rotary, who is supporting the Phelan Lucky. (Courtesy of Debra Denmark)

Said Denmark: I am so grateful to Dean and the Rotary Club for the opportunity to share Drews story and introduce Phelan Lucky. The catchy trademark logo was created by my dear friend, Jenn Randolph, fellow PMS parent and fundraising chair who designs a new shirt each year, which is seen and sold around the globe.

We are passionate about helping the Foundation in any way we can as our childrens quality of life depends on it. The Rotary Club really warmed my heart by the outpouring of support to the cause and their generous donation. I cant thank Dean enough for introducing me to this amazing group of individuals so eager to help, she added.

James Young, current Rotary president, recalled how he felt after learning about Phelan Lucky and Drew. Theres something very moving about a mothers love and commitment to her son. Debra, along with Drews siblings, are amazing advocates and Im proud to donate and wear my shirt this St. Patricks Day and take part in helping the cause, he said.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Joseph Torres, future South Shore Rotary president, said the group was especially happy to support the Phelan Lucky campaign.

Dean Balsamini Sr. was toched by Drew Denmark's, 12, story.(Courtesy of Debra Denmark)

During a crazy year of COVID and working from home, the club hasnt had an opportunity to take part in many community events, he said.

Debras Zoom presentation gave me a peek perspective into the outside world, and as a club, we unanimously voted to give. This is what it means to be a Rotarian -- to have heart and character. Often times, when the club proposes a donation opportunity, there is some debate as to where the funds will go. There was no opposition. In fact, the board members were all so moved that they offered personal donations, which resulted in an even larger donation into the thousands. We will wear our Phelan Lucky shirts proud this year, he added.

During a crazy year of COVID and working from home, the club hasnt had an opportunity to take part in many community events, said Joseph Torres, future South Shore Rotary president. Debras Zoom presentation gave me a peek perspective into the outside world, and as a club, we unanimously voted to give. This is what it means to be a Rotarian -- to have heart and character. (Courtesy of Debra Denmark)

T-shirts are only available for purchase for a limited time every year in January. To learn more about Phelan Mcdermid Syndrome or to donate to the foundation, log on to www.pMSF.org.

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Italy authorises Johnson & Johnson single-dose coronavirus vaccine hailed by the EU as "safe and effective."

Italy's medicines agency (AIFA) gave the green light to Johnson & Johnsons single-dose coronavirus vaccine on 12 March, the day after it was authorised for use by the European Commission (EC).

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine becomes the fourth to be licensed by the EU and Italy as the European bloc battles to curb the coronavirus pandemic amid a stalled vaccination drive.

This latest authorisation follows a "positive scientific recommendation" based on a thorough assessment of the "safety, effectiveness and quality" of the vaccine by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The EC president Ursula von der Leyen said the new vaccine "only requires a single dose, which takes us another step closer to achieving our collective goal of vaccinating 70 per cent of the adult population by the end of summer."

The vaccine - developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a Belgian subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson - has been approved for all age groups over 18 years.

The EU has ordered 200 million doses, with Italy set to receive around 27 million doses, according to Jannsen Italia chief Massimo Scaccabarozzi who spoke on Italian television yesterday.

The three approved vaccines already in use in Italy and across Europe are Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, the latter of which has been making headlines over concerns about its possible adverse side effects including blood-clotting.

Italy issued a nationwide withdrawl of a particular batch as a "precautionary measure" while it investigates the suspicious deaths of two men in Sicily who were recently inoculated.

However it continues to use other AstraZeneca batches and AIFA has stressed that at present no link has been established between the vaccine and subsequent adverse reactions.

"There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine," stated the EMA, adding that the "vaccine's benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing."

Italy's approval of the J&J vaccine follows pledges by premier Mario Draghi to accelerate the nation's sluggish vaccination campaign and comes as much of the country will be placed under lockdown from 15 March amid a "new wave" of covid-19.

For official information relating to the covid-19 situation in Italy see health ministry website.
A Burlington County home caregiver who last year was accused of sexually abusing a nonverbal and partially blind teenage girl had additional charges lodged against him, authorities said Friday.

Edmondo DiPaolo, 34, of Pemberton Township, was arrested after the new charges were filed and was again released during a first appearance in Superior Court, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office said.

The new charges were made in connection to the same girl, authorities said. They were filed after law enforcement reviewed nearly 200 hours of footage that authorities say showed additional abuse during the five months when DiPaolo was working as the girls caregiver in her familys Southampton home.

Prosecutors now say DiPaolo allegedly pushed the girls face into a pillow, squeezed her throat and shoved a stuffed animal into her mouth to restrict her breathing.

Authorities initially charged DiPaolo in March 2020 with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree attempted aggravated assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

He was released at that time following a detention hearing, authorities said.

The girl was 15 at the time and has a neurological disorder, authorities said. She is partially blind, immobile, unable to speak and is fed and medicated through tubes, the prosecutors office added.

Family members initially contacted law enforcement after discovering an injury to her leg and the case was investigated by State Police. Authorities said her femur bone had been broken while DiPaolo was allegedly harshly adjusting her position prior to sexually assault her.

DiPaolo was employed as a private duty nurse by Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services, Inc. A director of community relations for the company said he had not been an employee there for a long time, but did not comment further.

Anyone who suspects DiPaolo may have mistreated other patients is urged to call State Police Detective P. Ryba at the Red Lion Barracks at 609-859-2282.

Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com.
With coronavirus infections declining and vaccination numbers increasing, some New Orleans area colleges and universities are making plans to dramatically increase in-person class sizes next semester, eager to bring the campus experience closer to what it was before the latest deadly virus shattered the norm a year ago.

But at the same time they are striving to understand lessons learned from the pandemic. Among questions school leaders are asking themselves is, "How can we keep some flexibility to meet the needs of our students and staff?"

Hoping to return to some semblance of normal, officials at Loyola University and Tulane University in New Orleans said they plan to have classes in person at full capacity in the fall. Loyola's classes are now roughly at 2/3 capacity, and Tulane had built outdoor classrooms to spread out students on their campus as well.

The University of Holy Cross, University of New Orleans and Xavier University of Louisiana, meanwhile, plan for the majority of their classes to be in-person, and will bring back some of the campus activities and events put on hold during the pandemic.

"While we will probably still be in a world of masks and caution in the fall, following all public health guidance, vaccines would allow us to return more fully to the campus engagement that means so much to our students," Loyola University President Tania Tetlow said in a recent letter to students and staff.

The optimism comes as President Joe Biden has directed states to make all adults eligible for one of the coronavirus vaccines by May 1, months before the new college semesters would begin.

However, the forward-looking plans come with a big caveat: University leaders across the board said they must be prepared to pivot back to a virtual setting if COVID-19 cases increase or if Centers for Disease Control guidance advises against maximum-class sizes. Officials said last week they were anxiously awaiting that guidance.

At Tulane University, where classes have existed in-person alongside a robust coronavirus testing system, officials said they are "planning to host a fall semester in which most of the COVID-19 protocols are no longer necessary and the campus experience looks very much like pre-pandemic semesters," as long as the state of public health allows.

But most say they're still planning to have precautions in place, including mask-wearing, plexiglass partitions and more. Dillard University officials were still considering all options, according to Yolanda Page, the vice president for academic affairs.

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Armed with $20M donation, Ochsner and Delgado team up to improve health care, train workforce For nearly a decade, Louisiana has been in an unenviable position, nestled either dead last or near the bottom of national health rankings. At

Delgado Community College's vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, Cheryl Myers, and Stanton McNeely, president of University of Holy Cross, said they want to keep virtual learning in place, too, so students can choose which path they're most comfortable with.

"The most important thing is that this pandemic is a springboard for the University of Holy Cross," said McNeely, adding that some classes work well for remote instruction, including counseling, business, and other programs geared toward working adults. Dual enrollment for high school students is also a "perfect" fit, he said.

"We are not going back to exactly the way things were; we are going forward to the way things should be and can be because of what we have learned from the pandemic and the opportunities that have come from all this," McNeely said. "We are going to have both an active physical campus community, and we are going to grow in remote instruction."

UNO President John Nicklow also said that while he he hoped to increase class sizes, the school had been outfitted with a number of technological upgrades. University officials plan to keep the accessibility that remote instruction has afforded, he said.

And even though Tetlow said she wanted to avoid putting a burden on teachers by making them straddle in-person and virtual learning for too many classes, she said universities and colleges need to figure out how to accommodate higher-risk students who may not have had the vaccine yet.

She also said it would be important for many employers, not just universities and colleges, to be more understanding of people grappling with "behind the scenes" issues like childcare, elderly parents and various other in-person work conflicts.

"We expect the vast majority will take advantage of the vaccine, but we do expect some members will either not be able to for medical reasons, or will be too nervous. Were really thinking through issues now of how to accommodate them," Tetlow said. "Weve all had empathy for each other, so now how do we keep this up?"
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has expressed displeasure about the decision by the Executive to cap the budget allocation for the Legislature and the Judiciary.

He said what was even more unacceptable was the very low ceiling, which he described as below the belt.



As the two arms of government mandated to provide checks and balances on the Executive, he proposed that Parliament and the Judiciary be given particular attention since they were not sectors of the economy.



These are arms of government and we are not going to take any budget that is like a ministrys budget. That is not going to be tolerated. Those arms of government will also have to be strengthened to be able to perform their functions, he stated.



No tolerance



Addressing Parliament on the floor of the House prior to the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy yesterday, Mr Bagbin said: We can no longer allow the Executive to be running amok without any checks and balances.



I am sure this is sufficient notice. I have seen an indication of what is alleged to be ceiling for those arms. I am not going to take that, he added.



So, the Ministry of Finance is well represented and our own member is coming to read the budget. Kindly take note or else you will have it tough with the right Honourable Speaker, he said.



Fairness



Pre Order Ghana Year Book 2021

The Speaker stated that prior to the approval of this years budget, he received indications that the capital expenditure for Parliament and the Judiciary had completely been taken.



He, however, cautioned that such deprivation would not happen under my watch.



Urging the Executive and the Ministry of Finance to revise the budget for the two arms of government, he said members of Parliament were prepared to go through the budget and pass it.



He pointed out that as part of such commitment, members of the House would no longer be allowed to continue to use their houses as offices to perform government functions and their duties for the good of the country.



We have been along this path for 28 good years and I am sure now we are grown and the budget is not only for the Executive, he said.



Psyche



The Speaker urged the Ministry of Finance to furnish Parliament with hard copies of details of budget estimates since the House was ready to sit 24/7 to consider and approve the budget.



He urged Members of Parliament to prepare themselves towards the consideration of the budget.



Even if it means we have to sit on Sunday, we have to do so, so that by close of the month the budget would have been passed and the Appropriation Act assented to by His Excellency the President, if not, governance will come to a complete halt, he added.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th March, 2021) The number of people vaccinated against the coronavirus in Ecuador has surpassed 100,000, President Lenin Moreno said.

"Today, a year after the start of the fight against COVID-19, we are vaccinating people. The number of those vaccinated in the country has already surpassed 100,000," Moreno wrote on his Twitter page on late Friday.

Ecuador has already reached agreements on the deliveries of vaccines against the coronavirus with the companies of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac, as well as the COVAX international distribution initiative.

The country with a population of more than 17 million people is going to vaccinate about 2 million citizens by May 20.

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020. To date, more than 119.02 million people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 2.63 million fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Ecuador has confirmed about 300,000 COVID-19 cases so far, with over 16,000 fatalities.
An unannounced HIQA inspection at Cairnhill Nursing Home in Bray found that the home was compliant or substantially compliant in all areas including fire safety, health care, residents' rights and more.

There had been an outbreak of Covid-19 in April 2020 which was declared officially over in May 2020.

According to the report, 21 residents had tested positive and 16 residents had recovered. Owner Brian McMahon disagrees with this figure. He said that just one resident sadly died from Covid-19. Mr McMahon said that he feels some people had been categorised as having died from the virus when they had not. For example, one resident had Covid-19 in April but died in August, having recovered from the virus.

Eleven staff members had tested positive for Covid-19, all staff had recovered and all had returned to work.

The inspection of the 93-bed home was done over two days last September.

Residents had a good quality of life in Cairnhill Nursing Home and there was a good standard of care provided.

'I love what I do,' said Mr McMahon, who said that Cairnhill is a family business. 'We want to be the best at what we do and aim be all the time.' He said that he isn't happy with some of the outcomes being 'substantially compliant' and will ensure they increase to fully compliant. 'Overall it is a good report,' he said. Mr McMahon said that he welcomes the inspections and said that the authority is 'one of the best organisations to have happened' for the industry.

All residents and relatives who spoke to the inspector were very positive regarding the staff working in the centre. Residents reported that staff were 'great', 'couldn't be better' and that there was 'never a wait if you needed help'.

Staff were observed to be kind and respectful towards residents throughout the inspection. They knew residents well and were chatting with residents regarding their interests.

One relative became visibly emotional when speaking to the inspector about the positive experience her mother was having living in the centre. She said she was 'blown away by the kindness, support and friendliness' of staff and was very grateful for all they had done for her mother during the years she had been a resident there.

She told the inspector that her mother had benefited greatly from living in the centre, saying it had brought out a side of her mother she had never seen before and that her mother had gone from being a solitary person to someone who now loved going to the day room for activities, to recite poetry as part of the centre's poetry club for the other residents and singing. Although external providers of certain activities like music therapy and live performers of music had not yet returned to the centre due to Covid-19 restrictions, most activities had resumed with the exception of outings for residents.

On both days of the inspection, most residents were observed to be up, dressed and out of their bedrooms sitting in day lounges enjoying activities, watching television , knitting or reading newspapers. These residents were not however social distancing in these areas due to the arrangement and configuration of their chairs. This observation was also noted during meal times in the centre's dining rooms.

All residents were happy with their bedrooms and the inspector observed that bedrooms were personalised and decorated nicely with residents' personal items like pictures, paintings, bunting and other items of interest. Memory boxes were positioned outside of residents' bedrooms to assist with way-finding and many of these were seen to contain pictures or small personal items.

Residents appeared relaxed throughout the inspection and all were well groomed. The centre's hairdresser had returned to the centre in May when the centre's outbreak had been declared over. The hairdresser attended the centre two day a week and there was a dedicated hair salon, that was fully equipped, located in the lower level of the centre. The inspector observed several residents going to have their hair styled on the second day of the inspection and residents reported they were very satisfied with this arrangement.

Pre-arranged visiting was ongoing at the centre Monday to Sunday in designated areas inside and outside and in bedrooms. Staff members were assisting residents to have strolls in this outdoor area while other residents were observed playing a catch and throw game together, or listening to music and dancing.

Management had prepared a contingency plan prior to the outbreak and had acquired a sufficient supply of PPE in order to manage an outbreak effectively.

At the time of the inspection there were records to demonstrate that there was ongoing preparedness and contingency planning by management to ensure the centre was equipped for further outbreaks.

During the outbreak, an outbreak control team was established which comprised of representatives from all areas of the designated centre. This team met daily in order to plan and respond to issues arising. At the time of the inspection, this team continued to meet on a weekly basis for monitoring and planning. There was ongoing monitoring of residents and staff members twice daily to monitor for temperatures and symptoms of Covid-19

Compassionate visiting at end of life was facilitated throughout the outbreak.

Management had obtained a dozen IT tablets to facilitate video calls between residents and relatives during the outbreak.

There was a varied programme of activities available for residents to partake in which included flower arranging, arts and crafts, bingo, poetry club, movie club and rosary. For residents with higher dependency or one-to-one activation needs, there was a designated activities coordinator who conducted small group sensory sessions and individual activities such as individual sensory sessions, reading to residents, carrying out hand massage and aromatherapy. Although external providers of music had not yet returned to the centre, staff and residents informed the inspector that some of these performers had made online music videos especially for residents during the lockdown which residents had enjoyed watching.
Winter is the beginning of the annual influenza season, and every year, in its efforts to prepare the required vaccinations, the World Health Organization (WHO) tries to predict which strain of influenza will be most wide spread. With this situation in mind, a research team led by Professor Wu Suh-Chin of the Department of Medical Science has developed a vaccine providing protection against all strains of influenza. The vaccination can be administered in the form of a nasal spray instead of by injection.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210312005008/en/

A research team led by Professor Wu Suh-Chin of the Department of Medical Science has developed a mucosal vaccine providing protection against all strains of influenza, and is currently planning to develop a mucosal COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo: National Tsing Hua University)

The team's innovative research has been published in scientific journals, and was awarded the Ministry of Science and Technologys Future Tech Award in 2019 and 2020.

A vaccine with universal effectiveness

Since the prevalence of influenza and the strains involved differs from year to year, deciding on which vaccines to prepare for the next influenza season is challenging, and a wrong guess can lead to a low vaccine efficacy. Wu said that this is mainly because the hemagglutinin of the influenza virus is constantly changing, making it difficult for our immune cells to recognize it.

The hemagglutinin antigen is mainly composed of a globular head and a stem region, and its the globular head which makes each strain of a virus unique. Wus team has used genetic engineering to make the globular head grow a layer of carbohydrates; these mask its unique features, thereby refocusing the immune cells to make antibodies to whatever type of influenza virus they encounter.

Wu's team also deglycated the stem region of the hemagglutinin antigen, which makes it easier for immune cells to recognize and eliminate the virus. Wu said that deglycating the hemagglutinin increases the elicitation of stem-specific antibodies, allowing for the development of an influenza vaccine with universal effectiveness against different antigenic subtypes.

Fighting virus with toxin

Since influenza viruses are mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract, Wu's team invented a nasal spray influenza vaccine that is more effective than an injection. Since breathing and eating inevitably introduces foreign antigens into the body, the mucous membranes in the respiratory and oral-fecal tract have a mucosal tolerance to pathogens, making it difficult for vaccines to elicit mucosal immunity. This is what makes developing a mucosal vaccine more challenging than developing an injection.

To overcome the immune tolerance of mucosal systems, one approach would be to fight virus with toxin, and the team decided to use a bacterial toxin known asheat-labile enterotoxin A subunit with antigen, thereby forming a self-adjuvanting vaccine. The self-adjuvanting vaccine made in this way are good at eliciting mucosal and systemic immune responses.

The team has already used the self-adjuvanting vaccine platform, now patented in Taiwan and the US, to develop a vaccine for avian flu, and initial experiments have confirmed that chickens which inhale the mucosal vaccine produce neutralizing antibodies in their serum. Spurred on by the encouraging results, the team is currently planning to develop a mucosal vaccine providing protection against COVID-19.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210312005008/en/
HELENA, Mont. (AP)  Bills that sought to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day were tabled in committee. Funding for two state positions dedicated to Native American communities were cut. The only Native American member of Montana's human rights commission wasn't retained.

This year's state legislative session in Montana  where Republicans hold at least a two-thirds majority in both Houses and have a GOP governor for the first time in 16 years  has triggered concerns from some Native Americans and their allies who fear they are losing influence and representation.

Democratic Sen. Susan Webber of Browning said she sees discrimination and racism in the actions.

Legislators, including the Indian Caucus, make every attempt to be civil. However, its hard when the Indian people are attacked over and over, day after day," she said.

Republicans pushed back against any suggestion of discrimination.

The insinuation that the Legislature is using legislation to discriminate against Native Americans, including Senate GOP members own constituents and a member of the Senate Republican caucus, is absurd, Kyle Schmauch, spokesperson for Senate Republicans, said in an email.

Dylan Klapmeier, a spokesperson for House Republicans, said any suggestion that there is legislation aimed at discrimination is unbelievable and has no basis in fact.

Native American lawmakers are also concerned about several election-related bills that members of the American Indian Caucus argue will make it more difficult for Native Americans, low-income residents, disabled people and rural Montanans to vote.

Montana is among at least 43 states considering legislation aimed at restricting voter access, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. The effort was prompted by former President Donald Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud.

The concerns in Montana come during a historic moment for Native American representation in government as U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico gets ready to become the first Native American to lead a U.S. Cabinet agency as Interior secretary. Descriptions of her as radical by white, male Republicans has raised questions about whether she is being treated differently because she is a Native American woman.

Story continues

Its been a nightmare for Indian Country and Montana Indians, said Sen. Shane Morigeau, a Democrat from Missoula and one of 11 Native Americans in the Montana Legislature, all but two of whom are Democrats. "An anti-Indian world still exists. People wait for the right times to jump out and make their moves.

There are 12 tribal nations in Montana with a population of nearly 67,000 in 2019, just over 6% of the state's total population of 1.07 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's figures.

There have been some wins for Native American causes this session.

A House committee on Feb. 26 looked favorably on a bill by Democratic Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy of Crow Agency to make it easier for Native Americans to vote by requiring satellite elections offices and ballot drop boxes on reservations to reduce travel time for tribal members to access voting services.

Lawmakers also voted unanimously to continue the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons task force, a victory that was realized in the 2019 session. Republican Sen. Jason Small of Busby, a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, sponsored the legislation to create and continue the task force.

Still, the losses are adding up.

A budget committee cut funding for the American Indian health director and the tribal relations manager within the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Gov. Greg Gianforte believes those proposed cuts are the wrong course of action," and will work to restore the funding, Brooke Stroyke, a spokesperson for the governor, said on March 1. Gianforte also opposed a $500,000 cut to a program to help preserve tribal languages. The funding was restored.

Gianforte declined to support former Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock's nomination of Margarett Campbell to the Human Rights Commission, leaving the commission without Native American representation for the first time in at least 16 years.

Campbell was nominated in 2019, after the Legislature adjourned, so she had not yet been confirmed by the state Senate. Gianforte asked lawmakers to reject her nomination and instead confirm Helena attorney Rick Bartos.

I just think that is very, very important that the minority population of Montana is represented on all boards and commissions, Campbell said.

Campbell is chief diversity officer at Montana State University-Northern in Havre, has 38 years of experience in higher education and is a former majority leader in the Montana House.

Morigeau called Campbell's removal a travesty. Having Native representation on the Human Rights Commission makes sense when you look at the history of discrimination in the state and country," he said.

Bartos also has experience in education and was bureau chief of Adult Protective Services within the health department. As an attorney, he has advocated for the rights of disabled students in public schools, the governor's office said.

The governor has identified well-qualified Montanans to serve on our states boards and commissions who can help lead Montanas comeback and who share his positive vision for Montanas future," Stroyke said when asked about the governor not supporting Campbell's nomination.

With a stated goal of preventing voter fraud, Republican lawmakers are moving forward with a series of bills that Native American lawmakers say will result in making it more difficult for tribal members living on reservations to vote.

One would place restrictions on organizations that collect absentee ballots, similar to a voter-passed referendum that has already been declared unconstitutional by a state judge because it places a higher burden on voting rights for Native American who can live many miles from polling places and may not have access to a reliable vehicle and money for gas.

Andy Werk Jr., president of the Fort Belknap tribe in northern Montana, called the bill intentional discrimination" during a recent meeting of the Montana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Another bill that has passed the House would end same-day voter registration, requiring registrations be completed by noon on the Monday before Election Day.

Supporters say ending same-day registration will reduce voting lines and result in less work for clerks on Election Day.

But the change would mean two trips to elections offices for new voters and will hurt tribes the most, Webber said.

Bills seeking to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day did not make it out of committee even though no one testified against them. Supporters argued that celebrating Columbus Day ignores the rape, murder and genocide endured by Indigenous people during the European settlement of North America.

"I dont agree that there was enough evidence that Christopher Columbus was intentionally as horrible as everybody said he was," said Republican Sen. Gordon Vance of Belgrade, "but I do feel the fact that American Indian Heritage Day is the fourth Friday in September does honor the Native Americans.

___

This story has been updated to correct that there are 11 Native Americans in the Legislature, not 10, and all but two of whom are Democrats, not all but one.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister



Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that night curfew might be imposed in Bhopal and Indore from Sunday or Monday in view of spurt in cases in these two districts.

He said this during a meeting held on Friday evening to review the situation in the state.

"Look at the rise in infection cases...Tough measures will be taken to flatten the curve. Night curfew might be clamped in Bhopal and Indore from Sunday or Monday," Chouhan was quoted as saying in an official statement.

The chief minister said that people coming to the state by air, trains or roads from neighbouring Maharashtra, where there is a spike in cases, should be thermally scanned.

During the meeting, ways to restrict the influx of people from Maharashtra were also discussed, the statement said.

Chouhan also instructed the officials to ensure that COVID-19 rules are strictly followed by people to prevent the spread of the virus.

On Friday, 603 new COVID -19 cases were reported in Madhya Pradesh.

Indore, the worst-hit district in the state by the pandemic, saw 219 new cases, taking the caseload there to 61,642, Bhopal witnessed 138 fresh cases, which pushed its total count to 45,079.

Indore has so far reported 940 deaths and Bhopal 621. There are 1,528 active cases in Indore, while the state capital has 806 such cases.

(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.)

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is no longer Jayalalithaa's party, and has 'unfortunately' turned into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slave, said All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief on Friday.

" is no longer Madam Jayalalithaa's party as she always kept her party away from BJP. Unfortunately, has turned into Narendra Modi's slave now," said the AIMIM chief at a public rally in Chennai.

Defending his party's alliance with TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) for polls, Owaisi attacked the main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and raised questions on its alliance with Congress.

"Shiv Sena's Chief Minister said in Maharashtra Assembly that he felt proud that Shiv Sena sacrificed Babri Masjid. Does DMK also agree with Shiv Sena today? Dhinakaran Sahab and I are accused of being the 'B' team of BJP. But DMK is sitting with Congress who helped Shiv Sena come to power. It's been said that BJP is getting benefitted since we're contesting in Assembly polls. Can DMK tell me their definition of secularism? Congress is supporting Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. Is Shiv Sena secular or communal as per you (DMK)?" he asked.

AIMIM will contest three assembly constituencies including Vaniyambadi, Krishnagiri and Sankarapuram in alliance with AMMK.

Elections to the 234-member will be held on April 6 and the counting of votes will take place on May 2.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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New Delhi, March 13 : Delhi Congress President Anil Kumar Chaudhary on Saturday alleged that the power companies have robbed the people of Delhi to the tune of Rs 11,622 crore in the last six years through power subsidy, and demanded an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

Addressing a press conference here, Kumar said there should be no power tariff hike till the power companies operating in Delhi are subjected to an audit by the CAG.

He said, "The power companies were having secret parleys with the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to increase the power tariff in a quid pro-quo arrangement. But the Congress will oppose any such move as the power subsidy was a major scam with thousands of crores filling the pockets of the corrupt that needed to be probed." The Congress leader asked the Delhi government to promise the people that no tariff hike would be allowed till the power distribution companies undergo the CAG audit.

He alleged that in the last six years, the Kejriwal government had transferred Rs 11,662 crore into the accounts of the power companies for which there is no proper accounting.

Kumar said the power companies were not only demanding a tariff hike but also want a review of the present eight per cent surcharge towards accumulated deficit, and approve a revised surcharge to ensure time-bound recovery of regulatory assets or revenue gap.

The power companies also want the subsidy amount to be transferred on the basis of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to maintain its loot of people's money, he added.

The Congress leader said the power companies were already making huge profits from power distribution in Delhi and despite the promise of no power cuts, power breakdowns have become a recurring feature though summer is yet to peak.

He said the power companies are getting away with erratic supply without being penalised.

He also threatened that if the power tariff is hiked arbitrarily by the Kejriwal government, then Congress workers would hit the streets to oppose the decision.

He said the Delhi government had reduced the fixed charges after a delegation of the Delhi Congress headed by former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, including former Delhi Power Minister Haroon Yusuf had met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The Congress delegation had asked Kejriwal to provide some relief to the consumers from the steep power charges but even then these companies were making huge profits without any accountability.

Kumar said that Kejriwal had lied in the Delhi Assembly on Friday while claiming that his government had halved the power bills but in reality had increased the subsidy helping the power companies to double their loot.

He recalled that the Congress government had also given power subsidy in the financial year 2013-14, which was only Rs 621 crore but this amount had shot up to Rs 3,092 crore in this year's Delhi Budget, though there has been no audit of the thousands of crores doled out to the power companies in the last six years.
LOS ANGELES  She had been drifting in the cold Pacific water for a night and most of a day.

Kept afloat by her orange life jacket and the bow of her familys capsized boat, 9-year-old Desiree Rodriguez had watched helplessly as one family member after another let go of life.

First her mother began foaming at the mouth and then went still. Her 5-year-old sister died soon after. Her uncle went next, followed by her aunt.

Now she was alone, with no idea where her father was. Hed been at the helm during what started as a routine fishing excursion on the familys boat. Soon after it flipped over, miles from land, he had insisted on trying to swim for help through the dark and thick fog.

Just as Desiree, too, began to give up, the skipper of a commercial sportfishing boat spotted an orange smudge bobbing in the water through his binoculars. Within minutes, the boats first officer had leapt into the water and was grabbing Desiree's life jacket, pulling her back toward the boat  and toward life.

The crew radioed the Coast Guard, then transported the girl back to San Pedro, where medics wheeled her off the boat in a stretcher. That was the last time the rescuers and the girl saw each other. Until this year.

The Los Angeles Times documented the incident and the search that followed for Desirees father, uncle and sister. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS)TNS

A fishing expedition

May 18, 1986, was the kind of beautiful, sunny day that regularly brought the Rodriguez family to Catalina Island for some fishing on their 28-foot pleasure boat, DC Too.

Desiree's father, a 30-year-old construction worker named Thomas Rodriguez, loved the sport, especially catching bass. A strong, slender man, he had instilled in his oldest daughter a love of the outdoors, teaching her how to bait a hook and cast a line. Sometimes he took her three-wheeling in the mountains near their Riverside home.

As was their custom at least once a month, the family boarded their boat that May morning for a carefree day trip. For the first time, Thomas sister, Corinne Wheeler, 33, and her husband, Allen Wheeler, 34, had decided to join them, leaving their three children at home in the Riverside neighborhood where both families, as well as Desiree's grandparents, lived. After a day of fishing, the family left the island in the early evening, a bit later than usual, and soon dense fog had rolled in.

Desiree fell into a light sleep beside her 5-year-old sister, Trisha, at a table on the boats lower deck. Their fathers sharp orders startled her awake: Get out of the boat. The boats sinking!

Desiree pushed her sister into the cold, dark water, both of them in life jackets. They were followed by their mother Petra, a petite, quiet 29-year-old who was pregnant.

Within seconds, the boat capsized fully, leaving just the tip of its bow in the air  and the six family members stranded in the chilly Pacific water. Looking into the faces of her father, mother, aunt, uncle and sister, Desiree wasnt frightened.

It was like what you would see in a movie, she recalled in a recent interview. You could see nothing around you. It was just dark. But it was peaceful, quiet.

After some time, her father told them he would swim for help. Ill be back, he said, before disappearing into the darkness.

My dad was like the superhero to me. I actually thought he would get help, Desiree said.

When her mother died, Desiree wrapped a rope around her chest and tied her to the boat, so she wouldnt float away. At some point, her sister died too.

I remember it was just pretty much quiet after that, Desiree said. I think we were all just kind of in disbelief, and just waiting.

Thirty-five years after being saved, Desiree Campuzano, center, stands next to her rescuers, Paul Strasser, left, and Mark Pisano, in San Pedro, California. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS)TNS

Aboard the First String

Paul Strasser and Mark Pisano, two strapping 23-year-olds, were still new to captaining ships when they pushed off from San Pedro with 35 passengers aboard the First String, a boat theyd helped build, at 6 on the morning of May 19.

The best friends had met as 14-year-olds, when Pisano collected Strassers passenger ticket on a morning trip to Horseshoe Kelp in the L.A. Harbor. Soon after, Strasser quit his job delivering newspapers to join Pisano on the fishing boats, where they scrubbed decks, cleaned fish and earned the title of pinheads  eager young fishermen learning the ropes of the trade.

The two graduated from pinheads to deckhands and eventually to full-fledged fishermen, able to work not only on commercial fishing expeditions, but also whale watching cruises and at bait and tackle businesses. They hung out together during school breaks and attended frat parties, but mostly they spent their free time learning their trade. Before long, they became two of the youngest captains at San Pedros 22nd Street Landing.

Their fishing trip on May 19 began uneventfully. Pisano remembered the weather was pea soup fog  so thick you couldnt see the stern of the boat  and the fish werent biting all morning.

We were going to try one more spot and then go home, Pisano said. But then, some yellowtail, a prized game fish, started biting out of the blue. The fishermen hung around for another couple of hours, pulling in fish after fish.

By then, the fog had cleared, and the sun was shining.

Meanwhile, Desiree and her two remaining family members were slipping in and out of consciousness. To keep themselves awake, Desiree and her aunt daydreamed about how they would be rescued. They would stay in a hotel, order room service and burrow under the blankets in bed, cozy and warm.

We kind of still had hope, Desiree said. Like, were going to be OK. Were going to come out of this.

Her uncle evidently didnt share their hope. With the afternoon sun now high overhead, she recalled, he swam away from the boat.

He just kind of gave up, she recalled.

Desiree swam after him, propelled by her aunts plea: Dont let him drown.

She caught up with him quickly, but then struggled to keep her tall, stocky uncle above water. She finally had to let go, and he slipped beneath the surface.

Desiree doesnt remember how or when her aunt died. But soon, the 9-year-old became aware that she was alone in the ocean.

At that point, I just kind of made the decision, I need to get away from this boat, Desiree remembered. I need to swim away, somewhere else. ... Where? I dont know.

Desiree Rodriguez, center, together with Mark Pisano, left, and Paul Strasser, right, who rescued her after a boating accident off of Catalina Island in 1986 when she was only 9-years-old. Rodriguez, who is now an L.A. County sheriff's deputy, survived after hours in the ocean with only her lifejacket. Photos taken at 22nd Street Landing in San Pedro, California, on Feb. 7, 2021. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS)TNS

The rescue

Late that afternoon, Strasser and Pisano set off on the return voyage to San Pedro, with their haul of fresh-caught yellowtail. One of the crew members went to the lower level bar for a cocktail. Strasser sat behind the wheel, which was set to autopilot.

Then, about seven miles away from the island, he noticed something white flashing in the water about a half-mile away. He steered the First String toward it and peered through his binoculars, thinking it might have been a boat bumper.

The closer I got, the more like a bumper it didnt look, Strasser recalled. Weve got something going on here, this is weird.

He told Pisano, whod joined him in the wheelhouse, to get ready to jump into the water.

When I pulled up to it, I saw a dead body facedown, Strasser said, referring to Desiree's mother. It was tangled up in all this rope. ... I said, Oh boy, no ones been here before.

Strasser radioed the Coast Guard but was interrupted by passengers yelling below. In the commotion, he noticed two other people in the water: One was Desiree's aunt, floating facedown. The other, wearing an orange life jacket, was bobbing with the swells, her head and brown hair visible just above the water.

I knew if it had a life jacket, and I saw a brown thing above it, we have a chance, Strasser said. He steered the boat toward Desiree, who recalls seeing figures on the big white boat.

To me, it was like the Titanic, she said.

As soon as he saw that she was alive, Pisano stripped down to his underwear and jumped into the cold water. Pumping with adrenaline, he swam toward her and grabbed her life jacket. From her near-unconscious state, Desiree flinched. Pisano swam her back to the boat, where Coast Guard medics immediately covered her in warm water bottles that felt prickly on her cold skin.

Desiree, now 44, remembers being flooded with relief.

If the boat hadnt come right then, she says, I dont think I would have lived, Ill be honest with you. I think at that point, I was just kind of done.

When the fishing boat pulled into the 22nd Street Landing, a swarm of news cameras and buzzing helicopters greeted them. 2 Die, 3 Lost but Girl, 9, Survives Capsizing of Pleasure Boat in Sea, read the Los Angeles Times headline the following morning.

A Coast Guard spokeswoman said in the article that Desiree had a strong, resilient constitution and apparently suffered no major physical injury. She was in good spirits despite her long wait in the ocean. The little girl walked out of San Pedro Peninsula Hospital the next day after being treated for exhaustion and hypothermia, according to The Times archive.

Officials didnt find any sign of collision when they pulled the familys boat, the DC Too, out of the water, concluding that a large swell, perhaps from the wake of a passing ship, may have capsized the boat. The search for Desiree's father, sister and uncle was abandoned two days after her rescue.

I had even hoped that my dad did make it somewhere, Desiree says now. Maybe he is living on an island and just got amnesia and didnt know that he has a family. You know, you always have hope. But you get older, and reality sets in, and youre like, OK. He didnt make it.

Strasser and Pisano earned commemorative plaques for their bravery from Mayor Tom Bradley.

Desiree Rodriguez, now Desiree Campuzano, was adopted and raised by another aunt and uncle. No one asked about her experience in the water. They didnt want to traumatize her again, Desiree said. She attended therapy sessions for a while as a child but found them unhelpful. Mostly, she coped by herself and tried to be a good person, guided constantly by the question, What would my parents expect of me?

Desiree attended junior college in Fullerton and Cerritos while building a career in criminal justice. She married in 2013 and, five years ago, had a son.

In her late 20s, Desiree began to wonder about her rescuers. She sent Oprah Winfrey a message, trying to get help. Strasser and Pisano sometimes thought of her, too, especially whenever anyone asked, whats your craziest story at sea? But neither Desiree nor the men who saved her knew where to start looking.

Desiree was a ghost, Strasser said. We saved her, shes out in the world. And thats all we know. We had no clues on anybody that knew how to get ahold of her.

Desiree Campuzano, left, hugs Philip Friedman, who organized the reunion with her rescuers, Paul Strasser and Mark Pisano, in the background. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS)TNS

The reunion

When the COVID-19 pandemic derailed Philip Friedmans plans to return to his teaching job near Shanghai last year, the 62-year-old fishing aficionado decided to stick around Southern California with his family and make a podcast about his hobby.

Friedman Adventures launched in December, broadcasting stories from fishermen around the wharf talking about boats, catches and fishing tips. One episode featured Pisano talking about the 1986 rescue.

Its kind of a weird story, kind of like there are some supernatural qualities, Pisano said on the podcast.

Friedman said he felt a tingle crawl up his spine on hearing the tale.

My brain was like, Im going to try to locate her, Friedman said. Weve got to finish this story!

The same day that the episode was posted online, 41-year-old Pablo Pena tuned into the show on his 20-minute commute to work as a railroad engineer in Commerce. Pena had been following Friedmans first season diligently, having met the podcaster a decade earlier on a fishing excursion. Pisanos story triggered a memory.

Pena remembered a conversation hed had at least 17 years earlier with a former co-worker. Shed made an offhand comment about losing her parents in a boating accident and being the only survivor. He hadnt asked any questions then, not wanting to broach a sensitive subject.

It started to churn my wheels, and I was like, well, it could be her, Pena said. But he would have to say her name was Desiree Rodriguez to make this solid.

Her name was Desiree Rodriguez, the girl we rescued, Pisano said on the podcast. Theres like, I cant tell you, how many Desiree Rodriguezes in L.A.

Pena replayed the segment. I was like, holy moly, he said. Wow, this is just surreal.

Pena immediately sent a message to Friedman.

I was like, You gotta be friggin kidding me, dude, Friedman said. Give me a break.

First, Friedman reached out to Desiree, to ensure she wanted to meet her rescuers.

I was just like, this is weird. Not a bad weird, but its just kind of eerie, Desiree said. Watching the podcast video, she grew emotional. After all these years, for this to come up  what are the chances? Very slim.

Friedman concocted a plan to surprise the two fishing captains with the woman theyd rescued 35 years ago  all recorded for his podcast.

I thought it would make for a dramatic, interesting way to do it, Friedman said. Something that those two guys, I think, will never, ever forget.

Desiree showed up at the 22nd Street Landing a few days later. The podcast video shows her walking into the studio, under the guise of Raquel, supposedly a translator who was going to retell the captains rescue tale on Spanish television.

I was nervous at first, Desiree said, just seeing [the] guys and putting kind of finalization to the what happened.

All smiles, she listened to her rescuers recount their side of the story, clueless to her true identity.

Wow, thats so great that you guys were able to do that, Desiree said on the video. And you guys havent even had any contact [with Desiree]?

After almost 10 minutes, Friedman broke the gag.

Boys, I want to tell you something, he said. This is not a translator. Im going to let her introduce herself to you.

Pisano slapped the table in an instance of recognition. Everybody crumpled into tears.

Im Desiree, she said, her voice wavering.

Amid hugs, tears and exclamations, the story that united three strangers across decades came tumbling out.

I feel like shes sort of our daughter, in a way, because we brought her back to life, Strasser said. Even though we never knew each other.

In the couple of weeks since they reunited, Strasser said hes spoken again to Desiree on the phone. Pisano introduced her to his wife and daughter. After watching the video dozens of times, Friedman still cries. Pena has shared the clip with friends and family, reveling in their reaction.

For years, Desiree wondered about the men who rescued her. Now that shes met them, she says she hopes to stay connected forever.

(c)2021 the Los Angeles Times
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List of states, UTs that have extended lockdown-like Covid curbs in India: Check here

Turmoil in Bihar assembly over opposition allegation against minister

India

pti-Deepika S

Patna, March 13: The Bihar assembly plunged into turmoil on Saturday when the opposition sought to raise the issue of alleged involvement of revenue and land reforms minister Ram Surat Rai in illicit liquor trade, forcing adjournment of the House around noon till lunch.

No sooner than the proceedings began at 11 am, leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav rose from his seat and urged the Chair that an adjournment motion over Rai''s alleged involvement in the business of liquor in this dry state be taken up for discussion.

Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha disapproved of the same, saying he has received the notice but the motion shall be considered only at "an appropriate time".

He ruled that the Question Hour should proceed.

A miffed Tejashwi Yadav signalled to the MLAs of his party and allies Congress and the Left that it was time to leave the House and they staged a walkout even as health minister Mangal Pandey began reading out the reply to a short notice question by a RJD legislator.

By noon, when the Zero Hour began, the opposition legislators were back in the House. The Speaker rejected the adjournment motion moved by RJD MLA Rekha Devi.

She was, however, allowed to read out the motion after Yadav rose and made a request to the effect.

The RJD heir apparent, thereafter, added that he had some "evidence" against Rai which he wished to place before the House.

Rai has been in the eye of a storm over a four-month- old case. A large number of liquor cartons was seized from a school building in Muzaffarpur district in November last year, a fortnight before the BJP leader won the Aurai seat and landed a cabinet berth. The school is named after Rai''s deceased father Arjun Rai.

Yadav has been alleging that he suspected the minister''s involvement in illegal liquor trade, pointing out that he was named in the school''s documents as its founder. Moreover, one of his brothers, the manager of the school, has been named as an accused in the FIR.

The minister has countered opposition charge saying his brother was "one of 13 people named in the FIR, the remaining being associated with the RJD", while insisting that complicity of those named as an accused was still under investigation.

Training his guns at Rai, Yadav, during the assembly session, also made a mention of the minister''s deceased father. A strong exception was taken to this by Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad.

The opposition legislators then trooped into the well and raised anti-government slogans, causing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings around 12.15 pm.

Thereafter, they spent some time outside, squatting in front of the Speaker''s chamber.

Later, Yadav led a march towards Raj Bhavan, barely a kilometre away, saying he would apprise Governor Phagu Chauhan of the attempts to "muzzle the voice of the opposition".

Earlier, Yadav had held a press conference at his residence where he displayed pictures of the inauguration of the school in which Rai could be seen.

"How can the minister wash his hands off a matter that involves a property and an institution wherein he is so deeply involved," Yadav asked, reiterating the demand that he be sacked by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian answers questions at a daily news briefing/Ministry of Foreign Affairs

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday expressed hope that the upcoming high-level strategic dialogue between top diplomats of China and the United States will promote the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily news briefing in response to a query on the high-level strategic dialogue scheduled for March 18 and 19 in Alaska.

It is hoped that China and the United States can build on the spirit of the phone conversation of the two heads of state, focus on cooperation, manage differences, and promote the sound and steady development of bilateral relations through the dialogue, Zhao said.

Noting that the upcoming high-level strategic dialogue was proposed by the United States, Zhao said it is the first high-level contact between China and the United States after the two presidents had a phone call on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides since the new U.S. administration took office.

He pointed out that the specific topics of the dialogue have yet to be decided by the two sides, adding that it is hoped the two sides can have candid talks on issues of common concern, and China will make its position clear during the dialogue.

The two sides should accurately understand each other's policy intentions, enhance mutual understanding, manage differences, and bring China-U.S. relations back to the right track, Zhao said.

He stressed that China's position on issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong is consistent and clear. China has said many times that the door to Xinjiang is always open. In recent years, more than 1,200 foreign diplomats, international organization officials, journalists and religious personnel from more than 100 countries have visited Xinjiang.

"They agreed that what they saw and experienced in the region was entirely different from Western media reports and politicians' accusations. We welcome unbiased foreigners to visit Xinjiang and get a better understanding of Xinjiang through personal experience," he said.

In the face of these facts and truths, all the lies and disinformation cooked up by anti-China forces will collapse, Zhao added.

On Hong Kong-related issues, Zhao said that Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and no foreign country has the right to interfere.

"We urge the U.S. side to stop interfering in China's Hong Kong affairs and refrain from going further down the wrong path. China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests," Zhao said.

A 38-year-old lecturer at the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, Adebisi Ademola, was on Friday sentenced to six months impriso...





A 38-year-old lecturer at the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, Adebisi Ademola, was on Friday sentenced to six months imprisonment for his involvement in romance scam.

Justice Sikiru Oyinloye, of the Kwara state high court sitting in Ilorin, convicted Ademola.

He was among the 33 suspected fraudsters arrested on September 14, 2020 in Offa area of the state.

The Ilorin Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned the suspect on a count charge bordering on romance scam, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 95 of the Penal code law of Northern Nigeria.

The charge sheet read;  That you, Adebisi Ademola ( a.k.a Dawn Ayero) sometime in September 2020, or thereabout within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, attempted to commit an offence of cheating by personation by pretending and representing yourself to be a white lady called Dawn Ayero to one Donald Oakes, who is purportedly in love with the said Oakes as it is contained in your Gmail account; dawnayero@gmail.com and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 of the Penal code laws of Northern Nigeria.

Ademola, pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Following his guilty plea, Counsel to the anti-graft agency, Andrew Akoja, invited an operative of the commission, Olumide Olasode, to the witness box to review the facts of the information case.

Olasode, narrated how intelligence report led to the arrest of the defendant on September 14,2020 at Offa area of Kwara state.

Petition from concerned citizens of Offa, statement of the defendant and all the fraudulent messages printed out of his email, were tendered and admitted in evidence by the court.

Thereafter, Akoja, urged the court to convict the defendant based on his plea, the exhibits tendered and the evidence of the sole prosecution witness (PW1).

Justice Oyinloye, in his judgement, found Ademola guilty of the charge and accordingly sentenced him.

He however, gave him N50,000 option of fine, and ordered the forfeiture of his phone used as the instrument to commit the crime to the federal government.
Servant of People to ask Zelensky to run for second presidential term

Members of the Servant of the People political party intend to call on President Volodymyr Zelensky to run for a second term, said leader of the Servant of the People faction, head of the political council of the eponymous party David Arakhamia.

"We will ask him to run for a second term. And this will be his personal decision," Arakhamia said at a briefing after the party's congress on Saturday.
In the futurist law now named after him, the late Stanford University computer scientist Roy Amara once declared, We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run. Indias public digital infrastructure  in many ways, an immense online bureaucracy  is an outlier to this principle. The effort was written-off in the short run, but, less than a decade after it was introduced, it has mobilized technology at the grass-roots, tapping into the countrys huge domestic potential. India is now ready to share its experience with the developing world.

The system  built on a unique 12-digit identification code for each Indian resident  has significantly improved financial inclusion, access to public documents and services, tax compliance, retail payments and the management of government subsidies. The key has been the card  the identity document. was launched in 2009 by the government of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. To run the program, he roped in Nandan Nilekani, a veteran of Infosys, the countrys homegrown technology giant. It was an ambitious attempt to reach and electronically organize the more than 1.3-billion people living in Indias sprawling, varied and sometimes inaccessible territory.

While questions were raised about privacy issues, was cleared by the Indian Supreme Court for opt-in use in September 2018; a larger bench of judges affirmed the decision in January 2021. Today, most of India has chosen to join the biometric data system: there are 1.26 billion people officially registered in Aadhaar.

While it began with the Manmohan Singh government, Aadhaar became the backbone of the Indias public digital infrastructure in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi combined it with his governments Jan Dhan initiative, a financial inclusion program for Indias huge number of unbanked households. These new accounts were linked to both mobile numbers and Aadhaar, creating the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile, or JAM. Today more than 80% of all Indians have a bank account, up from half that level when the program started.

The digital network is now the lynchpin for most of Indias social security and cash transfer programs  which had been notorious for corruption and unreliability. Today, the government uses JAMs direct benefit transfers for 317 programs. It made 2.6 billion transactions in the current financial year, getting more than $46 billion to beneficiaries. The cumulative value of the transfers since the first programs started in 2013 stands at more than $195 billion.

The four big successes of Indias public digital infrastructure have been Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat QR, Bharat Bill Pay System (BBPS) and the RuPay card  which work with all or parts of the digital networks threefold components of banking, secure identity and mobility.

UPI allows peer-to-peer and consumer-to-merchant transactions through mobile apps and e-commerce platforms, with JAM providing identification for money transfers. It registers 2-billion transactions a month and, in just about four years, is now in use from the largest departmental stores to roadside trinket shops.

Bharat QR allows consumers to scan the graphic codes to transfer money without sharing phone numbers. This system performs 250 million transactions a month.

Going live in 2018, BBPS allows Indian consumers to pay bills for practically everything online and via UPI apps  utilities, school fees, insurance premiums and loans.

Launched in 2012, RuPay cards were meant to rival Visa and Mastercard. Already, more than 600-million cards have been issued, chiefly on Jan Dhan accounts. RuPay has a 30% market share in point of sale transactions and 25% in online transactions. India is working with nine countries to ensure RuPay cards are integrated with local payment systems  including, Australia, Bahrain, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Korea.

Indeed, other countries with the same logistical challenges and demographic needs as India may be tempted to adopt much of the digital network. In 2018, Bill Gates, technology stalwart, backed Aadhaar and praised Modi for fully embracing the scheme. In its March 2019 report Digital India, McKinsey Global Institute observed that the public sector has been one strong catalyst for Indias rapid digitization. The governments efforts to ramp up Aadhaar has played a major role. Exporting Indias public digital infrastructure would increase the countrys influence on a massive scale even as it improves quality of life of millions globally.

In fact, the digital infrastructure has only grown and adapted with the Covid-19 crisis. Two apps, the JAM-linked vaccination monitor CoWin and the contact tracer Aarogya Setu, were integral to Indias battle against the coronavirus. The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network is a smartphone-based supply chain platform developed connecting 27,000 vaccine storage centers supported by 50,000 cold chain handlers. It deals primarily with maternal care and infant inoculation; each year it has to manage the needs of 27 million newborns.

Bridging the digital divide is the best way to overcome socio-economic differences. India can lead from the front.
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has rejected a bid by Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to admit additional sworn testimonies from employees of the telecom giant as evidence in her extradition case.

Meng Wanzhou, centre, chief financial officer of Huawei, walks back to B.C. Supreme Court after a lunch break, in Vancouver, on Thursday, March 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has rejected a bid by Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to admit additional sworn testimonies from employees of the telecom giant as evidence in her extradition case.

Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes says in a ruling released Friday that the proposed evidence has no purpose in an extradition hearing, which has a different mandate than a trial.

She says an extradition judge considers whether the requesting state has provided evidence establishing a case, but does not engage in a broader weighing of evidence or consider the general strength of the case.

Meng is wanted in the United States on fraud charges that both she and Huawei deny.

She is accused of making false or misleading statements to international bank HSBC to the effect that Huawei no longer controlled technology company Skycom, when in fact it continued to do so, putting the bank at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

While she rejected the sworn testimonies, Holmes provisionally allowed an expert report to be admitted into evidence subject to further submissions.

Holmes says that evidence will be relevant only if she is persuaded that a loss or risk of loss to HSBC may be considered too remote because enforcement action against the bank was unlikely.

Meng's arrest at Vancouver's airport in 2018 precipitated a chilling of Canada-China relations. The arrest in China of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, has widely been seen as retaliation.

Meng's lawyers had argued in court that the proposed evidence would demonstrate that the U.S. case against Meng provided to Canadian officials was "manifestly unreliable" and that HSBC staff were well aware of Huawei's relationship with Skycom.

But Holmes ruled that making credibility findings is not her job.

"The proposed evidence could do no more than offer an alternative narrative from that set out" by the United States in its summary of the case, Holmes wrote in the decision.

"These would take the extradition hearing beyond its proper scope."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2021.
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Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has called for greater transparency in coronavirus vaccines distribution to European Union member states.

Speaking to reporters in Vienna on Friday, Kurz said figures showed some countries were receiving more vaccine doses than their fair share under the EU's procurement scheme.

He said even though the 27-member bloc had agreed upon even distribution of the vaccines on a per capita basis, as of the end of June, the Netherlands would receive double the number per person than Croatia, for example.

Austria, he said, without giving any figures, was somewhere in the middle of the group.

He cited Bulgaria and Latvia as two other countries where deliveries had been low, and Malta as another country that had received far more.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The national housing charity Threshold has called on the Government to fulfil a pledge made a decade ago to establish a rental deposit scheme in light of a significant increase in the number of tenants enquiring about landlords keeping their deposits.

The charity recorded a 43% increase in queries from tenants between 2019 and 2020 - 238 of which were made by renters in Cork city and county, a figure equivalent to almost one-fifth of the national total.

Threshold's southern regional services manager, Edel Conlon, said the unlawful retention of deposits, often equivalent to two months' rent, can make the difference between someone being able to secure a new tenancy, or becoming homeless.

"We estimate that private landlords in Ireland are holding at least 250,000,000 in deposits, an extraordinary sum, largely belonging to people on modest or moderate incomes," she said.

Threshold CEO John-Mark McCafferty pointed out the 2011 Programme for Government outlined plans to establish a tenancy deposit protection scheme to put an end to disputes regarding the return of deposits.

He said such a scheme would allow deposits held by a third party, such as the Rental Tenancies Board (RTB), instead of by private landlords in order to reduce the widespread non-return of deposits to tenants leaving rental properties

"In 2015 legislation was passed by the then Minister for Housing to enable the Residential Tenancies Board to launch the scheme. However, the scheme was never enacted," said Mr McCafferty.

He said that in 2020 alone Threshold saw a 43% increase in queries relating to deposit retention, many of which came from tenants whose deposits had been "unjustly retained."

Threshold's data shows single-person households are disproportionately impacted by deposit retention issues, with just over half of all those who contacted the charity during 2020 coming from that grouping and 64% of deposit retention queries coming from this cohort.

Mr McCafferty said that allowing an independent third party, such as the RTB, to hold deposits would ensure that many of these disputes are resolved easily.

"Another option that could be considered is the introduction of a 'rental deposit passport' that a tenant could produce as they move from one tenancy to another, as proof and a guarantee that the return of their deposit is pending. There are already varying types of deposit protection schemes in place in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales - Ireland is falling behind in this regard," said Mr McCafferty.

"Ultimately a system must be put in place to better protect private rental deposits. We are calling on the Minister for Housing to honour the promise made ten years ago in the 2011 Programme for Government."

Case study

The difficulty being faced by tenants in retaining their deposits is evidenced by the case of one of Threshold's clients, Ailish*, a student at University College Cork (UCC).

In September 2020 Ailish moved into a shared house ahead of the new academic year.

Her landlady failed to assign the specific room that Ailish had agreed upon a few months earlier. Refusing to accept the room offered, Ailish informed the landlady in writing that she would not be taking the room and would find a replacement.

Over a period spanning seven days, Ailish identified at least five prospective tenants willing to move in as soon as possible.

Each time the landlord declined to consider the other potential tenants, refused to refund Ailish's deposit and refused to answer any telephone calls from Ailish.

Threshold supported Ailish in lodging a case with the RTB and an adjudication took place in early December.

Ailish was awarded 979.86 in regard to an unlawfully held deposit and overpayment in rent.

* Name has been changed to protect client anonymity

Geneva, March 13 : Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the UN health agency "systematically reviews safety signals, and is carefully assessing the current reports on the AstraZeneca vaccine".

The Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford has been suspended in a number of countries across Europe and Asia, following reports of blood clots in some vaccinated people, reports Xinhua news agency.

"WHO is aware that some countries have suspended the use of AstraZeneca vaccines, based on reports of blood clots in some people who received doses of the vaccine from two batches. This measure was taken as a precaution while a full investigation is finalized," Tedros said at a press briefing on Friday.

A number of countries like Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Romania and Thailand have suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine after it was linked to blood clots in recipients, while Austria and France have decided to continue using it.

"It is important to note that the European Medicines Agency has said there is no indication of a link between the vaccine and blood clots, and that the vaccine can continue to be used while its investigation is ongoing," the WHO chief said.

The European Commission said on Thursday that the AstraZeneca vaccine is still safe to use, adding that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had adopted a preliminary review on the case in Austria "where they said there is no specific indication that the vaccination led to these conditions".

"As soon as WHO has gained a full understanding of these events, the findings and any changes to our current recommendations will be communicated immediately to the public," Tedros said.

The WHO chief also said that more than 335 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally so far, and no deaths have been found to have been caused by them.

"But at least 2.6 million people have been killed by the virus. And more will continue to die the longer it takes to distribute vaccines as rapidly and as equitably as possible," he said.

As countries roll out Covid-19 vaccines, the WHO is continuing to keep a close eye on their safety, Tedros added.

Also on Friday, the WHO gave emergency use listing to Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine, making it the fourth to receive the health agency's approval.

Emergency use listing is the green light for a vaccine to be procured and rolled out by COVAX, he said, referencing the global WHO-led initiative to ensure vaccine equity.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with the already-authorised coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 263 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide, 81 of them in clinical trials, according to the WHO.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

Netflixs animated series BoJack Horseman redefined what adult cartoons could be: deep stories about the human condition in addition to crude humor. Will Arnett played the titular character, a washed-up actor who just happens to be a 1,200-pound horse.

Actor Will Arnett speaks onstage during the 2020 Writers Guild Awards West Coast Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 01, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California | Amy Sussman/Getty Images for WGAW

BoJack Horseman is a very real cartoon

BoJack Horseman tackled many real issues throughout its six seasons, among them addiction, the power of fame, and the inner demons that everyone  even celebrities  face.

Will Arnett is joined by the likes of Aaron Paul, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, and Paul F. Tompkins as they bring the world of BoJack to life. Throughout the whole series, Horseman struggles with alcoholism and is in and out of treatment programs.

Executive Producer/Voice Actor Will Arnett attends Netflixs Bojack Horseman Screening and Reception at Netflix Home Theater on August 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California | Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Netflix

Will Arnetts personal struggles resemble BoJacks

Early on in his career, when Arnett was struggling to find steady work, he frequently turned to alcohol to help him cope; unlike BoJack, however, Arnett hadnt already become a famous actor.

Around the same time he began his relationship with Amy Poehler in 2000, Arnett decided to make a change in his life and started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Arnett was able to stay sober for years, but he eventually came to face a relapse in 2012.

Actor Will Arnett attends The BoJack Horseman Finale Event, presented by Netflix, at The Egyptian Theatre on January 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California | Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

RELATED: BoJack Horseman: The Depressing True Story That Inspired the Show

Will Arnett is sober today

In 2016, Arnett began working on his Netflix comedy series, Flaked. His character  much like BoJack  resembled Arnett in real life, and he soon spiraled back into alcoholism. Arnett admitted shortly after the release of Flaked that he started getting confused about where [he] was at, adding, Hardly anybody knows this, but I started drinking again.

Arnett successfully overcame his struggle and has been enjoying a newly sober life, but he hasnt forgotten his dark days on Flaked. He opened up about his 2016 relapse on a February 2020 episode of the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd.

Arnett admitted to Shepard that his time on Flaked was very confusing for him. The show is about a guy whos sober and going to meetings, and then hes drinking at night, he recounted. One of the hardest things was being frustrated with reviews, people are saying, This is not a real depiction of what sobriety is like. And I was like, Hey, motherf*cker, this is happening in real-time. You have no idea.

Arnett has moved past that time and is happily sober and working today. But alcoholism and addiction can often rear their ugly head at the most unexpected time, and its likely that Arnett is remaining committed to his cause.
Love them, can't wait for the album!

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This is a gorgeous cover



I also love this Graham Norton live





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Chris is such a good live performer - aside from the dancing/performance aspect, she always sounds incredible; I love her.

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their music is so calming to me, I love Hannahs voice

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i love them and im so excited for the new album. so many of my fav blonde lead groups are releasing new albums soon!! wolf alice, black honey and ofc london grammar 

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flawless taste!

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Is her singing voice a contralto one?

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their music got me through so much shit, i'm excited for this new album

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I was actually wondering about them a few days ago...i thought theyve gone defunct since i havent heard from them in years



I still play their first album a lot so Im happy theyre releasing new stuff.

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Such a beautiful voice. I admit I havent been overwhelmed by the singles so far but am looking forward to the album.

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they were the last concert i went to. rly hope theyre the first one i go to when we can again.

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They are always on my relaxation playlists.



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Am I the only person who sees her name and gets confused because it sounds like it's the pseudonym of a White British public school kid who decides one day to have a hip hop career?



Edited at 2021-03-13 04:34 pm (UTC)

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I thought Kelsey Grammer had a daughter with a nepotism music career tbh.

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I simply cannot wait for this album!!



I like that Hannah's started being more open about her experiences and also about her dog, balance in all things.

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I've never heard of this band so I just assumed it was Kelsey Grammer's daughter.

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Oops same, if only I had scrolled.

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I've had a few of their songs on my playlists since last year but I only really started listening to them a month ago and they are already one of my all time favorite bands, I love their sound so damn much. Hannah's voice is absolutely incredible.

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I feel that I haven't really heard from htem in a while. I really love her voice, can't wait to check thgis out

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The Inter-Ministerial Working Group will submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision the receipt of 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine on a non-profit basis, with the transfer price being equal to the price VNVC paid to AstraZeneca.

The inter-ministerial working group consists of representatives of the Ministries of Health, Finance, Planning and Investment, and Foreign Affairs. It met on Wednesday to discuss the receipt of 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines that VNVC ordered from AstraZeneca.

This includes 117,600 doses that are being used on frontline health workers in 13 provinces and cities in Vietnam.

VNVC is one of three organizations that AstraZeneca has agreed to provide vaccines in Vietnam. The others are the COVAX Facility and UNICEF.

It is expected that about 60 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine will be imported into Vietnam in 2021 through VNVC and COVAX Facility.

COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines led by UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and others.

For the vaccines supplied by VNVC, 117,600 doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine produced by SK Bio Korea arrived in Vietnam in late February 2021, and have been used since March 8.

It is expected that the next batches of vaccines with a total of 29.87 million doses will arrive in Vietnam in April (1.48 million doses), May (2.76 million doses), June (5.04 million doses), July (7.32 million doses) and August (13.27 million doses).

For vaccines provided by COVAX Facility, according to UNICEF's announcement, on March 25 the first batch of vaccines from this source will arrive in Vietnam. It will have 1.37 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine of the total committed 30 million doses.

The next batch with 2.8 million doses will arrive in Vietnam on April 25. Thus, by the end of April 2021, Vietnam will receive 4.17 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from COVAX Facility.

The remaining 25.9 million doses of vaccine committed by COVAX Facility are expected to be shipped to Vietnam from August to November 2021.

The Ministry of Health said that it was negotiating with vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Gamaleya (Sputnik V) to buy more vaccines for Vietnamese.

The Ministry encourages all eligible enterprises to access and negotiate with partners around the world to import vaccines for domestic use in accordance with the Government's Resolution No. 21 on the purchase and use of vaccines.

Nguyen Lien
UTICA, N.Y.  The New York State Department of Transportation has issued travel advisories for next week as work on the Route 8 bridge continues in Utica.

From March 15 -19, there will be lane closures on Route 5/12 northbound, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The shoulders of the following ramps will also be closed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.:

Route 8 southbound to Route 5/12 northbound.

The Route 5/12 northbound to Route 840 westbound.

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising drivers should take caution through these areas, and follow work zone speed limits.
[March 12, 2021] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS LDOS, REGI, VLDR INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits

NEW ORLEANS, March 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REGI)

Class Period: 5/3/2018 - 2/25/2021

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: May 3, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-renewable-energy-group-inc-securities-litigation Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (VLDR)

Class Period: 11/9/2020 - 2/19/2021

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: May 3, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-velodyne-lidar-inc-securities-litigation



Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS)

Class Period: 5/4/2020 - 2/23/2021

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: May 3, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

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Union Jal Shakti Minister on Saturday expressed doubt over the incident in which Chief Minister was injured during her poll campaign, and sought to know whether it was engineered.

Banerjee fell down and sustained injuries on her left leg and waist after she was allegedly pushed by unidentified people while she was campaigning in Nandigram assembly segment on Wednesday evening after filing her nomination from the constituency.

However, a report by the Government to the Election Commission about the incident had no mention of Banerjee's allegation that four to five people had attacked her.

Interacting with reporters on Saturday, Shekhawat exuded confidence that there will be a "BJP tsunami" in the Assembly election. The BJP has witnessed an exponential growth in the state, he claimed.

Asked about the impact of Banerjee's injury on the election results, he said, "The question is whether or not the incident was engineered. Same was the question when the echo of a slap was heard in Delhi... because the scriptwriter of the two is the same," Shekhawat said without naming anyone.

On Friday, a TMC delegation met the Election Commission and claimed that attack on Banerjee was a "conspiracy", while the rival BJP demanded that the video footage of the alleged incident be made public.

Banerjee was discharged from the state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata on Friday after doctors found her recovery to be "satisfactory".

(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.)
Clashes have broken out between young people and the police in Senegal for the past week and a half, leaving five dead. Riots broke out following the March 6 arrest of Ousmane Sonko, who is expected to be one of the main contenders for the 2024 presidential election. The events point to a political radicalization of youth and workers in Senegal and across West Africa under the impact of deteriorating social conditions intensified by the coronavirus pandemic, and the French-led war in Mali and the Sahel.

A demonstrator holds up a Senegalese flag during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, March 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

The unrest in the Senegalese capital is the most serious since 2011, when the then-president Abdoulaye Wade planned to change the constitution to ensure his election and the handover of power to his son after his departure. French imperialism then supported the installation of Macky Sall, who remains in power. Sonkos arrest has sparked far broader social discontent that is escalating the class struggle in West Africa, the Maghreb and internationally.

Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef) party, which came third in the 2019 presidential election, has been targeted since early February with charges of rape and making death threats against a young beauty salon employee. Sonko has denounced what he called a plot and an attempt at political liquidation by Sall, aimed at damaging his candidacy in 2024. Sonko is the third opponent to be arrested after Karim Wade and Khalifa Sall, who were also sidelined by legal allegations.

Summoned on February 8 to the police headquarters, Sonko refused to go because of his parliamentary immunity, which was finally suspended on February 26. Summoned to appear before the investigating judge on March 3, Sonko stated that he did not trust the justice system, and called on his supporters to remain mobilised. He was then arrested for disturbing public order and participating in an unauthorised demonstration.

Sonkos arrest was the trigger for a much wider mobilisation than just his supporters, involving young people as well as Senegalese workers. Police used teargas against protesters, who threw stones at the police. A 20-year-old youth, Cheikh Coly, was killed by police in Bignona.

The Movement for the Defence of Democracy (M2D), a coalition of political opponents, called for three days of demonstrations starting this Monday, to demand the immediate release of all illegally and arbitrarily detained political prisoners and the restoration of the of two television stations that were shut down by the government, which accused them of broadcasting images of the unrest in a loop. The M2D statement also called for an investigation into what it referred to as the plot by the government.

On Saturday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the violence, calling on all parties to exercise restraint and calm. It invited the authorities to take the necessary measures to ease tensions and guarantee the freedom to demonstrate peacefully, in accordance with the laws in force.

Last Sunday, the Senegalese authorities announced the suspension of schooling throughout the country. In addition to the two private television stations shut down, social media, photo and video sharing and messaging applications have been censored.

Young people chanted slogans such as We want our freedom and we are not afraid, Ousmane Sonko is the hope of the youth, and We are fed up, President Macky Sall must pull himself together and take care of the people. According to AFP, groups of young people chanting Liberez Sonko! harassed the many police officers by throwing stones, amid clouds of tear gas and the detonation of sound grenades.

Sam Diop, a 45-year-old teacher who spoke to Le Monde, said he was not a supporter of Ousmane Sonko but that he must be released, even provisionally, because its going to get bad. ... There is frustration and even hatred. The Senegalese are fed up with this situation.

On television, the interior minister warned that he would use all necessary means to restore order and accused Sonko of having launched calls for violence and insurrection. All those who commit criminal acts will be brought to justice, he continued, also mentioning a possible easing of the health curfew.

These demonstrations, which have the sympathy of a broad section of the Senegalese population, point to the radicalisation of youth and workers in Senegal and West Africa against the deterioration of their living conditions since the pandemic and the military intervention of imperialism in the region. Approximately 40 percent of the Senegalese population live below the poverty line.

The restrictive measures to deal with COVID-19 have worsened living conditions. The fisheries sector, a key sector of the Senegalese economy that accounts for 16 percent of total national export earnings in 2018 and 600,000 direct and indirect jobs, is being undermined by the curfew.

The executive secretary of the West African Association for the Development of Artisanal Fisheries said in April 2020 that some people are already having problems feeding their families, as workers in the informal sector  live from day to day.

The anger of the protesters in Senegal is also directed at companies from France, which installed Sall in power in 2011 and which has apparently agreed to the arrest of his opponents. In Mbao, in the outer suburbs, many people were seen leaving an Auchan supermarket with their arms full of goods. At least 14 Auchan shops were attacked and 10 looted, according to the groups management. Air France stopped flights in the country.

The driving force behind the demonstrations in Senegal is the fight against French and international imperialism. France is conducting neocolonial military operations in West Africa and the Sahel to defend its interests in the region by maintaining local puppet regimes. After NATOs intervention in Libya, France, under former Socialist Party president Francois Hollande, launched a war in Mali in 2013, which has since been intensified by Macron. Several thousand soldiers are permanently stationed in the country, directly working with armed forces that have been accused by human rights organizations of committing war crimes and facilitating ethnic sectarian massacres.

Sonko is unable to respond to the democratic aspirations of workers and young people in Senegal, nor to resolve the social and economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and the policy of herd immunity pursued by US and European imperialism.

The struggle for democratic rights in Senegal requires the mobilisation of the Senegalese and international working class, leading behind it the oppressed masses in a struggle for socialism against French and world imperialism.
KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A Florida kidnapping suspect was arrested on Friday in Knox County.

Police arrested 26-year-old Andres Cantu, from Mount, Florida.

According to Indiana State Police Cantu allegedly kidnapped his four-year-old son from a Florida daycare in December of last year.

The US Marshal Fugitive Task Force received a tip that Cantu may be in Bicknell.

Police started watching a home at 715 Maple Street in Bicknell, where they saw the missing child with a woman in the backyard. The child was taken into protective custody.

Cantu wasn't at the home at the time. They were able to find him at another house on 3rd Street in Bicknell.

He was arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail.
WHO: No reason not to use AstraZeneca

GENEVA: The World Health Organization said on Friday there was no reason to stop using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after several countries including Thailand suspended the rollout over blood clot fears.

COVID-19Coronavirushealth

By AFP

Saturday 13 March 2021, 11:16AM

Photo: AFP

The WHO, which said its vaccines advisory committee was examining the safety data coming in, stressed that no causal link had been established between the vaccine and clotting.

The UN health agency also said that after the injection of more than 260 million coronavirus vaccine doses so far around the world, no deaths had yet been attributed directly to a COVID-19 jab.

Denmark, Norway and Iceland paused the use of the AstraZeneca jab as a precaution after isolated reports of recipients developing blood clots.

Italy and Austria have banned the use of shots from separate batches of AstraZeneca, and Thailand and Bulgaria said they would delay the rollout of the shot.

A range of health authorities around the world have insisted the jab is safe, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the WHO.

AstraZeneca is an excellent vaccine, as are the other vaccines that are being used, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters at a briefing in Geneva.

Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine, she added, stressing though that any concerns over safety must be investigated.

We must always ensure that we look for any safety signals when we roll out vaccines, and we must review them, she said. But there is no indication to not use it.

The EMA said Thursday that there had been 30 cases of so-called thromboembolic events among five million people who had received the jab in Europe.

But European countries could still keep using the vaccine, the EUs drug regulator said.

Harris said that while a few countries had, as a precaution, suspended the use of a specific batch of AstraZeneca vaccine distributed in Europe, based on reports of blood coagulation disorders, a causal relationship has not been shown.

Vaccination against COVID-19 doesnt reduce deaths from any other causes, she said.

As of March 9, there have been over 268 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered since the start of the pandemic.

No causes of death have been found to have been caused by COVID-19 vaccines to date.

Harris said the WHOs advisory committee on vaccine safety, which meets at least every two weeks, systematically reviews any safety reports coming in.

Theyre currently assessing the reports on AstraZeneca, she said.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID jab is one of only two to have been given the WHO seal of approval so far. The organisation has granted emergency use listing to the AstraZeneca versions being manufactured in India and South Korea.

The only other COVID-19 vaccine with the WHO green light is that produced by Pfizer/BioNTech.

A decision is expected this month on the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, while rulings are due later on Chinas Sinopharm and Sinovac jabs, along with the Moderna vaccine.

The AstraZeneca jab makes up almost all of the doses being distributed in the first wave of the Covax global vaccine-sharing scheme.

All vaccines deployed via the facility must first be authorised by the WHO.

Some 238.2 million vaccine doses will be distributed to 142 countries and territories by the end of May through the programme, which is aimed at boosting access to coronavirus jabs in poorer nations.

Thailand is not taking part in the Covax programme.

The facility has already shipped more than 20 million doses to 20 countries.

Covax aims to distribute another 14.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 31 more countries this week.

A running tally of vaccinations worldwide by Bloomberg puts the total to date considerably higher than the number quoted by the WHO. The Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker says some 334 million doses have been administered across 121 countries as of Friday.
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How and Where I Write  Scott Newstok

David George Moore

Its been my privilege to be in the personal spaces of several writers. Among others, Pulitzer winner Tony Horwitz warmly welcomed me at his home on Marthas Vineyard as did William F. Buckley at his place on Long Island Sound.

I have interviewed over 200 authors. Everyone has their own style with reading, capturing what they have read, research, and then writing. As I writer myself, I have settled on an approach I feel comfortable with.

Scott Newstok is professor of English and founding director of the Pearce Shakespeare Endowment at Rhodes College. Among other works, he is the author of the recently released How to Think Like Shakespeare: Lessons from a Renaissance Education. How to Think like Shakespeare: Lessons from a Renaissance Education (Skills for Scholars): Newstok, Scott: 9780691227696: Amazon.com: Books

Moore: Do you still acquire books as you get older or have you slowed down a bit?

Newstok: No sign of slowing! In fact, I was just teaching Chaucer last month, and had to smirk in recognition of this old portrait:

For hym was levere have at his beddes heed

Twenty bookes, clad in blak or reed,

Of Aristotle and his philosophie,

Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrie.

Moore: What are the best time(s) and place(s) for you to write?

Newstok: As a procrastinating student, I used to think I wrote best in the evenings. Maybe, maybe not . . . but now that Im a mid-life fogey, my head seems clearest early in the morning, before my family wakes. Whats the best place for my writing? In silence, in seclusion, and surrounded by my books. These three conditions occasionally converge  in my college office; in a basement closet; ideally, at lakeside cabin.

 Silent: like the cranky Arthur Schopenhauer, I feel something akin to pain at the sudden sharp crack, which paralyzes the brain, rends the thread of reflection, and murders thought.

 In seclusion: as Virginia Woolf knew, all writers need (and women have chronically lacked) a room of [their] own, let alone a quiet room or a sound-proof room.

 Surrounded by my books: like Montaigne, without order, without method, and by peece-meales I turne over and ransacke, now one booke and now another.

Moore: How do you capture your research? Old school with note cards etc., or new school with computer programs?

Newstok: I envy peers who deploy elaborate research management systems. Instead, I capture research through commonplacing thats haphazard at best: jotting ideas in a notebook; drafting notions in correspondence with friends; retyping favorite passages into an ever-sprawling series of files. This leads to a lot of redundancy, and inefficiency, I know. Yet I console myself by thinking (hoping?) that whatever simmers to the surface from this stews stock has the savor of the whole.

Moore: Do you immediately start writing on the computer (perhaps typewriter) or by longhand?

Newstok: While I like to cluster ideas by sketching out them on paper, I still write by typing (as I have since my father brought home an Apple II+ some 30 years ago).

Moore: Do you put marginalia in your physical books?

Newstok: Yes, especially in books from which I teach. My notes help jog my memory when my eyes scan the page during class. In recent years, Ive become more deliberate about taking note of insightful comments, and attributing them to my students . . . in this way, the margins grow into a record of their insights as much as my preparations.

Moore: Do you read digital books?

Newstok: While I skim scholarship online (and love traipsing down footnote trails), I dont enjoy reading books on a device.

Moore: What is some good advice you received on writing?

Newstok: Good advice (which Ive failed to follow): ease up on all the punctuation; its . . . distracting. Well, I cant help it  it makes me feel like Im conveying something of a voice on the page.

Moore: What do you think is your best book?

Newstok: The one Im working on now! Its short volume, introducing Montaignes thoughts on education.

Moore: Please name a few of your favorite authors from your own field of study.

Newstok: How about three near my (nominal) field of study?

1) Kenneth Burke, one of my heroes, dropped out of college to school himself in 1920s Greenwich Village. Over the next seventy years, his roving mind contributed to fields as disparate as sociology, religion, historiography, composition, and even Shakespeare studies.

2) At just the right moment, I was introduced to Stanley Cavells philosophy, which takes conversation as a figure for thinking together about community, politics, and the world. His Pursuits of Happiness (1984) is best read alongside a viewing of Hollywood remarriage comedies and their unrehearsed intellectual adventure.

3) Helen Vendler continues to teach me about lyric poetry, and I return to her book on Shakespeares sonnets whenever I assign them.

Moore: What is a book you should have read by now, but haven't? This will make all of us sleep better!

Newstok: A-ha, David Lodges game of Humiliation! OK: Anna Karenina  but Ive vowed to start reading it with my 14-year-old daughter, with whom Ive read all of Austen and much of Cather.

David George Moore is the author of the forthcoming Stuck in the Present: How History Frees and Forms Christians (Leafwood/Abilene Christian University Press). Stuck in the Present: David George Moore: 9781684264605: Amazon.com: Books
* Blacklisted companies not named until fund sells shares

* Fund operates under ethical guidelines set by parliament

By Gwladys Fouche

OSLO, March 10 (Reuters) - Norway's $1.3 trillion wealth fund will probe whether companies it is invested in may be using the labour of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims linked to China's internment camp system in the country's Xinjiang region, the head of the fund's ethics watchdog told Reuters.

The world's largest sovereign wealth, which has massive market influence because it owns 1.5% of the world's listed shares across 9,100 companies, operates under ethical guidelines set by parliament.

Johan H. Andresen, chair of the fund's Council on Ethics, said the fund had begun identifying companies that it said used workers that had been held in internment camps in Xinjiang.

"We are concerned that some of our companies in the fund may make use of this labour. This is possibly a widespread practice," he said in an interview ahead of the publication of the council's annual report on Wednesday.

"If we were to make a recommendation it would be in the first half of this year," he added. Recommendations are sent to the board of the central bank, which ultimately makes decisions.

The central bank typically follows the council's recommendations to censure companies but sometimes, rather than immediately excluding them, it puts them on a watchlist to give them a set period of time to come up with a plan to change their behaviour, or face exclusion.

The bank can also ask the fund's management to engage directly with the company on the issue of concern and can also decide to divest from a company if it believes the fund's ownership stake poses too much of an ethical risk.

Companies to be excluded are not named until the fund has sold the shares, to avoid the stock falling in value beforehand. The main aim is to remove the ethical risk.

China denies accusations of abuses in Xinjiang, where U.N. experts and rights groups say more than one million people have been detained in recent years, and has said the complexes it set up in the region provide vocational training to help stamp out Islamist extremism and separatism.

Story continues

China has said that all the people who attended the camps have graduated and gone home. Access to the complexes is restricted and it is not possible to independently verify whether all the camps have closed.

ETHICAL GUIDELINES

The fund is forbidden by parliament from investing in companies that produce nuclear weapons, landmines, or tobacco, or which violate human rights, among other criteria.

Several textile companies have been excluded from the fund, most recently India's Page Industries, which produces swimwear for the Speedo brand. Page denies wrongdoing.

The Council is now turning its attention to companies that produce footwear, "a natural extension" of its work in the textile industry, Andresen said, given that the production processes are similar.

"We are still at an early stage," he said.

Forced labour, or modern slavery, is also becoming a growing issue that will dominate the council's work in the years ahead, he said. The council will this year commission a report from a non-governmental organisation to map out the extent of forced labour worldwide.

The fund has already excluded companies, including security firm G4S, on those grounds. G4S said at the time it had engaged with the council and was making good progress on recruitment and welfare standards.

Overall some 70 companies have been excluded by the fund, on various grounds, on recommendations from the Council on Ethics. Another 73 companies have been excluded directly by the central bank based on their dependence on coal.

(Editing by Alison Williams)
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 79F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 22:06:48|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on March 6, 2021 shows people displaying China's national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in support of implementing the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" at Tamar Park in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

While the NPC's decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR has solid legal ground and wins widespread support in Hong Kong, some countries vigorously smeared the decision and distorted facts under the name of "democracy" and "freedom," which was in fact aimed at messing up Hong Kong and China, the liaison office said.

HONG KONG, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Saturday voiced strong opposition to the so-called statements of a very few Western countries about the decision by the National People's Congress (NPC) on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR.

Those statements trampled on international laws and basic norms governing international relations and came as blatant interference in China's internal affairs, the spokesperson of the office said, stressing that such acts are hegemonic and aimed at containing China's development.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Hong Kong residents have enjoyed more extensive democratic rights than at any other time in history, the spokesperson said.

However, when Hong Kong was gripped by the social unrest in 2019, in which anti-China disruptors carried out "Hong Kong independence" and "mutual destruction" schemes and jumped on the loopholes of the electoral system to endanger national security, some western countries and external forces added fuel to the fire and covered up the rioters, plunging Hong Kong further into the abyss, the spokesperson said.

While the NPC's decision has solid legal ground and wins widespread support in Hong Kong, some countries vigorously smeared the decision and distorted facts under the name of "democracy" and "freedom," which was in fact aimed at messing up Hong Kong and China, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson condemned the Western countries' statements as sheer prejudice and double standards, and pointed out that no country would allow an unpatriotic person to hold public office.

At the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Belarus delivered a joint speech on behalf of 71 countries, emphasizing that Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and should not be interfered by external forces, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said improving the electoral system of the HKSAR is China's internal affairs and any interference will be hit back hard by all the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots.
While ensuring the accountability of big tech, the IT rules must not stifle free speech.

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 issued by the union government in exercise of its powers under the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 have come under severe criticism. The rules themselves, affecting as they do Indias hundreds of millions of internet users, have been issued with no public consultation. There are justified fears around whether these rules will be used by the government to crack down on dissenting speech. The clauses relating to the requirement to share encrypted information have alarmed internet users concerned about their online privacy.

Apart from internet users, the rules have also caused consternation among online news media entities and online curated content-producing companies, which have, for the first time, been brought within the ambit of the intermediary rules. Although the government claims that it is only giving statutory backing to a self-regulatory model, the very legality of the rules applying to news media and content creators is suspect. They are not intermediaries in any sense and are legally liable for the content on their websites. While the need for content regulation is debatable, the legal form it has taken has given rise to suspicions that this move was aimed at stifling the reportage of news and anti-establishment views.

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As Marines prepare to deploy aboard a British aircraft carrier, F-35B Joint Strike Fighter jets are conducting sea trials on another European ally's ship.

About 180 personnel from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, are spending four weeks aboard the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour for sea trials. Pilots from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 are operating F-35Bs from the Italian navy's flagship to prove the carrier is ready to operate the Lighting II aircraft.

"Supporting our Italian allies in certification of their aircraft carrier increases our collective experience in safety and combat abilities," Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet, said in a statement when the ship arrived in Virginia. "We are stronger together."

Read Next: Marines Need Funding for Missiles that Can Target Chinese Ships, Top Pacific Admiral Says

The ship is sailing in the western Atlantic during the trials. The test pilots are operating the short takeoff and vertical-landing variant of the F-35 as the Italian navy prepares to operate its future F-35B aircraft at sea.

"It is a remarkable achievement for all of us today to see the fifth-generation fighter aircraft on our flight deck," Italian Capt. Giancarlo Ciappina, Cavour's commanding officer, said in a news release about the trials. "This represents, indeed, an outstanding success but -- at the same time -- a new challenge for the future of Italian naval aviation."

F-35 test pilot U.S. Marine Maj. Brad Leeman prepares to launch for a night lighting evaluation flight in an F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the jet aboard Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550). The Air and Test Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 pilot is embarked with the F-35 Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) for sea trials on the Italian Navy flagship. Cavour is in phase one of its "Ready for Operations" campaign to certify its use of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft. (Dane Wiedmann/U.S. Navy)

Italy plans to buy 30 F-35Bs to be split between its navy and air force, Defense News reported in October. The country's navy wants to swap its aging AV-8 jets on the carrier with F-35Bs, according to the outlet, while the air force plans to use the aircraft for expeditionary missions where it can operate from short runways.

The navy so far has received two F-35Bs, and Italian crews are training with them at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina, according to The Drive.

The United Kingdom's aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth conducted similar tests with Marine F-35B fighters in 2018. In January, defense officials from the U.S. and U.K. signed an agreement to deploy ships and fighter aircraft from both countries in the form of a combined carrier strike group.

Marine F-35B aircraft and the U.S. Navy destroyer The Sullivans will participate in that deployment this year.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: US, UK Sign Agreement to Merge Forces for Historic Joint Carrier Deployment
On the topic of guns, butter and pandemic politics . . .



Last year our progressive friends accused the Guv of spreading plague whilst grilling steaks at a cookout. Even worse, Missouri Democrats and their Kansas City counterparts seemed to gloat when the Guv & his wife caught COVID. The punchline was that even with Prez Trump playing boogeyman, the Show-Me State GOP CRUSHED MISSOURI DEMOCRATS and defeated every statewide candidate by an EPIC margin. We can't repeat this enough because it's a local fact of life and political reality that's often ignored by our pals who watch too much cable TV news and lose their sense of place.



Accordingly, we notice our local Democratic Party friends repeatedly lashing out at the Guv who might, once again, have the last laugh.

A few examples . . .

AP: Pandemic hasnt been as bad as expected to Missouri finances

KTLO: Missouris strong economy leads to release of over $280M in general revenue funds

KSHB: Missouri Gov. Mike Parson lauds lack of mask mandate as COVID-19 cases decline

Don't get it twisted, we're not a fan of the Guv or any politico for that matter.

However, we do think it's funny that he keeps tricking Mayor Q into talk of cooperation with his friendly Missouri twang and then invariably double-crosses the young politico by endorsing legislation targeting progressive KCMO policies.



Also . . . As of today COVID has killed 8,752 people in Missouri so you'll forgive us if we don't pass out party favors.

Here's a somewhat objective view of Guv Parson's greatest hits in the time of plague . . .

TIMELINE: Missouris pandemic response one year since the states first reported COVID-19 case

In the final analysis, what we notice is that Missouri voters are endorsing Guv Parson's low key style of leadership whilst social media outrage, hyperbole and vitriol hasn't been effective in swaying voters.

If Missouri Democrats and progressives are going to advance their policy goals . . . They might want to try talking to people about issues rather than attempting to shame voters, feign outrage and champion public hysterics in the name of identity politics.



Developing . . .


Sinha says Mamata offered self in exchange for Kandahar hostages

BJP has become 'Borrowed Janata Party', TMC's victory will herald change in 2024: Yashwant Sinha

Bengal Polls: Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha joins TMC

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 13: Yashwant Sinha, the former BJP leader, an avowed critic of the Narendra Modi government joined the Trinamool Congress ahead of the Bengal Assembly elections 2021.

"The country is facing an unprecedented situation today. The strength of democracy lies in the strength of the institutions of democracy. All these institutions including the judiciary have become weak now," Sinha said after joning TMC.



"BJP during Atal Ji's time believed in consensus but today's government believes in crushing and conquering. Akalis, BJD have left the BJP. Today, who is standing with BJP?," he added.

The octogenarian leader pledged support to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her fight against the BJP.

"The tipping point was the attack on Mamata Ji in Nandigram. It was the moment of decision to join TMC and support Mamata Ji," he said.

Bengal Polls: Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha joins TMC

"We welcome Yashwant Sinha to our party. His participation would strengthen our fight against the BJP in the elections," TMC Lok Sabha party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said.

The 80-year-old leader, who held finance and external affairs portfolios in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had quit his party in 2018.

Sinha had served as Union Finance minister twice- once in the Chandra Sekhar cabinet in 1990 and then again in the Vajpayee ministry. He also held portfolio of External Affairs ministry in the Vajpayee cabinet.

His son Jayant Sinha is the BJP MP from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand.

Sinha's entry int TMC is seen as a big boost to TMC as a steady stream of leaders such as Suvendu Adhikari and Rajib Banerjee shifting loyalties to the BJP.
Postal services provider TTPost yesterday shut its branches in Port of Spain and San Fernando after dozens of people rushed to collect senior citizen pension and public assistance grants and would not adhere to physical distancing rules.

Eventually, police were called to disperse the crowds.

Several elderly people at the St Vincent Street branch in Port of Spain complained about not being able to collect their pension cheques because other unruly ones refused to socially distance and abide by the law amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stella Griffith, 68, of Diego Martin, said she was adhering to rules of social distancing, but there were other people who came for their public assistance and disability grants and were refusing to listen.
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Sinha says Mamata offered self in exchange for Kandahar hostages

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kolkata, Mar 13: Mamata Banerjee had offered herself as a hostage in exchange for the passengers of Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in 1999, former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said.

He said that he had worked with Mamata under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I can tell you that she is still a fighter. "I want to tell you today that when the Indian Airlines plane was hijacked to Kandahar, there was a discussion happening in the Cabinet. Mamata ji offered to go herself as a hostage on the condition that the Indians are released in exchange. She was ready to make that sacrifice," Sinha said ahead of joining the TMC.

Sinha was inducted into the TMC in the presence of party leader Derek O'Brien. "The tipping point was the attack on Mamata Ji in Nandigram. It was the moment of decision to join the TMC and support Mamata Ji." "The country is facing an unprecedented situation today. The strength of democracy lies in the strength of the institutions of democracy. All these institutions including the judiciary have become weak now," Sinha said according to news agency ANI.

Bengal Polls: Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha joins TMC

He said that the BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee believed in consensus, but today's government believes in crushing and conquering. "Shame on BJP. Instead of sympathising with Mamata injured in an attack they are making fun of it," he tweeted on Wednesday. "The battle for Bengal is the battle for India. The voters in Bengal will vote for the future of India in this election," he had written on Twitter a few days back.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 16:04 [IST]
WALLINGFORD  Lucy, Lily and Lulu are way better pets than cats and dogs, or so says their owners.

Take, for example, the subject of time.

Chuck Leiss and Amanda Zarabozo dont believe that their three mixed-breed potbellied pigs can read a clock, but the couple swears that their pets have an unerring sense of exactly what time it is.

They will eat at exactly the same time every day, said Leiss, a 33-year-old waiter at Chilis in Wallingford and a guitar teacher. They could be sleeping but if its 3:30 in the afternoon, they get up and go to the door.

Thats the constant challenge, and really the fun, of having mini-pigs as pets, said Zarabozo. A 35-year-old administrative aide at Colony Vision Care, shes known as the girl with the pigs. Its a title she wears with amusement and some pride, as part of her fame comes from social media.

Zarabozos two Instagram blogs, Lucy the pig land The girl with the pigs, have 37,000 followers. Animal lovers who wonder what the attraction is between the pigs and the couple need only see a video of Lucy slumbering in Zarabozos arms or a picture of the pigs wearing their hats. The pigs look delightful  safe, cuddly, soft, just adorable.

She also takes the pigs around town in a pet stroller. Zarabozo has put them on a leash, but their stubby legs make long walks tiresome, and they tend to eat the grass.

Amanda Zarabozo and fiance Chuck Leiss have three pet pigs that they prefer to more traditional pets. | Courtesy Amanda Zarabozo Amanda Zarabozo and fiance Chuck Leiss have three pet pigs that they prefer to more traditional pets. | Courtesy Amanda Zarabozo

People know them in Wallingford and even around the state, Zarabozo said. I was in a brewery in Connecticut and somebody said Hey, I saw your pig in Maine last year. 

Zarabozo was on vacation and dining at a Portland brewery with Lucy the year before, she said.

George Clooney likes them too

As pets go, pigs have been a part of the landscape for generations. The most famous pig owner is probably George Clooney, who owned a pot-bellied pig, Max, that died in 2006 at age 18. An obituary for Max in The Guardian, a British newspaper, suggested that Clooney loved Max at least as much as some of his girlfriends.

Max has been blamed for bringing at least two of Clooney's relationships to an end (the model Celine Balitran apparently got the wrong answer when she issued an It's me or the pig ultimatum). Clooney even took Max on a trip in John Travolta's private jet, according to the story.

Zarabozo gets where Clooney was coming from. As a young girl, she wanted a pig for a pet. She was fascinated by them. They seem to strike a very deep, ticklish chord within her. When Zarabozo met Leiss at Chilis five years ago, she made it clear that the pigs were part of the package.That, in turn, fascinated him, he said.

I never had any pets. I had a fish once for, like, three months, Leiss said. The fact that she is totally obsessed and whacked out over pigs, I just find amazing.

Leiss and his fiance warn that while they are very affectionate pets, pigs are very challenging as well. Lucy, Lily and Lulu have intricate personalities and a surprisingly wide set of emotions.

They are a lot more work than you think, Zarabozo said. They are a lot smarter than you think. No matter what research you want to do, there isnt a lot of ways you can prepare yourself for them.

There is a lot of stress. There are very stressful times with owning them.

That kitchen trash can is going down

Let us return, for a moment, to the subject of time.

The pigs sense of schedule is among the things that makes them challenging. If Leiss and Zarabozo arent at the door to let them out for their yard time and bathroom break, say because theyre in the living room instead of the kitchen, the potential for damage looms.

They will try and challenge you every now and again, Zarabozo said. They might push you around. Thats just them finding a weakness in you to see if they can get away with stuff.

With their short legs, snout and tusks, pigs are naturally pushy. Its how they get things done. Leiss and Zarabozo know that if they hear a certain scraping sound, one of the pigs, probably Lucy, is angry and edging the kitchen garbage can toward the living-room stairs.



Its a question of great interest to her owners. Will she actually dump the can down the staircase? She never has, because her owners have stopped her every time, so far.

In the most recent incident, the can was just about to hang over the stairs. I said, Lucy no! I moved it back, Leiss said. I think its like her way of saying, Hey, if you dont start paying attention to me, this is going down. 

With their teeth and small tusks, Zarabozos pigs could cause damage, but they havent yet.

"They are a lot smarter than you think. No matter what research you want to do, there isnt a lot of ways you can prepare yourself for them."



-Amanda Zarabozo

They need attention and if they get bored, they look for trouble, Zarabozo said. They will remember things and they will learn how to open things. If they see food coming out of a cabinet, they will learn how to open it. They have an excellent memory. They learn quick.

Sometimes their intelligence backfires. When Leiss brought home a Christmas tree last year, the pigs immediately recognized it as a sign of the outdoors.

They were like,Hey. I guess this place is the back yard now. Its a new outside world for us,  Leiss said.

The pigs began going to the bathroom behind the tree. It was a real tree, after all, and the couple hadnt yet hung any lights on it.

There was some nasty business back there, Leiss said.

Lulu was a sad pig

Theres no doubt that pigs are intelligent.

According to howstuffworks.com, pigs are Earths fifth-smartest animal, and most of its competitors are far from pet-worthy. The rat tops the list, followed by the octopus, pigeon and squirrel. Crows are sixth, with the elephant, orangutan, dolphin and chimpanzee after them.

Teaching pigs to follow commands is easy, Zarabozo said -- especially when Cheerios, vegetable-based dog treats or sweet fruits like bananas and blueberries are used as motivators. (Their regular food is Sharp's Mini Pig Food mixed with vegetables and fruits.) The also love Butterfinger Blizzards.

And they go insane for peanut butter, Leiss said. I dont know what it is. If I open the jar of peanut butter, they will come running from the other room.

Therefore the pigs' sense of smell is excellent, Leiss said, although their eyesight seems mediocre. The pigs certainly listen well. They answer when called by their names and on command will twirl, sit, stay, stand at the gate to their playpen, and walk backwards, Leiss said.

They also play a toy piano. When Zarabozo says, "Lucy, play your piano," the pig bangs the keys with her snout.

People dont realize that pigs are very smart and very emotional, Zarabozo said. If you get a pig, you really have to understand what you are getting into. They get depressed. They get sad.

Like most pigs, their youngest, 10-month-old Lulu, had a difficult time adjusting to her new home when she arrived two months ago. Zarabozo helped her acclimate by sitting near her and talking to her gently, always with food on-hand to sweeten the conversation, she said.

"They need attention and if they get bored, they look for trouble."



-Amanda Zarabozo

At night she was shaking and she was sad, Zarabozo said, but she eventually warmed up to us.

Another tempest recently abated: 2-year-old Lucy and Lilly now sleep in the same pen. The couple got Lilly in November 2019 to celebrate their engagement and Lucy, who had been an only pig up to that point, resented the intrusion, Zarabozo said.

Lucy just did not want to accept her, Zarabozo said. Lucy would constantly attack her as part of the family even though they are social and herd animals who do better when theyre together.

I was told that one day that they will just click, and thats what happened, she added. I was surprised. Having them share the same bed? They have never done that before.

How big will they get?

At 65 pounds, Lucy is rather small for a full-grown mini-pig, and Zarabozo has been told that adult pigs of her breed can be expected to grow to be as much as 200 pounds, Zarabozo said.

She doesnt believe that will happen.

I dont foresee her getting much bigger than she is now based on her frame but she probably has another year before I can tell she is full grown or not, Zarabozo said.

The eventual size of the pigs is a mystery partly because they are a mixed breed and Zarabozo and Leiss dont know exactly whats in the mix.

Not that it matters. When the couple gets married later this spring, the pigs will be a part of the wedding Zarabozo is planning right now.

I am keeping them no matter what size they get, Zarabozo said. If one turns out to be 600 pounds, I am going to have to rethink my living situation a bit. One hundred pounds versus 600 pounds is a big difference.

nsambides@record-journal.com

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Facility Expanded to 68,000 Square Feet to House New Customer Center

HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2021 / Metamaterial Inc. (the "Company" or "META") (CSE:MMAT) a developer of high-performance functional materials and nanocomposites, today announced that it has signed a letter of intent (the "LOI") with its landlord, Rank Incorporated and Page Property Management (the "Landlord"), to amend the lease to its Highfield facility (the "Highfield Facility"), located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, expanding the space by about 15,000 square feet, to approximately 68,000 square feet. In addition to holography and lithography R&D labs and the next phase of META's development of roll-to-roll processes, the expanded space will include a new customer center for training and technology transfer.

In exchange for the Landlord's agreement to expand the rentable square footage in the Company's lease at Highfield Park Drive, their further agreement to reduce the annual rent for the 10-year term of the lease by $2,699,250, and their agreement to provide the Company with $500,000 in cash for on-going tenant improvements, the Landlord agreed to subscribe to 990,480 common shares of the Company at $3.23 per common share, representing a 15% discount to the closing price of the common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange on March 11, 2021.

The LOI is non-binding and subject to certain customary conditions, including the execution of a definitive subscription agreement and related documents.

About Metamaterial Inc.

META delivers previously unachievable performance, across a range of applications, by inventing, designing, developing, and manufacturing sustainable, highly functional materials. Our extensive technology platform enables leading global brands to deliver breakthrough products to their customers in consumer electronics, 5G communications, health and wellness, aerospace, automotive, and clean energy. Our achievements have been widely recognized, including being named a Global Cleantech 100 company. Learn more at www.metamaterial.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This release includes forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws regarding the Company and its business, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by the LOI and the use of space in the Highfield Facility. Often but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "expect", "intends", "anticipated", "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of the management of the Company and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although the management of the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the companies, including risks regarding the ability of the Company to complete the transactions contemplated by the LOI on the terms currently contemplated by the LOI or at all. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Media inquiries:

media@metamaterial.com

Investor inquiries:

Mark Komonoski

Investor Relations

phone: 1-877-255-8483

mark@metamaterial.com

SOURCE: Metamaterial Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/635275/Metamaterial-Signs-LOI-for-Amended-Ten-Year-Lease-Agreement
LED televisions prices in India are set to increase by up to Rs 2,000-6,000 per-unit from April. Brands like Panasonic, Haier and Thomson are considering increasing the prices of televisions from April this year as the cost of open-cell panels has risen by up to 35 per cent in the global markets in the past one month.

"Panel prices are rising continuously and so are the prices of TVs. It is likely that TV prices may increase further by April," Manish Sharma, President and Chief Executive at Panasonic India and South Asia, told news agency PTI.

The open-cell panel is an important part of TV manufacturing and covers around 60 per cent of the final product. Companies import television panels in an open-cell state, which require further assembling before being shipped for sale.

Super Plastronics Pvt, the brand licensee for US-based brand Kodak and French Electronics brand Thomson, said there is a scarcity of open cells in the market and the prices have gone up by three-folds in the past eight months.

Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO, Super Plastronics, said, "From the past eight months, there has been a month-on-month increase in panel prices, we have witnessed more than 350 per cent spike in LED TV panels. Globally, the panel market has slowed down. Despite that, there has been an increase of 35 per cent in the past 30 days." The per-unit cost of TVs would go up by at least Rs 2,000-3,000 starting from April, he further added.

Marwah also said that the open-cell market is dominated by Chinese manufacturers and alleged that TV makers from China are getting better prices from them. "This has been the narrative especially after the pandemic, where Chinese TV brands, which have been flooded in the Indian market to counter Indian manufacture brands by better price and supply," he added.

The government should bring TV manufacturing under the production-linked incentive scheme, a move which will make the Indian TV industry more competitive on the global stage, said Marwah.

TV is one of the largest segments under the appliance and consumer electronics, accounting for almost 17 million units with an estimated sale value of around Rs 25,000 crore. According to a report by the industry body, CEAMA and Frost & Sullivan, the TV market is likely to grow to 2.84 crore units in 2024-25.

The report also said that the open cell panel and the chips of the TV are predominantly imported from China besides some other markets as Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam and only the last-mile assembly is done in India.

(With PTI inputs)

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Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Theres no shortage of female characters in modern crime fiction, and lately, authors are finding inspiration not just in the women themselves, but in their relationships with one another.

I love writing about smart, ambitious young women whose lives, on the whole, dont revolve around a romantic partner, says Andrea Bartz, whose next suspense thriller, We Were Never Here (Ballantine, July), centers on two best friends, one of whom may be a murderer. On a societal level, we tend to elevate romantic relationships and trivialize female friendships. So the relative shortage of thrillers about female friendships, as well as a knee-jerk tendency to deem single female protagonists immature or annoying or unlikable or even unlovable, points to our discomfort with women who arent following traditional social scripts.

Seema Mahanian, editor at Grand Central, welcomes the increasingly complex depictions of women in thrillers. In the April release We Are Watching Eliza Bright, A.E. Osworths provocative debut, per PW, the titular video game developer is dismissed after reporting workplace harassment and doxxed online; a group called the Sixsterhood rises to protect her. The psychological thriller space has, for a long time, been very white, hetero, and male driven, so its a relief to see more authentic representations of women in this genre, Mahanian says. Readers have been eager to see female protagonists in suspenseful narratives be portrayed as complicated, to have likability not be a factor, and have the kind of nuanced relationships that reflect real-life relationships.

Bartz and Mahanian are among the authors and editors PW spoke with whose forthcoming books find drama in tangled female friendships and the intricate bonds between sisters.

Corporate intrigue

The current prevalence of remote offices notwithstanding, professional relationships often lead to personal friendships, and several new thrillers focus on the workplace. In Imposter Syndrome (Custom House, June), Kathy Wang, who before she was an author worked at Intel and Seagate, uses her personal knowledge of Silicon Valley to tell the story of Julia Lerner, COO of a major tech corporation, and Alice Lu, a Chinese American woman who works in IT. Even though theyre at the same company, Julia is almost a mythical figure to Alice, Wang says. Shes this famous white woman whos paid millions and is on the cover of magazines. When Alice begins to suspect that Julia is sharing intelligence with a foreign country, the revelation calls into question both their loyalties.

Theres a power dynamic at play here, but also a cultural dynamic, Wang explains. Alice is Asian American; culturally, shes expected to be more meek and quiet. She inhabits that low level tech nerd role with ease, but if she tries to stray too much out of this casting, she meets with both external and her own internal resistance.

The complicated intersection of race and gender also drives Zakiya Dalila Harriss debut, The Other Black Girl (Atria, June). Nella, an editorial assistant, is the only Black employee at Wagner Books, a New York publishing house, until another young Black woman is hired. When Hazel arrives, Nella thinks shell have an easier time, Harris says. She believes she has someone she can be real with. But as Hazel quickly becomes a rising star at the company, Nella, relegated to grunt work, receives threatening notes demanding she Leave Wagner. Now. Eventually, Hazels intentions are revealed.

Even though many Black women are inclined to feel a kinship with one another, we dont all subscribe to the same values, Harris says. That tension fascinates me, because its a tension you might not necessarily expect, and one that isnt really talked about in the mainstream.

Harris has a publishing background, and, PWs starred review said, the books biggest strength lies in its penetrating critique of gatekeeping in the publishing industry and the deleterious effects it can have on Black editors. As the author explains, I was the only Black woman in editorial at the publishing house I worked for and, for a while, the only one on my entire floor. The stakes felt higher for me, and I wanted to convey that through Nella.

Alma Katsu, too, draws on her workplace experience in Red Widow (Putnam, Mar.), her first spy thriller after several supernatural-tinged historicals. Katsu, a former intelligence analyst, captures the thorny but oddly intimate alliance between two CIA officers who share an adversarial relationship with their employer, PWs review said.

The author says her frustration with spy fiction prompted her to write Red Widow, whose two central characters are women. The bestsellers are either male-oriented thrillers or, if youre looking for a female lead, historicals, she notes. There should be room for a different kind of spy novel, one that allows female characters to be seen as strong professionals, and to allow them to react in stories in a way thats not exactly like their male counterparts.

Neighborhood watch

Workplace bonds may form when people have little more than proximity in common. The same holds true outside the office, and in several forthcoming books, the woman next door turns out to be a new best friend, or rival, or mortal enemysometimes all at once.

In The Hunting Wives by May Cobb, a May release from Berkley, Sophie moves to a small town in Texas with her husband and son and gets drawn into a hard-partying, adulterous social circle. This being a nail-biting thriller (per PWs starred review), its only a matter of time before someone ends up dead.

These women dont play nice in their friendships or their lives, says Danielle Perez, executive editor at Berkley. Theyre complex women, and friendship is a kind of sport to them. Theyre mean girls in their 30s.

The oft-discussed and highly contentious likability factor is irrelevant, Perez says. Female characters should be allowed to be as three-dimensional, complicated, and difficult as male characters have always been allowed to be in this genre.

Carol Goodman, author of numerous gothic-tinged thrillers, brings together a pair of women with complicated pasts in The Stranger Behind You (Morrow, July). Journalist Joan Lurie is physically attacked after writing an article exposing a powerful businessman as a sexual predator. She decamps to a high-security Manhattan building for safety, where she meets 96-year-old Lillian, who moved there in the 1940s, when the building was a Magdalen Laundry and Refuge for Fallen Women. As the two get to know each other, Joan begins to draw connections between Lillians experience with violence and her own.

Im constantly fascinated by the relationships between womenbetween mothers and daughters, friends, rivals, and frenemies, Goodman says. Im interested in the ways we understand ourselves through the stories of other women.

In Silvia Moreno-Garcias Velvet Was the Night (Del Rey, Aug.), a noir set in Mexico in the 1970s, Maite becomes obsessed with what might have happened to her beautiful, glamorous neighbor, Leonara, an art student who disappeared. Though the two dont share much of a connection at the beginning of the novel, Maite forges a one-sided bond with her neighbor, who dominates her thoughts through her absence.

Maite takes Leonaras disappearance as a chance to get involved in an adventure, Moreno-Garcia explains, rather than feeling any real concern for her well-being. To her, its like her life might be turning into a comic book, and thats exciting.

A forced connection has more sinister consequences in Mary Dixie Carters debut novel, The Photographer, out from Minotaur at the end of May. Delta Dawn makes her living taking pictures at childrens parties hosted by Manhattan gentry. When she meets the Straub family, the photographer decides she belongs in the picturepermanentlyand gradually ingratiates herself to the mother.

This book is about distinctly female experiences, and thats what makes it so relatable, says Catherine Richards, executive editor at Minotaur. The best psychological fiction treads along the line of truth, but then pushes characters behaviors across boundaries when youre least expecting itits the unpredictability of Delta thats so fascinating and so terrifying at the same time.

Like The Photographer, Shanora Williamss The Perfect Ruin (Dafina, Aug.) depicts a woman who insinuates herself into the life of another, more powerful, woman. Ivy Hill has never fully recovered from a childhood tragedy. She learns that Lola Maxwell, a billionaire CEO known for her generous charity, was responsible for her misfortune, and sets out to destroy her.

Women are held to really high standards in society and that can be overwhelming, whatever the role may bemother, daughter, sister, wife, coworker, friend, Williams says. Sadly, the people who are usually holding women up to such high standards are other women.

You think you know someone...

Relationships grow even more thorny when the women involved are true intimates. In Nice Girls (Morrow, Sept.), Catherine Dangs debut, the disappearance of Olivia, a beautiful and beloved social media star, commands widespread attention. Mary, who was Olivias best friend growing up, knows the truth behind the Instagram-perfect persona and how terrible Olivia could be.

Women have always been pitted against each other over our looks, our careers, our families, our lives, Dang says. Social media is just another battleground for it, with metrics. Suddenly you have these numbers that can quantify, even rank, how well youre competing with other people. Its not healthy; it only stirs this sense of resentment, jealousy, and FOMO in our relationships.

Elaine Murphy makes her suspense debut with Look What You Made Me Do, a July release from Grand Central, in which two sisters collaborate rather than compete: one is a serial killer and the other is her accomplice. Its not a whodunitwe all know that Becca committed the murders, and if you ask, shell even tell you why, says Alex Logan, executive editor at Grand Central. So its the relationship between the two sisters thats the real mystery.

For Murphy, as with the authors of other books discussed in this piece, writing believable, female-driven crime fiction begins with recognizable personalities. Starting with complex female characters makes digging into female relationships more fascinating, she says. Seeing myself and my friends, my coworkers, and all the women Ive known represented as actual multidimensional people is engaging and inspiring.

Swapna Krishna writes about technology and pop culture. She is the co-editor of the inclusive King Arthur anthology Sword Stone Table (Viking, July).

Below, more on mystery and thriller books.

Layers of Information: Mysteries & Thrillers 2021

The translators of the Japanese thrillers Lady Joker, Vol. 1 (Soho Crime, Apr.) and The Woman in the Purple Skirt (Penguin Books, June) discuss introducing the acclaimed novels to a new readership.

Dont Kill the Mood: Mysteries & Thrillers 2021

PW asked six authors of forthcoming mysteries and thrillers about creating atmosphere in their novels.

Artistic Temperament: Mysteries & Thrillers 2021

The coming months bring books set in the insular worlds of arts, letters, and academia.
getty

A coyote responsible for attacking five people, including two small children, in Contra Cosa County, Calif., has been captured.

The "unusually aggressive" coyote first attacked attacked a young child on July 9, 2020. In December, two adult males were attacked by the same coyote.

Another small child and an adult male were then attacked in February, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday.

"It is the sincere hope of the agencies that locals can recreate outdoors in the area again with significantly reduced anxiety and that the community knows that outdoor recreation is still very safe," the department said in a statement.

The coyote will undergo a rabies test as part of standard procedure. There is no evidence that the coyote had the disease, according to CDFW.

The animal was found and euthanized, "very close to one of the attack sites," CDFW Capt. Patrick Foy told the San Francisco Chronicle.

DNA evidence taken from each of the victims linked the same coyote to all five attacks, CDFW said.

RELATED: Two Giraffes Killed in 'Devastating' Virginia Zoo Fire: 'We Are So Heartbroken'

While the search for the coyote had been ongoing, police and animal control presence ramped up in the area following the second attack on a child in mid-February, according to KPIX.

The mother of a 3-year-old girl who was attacked in February told KPIX that she was standing right next to her daughter when the incident occurred.

"I had a stroller and the baby, and I heard her scream," the mother, identified as Jackie, said. "I turned around, and she was literally right next to me and there was a coyote biting her. So I screamed and I yelled, and the coyote retreated, but it didn't go far."

She continued, "It was not scared off by me at all."

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Jackie said she didn't expect a coyote to attack when she was standing right next to her toddler, adding that the experience was "very scary," she said.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
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Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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

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Acting Deputy PM: Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within logic of "corridor"
Battle for Nemom: Can Congress wrest BJP's lone seat in Kerala?

India

oi-Deepika S

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 13: All eyes would be on Nemom constituency, often referred to as the 'Gujarat of Kerala', as the poll battle heats up.

Nemom, a suburb in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram, is the only seat that BJP managed to win in 2016 assembly polls. When the party scripted history, the BJP leaders had referred Nemom as the 'Gujarat of Kerala".

The BJP, which is planning to make inroad into the southern states, is hoping to make real big gains this time, it is defending just one seat that it holds in Kerala.

Can Congress wrest BJP 'bastion' Nemom

However, to upset BJP chances this time, Congress is playing its cards close to the chest.

Asked if the party had finalised the candidate for the Nemom constituency, the lone seat won by the BJP in the 2016 assembly polls, leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said it would not be a weak candidate.

Speculation is rife that the congress high command was keen that either Chandy or Chennithala should be prepared to try their luck from the prestigious Nemom seat to wrest it from the saffron party. However, the veteran leaders have wished contest from their respective seats.

"I will contest from the Haripad constituency. Haripad is like my mother. The people there love me. I can't leave the constituency. So, I will contest from there," said Chenithalla.

Rumour is also rife that this time around Congress will be fielding MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor, a decision backed by Rahul Gandhi.

Kerala elections 2021: Congress to field candidates in 91 constituencies

BJP chances in Kerala

In 2016, the BJP's veteran O Rajgopal fondly referred to as Rajettan created history by garnering 67,813 votes against CPI(M) candidate V Shivankutty, who managed to get 59,142 votes. Congress-led UDF finished in a distant third with just 13,860 votes secured by the JD(S) candidate V Surendran Pillai.

BJP got a 9.97 per cent vote swing in Nemom, when it wrest the seat from CPI(M).

This time, Kummanam Rajashekaran, who also enjoys RSS backing is likely to be BJP candidate from Nemom seat.

In Kerala, where the fight is primarily being seen as between the ruling Left front (LDF) and the Congress-led UDF, the BJP has been working hard to emerge as a strong force.

YASHWANT SINHA JOINS TMC and more news | Oneindia News

Kerala will go to polls in a single phase on April 6. The counting of votes will be held on May 2.
The quarantine orders enacted in response to COVID-19, while absolutely necessary to stem the spread of the disease, have really done a number on our collective mental health. This past year of self-enforced isolation and social distancing runs contrary to humanity's deep-seated need for community interaction. We are simply hard-wired to socialize.

But the pandemic is not entirely to blame for our precipitous decline in socialization. Steady advances in automation technologies have increasingly enabled corporations to minimize human interaction as a cost-saving strategy. In her latest book, The Lonely Century, British economist Noreena Hertz takes an incisive look at the emotional, societal and political costs of a "frictionless" economy, how the pandemic has exacerbated the problem, and what we can do to reconnect with one another.

Currency Publishing

Excerpted from THE LONELY CENTURY by Noreena Hertz. Copyright  2021 by Noreena Hertz. Excerpted by permission of Currency, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

East Fifty-third Street, Manhattan. I am at the grocery store. Fluorescent lights illuminate aisles filled with colorful goods. Cereal and cold drinks, vegetables and frozen food: all the usual produce is here. Apart from the sleek white barriers at the entrance, everything looks normaljust like your average city convenience shop. But look around more closely and youll realize theres something unusual about this place. Theres nobody working on the shop floorno cashiers, no uniformed workers stocking shelves, no one to come to your rescue when you cant figure out how to scan the barcodes at those pesky self-service registers. Look up and youll understand why.

Dotted above you are hundreds of just-discernible cameras: your movements are being constantly monitored. So no need to wait in line. Instead, feel free to stuff packets of cookies into your pockets as surreptitiously as you likeyour activity, however discreet, will be digitally noted. You wont get chased down by security as you leave the store, but you will be automatically charged.

It is September 2019, and I am shopping at what was, back then, one of Amazon Gos first convenience stores; by 2021 they aim to have over three thousand worldwide. At the time it felt like a very weird experience. On the one hand, I liked the convenience factor, the fact I could nip in and out with no holdup. This was something all the other customers I spoke to told me they liked very much too. But I was disturbed by the silencethe place had a Trappist monastery vibe. I missed, too, the cursory chat at the checkout counter. And it bothered me that when I approached other shoppers to ask about their experience, they seemed a little outraged, as if Id violated their personal space just by uttering a few words.

How fast things change. For what only recently seemed so futuristic now seems to exemplify the way we live in the COVID-19 age.

Contactless commerce, of which Amazon Go is at the extreme end, was already by the autumn of 2019 a growing trend, what with increasing numbers of self-checkout counters and websites and apps that allowed us to have everything from groceries to pet supplies to prescription medication delivered right to our doorsteps. Already back then we could bypass the server at Micky Ds and order a Big Mac with a few taps on a giant screen, avoid the awkwardness of a conversation with a flesh-and-blood bookseller and instead have our reading matter personally recommended by Amazons algorithm, get hot and sweaty in the privacy of our living rooms thanks to online yoga apps such as Asana Rebel or YouTubers like Adriene, and have restaurant meals delivered to us at home at our convenience courtesy of Seamless, Caviar, Postmates, Just Eat, Deliveroo, or Grubhub.

What the pandemic did, however, was transform what was hitherto a steady but slower-growing incline into a sharp, steep ascent. After just a few weeks of lockdown, two million more people were doing yoga with Adriene on YouTube, 40 percent of U.S. online grocery shoppers were doing so for the first time, and my eighty-two-year-old father was attending classes at his local community center on Zoom.

Overnight, contactless became in many respects our only choice. Its impossible to predict with certainty how this will play out in the long term. As weve seen, the human craving for proximity and physical connection runs deep; later we will see how a burgeoning Loneliness Economy may act as a counterbalancing force. But the reality is that new habits, once forged, can take hold pretty fast. Many people who lived through the Great Depression, for example, remained frugal throughout their entire lives.

More recently, we have seen how large discount grocery, private label, and dollar stores such as Aldi and Dollar General have remained popular with middle-class consumers in Europe and the United States long after the 2008 financial crisis demanded a cutback in household spending.

Given that consumers concerns about infection are likely to persist for some time yet and that many peoples experiences of contactless retail and leisure during lockdown were largely positivea function of both the convenience and increased choice they provideit is likely that the demand for at least certain categories of contactless encounters will remain strong as the world rebuilds post-COVID-19. Many who first experimented with contactless during lockdown are likely to continue with what might be called low human touch.

Especially as businesses have now invested in technology and working practices that limit customers interactions with their staff. Already in April 2020, restaurant chains were developing technology to enable customers to preorder and pay without contact with waiters, and apps that allowed drivers to pay at gas stations from inside their car were gaining in popularity. Many companies paying close attention to the bottom line will have good reason to maintain these changes in consumer habits, given their associated labor cost savings.

This will be particularly so while fear of future lockdowns remains, social distancing continues to be official advice, and the economy is perceived as fragile. The institutionalization of contactless living gives me real cause for concern. For the more the human is exorcized from our daily transactions, is it not inevitable that we will feel lonelier? If our brisk urban life is no longer broken up by chats at the cash register or banter with the barman, if we no longer see the friendly face of the person behind the deli counter making our sandwich or our yoga instructors encouraging smile when we do our first successful hand-stand, if we lose the benefits of all those micro-interactions that we now know make us feel more connected, is it not inevitable that isolation and disconnection will be ever greater?

Moreover, the danger is that the more we do that is contactless, the less naturally adept we will become at connecting in person. For although such innovations will undoubtedly make life safer, at least for a time, and more convenient  or, in tech-speak, more frictionless  our rubbing up against each other is both what makes us feel connected and what teaches us how to connect. Even something as simple as silently negotiating who passes first in a grocery aisle or where to place your mat in yoga class forces us to compromise and take others interests into account.

Again, this has ramifications that go beyond the personal or individual. Think back to our lonely mouse lashing out when he was bothered by another. Or of how much more hostile and threatening our environment feels when we dont feel connected to our neighbors. In the contactless age, the danger is that we will know each other everless, feel less connected to each other, and thus be increasingly indifferent to each others needs and desires. We cant break bread together, after all, if were sitting at home eating Grubhub on our own.

But contactless living is not just a function of technological advances, consumers craving for convenience, or even the coronavirus imperative. Way before COVID-19 struck, we had been building a world of separateness and atomization.
With all the bad things happening around us, it is better to be safe than sorry. Whenever there is a case of kidnapping or criminal acts, iPhone users have a feature that can quickly toggle an emergency option that has all the first responders' caller IDs.

Here are some steps to follow to keep users safe in a time of peril and emergency.

How to Use an iPhone as an Emergency SOS

According to PopSugar, iPhone 8 units and above have an Emergency SOS built-in feature that allows users to call emergency services and emergency contacts. To activate this, press and hold down the side button and volume button simultaneously until the Emergency SOS slider appears on the screen.

Then, users can slide the Emergency SOS button to call emergency hotlines or continue to hold down the side and volume buttons until an alert sounds off and a countdown begins ticking. Continuing to hold the two buttons throughout the countdown will automatically contact emergency hotlines such as 911, fire departments, hospitals and more.

Apple also noted that users must choose the service they have from police, fire, and hospitals in some countries and regions. Users can also add emergency contacts to send their current location after a call from an emergency hotline. And for a period of time after users enter the SOS mode, the device sends updates to emergency contacts of the user's current location.

Also Read: Apple Working on 360-Degree iPhone Camera Feature: New Patent to Leverage Multiple Cams on Different Devices

How to Add and Remove Emergency Contacts

To add or remove certain emergency contacts, users must go to the Health App, tap to their profile picture, tap on the Medical ID, and tap Edit to scroll down to Emergency Contacts. Click the green add button to add an emergency contact and write down your relationship with them. Tap done and save the changes.

On the other hand, removing emergency contacts on the Emergency SOS will also take the users to the Health Application on the iPhone and simply click the red delete button on the Medical ID option.

How to Turn off Auto Call

According to iMore, if users are worried about making an Emergency SOS call accidentally, users should consider disabling the auto-call feature that will always call emergency services after the SOS countdown ends.

To disable the auto-call feature, go to the Setting App and tap the Emergency SOS option to switch it off. Take note that users cannot easily access emergency services manually by pressing the side buttons or volume buttons with auto-call off.

Meanwhile, disabling the Emergency SOS features requires many steps. The countdown can be useful in many situations, but not in a setting where silence is golden like a hostage scene--when users do not want any noise to attract the bad guys into them--these steps will help them.

First, launch the Setting app, go to the Emergency SOS option and tap the Countdown Sound On/Off switch. When the switch is grey, it means the feature has been turned off.

This guide will help users in case they may run into trouble wherever they may be. Remember that an iPhone has an Emergency SOS feature and to set all the primary settings beforehand rather than later.

Related Article: Need to Unlock a Disabled iPhone? Here's How to Do It
Bengaluru, March 13 : Close confidante of tainted Karnataka BJP leader, Ramesh Jarakiholi and himself a party leader, M. V. Nagaraju on Saturday said that the former has not mentioned anyone's name in his complaint based on his legal counsel's advice.

Interacting with reporters after lodging a complaint with the Sadashivanagar police here, Nagaraju revealed that he (Ramesh) has stated in his complaint that whatever has happened with him last week was a criminal conspiracy against him and his family.

Nagaraju added that it was a collective decision of the Jarakiholi family that they did not want the names to be out at this juncture, besides they did not wish to file the complaint any further.

"It was (Karnataka Milk Federation chairman) Balachandra Jarakiholi who suggested to him (Ramesh Jarakiholi) based on multiple legal counsellors' advice. It was also decided not to name anyone at this juncture," he said in response to a question.

He added that they did not want to delay any further in filing complaints in this 'fake CD' episode, which was released last week only to tarnish their family's unblemished image and was done with the intention to ensure that Ramesh resigns from his minister's post ahead of the Karnataka budget session.

According to him, he has come here on behalf of Ramesh (Jarakiholi) to lodge a complaint with the police. "I am not the complainant, it is Ramesh Jarakiholi's complaint. I have come here to register it on his behalf." He said the complaint was lodged under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code -- 120B, 385, 465 and 459.

Meanwhile a police officer stated that IPC section 120B deals with criminal conspiracy while IPC 385 is for extortion and 465 is for forgery. Section 459 of the IPC is invoked in house trespass or house-breaking that causes grievous hurt to any person or attempts to cause death or grievous hurt to any person.

This complaint by Ramesh Jarakiholi assumes significance in the backdrop of the Karnataka government forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional Police Commissioner (West) Soumendhy Mukerjee two days ago.

The SIT was formed after a CD was released to news channels in which Ramesh Jarakiholi was allegedly seen in a compromising position with a woman, which went viral and this cost him his ministerial berth.

Ramesh is one among 17 legislators who defected from the Congress and the JD(S) which brought down the coalition government headed by H. D. Kumaraswamy in 2019 and paved the way for the BJP government headed by B. S. Yediyurappa.

After they got re-elected as BJP candidates from their constituencies in by-elections, the majority of these 17 legislators have been rewarded with ministerial berths in the Yediyurappa cabinet.
James Jordan has revealed that his beloved father Allan has sadly died, after battling a brain tumour.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 42, revealed the sad news on Instagram on Saturday, noting that his dad 'became an angel at 8.05am.'

In the heartbreaking post, James wrote: 'My dad became an angel at 8:05am. I will forever miss him. He will always be my hero. RIP Daddy.'

Heartbreaking news: James Jordan has revealed that his beloved father Allan has sadly died, after battling a brain tumour

James' post garnered several messages from his fans and fellow celebrities who shared their condolences.

Coleen Nolan wrote: 'So so sorry! Thinking of you xxx', while fellow Strictly alumni Ian Waite said: 'So sorry James. Sending all my love and thoughts to you and your family.'

With Ruth Langsford commenting: 'Im so sorry James....you were lucky to have had such a wonderful relationship with him....hold on to your memories, nobody can take those away from you. May your Dad rest in peace. Sending you and the family much love .'

Hours before his father's death, James shared just how much he meant to him in a post that simply read: 'I love you dad' alongside a red heart emoji.

So sad: The former Strictly Come Dancing star, 42, revealed the sad news on Instagram on Saturday, noting that his dad 'became an angel at 8.05am'

Rest in peace: In the heartbreaking post, James wrote: 'My dad became an angel at 8:05am. I will forever miss him. He will always be my hero. RIP Daddy' (pictured with his parents)

The devastating news comes just a day after the dancer told how his dad was close to death and already had his 'bags packed'.

He penned: 'No one should have to go through what my family are watching my dad go through.

'I pray to God that you come soon and make him one of your angels.

Sympathies: James' post garnered several messages from his fans and fellow celebrities who shared their condolences

'He has his bags packed and is ready to go and see his mum and dad again. My dad is my hero. @BrainTumourOrg needs your support.'

Earlier this month, James and his wife Ola broke down in tears during an appearance on Loose Women as they discussed his father's terminal brain tumour.

The former Strictly professional dancers appeared alongside their daughter Ella, 12 months, as they said she had helped them through a difficult time.

James said: '[It's been] horrendous. My dad was diagnosed last year with a terminal brain tumour. He is currently back in hospital really unwell.'

'I LOVE YOU DAD': Hours before his father's death, James shared just how much he meant to him in a post that simply read: 'I love you dad' alongside a red heart emoji

Ola, 38, said: 'When people say how tough it is being at home [starts to cry]'

'My dad is a positive person,' James continued. 'We have to stay at home though to keep everyone safe.'

Talking about the unique experience of becoming parents during a pandemic, Ola said: ' You cant see your mum or other people. Its just me and James and Google! Googling how to do things!

James said: 'Olas mum hasnt even seen the baby yet!'

Heartbreaking: The devastating news comes just a day after the dancer told how his dad was close to death and already had his 'bags packed'

Ola said that she feels her daughter has helped them to get through a really tough time.

She said: 'My parents are in Poland  they still dont have the vaccine over there. I might not see them this year. I feel that Ella has been sent to us this year to put a smile on all of our faces.'

James agreed and said: 'She has kept us all smiling. My dad, my mum. Its all relative really isnt it. For some people lockdown has been the worst time of their lives.

Emotional: Earlier this month, James and his wife Ola broke down in tears during an appearance on Loose Women as they discussed his father's terminal brain tumour

'I wish it wasnt lockdown, I would have been able to spend proper time with my dad and actually take him places. But everyones situation is different and its all relative.'

James revealed that his beloved dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer back in July, following four months of health woes and trips to the hospital.

The dancer shared the heartbreaking news on social media, as he appealed to his followers for help in finding a specialist surgeon for his dad.

He admitted: 'Tears are streaming down my face.'

Too much to bear: James said: 'I wish it wasnt lockdown, I would have been able to spend proper time with my dad and actually take him places'

'This video is the most precious & personal thing I have in my life right now & Im going to share it with you but with a totally broken heart.

'Over the last 4 months my hero and best mate in the whole world has been in and out of hospital with very ill health.

'We were told several times that 100% he had had a stroke and thats why they were struggling to control his seizures... but after the 3rd time of being admitted to hospital I knew something was not quite right.

'So after pushing for more tests and the results being sent to Kings College Hospital for other surgeons to look at unfortunately the results came back that it wasnt a stroke after all.

Tough time: James revealed that his beloved dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer back in July, following four months of health woes and trips to the hospital

'It was what I had dreaded, my dad has a tumour and after having a biopsy its come back that its an aggressive cancerous one. The worst kind unfortunately.

'We have been told that its not advisable to operate because of where the tumour is and wouldnt actually make that much difference even if they could.

'The end result is, its terminal. They are saying with chemotherapy and radiotherapy we might be lucky and get a year with him.

'As I write this tears are streaming down my face as Im sure many of you have the same love for your parents. This is honestly the worst time of my life.'
Nearly two days after being admitted to Kolkata's SSKM Hospital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been discharged by the medical board with appropriate advice and instructions. Addressing the media, doctors at the SSKM Hospital said that the TMC supremo was being discharged due to her 'repeated requests' even though they were of the opinion that she should be at the hospital for another 48 hours under observation.

"The 4-member Medical Board after looking into her general and local condition had decided to keep her for another 48 hours for observation but due to her repeated request decided to discharge with appropriate advice and instructions. She has been advised to review after 7 days. She has been discharged due to her repeated requests with appropriate advice and instructions," said the SSKM Hospital.

CM Mamata Banerjee has responded well to the treatment. She has been discharged with appropriate instructions, due to her repeated requests. She has been advised to review after 7 days: SSKM Hospital, Kolkata pic.twitter.com/9eAfvWK5VL  ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2021

Minutes after this, Mamata Banerjee was seen being rolled out on a wheelchair as she greeted the media.

Mamata Banerjee allegedly attacked

Earlier, a senior doctor of the state-run SSKM hospital had said that Mamata had suffered 'severe bone injuries' in her left ankle, foot, and right shoulder. Banerjee had also complained of chest pain and breathlessness since the alleged attack.

On Wednesday, hours after filing her nomination from Nandigram, the TMC supremo claimed that she was attacked by 4-5 people while she was returning after performing prayers in a temple at Barulia Bazar in Nandigram.

Issuing the first statement after her attack, Mamata Banerjee said, "I have injuries on my chest, ankle, shoulder and neck. I appeal to everyone to not do anything due to which people will have to suffer. The doctors are taking care and I will be able to return to work within 2-3 days as I don't want to spoil my scheduled meeting. Even if I will have to move around in a wheelchair, I will not let my meeting be hampered with this."

The TMC has alleged a 'deep-rooted conspiracy' over the incident blaming the BJP for attempting to take the life of the Chief Minister.
Yashwant Sinha, finance and External Affairs Minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the centre, joined the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal on Saturday.

In West Bengal, Sinha's joining trinamool before the assembly elections is being considered important in the political field. Campaigning for the state is going on in full swing these days. During Sinha's joining the party, Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien and state Panchayat Minister Subrat Mukherjee and MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay were present.

"The strength of democracy is its institutions," Yashwant Sinha told reporters. Today, almost every institution has become weak, including the judiciary of the country. This has created the biggest threat to our country. 

Former BJP leader Sinha has been the finance and external affairs Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government. Sinha has been a parliamentarian from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand several times. His son Jayant Sinha is now a BJP MP from this seat.

He has been a serious critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he came to power. He left the BJP a few years ago and started a political front in Bihar before the 2020 assembly elections.
Letter: New Lebanon Town Board uses COVID to cover for lack of transparency
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The US will provide financial assistance to support Indian drug-maker Biological E's effort to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022, a document released by the White House on Friday after the Quad summit said.

The Quad leaders, at a virtual summit, decided to launch a mega vaccine initiative under which vaccines will be produced in India for the Indo-Pacific region with financial assistance from the US and Japan, while Australia will contribute in logistical aspects.

In the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga, vowed to work unitedly on manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, seen as an effort to counter China's expanding vaccine diplomacy.

"United in our fight against COVID-19, we launched a landmark Quad partnership to ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines. India's formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, US & Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

The fact sheet released by the White House said Quad partners were working collaboratively to achieve expanded manufacturing of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at facilities in India.

The United States, through the DFC (Development Finance Corporation), will work with Biological E Ltd, to finance increased capacity to support Biological E's effort to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022 with Stringent Regulatory Authorization (SRA) and/or World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL), it said.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) will provide financial assistance to enhance India's vaccine production capacities.

"What we are creating are additional capacities. This, I repeat, will not, in any matter, affect our domestic vaccine production and roll-out," he said.

According to the fact sheet, Japan, through JICA, is in discussions to provide concessional yen loans to India to expand manufacturing for COVID-19 vaccines for export, with a priority on producing vaccines that have received authorisation from WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) or Stringent Regulatory Authorities.

It said Quad partners will ensure expanded manufacturing will be exported for global benefit, to be procured through key multilateral initiatives, such as COVAX, that provide life-saving vaccines for low-income countries, and by countries in need.

"Quad partners will also cooperate to strengthen 'last-mile' vaccination, building on existing health-security and development programmes, and across our governments to coordinate and strengthen our programs in the Indo-Pacific," according to the fact sheet.

"This includes supporting countries with vaccine readiness and delivery, vaccine procurement, health workforce preparedness, responses to vaccine misinformation, community engagement, immunization capacity, and more," it said.

It said Australia will contribute USD 77 million for the provision of vaccines and "last-mile" delivery support with a focus on Southeast Asia, in addition to its existing commitment of USD 407 million for regional vaccine access.

The fact sheet said Japan will assist vaccination programmes of developing countries such as the purchase of vaccines and cold-chain support including through provision of grant aid of USD 41 million and new concessional yen loans, ensuring alignment with and support of COVAX.

The United States will leverage existing programs to further boost vaccination capability, drawing on at least $100 million in regional efforts focused on immunisation, it 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.)
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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More than a month after a glacial breach and subsequent deadly floods hit Uttarakhands Chamoli district on February 7, many questions remain over what caused the tragedy in the Himalayas, even as search and rescue work continues at a tunnel of a hydel project hit by the disaster.

Several studies in the past month, including that by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), have said that the tragedy was because of man-made reasons. The Defence Geo-Informatics Research Establishment - a research body under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) - claimed that human activity was not an immediate cause of the disaster.

Reuters

What experts say

Experts said that such a tragedy happened primarily due to the presence of humans in vulnerable areas on account of various projects and population surge that has brought people close to the door of the tragedies, and when such natural events happen, they become sitting ducks. Many alleged that the attitude of policymakers to such events over the years shows no sense of urgency even after the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy.

AFP

Delhi-based activist Ajay Gautam said he had even filed a PIL in the aftermath 2013 Kedarnath tragedy to push the state government to monitor the glaciers. He said he has been fighting legally in the High Court that glaciers like Gangotri should be monitored to ensure there is no recurrence of tragedies like the 2013 Kedarnath one. I will share my own experience on the governments attitude towards such sensitive issues. In 2017, I filed a PIL in Uttarakhand High Court pointing out that an artificial 1500x250 metre glacial lake had formed at the mouth of the Gaumukh glacier due to piling up of the nearly 30-metre-high debris at the mouth of the stream and if is not cleared in time, another Kedarnath-like disaster could happen, he said.

AFP

What they are doing about it

After the Chamoli tragedy, the state government has taken or announced many steps concerning disaster mitigation in the state, like setting up siren based water level warning system at Raini village in Chamoli, announcing it will rehabilitate people from disaster-prone four districts to safer places, approving 45 lakhs for 15 earthquake sensors and so on. But many are questioning why it took so many years even after a major disaster like the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, in which over 3,000 people are still missing, to take such initiatives.

Reuters

The most tragic part is that nobody seems to be owning the responsibility for the Chamoli tragedy. Initially, when the tragedy struck, there was urgency from all sides, but now, as time passes, that urgency seems to be missing. And I fear people will soon forget Chamoli tragedy and go about their business as usual, said Anoop Nautiyal, founder of Dehradun-based think tank Social Development for Communities.

TOI

What makes this area vulnerable

Two major aspects stand out which both result in, and contribute to, similar disasters in mountain areas especially in the Western Himalayas, namely, climate change and thoughtless infrastructure and other construction projects in the region. It is now well known that man-made global warming has led to rapid melting and shrinking of glaciers along with melting of polar ice caps. More recent studies, both internationally and in India, have shown that melt rates are much higher at present than in earlier decades.


Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 22:52:58|Editor: huaxia

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MUSCAT, March 13 (Xinhua) -- More than 11,000 people who have arrived in Oman have taken institutional isolation as precautionary measure from COVID-19, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported on Saturday.

As many as 90% of them are expatriates, it said.

The number of hotels that took the facilities of institutional quarantine reached 482, and the Governorate of Muscat recorded the highest number of 200 hotels.

Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Shamsi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Head of the Relief and Shelter Sector, said in statements to ONA that 33 private institutions have been approved for institutional isolation.

Oman's Health Ministry had announced that the total number of confirmed cases in the sultanate hit 145,257, the overall recoveries 135,227 while the deaths reached 1,600. Enditem
Kabul: A memo from Afghanistans education ministry banning teenage girls from singing at school functions has been causing a stir on social media, prompting the authorities to say it was a mistake and that its authors had misunderstood the objective.

Still, #IAmMySong is gaining traction on Twitter, with some Afghan girls singing their favourite tunes for the camera and calls popping up for petitions to oppose the directive.

The controversy comes as womens rights activists and civil society groups are fighting to ensure that fragile human rights gains made over the last 20 years in Afghanistan  since the US-led invasion ousted the Taliban regime  take centre stage in the peace talks under way with the insurgents. It also shows how the rights of girls and women are under threat from conservatives on both sides of the protracted conflict.

This is Talibanisation from inside the republic, Sima Samar, an Afghan human rights activist of nearly 40 years, said on Friday. When they ruled the country, the Taliban  notorious for their repression of women  denied girls the right to education. Music, except religious songs, was also banned, as was television.
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US President Joe Biden (L), with Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd L), meets virtually with members of the 'Quad' alliance of Australia, India, Japan and the US, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 12, 2021. - On screen (R) are Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. ( OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP)

New Delhi: With an eye on China, India along with the other three Quad countries  the US, Japan and Australia  committed to a free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion. They said they were committed to promoting a free, open rules-based order, rooted in international law to advance security and prosperity and counter threats to both in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Quad had come of age and that it had become an important pillar of stability in the region.

Modi with United States President Joe Biden, the Japanese and Australian Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga of Japan and Scott Morrison of Australia discussed the Covid Vaccine Initiative as per which Covid would be developed in the US, manufactured in India, financed by Japan and the US, and supported by Australia at the meeting.

After their meeting on Friday evening, Modi, Biden and the Australian and Japanese PMs said, To advance these goals and others, we will redouble our commitment to Quad engagement. We will combine our nations medical, scientific, financing, manufacturing and delivery, and development capabilities and establish a vaccine expert working group to implement our path-breaking commitment to safe and effective vaccine distribution.

They said the quad would launch a critical- and emerging-technology working group to facilitate cooperation on international standards and innovative technologies of the future. They said the quad would establish a climate working group to strengthen climate actions globally on mitigation, adaptation, resilience, technology, capacity-building, and climate finance.

They added, Our experts and senior officials will continue to meet regularly; our foreign ministers will converse often and meet at least once a year. At the leader level, we will hold an in-person summit by the end of 2021.

Hinting at China, the four leaders said, We support the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity. We commit to work together and with a range of partners. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEANs unity and centrality as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Full of potential, the Quad looks forward to the future; it seeks to uphold peace and prosperity and strengthen democratic resilience, based on universal values.

They further said, Our common goals require us to reckon with the most urgent of global challenges. Today, we pledge to respond to the economic and health impacts of Covid-19, combat climate change, and address shared challenges, including in cyber space, critical technologies, counterterrorism, quality infrastructure investment, and humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief as well as maritime domains.

They added, Building on the progress our countries have achieved on health security, we will join forces to expand safe, affordable, and effective vaccine production and equitable access, to speed economic recovery and benefit global health. With steadfast commitment to the health and safety of our own people, we also recognize that none of us can be safe as long as the pandemic continues to spread. We will, therefore, collaborate to strengthen equitable vaccine access for the Indo-Pacific, with close coordination with multilateral organizations including the World Health Organisation and Covax (a global initiative to ensure easy access to the Covid vaccine). We call for transparent and results-oriented reform at the World Health Organisation. We are united in recognizing that climate change is a global priority and will work to strengthen the climate actions of all nations, including to keep a Paris-aligned temperature limit within reach.

The four leader said, We look forward to a successful COP-26 in Glasgow. We will begin cooperation on the critical technologies of the future to ensure that innovation is consistent with a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. We will continue to prioritise the role of international law in the maritime domain, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and facilitate collaboration, including in maritime security, to meet challenges to the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas. We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, and also confirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese abductees.

The leaders said, As long-standing supporters of Myanmar and its people, we emphasize the urgent need to restore democracy and the priority of strengthening democratic resilience.
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Chandigarh, March 13 : The investigation wing of Punjab GST on Saturday arrested five people for creating and operating a bogus billing of Rs 700 crore in copper scrap and hosiery items across Punjab, Delhi and Haryana.

They have been accused of availing and passing on fraudulent input tax credit to the tune of over Rs 122 crore to various firms without due payment of tax to the government.

An authorisation for the arrest of seven people was issued by Commissioner (State Tax) Nilkanth S. Avhad, an official statement said.

Search and seizure operations were conducted at multiple locations in Khanna town by the teams of the department to gather evidence for establishing the modus operandi that involved creating firms in states outside and within Punjab dealing in copper scrap and hosiery items.

The input tax credit created through bogus firms was used to support the local movement of goods of traders.

The department had got alerted about the network after a vehicle carrying copper scrap was detained last year and investigation had revealed that the goods had been procured locally while as e-way and invoice were generated from some other firm.

The detailed investigation revealed a network of 44 firms spread across states that was being used to create the bogus input tax credit for setting off the tax liability arising out of purchases made from local unregistered dealers.

On being confronted with the evidence, the kingpin accepted that he was operating the network with the help of some other accomplices some of whom have also been arrested.

The total bogus billing by the network is likely to be more than Rs 700 crore while input tax credit created or availed and tax evaded is more than 122 crore, said the official statement.

The accused -- Vinod kumar, Maninder Sharma, Sandeep Singh, Amarinder Singh and Sunny Mehta -- were produced before the Duty Magistrate and were remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.
Belgium and its LGBT+ community are reeling from the countrys first homophobic murder in nine years.

The victim, a 42-year-old man, was lured to a park before being brutally beaten to death by three youths using Grindr to snare the victim, according to the police.

He has been named by Belgian media as David P.

Davids body was found by a cyclist in the early hours of Sunday at a park just outside the northern port of Antwerp, East Flanders. Local police are still in the early stages of their investigation.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder, all of them considered minors under law in Belgium.

A 17-year old boy from Antwerp and two boys from Beveren, aged 16 and 17, are currently in custody under interrogation according to a statement by the public prosecutor of East Flanders on Monday.

Belgian politicians have since condemned the brutal hate crime among them, including Europes first openly trans minister and deputy prime minister for the Belgian Federal Government, Petra De Sutter.

De Sutter tweeted: Disgust. Grief. Compassion. What drives people so far in their hatred that they kill a man just because he likes men.

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Lets condemn this cowardly murder in the strongest possible terms. And get rid of homo- and transphobia completely, also here with us.

This is the first murder tied to homophobia in Belgium since the slaying of Morrocan Ihsane Jarfi in Liege on 22 April 2012.

Jarfis body was found days after he was abducted outside a gay bar, showing signs he had been tortured to death for hours.

The case resulted in aggravated sentences for the killers due to the homophobic nature of the attack, the first to see homophobia recognised as an aggravating factor since it was ratified in 2003.

Jeremy Witgens, Jonathan Lekeu, Mutlu Kizilaslan were handed life sentences, and Eric Parmentier was jailed for 30 years over the killing.

This weeks murder has sent similar shockwaves through the Belgian LGBT+ community, which has been facing a steady rise of homophobic verbal and physical violence since 2012, according to the latest report from Unia, an independent human rights institution.

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It reported an increase of 38 per cent over the past five years alone

It is clear that when we talk about the acceptance of LGBT+ people, we must remain vigilant. There remains an undercurrent of negativity towards LGBT+ people. the report stated.

Flemish advocacy group for LGBT+ people, Cavaria, has since launched a civil action in order to closely monitor the investigation of recent hate crimes.

In a statement, Cavaria said: It is particularly poignant that this happened. Not only for those directly involved but for the entire LGBT+ community in Flanders.

After all, a hate crime is an attack on an entire group of people, based on an identity characteristic of that group.

General coordinator of Cavaria, Yves Aerts, added: We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the victim.

We hope they find support from each other in these difficult circumstances. We hope the whole LGBT+ community can find warmth and love from each other in these difficult times.

Grassroot LGBT+ activist, Laurent James, 26, has reacted to the events on social media stating: Despite laws and our reputation as an openminded and liberal country, queer people remain at a huge, disproportionate risk of verbal and physical violence.

We strongly urge secretary of state for gender equality, equal opportunities and diversity Sarah Schlitz and minister of justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, to not only strongly condemn these attacks but prevent future LGBT+ violence from happening in more than one way.

Laurent James was inspired to create his social media platform for any queer related content by his own personal experiences of homophobic verbal violence and the lack of outright honest criticism.

I do feel that there is a rise of homophobia in this country, the community is absolutely shocked by such an act of violence, he said.
Im not allowed to pump back into the grid at the moment because they dont have availability, said Mr Pilsbury, who after rebates spent $8200 installing the system. He anticipated a small payment for each kilowatt he supplied to the energy system each hour. It wouldve taken about eight to 10 years to pay itself off using that pricing, he said. It will take at least double that now unless Powercor relents and allows him to export energy. Mr Pilsbury said an app on his phone showed his new system was already saving his family about $8 a week. Being green was part of getting it. Im a plumber so I install a lot of green hot water systems. He estimated two-thirds of his street had put on solar power. Everybody wants to save as much money as they can, and a lot of people have big families.

Mr Pilsbury said Powercor want to keep the money in their pockets rather than ours. Powercor is half-owned by Spark Infrastructure, which also owns CitiPower. Last month, Spark told the stock market its Victorian power distribution businesses would make profits before interest, taxes and depreciation of $903 million  a six per cent increase on the previous financial year. While it made healthy profits, the two companies also spent $582 million maintaining infrastructure. More than 2000 new customers joining Powercors areas, which include all of western Melbourne and most of the state west of the city, were told in the past 18 months that if they installed solar they would get no payments for energy they provided to the network. Slightly fewer who are on AusNets grid in Melbournes east all the way to the border were told the same. Less than 1 per cent of CitiPowers inner-city solar customers cannot feed back into the grid. Powercors network solutions manager Claire Cass said of 32,580 customers connected to solar with Powercor in the last 18 months, only 2023 could not export power. Some of these customers may have received approval to export since, due to network improvements made since their connection.

Distributors are concerned about solar energy affecting the quality of power injected into the system. This potentially impacts other customers, including those without solar, Powercor said in a statement. Loading Ms Cass said the distributor had to maintain the network so that allowing solar power onto the grid would not cause brownouts or difficulties in starting up sensitive appliances like pool pumps and air conditioners. Powercor is spending $3 million between March and June in locations from Portland through to Point Cook making sure poles and wires can take differing voltage levels sometimes supplied by solar. An AusNet spokeswoman said 154,000 of its 740,000 electricity customers were now on solar, and less than 1 per cent could not feed power back into the grid. She said while solar exporting onto the power grid was creating intense pressure on its infrastructure, the company was spending millions of dollars so more customers could install solar without constraints.

The rise of rooftop solar has in part been fuelled by the governments Solar Homes Program, which has driven more than 100,000 homes to add a system. We are on track for one million households to have solar panels by 2030, Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio said. Victorian Greens deputy leader Ellen Sandell said many residents contacted her office frustrated they couldnt feed excess energy into the network. People who want to do the right thing, but were being discouraged by distribution companies, she said. This was a result of an essential service being privatised and handed to monopoly operators. Ryan Smith, the oppositions energy spokesman, said the government issued great press releases about energy policies and then wash their hands of any complications that arise and say its someone elses fault. Energy Minister Lily DAmbrosio said the government was working with the five privately-owned distribution companies  so more households can get the full benefits of solar.

Dean Lombard from Renew said limiting solar being fed into the grid was becoming more common because of the surge in installations. Its really unfortunate, for two reasons, he said: new solar users sums now didnt add up, and they werent exporting to the grid to help the environment.That excess clean energy gets wasted. He said the problem was being managed in a blunt way by distributors. He said an approach known as dynamic export limits was needed, which meant power networks could allow power to be exported most of the time but at certain times of day they could dial it down - but these systems arent in place. Loading Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said the electricity distribution companies were operating in an old fashioned paradigm of energy flows happening in one direction. Electricity grids were designed for one-way power flows from centralised sources of generation; to accommodate rooftop solar, they must be modernised to allow two-way flows.
An independant investigation into the suffocation death of an unarmed black man during an arrest in upstate New York last year has found that officials 'suppressed' information about the murder.

The report, commissioned by Rochester's city council and made public Friday, found that the city's mayor and former police chief kept critical details of the case secret for months and lied to the public about what they knew.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren lied at a September 2 press conference, the report added, when she said it wasn't until August 2020 that she learned officers had physically restrained Daniel Prude, 41, during the arrest that led to his death.

She told reporters 'no' when they asked if she was aware about officers using psychical restraint on March 23, 2020, when she was, in fact, given this information on the same day.

The report also found that by mid-April she, then-Police Chief LaRon Singletary and other officials were aware Prude had died as a result and the officers were under criminal investigation.

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An independant investigation into the suffocation death of an unarmed black man Daniel Prude (pictured right) in March 2020 has found that Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren (pictured left) lied at a September 2 press conference about what she knew about the murder

Ex-Rochester Police Department Chief La'Ron Singletary (pictured) also kept critical details of the case secret for months and lied to the public about what he knew, the report says

'In the final analysis, the decision not to publicly disclose these facts rested with Mayor Warren, as the elected mayor of the city of Rochester,' said the report, written by New York City-based lawyer Andrew G. Celli Jr.

'But Mayor Warren alone is not responsible for the suppression of the circumstances of the Prude arrest and Mr. Prude's death.'

Prude died in March 2020, several days after police officers put a spit hood over his head and pressed his naked body against the street until he stopped breathing.

Prude's brother had called the Rochester police for help as the father-of-five was suffering a mental health emergency.

Police initially described his death as a drug overdose but the county medical examiner listed the manner of death as homicide caused by 'complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint' and cited the drug PCP as a contributing factor.

His death caused a wave of protests in Rochester after family released the shocking bodycam footage of the arrest in September.

The video shows Prude handcuffed and naked with a spit hood over his head as an officer pushes his face against the ground, while another officer presses a knee to his back.

The officers held him down for about two minutes until he stopped breathing. He was taken off life support a week later.

Warren said in a statement that she welcomed Friday's report 'because it allows our community to move forward.'

'Throughout city government, we have acknowledged our responsibility, recognized that changes are necessary and taken action,' she said, citing various measures on police practices and discipline.

The independent investigation released its report in Friday, pictured

In her statement, Warren didn't address the report's specific assessments of her own conduct.

A special counsel to the city administration disputed claims that Warren had lied.

The mayor spoke based on the facts known to her at the time and if what she said wasn't true, it was because Singletary had misled her, Carrie Cohen said.

The report said Singletary told the mayor the officers restrained Prude, but the chief 'consistently deemphasized' the role of restraints in Prude's death, and his statements to officials didn't 'capture the disturbing tenor of the entire encounter'.

Singletary's characterization 'likely impacted' how city officials viewed the matter, the report said.

A lawyer for Singletary said, under a first review of the report, Singletary 'was truthful in his statements' to Warren and other city officials.

'He never participated in any cover-up nor did he intentionally downplay the circumstances' around Prude's death, Michael Tallon said in a statement.

'When asked by the mayor to lie, he declined and he announced his retirement the next day,' he added.

Warren told the public Singletary initially told her Prude's death was a 'drug overdose,' but Friday's report said he never told her that.

Prude was naked and in handcuffs when the 'spit hood' was put over his head during an arrest on March 23 - after his brother called 911 seeking help for his erratic behavior

Paramedics arrived as Prude was wrestled to the floor, still wearing the 'spit hood'

The shocking bodycam footage sparked protests in Rochester, New York

The bodycam footage was released by Prude's family in September

Singletary, meanwhile, made 'untrue statements by omission' when he failed to correct Warren's claim during a September news conference that she was not informed Prude's death had been ruled a homicide, the report said.

It said Singletary told her of the finding on April 13.

Additionally, the report said, a city lawyer in August discouraged Warren from publicly disclosing Prude's arrest or commencing disciplinary action against the officers after she viewed body camera video of the encounter for the first time.

The lawyer incorrectly stated that the city was barred from taking action against the officers while the state attorney general's office was investigating Prude's death, the report said.

'There are no surprises in there. It confirms most of what I already knew,' said attorney Elliot Shields, who represents Prude's brother, Joe.

'What it shows me on a larger scale is the systemic failures of the city,' he said.

Prude (pictured) died in March 2020, several days after police officers put a spit hood over his head and pressed his naked body against the street until he stopped breathing

This undated photo shows Daniel Prude (right) posing with his brother Joe Prude, who had called the cops on March 23, 2020, when the father-of-five was having a mental health crisis

A grand jury last month declined to indict the officers involved.

Lawyers for the seven police officers suspended over Prude's death have said the officers were strictly following their training that night, employing a restraining technique known as 'segmenting.'

They claimed Prude's use of PCP, which caused irrational behavior, was 'the root cause' of his death.

Rochester's city council authorized the independent investigation into the handling of Prude's death within days of the video being made public and voted to give investigators the power to subpoena city departments.

Celli, in the report, noted that the decision to inform the public of a significant event 'is a policy judgment, and a political one, not a legal one,' and that there are no written rules or standards in Rochester governing the mayor or other officials in such matters.

'It is not for the special council investigator to pass judgment on whether the decisions by Rochester officials not to disclose the arrest and death of Daniel Prude were right or wrong,' Celli wrote.

'The judges of that question are the citizens of the city of Rochester and the public at large.'

People react after a grand jury voted not to indict officers in Daniel Prude's death last month

Lawyers for the seven police officers suspended over Prude's death have said the officers were strictly following their training that night. Pictured, a protester writes on a street with chalk after the New York grand jury voted not to indict police officers in Daniel Prude's death

The report also confirms that Rochester police commanders urged city officials to hold off on publicly releasing the body camera footage of Prude's suffocation death because they feared violent blowback if it came out during protests over the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

In a June 4 email, Deputy Chief Mark Simmons cited the 'current climate' in the city and the nation and advised Singletary to press the city's lawyers to deny a Prude family lawyer's public records request for the footage of the encounter that led to his death.

'We certainly do not want people to misinterpret the officers actions and conflate this incident with any recent killings of unarmed Black men by law enforcement nationally,' Simmons wrote.

'That would simply be a false narrative, and could create animosity and potentially violent blow back in this community as a result.'

'Totally agree,' Singletary replied, according to the emails.

Rochester officials released the emails last fall, along with police reports and other documents.

The delay in the release of the bodycam footage led to New York Attorney General Letitia James' office implementing a new policy in which body camera footage will now be released earlier in the investigation process.

Warren fired Singletary and suspended the city lawyer, Corporation Counsel Tim Curtin, and communications director Justin Roj without pay for 30 days in response to fallout over the case.

Prude's death sparked several weeks of nightly protests and calls for Warren's resignation.

His family has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the police department sought to cover up the true nature of Prudes death.
For as long as Donald Trump was president, Ukraine was at the center of Americas partisan political brawls. President Joe Biden is now trying to shift the U.S. focus on Ukraine away from domestic politics and back onto Kyivs anti-corruption efforts  a push he helped initiate as vice president.

In his early days in office, Biden has been keeping the Eastern European ally at arm's-length, hoping that the toxic fumes from the previous administration will subside. At the same time, he is quietly pushing for further reforms in a country he spent years getting to know as vice president, and one that is a critical front in the wests efforts to contain Russia.

Trumps four years in office did serious damage to diplomatic relations between Washington and Kyiv. Bidens anti-corruption initiatives in Ukraine, and his sons financial entanglements there, were weaponized by Trumps allies in both his first impeachment trial and during the 2020 election. In both instances, Republicans tried to paint the now-president as corruptly using Ukraine for personal financial gain, dragging the former Soviet republic of 43 million people into the center of domestic U.S. political turmoil.

There is a real atmosphere of awkwardness between the U.S. and Ukraine on the front end of the Biden administration, said Daniel Vajdich, a nonresident senior fellow at The Atlantic Council who specializes in Europe and Eurasia. I do think there are very real, residual consequences from impeachment in that sense.

The Ukraine portfolio is one of the trickier foreign policy issues the new president faces, as he juggles domestic political considerations, the promotion of an anti-corruption agenda globally and the U.S. response to a prospective Germany-Russia gas pipeline that, if completed, will please an ally, thrill an adversary and deprive Ukraine of billions of dollars in revenue annually.

So far, Bidens been deliberate in his approach. In his nearly 50 days in office, he has spoken to close to two dozen world leaders, from allies to adversaries to frenemies. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a key partner on the frontlines of the battlefield with Russia  and the man who unwittingly found himself in the Trump impeachment spotlight  is still waiting his turn.

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There is merit to having Zelensky sit and wait his turn for a call, said one former U.S. official who remains close to the Biden administration. He is not struggling with all his might to fight corruption. In fact, pro-Russian oligarchs in Ukraine have gained immense power since Zelensky took over. So there needs to be tough love with Zelensky when that one-on-one conversation does happen.

A senior administration official emphasized that Americas commitment to Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic aspirations is rock solid, and discouraged the public from reading too much into the fact that Biden hasnt called Zelensky yet.

I know he looks forward to speaking to President Zelensky to discuss the ambitious agenda at the heart of our revitalized partnership, the official said. She added that both Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have spoken to their Ukrainian counterparts.

Andrew Mac, an informal, unpaid adviser to Zelensky, said he believes U.S. policy goals "can be achieved much more effectively by speaking to President Zelensky than at President Zelensky," adding that "there is no daylight between President Zelensky and the United States when it comes to deoligarchization."

A spokesperson for Zelensky, Iullia Mendel, downplayed the fact that no call has occurred yet between the leaders.

"Contacts between Ukraine and the United States are constantly taking place at numerous levels at a much greater pace than the previous administration," she said.

"There is no negativity in the fact that President Zelenskyy and President Biden have not had telephone conversations yet. We understand that the Biden administration is not fully formed yet and there is no pressure from our side. We firmly believe President Biden is a great friend of Ukraine and President Zelensky looks forward to working with him in the coming years in combating Russian aggression and deoligarchizing Ukraine."

Zelensky tried to lay low during Trumps first impeachment, working hard to stay out of the domestic political turmoil. But he did tell reporters at one point during the saga that it was not wise to block aid to a strategic partner at war with a major western adversary. The Biden administration last month released half of the $250 million in security assistance appropriated by Congress  the other half is contingent upon Ukraines progress on anti-corruption reforms that are negotiated in advance with Kyiv.

We have a lot of catching up to do to show our commitment to an anti-corruption agenda and to the rule of law, said one former top Zelensky aide who still advises the government.

Zelensky is also not oblivious to the political forces at work, having witnessed how Bidens overt calls for reform in Ukraine were weaponized in the last two years of the Trump administration. In a now-infamous phone call in July 2019, Trump tried to bribe Zelensky into investigating Bidens dealings in Ukraine in order to derail Bidens election campaign. Trump was impeached over the episode. But his allies have continued trying to use Biden and his sons work in Ukraine as a political cudgel.

You would think the Ukrainians would have learned that pursuing a phone call with the president of the United States has in the past turned out not to have been a good idea, joked former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor. Bad things came out of that last phone call.

The former Zelensky aide said that there is broad recognition in Kyiv that Washington is taking a tough approach to reforms in Ukraine.

Its not an unusual strategy for Biden, who pushed hard for anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine while he was vice president. In late 2015, he began agitating for Ukraine to remove its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, and threatened to withhold up to $1 billion in U.S. aid until Shokin was fired. It was that threat that was used by Trump-allies as evidence that he was trying to assist his sons business dealings  a charge that made little sense, since at the time Shokin was not investigating the gas company Burisma, on whose board Hunter Biden sat.

Though President Biden has yet to call Zelensky or engage directly with the Ukrainians in any formal way, he has signaled to Kyiv that its reform initiatives must continue. In one significant step this month, the State Department sanctioned the powerful Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, in what both Ukrainians and American foreign policy experts perceived as a not-so-subtle hint that Zelensky should do more to rein in the oligarchs himself.

I do think it is important for Zelensky to be able to represent to the [Ukrainian parliament] that U.S. support has not all of a sudden become no-strings-attached, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Ukraine Caucus. They are very different strings than those that existed during the Trump administration, but we still expect there to be reforms in order to have us be a friend, partner, and advocate.

Oleksandr Danylyuk, who served as Zelenskys national security adviser until late 2019, said that Ukrainains heard the message of the Kolomoisky sanctions loud and clear. This is the signal from the U.S. to act, he said. Zelensky has all the tools necessary to tackle the oligarchs if he actually wants to.

Case in point: Ukraines recent decision to sanction the powerful Ukrainian businessman Viktor Medvedchuk, a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin who also serves as a senior official for the pro-Russian Ukrainian political party For Life.

U.S. and European officials have broadly viewed the Medvedchuk sanctions as a step in the right direction. But the U.S. wants to see a broader de-oligarchization campaign, and its still unclear whether the sanctions were the first step toward such a campaign or whether they were simply the result of a domestic power struggle.

If I were sitting in the White House, I would see that in Ukraine there has clearly been some backtracking on anti-corruption efforts that were spearheaded during the Obama administration, Danylyuk said.

One area of concern for the Biden administration has been the Ukrainian parliaments efforts to exert greater control over the countrys National Anti-Corruption Bureau  a bill passed by the lawmakers last month would empower them to fire NABUs director Artem Sytnyk.

Another bad sign from the administrations perspective has been Kyivs recent row with the International Monetary Fund, which suspended a $700 million payment to Ukraine earlier this year until the government makes more progress in reforming its justice system, removes natural gas subsidies for Ukrainian households and re-establishes the independence of its central bank.

After a very fast start, I think Zelenskys reform agenda has predictably stalled, Murphy said. In particular, NABU has to be empowered and Sytnyk has to be able to operate independently  people need to fear him and his operation. So I think it is important for us, early on, to make it clear that if reforms proceed in 2021 at the same pace that they did in 2020, its going to be hard to make the case to Congress to continue support for Ukraine.

Taylor, who served as the U.S. charge d'affaires to Ukraine after the former ambassador, Marie Yovanovitch, was forced out of her position by the Trump administration, said he believes that Ukrainians ought to be reassured by this new administration, not only because it sanctioned Kolomoisky  one of the most destructive oligarchs in Ukraine  but also because of the statement Biden released last month committing to never recognize Russias purported annexation of Crimea.

You don't get presidential statements like that every day, Taylor said.

But Crimea is just one of several thorny issues. Some Ukrainian government officials are nervous about this administrations approach to Nord Stream 2, a major Germany-Russia gas pipeline under construction that could deprive Kyiv of up to $1 billion annually and give Russia more control over the region. Lawmakers had expected that a report from the State Department last month would identify more targets for Nord Stream 2 sanctions, as required by law. But the report only identified two Russian vessels involved in the project that had already been sanctioned by the Trump administration.

The former Zelensky aide said a chief concern internally was that the Biden administration would prioritize its relationship with Germany  which wants the Nord Stream 2 construction to continue  at the expense of Ukraines security.

The senior administration official pushed back on that, saying that we are continuing to look at entities that may be involved in sanctionable activities and will take necessary follow-on steps from there. The official added that Biden sees the pipeline as a clear example of Russias aggressive action in the region, which provides the means to use a critical natural resource for political pressure and malign influence against Europe.

Taylor, the former ambassador, acknowledged that there is a policy tension within the new administration between wanting to repair the U.S. relationship with Germany, which was battered by Trump, and protecting European energy security and Ukrainian sovereignty. But he noted that allies disagree all the time while remaining friends and partners and argued that countering Russian President Vladimir Putin depends largely on strengthening Ukraine.

There needs to be a return to a recognition that if Ukraine succeeds, then Mr. Putin fails, he said. If Ukraine succeeds in becoming a normal European country  a values-oriented, market-based, part of Europe  then Putinism fails. I think President Biden understands that.


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Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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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"
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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"
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Statement by Ambassador Byrne Nason at Arria-Formula Meeting on Crimea

Statement

Thank you, Minister,

I want to thank our briefers this morning and in particular Mr Memedeminov for his courage and his work on the ground in Crimea.

Minister, I also want to say at the outset that Ireland strongly supports Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as diplomatic efforts to achieve this. In this regard, we underline the importance of respect for and timely implementation of judicial decisions. In line with our respect for the fundamental principles of international law, Ireland does not recognize the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

We have heard today Minister of the deeply worrying human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula.

Residents of the peninsula face restrictions of their human rights and their fundamental freedoms, such as the rights to freedom of expression, religion, belief and association and the right to peaceful assembly.

The situation of Crimean Tatars is of particular concern. They, along with Ukrainians and all ethnic and religious minorities in the peninsula, must be allowed to maintain their identities and traditions. Likewise, we call for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in conflict resolution efforts on the peninsula.

Journalists like Mr Memedeminov, other media workers, human rights defenders and defence lawyers must be able to work independently and without undue interference and intimidation.

Ireland welcomes the valuable work being done by Ukrainian human rights organisations. It is crucial that the regional and international human rights monitoring mechanisms as well as the non-governmental human rights organisations have unimpeded access to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

Ireland calls for the immediate release of all imprisoned human rights defenders and of Ukrainian citizens in Crimea who have been illegally detained, and sentenced in breach of international law.

We call for reports of human rights violations and abuses such as enforced disappearances and torture to be fully investigated. There can be no impunity for violations of human rights.

Minister, we are deeply disturbed that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM)s freedom of movement continues to be restricted and that this Missions equipment has been damaged or interfered with. Let me recall that all the signatories of the Minsk Agreements agreed on the need for the Special Monitoring Missions safe and secure access to the entire territory of Ukraine.

We call on the Russian Federation to stop changing the demographic structure in Crimea through resettlement of its own civilian population to the peninsula. Furthermore, Ireland stresses that under international humanitarian law, the population in Crimea cannot be compelled to serve in the Russian armed or auxiliary forces, nor be subjected to forced transfer or deportation.

We underline that militarization of the Crimean peninsula continues to have a negative impact on the security situation in the Black Sea region and beyond. We call on Russia to refrain from impeding the lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms to and from the Sea of Azov in accordance with international law and for peace and prosperity in the region.

Finally Minister, like others we also recognize the significant economic toll this conflict has had on people in the region, including the most vulnerable members of society.

Thank you Minister.

 Previous Item | Next Item 

Westmoreland County Prison guards processing an incoming inmate are credited with thwarting an attempt to smuggle about 100 anti-anxiety and painkiller pills into the lockup, according to court documents.

Jamel C. Miles, 33, of Greensburg was arraigned this week on multiple criminal counts of attempt to deliver controlled substances, possession of controlled substances and illegal possession of a controlled substance without a prescription in connection with the alleged attempt March 3.

According to county Det. James Williams, Miles was being processed into the prison after his arrest by Greensburg police for disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after he failed to post $25,000 bond.

Williams reported booking officer David Tucci noticed Miles was carrying a small back pack and found plastic bags inside containing multiple pills including 75 Xanax tablets, an anti-anxiety medication, and 16 pink oxycodone pills.

Williams reported in court documents that the amount of contraband discovered indicated that due to the separate packaging and the amount involved, it was indicating it was for delivery rather than mere possession.

Prison Warden Bryan Kline noted Friday that when prisoners are booked at the Hempfield lockup officers search all of their belongings and they are strip searched.

Thirdly, they have to go through a body scan, Kline added.

Miles bond was increased from $25,000 to $50,000 with the new charges added. A preliminary hearing is scheduled March 19.

Between 2018 and 2019, Miles served a nine- to 23-month sentence at the jail for aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault, terroristic threats, according to online court dockets.

He was sentenced for two 2018 incidents when he assaulted a woman at the Hempfield Heights apartment complex and fired a handgun at a maintenance man who attempted to intercede. The sentence also included a penalty on assault charges related to his guilty plea for spitting on three jail guards in October 2018 after he arrived at the prison after his arrest.
A disturbing practice has been reported at Grallagh Cemetery, Garristown, which is leaving families of the bereaved deeply unsettled and upset.

In recent weeks, visitors to the cemetery have reported that small tributes and sentimental items placed on loved ones' graves have been removed, never to be seen again.

One Oldtown resident spoke of how her family's gravesides had been interfered with: 'The problem is that stuff is being lifted off the graves; my daughter is down there and a beautiful angel was taken around four years ago, and the more people I talk to, the more I hear that stuff has been taken like pots and different things.

'For instance, one of the girls here, her husband's anniversary was last week and they had a photograph of him on a slate and it was welded to the stone, but the slate was taken with his photograph on it.

'I put candles into lanterns, I've two graves down there, my husband and my daughter and I lit the candles and the candles were taken but the lanterns were left. I didn't report it, sure who would you report it to or what would be done?'

According to the Oldtown resident, visitors to Grallagh Cemetery have been left 'absolutely disgusted' at the thought they can now no longer place sentimental items at their loved ones' gravesides.

She said: 'When it happened to me first, I just thought that's dreadful, because they cleaned off the whole grave. I would have been talking to people about it and over the years it's just getting more regular. People are just afraid to put stuff at the graves.

'I didn't tell anyone, Cathal (Independent councillor, Cathal Boland) was the first person I told, but what can you do? You can't put cameras up and if you put a sign up they'll take it down because it's their ground. So what can you do?'

Cllr Boland has appealed to whoever is removing the graveside items to cease the practice immediately and to call a halt to the 'deeply offensive' behaviour.

'Graves are very special places and many find great consolation by attend and maintaining the family plots. Drawing as they do the special memories which they shared with their parents, spouse or in many cases children lost to them too soon', he said.

'The removal of special things from the grave is an affront to civilised behaviour and I'd appeal to those involved in such activity to stop.

'This might be seen as a bit of harmless sport but it's not.

'It unthinking, uncaring behaviour which is deeply offensive.

'All societies be they God fearing or other wise treat the resting places of the dead with respect.'
NEW MILFORD  Local author Scott Leddys latest book is a novel called All the Kings Men.

Taken from the books synopsis, which was written by Leddy:

Tatiana Botnaris life is hard in Moldova. She struggles to financially support her young son in a country falling into disrepair. When her clairvoyant dreams show visions of a serial madman preying on young children and the police department scoff at her claims, she seeks the help of former FBI Behaviorist and serial profiler, Raymond Fischer. Fischer, self-exiled, fled the US to Soroca after the death of his daughter. A bottle in his fist and a grudge on his shoulder, he joins the search for the elusive Bogeyman of Bessarabia. The pair team up with local reporter, Aleksandr Radu, and the manhunt soon becomes the largest in Moldovas history.

Can Fischer suppress his inner demons?

Will Tatianas horrifying visions cause her to lose her mind?

Let the hunt begin

The novel, published in January, centers around a young mother whose clairvoyant dreams show visions of a serial madman preying on young children and a former FBI behaviorist and profiler and their search for the elusive Bogeyman of Bessarabia, the authors announcement said. They are joined by a reporter, and the manhunt soon becomes the largest in Moldovas history.

The book, which is available on Kindle and at Amazon, contains adult material (violence and graphic details.)

Leddy, a resident of New Milford, is a longtime member of the Republican Town Committee and is the Zoning Board of Appeals secretary.
March 5 was the third anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of a Tamil refugee family in the central Queensland town of Biloela. It also marked three years of a non-stop fight for their freedom waged by the residents of the town, through their campaign Home to Bilo.

To mark the anniversary, vigils were organised in cities and towns across Australia, demonstrating the wide support for the asylum seekers. In Biloela, the vigil was held at 5 a.m., marking the same time, in 2018, that armed guards and local police stormed the home of Nadesalingam (Nades) and Priya, the husband and wife, and their two daughters, Kopika and Tharunicaa.

Nadesalingam Murugappan, known as Nades, Kokilapathmapriya Nadesalingam, known as Priya, and their five-year-old Kopika and three-year-old Tharnicaa [Credit: Facebook @solidaritywithBiloela]

Similar events were held in all the capital citiesCanberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart and Darwin. They were also conducted in regional centres, including Bundaberg in Queensland, Warrnambool in Victoria, and Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Armidale and Moruya in New South Wales. Altogether, they drew hundreds of people from around the country.

Significantly, a dusk vigil was held on Christmas Island, an Australian-controlled territory in the Indian Ocean, where the family has been imprisoned since September 2019.

The campaign is demanding that Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke use their ministerial powers to intervene, release the family and bring them home to Biloela, where they lived for more than four years before their arrest.

Biloela is close to coal mining operations and has a large abattoir that employs numbers of immigrants and refugees, and where Nades previously worked. The stand taken by the working-class people and professionals of this town, as well as the support won for this campaign across the country, exposes the myth of popular support for the literal war on refugees conducted by successive governments, both Liberal-National and Labor Party, since the 1990s.

Angela Fredericks, one of the campaign leaders, told the media: Theyve essentially spent three years behind bars for committing no crime. Speaking on the trauma inflicted on the family, Fredericks said their lives have been destroyed just in terms of the amount of stress that has been put on that family.

Fredericks commented on the widespread support for the family. The campaign may have started here in Biloela, she said, but the family has won love and support right across Australia. Theyve gone to Melbourne, Perth, Darwin and now Christmas Island. It doesnt matter where theyve gone, that connection, and that fight in Biloela, has still stayed strong.

The governments raid on the family was carried out by the para-military Australian Border Force. It would never have come to light except for the campaign instigated by Biloela residents. The raid was deliberately conducted in the early hours of the morning with the aim of quickly deporting the family to Sri Lanka.

If deported, they would be immediately turned over to the Sri Lankan police Criminal Investigation Department. It has a long-documented history of torturing and imprisoning Tamil refugees, especially those with alleged ties the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which Nades said he joined in 2001.

The government and immigration department have maintained that the family is not entitled to any sort of protection visa. Under the border protection policy reinforced by the last Labor government, any asylum seekers who arrive by boat are denied the right to asylum and forbidden from ever settling in the country.

This regime has been upheld by the High Court, Australias supreme court. Last month, however, the full bench of the Federal Court rejected the governments appeal against an earlier ruling by Justice Mark Moshinsky that the youngest daughter Tharunicaa had been denied procedural fairness. Moshinsky branded the treatment of the family Kafkaesque, referring to novelist Franz Kafkas depiction of prisoners thrown into legal limbo.

The Home to Bilo campaign has drawn national attention. Residents from Biloela have been interviewed on television and radio. They have raised thousands of dollars in donations for the familys legal battle. Some celebrities, media figures and politicians have joined the calls for the familys release.

In Sydney, Labor Senator Kristina Keneally spoke at the vigil, asserting that the family had support from right-wing figures, including radio host Alan Jones and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Keneally declared: It seems to me the only three people in Australia who are unmoved are Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison and Alex Hawke.

Keneally has claimed to defend the family since 2019, but the Labor Party has helped create and maintain the anti-refugee laws. Keneally herself has criticised the Coalition government from the right, accusing it of losing control of the borders.

When Dutton went to Sri Lanka in 2019 to reinforce the military operation to stop refugees reaching Australia, the government temporarily halted aerial patrols to hunt refugee boats. Keneally denounced this on Twitter, writing: Mr Dutton needs to explain why he stopped these crucial border patrols.

Moreover, it was the Gillard Labor government that, in 2012, declared that all asylum seekers from Sri Lanka who arrived by boat would be forcibly repatriated. This followed an agreement made with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, which resulted in 700 deportations.

The brutal treatment of this family typifies the horrors inflicted on refugees by the political elites internationally. The answer is not to appeal to the very political parties responsible for this nightmare. The orientation must be to the working class, and the fight for the basic right for working people to live and work wherever they choose around the world, as part of a common struggle against the capitalist profit system that maintains the national borders.
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The Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has spoken against people making demeaning remarks against President Muhammadu Buhari.

There is no need for people to have the paraphernalia of security  you have the police, you have SSS, you have all (that). And those are the ones that help you to sleep in the night and then you come out to say that the presidency is deceiving people, Mr Akpabio, in what looked like a veiled attack apparently targeted at the governors of the states that make up Nigerias Niger Delta region.

Mr Akpabio said in his speech at the inauguration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) permanent office building in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, while he inaugurated the 13-floor storey building on behalf of Mr Buhari.

Apart from Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, no governor from the NDDC operational states participated in the ceremony.

The minister, with a shaky voice, appeared apprehensive when he was delivering his speech.

Without even the president, you cant sleep (at night) even if you are a governor, he said.

Some of them have not asked themselves what have we done with the 13 per cent derivation, but yet they will open their mouth and talk about the presidency in very demeaning terms.

I want Mr President to ignore those things.

It is not outsiders that have destroyed this place; trillions have been sent (in) but nothing has been seen on ground, Mr Akpabio said.

It is unclear who Mr Akpabio was referring to among the governors in the Niger Delta region.

Apart from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, governors in the region rarely make critical remarks against Mr Buhari.

Mr Akpabio, in his speech, said past managements of the NDDC refused to connect to the public power supply, the commissions rented office, for over 15 years, so they could give out contracts for the supply of diesel. That became a different racket on its own, he said.

Mr Akpabio thanked President Buhari for the love he has for the Niger Delta region.

Mr President this is a monument that will stand to remember you in history, positively, he said of the NDDC office building.

He appealed to the Niger Delta people to cooperate with Mr Buharis administration for the region to move forward.

NDDC has not justified its creation  Governor Uzodinma

The governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, who spoke at the ceremony on behalf of the governors of the Niger Delta region, said the NDDC may not have justified its creation.

Unfortunately, after two decades of its existence with an estimated allocation of N946.91 Billion in 18 years, NDDC may find it difficult to convince many Nigerians especially those from the South-East and South-South states that it has justified its creation.

Mr Uzodinma said majority of the people feel that the agency has fallen short of expectations.

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The financial scandal that rocked NDDC not too long ago blighted whatever impact it had made in the past, he added.

The governor thanked Mr Buhari for seeing to the completion of the commissions office after almost two decades since the commencement of the building project. He said he expected the commission to turn a new leaf, henceforth.

The governor proposed an amendment to the law establishing the NDDC to enable communities to make inputs and also monitor the commissions budgets and projects.

It is my well-informed view that to address the kind of contract scandal that rocked NDDC in the past, and the concomitant allegations of corruption that followed, there is need for more involvement of the people in the affairs of the commission.

In this regard, the people should make inputs into the NDCC budget in accord with their expectations and needs, through town hall meetings.

Thereafter, the NDDC should be mandated to adopt such inputs in its budget. The Amended Act should make it mandatory for the commission to execute all the projects coming from the people of the oil-bearing communities.

The communities shall also be empowered by law to monitor contracts awarded for projects in their communities and to certify their satisfactory execution before final payments are made.

I believe that this will greatly reduce sharp practices in the execution of NDDC contracts and will reduce corruption as well, Mr Uzodinma said.

The governors of the South-south region recently canvassed for funds accruing to the NDDC to be put in an escrow account pending when the commission has a proper management and board.

(The) monies being sent to the NDDC should be put in an escrow account until a board is constituted and then proper processes are followed in the expenditure of the money, in such a way it will be visibly accountable in the best interest of the peoples of the Niger Delta, the Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, said a few days ago at a meeting of the forum in Port Harcourt.
Elvis Presley gave us some of the most popular classic rock music of all time, however, not all of his albums feature music. For example, his album Having Fun with Elvis on Stage includes no music at all. Heres why his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, thought this was a good idea.

Elvis Presley | CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Why Colonel Tom Parker decided Elvis Presley should release an album with no songs

Part of the reason Elvis is so revered is because of his live performances. He had lots of charisma on stage and would make a lot of funny jokes. Two famous television films  the 68 Comeback Special and Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite  capture his prowess as a live performer. One album tried to do the same thing in an extremely unconventional way.

According to the book 100 Things Elvis Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, Parker decided the King of Rock n Roll should release a spoken word album. This was because he realized Elvis label, RCA, would not own the rights to any spoken word recordings by Elvis. However, the resulting record, Having Fun with Elvis on Stage, was not much like your average spoken word album.

Burning Love

RELATED: Elvis Presley Tried to Sleep With Karen Carpenter and Petula Clark at the Same Time, and It Didnt Go Well

Spoken word albums generally include monologues and/or poetry. On the other hand, Having Fun with Elvis on Stage includes the King of Rock n Rolls onstage banter without any songs. Many of his jokes are devoid of context so listening to the album is an unusual and disorienting experience.

How Elvis Presleys fans reacted to the album

The publics reaction to Having Fun with Elvis on Stage is notable. The album did not chart on the Billboard 200 at all. Given that the King of Rock n Roll released multiple No. 1 albums, its clear the public rejected Having Fun with Elvis on Stage. In addition, 100 Things Elvis Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die reports that, as of 2014, the album has never been reissued on CD.

Cant Help Falling in Love

RELATED: What Elvis Presley and Mick Jagger Did That John Lennon Called Bullsh*t

How critics reacted to the album

The critical reception of the album was not much better. Portable Press lists the album as one of the worst of all time, alongside such infamous records as Kevin Federlines Playing with Fire, the Bee Gees Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (not to be confused with The Beatles album of the same name), and Lou Reeds Metal Machine Music. In addition, the book The Worst Rock and Roll Records of All Time lists the album as the worst rock n roll record of all time, in spite of the lack of rock n roll on it.

Whereas other Elvis records continue to influence new artists to this day, Having Fun with Elvis on Stage seems remembered mostly by dedicated fans and those interested in infamous music. While Elvis was the King of Rock n Roll, Having Fun with Elvis on Stage proves not all of his albums went over well.


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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Air Treatment Products in Saudi Arabiaunder Consumer Goods category. The Air Treatment Products Market in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

Retail volume sales of air treatment products fell for the first time in more than a decade during 2020 due to the economic impact of the pandemic. However, this decline was fairly small. Unsurprisingly in a country where average daytime highs in many cities rise close to or even above 40 degrees Celsius during the summer months, split and particularly window air conditioners account for the bulk of retail volume sales of air treatment products.

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(Natural News) One of the senior aides to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused of rewriting a State Health Department report to hide the real number of nursing home residents that died amid the COVID-19 pandemic has worked as a law professor in Manhattan and taught about legal ethics in government.

(Article by Jerry Lambe republished from LawAndCrime.com)

According to a bombshell report from the New York Times on Thursday, Linda Lacewell, who currently serves as the Superintendent of the states Department of Financial Services and is an adjunct law professor at New York University School of Law, was one of three high-level administration officials who initially intervened to conceal the nursing home death count from the public. The other officials involved were Cuomo advisor Melissa DeRosa, and former advisor Jim Malatras who returned to the administration to assist with handling the coronavirus crisis.

Even so, an edited version prepared by Mr. Malatras did not remove the higher death toll. That occurred later, after Ms. DeRosa and Ms. Lacewell became aware of its inclusion. It was taken out soon after.

The State Health Departments report concluded that Cuomos policy from the early days of the pandemicthe March 25 order directing nursing homes to admit or readmit people recently treated for COVID-19was not to blame for the states high nursing home death count. However, people with knowledge of the situation who spoke to the Times said Cuomos aides removed the 9,250 death total from the report because it outpaced New Jersey (the state with the second highest number of nursing home deaths) by more than 3,000; they thought this would draw negative attention to the Empire States response.

Lacewells alleged involvement in withholding the true number of nursing home deathswhich has now risen to more than 15,000is particularly troubling because of her extensive background in legal and government ethics.

Prior to taking over the as head of Financial Services, Lacewell served as Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Governor where she oversaw executive chamber operations, as well as ethics and law enforcement matters, according the state governments website.

Her name was also flagged by former NYU Law School student Kevin H. Bell, who pointed out that Lacewell taught a class specifically about government ethics.

HER CLASS WAS CALLED ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS  Kevin H Bell (@KevinHBell) March 5, 2021

Online resources reveal that the class Bell was referring to was actually called Ethics in Government: Investigation and Enforcement. Law&Crime sought further details from NYU concerning the courses taught by Lacewell at the law school, but did receive a response at the time of publication.

In response to the Times report, several state lawmakers have called on any Cuomo administration official involved in manipulating the nursing home deaths report to resign immediately.

Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D) of Long Island said the conduct at issue was unethical, at best.

Lets be clear: if any State employee knowingly whitewashed an official report to cover up the deaths of New Yorkers, that is unacceptable and unethical, at best, he tweeted on Friday morning. We need to get answers now, and this whole thing reeks.

Let's be clear: if any State employee knowingly whitewashed an official report to cover up the deaths of New Yorkers, that is unacceptable and unethical, at best. We need to get answers now, and this whole thing reeks. https://t.co/7RwanY3q75  Todd Kaminsky (@toddkaminsky) March 5, 2021

Sen. Rachel May (D) of Central New York shared a similar sentiment in a Friday statement saying the Times report angered her beyond measure.

If true, everyone involved in lying to the public and to the Legislature must resign immediately. And that includes the Governor, she said. Even though he is not named in this specific article, it was done in his name. It stemmed from his overweening need to burnish his public image, and it was made possible, if not inevitable, by the culture he created of secrecy and fear of retribution that has been amply documented in recent days.

In response to questions about Lacewells involvement in rewriting the Health Department report, the Governors press office directed Law&Crime to a pair pre-written statements Spokesman Gary Holmes and Special Counselor and Senior Advisor to the Governor, Beth Garvey, which essentially assert that the number of nursing home deaths was omitted from the original report because they could not be adequately verified.

[image via YouTube screengrab]

Read more at: LawAndCrime.com
The autumn series of festivals is going ahead in New Ross this year, with organisers to decide on whether or not they will all be online, all in person or, most likely, blended festivals, combining both formats.

Every year the Kennedy Summer School, New Ross Piano Festival and the Eugene O'Neill International Festival of Theatre bring positive attention and a lot of footfall to the streets of New Ross.

Last year none of the festivals could take place due to Covid-19 restrictions but with all adults who want to be vaccinated due to have their jabs by August, organisers hope in person sessions can take place.

Dr Brian Murphy, a director of the Kennedy Summer School, said: 'Last year we didn't do anything because we were still trying to get our heads around everything and we didn't have the expertise to do it virtually. This year we're planning a Plan A that everybody would be vaccinated and we could go ahead with a gathering. We think it's unlikely we will be able to have the normal summer school but we're still hoping to do a blended summer school, with a number of events online and maybe something in the arboretum where there is a lot of space.'

Interviews in St Michael's Theatre are also being considered, with social distancing in place.

'Over the last couple of years we were always more than half full and mainly close to two-thirds full (in the theatre). We have to respect social distancing. We will probably be in a space where we will be asking people to stay indoors two metres apart and if that's what we have to do, that's what we have to do.'

Expand Close Long Days Journey Into Night being performed at St Michaels Theatre as part of the 2019 Eugene ONeill International Theatre Festival. Picture: Patrick Browne / Facebook

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Whatsapp Long Days Journey Into Night being performed at St Michaels Theatre as part of the 2019 Eugene ONeill International Theatre Festival. Picture: Patrick Browne

He said a one-way system in the theatre would reduce congestion in the foyer.

'If we were to move over to the arboretum we could definitely space people out there. We did think about moving it to November when we have a topical date with the anniversary of President Kennedy and could do a remote programme, but ultimately we felt that since the summer school has been up and running since 2012 we have always been the first Thursday in September.'

This year's festival kicks off on Thursday, September 2, running for three days.

'New Ross is the home of the summer school. We have only started organising speakers. We probably have an abundance of riches. We had a whole programme last year by May, when we took the decision we weren't going to go ahead. We had guests who were willing to travel from abroad. A lot of those people probably cancelled it. We asked a lot of them if they could return in 2021. We'll be going back to them.'

He said many will be appearing by Zoom.

'We will be looking at new topics, whether it's the Biden presidency or a panel about where the country is going post-covid.'

Ticketing income will be generated for in-person discussions.

'We probably wouldn't be charging for the Zoom talks as we wouldn't have the same outlay with the theatre,' he said.

Dr Murphy said the 2021 festival is an opportunity to market New Ross more internationally.

'Only six per cent of people who bought tickets in 2019 were from outside of the state, but if we do some Zoom events, we can try to circulate that to the people abroad and they might see what the summer school is and might come some day as well. We will show some promotional videos about the town as well.'

Taoiseach Micheal Martin is launching a new book inspired by talks from the festival virtually this Monday as part of the St Patrick's week festivities.

Dr Murphy said thousands of Americans will be logged onto the event and a promotional video will be played at the end of the event highlighting New Ross.

'Wexford County Council have been really supportive and they want us to do the summer school is some capacity. They are conscious that it's good for the town. We don't want a second year of the summer school not happening because people will start wondering if this is going to be kept going at all. Inevitably it's not going to bring in as much income into the town this year but we want to keep the summer school going for when things get back to the normal so we can get up and running very quickly again.'

Dr Murphy said the whole idea is to bring people into New Ross. 'Unfortunately it just won't be three days of wall to wall events this year; it's just not going to happen.'

Connie Tantrum of New Ross Piano Festival said that, as of now, it's full steam ahead for this year's festival.

'At this moment we are planning to hold the piano festival at the end of September. The artists and the programme have been organised. It will be much the same as the postponed one from last September as the musicians were all still available,' she said.

An exciting two piano event is planned for the weekend.

'This is something we did in 2011. Amongst the dozen brilliant musicians we will present Philippe Cassard, Cedric Pescia and the jazz pianist Jason Rebello. Obviously we will have to adapt to covid restrictions if they are still in force. We think it will be at least May before we can make firm decisions. In the meantime we are investigating live streaming. There is no wifi in the church so we need temporary coverage. The quality of the connection will have to be very good.'

Since the festival is of an international standard with internationally known pianists, the production will have to be of the same high standard, she said.

'The committee members are researching all angles! The past year has been a shocking one for anyone connected with the live arts, but the crisis has accelerated many innovations and lots of events are now imaginatively presented in different ways. You can watch opera at the Met in New York every night for free or Wigmore Hall at lunch time every week - again for free. However, during the year organisers have, of necessity, started to charge for some online events and because the audiences are now worldwide there is the potential for larger numbers, and at least some income.

'However good the online offerings are, there is no denying that people are longing for live events. This was obvious when we presented our very limited token concert in the relatively safe time last September. Now that the vaccines are available we all trust that there will be some normality by the end of September this year.'

Sean Reidy, founder of the Eugene O'Neill festival of theatre said the event will go ahead in the autumn.

'The Eugene O'Neill International Festival of Theatre will take place in October 2021,' he said.

Having had to postpone the 2020 festival due to the pandemic, the festival board is determined that the festival this year will take place.

'It will adapt as necessary to the prevailing covid restriction level. The highlights of the first two years of the festival have been the Ben Barnes directed staged reading of O'Neill's rarely performed epic works like Mourning Becomes Electra and Strange Interlude. These works are seldom staged because of their length, but are considered classic works and O'Neill lovers throughout the world are very eager to see them on the rare occasions that they are performed,' he said.

The New Ross Festival therefore fills a unique niche void in contemporary performances of the works of America's greatest playwright, whose father hailed from Tinneranny.

In 2021, Ben Barnes will direct another O'Neill epic classic More Stately Mansions which will be presented by a cast of professional world class actors.

'The plan is that this production will be staged at St Michael's Theatre and filmed for streaming worldwide. One of the features of the O'Neill festivals has been the large number of US visitors who have come to New Ross for the event each year. It is inevitable that there will be fewer visitors this year, but we feel by streaming the production we will be able to reach a much larger virtual audience through our network of O'Neill society members who come from all over the US and from the many US, Irish and U.K. University theatre and drama faculties who will be eager to see this most recent production of More Stately Mansions. The last production of this play was on Broadway in 1997.'

Mr Reidy said the board is hopeful that restrictions will have eased by October and that performing to a live international audience in St Michael's Theatre is possible as well.

'Another major success of the 2019 festival were the shorter one act O'Neill plays performed by the New Ross Drama Workshop under the direction of Peggy Hussey, Margaret Rossiter and Edward Hayden. We hope to get into early discussions with the drama workshop to see if they would do something similar this year. We would like to stage these performances at different venues throughout the town, particularly if live audiences are restricted. In streaming these performances online, we will therefore be able to promote the town by using some its landmark building as the sets for the plays.'

Other elements of the festival would be to include a work of a Wexford playwright. To this end the festival board had been in discussion with John Banville prior to the postponement of the 2020 festival, and an O'Neill Gathering evening of music, song and chat.

'So we are hopeful that New Ross District Municipal Council will continue to provide vital support for the festival, even if it has, of necessity, a larger virtual element to it this year. It is vital that we don't miss another year.'

The Eugene O' Neill Foundation in Danville CA and the Danville Municipal Council continue to strongly support the concept of the One Festival Two Countries O'Neill Festival and this year will again feature events in Danville in September and New Ross in October.
Ireland is to get 45,000 fewer doses than scheduled of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine this month after the company was forced to reduce its deliveries to the EU for March.

It is the latest setback to the vaccination roll out, which up to Monday saw 382,528 people receive a first dose with 154,089 fully protected.

However, there may be scope to stretch doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine after the National Immunisation Advisory Committee said the gap between the first and second dose could be left to at least eight to 12 weeks.

Up to now the recommended gap between doses for people over 65 was four to six weeks .For those under that age group, it was four to twelve weeks.

Read More

The new advice comes on foot of real time data from the UK showing the longer time between doses can make the vaccine more effective.

Prof Kingston Mills of Trinity College said scientifically it makes sense to leave a longer gap and studies show the longer interval provides a better booster shot response.

He said the other advantage is that leaving the second dose for longer means you are getting more people vaccinated.

The advisory groups new recommendation would also mean that the AstraZeneca vaccine could be given to the over-70s although this has yet to be agreed to by the chief medical officer.

However, it is expected that this group will continue to be given Pfizer vaccine  which is the most plentiful  or Moderna. But it could mean that some people who are housebound will get the AstraZeneca vaccine now because it is easy to transport.

Dr Denis McCauley of the Irish Medical Organisation said he was in favour of sticking with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for this age group because it could cause confusion or refusals.

The advisory group is making no change in its guidance on the AstraZeneca vaccine following a small number of reports of blood clotting events in people who received it.

The European Medicines Agency has reviewed available evidence and said it can continue to be used. In the UK 11m doses of the vaccine have been given and it also also not advising any change.

Several GPs are continuing to receive deliveries of vaccines for the 80-85 age group which are short of what they need. In other cases, planned deliveries are having to be rescheduled. It follows a shortfall in expected doses of the Moderna vaccine. Meanwhile, there are question marks over now many people with underlying illnesses who are at very risk risk if they get Covid-19 were vaccinated last week.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York, N.Y., on March 8, 2021. (Seth Wenig/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Schumer, Gillibrand Say Cuomo Should Resign

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in a statement late Friday called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign amid mounting allegations of sexual misconduct.

Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct. Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign, the two lawmakers said in a statement.

Cuomos office did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment.

The embattled governor on Friday said that he would not resign, even as more than a dozen House Representatives and some fellow Democrats have said he should leave his post.

Women have a right to come forward and be heard, and I encourage that fully. But I also want to be clear: there is still a question of the truth. I did not do what has been alleged, period, he said in a call with reporters on Friday.

He added that it was reckless and dangerous for politicians to ask him to resign before they have all the facts. He has denied all allegations by the women, most of whom are his former aides.

Cuomos comments come just before a seventh woman emerged Friday with allegations of sexual misconduct against him. In a New York magazine piece, reporter Jessica Bakeman alleged that Cuomo had often put his hands on her and made her feel uncomfortable.

More than 55 Democratic New York legislators had signed a letter on Thursday calling for Cuomos resignation.

On Thursday, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said that he authorized its Judiciary Committee to start an impeachment investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations. The investigation would run parallel to another investigation led by Attorney General Letitia James.

The reports of accusations concerning the governor are serious, Heastie said in a statement.

Before the harassment allegations, Cuomo was under fire for allegedly withholding COVID-19 death data from state lawmakers and the public.

His administration in March 2020 had ordered nursing homes to take back residents or take in new residents, even if they had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

State officials only revealed the figure of how many nursing home residents died in hospitals after the states attorney general issued a scathing investigative report in January. Officials had resisted state legislators requests to obtain the data, claiming it could be used against us by the Trump administration.

Zachary Stieber and Reuters contributed to this report.
Minister Simon Coveneys visit to Tehran should be welcomed during what is a pivotal time not just for the revival of the Iran nuclear deal but also the wider issues affecting the Middle East.

Without a functioning government, Lebanons social and economic decline continues at a rapid rate.

The recent scenes in shops and supermarkets highlight just how desperate people have become.

Lebanon  by definition  is a failed state.

The poverty statistics are horrifying, as is the pace of the countrys decline. Resilience is an oversubscribed term in this context.

Increased targeted humanitarian aid is needed immediately while significant diplomatic pressure must continue to be exerted by the international community.

Emphasis and support should

not just be focused on refugee populations but also on that of host communities.

Plan International continues to provide essential support and services to host communities and refugee populations, especially girls, in Lebanon and the wider region.

Whilst Ireland as a newly elected member of the UN Security Council is playing an influential role in efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis, Lebanon and other failing states in the region should not be forgotten.

Cyprus and the EU lie just 260 kilometres from the Lebanese coastline. The cost of ignoring the plight of the Lebanese population will be far greater for Europe in the longer term.

Colin Lee

Regional director, Plan International

Beirut

Lebanon

Ministers claim is a bit of a dose to take

Its easy for Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to claim 95% of vaccines are deployed and administered within a week of arriving. The reason for this is the doses landing here are piddling amounts.

Robert Sullivan

Bantry

Co Cork

Im none the wiser on our vaccine plan

I listened this week with attention to the News at One on RTE Radio 1 with three eminent and well known spokespersons for the HSE, Department of Health and a senior cabinet minister. I am none the wiser about our national vaccine plan.

Surely we could play some hard nose business skills with these major pharma companies.

People are frustrated and angry and deserve an action plan response now.

Brendan OBrien

Waterside

Galway

NI power sharing a shotgun wedding

I am writing in response to Daniel McConnells column  North risks a return to dark days (Irish Examiner, March 6).

He wrote: The withdrawal of the loyalist groups support, however is a clear sign the historic agreement which paved the path for brittle peace which has held since, is without question under the greatest strain since its [the good Friday Agreement] signing 23 years ago.

The brittle peace is because the agreement has the shotgun wedding of power sharing between two divergent parties at the heart of Northern Irelands political process.

Sinn Fein ultimately wants to continuously fly the Irish tricolour over Belfast City Hall while the Democratic Unionist Party tries to keep Irish off the signposts. Northern Ireland needs regular coalition politics for a consistent direction.

Coalition partners outside the sectarian fold can temper the excess partisanship.

It is hard to imagine Stormont shut if Sinn Fein or the DUP could form a government with a combination of the other parties.

In fairness Alliances improving polling might someday see them finish second, surely then the mandatory nationalist and unionist coalition will be untenable, in the face of a crisis of democratic legitimacy.

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Ultimately, there might not be a secure foundation for peace until Northern Irelands future allegiance is decided by its voters for decades to come.

If Northern Ireland ends up in a United Ireland, nationalists better learn respect or risk living with a restless community wanting to sever ties.

The important thing to do is nail down concrete action to get reconciliation and peace achieved.

Shane Burke

Monasterevin

Kildare

Escalating costs of direct provision

The news conveyed in the article  Cost of direct provision rose to 183m last year (Irish Examiner, March 4)  adds that it has doubled since 2018, exposes once again the complete failure of government to tackle the (numbers of) asylum-seeking immigrants.

That figure does not even reflect the total costs involved  add in court hearings, medical assessments, translators, garda time and the real cost to the taxpayer is likely to be more than 250m.

The problem as suggested elsewhere by your correspondent, Elaine Loughlin, in a recent opinion column is not a broken direct provision system but the failure to implement a proper deportation policy for failed applicants.

Upward of 90% of applicants are found to have no basis for asylum, and any persons who are here for more than three or four years will have had innumerable refusals of their protracted appeals.

Ministers OGorman and McEntee are now going to increase Irelands attraction as an asylum destination by providing own-door houses and apartments to all applicants after four months.

What chance will there be of deporting any of those people when they are found to have failed?

This new State industry will cost us ever-increasing amounts as we seek to rebuild our nation after this Covid pandemic.

Ted Neville

Douglas

Cork

African-US slavery and direct provision

What is the difference between African-American slavery and direct provision?

People in both of these situations were forced from their country of origins by threats of violence.

One was made to work while the other is excluded from the right to work.

One helped produce the goods which made their business owners rich while the others are the goods which makes the businesses rich.

One system physically tortured while the other system mentally tortures.

Dean Lillis

Castleconnell

Co Limerick

Making voting in referenda fairer

Patrick Murray in his missive Overhaul referenda for fairer outcomes (Irish Examiner, Letters, March 8) has some interesting proposals: Requiring a turnout of 80% of the total electorate and 75% voting in favour for an amendment to pass.

The Constitution of the Free State of Ireland, 1922, the work of General Michael Collins and others, had similar provisions for changes to it by referenda. In fact the most significant change of all was Mr Eamon de Valeras project, the Constitution of 1937.

The turnout for that was 75.6%  the highest ever  of the voters on the register; 10% of them were spoiled, nearly twice the next highest ever. That referendum did not pass the test of the 1922 Constitution, but it was glossed over.

Typically the turnout at the 44 referenda held since 1937 has been 50%. The lowest since 1996 has been the vote to introduce new dedicated constitutional rights regarding children in 2012; then just 33.5% of the electorate turned out.

Of all the rights and obligations in the Constitution, not one obliges the State to criminalise failures to comply with them.

Unless one has deep pockets, it is hardly worth the paper it is written on in a citizens hands.

Only one, the utterance of blasphemy, did oblige the Oireachtas to make a crime of it. We abolished that provision in 2018.

John Colgan

Leixlip

Co Kildare

Language barrier of grammar and rules

A recent article in the Irish Examiner about the problems with Gaeilge brought to mind a rather sad but relevant memory.

Several years ago a good friend (long since in heaven) met me one day. He was a genuinely enthusiastic Irish speaker and teacher and had just come from visiting a language school of some renown.

As the steam poured from his ears he told me they taught French, German, Spanish, Chinese, and even Japanese but not Irish.

When he asked why he was told but the place is for the teaching of modern languages.

My reply was not any consolation. Look at how we teach Irish, I said. Its just the same way as we teach Latin, all grammar and rules. Wed put anyone off.

Pat Browne

Skehard Rd

Cork
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(Photo : Screenshot From Pxhere Official Website) Microsoft Exchange Hack Sparks Chaos for Users with Unpatched Servers

Microsoft has recently issued an alert that hackers are using a certain strain of ransomware known as the DearCry and are now targeting those users with unpatched Microsoft Exchange servers. The target as of the moment is the unpatched servers exposed to the four different vulnerabilities that were reportedly being exploited by the suspected Chinese government hackers.

Microsoft Exchange hack 2021

The company is now warning its Exchange customers yet again to apply the new updated emergency patches that the company had released just last week aimed to cover the critical flaws affecting the on-premise Microsoft Exchange email servers. Microsoft previously urged its customers to install the patches as soon as they were out back on March 2 due to the main risk that there could be more cybercriminals as well as state-backed hackers that could possibly exploit the hidden flaws within the upcoming weeks and months.

According to an article by ZDNet, it also noted that existing attacks were reportedly being carried out by a certain Chinese hacking group that they called Hafnium. A security vendor called ESET, however, reported that there could be at least 10 different state-backed hacking groups that were now all attempting to try and exploit these flaws located within the unpatched Microsoft Exchange servers.

Microsoft Exchange server hack

As of the moment, cyber criminals are now all trying to feed off the other Exchange bugs. On Friday, March 12, the ransomware attackers were able to spread a strain that they called DearCry and are now trying to install the malware after being able to compromise Microsoft Exchange servers.

Microsoft issued a tweet warning its users that they have been able to detect a new family of ransomware and are now trying to block it being used after what was noted to be an initial compromise of certain unpatched on-premises Microsoft Exchange servers. The tweet then identified the threat as Ransom:Win32/DoejoCrypt.A, or DearCry.

Microsoft Defender customers utilizing automatic updates do not need to take additional action to receive these protections. On-premises Exchange Server customers should prioritize the security updates outlined here: https://t.co/DL1XWnitYO  Microsoft Security Intelligence (@MsftSecIntel) March 12, 2021

Read Also: Microsoft Hacked UPDATE: Researcher Reveals 'China Owns the World,' Thousand Servers Get Compromised Per Hour

Microsoft Exchange security update

Microsoft also added that the customers that are using Microsoft Defender antivirus using automatic updates won't need to take some additional action after having patched up the Microsoft Exchange server. Microsoft is now seemingly treating this set of bugs as something very urgent and needs fixing as soon as possible. Last week, Microsoft provided some further security updates in order to address the flaw with the previous unsupported versions of Microsoft Exchange.

Attackers were reportedly using the bugs to attack the Exchange servers and deploy malicious web shells in order to steal data as well as maintain access to the servers even after its initial compromise. Web shells are also noted to be small scripts that might provide a basic interface for remote access in general without a compromised system.

Microsoft has officially released a type of script on its very own code-sharing website called GitHub that the admins can use in order to check for the presence of other web shells on the Microsoft Exchange servers. An article by arstechnica even deadlier news is that never-before seen ransomeware is being installed on over thousands of servers infected by the supposed state-sponsored Chinese hackers. Kryptos Logic recently tweeted that there were 6970 exposed webshells.

We've just discovered 6970 exposed webshells which are publicly exposed and were placed by actors exploiting the Exchange vulnerability. These shells are being used to deploy ransomware. If you're signed up to Telltale (https://t.co/caXU7rqHaI) you can check you're not affected pic.twitter.com/DjeM59oIm2  Kryptos Logic (@kryptoslogic) March 12, 2021

Related Article: Microsoft Big Email China Hacked: How to Know if You're Affected, What to Do Next

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Pipped for a Golden Globe last month, the Irish-made animated feature film Wolfwalkers has now been nominated for a prestigious BAFTA award.

Written by Castlemagnier man Will Collins, the film tells the story of Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter who arrives in Ireland with her father, during a time of superstition and magic, to wipe out the last wolf pack.

The film is the third of an Irish myths trilogy which opened with 'The Secret of Kells' and followed up with the Oscar-nominated 'Song of the Sea'. It lost out to Disney's spiritual comedy, Soul, at the Golden Globes, and that looks like it will be the main obstacle at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards also.

They will be presented later this month.
Jaipur, March 13 : Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Saturday said that sustained economic growth is key to India's future.

Delivering the keynote address at the 'Militaria@Jaipur 2021' event at Hotel Narain Niwas Palace on Saturday, Kant said, "Economies of both east and southeast Asia have transformed themselves within one generation. Also, India has witnessed a substantial transformation over 30 years since 1991 with an average growth of 6.5% per annum." Speaking with reference to Covid, he said: "Investment levels and sustained economic growth are critical for security reasons. What the country has done as a fallout of the Covid pandemic is ushering in radical reforms across a range of sectors. The private sector needs to be brought in at the heart of India's economic growth. Pushing India towards a high growth trajectory is a key challenge. Global Economic Growth is expected to rebound about 5.5% after (-)3.5% in 2020 which has been the worst since post-World War," he added.

Kant further said that Covid-19 will likely reverse the trend of poverty alleviation.

"India has had the sharpest recovery among major economies during Covid. Size and scale need to be brought to manufacturing for India to penetrate global markets. 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' is not about protectionism but it is about penetrating global markets. There is a need to understand that sunrise sectors will lead India's growth in the coming decades and it is important we start now," he further said.

Earlier, former Home Secretary, Government of India, R. Mehrishi, said, "In the face of the recent China confrontation, we used three elements: armed forces, trade measures and diplomacy. All these elements require the backing of a strong economy. In these days of technology, one has to be better and smarter equipped and technological competency will depend on the budget one has. India spends a little over 2% on its defence that translates into Rs. 5 Lakh crore. Whereas, China spends 1.3% of its GDP which translates into Rs. 15 Lakh crores," he added.

Throughout the day, eminent speakers held forth on thought-provoking sessions which included 'Defence Indigenisation & Atmanirbhar Bharat', 'Defence Technologies for India', 'Cyber & Unconventional Threats' and 'The Chinese Threat- The Way Forward'.
Those living in the 60624, 60644, 60651 and 60653 ZIP codes became eligible Saturday for signups at the mass inoculation center that promises to vaccinate thousands of residents per day, according to a statement from the city. They join residents in the 60608, 60619, 60620, 60649 and 60652 communities that had remaining slots reserved for them starting Tuesday because they have been hard hit by COVID-19 and have low vaccination rates.
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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"
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
For Subscribers Gov. Noem hires jet consultant to help South Dakota buy new aircraft

An out-of-state consultant has been hired for $195,000 by Gov. Kristi Noem's administration to help the state of South Dakota buy a new aircraft.
Guatemala urges justice for citizens murdered in Mexico The Mexican government had offered to cover the costs of repatriating the remains of the murdered Guatemalan migrants

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Friday urged justice for 16 migrants gruesomely murdered in Mexico in January, as their remains were received with honors.

On January 22, 19 charred bodies were found in Tamaulipas, a state on the border with the United States that has been rocked for years by organized crime gangs.

Sixteen of the dead were determined to be Guatemalan and the other three of Mexican origin. The bodies were found on a country road inside a truck that had been riddled with 113 bullets and then burned, according to investigators.

"We will not rest until we obtain reparation, trial and punishment of those responsible for this deplorable act," Giammattei said as the coffins arrived at a Guatemalan Air Force base in the capital.

The Mexican government had offered to cover the costs of repatriating the remains.

The bodies arrived in coffins draped in the blue-and-white Guatemalan flag. Foreign Ministry officials dressed in black carried photographs of the victims as relatives sobbed.

- Warning to traffickers -

Most of the dead are from the town of Comitancillo, a remote, indigenous community near the border with Mexico. The corpses will be taken to their communities for burial.

The Mexican state prosecutor's office has said 12 elite police officers were arrested on suspicion of having participated in the killing.

Tamaulipas, on Mexico's Gulf coast, is the shortest route to the United States from the south, but also the most dangerous because of the presence of criminal gangs which kidnap, extort and murder migrants.

Camargo, the town where the victims were found, is the scene of turf battles between the Noreste cartel, which controls a part of Nuevo Leon, and the Gulf cartel, which has been active in Tamaulipas for decades.

Giammattei also had a message to human traffickers: "We are working closely with the countries of the region and with the Guatemalan security forces to locate, chase and dismantle all those criminal gangs that unscrupulously take advantage of the needs of our fellow citizens."

Story continues

Migration from Central America has increased since 2018 as waves of people seek to flee poverty and violence at home, hoping to make a new life in the United States.

More than half of Guatemala's 17 million people live in poverty.

yug/gma/jh/to/mlr/jm
The World Health Organization granted an emergency use listing Friday for Johnson & Johnsons coronavirus vaccine, meaning the one-dose shot from the New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant can now theoretically be used as part of the international COVAX effort to distribute vaccines globally, including to poor countries without any supplies.

In a statement, the U.N. health agency said the ample data from large clinical trials shows the J&J vaccine is effective in adult populations. The emergency use listing comes a day after the European Medicines Agency recommended the shot be given the green light across the 27-country European Union.

As new vaccines become available, we must ensure they become part of the global solution and not another reason some countries and people are left further behind, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a Friday press briefing. WHO has previously signed off on COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca.

A massive study that spanned three continents found the J&J vaccine was 85% effective in protecting against severe illness, hospitalizations and death. That protection remained strong even in countries like South Africa where variants have been identified that appear to be less susceptible to other licensed vaccines, including the one made by AstraZeneca.

The U.N. backed COVAX effort previously announced it had an initial agreement with J&J to provide 500 million doses, but that is not legally binding.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, a WHO senior adviser to Tedros, said he hoped J&J might be able to provide at least some of those doses in the coming months.

Were hoping by at least July that we have access to doses that we can be rolling out, if not even earlier, Aylward said. He added that officials were particularly keen to get J&J doses to countries because it requires only one dose and can be stored at regular refrigerator temperatures.

J&J has faced production delays in the U.S. and Europe but has recently signed agreements with rival pharmaceuticals who will help make their vaccine. In February, Sanofi Pasteur said it would be able to make about 12 million doses of the J&J vaccine at one of its French production sites once the shot is cleared by the EMA. It is aiming to make 1 billion doses this year.
Kolkata, March 13 : Former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, who joined the Trinamool Congress here on Saturday, said that during the IC-814 aircraft hijack in 1999, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had offered herself as hostage to bring back the captive passengers.

Addressing mediapersons here, Sinha said, "When the Indian Airlines flight (IC-814) was hijacked by terrorists and taken to Kandahar, Mamata Banerjee during a discussion of the Cabinet had offered to go as a hostage to Kandahar to release the hostages on the flight." He said that Banerjee had suggested that some terms and conditions should be made in a way that she will be going to Kandahar to free the hostages.

"She was ready to make the sacrifice," said Sinha, who had quit the BJP in 2018 and has been vocal critic of the BJP government at the Centre since then.

Sinha also said that Banerjee has been a "fighter" from her early days and she still has the fighting spirit intact.

"I worked with her under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She was a fighter then and she still is," he said.

Banerjee was the Railway Minister when the Kandahar plane hijack happened in 1999. The then NDA government had faced a lot of criticism for releasing arrested terrorists Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Masood Azhar in exchange of the hostages.

Before joining the Trinamool Congress, Sinha also met Banerjee at her residence.

He joined his new party at the Trinamool Bhawan here in the presence of Trinamool Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien and state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee.
BJP in-charge of AP V. Muralidharan tweeted that the candidate would have the support of Jana Sena.  Twitter

TIRUPATI: Minister of State for external affairs V. Muralidharan, who is also BJP in-charge of AP, announced that the party would field a candidate from Andhra Pradesh in the by-election to the Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency.

The BJP leader, on Friday, tweeted that the candidate would have the support of Jana Sena.

The decision was taken unanimously at a meeting attended by party leaders, including party affairs in-charge Sunil Deodhar, BJP state president Somu Veerraju and the JS chief Pawan Kalyan. He also exuded confidence that the BJP's victory march would start from the temple town.

Leading the 'fight for the people and by the people, a BJP Andhra's candidate, backed by Jana Sena party, will fight Tirupati by-election. A unanimous decision was taken at a meeting attended by Pawan Kalyan and Somu Veerraju, he tweeted.

The BJP leader also tweeted: BJP victory march will begin from Tirupati and BJP Andhra and Jana Sena parties will expose the shady designs of YSRC and TD that undermine the beliefs of devotees.

Meanwhile, Jana Sena leaders and workers seemed heart-broken with the announcement. They were expecting their candidate, bolstered by the impact the party created in the recent panchayat elections.

However, Veerraju maintained that they had a productive meeting with Pawan Kalyan. He said that the name of the candidate would be declared by the party high command.
In 2019 American military advisors convinced Afghan army leadership that the solution to their problem with growing Taliban attacks on the nearly 10,000 army and police checkpoints was to adopt a proven solution. The Americans had encountered the same problem in Iraq and other nations did so in similar situations. There was a proven solution all these nations adopted. Afghan generals were not so sure.

The problem was that the Afghan checkpoints, despite being little fortresses manned by 10-20 personnel, were often placed in vulnerable locations where the Taliban could launch an overwhelming attack, seize the checkpoint and steal all the weapons and equipment and sometimes kidnap defenders who survived the attack. The American advisors proposed their consolidation solution but the Afghan leaders were reluctant to change a tactic that had worked until Taliban commanders realized that, if they analyzed the position and operation of all checkpoints in areas they operated in, they would find some more vulnerable than others. The Taliban had already learned to change their tactics to cope with the growing use of airborne and ground force RRFs (Rapid Reaction Forces) and that any attack had to take into account the fact that within a certain amount of time a warplane or armed helicopter would arrive to attack the Taliban, even if they were retreating from their attack. The ground RRF would take longer, especially if the Taliban were in a position to ambush reinforcements or the RRF was too far away to arrive in time.

The Taliban wanted to replace the government checkpoints with their own for financial reasons. While some army and police checkpoints demanded bribes, that often resulted in those incidents being reported and the guilty troops punished or at least forced to behave. Not so for the Taliban, who wanted to control certain roads so they could demand a bribe for safe passage. The Taliban checkpoints were all temporary, because staying in one place too long made them vulnerable to attack by the security forces.

Afghan senior leaders had problems their American counterparts did not. For one thing there was the culture angle. Afghanistan is a traditional culture and ambitious Afghans do not gain power unless they pay heed the importance of tradition and not making a lot of changes quickly. American military advisors headed overseas are given a briefing on the culture they will be dealing with and how to deal with various types of obstacles. The army maintains a database of lessons learned that can be searched by region as well as situation. A major contributor to this database is army Special Forces troops, whose training concentrates on local customs and traditions and how to work within that. Thats why the Special Forces is organized around regional specialization. Special Forces operators learn the languages and customs of one region and usually spend their entire career working in that region. This Special Forces technique was learned from World War II experience where many of the founding members of Special Forces (in the early 1950s) had worked for OSS (Office of Special Operations), an organization created to deal with contacting, communicating with and supporting local resistance groups in German or Japanese controlled territory. The success of the OSS led to the creation of the CIA and Special Forces to deal with the Cold War. This conflict, which did not end until 1991, began in the late 1940s when it became obvious that Soviet Russian was going to continue taking control of other nations any way it could.

It took decades before the American military and foreign service learned how to use these new intelligence and operational capabilities. Tradition again but by the 1980s the military services cooperated in creating SOCOM (Special Operations Command) so that they all could benefit from what the OSS and Special Forces have developed.

Another factor in the development of more effective tactics was the realization, during World War II, that when the enemy developed a new weapon or tactic, the speed with which you could analyze it and come up with an effective countermeasure was a matter of life or death as well as victory or defeat. The speed of analysis and quickness of response was expressed more vividly in the 1960s by John Boyd, a U.S. Air Force officer. Boyd demonstrated how the speed of assessing a combat situation, developing a plan and executing it was decisive in all forms of combat. Boyd came up with the OODA (observe, orient, decide, and act) loop, which could be applied to air, naval and ground combat. This made sense to World War II veterans who had witnessed the OODA loop in action. It resonated with the Russians as well because superior speed with OODA was a German specialty which the Russians never mastered as well as the Germans did during World War II. But by the 1980s some Russian theorists saw computers as a possible solution. Again, the West had a technological edge and from the end of the Cold War and into the 21st Century it was Westerners who made all this work in combat.

This became a problem for military advisors working overseas, who frequently had solutions for problem foreign commanders they were supporting, but the problem was local culture and resistance to change, especially this American emphasis on high-speed warfare and the need to quickly adopt new tactics to prevail.

Meanwhile Islamic terrorists were on the receiving end of many of these innovations and learned to adapt if they wanted to survive. The impact of high-speed warfare was demonstrated after September 11, 2001 when American forces used computerized data mining and analysis to speed up their OODA during counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and elsewhere. Sunni terrorists quickly learned that if an American raid was accompanied by intelligence specialists carrying biometric tools and comm links (to huge databases of information on known terrorists and their organizations) there would quickly be additional raids. A few new names found on one raid would spawn additional raids and within 24 hours large terrorist operations could be rolled up. Microsoft contributed by developing a thumb drive that could quickly extract useful data from a laptop while rough (but effective) machine translation of many Arabic documents could quickly provide more leads, locations and who or what to look for.

In Afghanistan the Americans finally convinced security forces leaders to consolidate their checkpoint forces into fewer, but larger and more defensible checkpoints staffed by about 40 troops and located in areas that were not excessively vulnerable. While this process began in2019 it wasnt until late 2020 that it was completed. That was not accomplished without encountering local situations where traditions and tribal loyalties interfered with implementing the consolidation plan. The worst incidence of this was in Kandahar province, long known as the home of many Taliban founders and current leaders. Because of that Kandahar has always been a rough job for army and police commanders. In addition to more popular support for the Taliban in Kandahar, there is more drug money to bribe soldiers and officers to cooperate in attacks on vulnerable checkpoints or carrying out new measures like the checkpoint consolidation. For example, instead of systematically shutting down and dismantling surplus checkpoints, over 200 were simply abandoned, often leaving supplies of ammunition and even some weapons and equipment behind. There is no quick solution for that.
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Willie Mullins will lead the Irish challenge travelling to the Cotswolds next week but in the meantime, the champion trainer will field a strong team as he attempts to land the final big prize before the Cheltenham Festival, the BARONERACING.COM Leinster National.

With three of the 16 runners in the 80,000 feature, Mullins will be hoping to add to the success of Pairofbrowneyes a couple of years ago to win a second renewal of the Naas three miler.

Owner JP McManus is strongly represented with six declared runners and the Jody McGarvey partnered Blazer is a horse who has always threatened to win a big race according to assistant trainer Patrick Mullins.

The champion amateur, who assists his father at Closutton, said on Friday morning: Blazer has always threatened to have a big one in him.

"He finished second to Sharjah in a Galway Hurdle. Hes got a lovely racing weight in the Leinster National on Sunday.

"Hes definitely going to pop up one day at a big price in one of these types of races so hopefully it could be this weekend maybe.

Class Conti tops the weights following his third placed effort in the Thyestes Chase and Saturnas wasn't far behind him in fourth on that occasion.

Mullins continued: Class Conti has top weight, which is going to make life difficult for him. He ran very well in the Thyestes. Hopefully he can get some prizemoney again but with top weight its going to be hard to win.

Saturnas ran very well in the Thyestes as well. I think he could come forward from that. Hes got plenty of weight as well, which again wont make life easy, but Id expect him to be in the money hopefully."

The Philip Fenton-trained Atlantic Shore will continue his rise through the ranks as he looks to make it three on the bounce in relatively quick succession.

Local success could be on the card as in-form trainer Oliver McKiernan is double handed in the race with Best Behaviour and Lean Araig due to make the relatively short journey from his Rathcoole base. Carbury-based Philip Dempsey will be hoping that Ten Ten can go one better than his latest outing over hurdles at Fairyhouse as he returns to fences, while Castle Oliver will return to the scene of his biggest triumph yet for Curragh native Padraig Roche having won a valuable Grade B handicap chase at Naas just over a year ago.

The Grade 3 Bar One Racing Download Our App Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle has some extra intrigue with the presence of French Light who is under the care of American handler Kerri Brion.

Brion has stabled a small string in Ireland this winter and the six-year-old faces seven rivals including recent winners Alko Rouge and Bay De Rio. Goodbye Someday is the highest rated of the field having earned a mark of 140, while a drop back in trip is hoped to rejuvenate Shadow Rider.

Patrick Mullins commented: He was disappointing in Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival. Were dropping back in trip and we know hell handle the heavy ground because he won on it in Limerick. He shows us a lot at home so were hoping he can get back on track.

The first on an eight race card at Naas is off at 1.30pm this Sunday and TG4 will have live coverage from 2pm.
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New Delhi: A meeting was held at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda's residence in New Delhi to discuss the strategy and finalise candidates for the upcoming assembly election for two states Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and Union Territory Puducherry.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at the meeting which continued till late 1:00 am on Saturday (March 13).

BJP National General Secretary BL Santhosh was also present in the meeting which started at 7:30 pm and where the leaders discussed the party's strategy for the polls.

Kerala BJP Co-Incharge, CN Ashwath Narayan said it was a preliminary meeting to discuss the final candidates for Assembly polls.

"The election committee will finalise the names tomorrow," he added.

Tamil Nadu BJP president L Murugan said "All names of the candidates will be announced tomorrow by the parliamentary committee after the meeting".

"Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be held in a single phase on April 6. Counting of votes for all four states and one Union Territory will take place on May 2.

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ROTTERDAM  Tom Baum and about 16,000 other retired Teamsters got some good news recently. The 29 percent pension cut they suffered three and a half years ago is being restored as part of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan designed to pull the nations economy out of the economic mess created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The massive Rescue Plan contains $82 billion to help shore up pensions in general.

Critics of the American Rescue Plan say it goes beyond the needs created by the pandemic. And the Teamsters cut came years before the coronavirus swept the nation.

But Teamsters and other union members say they are buoyed by this and other moves that a labor-friendly Biden Administration is making after four years of neglect or hostile moves by the former President Donald Trump.

That was a big one, said Baum, who had worked to try and ease the cuts back in 2017.

Baums fellow pensioners belonged to Teamsters Local 294, also known as the Upstate Teamsters. But other Teamster units across the country also saw cuts over the past few years.

Many of the members worked for UPS, a major freight and delivery service.

Overall, the pension help could assist some 10 million retirees nationwide, who have seen their pension funds depleted over the years as union membership has waned.

Bidens election comes at a crucial time for unions, including in the greater Capital Region, where there have been a number of labor-management fights over the past few years and where one of labors biggest targets, Amazon, has a newly expanded footprint.

The online retailer has been in the news lately with efforts by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, or RWDSU, to unionize the companys Bessemer, Alabama fulfillment center. Many of the nearly 6,000 employees there are currently in the middle of a vote on whether to have RWDSU represent them.

Since them, RWDSU has heard from more than 1,000 workers at Amazon facilities across the country asking about unionization.

More for you Business Upstate Teamsters hit with 29 percent pension cut

RWDSU, like most unions, doesnt publicly speak about specific sites where unionization efforts are starting. Like most corporations, Amazon opposes the union drive, saying it would remove the kind of flexibility they have to run an efficient, successful business.

But RWDSU spokeswoman Chelsea Connor said they are aware of the Schodack fulfillment center, adding that New Yorkers are among the 1,000 or so Amazon employees who have reached out to the union in recent months.

Were in touch with workers in New York, she said.

Amazons history in New York is checkered. In 2019 they abruptly abandoned plans to build a second national headquarters in Queens, amid opposition by local politicians and activists who believed the Seattle-based firm was getting too many tax subsidies and that the move would drive up housing costs.

But the company has steadily expanded its presence in New York, with several local depots in addition to the Schodack center in Schodack. It also opened an Amazon 4-star bricks-and-mortar retail store at Crossgates Mall in Guilderland.

The firms blue-grey delivery vans have become a part of the regions trafficscape, especially during the pandemic.



Regardless of what may or may not happen in Schodack, Connor agreed with Baum that Bidens election would be good for the union movement in general.

One of the big changes, she said, will come with the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency which hears and rules on private sector labor disputes.



Under Trump, Republicans held three seats on the five-member board with one vacancy and one Democrat. With Biden expected to appoint labor-friendly Democrats, that will change in August when one of the Republicans terms expires.

The NLRB also operates regional offices which, depending on the location, can be more labor friendly. But employers during the past few years have typically appealed decisions they dont like to the national board, where many cases have languished, said Connor.

Additionally, one of Bidens first moves as president was to fire the NLRBs top lawyer, who was a Trump appointee. Peter Robb was a long-time management-side lawyer who helped former President Ronald Reagan break the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization union in 1981. Firing the PATCO workers is widely viewed as a turning point in the national decline of union strength. Biden also fired Robbs deputy.

"There have been some dramatic differences," said Bert Durand, spokesman for the North Atlantic States Council of Carpenters, which includes Local 291 in Albany. Biden's nominee for Secretary of Labor is Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who before politics was an official in building trades and labor unions in the Boston area.

High on the construction unions' priority list is a crackdown on what they say is the mis-classification of construction workers as independent contractors, allowing for builders to avoid paying taxes, unemployment insurance, workers compensation and other costs. "That's something we fight very hard against," said Durand.

Bidens election wont impact all of the labor issues in the Greater Capital Region.

For months, now, some 500 employees of the old bankrupt Remington gun factory in Ilion and their union, the United Mine Workers of America, have been haggling with RemArms, the new company that purchased the plant out of bankruptcy court.

RemArms earlier had reached out to some former employees, prompting UMWA to say that job offers should come through them, since they have a contract with the old Remington.

The new administration makes no difference one way or the other to these discussions, UMWA spokesman Phil Smith said.

Union officials across the state have several long-running campaigns that, even if not directly impacted by the Biden Administration, are expected to enjoy a morale boost.

"We're negotiating contracts all the time," said Greg Speller, executive vice president of SEIU 1199's Hudson Valley Capital Division, which represents about 10,000 health care workers in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. This large union has workers in nursing homes across the state and they are currently negotiating with The Centers facilities in Schenectady, Troy, Glens Falls and Delmar.

They also are pushing for a state rule that would require nursing homes spend a minimum of 70 percent of their revenue on patient care and 40 percent on staff.

Other potential issues are still down the road, such as the merger between the Schenectady-based Price Chopper/Market 32 supermarket chain and the western New York based Tops Friendly Markets.

The merged company, to be based in Schenectady, will have 292 stores across the Northeast and 32,000 employees.

Price Chopper/Market 32 is non-union while the United Food and Commercial Workers International union represents about 10,000 Tops employees.

Frank DeRiso, president of UFCW Local 1, which represents Tops, said their contract with Tops stores in the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse areas still has about two years remaining. Their contract in northern New York, including the Adirondacks, will run out this summer.

He said it was too soon to really say how the merger would affect things. Weve got to wait and see what happens, he said.
Woman Indicted in Husband's Child Abuse Case

By West Kentucky Star

PADUCAH - The wife of a man arrested in October on a child abuse charge was indicted this week on a similar charge.The McCracken County Sheriff's Department said 23-year-old Autumn Saunders was indicted by a grand jury on the charge of criminal abuse of a child 12 or under. She was arrested on Thursday and booked into McCracken County Jail.Autumn is the wife of 25-year-old David Saunders, who was arrested October 7 for criminal abuse of a child 12 or under. The Sheriff's Department told the grand jury that Autumn was aware of abuse by her husband of the 3-year-old who had been in their care for six days. A local hospital notified law enforcement, and reported that the child had a fractured arm and suspicious bruising on every part of his body.Detectives said David Saunders admitted that he inflicted the injuries on the child out of anger and frustration.On the Net:
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  The Department of Labor and Employment's newly released guidelines stated that employers in the private sector are not allowed to charge their employees for their vaccination programs.

The department said companies may procure vaccines and set up their own vaccination policies as well as seek assistance from government agencies. However, the expenses should not come from their workers' pockets.

"No cost of vaccination in the workplace shall be charged against or passed on, directly or indirectly, to employees," stated Labor Advisory No. 03 Series of 2021.

The agency also prohibited discrimination or termination against employees who refused to get vaccinated. Companies are not allowed to deny tenure, promotion, training, pay and other benefits to these workers.

"No vaccine, no work policy shall not be allowed," added the advisory.

The private sector, through tripartite agreements with manufacturers and local government units, was able to secure 17 million doses of vaccines from UK-Swede Oxford/AstraZeneca. Of this number, 2.6 million doses are expected to arrive in the country in May to June  half will be used by businesses, while the other half will be donated to the government for the immunization of frontliners.
By Storay Karimi

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A powerful car bomb near a police station on Friday night killed at least seven people and wounded more than 50 others in Afghanistan's western Herat province, officials said.

Herat Governor Sayed Abdul Wahid Qatali said several women and children were among the dead.

He added that at least 53 people, including civilians and security forces, were hurt when a van packed with explosives went off in a crowded part of the city in the evening.

Dozens of homes and shops were also damaged in the blast, and rescuers rushed to the scene to help several people trapped under the rubble, Qatali said.

According to Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, a senior health official, eight bodies, including two women, three children, two male civilians, and one member of the military, had been taken to hospitals.

Forty-seven others including, 20 women, 11 men, eight children and eight security forces members have been wounded, Sherzai said, adding that 10 injured were in critical condition.

No one claimed responsibility for the bombing but local officials blamed Taliban insurgents.

Representatives of the Taliban, which has been fighting a foreign-backed Afghan government since they were ousted from power by U.S.-led forces in late 2001, were not immediately available to comment.

Peace negotiations between the Afghan government and insurgent Taliban in Qatars capital Doha have struggled to make progress amid international calls to reduce violence.

The U.N. Security Council in a statement condemned "in the strongest terms the alarming number of attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan."

"The members of Security Council called for an immediate end to those targeted attacks and stressed the urgent and imperative need to bring the perpetrators to justice," it said.

President Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack and blamed the Taliban.

"The Taliban, by continuing their illegitimate war and violence against the people, once again showed that they not only have will to resolve the current crisis peacefully but by complicating the situation,"Ghani said in a statement.

Story continues

There were 8,820 civilian casualties in 2020, according to a report released by U.N. mission in Afghanistan last month.

Russia plans to hold a conference on Afghanistan in Moscow on March 18 and has invited several regional players, including Afghan government and politicians to jumpstart the peace process as diplomacy by foreign powers including Washington ramps up.

It comes at a crunch time for the peace process as a May 1 deadline for foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan looms and the United States reviews its plans.

(Additional reporting by Orooj Hakimi in Kabul, Writing by Hamid Shalizi, Editing by Grant McCool and Gerry Doyle)
Education Minister Cliff Cullen revealed that the provinces much anticipated K-12 education review will be unveiled to the public on Monday.

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Education Minister Cliff Cullen revealed that the provinces much anticipated K-12 education review will be unveiled to the public on Monday.

While Cullen was light on specific details during a Friday morning news conference with the press, he did emphasize the idea that Manitobas education system "needs to change" since students are falling behind.

Education Minister Cliff Cullen holds a press conference at the Manitoba Legislative building Friday morning announcing that the provincial government will be releasing the Manitoba K-12 Education Review and its response to the report next week. (Winnipeg Free Press)

"Our system spends some of the highest in the country on education. However, we see results at the bottom of provincial and international assessment," he said. "With the report and the response, we will be laying out our vision and our plan for better education and better results for Manitoba students."

The provinces K-12 education review, which took place throughout 2019, was originally set to be released a year ago but was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

As such, Cullen reminded the public on Friday that government officials used this extra time to evaluate the pandemics impact on Manitoba schools and integrated what they observed into the soon-to-be-released report.

"So what you will see on Monday is a combination of what we learned from COVID and also the recommendations from the K-12 report," he said.

In the lead-up to this release, some Manitoba educators have expressed concern about the province using this review to amalgamate various school divisions in an attempt to streamline the education system overall, with these divisions losing their autonomy in the process.

While Cullen wouldnt explicitly say if the upcoming K-12 review will recommend amalgamation, he did float the idea that a reduced number of school divisions would have made COVID response in schools a whole lot easier.

"We recognize that we had (more than) 30 different entities doing their own thing, and it was difficult to manage that from a government perspective," he said.

On this same front, Cullen also made mention of the education systems top-heavy administration costs that are, by his calculations, 48 per cent higher in Manitoba compared to Ontario.

"So, clearly we would like to take some of the money that we are spending on the administrative side and get that to the front line where we think the students need it best," he said.

Manitoba Teachers Society vice-president Nathan Martindale believes school division amalgamation remains a strong possibility, especially since the province has been alluding to such action throughout this entire process.

"They havent outright said, at any time, that there will be amalgamation. Theyve used the phrase, Theres nothing off the table, he said.

"I dont want to speculate, but could that be something thats happening? Yes, it could. Is it highly likely? I think so. But well just have to wait and see."

In terms of the work that went into compiling the K-12 review itself, Cullen took time on Friday to thank all the educators, students, parents and other members of the public who contributed to "one of the largest consultations in Manitoba history."

The education minister revealed this consultation process involved 2,300 written submissions, 62 formal briefs, 90,000 public survey responses and 12,000 teacher survey responses.

"I think we can take those lessons from both the review and what Manitobans told us  and we can create a new vision for Manitobans," said Cullen. "And on that journey, we will be continuing to consult with Manitobans in terms of how we provide better education for our students."

In terms of why the province is holding the K-12 education reviews release until next week, Cullen said they want to make sure MLAs can get a look at it first, since some legislation surrounding this report will be forthcoming.

Until then, Martingale said he and other Manitoba Teachers Society members will be sitting on the edge of their seats this weekend, waiting to see what recommendations will come through on Monday.

"The government said this is a once-in-a-lifetime review, so we really hope they do it right and address what they need to address," he said.

The province is expected to release the report at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @KyleDarbyson
The OnePlus Watch is official, and OnePlus will be launching it on March 23. The company has offered the briefest of teasers so far, but it has provided even more details about the OnePlus 9 series.

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It has been clear for some time that OnePlus would be releasing its first smartwatch this year. Most recently, the smartwatch turned up at a Malaysian regulation authority, which was preceded by OnePlus submitting two smartwatch designs to the DPMA in Germany.

OnePlus may not have confirmed the OnePlus Watch's existence, but it will be launching a smartwatch on March 23. As we have previously reported, this date coincides with the OnePlus 9 series launch date, so we expect the company to unveil both at the same event.

The OnePlus Watch will have a circular display, based on the teaser images provided, and will have the OnePlus brand adorned on its metal frame. The company's DPMA submission suggests that there will be two versions of the smartwatch, though.

Separately, OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 9 series will share a few specifications with the OnePlus 8 Pro and the OnePlus 8T. Unsurprisingly, the OnePlus 9 series will support LPDDR5 RAM, which remains cutting-edge for smartphones.
NEW YORK, March 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Bryn Mawr Bank Corp. ("BMTC" or "the Company") (BMTC) relating to its proposed acquisition by WSFS Financial Corp. Under the terms of the agreement, BMTC shareholders are expected to receive 0.90 shares of WSFS per share.

The investigation focuses on whether Bryn Mawr Bank Corp. and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, and 2) whether the transaction is properly valued.

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Mallika, a 35-year-old woman from Mysuru was out on a stroll at People's Park with her two children, when she developed labour pain.

But with quick-thinking passers by who rushed to her aid, things went off pretty smoothly.

According to a TOI report, a high school teacher Shobha who was at the park helped deliver Mallikas child at a park in Mysurus Nazarabad with the help of just a phone call from a doctor who was in Mumbai.



TOI

A local youth named Kartik meanwhile had called a doctor in Mumbai and connected Shobha to him. However, Shobha lamented that despite many women being present there, none came to help her with the delivery.

She followed the steps as accurately as she could despite being scared for the woman and her baby.



Also Read: Social Media Praises Kerala Home Guard Who Comforted Baby After Her Family Met With An Accident

Mallika, who is a tribal from Gonikoppal in Kodagu district was with her two children, a son aged 4 years and a daughter, 2 during the labour.

After delivering the baby, Shobha said she was unsure of how to clamp the umbilical cord but by that time an ambulance had reached the spot.

Reuters

The medical staff then took over and helped cut the cord. Shobha said after the delivery, she gave the woman some hot water and then she was taken to the hospital for further treatment.

Later, Shobha visited Mallika and offered her Rs 2,000 for the newborn.

Also Read: Woman Goes Into Labour On The Way To Hospital, EMT Helps Deliver Baby In Ambulance

According to TOI, Mallika had a fight with her husband a few months ago and was on her way home when she suddenly developed labour pains. Mallika was reportedly paying for herself and her kids by working at a local hotel.
MUSKEGON, MI  Since 1903, a historic brick building with a red clay roof and tall white pillars has been a landmark at the corner of West Webster Avenue and 2nd Street as a visual reminder of the steadfast community involvement of the Greater Muskegon Womans Club.

Julia Hackley, the wife of Muskegon entrepreneur and lumber baron Charles Hackley, started the club in 1890 for women seeking cultural and educational advancement. Member Minnie Smith donated funds in the early 1900s to buy a parcel of land and build the clubhouse.

They always wanted a place of their own, said Nancy Bierenga, a current member and past president.

Related: History of Black-owned businesses in Muskegon highlights entrepreneurial gene

The club has a rich history in the community and left its mark on politics, both locally and nationally. The women lobbied city hall to hire the first policewoman, they pushed forward a local law to make spitting on the sidewalk illegal and they signed a resolution to support the womens suffrage movement in the 1920s.

The Womans Club, from its inception, was very instrumental in getting laws passed, said Bierenga.

In recent decades, the club has veered away from politics to focus primarily on its mission to provide arts, education and philanthropy for the community through events at the building and partnerships with local non-profit organizations like United Way of the Lakeshore.

Many of the clubs gatherings were canceled last year due to COVID-19, but Bierenga said they are planning for a return including a Prince and Princess tea party in May and improv classes for high school students.

The building for the Greater Muskegon Woman's Club was dedicated in 1903. It was built thanks to a donation from member Minnie Smith. (Photo by Rose White | MLive)

The club also honors two women annually with the Women of Accomplishment Award for their work in the community. The latest honorees are Zaneta Adams, the director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, and Brianna Scott, a Michigan State University board member.

About 100 people are current members of the Womans Club, including four men who were recently allowed to join.

The more people we can have as members and the more people that can be concerned about the education and cultural advancement of the community of Muskegon, the more we all win, said Bierenga.

Since Bierenga joined the club about a decade ago shes seen the membership start to get younger. Current club president, Hannah Olechnowicz, is 31 years old and she hopes her involvement shows the club is for people of all ages.

Yes, were called the Womans Club, she said. We are absolutely open to everyone and anyone. We want to make a positive impact on the community for another 100 years.

Related: Music is healing for woman who restores broken down violins and gives them to those in need

A key part of the clubs legacy is the building on West Webster Avenue. It is one of 27 Michigan State Historic Sites in Muskegon County and is located on a block next to the Muskegon Museum of Art, built in 1912, and the Hackley Public Library, built in 1890.

Much like the organizations mission, its essentially an unchanged building, said Bierenga.

The club plans to replace the 100-year-old clay roof this year with a lightweight, metal version that resembles clay tiles. A fundraiser collected $130,000 to go toward the project.

We love being here, said Bierenga.

More on MLive:

Daylight Saving Time is almost here: 7 ways to make it easier on your body

Increased vaccinations in Muskegon County pays off with drop in COVID-19 cases in older residents

Social drinking outside on 12 blocks of downtown Muskegon begins soon
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The defendants, who cannot be identified, admitted causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical injury

The parents of a three-month-old baby boy found to have suffered three broken ribs and numerous bruises were jailed on Friday.

Imposing sentences of 16 months and 21 months on the mother and father respectively, Judge Patrick Lynch QC said they were guilty of the deliberate and persistent avoidance of care plans put in place to protect the child.

The judge said they would serve half their sentences in jail and half on licence and be placed on childrens barred list.

The defendants, who cannot be identified, admitted causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical injury on a date between November 25 and 28 in 2017.

Craigavon Crown Court was told the boy was clearly well and in good form when he stayed with a friend of his mothers on November 25 that year.

Two days later, when she went to pick up the child after he had been with his mother, she noticed bruising on his lip.

When another aunt and an uncle examined the infant, they found bruising on a shoulder, on his back and left leg.

The baby was taken to see a GP, who formed the opinion that the injuries were non-accidental and made arrangements for a hospital appointment.

Consultant paediatricians subsequently found eight signs of bruising on the boys head, back, torso, arms and legs.

The mother was present and was unable to account for the bruises, Judge Lynch said.

The bruises on either side of his mouth would be in keeping with fingertip bruising (as though being forcibly gripped).

Further examination found recent fractures to three ribs caused by compression, possibly by gripping with fingers and thumbs, or by downward pressure on the chest with the infant lying on a hard surface, the court heard.

Judge Lynch said while it is not possible to attribute the physical attack to either of the accused, their culpability... rests with the circumstances in which they came to be alone in charge of him (the baby).

He added that the child had been on the protection register since birth, with orders that he and his mother live with a relative and the father be granted two hours of supervised contact a week.

When the mother secured her own home, the arrangements were modified, but the couple were still not allowed to care for the child alone and the fathers visitation rights were unchanged.

When the mother was questioned, she told police her boyfriend had screamed f*** up at the child on the same day she noticed the bruise on his lip.

The father was also questioned but claimed he had no idea about the injuries.

Judge Lynch said the defendants behaviour proved the care plans put in place by social services to protect the child were only too necessary.

The two accused took the decision to deliberately and systematically flout those measures, he added.

They clearly regarded these restrictions as irritants to be flouted with contempt so as to follow personal desires irrespective of the known risk to the safety of their child. This is their criminality.

He told the mother and father he was imposing different sentences only because she entered a guilty plea two years before he did.
West Bengal elections 2021: Will urge people of Nandigram not to vote for them: says Rakeh Tikait

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 13: Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait urged the people of Nandigram not to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha held a 'mahapanchayat' in Kolkata against 3 farm laws today.

"We're going to Nandigram to tell people that crops are not being purchased at MSP. We'll appeal to them not to vote for BJP as they've robbed the entire country," said Tikait. He also urged people to vote for a candidate who can defeat BJP.

Tikait reached West Bengal to join the agitation against the BJP and was received at the airport by TMC MP Dola Sen. Kisan leader Balbir Rajewal sparks who was also present there said, "You can vote for anyone but the BJP."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on two-day campaign in poll-bound Assam, West Bengal

Earlier, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha had said the ongoing agitation will remain apolitical and no political leader will be allowed to speak from its stage. The statement came after politicians of different parties visiting protest sites at Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri and other border points to extend their support to the farmer protesting against the Centre's farm laws.

On Friday, Tikait had suggested that opposition leaders were not giving more support to the farmers' protest as they feared being targeted by the Narendra Modi government. Addressing a farmers 'mahapanchayat' at Pipar in Rajasthan's Jodhpur, the Bharatiya Kisan Union leader called the BJP-led government at the Centre a "two-person" regime that does not listen to anybody.

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CSI Donates $3,600 to McCracken Co. Library

By West Kentucky Star Staff





MCCRACKEN COUNTY - The McCracken County Public Library announced that Computer Services Inc. (CSI) has donated $3,600 to cover the cost of providing hot spot internet service.On Friday, the Library said CSI's generous donation would cover the cost of providing the service to Library patrons for an entire year.The donation was organized through CSI's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The committee's goal is to help the organization find a way to give back to local communities and expand its reach to underserved areas.The Library's hot spots, which are available for check out, provide up to three weeks of internet access for McCracken County residents.The hot spots are great for areas with little or no internet coverage available or for those who cannot afford internet service.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A march in Grand Rapids on Saturday, March 13 will honor Breonna Taylor on the anniversary of her death.

The one-mile Say Her Name Louder march starts at 3 p.m. at Rosa Parks Circle. Taylor grew up in Grand Rapids, and some of her local family members plan to attend the march.

Local activist group Family Over Everything organized the event to honor the life of Breonna Taylor and march for justice, a Facebook post said.

Similar events are planned for Ann Arbor, Detroit and Flint.

Related: Signs installed in downtown Grand Rapids for Breonna Taylor Way

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black emergency technician, was killed by Louisville Metro Police on March 13, 2020.

Officers were executing a search warrant for a suspect who did not live in the apartment. Taylors boyfriend Kenneth Walker thought an intruder was breaking in and fired once at the officers. Police returned fire and shot into the apartment 32 times.

A grand jury did not indict any of the officers involved in the shooting death.

Taylors death sparked protests, and she became a symbol in a nationwide movement against police brutality and racial injustice.

Last year, Monroe Center, a main downtown street, was given the honorary name Breonna Taylor Way.

The march follows a March 8 rally in which Grand Rapids Police arrested eight demonstrators for standing in the road. Justice for Black Lives protesters said at a press conference this week they were targeted by officers.

More on MLive:

Flint women set to march in celebration of Breonna Taylors life one year after she was killed by police

World class African American cultural center eyed by Grand Rapids nonprofit

Local Eats: The Spirit of Kalamazoo has been dishing up tasty treats for a decade
Mar. 12BEMIDJI  The Bemidji Community Food Shelf is seeking help from the community for its annual Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign. This year's campaign runs from March 1 to April 11.

"The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign helps food shelves get through the busy summer months by providing a partial match for donations," a release said.

Bemidji Community Food Shelf has participated in the campaign for many years, and actively promoting it since 2003. According to BCFS Executive Director Mary Mitchell, this is the most important fundraiser of the year because it frontloads the food budget for the summer when donations are down.

The food shelf saw a record number of visits in 2020 and higher numbers could continue though 2021. BCFS is asking area businesses, families, organizations and individuals to help bring in donations of food and dollars. All donations received from March 1 to April 11 will be totaled and reported to the campaign organizers. A partial match will be awarded based on the total donations, the release said.

Donations can be delivered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, call the food shelf at (218) 444-6580.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 20:15:29|Editor: huaxia

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Video: U.S. President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021 signed the 1.9-trillion-U.S.-dollar COVID-19 relief bill into law, after weeks of partisan fighting in the Congress, marking the first legislative victory for Biden since he took office. (Xinhua)

The measure, the sixth coronavirus-related legislation since the outbreak more than a year ago, includes funding for COVID-19 vaccination and testing, extra 300 dollars in unemployment benefits, 1,400-dollar direct payments to working Americans, and support for small businesses, state and local governments, along with schools.



WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The newly passed 1.9-trillion-U.S.-dollar relief package is about to go into effect, with some Americans expected to get the direct payments as soon as this weekend.

The measure, the first legislative victory for President Joe Biden, came after weeks of partisan fighting in the Congress, a process that marked the opposite of what Biden called for in his inaugural address: unity.

Photo taken on March 11, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE

In his remarks on Friday afternoon, Biden said the bill was supported "overwhelmingly" by the American people -- Democrats, independents, and Republicans -- and gained strong support of governors and mayors across the country in both parties.

"Over 430 mayors contacted me, many of them Republicans, supporting the bill," the U.S. president said in a White House ceremony celebrating the passage of the relief package earlier this week.

The bill, however, did not receive a single Republican vote in the Congress. The House of Representatives approved the measure in a starkly partisan vote of 220-211 on Wednesday. Last week, the evenly split Senate narrowly passed the bill by a vote of 50 to 49.

During the debates on Capitol Hill, Republicans strongly opposed the bill, calling it a Democratic wish list, arguing that the plan includes provisions that they see as unrelated to the crisis, and that the high price tag could result in unsustainable debt for future generations.

"So let's be clear. This isn't a rescue bill. It isn't a relief bill. It's a laundry list of left-wing priorities that predate the pandemic and do not meet the needs of American families," said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a tweet, lashed out at Democrats, accusing them of exploiting the crisis by "jamming through unrelated liberal policies they couldn't pass honestly."

The Democrats, meanwhile, highlighted the urgency to rein in the pandemic and bolster the virus-ravaged economy.

"With President Biden's actions and the delivery of the life-saving resources of the #AmericanRescuePlan, we will crush the virus, save jobs & grow the economy, and Build Back Better For The People," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Twitter.

"The United States in the Congress is more polarized than the American people," Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at Columbia University and senior United Nations advisor, told Xinhua.

"The American people have actually a broad consensus. Let's get on with our lives. Let's have the control of the pandemic. Let's have an increased role of government, but the political divide between the Democrats and Republicans is very strong," Sachs said.

The measure, the sixth coronavirus-related legislation since the outbreak more than a year ago, includes funding for COVID-19 vaccination and testing, extra 300 dollars in unemployment benefits, 1,400-dollar direct payments to working Americans, and support for small businesses, state and local governments, along with schools.

Photo taken on March 6, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

UNITY A "TALKING POINT"?

Most legislation requires 60 votes in the Senate to advance, but the Democrats in early February moved to pass a procedural step in both chambers, known as budget reconciliation, allowing them to push through the big relief bill with only a simple majority in the Senate.

With the Senate evenly split, the process gives the vice president the opportunity to cast her vote to break a tie, which means the Democrats could pass the bill without Republican support.

The Republicans criticized the Democrats' use of the budget reconciliation process, calling it a "partisan" move.

"President Biden's call for unity was a simple talking point and instead of working with House GOP and Senate GOP. (The) Democrats are pushing forward a partisan agenda that doesn't represent all Americans," Michael Burgess, a Republican congressman from Texas, said earlier.

Biden, however, said what the Republicans proposed is "either to do nothing or not enough."

"If I have to choose between getting help right now to Americans who are hurting so badly, and being bogged down in a monthly negotiation or compromising on a bill that's up to the crisis, it's an easy choice," said the U.S. president.

Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives, told Xinhua that the process Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer decided to use in the Senate was a "clumsy" one. But it was the only way that this legislation could pass, given the "truly puzzling" resistance of all Republicans.

The former state legislator added that Biden learned from his experience with Obama and McConnell during the Obama administration that the Republicans were apparently never going to allow a Democratic president to get credit for substantial legislation ever again.

The budget reconciliation process has also drawn criticism from G. William Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank, who is also a member of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a watchdog group.

"No one denies the need to assist families and businesses that have and continue to suffer from the economic fallout of the pandemic. But the current Democratic reconciliation bill and the 2017 Republican tax reconciliation measure have paid scant attention to the country's mounting debt load," Hoagland said in a statement in late February.

According to the estimation by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the passage of the 1.9-trillion relief package alone, excluding any dynamic effect, would boost debt to 37.4 trillion dollars by 2031, or 114 percent of Gross Domestic Product. 
New Delhi: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait in West Bengal's Nandigram on Saturday (March 13) said that a new mandi will be opened in Parliament and that tractors will enter Delhi once again.

"The day Samyukt Morcha decides, a new mandi will be opened at Parliament. The crops will be sold at the minimum support price (MSP). Tractors will again enter Delhi. The 3.5 lakh tractors and 25 lakhs farmers are the same. The next target will be to sell crops at Parliament," Tikait was quoted as saying by ANI.

"I feel the mandi in parliament is the best. The farmer is outside and trader is outside, there will be purchase definitely," he added.

In his interaction with mediapersons, the BKU leader slammed the Centre and accused it of working for the benefits of big corporates.

While addressing the public in Nandigram, a key battle ground in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls, the farmer leader urged people not to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and instead cast votes for a candidate who can defeat BJP. Nandigram will witness neck-and-neck contest between TMC supremo and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from the constituency.

He had also accused the saffron party of 'conspiring' to injure West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Earlier, Tikait had told the reporters in Delhi that he will be going to Kolkata and meet the government there only. "The government has gone to Kolkata. They will return in one and a half month. We are also going there. We will meet the government there only.

Addressing another meeting earlier in Kolkata, Tikait attacked the Centre and claimed that the government is run by big companies and not any political party. These farmers protests have to be held across the country, in every district, he added.
Portugal is set to be removed from the travel ban 'red list', paving the way for summer holidays there.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will take the country off the list of 33 Covid-hotspot countries on Monday, it is understood.

It means the ban on direct flights into the UK will be lifted and arrivals from Portugal will not have to go into quarantine at hotels for 11 days upon landing.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is believed to be preparing to take Portugal off the list of 33 Covid-hotspot countries on Monday

The country has already said it aims to reopen to Britons who can show proof of vaccination or a negative test from mid-May.

Greece, Spain and Cyprus have signalled they will be doing the same.

Portugal was placed on Britain's red list due to its historic links with Brazil, where a feared new strain of Covid was discovered.

US President Joe Biden says he hopes Americans will be able to celebrate Independence Day on July 4

However, Britons will be unable to go there for holidays until at least May 17  the earliest international travel can get underway under the Government's official roadmap for lifting lockdown.

It comes as US President Joe Biden said he hoped Americans would be able to celebrate freedom from the virus on Independence Day on July 4.

Addressing the nation, he promised to make all adults eligible for jabs by May 1, regardless of age.

Mass travel on transatlantic routes has ground to a halt over the last 12 months after the US closed its borders.

But the rapidly-expanding pace of vaccination programmes in both countries means travel between the UK and the US could resume this summer.

Travel consultant Paul Charles, of the PC Agency, said: 'The USA is making huge strides. A July 1 reopening of borders, with test measures, is currently very realistic.'

Although Whitehall sources indicated talks with the US were continuing, they said it was too early to predict when travel would resume.
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Hazleton, PA (18201)

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Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

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Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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WATERTOWN, N.Y. (AP) - A 21-year-old man who suffered a medical emergency during firefighter training in upstate New York died nine days after being stricken. Fire officials say Peyton Morse died Friday afternoon at Guthrie Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania. He had been training to become a firefighter in Watertown. Morse had been participating in an 11-week training course at the State Academy of Fire Science Training on March 3 near Watkins Glen. WWNY-TV says he had been working with a breathing apparatus when he became unresponsive and was taken to the hospital in nearby Pennsylvania. Police and state officials are investigating the incident.
Krysia Ara is working with the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission, or ACAC, on Heron Sighting, a new mosaic installation in Dudley Park. (Courtesy/Krysia Ara)
That is 17 more killed than were in 2019 (49).

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Thursday published the report on journalists and media staff killed in work-related incidents around the world during 2020.

The annual report, in its 30th edition, details the circumstances of the 65 killings which occurred during targeted attacks, bomb attacks and cross  fire incidents in 16 countries, as reported in a report.

That is 17 more killed than were in 2019 (49), and bring the total to 2,680 journalists and media workers who lost their lives to violence in the world since 1990, when the IFJ started publishing these annual reports to highlight the deepening safety crisis in the media.

Read alsoRSF: 49 journalists killed in 2019  mediaThe report's 2020 ranking per country has Mexico at the top of the list for the fourth time in five years with 14 killings, followed by Afghanistan (10), Pakistan (9), India (8), Philippines (4), Syria (4) while Nigeria and Yemen recorded three killings each. There were also two killings in Iraq and Somalia. Finally, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Honduras, Paraguay, Russia and Sweden recorded one killing each.

For the first time, the report features a list of journalists currently behind bars for their reporting. According to IFJ records, the number of journalists in prison totals at least 229 as of March 2021.

More news reports

Reporting by UNIAN
Denton, TX (76205)

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Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds light and variable..

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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Buckingham Palace was dismayed that Oprah Winfrey's TV production company did not offer the Royals an opportunity to respond to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's devastating claims.

Sources confirmed the Palace was not given a right to reply to the accusations, including that an unnamed family member asked 'how dark' Archie's skin might be and that, despite being on the verge of suicide, Meghan was refused help by the Palace's human resources department.

It is accepted practice for UK media to provide a right of reply to those accused of wrongdoing.

Buckingham Palace was dismayed that Oprah Winfrey's TV production company did not offer the Royals a right to reply to the accusations made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

In a statement, Harpo  which billed the show as a 'TV special' rather than news programme  said: 'The interview was intended to be a conversation with the couple.

The Palace was not contacted to participate in or respond to the interview.'


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New Jersey has reported far fewer positive flu test results and severe pediatric cases so far this season, and experts say coronavirus mitigation measures may be among the reasons why.

So far this season, theres been just a fraction of positive rapid flu results reported to the state Department of Health compared to the same time frame last year. Between the beginning of October 2019 and the first week of March 2020, there were over 16,600 positive rapid flu tests, according to data published by the state. This time during that same period, theres just been 100, according to the DOH.

The number of positive PCR tests reported by large hospitals and commercial labs to the state also dropped from around 11,400 last season to 134 so far this season. PCR tests are more accurate than rapid tests, but providers perform them less often because the rapid tests take around 20 minutes and rarely give false negatives.

As the flu season begins to wind down  test results are only published through May each year  experts credit vigilant mask-wearing, social distancing and increased hand-washing for the significant decline in influenza in the 2020-2021 season.

But while the numbers make it seem like the flu has all but disappeared, the decrease is a bit more complicated. Fewer urgent care centers and physicians offices may be reporting rapid flu results because they lack the electronic connection to the states reporting system and would have to manually report numbers, a time-consuming task amid an overwhelming surge in COVID-19 patients. In addition, experts say many people may be quarantining or opting for telemedicine instead of going to their health care provider, leaving some cases uncounted.

The same measures used to contain COVID mask wearing, social distancing, working from home and school closures they all contributed to the unusually low influenza season, said Suraj Saggar, Chief, Infectious Disease at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck.

The number of total PCR tests performed is not reported to the DOH. However, fewer rapid flu tests have been administered this year so far, compared to last year and even despite the decrease, the percent of positive test results is still lower, according to state data. A little over 32,000 tests were administered this season compared to about 73,000 last season, according to the state Department of Healths weekly flu reports.

That may be because people with mild flu symptoms are not going to a physicians office, and instead seeking telemedicine or simply quarantining at the sign of symptoms as a COVID-19 precaution, said Deepam Thomas, Foodborne Disease Program Coordinator at the DOH.

Dr. Stephanie Silvera, a professor of public health at Montclair University, says there also may simply be fewer people sick with influenza, meaning not as much testing is needed.

Part of why fewer people are being tested with the rapid tests is likely that fewer people are out and about and coming in contact so theyre less likely to be showing symptoms where they need to be tested, she said. Theyre not showing the same symptoms.

Fewer health care facilities reporting the number of rapid flu tests to the state may have played a part in the drastic change from last season too, said Edward Lifshitz, Medical Director for the states Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program.

Not all providers partner with the state to send flu data. Usually, around 30 urgent cares, doctors offices and other facilities can send rapid flu test data to the DOH, but fewer did this year because of the pandemics strain on resources, he said.

Meanwhile, more large hospitals and commercial labs 311, to be exact were able to report flu PCR results to the state this season because they created an electronic connection to the DOHs surveillance system for COVID-19 reporting purposes, Lifshitz said.

Its hard to know whether there might be some less reporting coming in from hospitals and other places. If theyre busy worrying about COVID, they may not be telling us about every rapid flu test that theyre doing there, so we do seem to hear from some fewer facilities this year than last year, Lifshitz said.

We have seen some drop-off in the number of facilities that are reporting those rapid tests to us compared to last year, he said. Theres always some reporting issues from year to year... (But) Overall, theres no doubt that the trend is a whole lot lower.

Fewer severe flu cases were reported this season compared to last, too.

There were 57 severe pediatric influenza cases in the 2019-2020 annual flu season compared to one severe case this season. The flu is usually more severe for elderly people and children under five, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The number of flu cases at Holy Name was next to nothing this season, Saggar said. Between August 2019 and May 2020, the hospital reported 809 influenza cases compared to 17 cases between August 2020 and present.

Some influenza seasons are worse than others, Saggar said, depending on the strain that is spreading and how many people get vaccinated. The last season with unusually low influenza activity was 2011-2012, with 140,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. compared to 570,000 hospitalizations the following season, according to the CDC. Even during that low season in 2011-2012, the rate of hospitalizations nationwide was a little over two times higher than this season across the country, Saggar said.

Another reason for the drop could be the push in the fall by physicians encouraging people to get their flu shots, said Dr. Judith A. Lightfoot, chief of infectious disease at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Health officials had initially been fearing a twindemic in the winter in which a surge of COVID-19 and influenza would overwhelm hospitals, and strongly advised patients to get vaccinated.

We have really made a push to vaccinate everyone, and people have been willing to take the influenza vaccine. It was good messaging from health care providers, Lightfoot said.

Silvera says one takeaway from the state data is that health measures should be employed even after the COVID-19 pandemic to combat flu deaths.

Doing so could have benefits beyond reducing illness, Silvera said. Hospitals may be less burdened by costs related to treating influenza patients and student absenteeism in schools could drop.

I think the message is, during cold and flu season, we probably should be wearing masks. Its going to reduce costs, she said. Something that is as easy and inexpensive as a mask can actually have a huge economic benefit when were talking about work productivity, school absenteeism and healthcare costs.

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Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo.
New Delhi: The political battleground of West Bengal was open by the end of the last year, long before the election dates were even expected. The cue was simple that this West Bengal election is going to be a big one. The stimulus to this was first seen from ZEE News when the channel launched its exclusive property Kiska Bengal in December 2020 itself. The show is a half-hour daily bulletin that has stories and the latest updates on the West Bengal elections.

Later in February 2021, with the announcement of dates for the West Bengal Elections, Zee News with its first of its kind show- Bengal Chaley Hum, is traveling the length and breadth of the state to capture the pulse of the electorates and highlight ground-level issues that will drive the choice of voters. The show will travel across West Bengal and cover key constituencies in the state.

These shows are a true representative of the peoples voice in line with the commitment of Zee News to bring the most comprehensive coverage of Elections. Continuing with the same commitment, Zee News will present extensive reportage throughout the elections till counting day. The programming will comprise a detailed analysis along with an overall view of the political scene through a diverse format of shows.

Watch 'Bengal Chale Hum' at 7 PM and 'Kiska Bengal' at 7. 30 PM, Monday to Friday only on Zee News.



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A woman has suffered horrific injuries to her hips, back and buttocks after being bitten by a shark during a morning swim.

She had been swimming at Merimbula, on the New South Wales south coast, with a friend at 7am on Saturday when she was attacked.

The woman, believed to be in her 60s, was swimming off the main beach, which has now been closed.

Authorities are scouring 30km of coastline, closing all nearby beaches on what would have been a packed 33C day, to search for the shark.

Woman rushed to hospital after being bitten by a SHARK during a swim at a popular beach - as experts close 30km of shoreline in hunt for the beast (pictured, the Merimbula sandbar)

Emergency services treated the woman at the scene after she sustained lacerations to her hip and thigh.

She was then rushed to hospital and is in a stable condition.

Surf Life Saving NSW confirmed the incident, writing on Twitter: 'Beaches from Wallagoot Lake down to Pambula are closed for 24 hours after a woman in her 60s was bitten on the hip and thigh by a shark while swimming at Main Beach Merimbula.'

Earlier this week, terrifying footage showed hundreds of unsuspecting swimmers paddling over sharks named Norman and Newman at Bondi Beach.

Aerial footage uploaded to YouTube channel Bondi Nation on Wednesday morning revealed the incredible scene in the waters at the iconic Sydney hotspot.

In the video, swimmers could be seen free-styling virtually next to the carnivorous beasts.

Some remained oblivious as they carelessly waded through the ocean, but others stopped in their tracks when they realised they were potentially moments from death.

'Surely someone's got to see him,' a male voiceover said, as two beachgoers moved harrowingly close to the shark he dubbed 'Norman'.

He's going to go straight under you, mate.'

While the paddlers did not appear to have noticed at first, they stopped in the water after clearing the flesh-eating fish - bewildered by the vicious sight.

As more Sydneysiders free-styled towards an enormous school of salmon, the shark called Newman could be seen lurking in the middle.

One viewer said the sharks did not strike because they were feasting on a large school of salmon (pictured)

Some people swum through the school, completely unaware the predator was drifting in the middle.

Despite the potentially dangerous situation, no one was attacked.

Viewers took to the comments section to express their shock, and possible reasons as to why the sharks didn't strike.

'Thats amazing! But if I was one of those swimmers... Id absolutely sh*t myself if I turned around and saw one of those sharks,' one user wrote.

'Of course the sharks didn't attack look how much food was surrounding them,' another suggested.
Ms Everard's remains were found in a woodland area in Kent on Wednesday. Photo: PA Media.

A Metropolitan Police officer charged with the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard is due to appear in court on Saturday.

Serving police constable Wayne Couzens, 48, was charged on Friday evening with kidnapping and killing the marketing executive, who went missing while walking home from a friends flat in south London on March 3.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.

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It comes as police said Couzens was taken to hospital for a second time in 48 hours on Friday for treatment to another head injury sustained in custody, before he was discharged and returned to a police station.

He was previously treated in hospital for a separate head wound on Thursday, also sustained in custody when he was alone in his cell.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave confirmed the charge in a statement outside Scotland Yard on Friday night.

He said: I would like at this stage to pay tribute to Sarahs family for their fortitude and forbearance through what can only have been the most intensely difficult few days.

Our thoughts remain with them as this matter progresses.

Regarding the second head injury, a Met Police spokesman said Couzens was being monitored by officers when he sustained the wound.

A spokesman said: The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment to a head injury sustained while in custody in a cell on Friday.

He was being monitored by officers and received immediate first aid. He was discharged the same day and returned to custody.

The Met Police said Couzens joined the force two years ago in September 2018 when he worked for a response team covering the Bromley area, before moving to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February last year.

Couzens was arrested on Tuesday in Kent, with Commissioner Nick Ephgrave commenting at the time that the fact he is a serving police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing.

Ms Everard is thought to have walked through Clapham Common towards her house in Brixton  a journey which should have taken around 50 minutes.

Scotland Yard confirmed on Friday afternoon that human remains found in an area of woodland in Ashford, Kent, two days earlier had been identified as Ms Everard.

Her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the public, with many women and girls sharing stories online of experiencing violence by men.

People have vowed to attend a vigil at Clapham Common in honour of Ms Everard on Saturday evening, despite the Metropolitan Police warning the public they should stay at home or find a lawful and safer way to express your views.

Organisers of the event, titled Reclaim These Streets, are continuing talks with the police to work out how it could go ahead safely, while a planned event in Edinburgh will now take place virtually.

Scotland Yard is facing an investigation by the police watchdog into its handling of separate allegations of indecent exposure against Couzens, whose primary role was on uniformed patrol duties of diplomatic premises, mainly embassies.

He was alleged to have twice exposed himself at a south London fast food restaurant three days before Ms Everard went missing.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is to probe whether two officers responded appropriately in their investigation.

A forensics team searched an area of land outside the back fence of the Couzens house in Deal, Kent, on Friday, while uniformed officers were posted at a derelict garage in Dover, which was run by his family.

Police said a woman in her 30s, who was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of assisting an offender, had been released on bail to return to a police station on a date in mid-April.

NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has asked his department to investigate sustainable alternatives to synthetic grass amid growing concerns about its environmental and health impacts.

Community groups, including those in Lane Cove and Bayside local government areas, are protesting against council moves across Sydney to replace old grass ovals with synthetic playing fields.

Critics say synthetic fields cause rubber and microplastics to leach into waterways; reduce the amenity for families and dog owners; potentially increase cancer risk through the chemicals used to make them; and cause unsustainably high temperatures near and on these fields on hot days.

Residents in Greenwich worry about the environmental impact from increased heat and plastic and rubber debris if the Lane Cove Council proceeds with plans to turn the Bob Campbell Oval into a synthetic playing field. Credit:Steven Siewert

I am sufficiently concerned about the environmental impacts ... and will ask the Department to examine what alternative technologies or techniques exist to maximise the use of community sporting facilities without hurting our environment, Mr Stokes said.
The story of Longford native Annette Killen features in the radio documentary 'Angels of Mercy' which raises the awareness of the important but often overlooked role that Irish women played in the development of the English National Health Service (NHS) in the second half of the 20th Century.

GALLERY | Happy Mother's Day to the mammies of Longford

Angels of Mercy, produced, recorded and edited by award winning documentary maker and radio producer Grainne McPolin, will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday, March 14 at 7am and again on Saturday, March 20 at 9pm.

Angels of Mercy explores the story of the women who left Ireland to train and work as nurses in England.

Radio presenter and producer Grainne McPolin worked as a nurse herself in England and brings her own experience to the narrative.

Also read: Covid-19 Latest: Some positive news as number of daily cases falls but Longford's incidence rate still highest

The programme tells the story of five Irish women including Longford native Annette Killen who had little option but to leave Ireland to train as nurses in the UK along with the thousands of Irish women recruited into the UK National Health Service.

The womens story follows a chronological timeline from the establishment of the UK NHS after the Second World War up to the 1980s.

Sociologist Prof. Louise Ryan gives background context to the story and women who worked as nurses over different time periods who will recount their experience.

GALLERY | Our Trip Down Memory Lane highlights the generosity of Longford groups and some race day glamour

The programme looks at the social and cultural lives of the women showing why they were obliged to leave Ireland beginning with the mass emigration of the 1950s and how they forged a sense of Irish identity and community outside of Ireland.

Dr Sarah O'Brien, a cultural historian will provide a background to the reasons for widespread emigration from Ireland during the 1950's to 1980's and historian Dr Jennifer Redmond explains the reason why many women in particular left Ireland to go to England during the during the 1950's.

Angels of Mercy was funded by a grant from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television Licence Fee.

Angels of Mercy will be broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Sunday, March 14 at 7am and again on Saturday, March 20 at 9pm. It can also be listened to online at www.newstalk.com

The Angels of Mercy podcast will be available at: www.newstalk.com/documentaryonnewstalk from 8am on Sunday, March 14

Also read: Paws for thought: Gardai team up with Longford dog warden to encourage people to microchip their pets
He's the co-founder and main composer of one of Australia's greatest rock bands, INXS.

But after 43 years with the group, Andrew Farriss has a new vision for himself - and he's finally going ahead with it.

Speaking to the Herald Sun on Saturday, the 61-year-old revealed he was releasing his very first solo album.

New venture! INXS co-founder and composer Andrew Farriss (pictured), 61, has revealed he will be going out on his own and releasing his very first solo album

The project will be a lot different to the style of INXS, with more of an 'Americana flavour'.

He wrote the demo for the album's first single, Come Midnight, during the mid-1980s, and had originally planned to sell it to another artist.

However, he decided to take the leap and keep it for himself when he was encouraged by sound engineers at a studio in Nashville.

'These guys were just telling me to put it out so that was when I started thinking maybe there is hope for me at the end of the tunnel here,' he told the publication.

'They didn't care about preconceptions of what band I was in or whatever. They're just saying we like this stuff. And in country music, it's not totally pop-driven, there's still some grittiness to it.'

'It's taken a while, to be honest, to get used to my own voice and being comfortable as a lead person,' Andrew told Sky News in a separate interview

In a separate interview with Sky News, Andrew said he was 'thrilled' and 'humbled' about the venture.

'It's taken a while, to be honest, to get used to my own voice and being comfortable as a lead person,' he said.

Andrew's debut album comes as he continues to mourn the death of INXS manager Chris 'C.M.' Murphy, 66, who died after a short battle with cancer in January.

Tragedy: Andrew's debut album comes as he continues to mourn the death of INXS manager Chris 'C.M.' Murphy (pictured), 66, who died after a short battle with cancer in January

History: INXS in 1988 at the height of their fame, after releasing the album Kick which went platinum six times in the U.S. and spawned four Top Ten U.S. singles. From top left: Michael Hutchence, Andrew Farriss, Tim Farriss, Garry Gary Beers, Kirk Pengilly and Jon Farriss

'It is with great sadness that the remaining members of INXS mourn the passing of our brother, Chris Murphy,' band members Tim, Jon and Andrew Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers said in a statement at the time.

'Without Chris's vision, passion and hard work, the INXS story would be totally different.'

Andrew's debut solo album will be released on Friday, March 19, and tickets for his tour can be accessed via his website.
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Security Council Press Statement on Afghanistan

UN Security Council Press Statement on targeted attacks against civilians in Afghanistan,

12 March 2021

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the alarming number of attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan. These heinous attacks have targeted civil servants, the judiciary, the media, healthcare and humanitarian workers, including women in prominent positions, those who protect and promote human rights, and ethnic and religious minorities.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern regarding the increase of these targeted attacks in the months following the start of the Afghanistan peace negotiations on 12 September 2020. The members of the Security Council recognized that a sustainable peace can be achieved only through a comprehensive and inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process that aims at a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, as well as an inclusive political settlement to end the conflict in Afghanistan. They stressed the need for full, equal and meaningful participation of women in this regard. The members of the Security Council strongly encouraged parties to the negotiations to pursue confidence-building measures, including reductions in violence, and to continue to engage in good faith.

The members of the Security Council called for an immediate end to these targeted attacks and stressed the urgent and imperative need to bring the perpetrators to justice. The members of the Security Council recalled that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law in all circumstances, including those related to the protection of civilians. They underlined that deliberate attacks targeting civilians may constitute war crimes.

The members of the Security Council also expressed their deep concerns about the threat posed by terrorism to Afghanistan and the region.

source: Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations

Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 79F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Mary Reynolds, the first female TD for Sligo-Leitrim, features in a new book published by Fine Gael to coincide with International Women's Day on Monday.

The book is called "Proud to Serve: The Voices of the Women of Cumann na nGaedheal and Fine Gael 1922-1992" and is written by Martina Murray and Maria Hegarty.

Maria Hegarty is a researcher, diversity and inclusion expert and equality campaigner.

She studied Business, Economics and Social Studies at Trinity College Dublin and is the Founder of Equality Strategies Ltd and Diversity Charter Ireland.

Martina Murray is a writer and historian with a particular interest in campaigns around social change. She studied English and History at Trinity College Dublin and currently works as a freelance writer and web editor.

The book will be launched by An Tanaiste Leo Varadkar at an online event this evening, Tuesday, 9th of March at 7.30pm. People can register for the free event by logging on to https://www.finegael.ie/book.

The event will feature a panel discussion with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, and former Justice Ministers Frances Fitzgerald and Nora Owen, moderated by Cllr. Yemi Adenuga.

The book features a number of women who stood for election for Cumann na nGaedheal/Fine Gael around the country from 1922 to 1992.

Mary Reynolds was a Cumann na nGaedheal/Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim between 1932-1933 and 1937-1961.

She was elected to elected to Dail Eireann as a Cumann na nGaedheal TD at the 1932 general election.

Her husband, Patrick Reynolds had been a TD for the same constituency in the 6th Dail, but was fatally shot during the 1932 general election campaign while out canvassing.

The election in Leitrim-Sligo was then postponed for two weeks and she subsequently won the seat.

She lost her seat at the 1933 general election but was elected once more at the 1937 general election and represented the Sligo-Leitrim constituency until her retirement at the 1961 general election.

She had seven children, including her son Patrick J. Reynolds, who was a Fine Gael TD and senator, as was his son Gerry Reynolds.

When she first became a TD in 1932, Mary was one of just two female TDs, the other being her party colleague, Margaret Collins O'Driscoll, whose brother was Michael Collins.

Mary Reynolds' life as a TD did come with sacrifices.According to the book, in her first year as TD she entrusted the care of her seven children, then aged between fifteen and four, to her mother who lived with the family, following which Mrs Reynolds, as she was known by everyone, quickly set to work.

"A personable, unassuming woman, she proved tireless in her efforts on behalf of her constituents.

"Her Dail contributions were mainly confined to parliamentary questions and as an obituary notice observed; "she did not make very many speeches, but her dealings with ministers and those in authority were characterised by a personal approach."

"She always went directly to the doors of those concerned to make representations on behalfof her constituents.

"She frequently visited Leitrim patients in Dublin hospitals, later relaying details of their progress to family members who were unable to travel to see them in Dublin."

Mary had strong faith. "A daily mass goer,her strong faith sustained her through difficult times, particularly after the deaths of two of her children, one of whom died in an accident in America.

"Successful in nine election campaigns, news of her election victories were communicated locally using a pre-arranged system, whereby one person went into a field and let a cheer, which was then carried by another person standing on a hill nearby who heard the shout and passed it on.

"In this way word of her election spread throughout the community, while bonfires were also lit in celebration."

Born in Drumcoura, Co. Leitrim on 5th October, 1889, Mary Reynolds (nee Smith) was educated at Drumreilly National School, and spent her last year at the Convent School in Ballinamore.

On completion of her schooling she emigrated to New York. It was there, in 1915, that she married Leitrim man Paddy Reynolds and the couple had two children before returning home to Ireland in 1919.

They purchased a farm and later opened a grocery bar and light hardware store on the main street in Ballinamore.

Patrick J. Reynolds,her son, won the seat in the election following her retirement, while her grandson Gerry Reynolds was also a Senator and later a TD for the Sligo -Leitrim Constituency.

In an election address in 1954 which is published in the book, Mary was critical of the spending in Dublin, a familiar theme which could be just as relevant today.

"The Fianna Fail administration has increased taxation - direct and indirect - and thus forced up the cost of living to a record high level.

"Just compare your weekly shopping bill for essential goods today with your weekly shopping bill under the Inter-Party Government.

"This crippling taxation has brought business to a standstill in our towns and villages, reduced employment and brought emigration to a record high figure, while millions of pounds are set aside for unnecessary and unproductive schemes, such as the Bray Road and Dublin Castle.

"The four million pounds to be spent on Dublin Castle would go a long way towards reconstructing every farmer's house in need of reconstruction.

"The six hundred thousand pounds to be spent on the Bray Road would do much with the bye-roads and laneways of Ireland and give much needed employment to our labourers and small farmers in counties such as Leitrim and Sligo.

"The limited space of time at my disposal before election day may not afford me an opportunity of a personal call on all the electors, consequently I am issuing this appeal for your support.

"During the years it has been my privilege to represent you in Dail Eireann, I have laboured unselfishly in furthering the individual and collective interests of my constituents, which efforts have met with a large measure of success.

"In conclusion, I promise, as on previous occasions, that, if elected, I shall be a representative of my constituents as a whole and not of any section thereof."
Updates on CCP Virus: White House Says Its Holding Onto AstraZeneca Shots for Americans

The White House is holding onto some doses of AstraZeneca Plcs CCP virus vaccine so they can be given to Americans quickly if authorized by the U.S. health regulator, a top administration official announced.

AstraZeneca has produced doses of the vaccine in the United States, where it has yet to be approved. In Europe, 10 countries have halted the use of the jab following reports of blood clots in some people taking the jab.

Australia Records First Local Case in 2 Weeks

Australia on Saturday recorded the first local CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus case in more than two weeks after a doctor tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, triggering restrictions in area hospitals.

Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the unnamed doctor last week treated two patients who had recently returned to Australia and had tested positive for the UK variant.

Pfizer Vaccine 94 Percent Effective Against Asymptomatic Transmission of Virus: Israeli Data

Pfizers vaccine is 94 percent effective in preventing asymptomatic transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19, according to data from Israel.

The CCP virus vaccine, co-produced with BioNTech, was also at least 97 percent effective in preventing symptomatic disease, severe-critical disease, and death, the companies and the Israel Ministry of Health said.

The figures stem from an analysis of surveillance data collected between Jan. 17 and March 6, when the vaccine was the only one available in the country.

Officials plan on presenting the findings to a peer-reviewed journal.

Most of California to Reopen

Most of Californias 40 million residents will be able to enjoy limited indoor activities such as dining inside or watching a movie at a theater by mid-week as COVID-19 case rates continue to stay low, state officials confirmed.

Officials said that 13 counties, including Los Angeles, would be able to open restaurants, gyms, and museums at limited capacity on Sunday, the result of the state hitting a 2 million equity metric aimed at getting more vaccines into low-income communities. Another 13 counties are expected to reopen on March 17 under a different metric.

First North Nevada Case of UK Variant Confirmed

Health officials have confirmed the first northern Nevada case of a COVID-19 variant that originated in the United Kingdom, and theyre trying to determine if the infection linked to a large gathering in Washoe County may have spread to others.

The new case has been confirmed in Washoe County and involves a woman in her 30s whose infection is linked to a gathering of more than 60 people from multiple states, county health district officer Kevin Dick announced late Friday. At least eight cases related to the UK variant have already been confirmed in southern Nevada.

Zachary Stieber, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A U.S. federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Department of Defense from forcing American investors to divest holdings in Chinese smartphone maker Corp on the grounds the company has ties to China's military.

The Defense Department, under the Trump administration in mid-January, added and eight other firms to a list that requires Americans to sell their interests in the firms by a deadline. The restrictions were set to go into effect next week.

in late January filed a complaint in a Washington court seeking to be removed from the list, calling its inclusion "unlawful and unconstitutional" and arguing it was not controlled by the People's Liberation Army.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington, D.C., said on Friday that the court "concludes that defendants have not made the case that the national security interests at stake here are compelling."

Xiaomi and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
For most Irish people, the British publics obsession with, their Royal family is a baffling phenomenon. Whatever your opinion of Britains politics and its  to put it mildly  chequered colonial history, our nearest neighbours are, Brexit aside, generally seen as a modern, progressive nation.

It is always odd then to observe the archaic practices and often absurd looking levels of deference that are observed around the Queen and the rest of the extended Windsor clan.

Its the stuff of soap operas and indeed Netflixs rating behemoth The Crown  with all its salacious scenes of palace life behind the curtain  has kept many of us entertained throughout the long and dreary lockdown.

It seems somehow fitting that one of the biggest TV moments in recent memory  one that would surely be the talk of water-coolers across the world if more than a handful of us were still in our offices  has come courtesy of two real royals.

Oprah Winfreys interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle  the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to afford them their official titles  made for fascinating viewing and offered viewers a remarkable insight into the deeply dysfunctional system that surrounds the British Royal family.

While it hasnt quite provoked a constitutional crisis in the UK, it is nothing short of disastrous for the Windsor brand and efforts to convince people that the Royal family is anything more than a hopelessly outdated institution which is utterly out of step with modern society.

The wide ranging interview contains many stand out moments  such as Meghan Markles revelations about feeling suicidal and senior palace officials asking how dark her son would be  but what it really achieved was to highlight just how disengaged from reality the House of Windsor is.

Far from being modernised, the British Royal family is rooted in the past; still blighted by racism; afraid of change and absolutely petrified of the odious tabloid media that hounded Prince Harrys mother to her death in 1997. Its now much easier to understand why he was keen for his family to escape their glittering, gilded prison.

Winfreys interview  in particular her conversation with Markle  has been widely compared to Diana Spencers famous tell all interview with the BBC two years before her death in Paris.

Its an apt comparison and while the Harry and Meghan interview isnt likely to have quite the same impact as Dianas did, it has reignited public debate on the Royals in the UK.

In a post-Brexit UK, any conversation about Britains often archaic attitudes and the unhealthy, jingoistic nationalism that prevails across much of the country is to be welcomed.

Meghan Markles treatment by the Royal firm is, in many ways, like that of Princess Diana but it is far more similar to the treatment meted out to Wallis Simpson in the 1930s.

Vilified long before her husband abdicated the throne, the American Divorcee  like Markle  has remained a hate figure for many in the UK. It seems attitudes in the UK havent changed since the 30s quite as much as we are led to believe.
It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
Eric Ehigie looks at the subject of racism in Ireland and asks if simply talking about it is enough to stop it

Does racism really exist in Ireland? The question is one that has frequently been raised since the ascendancy of the Black Lives Matter movement, following the killing of George Floyd in the USA.

Floyds tragic death has forced us to have a long overdue national conversation about racism and the various ways in which it affects people within our country.

Although it is principally a positive thing to engage in dialogue surrounding the issue of racism, the premise upon which we are having our conversation is inherently flawed.

The question of whether racism exists in Ireland is not really a question but a well-established axiom. The majority of the data collated on the issue of racism in Ireland overwhelmingly suggests that racism not only exists but is having real-world effects on how a great deal of people navigate their lives in our nation.

Consider the following examples. A European-wide study led by Michael OFlaherty shows that Irelands rate for racism in the workplace is at 33%. This is up 11% from the EUs average of 22%.

Extensive research has also been spearheaded by both the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and the Economic Social Research Institute (ESRI) in the field of racism and discrimination; their Ethnicity and Nationality in the Irish Labour Market study, claims that black, Irish people are two times more likely to confront racial discrimination when seeking work and are approximately four times as likely to be treated in a discriminatory way in the course of their work, than their white, Irish counterparts.

A more recent collaborative study conducted by the ESRI and IHREC found that when asked directly 66% of the Irish public openly support black migration to Ireland but when respondents are able to conceal their identity and answer with anonymity, only 51% are supportive of black migration- heralding a more subtle, clandestine form of discrimination.

These are but a few empirical examples of studies that have been conducted in the area, needless to say most of the others point in the exact same direction.

The evidence is stark and unequivocally asserts the presence of racism in Ireland. Considering this, why is it that our national conversation is solely concerned with questioning the existence of racism and not proposing ways in which we can combat racism and comfort those who are impacted by it? Why are we so unwilling to pay regard to the evidence, which clearly suggests that there is a racism problem in Ireland, that manifests itself in social and institutional ways?

The answer to these questions is surely a multi-faceted one and there probably exists many reasons related to why this is the case; but one major reason of the wider list seems to be the state of denial our nation is in when it comes to merely acknowledging the existence of racism.

For centuries Ireland has been subjected to a form of colonial racism perpetrated by Britain; expressing itself through the oppressive penal law system, a gruelling period of indentured servitude and general subjugation and state violence as a result of religious orientation.

Surely if anyone is privy to racism and its cataclysmic effects it is the inhabitants of Ireland who have bore the brunt of racism for so long. Paradoxically, this very history of dealing with racism seems to be one of the seminal causes for our apathy when it comes to addressing the racism faced by so many in our nation.

For many, it seems anathema to think that a nation that has had to grapple with racism for so long could ever be accused of possessing; let alone possess, even a modicum of racism. This denial-ridden way of thinking sees us using our history as a device to exonerate ourselves from the onus of tackling racism, when instead we should be using it as an impetus to empathise with those who confront racism and engage in efforts to combat it.

The fact that we are thoroughly aware of the impact racism can have from first-hand experience should implore us to protect those who are currently dealing with racism in our country and, in accordance with the evidence and the stories from people who are experiencing racism, lead efforts to rigorously tackle it- not run away from the collective responsibility to do so.

There also seems to be a general inclination to reference the types of racism present in other countries in an attempt to completely undermine the potency of the racism encountered by people within our own backyard.

The racism only exists in America assertion is one that is all too frequently utilised whenever attempts are made to kick-start meaningful conversations about the nature of the racism that prevails in Ireland.

This relativist approach of juxtaposing Ireland with other nations in the context of racism- or any other societal issue for that matter- to undermine our duty to address racism is inviable, extremely regressive and unsustainable.

Take the issue of poverty as an example. According to the Central Statistics Office, the poverty rate in Ireland as of 2019 was 5.5%. Comparing this to, say, the poverty rate in South Sudan; which, according to the World Bank, is currently 82.3%, makes the poverty rate in Ireland seem negligible.

Yet few would dare say - at least publicly- that we should neglect our moral duty to tackle poverty in the best possible way but instead, would dismiss such a way of reasoning as absurd.

This way of reasoning could also be applied to homelessness; which is a major problem in Ireland, healthcare and other social issues that our nation faces.

Despite the obvious flaws of this relativist approach, we seem to have no problem with applying it to racism- ostensibly allowing ourselves to completely disregard the uniqueness of the racism that people face right here in Ireland and to allocate the burden of fighting racism to other nations, instead of rising to the task ourselves.

What our national conversation needs is a complete restructuring. We need to reimagine racism in a manner that is empirically verified and in tune with the sentiments that emanate from people and communities who are most affected by it.

We cannot make space for delusion or speculation in our deliberations but must instead, divert our focus to action and the ways in which we can suppress racism.

Racism is not an issue that is specific to any one particular community but is faced by a plethora of different communities; from migrant communities all the way to the travelling community, therefore neglecting our collective responsibility to fight it places the burden of dealing with it upon the communities that are impacted by it most. Instead of shying away from our responsibilities, we must own up to the problem of racism and see it as an Irish problem that affects a diverse range of Irish people, which requires a unified Irish effort in order for it to be appropriately addressed.

We have beyond us the glorious opportunity to inject a new dimension of love into the veins of our civilisation is what the great Martin Luther King Jr stated at the zeitgeist of the civil rights movement in the USA.

We are at a defining stage in Ireland in terms of race-relations and must choose to inject our national conversation about racism with empathy, realism and a genuine- if utopian- aspiration for a progressive, racism-free Ireland.
It's worth reminding people that if President Joe Biden were compelled to live by the standards he intends to institute for college students accused of sexual misconduct, he would be presumed guilty of rape, denied any legitimate opportunity to refute Tara Reade's charges and tossed from office in disgrace.

The New York Times reports today that Biden's Kafkaesque "White House Gender Policy Council" is "beginning his promised effort to dismantle Trump-era rules on sexual misconduct that afforded greater protections to students accused of assault." The subhead informs us that, "The Biden administration will examine regulations by Betsy DeVos that gave the force of law to rules that granted more due process rights to students accused of sexual assault."

The most disingenuous word here -- though the piece is brimming with them -- is "more." History did not begin in 2015, and former education secretary Betsy DeVos did not invent more due process rights in Title IX; she simply reinstated time-honored fundamental due process rights that have guided justice systems in the liberal world for hundreds of years. The Constitution says -- twice -- that no citizen shall be arbitrarily "deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law." No means no.

It was only in 2011 that the Obama administration instituted fewer due process rights through the force of law, denying the accused the ability to question accusers, the right to review the allegations and evidence presented by their accuser, the right to present exculpatory evidence, and the right to call witnesses. Basically, the right to mount a defense.

It was the Obama administration that asked schools to institute a system that empowered a single investigator, often without any training and susceptible to the vagaries of societal and political pressures, to pass unilateral judgment on these cases. Also, under the Obama administration rules, colleges were allowed to adjudicate sexual abuse and assault cases using a "preponderance of evidence" rather than a more stringent "clear and convincing evidence" standard.

Now, Jennifer Klein, the "Gender Policy Council" co-chair and chief of staff to first lady Jill Biden, says "everybody involved" in a sexual complaint, "accused and accuser," should be entitled to due process.

OK. Has anyone ever argued that the accuser's right to come forward should be diminished, or that the accused should be afforded fewer protections than any other American who says they are the victim of a crime? We should never diminish the pain and anguish those who come forward with these charges go through. But the presumption of innocence is a legal term based on a values system. And if the federal government is going to dictate how colleges deal with sexual assault accusations, it has a responsibility to uphold the norms of the Constitution.

The good news is that between 2011 and 2021, there has been a string of court cases repudiating Biden's position. Hundreds of lawsuits were filed since 2011. A 2015 study by United Educators found that a quarter of the Title IX statute had been challenged by students who either filed lawsuits in the federal courts or lodged complaints through the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Dozens of schools, including Northwestern University, Dartmouth College and Yale, settled cases, while schools such as USC, Pennsylvania State University, Ohio University, Hofstra, Boston College and Claremont McKenna all lost decisions.

Schools complained about the costs of implementing due process, yet the average cost of settling these claims was around $350,000, with some going as high as $1 million.

This, not incidentally, also means that some people who are guilty of sexual assault will claim to be victims of flawed hearings or unfair sanctions simply because they can circumvent the norms of justice. Proper due process protects both the accuser and the accused. At the very least, the state should ensure that students are afforded the same impartiality, norms and protections that every one of us expects in the real world. Either we believe principles are the best means of fairness, or not. Biden, it seems, only believes in them for himself.

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An Italian volleyball player is being sued by her former club for allegedly breaching her contact after she became pregnant.

Lara Lugli, 41, who played for Volley Pordenone, said she felt as though she had done something 'illicit and malicious' when she was fired by the amateur club in March 2019 after she told club executives she was expecting a baby.

The former player, who was captain of the team, suffered a miscarriage in April and requested the club pay the 2,140 (2,500) salary owed to her for the month she had played for Pordenone before she found out she was pregnant.

However the club refused to pay the salary and took the case to court, saying Ms Lugli had failed to tell them she had planned to have a baby when she signed for the club, in order to get a better wage.

Lara Lugli, 41, who played for Volley Pordenone, was fired by the amateur club in March 2019 after she told club executives that she was expecting a baby

Volley Pordenone argued that Ms Lugli's departure severely damaged the team's performance, scared off sponsors and affected their finances, a court document she posted on Facebook showed.

'It is unbelievable that becoming pregnant should be considered unprofessional and criminalised like taking cocaine and testing positive for doping,' Ms Lugli told daily newspaper la Repubblica on Wednesday.

The former volleyball player also said she had 'given it everything' when it came to the sport and felt her club was comparing pregnancy to 'illicit and malicious conduct'.

She told The Guardian: 'I've been playing volleyball for 25 years and had given it everything  they knew this.

'They said a 38-year-old woman should have known whether she wanted to have a baby and therefore should have said something.

'Not only did they call into question my professionalism but they are comparing pregnancy to illicit and malicious conduct  it's a very serious thing.'

The club refused to pay the salary and took the case to court, saying Ms Lugli had failed to tell them she had planned to have a baby when she signed for the club. (Stock image)

Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, the president of the upper house Senate, called Ms Lugli's case 'violence against women'.

Meanwhile Giovanni Malago, head of the Italian National Olympic Committee, expressed his 'solidarity' with her.

Volley Pordenone said they had been forced to close their website due to 'threats and insults'.

'The immediate termination of our relationship in case of pregnancy was agreed in the contract,' the club said, adding that they had decided not to demand financial compensation from Ms Lugli even though this was envisaged in the mutually agreed terms.

'She filed us with an order to pay (the back salary) and we felt betrayed... We did the only possible thing: defending ourselves on the basis of the contract she signed,' the club said.
McConnell Backs New Process to Fill Senate Vacancy

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Mitch McConnell has given his blessing to legislation to change how a vacant U.S. Senate seat would be filled in Kentucky.A McConnell ally says the bill most certainly doesnt signal an opening is contemplated. The bill was advanced by a Kentucky House committee Friday. That leaves it one step away from clearing the legislature.The measure would remove the Democratic governors ability to make his own choice if a Senate seat opened up. The governor would have to choose from names provided by party leaders from the same party as the ex-senator.Republicans hold both of Kentucky's Senate seats.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

India will carry out a deeper review of post-vaccination side effects from the AstraZeneca shot next week although no cases of blood clots have been reported so far, an official told AFP Saturday.

New Delhi decided to conduct the review after several countries suspended rollout over blood clot fears even as the World Health Organization said there was no reason to stop using AstraZeneca's Covid-19 jab.

Denmark, Norway and Iceland paused use of the drugmaker's shot as a precaution after isolated reports of recipients developing blood clots.

"We are looking at all the adverse events, particularly serious adverse events like deaths and hospitalisation. We will come back if we find anything of concern," N.K. Arora, a member of India's national task force on Covid-19, told AFP.

India has given at least 28 million shots in its vast vaccination programme, most of them AstraZeneca's which are produced at the Serum Institute of India.

New Delhi has also gifted and allowed exports of millions of these jabs to around 70 countries over the last few weeks as a part of its vaccine diplomacy.

Arora said there was "no immediate issue of concern as number of adverse events (in India) is very, very low. We are relooking at (adverse events that were reported) to see if there was any issue of blood clotting."

"As of yesterday there were 59 or 60 deaths, and they were all coincidental," the doctor said, adding hospitalisation cases were being re-examined.

"In fact there is a real effort from our side that once complete investigation is done, to put its results in public domain, on the ministry of health website," Arora added.

India has been using AstraZeneca and indigenous vaccine giant Bharat Biotech's Covaxin in its rapidly expanding vaccination drive at home.

At least two million people were vaccinated on Friday alone, and this ramp up comes at a time when Covid-19 cases are rising across different Indian states after weeks of decline.

The western state of Maharashtra has announced fresh restrictions and a week-long lockdown in one of its big cities, Nagpur, after the recent spike across the region.

Fresh restrictions including curbs on movement and public gatherings were also reintroduced in some pockets of the state, which is also expected to impact the economic recovery in its industrial belt.

"Some states in the country have been reporting very high number of daily new Covid cases. Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a surge in Covid daily cases," the health ministry said in a statement on Friday.

India had registered 23,285 new cases in the last 24 hours, with the six states accounting for 85.6 percent of the new infections, it added.

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

 2021 AFP
The message read: Please pass along to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that he cannot come to Norfolk. The Queen is busy. Shes busy all week, according to Harry. Harry said he called the Queen directly to ask if they could still visit, but she told him she was unaware that her invitation clashed with a pre-existing commitment and that she was now busy that week and the next. What has also made me really sad is that sometimes that advice has been really bad, Harry told Winfrey. Lacey says Harry and Meghan have a point. The courtiers in the British system are the rulers of their masters and mistresses, theyre not really underlings, he said.

The Queens man He says Sir Edward has proved to be a poor replacement for the Queens former private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, who left the job in July 2017 after 10 years in the role. Sir Edward is the 24th man to hold the position of the Queens private secretary. Formerly an adviser to then-Conservative Party leader William Hague, he went to work for British television station ITV after Tony Blair defeated Hague in 2001, and joined the royal household in 2004 as the assistant private secretary to the Queen. Sir Edward Young, right, the Queens principal private secretary, with Prince Michael of Kent at Royal Ascot in 2011. Credit:Getty Images Lacey says Sir Edward failed to identify roles and patronages that would suit Meghan, but not because of racism.

Oh no, its lack of imagination, he said. He points to the decision to wait until January 2019 to transfer the Royal Patronage of the National Theatre from the Queen to the actress. Why wasnt she offered the National Theatre the moment she arrived? Its the most obvious thing in the world for an actress  the Queen has not the slightest interest in the National Theatre, that would have been a great exciting honour to give her straight away. But Sir Edward is also credited with crafting the Queens four-sentence statement in response to Harry and Meghans interview, which was widely seen as a masterstroke in Britain, as it called into question the couples claim of racism while pledging to take it seriously. Prince Charles man

The Times reported that the departure of Sir Christopher as the Queens right-hand man was the culmination of a power struggle between Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, Prince Charles seat of power. The story alleged that Prince Charles private secretary, Clive Alderton, was in a dispute with Sir Christopher about the details of the hand-over of power between the Queen and her heir, and that she let her private secretary go after complaints from her sons, Charles and Andrew. Prince Charles, left, shares a joke with Clive Alderton, his private secretary, on a ferry in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 2011. Credit:Getty Images Alderton, who has been Charles principal private secretary for six years, came up through the foreign office. At the time of his appointment to Clarence House, he was Britains Ambassador to Morocco. But he had previously served the Prince of Wales and Camilla for six years, between 2006 and 2012. Prince Williams man

The foreign office regularly sends its best talent to work for the royal family; their work is seen as a natural crossover given the monarchys role in diplomacy and upholding the Commonwealth. Candidates who make it to the interview round for jobs in the palaces are made to sign non-disclosure agreements  which is partly why royal reporting uses so many anonymous sources. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The familys courtiers werent always so well-trained for the job, according to royal biographer Penny Junor. Years ago, the people advising the Queen were all ex-military and members of the aristocracy who were not very of this world, Junor said.

That has changed  the people who are advising the Queen and other members of the royal family now are all head-hunted. They are the top of the fields, I would argue. Lacey says the Queen is ultimately responsible for hiring her private secretaries but the outgoing secretary would provide a list of candidates. The Prime Minister of the day would also be entitled to provide input although the private secretaries report to their royal bosses and never the government. Likewise, Prince Charles and Prince William personally appoint their secretaries and both their current top advisers came from the civil service. Indeed, Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently poached Prince Williams principal private secretary Simon Case. Case was eventually replaced less than a month ago by another career civil servant, Jean-Christophe Gray, a treasury official and spokesman for former prime minister David Cameron.

He was well regarded as a quiet but ruthless operator in the Treasury but joins Kensington Palace at the most difficult time for the William and Kate since they became Duke and Duchess, with the second-in-line to the throne forced to defend the family as very much not racist in rare public comments this week. Loading But Grays appointment sealed a long-running tradition that is impossible to ignore in 2021  every principal private secretary to date has been a man. Buckingham Palace champions a diversity policy but like many other sectors, the diversity is invisible at the most senior levels which are dominated by white men. Its absolutely part of the problem, Lacey believes. When Meghan walked down any corridor in Buckingham Palace or Kensington and went into the office of any single official, there was not a single mixed-race or non-white face.
[March 12, 2021] PENUMBRA 96 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: Former Louisiana Attorney General and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Remind Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Penumbra, Inc. - PEN

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have only until March 16, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE: PEN), if they purchased the Company's shares between August 3, 2020 and December 15, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Penumbra and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-pen/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by March 16, 2021.



About the Lawsuit Penumbra and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

Following a series of prior negative disclosures, on December 15, 2020, post-market, the Company disclosed that it was issuing an "urgent" and "voluntary" recall of its Jet 7 Xtra Flex product because the catheter "may become susceptible to distal tip damage during use" potentially leading to injury or death. On this news, the price of Penumbra's shares declined, damaging investors. The case is Williams v. Penumbra, et al., 21-cv-420. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210312005411/en/

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The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said its council has approved six new Covid-19 recommendations and also amended two others, as countries continue to address latest information and cooperate to optimise the role of international air transport in global pandemic recovery and ensure the speedy resumption of air travel.

These recommendations and updated guidelines are contained in the high-level cover document and Take-off guidelines issued by the ICAO Councils Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART), established shortly after the pandemic was identified by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed the councils approval of the latest recommendations from its CART which includes: Temporary liberalisation of cargo flights; priority vaccination of air crew and increased co-operation among governments to implement CART recommendations and guidance.

The updated or new guidance for testing certificates Covid-19 risk management includes vaccination and its interdependencies and the dangerous goods guidelines for the carriage of cargo on passenger aircraft used in freighter operations.

The council has also approved a new mechanism for reporting extended regulatory alleviations.

"This is a major piece of work by states and aviation stakeholders under the leadership of ICAO and with the full support of the industry. Of course, these recommendations, guidelines and tools are only meaningful if they are adopted universally," noted Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO.

"It is crucial that states implement this guidance, particularly as they plan for the restart of international aviation when borders are able to open. As we have said many times, it was easy to shut down aviation with individual decisions," stated de Juniac.

"Restarting and maintaining operations to deliver economically and socially vital connectivity can only happen if all parties work together. The CART recommendations are the building blocks for that cooperation," he added.

The requirements for globally accepted Covid-19 test certificates including the technology framework for securely creating digital versions and the future incorporation of vaccination certificates were agreed.

These recommendations are now included in the ICAO Manual on Testing and Cross-Border Risk Management Measures.

From the perspective of preparing for an industry restart, this is one of the most significant outputs of CART. Public opinion also reflects this with a recent IATA poll reporting that 89% of respondents believe that governments must standardize vaccination and testing certificates.

It will be a critical element for maximizing the benefit of the IATA Travel Pass and other technologies being developed to manage digital travel credentials.

"One of the most important recommendations from this work is the call for national authorities to ensure that CART delivers results in national decision-making. We all know how important aviation is to the economy," remarked de Juniac.

"And the harmonised implementation of these guidelines is what will put people back in jobs by getting the industry moving again. As ICAO tracks implementation, it is also critical to track the impact of latest developments in Covid-19 on risk management frameworks, especially as we learn more about the effectiveness of vaccines against transmission," he added.

CART supported two major policy recommendations related to vaccinations that will be critical to an efficient restart of international flying:

Prioritizing access to vaccination for aircrews: The CART recommendation follows the guidance provided by the WHO with a framework on what states should take into consideration when deciding vaccination priority groups.

Crew vaccination will help enable sufficient ready-to-fly aircrew to maintain critical supply chains, especially related to the transportation of vaccines and other medical supplies.

Traveler vaccination: CART has recommended that travelers should not be vaccinated for international travel.

Regulatory Alleviations

Regulators have had the challenge of maintaining high safety levels with sufficient regulatory alleviations to adjust for the extraordinary situation of an industry that has been largely grounded for a year now.

With the support of the industry, ICAO has taken the position to replace existing alleviations with specific actions. It is supporting this with a Targeted Exemptions (TE) system enabling states to post and access a registry of actions taken to maintain the validity of their certificates, licenses, and other approvals during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here's what you need to remember from the week for Friday, March 12.

Chico icon turns 100

Helena Vrisimo, a local farmer whose family received a 20-acre lot from Annie Bidwell, turned 100-years-old. The immigrant from Portugal had her last harvest this past season and is handing the farm over to her last customer, Maisie Jane Hurtado.

Sierra Nevada launches into world record books

On Thursday, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company launched their Big Little Thing keg 438 feet, breaking the Guinness World Record. The brewery used a 20-foot high trebuchet-style catapult to launch the keg. The brewery filled the kegs with water instead of sacrificing beer, thankfully.

Long Chick-fil-A lines has police asking people to use alternative entrances

Chick-fil-A opened its location in Redding on Thursday. The opening had people wait outside overnight to be one of the first customers in the new location. The restaurant was busy all day with Redding Police Department Traffic Unit directing traffic and encouraging people to use alternative entrances into the Mt. Shasta Mall.

Back to the big screen: Cinemark Theater reopens

Chicos Cinemark Theatre has opened its doors for the first time in three months. Masks are required and hand sanitizer will be throughout the theater. The theater has a new buffer technology so when tickets are purchased, it will separate viewers so parties are spread out within the theatre. Private watch parties are also available for groups of up to 20 people.
Kolkata:

An IIT professor of Kharagpur campus got drowned in a large water filled ditch on Sunday while trying to rescue his 4-year-old child who had fallen into the water body near the campus in Kharagpur Rural area of West Midnapore district, police said.

Local people took Joydip Bhattacharjee, a faculty member of Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, and his son out of the water and took them to hospital where the professor was declared brought dead.

IIT sources said the 40-year-old professor was taking a stroll with his two children outside the campus when one child fell into the ditch while trying to take a selfie.

Bhattacharjee tried to pull out his son from the water but lost balance and fell into the ditch.

Registrar Pradip Ghosh said, He went outside to spend the Sunday with his two children. We are shocked to hear the news about his death.

IIT-KGP mourns the loss of its faculty Prof Joydip Bhattacharjee. It is unfortunate we have lost such a young, talented soul, Dean faculty Prof Subhasis Tripathy said.

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If I noticed correctly, on 2 March 2021, the day Nitish Kumar was vaccinated against Covid-19, an armed robbery took place at a jewellery shop in the Kankarbagh area of Patna.

Three months ago, a daring day-light robbery took place at another jewellery shop in my home-district, Darbhanga, where the dacoits also fired 20 rounds in the air while decamping with the 10-crore rupees worth of booty. The closest police station was only 800 meters away.

On the night of March 5, a mid-level businessman cum property owner was stabbed on the bypass road near Begumpur in Patna. As he was coming back from a social event, three young men armed with rusted rods attacked him and wanted to rob his bike and valuables. The victim resisted, called his friend following the attack and made his way to the hospital where he succumbed to the injury.

Most cases of robbery, murder or extortion dont hit headlines unless they are as stark as the killing of an Airline executive in the capital city of Patna. Many such stories go unreported and certainly unnoticed in other parts of the state.

For a long time now, Bihar has been holding its place in the list of states that have the worst law and order record. If you ask the Chief Minister, however, he will say Bihar is still better than many of the states, giving comparative references to the Jungle Raj of the Lalu-Rabri years.

These days, according to reports, he gets angry pretty quickly.

Rather than being in denial, however, he should come forward and share his challenges, his lapses and accomplishments with the people frankly and honestly.

The primary reason for the lawlessness appears to be the officials or bureaucrats selected by the Chief Minister or his cabinet colleagues -- mostly on political or caste considerations. These bureaucrats neither stay faithful to their official duties nor do they continue to be loyal to their political mentors.

Nitishs bureaucracy has become so fossilized and hardened over the years that the edicts of younger politician-ministers seem to fall flat on it. Most hand-picked officials, since they feel they are close to the CM, treat MLAs or other peoples representatives as inferiors; they get activated only by a call from the CMs office or by directives from very senior or effective officers. In the meantime, the opportunists who man the political- bureaucratic chain reap the harvest. Nitishs administration is a prisoner of his own creation.

Consider this: According to a report, on 3 March 2021, a team of police and civil administration officials personally led by the Patna District Magistrate raided the famous and closely looked after Patna Beur jail. At the recommendation of the DM then, the Inspector General, Jails, suspended a DSP on charges of dereliction in duties.

This was something the IG, Jails, should have done following his own investigation. Obviously, he was responsible for what happened under his watch and he must have been held accountable. This, again, is a classic example of administrative mess let loose by the Chief Minister.

Such deep seated criminal instances of corruption abound in the political-bureaucratic circles of Bihar.

The tragedy with Bihar is that the healthy positive socio-political climate generally generated by the public and their representatives is also non-existent.

For instance, look at the way the prohibition policy is limping along in Bihar. Since April, 2016, despite its imperfect enforcement, the prohibition policy has resulted in improving the conditions of poor families, both rural and urban. Here, a public policy duly passed by a government is facing non-compliance from a sizable number of people. Their determination to break the law gives enormous unlawful benefits to the law-enforcement officials, hooch industry and the smugglers.

Early this month, a judge in Gopalganj sentenced nine men to death penalty and four women to life sentence for their involvement in illicit (poisonous) distillery that claimed the lives of 19 people.

Also, take the defiance of the politicians: the president of the RJD recently appointed as his party spokesperson a close ally of Anant Singh, the Mokama MLA who is a known criminal-undertrial currently in jail. This newly appointed party spokesperson, obviously a part of the underworld led by Anant Singh, looks after the interest of Anant Singh as well. What message does this give to the people?

In yet another repulsive news, Mukesh Sahni, a member of Nitish's cabinet, sent his brother to an official event to fulfill his role as a minister. No bureaucrat or member of the public dared to tell him it was wrong. The minister or his hangers on had no regard for laws and propriety. This is the price people are paying for electing uneducated and ill-trained politicians to the public positions.

All this happened after the Chief Minister himself appointed an acknowledged corrupt casteman the Education minister of Bihar. Those alarmed by this selection had to approach the leaders of the BJP in Delhi to have it withdrawn.

Dr. Binoy Shanker Prasad hails from Darbhanga and currently resides with his family in Dundas, Ontario (Canada). A former UGC teacher fellow (at JNU) in India and Fulbright scholar in the USA, he has taught politics and authored conference papers, articles and chapters on Bihar in previously published books in the United States, India, and Canada.

Dr. Prasad administers a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OverseasBihari and has sponsored Aware Citizenship Campaign at a micro-level in his home-town.
Ocean scientists are using robot submariness to detect barrels of toxic chemicals under the sea.

Thousands of barrels of DDT and other substances are believed submerged in the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles, but authorities aren't sure where or how many.

To get an idea, researchers have launched two 'underwater Roombas,' Remote Environmental Monitoring UnitS (REMUS) that can operate in waters ranging from 80 feet to about 20,000 feet.

The vehicles take 12 hours to recharge, so while one is scanning the seafloor with its sonar the other is powering up and passing along its findings.

Scroll down for video

Ocean scientists are using 'underwater Roombas' to scan the ocean floor for barrels of toxic chemicals, including the banned pesticide DDT. Thousands of barrels were discovered in the waters off Santa Catalina Islands last year

Developed as an insecticide, DDT became an effective way to limit the spread of typhus and malaria during World War II.

After the war, it took off as both an agricultural and household pesticide.

In 1959 alone, nearly 80 million pounds of DDT were applied to US soil, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

But by the 1960s, environmentalists were pointing to it as a threat to both animal life and humans.

Banned in 1972, DDT has been linked to devastating effects on marine life and other animals. As many as half a million barrels could still underwater, according to the Los Angeles Times

In 1972, the EPA banned DDT in the US, classifying it as a probable human carcinogen.

Almost a half-century later, in October 2020, thousands of barrels of DDT were discovered in the waters off Santa Catalina Island, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Montrose Chemical Corp, once the leading manufacturer of DDT, was based in Los Angeles.

Every month for almost 40 years, the company reportedly filled a ship with barrels of toxic waste, including DDT, and sunk it into the Pacific, the Times reported.

As many as half a million of those barrels could still be thousands of feet underwater.

'These barrels are full of toxic chemicals that could be causing illness among ocean wildlife and even humans,' Sen. California Senator Dianne Feinstein told the paper. 'Ignoring it or claiming it's just too difficult to deal with is not an option.'

Condensing two years' worth of planning into a few months, researchers with UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography set sail Wednesday for a two-week mission aboard the R/V Sally Ride (pictured)

The first step was determining the scale of the problem, and research scientists came up with a unique solution: Two robots scanning almost 50,000 acres of the San Pedro Basin seafloor for these toxic tubs.

'We want to provide a common base map of what's on the seabed at a high enough resolution,' Eric Terrill, a marine researcher with UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, told the L.A. Times.

The sub-like Remote Environmental Monitoring UnitS (REMUS) can operate in waters ranging from 80 feet to about 20,000 feet, or 3.73 miles.

Terrill calls them 'underwater Roombas,' though instead of vacuums, they come equipped with sonar tech that collects data from the ocean floor.

Pictured: Marine researcher Eric Terrill prepares Remote Environmental Monitoring UnitS (REMUS). The robot subs come equipped with sonar tech that collects data from the ocean floor

He's previously used the technique to find downed WWII aircrafts.

Each robot can run underwater for about 12 to 16 hours before it needs a recharge, a process that can take half a day.

So while one is scanning the seafloor, the other is recharging and downloading its findings.

Terrill had already been working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on testing the robots, but the decision was made to skip the preliminaries and send them out on a mission.

Condensing two years' worth of planning into a few months, they set sail Wednesday for a two-week mission aboard the R/V Sally Ride, an oceanographic research vessel owned by the Navy but on loan to Scripps.

There's a sense of urgency: DDT has been connected to cancer growth in sea lions, shorter lifespans in shrimp, and numerous other problems for marine life.

It also led to a decline in bald eagles, peregrine falcons and other birds: The pesticide caused their eggshells to become too thin and to break open prematurely.

According to the CDC. the health effects from DDT at low environmental doses 'are unknown.'

'The rediscovery of the massive DDT dumping ground off Southern California is certainly a disaster in need of context  how has the DDT, leaked from thousands of sunken barrels, made its way to the parts of the food chain that Californians rely on?' Brice Semmens, a marine biologist at Scripps told the Times.

The data from the twin scanners will help authorities determine how large the problem is, and which areas are in most danger, but undoing decades' worth of environmental devastation will require its own solutions.

Montrose Chemical shut down in 1982, a decade after the US banned DDT.

Its former plant was declared a high-priority Superfund site in 1989, but is still awaiting clean up.

According to the EPA, between the late 1950s and early 1970s, Montrose poured over 1,700 tons of DDT into the Pacific through its sewage system.
New Delhi:

More than 4,000 non-Muslim villagers have been evacuated amid the ongoing clashes between Rohingya Muslims and Myanmar Army in northwestern Rakhine state in the last three days, the Myanmar government said on Sunday.

Win Myat Aye, Myanmars minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement, told Reuters, an international news agency, that 4,000 ethnic villagers who had fled their villages had been evacuated.

The minister also told the new agency that they are arranging facilities for non-Muslims in places including Buddhist monasteries, government offices and local police stations in major cities.

We are providing all support to the people cooperating with the state government and local authorities, said Win Myat Aye to the media.

In the meantime thousands thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled across the border to Bangladesh.

Myanmar ARMY donated lunch to 200 people at Yangon General Hospital pic.twitter.com/s8lYhiivVN  Kaitlyn (@maknaegguk) August 26, 2017

The death toll from the violence that had erupted on Friday has climbed to 98 which includes 98 insurgents and 12 security personnel.

On Friday, national leader Aung San Suu Kyi on condemned the raids carried out by insurgents wielding guns, sticks and country-made bombs assaulted 30 police stations and an army base.

The social minister did not inform about the governments plans to help Rohingya civilians.

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims  mostly women and children  were trying to cross the Naf river separating Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Rohingya Muslims have been fleeing Myanmar to Bangladesh since the 1990s. Both the nations regard them as the other countrys citizens.

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Antibodies raised by some Covid-19 vaccines are less effective at neutralising new, circulating variants of the novel coronavirus such as the ones first reported in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, according to a new study.

The research, published in the journal Cell, noted that the neutralising antibodies induced by the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines were less effective against the coronavirus variants first described in Brazil and South Africa.

According to the scientists, including Alejandro Balazs from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the US, neutralising antibodies work by binding tightly to the virus and blocking it from entering cells, thus preventing infection.

They said this binding only happens when the antibody's and the virus' shapes are perfectly matched to each other "like a key in a lock."

If the shape of the virus changes where the antibody attaches to it -- in this case, in the spike protein of the novel coronavirus -- they said the antibody may no longer be able to recognise and neutralise the virus as well.

Also Read | More countries pause use of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine after blood clot concerns emerge

In the study, the researchers developed assays for Covid-19, comparing how well the antibodies worked against the original strain versus the new variants.

"When we tested these new strains against vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies, we found that the three new strains first described in South Africa were 20-40 times more resistant to neutralisation," said Balazs, who is also an assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in the US.

According to the scientists, the two strains first described in Brazil and Japan were five to seven times more resistant, compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 virus lineage from Wuhan, China.

"In particular we found that mutations in a specific part of the spike protein called the receptor binding domain were more likely to help the virus resist the neutralizing antibodies," said Wilfredo Garcia-Beltran, first author of the study from MGH.

The study noted that the three South African variants, which were the most resistant, all shared three mutations in the receptor binding domain, which may contribute to their high resistance to neutralising antibodies.

However, the scientists said the ability of these variants to resist neutralising antibodies doesn't mean the vaccines won't be effective.

"The body has other methods of immune protection besides antibodies. Our findings don't necessarily mean that vaccines won't prevent Covid, only that the antibody portion of the immune response may have trouble recognising some of these new variants," Balazs said.

The researchers added that understanding which mutations are most likely to allow the virus to evade vaccine-derived immunity is essential to develop next-generation vaccines that can provide protection against new variants.

They said this can also help researchers develop more effective preventative methods, such as broadly protective vaccines that work against a wide variety of variants, regardless of which mutations develop.
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A local college has decided not to increase the price of tuition.

The Rose-Hulman Board of Trustees has approved not to increase the price.

The college says the decision was due to the economic uncertainty that the pandemic caused families.

Officials say they wanted to be able to help students out financially this upcoming year.

Rose-Hulman says they have put extra cleaning protocols in place.
Erdogan: Seven years of iciness give way to diplomacy

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that there is "no problem" with reinitiating higher-level Egypt-Turkey ties.

Thats a shift, coming after a seven-year freeze in relations that started after Turkey's backing of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, who was elected in 2012 and affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Morsi was deposed in 2013, following uprisings and a military coup that led to Abdel Fattah al-Sisi becoming president in 2014.

Ties with Turkey thereafter went into the deep freeze.

Erdogan said the warming trend is not yet "at the highest level but it is just a notch under," meaning that he and Sisi havent yet sealed the deal.

A new chapter in Turkeys Arab ties?

A change in Egypt-Turkey relations would have a huge impact on the region, where political and diplomatic ties are deeply intertwined.

Its also probably not a coincidence that Erdogans outreach to Egypt follows an improvement in Egypts ties with Qatar, Turkeys most important Arab partner. Mohamed Saied explains here the warming trend in Egypt-Qatar ties, following the Gulf Cooperation Council summit two months ago.

The decision in January by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to bury the hatchet with Qatar, a reconciliation facilitated by the United States and Kuwait, forced a rethink in Ankaras regional strategy, including with Saudi Arabia, where the bad blood has been on high boil.

The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place in Istanbul, and Erdogans government enjoyed putting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the kingdom on the spot.

Erdogan and King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud had a rare telephone chat in November 2020 during the G-20 virtual summit, in which they discussed "keeping channels of dialogue open in order for the bilateral relations to be enhanced and for issues to be settled," according to an official Turkish readout.

After the recent release of the US intelligence report placing responsibility for the killing on the crown prince, "Turkey  a strong critic of the royal  has remained silent" rather than piling on, Amberin Zaman wrote.

Erdogans statement Friday was uncharacteristically muted, seemingly plaintive, on the kingdom. "Let me add one more thing," he said. "Saudi Arabias joint exercise with Greece has saddened us. We would not want to see Saudi Arabia make such a decision. Surely we will discuss it with the Saudi authorities. We think it should not have happened and should not be like this."

Erdogan seeking Egypts support in dispute with Greece

Erdogans top short-term priority is to draw Egypt to its side in an ongoing dispute with Greece regarding demarcation of eastern Mediterranean maritime boundaries, including sovereignty over valuable gas reserves, and there is no sign yet of that happening.

Fehim Tastekin describes overlapping arrangements between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus on one side and Turkey and Libya on the other that have boxed in Ankara and Cairo, at least for the time being.

"Cairos intention to keep the maritime deal it reached with Greece and Cyprus limits the area it can negotiate with Turkey," explains Tastekin. "This in turn means Turkeys goal to team up with Egypt to counter Cyprus' and Greeces territorial claims would go down the drain as the maritime deal Ankara reached with the Tripoli government overlaps with the deals Egypt reached with Cyprus and Greece."

Erdogan, of course, provided his own cultural analysis of why Egypt should tilt toward Turkey, rather than Greece. Surely you cannot place the Egyptian people together with the Greek people, he said. We can never believe that the Greek people and the Egyptian people would be identical. Therefore, we would like to see them at their proper place."

Opportunity in Libya?

On the other side of the Mediterranean, a warming in Egypt-Turkey ties could pay dividends for Libya. Egypt had been a backer of Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Hifter; Turkey has sent jihadis from Syria to fight for the Libyan government.

As we explained here last month, Egypt and most outside parties got on board with the October 2020 cease-fire, which allowed a political process to take hold and gain traction, leading to the vote this week by the Libyan House of Representatives endorsing the interim government proposed by Prime Minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

The agenda for the new government is daunting, including unification of government institutions split by nearly a decade of civil war, and elections in December. Libya doesnt have a chance if the outside powers that backed the warring parties stir up the military conflict again. A statement by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy also called for "the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries," a message to Russia and Turkey.

Contest for influence in Africa

Turkey has also challenged Egyptian influence in parts of Africa, but it has been an uphill battle, and sometimes overblown in the regional press, as Tastekin explains.

Turkey had good relations with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, a war crimes suspect who was ousted in 2019. Bashir, like Erdogan, had an affinity for the Brotherhood and poor relations with Egypt.

Egypt-Sudan ties have taken off since Abdalla Hamdok became prime minister after Bashirs ouster. Sisi visited Khartoum last week "in a move that carried political and security messages against Ethiopia's decision to fill the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir without consulting Egypt and Sudan," Ayah Aman reports.

Elsewhere, Egypt and Turkey have picked up their diplomatic outreach in Guinea-Bisseau, as we report here, as well as Senegal, as Khalid Hassan reports, Ghana, as George Mikhail reports, and Somalia, as Muhammed Magdy and Tastekin report.

A caveat

Theres still a long way to go in repairing Turkey-Egypt ties, Tastekin concludes.

"Turkeys military presence in Libya, Ankaras support of the Muslim Brotherhood (which Cairo designated a terrorist organization) and Erdogans anti-Sisi posture still remain as major barriers to the improvement of ties," writes Tastekin. "Although Erdogan has scaled down his angry outbursts against the Egyptian leader, the Turkish president still salutes his supporters with a Rabia sign marking the resistance of Muslim Brotherhood members."
Teen in Lyon County Charged with Auto Theft

By West Kentucky Star Staff

LYON COUNTY - A teen is facing auto theft and other charges following his arrest Thursday night in Lyon County.A Kentucky state trooper arrived to assist a stranded motorist on I-69 near the 71-mile marker. Police said the vehicle was found unoccupied with a large amount of trash on the ground. The trooper determined that the vehicle was stolen out of Oak Grove.

A male subject had been observed walking away from the vehicle. Lyon County deputies detained him at KY 3305 near Pebble Creek subdivision. Deputies said he was armed with a handgun that was also reported stolen.

Police identified the teen as 18-year-old Isaiah Campbell of Oak Grove.

Campbell was arrested and charged with abandonment of a vehicle on a public roadway, receiving stolen property (auto), receiving stolen property (firearm), hitchhiking on a limited access facility, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.



He was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.



On Friday, Campbell was also charged with theft of an automobile valued under $10,000 in Christian County.
SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws by Tencent Holdings Limited ("Tencent" or the "Company") (OTC: TCEHY).

On March 12, 2021, several news outlets reported China's Antitrust Regulator had imposed fines on Tencent and some of the Country's other big tech companies for violating anti-monopoly laws. The focus on Tencent was related to its investment in online tutoring start-up, Yuanfudao, in 2018.

Following this news, Tencent's stock price fell 7.52% on March 12, 2021.

If you have information that could assist in this investigation, including past employees and others, or if you are a Tencent shareholder and are interested in learning more about the investigation, please contact Jim Baker ( [email protected] ) by email or phone at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number.

Additionally, you can [click here to join this action]. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Johnson Fistel, LLP:

Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com . Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

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Washington, March 13 : The US city of Minneapolis, where African-American man George Floyd was brutally killed under police custody last year, has agreed to pay $27 million to settle a lawsuit with the victim's family.

After a roughly 40-minute private meeting on Friday afternoon, Minneapolis City Council members voted unanimously to approve the settlement, and Mayor Jacob Frey's office said he would approve it as well, reports Xinhua news agency.

"This is a deeply traumatic event that, unfortunately, is a part of too many Black and brown families' realities," Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins said after the vote.

"There is no amount of money that can replace a brother, a son, a nephew, a father, a loved one but what we can do is continue to work towards justice and equity and equality in the city of Minneapolis and that's what I commit to do." Of the $27 million, $500,000 will be used "for the benefit of the community" near the site where Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck

for almost nine minutes, according to the city council.

"That the largest pre-trial settlement in a wrongful death case ever would be for the life of a Black man sends a powerful message that Black lives do matter and police brutality against people of colour must end," the Floyd family's attorney Ben Crump said in a statement.

In July 2020, the family sued Chauvin and his three colleagues who were also on the scene helping the white police officer neutralise Floyd.

The trial for Chauvin, who faced second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter as well as third-degree murder charges, is scheduled for March 29.

The three other former officers, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, who were on the scene also face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Their trial is expected to begin in August.

Floyd's death was ruled a homicide, with the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's autopsy report revealing he died from "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression".

Floyd's death triggered last year's massive protests against racial inequality and police brutality, across many US cities and also internationally.

The incident followed the high-profile cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; Eric Garner in New York; and others that have driven the Black Lives Matter movement in recent years.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
(Photo : Youtube/UNIVERSE DOPE) NASA astronaut space walk

NASA is sending two of their astronauts to conduct the 237th spacewalk outside the International Space Station or ISS on Mar. 13.

NASA's ISS maintenance

According to CNN, the two astronauts, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins are scheduled to embark on the fifth spacewalk of the year to carry out numerous system upgrades needed by the ISS.

The Expedition 64 engineers are running a bit behind schedule, as they were expected to exit the station's Quest airlock at a little after 7:30 a.m. ET for a mission that is expected to take around six and a half hours. The crew would first stay in the airlock donning their suits before their mission.

Also Read: NASA to Rename Cosmic Objects, Replace Racial and Insensitive Names on List

During the spacewalk, both Glover and Hopkins are tasked to work on the station's port truss, also known as the port's backbone, where they will vent early ammonia system jumper lines and relocate one of them near the Quest airlock in order to reconnect the jumper cable to the station's cooling system and increase its efficiency.

The two astronauts will also connect cables for the station's science laboratory's Bartolomeo platform Parking Position Interface or PAPOS, an external payload hosting platform, that continues work from a spacewalk conducted on Jan. 27, and replace a cable for a newer radio system.

Also, the astronauts will replace a wireless antenna assembly on the Unity connecting module. This component connects the Russian and U.S segments of the station, and install a stiffener on the airlock's thermal cover and route cables to give ethernet capabilities for two high-definition cameras on the port truss.

This will mark Glover's fourth spacewalk of his career and Hopkin's fifth. Hopkins is wearing a high-definition camera on his helmet in order to provide clear views of the Columbus module connectors.

This is the second spacewalk this month.

On Mar. 5, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi spent the same amount of time outside the Columbus module as part of the training to prepare for solar array upgrades that are scheduled to be done later this year.

The solar array panels soak up the sun's energy to provide electrical power to the ISS systems and have been showing signs of degradation lately.

The coverage of the maintenance event is being streamed live on NASA TV, and feeds are accessible on NASA's app, YouTube, and social media platforms.

NASA's mission

The spacewalk happens around the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. Glover and Hopkins addressed the timing in a video released by NASA on Mar. 12, according to Bloomberg.

Throughout the pandemic, NASA has been able to launch astronauts to the space station, including the historic Crew-1 mission that carried both Hopkins and Glover and NASA astronaut Shannon Walker and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi.

NASA is looking at a very busy couple of months. The Russian space agency Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei will fly to the space station from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Apr. 9.

Vande Hei was chosen as an astronaut in 2009, and he had his first spaceflight experience on the space station in Sep. 2017 to Feb. 2018. He stayed aboard the station for 168 days and conducted four spacewalks.

Related Article: NASA: Captured Infrared Images of The 'Pillars Of Creation' Being Devoured By Stars Released

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Basquiats Warrior  the most valuable Western artwork ever offered in Asia

This powerful work is one of the finest created by the artist in 1982  the year in which, Basquiat declared, he made the best paintings ever. On 23 March 2021 it sold for HK$323,600,000

The year 1982 was a special one for Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-88). In March he had his first solo show in the US, at the Annina Nosei Gallery in New York. In June he became  at the age of 21  the youngest artist ever to take part in Documenta, the esteemed exhibition of contemporary art in Kassel, Germany. In the autumn, he began a relationship with an up-and-coming singer called Madonna. Basquiat said that 1982 was also the year he made the best paintings ever. One of these was Warrior, which is being offered in a single-lot sale on 23 March at Christies in Hong Kong. The painting depicts a full-length male figure dominating the picture plane. He is the eponymous warrior and he holds in his right hand a sword thats unsheathed, raised and ready to strike. The work recalls Renaissance depictions of court knights such as Carpaccios Young Knight in a Landscape (see below) from the early-16th century.

Basquiats Helmet, New York, 1981. Photo:  Edo Bertoglio. Artwork:  Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York

Though he had no formal art education, Basquiat was well acquainted with Old Master paintings, thanks to frequent boyhood visits with his mother to the Brooklyn Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Matilde Basquiat was from Puerto Rico, while the artists father Gerard was from Haiti. Jean-Michel was born in Brooklyn in 1960, the eldest of their three children. His heritage would prove crucial throughout his career. The black person is the protagonist in most of my paintings, he said in the mid-1980s, looking back on his formative years. I realised that I didnt see many paintings with black people in them.

Vittore Carpaccio, Young Knight in a Landscape, 1510  Basquiats Warrior seems to echo paintings of court knights such as this. Oil on canvas, 218 x 151 cm. Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid. Photo: Bridgeman Images

Part of the inspiration for Warrior seems to have been Ogun, the sword-wielding warrior deity of the Yoruba people of West Africa. Their beliefs had been transported to the Caribbean as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. The subjects scarified eyes and clenched jaw add to a sense of talismanic power. In his long thin toes, some also see a resemblance to nkisi nkondi idols from the Congo (see below), into which long thin nails were hammered. Basquiats mother and father separated when he was seven and he ended up living with the latter. Geralds strict parenting, however, saw the teenage Jean-Michel rebel  to the extent of quitting school and running away from home. In 1977, he started spray-painting graffiti on derelict buildings in New Yorks Lower East Side and SoHo, a practice he would continue until around 1980, when his career really took off.

Though executed on a wooden panel rather than a public wall, Warrior shares a number of characteristics with Basquiats old street works, rawness and spontaneity being chief among them. The wildly fashioned background was achieved with gestural brushwork in patches of yellow and blue. As for the subject, Basquiat marked out his silhouette in spray paint and oil stick  before filling in the body with harried layers of acrylic. Theres no perspectival logic to speak of, or spatial recession. Figure and ground seem meshed together  bursting with the energy of a warrior.

David Bowie hailed the pure joyful chaotic miasma of Basquiats imagery

Basquiat painted this huge work, measuring 183 by 122 cm, while installed in a studio in the basement of Annina Noseis gallery in SoHo (she had become his primary dealer in 1981). He worked there as an artist in residence, and there are numerous stories of Nosei taking collectors downstairs to snap up paintings before they were even dry. Warrior wasnt painted before Basquiats aforementioned show at her gallery in March 1982; it would first appear in an exhibition of his work at the Akira Ikeda Gallery in Tokyo the following year.

A Kongo-Yombe nkisi nkondi statue, Democratic Republic of Congo  a work in which some see a resemblance to Basquiats Warrior. Height: 95 cm (37 in). Sold for 727,500 on 27 June 2018 at Christies in Paris

Its possible to interpret Warrior as a form of self-portrait: the central figure representing the artist in his battles within an art world that was overwhelmingly white. Might the crown of thorns atop his head suggest the artist saw himself becoming a martyr in the process? In the case of Warrior, another source of inspiration can probably be cited: the landmark anatomical textbook, Grays Anatomy. The warriors visible, internal organs look like a distorted diagram from it. (Basquiat was given a copy by his mother while in hospital recovering from a car accident as a boy  and was captivated by the book for ever after.) Warrior exemplifies Basquiats skill as an artistic magpie, scavenging source material from all sides and bringing together seemingly unconnected elements in marvellous fusion.

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The Biden administration on Friday said it is willing to reconsider the objections or adverse decisions to foreign workers on visas like H-1B due to the three policy memos by the previous Trump administration which now have been rescinded.

The move is expected to come to the rescue of a large number of Indian IT professionals who were having a tough time during the previous Trump administration due to various policies and memorandums on non-immigrant work visas, in particular H-1B.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Friday announced "it may reopen and/or reconsider adverse decisions" on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, made based on three rescinded policy memos.

USCIS said it will generally use its discretion to accept a motion to reopen filed more than 30 days after the decision, if filed before the end of the validity period requested on the petition or labour condition application, whichever is earlier, and the decision was based on one or more policies in the three rescinded H-1B memoranda.

On June 17, 2020, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum 602-0114, which officially rescinded two prior policy memoranda. First titled "Determining Employer-Employee Relationship for Adjudication of H-1B Petitions, Including Third-Party Site Placements," that was issued on January 8, 2010; and second "Contracts and Itineraries Requirements for H-1B Petitions Involving Third-Party Worksites," issued on February 22, 2018.

Also read: US senators urge Biden administration to implement H1B visa reforms; Indians likely to benefit

On February 3, 2021, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum 602-0142.1, which officially rescinded PM-602-0142, "Rescission of the December 22, 2000 ''Guidance memo on H1B computer related positions''," issued on March 31, 2017. Both Policy Memorandum 602-0114 and Policy Memorandum 602-0142.1 state that they apply to "any pending or new [H-1B Petitions], including motions on and appeals of revocations and denials of H-1B classification."

USCIS said a petitioner may request that it reopen and/or reconsider adverse decisions based on the three rescinded policy memos by properly filing Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, accompanied by the appropriate fee.

In addition, USCIS has the discretionary authority to accept and consider untimely motions under certain circumstances as explained in the form instructions and permitted by regulation.

"Petitioners who received an adverse decision on an H-1B petition based on the now-rescinded policy memoranda should consider whether there is time remaining in the validity period requested on the previously filed H-1B petition and the relevant labour condition application," USCIS said.

USCIS will generally process motions based on filing order, and consistent with current policy guidance, the federal agency said.

Also read: H-1B visa rules: What are the new restrictions imposed by Trump administration


By Florian Mueller





Florian Mueller
Jessica Rosenworcel testifies during an oversight hearing held by the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (Photo : Alex Wong/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday designated five Chinese companies as posing a threat to national security under a 2019 law aimed at protecting U.S. communications networks.



The FCC said the companies included Huawei Technologies Co, ZTE Corp, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co and Dahua Technology Co.



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The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 requires the FCC to identify companies producing telecommunications equipment and services "that have been found to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the security and safety of U.S. persons."



Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement: "This list provides meaningful guidance that will ensure that as next-generation networks are built across the country, they do not repeat the mistakes of the past or use equipment or services that will pose a threat to U.S. national security or the security and safety of Americans."



Last year, the FCC designated Huawei and ZTE as a national security threat to communications networks - a declaration barring U.S. firms from tapping an $8.3 billion government fund to purchase equipment from the companies.



In February, Huawei challenged the declaration in a petition filed with the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Huawei declined to comment on Friday on the new FCC designation. The other four companies could not be reached immediately for comment.



The FCC in December finalized rules requiring carriers with ZTE or Huawei equipment to "rip and replace" that equipment. It created a reimbursement program for that effort, and U.S. lawmakers in December approved $1.9 billion to fund the program.



Also in December, the FCC began the process of revoking China Telecom's authorization to operate in the United States as it took further steps to crack down on China's role in U.S. telecommunications.


Madrid, March 13 : The Spanish government has approved an economic relief package worth 11 billion euros that includes 7 billion euros in direct aid to struggling companies affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The measures, which had been announced a fortnight ago by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, were approved in an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Friday and aims to help three distinct areas of the economy, reports Xinhua news agency.

The package also includes 3 million euros earmarked for restructuring state-guaranteed loans and 1 billion euros for recapitalising medium-sized firms.

To qualify for help, companies must show that their revenue has dropped by at least 30 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

The money must then be used to cover fixed expenses or to reduce debts (especially with suppliers).

Government spokesperson Maria Jesus Montero told the media that the government wanted to minimise the impact of Covid-19 on production and unemployment, which has increased to over four million.

"Never before has an effort of this magnitude been made aimed at all companies and all workers," said Montero.

Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation Nadia Calvino added that the measures aim to anticipate solvency problems in the sectors and regions most affected by the pandemic.

"We are trying to alleviate the drop in income and debts that could put the survival of perfectly viable companies at risk and consequently harm economic recovery," Calvino added.
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New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Partly cloudy early. Thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 83F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 66F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From by Tony Joseph, New Delhi: Juggernaut, 2018; pp 288, 699 (hardcover).

I met Tony Joseph first in Jaipur Literature Festival in 2019 and next at Mathrubhoomi Literature Festival in January 2020 at Thiruvananthapuram. I had a lengthy discussion about his understanding of cattle like goats, buffalos, cows and so on, caste and race relations in ancient India and where the Brahminic understanding of India went wrong and they became anti-animal economy and anti-agrarian production. He gave me several clues which engendered a new curiosity in his understanding and his book. Then I started reading his book very seriously line by line. It threw up many new dimensions that were not explored in the writings of any other historians, indologists and writers on ancient India earlier.

His book has opened a new perspective on Indian economic and cultural evolution in the context of many discoveries of the economic and cultural evolution of animal, plant and bird domestication and migration to different parts of the world and India. While reading early Indian agrarian system in the chapter The First Farmers, a new vision appeared for the first time. Joseph writes,
New Delhi: Colombo on Friday (March 12, 2021) issued an official statement on the recent reports on social media platforms of a 'Sri Lanka flag non-slip doormat' and raised the matter with the Chinese embassy in the country. According to an official statement, the Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage informed the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing to contact the manufacturer concerned in China. He also brought to the attention of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, the advertising of Sri Lanka's national flag as a doormat.

"The Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC has also been instructed to follow up on the matter with the advertising platform Amazon," added the statement.

The flag, made of polyester, has been manufactured by a Chinese company 'shenghong lin' and was advertised to be sold on e-commerce company Amazon. It is being sold at a cost of $12.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to damage control, the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka also issued a release saying that the 'embassy is aware of some concerns about inappropriate advertising of Sri Lanka National flag'.

In a statement, it was quick to blame Amazon making no mention of the Chinese company's involvement. It pointed out that the embassy has 'learned that thousands of similar products with flags of various nations, manufactured by sellers from different countries, are available on this global online retailer'.

In a tweet by the Chinese mission, screenshots were also attached of the Amazon website searches to 'national flag mat'.

The embassy also emphasized that as an all-weather friend and the closest partner, China has been respecting and supporting Sri Lanka for its peace, prosperity, and dignity for decades, no matter in bilateral fields or international fora.

On Flag Mat issue: National Flags must be fully respected. Concern has been conveyed for investigation. Similar products are sold by sellers from various countries on Amazon. China has been supporting Sri Lanka for its peace, prosperity and dignity for decades. full text: pic.twitter.com/sSnOSkp2xP  Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) March 12, 2021

Notably, this is not the first time that China has landed in a controversy in the country. Its 'debt trap' diplomacy, when it comes to the lease of Hambantota port, was also something that has dominated the headlines in the past.
Tim Keller: Church's affiliation with Republicanism has given Christian nationalism 'a place to incubate'

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Famed pastor and author Tim Keller said the American Churchs championing of the Republican Party over the last several decades has given Christian nationalism a place where it could incubate.

Christian nationalism works on fear and resentment, Keller, founder and former pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City, said in an interview with the Church Leaders Podcast on Wednesday. Friedrich Nietzsche said there is no truth. So you can't appeal to truth. What you appeal to is fear and resentment, and that's how you get power and that's how you win.

Keller said that while he agrees with the Christian Right on policies like abortion and same-sex marriage, but asserted that the way many Christians handled hot-button issues in the 80s and '90s simply fueled fear, resentment, and anger in their communities.

You know how they raised their money: For 20 years, they sent out letters talking about how, 'You've got to send us money because the gay people are going to try to come and take your children away, because they're evil and because the Democrats and the Left are going to destroy your religious liberty, he said.

They just said awful things and vilified people, he continued. It's one of the reasons why so many gay activists now just don't want to forgive evangelicals because when they had a little more power in the '80s and '90s, that's how they raised their money. That's how they got people out."

But this behavior, Keller stressed, is not the Christian way at all.

The Christian way is, the way up is down. The way to rule is to serve. This is how Jesus did it. The way to get happy is to not think about your own happiness but the happiness of others. The way to get any influence is to empty yourself and be a servant. That's Jesus' way, and they're not doing that. They're actually using the Nietzschean way.

He added: And I think what that did was, for a long time, just keeping evangelicals frothing at the mouth about how everything is going so bad and making everybody so angry.

Keller said hes not denying that things are, in fact, getting bad for evangelicals, warning that its very possible that 10 years from now, those who hold to evangelical convictions about sex and gender might not be able to work for a major university, the government, or for a big corporation.

Nevertheless, having said all that, yeah, we nurtured this. And Christian nationalists use that. And therefore, we brought it on ourselves, he said, adding that Christian nationalists are recruiting very well because the Christian Right has made its people recruitable.

In churches across the U.S., many members are falling into one of two camps, Keller said. On one hand, many young evangelicals, particularly those living in cities, almost have a tendency to be over-woke and take their cues from the secular world, talking about Christian nationalists in "nasty ways.

It is dangerous. But it's also one of the ways that you fuel the extremism is by treating the extremists as sort of subhuman, he said.

When I talk to evangelical pastors ... people are actually leaving their churches ... because they don't talk about justice and about how bad Trump is or how bad Christian nationalism is, he said. Theyre not preaching enough about it. They're actually just staying with a biblical text and very often not even mentioning it, just talking about Jesus and how you have to be born again.

But a bigger number of evangelicals, many of them in the South and Midwest, are unhappy because their minister isn't denouncing the Left enough and isn't telling people they need to vote for Trump.

They're very upset and people are just walking away, he said.

Keller said he hopes the extremism and craziness on both sides will die down as time goes on.

I dont know, he said. I'm saying you just can't give in.

You might as well be principled because pragmatism won't work, he said. So you might as well lose money and members over something where you feel like, I'm just following Christ here, I'm following real good principle. If you try to avoid losing members and money too much, you probably end up losing them anyway and then have a bad conscience too.

A recent study found that evangelical Protestants are more likely than any other religious group to sympathize with and accept Christian nationalism, defined as a cultural framework that idealizes and advocates a fusion of Christianity with American civic life, with Christianity being more cultural and tribal than spiritual.

In an op-ed for CP, conservative author and radio host Michael Brown clarified that those who simply love and appreciate America are not Christian nationalists, but warned that equating America with Gods Kingdom or merging the cross with the flag is a terrible and dangerous mistake.

And that is the error of Christian nationalism, he wrote.

The irony of all this is that if we would be Kingdom-minded people first and foremost, we would bring the most blessing to America. If we would look at America as our mission field rather than our spiritual refuge, we would help our nation fulfill whatever plans the Lord has for us. And if we would exalt Jesus infinitely more than any political leader, we would best serve our country (and our leaders).
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here bosses have reportedly secured a Polish castle for international versions of the series.

According to reports from The Mirror on Saturday, those running the show are keen to recreate the camp in Gwrych castle, where the last UK series was filmed in Wales, in the Eastern European country.

It was claimed that ITV studios have found a fortress suitable for celebrities to use for other editions of the show.

Exciting: I'm A Celeb bosses 'have secured a castle in Poland for international versions of the show', it was reported on Saturday (co-hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly pictured)

I'm A Celebrity is currently being produced in 10 countries, including Denmark, Germany, Australia and India.

While the location has yet to be revealed to the public, it was reported TV executives from two countries have already expressed an interest in filming the show inside the Polish castle.

It was also claimed that following the success of the UK-based edition of the show, other countries are keen to do the same after Covid travel restrictions meant stars could not go to Australia to film there.

MailOnline has contacted I'm A Celebrity spokespeople for further comment.

Location: According to reports, bosses of international versions of the show want to recreate the camp in Gwrych castle (pictured) in a similar fortress in the Eastern European country

Claim: While the location has yet to be revealed, it was said TV executives from two countries have expressed an interest in filming inside the Polish castle (Gwrych castle pictured)

On Tuesday it was revealed the show will return to Australia 'if possible', after the pandemic drove the show to be filmed in Wales last year.

ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall confirmed that bosses are hoping the show will return to the jungle as that is how the show is 'meant to be'.

Speaking as the network published its group annual results, she said: 'If we can go back to Australia  and this show is meant to be in Australia  then thats what well do. We have a very good plan if not, as we have already done it once (in the castle).

Will they be back? On Tuesday it was revealed the show will return to Australia 'if possible', after the pandemic drove the show to be filmed in Wales last year

Prior to the confirmation, hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly sparked claims that this year's series will be returning to Wales last month.

The presenting duo said they'd be 'very happy' to remain in the UK for filming when the series returns later this year, joking they 'wouldn't miss the jet lag'.

Last year's I'm A Celebrity was relocated to Gwrych Castle in Wales after plans to record the usual show in Australia became impossible due to COVID.

Speaking to Digital Spy magazine, Ant said: 'If during coronavirus we have to stay put and do it in Wales again, I'd be very happy.

Chatting away: ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall confirmed that bosses are hoping the show will return to the jungle as that is how the show is 'meant to be' (pictured in 2018)

'We were very welcomed in Wales. There were cardboard cut-outs of me and Dec in the butcher's, and the local school did a tribute. We'd happily go back there. We'd miss the sunshine, mind.'

Dec added that he 'wouldn't be disappointed' if filming was once again taking place in Wales later this year, adding: 'The people in Wales were lovely...

'They made us feel very welcome. I had a lovely time. I will miss the sunshine, but I will not miss the jet lag of coming back from Australia.'

Changes: Last year's I'm A Celebrity was relocated to Wales after plans to record the usual show in Australia became impossible during the COVID-19 pandemic

Last year's I'm A Celebrity saw author Giovanna Fletcher crowned series champion after 12 celebrities moved into the derelict Gwrych Castle.

It was reported last month that ITV bosses had already secured use of the castle for another series if the Covid crisis prevented a return to Australia.

A source told The Sun: 'Ultimately they are at the mercy of COVID-19 restrictions. Formally an agreement is in place for the use of Gwrych Castle this year. Should the show need to be held there again it has all got the green light.'

ITV hired the 19th century castle for six weeks in 2020, costing 1million, after Covid-19 ruled out the usual setting in Australia. The network also announced an extreme Covid Management Plan to ensure the series ran smoothly.

This included the celebrities being tested every three days and crew members wearing proximity buzzers, masks and getting temperature checks on arrival.

The celebrities also had to isolate for two weeks ahead of their arrival. The new venue was warmly received by viewers, with some even calling for the show to make Wales its new permanent home.
A scooter rider has sparked a heated argument among motorists in one of Australia's densest suburbs after telling drivers she will 'take up as much space' as she likes.

She told motorists in a Facebook group for residents in Bondi in Sydney's east to stop trying to pass her when she waits to turn right off a busy road in a single lane.

Other motorists responded angrily, calling the scooter rider 'rude and disrespectful', and one even claimed to have reported her to Road and Maritime Services.

A scooter rider has sparked a heated argument among motorists in of Australia's most dense traffic suburbs after telling drivers in a Facebook post (pictured) she will 'take up as much space' as she likes

Poll SHOULD SCOOTERS HUG THE WHITE LINE, OR STAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE? Sit in lane Stay close to line SHOULD SCOOTERS HUG THE WHITE LINE, OR STAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE? Sit in lane 149 votes

Stay close to line 169 votes Now share your opinion





'When I am waiting to turn right off a busy road I will take up as much space as I like - please dont toot me to move out the way,' the Bondi local posted on social media.

'I dont hug the white line for a reason - so that you cant squeeze past me and potentially knock me over... If I were a car you would have to wait so stop with the road rage and think less about yourself.'

Eastern suburbs motorists responded angrily, with another scooter rider saying they always let cars pass them.

'Disagree, I ride bikes. Get right up [to] the white line, let them go past you on the left whilst waiting to turn right,' they wrote.

The told motorists in a Bondi Facebook community group for residents in Sydney's east to stop trying to pass her when she waits to turn right off a busy road in a single lane (Stock)

One person was confused about why the rider wanted to take up space and claimed it was safer to squeeze close to the white line while waiting to turn.

'If an impatient person hits me I'd rather it be them trying to squeeze past or a clip of the rear rather than a full speed rear end collision,' they said.

Some defended the poster, who said she was trying to educate people and protect her own safety.

'[She] is obeying the road rules, and trying to educate people to share the road responsibly you should listen and learn,' one said.

The Facebook discussion escalated when one Eastern suburbs resident claimed to have screenshot the post and emailed it to the RMS to get the scooter rider's licence revoked.

Other motorists responded angrily, calling the scooterist 'rude and disrespectful', and one even claimed to have reported her to Road and Maritime Services. Pictured: Bondi Road on Bondi Beach, October 2017

The RMS recommends when scooter riders are turning right from a single lane, they should try and turn as close to the far side of the lane as possible.

'When turning right from a single lane, start the turn as near as practicable to the far right of the lane or middle of the road,' the RMS states in a motorcycle and scooter riders handbook.

'[Try] buffering hazards as you exit the turn.'

The same advice applies when turning left, the handbook states.

When Princess Margaret announced her decision to break off her engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend, it was widely believed that the Queen had persuaded her to put duty before love.

Her relationship with the dashing but divorced equerry was described by Time magazine as 'the most controversial Royal romance since Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson'.

Their wish to marry had sparked tumult  as recently dramatised on screen in The Crown  drawing in the Palace, the Church of England, public opinion and Sir Anthony Eden's Government, which had threatened to strip the Princess of Royal privileges if she insisted on the union.

However, a series of letters has revealed for the first time that it was not the Queen who blocked the marriage but Margaret herself, who simply got cold feet.

When Princess Margaret announced her decision to break off her engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend, it was widely believed that the Queen had persuaded her to put duty before love. However, a series of letters has revealed for the first time that it was not the Queen who blocked the marriage but Margaret herself, who simply got cold feet. (Above, Townsend with Margaret in 1947, before romance blossomed)

The documents also show 'how hard the Queen tries for Margaret,' according to historian Kate Williams. 'It gives us a different view of the Queen as someone who did try to put her sister's happiness as a top priority.' (Above, Princess Elizabeth arrives at the Palace Theatre in London in 1946 - as Group Captain Peter Townsend, in uniform, looks on as Princess Margaret emerges from a car)

The letters, part of a dossier of recently declassified Government documents, were written to and from Prime Minister Eden, and feature in a new Channel 4 documentary. In the first, dated August 15, 1955, Margaret (above) admitted her doubts about the relationship to Eden himself

The letters, part of a dossier of recently declassified Government documents, were written to and from Prime Minister Eden, and feature in a new Channel 4 documentary.

In the first, dated August 15, 1955, Margaret admitted her doubts about the relationship to Eden himself.

'I have no doubt that during this time  especially on my birthday  the press will encourage every sort of speculation about the possibility of my marrying Group Captain Peter Townsend,' she wrote. 'But it is only by seeing him that I feel I can properly decide whether I can marry him or not.'

In a second letter, dated two months later, Eden told Commonwealth leaders that 'Her Majesty would not wish to stand in the way of her sister's happiness'.

Princess Margaret and Townsend's wish to marry had sparked tumult  as recently dramatised on screen in The Crown  drawing in the Palace, the Church of England, public opinion and Sir Anthony Eden's Government, which had threatened to strip the Princess of Royal privileges if she insisted on the union. (Pictured, Ben Miles as the captain, and Vanessa Kirby as Margaret in the hit Netflix series)

Royal author Penny Junor said: 'I think this throws a whole new light on the affair.

'We've always believed that she didn't marry Townsend because she was prevented by the Government, by the Church of England and by her sister. But this very much suggests that she didn't love him enough.'

In fact, the documents also show 'how hard the Queen tries for Margaret,' according to historian Kate Williams.

'It gives us a different view of the Queen as someone who did try to put her sister's happiness as a top priority.'

It was at the Queen's Coronation, on June 2, 1953, that Princess Margaret, then 22, inadvertently confirmed her relationship with the former Battle of Britain RAF pilot, who had been an equerry to her late father, King George VI.

At a party after the ceremony, she was seen to casually brush a bit of fluff from Townsend's jacket  an intimate gesture which raised eyebrows.

In tackling the potential ramifications of the relationship, the Queen faced an unenviable decision: compromise her position as head of the Church of England, which did not sanctify divorce, or deny her sister's future happiness.

On October 31, 1955, after reuniting with her fiance amid a press frenzy, Margaret announced: 'I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend. (Pictured, l to r: Princess Margaret, Princess Elizabeth and Group Captain Peter Townsend at Ascot in 1955)

'She was still very new in the job and she was being asked to make a choice between duty and family,' Junor said.

Unable to sanction the marriage, the Queen stalled.

'She could see there was a loophole,' Junor added. When Margaret reached the age of 25, she no longer needed the Queen's permission to marry. So I think she urged her sister to wait.'

Townsend, in the meantime, was posted to Brussels.

Two years later, as Margaret's 25th birthday approached, it was decision time and the couple needed permission from the Government if the marriage was to go ahead.

According to the documents, the Prime Minister struck a deal in which Margaret could keep her title and civil list allowance but lose her position in the line of succession.

Some have queried whether that compromise was enough for Margaret. It certainly did not persuade her that she wanted to marry him.

On October 31, 1955, after reuniting with her fiance amid a press frenzy, Margaret announced: 'I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend.

'Mindful of the Church's teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before any others.'

Queen Elizabeth: Love, Honour And Crown will be screened on Channel 4 at 9pm next Sunday.
New Delhi, March 13 : The Delhi-based project Antariksh have released the music video of their recently released single, "Quest". Varun Rajput, brain behind the progressive rock project, feels that the song, which saw him collaborate with Megadeth guitarist Mary Friedman, needed an animated video, which can be interpreted in many ways.

"I'm really excited about how the visuals and story almost perfectly compliment the song and just can't wait for people across the world to see it and interpret the story in their own ways," Rajput tells IANS.

He also talks about the "humbling experience" he had while working with Friedman for the song.

"The collaboration with Marty Friedman happened in a surreal and almost bizarre way when I met him at the Delhi airport. I somehow gathered the courage to ask him if he'd be up for playing a guest solo on one of our songs," he says.

"Working and interacting with him was a really humbling and enriching experience for he is such a modest and affable person," adds Rajput.

For Marty, this was his third collaboration with an Indian act, and it is clear why he loves collaborating with musicians from India, especially when he talks about his love for music by Pandit Ravi Shankar.

"As a kid, I learned a lot of melody sense and rhythmic things from sitar music. I learned only the surface, nothing deep, and I certainly did not master anything I learned. But it taught me how to find things I like and steal just those things. I did that with music from many other cultures. Playing in a real Indian project, the goal for me was just to get through it without anyone saying, 'This guy is a fake! He is making a fool out of himself trying to play along with real Indians'," Marty tells us.

"Something about Varun gave me the idea that he was the real deal, and once I heard the song I was in. The song was really well thought-out and I could feel that Varun and his band put a lot of energy and care into the detail," he adds.
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MSU Extension of Midland County and cooperating parent educators sponsor the Parents Corner. Send submissions to Midland County MSU Extension Educator, Lisa Treiber, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640

Owl Prowl: Join Chippewa Nature Center Interpretive Naturalist Michelle Fournier for an adventure into the nighttime world of owls from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11. Participants will travel to different owl hotspots on CNC property via car (participants will drive themselves) and take some short hikes while trying to call an owl in for a closer look. Pre-registration is required. Masks are required. To learn more visit www.chippewanaturecenter.org.

Nature Adventures: Maple Sugaring. Spring is coming and with it, maple syrup season. At Chippewa Nature Center, the trees are waking up from their winter dormancy and moving sap from their roots to their buds. Children will explore the Sugarbush amongst the Sugar Maple trees and spend some time in the Sugarhouse. This program is designed for children ages 5-12. It takes place from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Friday, March 12. Pre-registration is required. Masks are required. To learn more visit www.chippewanaturecenter.org.

Food Safety Q & A: MSU Extension offers a week 30-minute informational program about food preservation. A short presentation will be shared focusing on a timely topic, leaving plenty of time for Q & A. The next session will focus on Sharpen Your Kitchen Skills: Knives 101. Join in on this quick free presentation at 1 p.m., Monday, March 15. To register, visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/WinterQandA2021/ Questions, please call Lisa at 989-832-6643 or email treiber@msu.edu.

Michigan Cottage Food Law: Thinking of selling your homemade food items? Learn how to prepare and sell foods to the public under Michigans Cottage Food Law. MSU Extension will host this two-hour online workshop which combines education about the Cottage Food Law and food safety aspects of preparing and selling your cottage foods safely. Guest speakers include an educator from MSUs Product Center and an inspector from Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Join the team to learn more from 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, March 17. To register for this free event, visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/MichiganCottageFood/

Investigating Food with Science: Michigan State University Extension offers an after-school online program, exploring how cooking is an experiment and baking is a science. Each week MSU Extension educators will explore the science behind food-related topics and food safety along with a fun, kid-friendly recipe or experiment demonstration. The demonstrations will be designed for youth to experiment at home if they desire and provide youth a chance to share their experience the following week. On March 17, the topic is Sugar Shack! The session runs from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/InvestigatingFoodwithScience2021/ to register for this free session.

Preserving Your Harvest: Michigan State University Extension will be offering a series of food preservation classes online, these free online classes will be offered on Thursdays, at 1 and 6 p.m. The topic on March 18 will be: Introduction to Home Canning. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to safely preserve Michigans delicious produce using different methods each week. These sessions will not be recorded; they will only be offered live. Supporting materials will be emailed to all participants after each broadcast. Join in the fun, sign up for one, some or all these educational sessions. There is time at the end of each program to ask questions. To register visit: https://events.anr.msu.edu/WinterFoodPreservation2021/ Questions? Call Lisa Treiber 989-832-6643 (leave message) or email treiber@msu.edu.

Cooking for Crowds: Is your organization preparing for a food event? The Cooking for Crowds class educates groups who offer food fundraisers and events such as dinners, soup suppers and bake sales. Join MSU Extension to learn how to keep the community safe and prevent foodborne illness. Note: this course does not take the place of the eight-hour ServSafe Manager Course for the Person in Charge, it is designed for volunteers. This online class is being offered at different times. The next session is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, March 22. The cost is $15/participant. Each participant will receive a food safety manual, food safety posters, accompanying food safety information and instruction from the three-hour online session. For more information or to register, please visit: https://events.anr.msu.edu/C4C2020. Questions, contact Lisa Treiber, email treiber@msu.edu or phone, 989-832-6643 (leave a message).

Powerful Tools for Caregivers: MSU Extension is partnering with Senior Services to offer Powerful Tools for Caregivers starting Thursday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an evidence-based program designed to equip caregivers with a range of self-care tools to help them reduce personal stress and communicate effectively with family members and healthcare providers. In six weekly classes, care givers will develop a wealth of self-care tools to reduce personal stress, change negative self-talk, communicate their needs to family members and healthcare or service providers, communicate more effectively in challenging situations, recognize the messages in their emotions, deal with difficult feelings, and make tough caregiving decisions. This series will be held virtually on Zoom, and class size is limited to 12 participants, so register early. To register, call Senior Services at 633-3700 or visit https://seniorservicesmidland.org/events/powerful-tools-for-caregivers/
In brief: Bitcoin has reached a new all-time high, eclipsing the $60,000 mark for the first time in its 12-year history. The digital currency crested right at $58,000 on February 21 before sliding to a recent low of $43,500 a week later. Since then, its been mostly onward and upward, with only a few setbacks along the way.

According to CoinDesk, the milestone took place around 6:30 am Central on March 13 when the value of a single Bitcoin peaked at $60,322.60. Prices have dipped slightly since that time, and currently sit around $59,975 per as of this writing.

The worlds top cryptocurrency by market cap has been red hot since late last year and its anyones guess as to where things are heading next.

Institutional interest has picked up substantially in 2021 with companies like Mastercard pledging to support crypto this year. Big banks are also getting in on the crypto craze, as are tech companies like PayPal, Tesla and Twitter. Business intelligence firms such as MicroStrategy are investing heavily as well, and we cant ignore the fact that NFT mania is now in full swing.

Something else worth considering is that a third round of stimulus checks will begin hitting the bank accounts of Americans starting this weekend. Could some of that money end up being pumped into crypto?
Saturday, March 20, is Election Day in many parts of Louisiana and for most of our readers. Think of it as the last vestiges of your 2020 election hangover. It may be rough, but getting to the polls one way or another is the only path to redemption.

A hotly contested race to succeed Cedric Richmond in Congress tops the ballot in most of New Orleans, parts of Metairie and most of the West Bank. Fifteen candidates hope to represent the Second Congressional District. Theres also a special election in state House District 82 (Old Jefferson, parts of Metairie) and a pair of property tax renewals on the ballot across most of Jefferson Parish. All of these ballot items are important.

Unfortunately as of press time, turnout for early voting across our circulation area was abysmally low. This portends an overall turnout barely out of single digits, which is particularly disappointing in light of the near-record turnout we saw for the Nov. 3 presidential election  not to mention whats at stake. Although the Second District was created to give Black voters a chance to elect a Congress member of their choosing, an extremely low turnout could turn that notion on its head. And, with Democrats holding a slim majority in the House, one would think that voters of all races and party affiliations would be eager to cast ballots.

For what its worth, voters over age 60, who can get mail-in ballots for the asking, voted in significantly higher numbers than younger, in-person voters during the week of early balloting. We hope our readers, who tend to be younger, pick up the pace on Election Day. Make yourself heard on March 20.

The state's GeauxVote.com is the easiest way to find your polling location, election information and sample ballot.
(Natural News) The most powerful and influential newspaper in the U.S., arguably the West, is The New York Times. Journalists who write for it, especially those whose work is featured on its front page or in its op-ed section, wield immense power to shape public discourse, influence thought, set the political agenda for the planets most powerful nation, expose injustices, or ruin the lives of public figures and private citizens alike. That is an enormous amount of power in the hands of one media institution and its employees. Thats why it calls itself the Paper of Record.

(Article republished from Greenwald.Substack.com)

One of the Paper of Records star reporters, Taylor Lorenz, has been much discussed of late. That is so for three reasons. The first is that the thirty-six-year-old tech and culture reporter has helped innovate a new kind of reportorial beat that seems to have a couple of purposes. She publishes articles exploring in great detail the online culture of teenagers and very young adults, which, as a father of two young Tik-Tok-using children, I have found occasionally and mildly interesting. She also seeks to catch famous and non-famous people alike using bad words or being in close digital proximity to bad people so that she can alert the rest of the world to these important findings. It is natural that journalists who pioneer a new form of reporting this way are going to be discussed.

The second reason Lorenz is the topic of recent discussion is that she has been repeatedly caught fabricating claims about influential people, and attempting to ruin the reputations and lives of decidedly non-famous people. In the last six weeks alone, she twice publicly lied about Netscape founder Marc Andreessen: once claiming he used the word retarded in a Clubhouse room in which she was lurking (he had not) and then accusing him of plotting with a white nationalist in a different Clubhouse room to attack her (he, in fact, had said nothing).

She also often uses her large, powerful public platform to malign private citizens without any power or public standing by accusing them of harboring bad beliefs and/or associating with others who do. (She is currently being sued by a citizen named Arya Toufanian, who claims Lorenz has used her private Twitter account to destroy her reputation and business, particularly with a tweet that Lorenz kept pinned at the top of her Twitter page for eight months, while several other non-public figures complain that Lorenz has reported on their non-public activities). It is to be expected that a New York Times journalist who gets caught lying as she did against Andreessen and trying to destroy the reputations of non-public figures will be a topic of conversation.

The third reason this New York Times reporter is receiving attention is because she has become a leading advocate and symbol for a toxic tactic now frequently used by wealthy and influential public figures (like her) to delegitimize criticisms and even render off-limits any attempt to hold them accountable. Specifically, she and her media allies constantly conflate criticisms of people like them with harassment, abuse and even violence.

That is what Lorenz did on Tuesday when she co-opted International Womens Day to announce that it is not an exaggeration to say that the harassment and smear campaign I have had to endure over the past year has destroyed my life. She began her story by proclaiming: For international womens day please consider supporting women enduring online harassment. She finished it with this: No one should have to go through this. Notably, there was no mention, by her or her many media defenders, of the lives she has harmed or otherwise deleteriously affected with her massive journalistic platform.

That is deliberate. Under this formulation, if you criticize the ways Lorenz uses her very influential media perch  including by pointing out that she probably should stop fabricating accusations against people and monitoring the private acts of non-public people  then you are guilty of harassing a young woman and inflicting emotional pain and violence on her (its quite a bizarre dynamic, best left to psychologists, how her supporters insist on infantilizing this fully grown, close-to-middle-aged successful journalist by talking about her as if shes a fragile high school junior; its particularly creepy when her good male Allies speak of her this way).

Taylor Lorenz went after me on-and-off for weeks over my activity on Clubhouse, screencapping my invites and rooms and insinuating to her following that I was some sort of racist nutcase. The only woman she's ever given a flying fuck about is herself.  Mason  (@webdevMason) March 9, 2021

This is worth focusing on precisely because it is now so common among the nations political and media elite. By no means is this tactic unique to Lorenz. She did not pioneer it. She is just latching onto it, exploiting it, in order to immunize herself from criticisms of her destructive journalistic misconduct and to depict her critics as violent harassers and abusers. With this framework implanted, there is no way to express criticisms of Taylor Lorenzs work and the use and abuse of her journalistic platform without standing widely accused of maliciously inciting a mob of violent misogynists to ruin her life  thats quite a potent shield from accountability for someone this influential in public life.

But this is now a commonplace tactic among the societys richest, most powerful and most influential public figures. The advent of the internet has empowered the riff-raff, the peasants, the unlicensed and the uncredentialed  those who in the past were blissfully silent and invisible  to be heard, often with irreverence and even contempt for those who wield the greatest societal privileges, such as a star New York Times reporter. By recasting themselves as oppressed, abused and powerless rather than what they are (powerful oppressors who sometimes abuse their power), elite political and media luminaries seek to completely reverse the dynamic.

During Hillary Clintons ill-fated 2016 presidential campaign, one of the most common tactics used by her political and media supporters was to cast criticisms of her (largely from supporters of Bernie Sanders) not as ideological or political but as misogynistic, thus converting one of the worlds richest and most powerful political figures into some kind of a victim, exactly when she was seeking to obtain for herself the planets most powerful political office. There was no way to criticize Hillary Clinton  there still is not  without being branded a misogynist.

A very similar tactic was used four years later to vilify anyone criticizing Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)  also one of the worlds richest and most powerful figures  as she sought the power of the Oval Office. A major media theme was that she was being brutally assaulted by Sanders supporters who were using snake emojis to express dissatisfaction with what they believed was her less-than-scrupulous campaign, such as relying on millions of dollars in dark money from an anonymous Silicon Valley billionaire to stay in the race long after the immense failure of her campaign was manifest, and attempting to depict Sanders as a woman-hating cretin. When Warren finally withdrew from the race after having placed no better than third in any state including her own, Rachel Maddow devoted a good chunk of her interview with the Senator and best-selling author to exploring the deep trauma she experienced from the snake emojis.

When Joe Biden announced his choice of Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary and various news outlets reported that she had spent the last several years collecting many millions of dollars in speaking fees from the very Wall Street banks over whom she would now exercise immense power, the reporters who disclosed these facts and those expressing concern about them were accused of sexism. Somehow, a narrative was peddled under which one of the multi-millionaire titans of the global neoliberal order was reduced to a helpless victim, while the far less powerful people questioning the ethics and integrity of her conduct became her persecutors.

One of the many ironies of these tawdry attempts to shield the worlds most powerful people from criticism is that they fundamentally rely upon the exact stereotypes which, in prior generations, had been deployed to deny women, racial minorities and LGBTs fair and equal opportunities to ascend to powerful positions. Those who purport to be supporters of Lorenz speak of her not as what she is  a successful and wealthy professional woman in her mid-30s who has amassed a large amount of influence and chose a career whose purpose is supposed to be confronting powerful people  but instead as a delicate, young flower, incapable of withstanding criticisms:

This is dangerous and disgusting. Someone asks for help after suffering online harassment, and this man mocks her in prime time  using her full name five separate times  in an obvious attempt to encourage more harassment. We are better than this. https://t.co/zlCcf84bgG  Steve Peoples (@sppeoples) March 10, 2021

In the paradigm peddled by Maddow, Elizabeth Warren was instantly transformed from an outspoken, intrepid Harvard Law Professor, consumer advocate, and influential lawmaker into a vulnerable abuse victim. Anonymous Sanders supporters were the ones wielding the real power and strength in this warped and self-serving framework. In order to shield themselves from the same scrutiny and accountability every other powerful public figure receives, theyre resuscitating the most discredited and antiquated myths about who is strong and weak, who requires protection and special considerations and who does not.

No discussion of this tactic would be complete without noting its strong ideological component: its weaponization for partisan aims. Say whatever youd like about journalists like Laura Ingraham or Mollie Hemingway or Briahna Joy Gray or political figures such as Kellyanne Conway, Susan Collins or Kirstjen Nielsen. Have at it: the skys the limit. Let it all fly without the slightest concern for accusations of misogyny, which, rest easy, will not be forthcoming no matter how crude or misogynistic the attacks are.

One also need not worry about accusations of anti-Semitism if one opposes the landmark quest of Bernie Sanders to become the first Jewish president or even expresses bitter contempt for him. No bigotry allegations will be applied to critics of Clarence Thomas, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Richard Grenell, or Ben Carson.

This transparent tactic is part-and-parcel of the increasingly ideological exploitation of identity politics to shield the neoliberal order and its guardians from popular critique. Step lightly if you want to criticize the bombing of Syria because the Pentagon is now led by an African-American Defense Secretary and Biden just promoted two female generals. No objecting to the closeness between the Treasury Secretary and Wall Street banks because doing so is a misogynistic attempt to limit how women can be paid. Transportation policy should be questioned only in the most polite tones lest one stand accused of harboring anti-gay animus for the departments Secretary.

The CIA and FBI celebrate its diverse workforce in the same way and for the same reason that gigantic corporations do: to place a pretty but very thin veneer on the harmful role they play in the world. The beneficiaries of this tactic are virtually always the powerful, while the villains are their critics, especially when those critics are marginalized. It is a majestic reversal of the power dynamic.

Those who invoke this shield on their own behalf do so by claiming that they receive abusive and bigoted messages and even threats online. I have no doubt that they are telling the truth. In the age of social media, anyone with a significant public platform will inevitably be subjected to ugly vitriol. Often the verbal assaults are designed for the persons gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and other aspects of their demographic identity in order to be as hurtful as possible.

In response to Lorenzs use of International Womens Day to elevate her suffering to center stage, Guardian reporter Julia Carrie Wong described her own personal experience to argue that verbal condemnations from angry readers can cause serious mental anguish and made me fear for my own safety and that of my family. She acknowledged that its not physical or material harm and is not legal persecution, but, she said, it is nonetheless a very real, constant, negative force in my life, something I have to think about all the time, and that sucks.

It is hard to dispute Wongs claims. Not only do studies demonstrate that a barrage of online criticism can adversely affect ones mental health, I can speak from personal experience  vast, sustained, and intense personal experience  about what it is like to be the target of coordinated, bigoted and threatening attacks because of ones reporting.

When Jair Bolsonaro was in the middle of his successful presidential candidate in 2017, he hurled an anti-gay slur at me using his Twitter account to his millions of followers. In 2019, he publicly claimed my marriage to my husband and our adoption of two Brazilian children were fraudulent, done only to prevent my deportation. Does it take any imagination to envision what my email inbox and online messages were like for months after each of those episodes?

From the time my colleagues and I at The Intercept Brazil began our multi-part expose about corruption on the part of high-level Bolsonaro officials in mid-2019, my name trended on Brazilian Twitter on a virtually daily basis for weeks if not longer, accompanied by demands for my deportation and arrest. Much of the vitriol was anti-gay in theme, to put that mildly. My husband, one of the only openly gay members of Congress in the history of Brazil, and I have received a non-stop deluge of very specific death threats aimed at our family and our children. As a result of that, none of us  him, me or our two children  have left our home in almost two years without armed security and an armored vehicle. And it all culminated in the attempt to criminally prosecute me last year on over 100 felony counts.

That is most definitely not the first time Ive encountered such criticisms and attacks, nor, I say with confidence, will it be the last. I was unable to leave Brazil for almost a year after returning from Hong Kong where I met Edward Snowden and published our first reports on the NSA due to publicly and privately expressed threats from U.S. officials of criminal prosecution.

Im so far from unique in any of this. These kinds of recriminations are inherent to journalism (when done well), to confronting those in power, to insinuating yourself into controversial and polarizing political debates and controversies. Journalists love to laud themselves for speaking truth to power but rarely think about what that actually means.

If you do journalism well, then youre going to make people angry, and if youre making people angry, then they are going to say unpleasant and hurtful things about you. If youre lucky, that is all that will happen. The bigger your platform, the more angry people there will be, and the angrier they will be. The more powerful the people angered by your work, the more intense the retaliation. That is what it means to call someone powerful: they have the capacity to inflict punishment on those who impede them.

Death threats like this one arrive in my inbox every week at least. When a news event related to our work transpires that angers large numbers of people  such as this weeks news that the criminal convictions of former President Lula da Silva have been invalidated and his political rights restored, thus rendering him eligible to run against Bolsonaro in 2022  those threats and vituperative messages intensify greatly and we are forced to enhance our security measures.

Anyone who cannot endure that, or who does not want to, is well-advised not to seek out a public platform and try to become an influential figure who helps shape discourse, debate and political outcomes, and especially not to become a reporter devoted to exposing secret corruption by powerful factions. It would obviously be better if all of that did not happen, but wishing that it would stop is like hoping it never rains again: not only is it futile, but  like rain  there are cleansing and healthy aspects to having those who wield influence and power have to hear from those they affect, and anger.

But with that cost, which can be substantial, comes an enormous benefit. It is an immense privilege to have a large platform that you can utilize to shape the society around you, reach large numbers of people, and highlight injustices you believe are being neglected. Those who have that, and who earn a living by pursuing their passion to use it, are incredibly fortunate. Journalists who are murdered or imprisoned or prosecuted for their work are victims of real persecution. Journalists who are maligned with words are not, especially when those words come not from powerful state officials but from random people on the internet.

And even when such criticisms do emanate from powerful officials, it still does not rise to the level of persecution: when Jair Bolsonaro hurled an anti-gay slur at me online and then maligned our family at a press conference, it was not even in the same universe of difficulty as being threatened with prosecution by the U.S. or Brazil governments or receiving credible death threats. Ive said plenty of critical things about him as well. That is why I always found it so preposterous to treat Trumps mean tweets about Chuck Todd or Jim Acosta like some grave threat to press freedom. Imprisoning Julian Assange for publishing documents is a dangerous press freedom attack; mocking Wolf Blitzers intellect is not. And if the U.S. Presidents mean words about journalists do not constitute an attack on press freedom  and they do not  then surely the same is true of random, powerless people online.

That is why I do not consider myself remotely victimized: I chose to do this work knowing what it would entail if I did it well, and I continue to do it, rather than do something else, because it is a price worth paying. It is fulfilling and gratifying work to me, and I see the recriminations as proof of its efficacy. Not everyone will have that same calculus, which is why different people make different choices for their lives based on their assessments of the costs and benefits inherent in them, but the framework is essentially the same for everyone.

What I ultimately find most repellent and offensive about this incessant self-victimization from societys most powerful and privileged actors is the conceit that they are somehow unique or special in the treatment they receive, as if it only happens to people like them. That is the exact opposite of reality: everyone with a public platform receives abuse and ugly attacks, and there are members of every faction who launch them. If you have any doubts about that, go criticize Kamala Harris and see what kind of staggeringly bigoted and hateful abuse you get back in return.

Whenever this tactic is hauled out in defense of neoliberal leaders  to claim that Sanders supporters are uniquely abusive, or that Corbyn supporters are, or that Trump supporters are: basically that everyone is guilty of abusive behavior except neoliberals and their loyal followers  the real purpose of it becomes clear. It is a crowd-control technique, one designed to build a gigantic moat and drawbridge to protect those inside the royal court from the angry hordes outside of it.

Last week, I participated in a debate on Al Jazeera about online censorship with the liberal British journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. She was quite a reasonable and candid advocate of the need for online censorship and I found the discussion consequently illuminating, particularly because she was so blunt about what she believes is the real problem that online censorship needs to solve. Listen to what she said:

Precisely. Its not like it used to be. The problem is that this is not civilized discourse to them because its often coming from some of the least educated and most angry. Thats why online censorship is needed. Thats why media figures need to unite to demonize and discredit their critics. It is because people like Taylor Lorenz  raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, educated in a Swiss boarding school, writing on the front page of The New York Times  now hears from the least educated and most angry. This is the societal crisis  one of caste  that they are determined to stop.

Taylor Lorenz and her media allies know that she is more privileged and influential than you are. That is precisely why they feel justified in creating paradigms that make it illegitimate to criticize her. They think only themselves and those like them deserve to participate in the public discourse. Since they cannot fully control the technology that allows everyone to be heard (they partially control it by pressuring tech monopolies to censor their adversaries), they need to create storylines and scripts designed to coerce their critics into silence.

Knowing that you will be vilified as some kind of brute abuser if you criticize a New York Times reporter is, for many people, too high of a price to pay for doing it. So people instead refrain, stay quiet, and that is the obvious objective of this lowly strategy.

Read more at: Greenwald.Substack.com
Read what is in the news today:

Politics

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently signed a decision appointing Dang Hoang Giang, assistant to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, as Deputy Foreign Minister from Friday.

Society

-- Vietnam recorded 13 imported cases of COVID-19 and two domestic infections in northern Hai Duong Province on Friday afternoon, raising the national caseload to 2,550, with 2,086 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths.

-- As of Friday afternoon, nine out of nearly 5,300 people jabbed with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnam have had grade-II postvaccinal reactions, in addition to a number of other cases experiencing mild side effects.

-- The Vietnamese and Australian medical authorities have determined that the Vietnamese mother and son, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Australia after leaving Vietnam, had not caught the pathogen in the Southeast Asian country, but maybe during their flight.

-- The Peoples Committee of Dong Nai has approved an allocation of nearly VND6 billion (US$261,000) from the provincial budget reserve to conduct free COVID-19 tests on medical staff at public health facilities in the southern province.

-- The Market Surveillance Agency in northern Bac Giang Province has handed over an alleged smuggling case of nearly 5.2 million photovoltaic cells, nearly 228,000 raw silicon sheets, over 23 metric tons of aluminum solution and nearly four metric tons of silver solution, all of which the main components that make up the solar panels, to the provincial Department of Public Security for investigation.

-- Local people in My Thanh Commune in Phu My District in south-central Binh Dinh Province discovered a body that was washed ashore in the state of strong decomposition on Friday morning.

-- The Peoples Court in southern An Giang Province on Friday sentenced Leang Davy, a 51-year-old Cambodian woman, to life imprisonment for illegally transporting two kilograms of narcotics into Vietnam for $3,000 in September 2020.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has requested all passenger bus operators running between the city and north-central Quang Tri Province or further localities in the northern part of Vietnam to move all their activities from the current Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station in Binh Thanh District to the new one in Thu Duc City from Saturday.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A fit and healthy Sydney mum who was given a shock cervical cancer diagnosis on February 18 is urging women to stay on top of their checkups to avoid a similar fate.

Brooke Gold, 34, has always been diligent with pap smears but admitted to delaying seeing her doctor over the past five years due to her busy lifestyle and being 'scared' of the result after her grandmother died from ovarian cancer.

Prior to the diagnosis the HR manager told FEMAIL she experienced spotting between periods, which were identified by physicians as 'side effects' of the contraceptive pill.

'I was told if I had procrastinated getting checked for another year I would've died,' she said.

Now Brooke is making it her mission to combat against the cancer and raise awareness online, but is uncertain whether to undergo surgery to determine if the cancer has spread or dive straight into treatment.

Brooke Gold, 34, (pictured left) has always been diligent with pap smears but admitted to delaying seeing her doctor over the past five years due to her busy lifestyle and being 'scared' of the result after her grandmother died from ovarian cancer

Prior to the diagnosis on February 18 the HR manager told FEMAIL she experienced spotting between periods, which were identified by physicians as 'side effects' of the contraceptive pill

In November 2020 Brooke had a check-up smear test and said she has never had any previous negative results or issues.

But a few days later the doctor advised her to visit a gynaecologist for a biopsy, which lead to a LEEP procedure on February 5 as a precaution to remove the abnormal cells detected.

'My partner came with me to the follow-up meeting with the gynaecologist who told me I had a 4cm growth on my cervix which was diagnosed as cervical cancer,' she said.

'It was a complete shock and the days that followed were a blur; I was terrified and overwhelmed over what will come next, I just kept thinking "why me?".'

Brooke has always maintained a fit and healthy lifestyle, eats well and goes to the gym often.

'My partner came with me to the follow-up meeting with the gynaecologist who told me I had a 4cm growth on my cervix which was diagnosed as cervical cancer,' she said

Cervical Cancer symptoms: Early changes in cervical cells rarely cause symptoms. If early cell changes develop into cervical cancer, the most common signs include: vaginal bleeding between periods

menstrual bleeding that is longer or heavier than usual

bleeding after intercourse

pain during intercourse

unusual vaginal discharge

vaginal bleeding after menopause While uncommon, advanced cervical cancer may cause the following symptoms: excessive tiredness

leg pain or swelling

lower back pain These symptoms can be caused by other conditions but if you are worried or symptoms persist, contact your doctor Source: cancer.org.au Advertisement

The test detected the cancer as stage 1, but doctors cannot determine whether it has spread to Brooke's lymph nodes unless surgery is conducted.

Brooke said the cancer itself is 'terrifying' as it's usually asymptomatic - meaning an individual could be living with the disease but have no symptoms.

Proceeding forward Brooke is uncertain whether she should risk having surgery to determine if the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes or if she should start chemotherapy and radiation.

The test detected the cancer as stage 1, but doctors cannot determine whether it has spread to Brooke's lymph nodes unless surgery is conducted

Brooke said the cancer itself is 'terrifying' as it's often asymptomatic - meaning an individual could be living with the disease but have no symptoms

The decision proves to be difficult as if she starts having treatment to remove the cancer, she will be unable to carry children.

'Before I was diagnosed my partner and I had a conversation about extending our family, but now we're considering fertility options,' Brooke said.

She added she fears leaving her 11-year-old son and loved ones behind, but is motivated to do everything she can to overcome the cancer.

'I really want women to know that this can happen to everyone, and how getting tested early can mean the difference between saving your life or going through a tough journey to save your life,' she said

Currently Brooke is 'taking each day as it comes' as is trying to remain focused on work to ensure the distressing diagnosis doesn't consume her everyday life.

'I just want to carry on as normal as possible without letting the dark cloud impact me too much; I still go to the gym every day and spend time with family,' she said.

'I really want women to know that this can happen to everyone, and how getting tested early can mean the difference between saving your life or going through a tough journey to save your life.'

Aspirating to raise awareness, she also shared an image with her 14,000 Instagram followers on February 28.

'It'll be a chapter in my story and as the amazing love of my life has pointed out, "will just make me stronger in the end",' she wrote.
Biden vows all US adults will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine by May 1

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In his first prime-time speech Thursday night, President Joe Biden vowed to make all adults in the United States eligible for the three approved coronavirus vaccines by May 1.

On the first anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdowns, Biden spoke of the progress made in the effort to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank God were making some real progress now, said the 78-year-old in the East Room of the White House. Two months ago, this country didnt have nearly enough vaccines supplied to vaccinate all or near all of the American public, but soon we will.

Weve been working with vaccine manufacturers  Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson  to manufacture and purchase hundreds of millions of doses of these three safe, effective vaccines.

He noted how thousands of people are being called up to distribute the vaccine, and a growing number of locations are being set up to distribute the vaccines to the general public.

Biden announced that he was directing all states, tribes, and territories to make all adults, people 18 and over eligible to be vaccinated no later than May 1, claiming, thats much earlier than expected.

That doesnt mean everyones going to have that shot immediately, the president clarified, but it means youll be able to get in line by May 1.

To do this, were going to go from a million shots a day that I promised in December, before I was sworn in, to beating our current pace of 2 million shots a day.

Biden also highlighted the need for national unity to defeat the pandemic. As an example, he stated that Johnson & Johnson is working alongside rival Merck to distribute the vaccine better.

These two companies, competitors, have come together for the good of the nation, and they should be applauded for it, said Biden. Its truly a national effort, just like we saw in World War II.

Were also working with governors and mayors in red states and blue states to set up and support nearly 600 federally supported vaccination centers that administer hundreds of thousands of shots per day.

Biden said that if the general public keeps abiding by public health guidelines and gets vaccinated, small gatherings should be possible across the U.S. by Independence Day, July 4.

He also championed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which he signed into law earlier on Thursday, labeling it a historic piece of legislation" to help families in need.

The president noted that he announced his intention yesterday for the U.S. government to buy an additional 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as part of the efforts to fight COVID-19.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not without controversy, as some religious groups have expressed concern over the extent to which aborted cells were used to develop the vaccine.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans released a statement last month saying that the vaccine was morally compromised compared to the other two available vaccines.

 though there was some lab testing that utilized the abortion-derived cell line, the two vaccines currently available from Pfizer and Moderna do not rely on cell lines from abortions in the manufacturing process and therefore can be morally acceptable for Catholics as the connection to abortion is extremely remote, stated the Archdiocese.

We advise that if the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine is available, Catholics should choose to receive either of those vaccines rather than to receive the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of its extensive use of abortion-derived cell lines.

However, Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque, Iowa said last week that Catholics can get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine if other vaccines are unavailable.

Soon after Biden finished his speech, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released a statement denouncing the COVID-19 relief package that Biden championed in his speech.

Biden and Democrats in Congress chose to pass a partisan bill where only 9 percent of the money is targeted to fighting the pandemic, all while continuing to ignore the suffering of American families that are struggling while out of work and out of school, stated McDaniel in an email to supporters.

Its also an important reminder that one year ago today, President Trump announced an aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront the virus that ultimately resulted in the fastest creation of a vaccine in modern history through Operation Warp Speed.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted following Bidens speech that the pandemic recovery will ride an already turning tide.

Not because of a Democrats latest partisan bill, but because of the resilience of our people, he wrote.

Pro-life advocates have criticized the COVID-19 relief package for its failure to include the Hyde Amendment, a longstanding federal policy that bars taxpayer funding of abortion on demand.
South Carolina senators want to bring back firing squads. Photo: Jeffrey Collins/AP/Shutterstock

The execution chamber is more American than The Star-Spangled Banner, than the Pledge of Allegiance, or the democratic process itself. Many countries hold free and fair elections; many claim, too, to be concerned with justice and liberty. Often this is a lie, the pretext for counter-revolution or for overseas war. But in America the lie is so large it swallows every virtue it touches. Liberty falters before a broken system of criminal justice that punishes rather than rehabilitates, that kills. Built for public viewing, the execution chamber conflates justice not only with death but with death as brutal spectacle.

State senators in South Carolina understand what the death penalty is for and what it means to America. Weeks after South Carolina passed a bill that would outlaw most abortions in the state, the Associated Press reports that a bipartisan group of senators added the firing squad to a bill that would give the states governor alternatives to lethal injection. (The Senate has approved the bill, but it hasnt yet been finalized, and the House would have to pass it in order for it to reach the governors desk.) The drugs are not always easy to obtain, and as global opinion turns against the death penalty, pharmaceutical companies have become wary of sating the American thirst for blood.

The death penalty is going to stay the law here for a while. If it is going to remain, it ought to be humane, state Senator Dick Harpootlian, a Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, told the AP. Hanging can lead to decapitation, he added, and electrocution burns a person to death. People had the stomach for both, not all that long ago; the electric chair used to be common, and hangings used to be public events. If the average American has become a little more queasy, a little less eager to burn someone alive, this surely has implications for Harpootlians definition of humane.

As South Carolina senators try to follow the example set by Utah, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, where firing squads are already in place, they inadvertently prove a great truth about the death penalty. There is no way it can ever be humane. Death by firing squad raises the liberal hackles, but it is faster  and possibly more painless  than death by lethal injection. When the federal government killed William LeCroy last September, the mans stomach heaved uncontrollably for about a minute, the Chicago Tribune reported. In about half of the federal executions carried out in the last months of the Trump presidency, a distinctive jerking and jolting was visible, the Tribune continued, a potential sign of painful pulmonary edema. These movements do not appear in the official reports compiled by prison authorities. Take those authorities at their word, and the people they killed simply fell asleep.

Without drugs to medicalize the inhumanity of the procedure, America might have to accept the death penalty for what it is. An execution heals nothing and restores no victim to life. It simply increases the body count associated with a crime. In some cases, it attaches a death toll to crimes that previously had none; in America, weve killed people who have never taken a life. To advocates, executions arent merely a necessity; they are cause for celebration. When the state of Utah killed Ronnie Lee Gardner by firing squad in 2010, state corrections issued a commemorative coin to staff who participated in the death. They chose a coin, a spokesman told the Deseret News, because the traditional ribbons no longer felt modern.

In its truest heart, America is still the nation of the firing squad. It will remain so as long as the death penalty exists. Content to stand apart from other democratic nations, America grants itself the power of life and death over all, starting with its own people. It invented liberty, and it has nothing left to learn from anyone  not the rest of the world, not the men and women it sacrifices to vengeance. All thats left is blood.
The company is entited to receive the bonus of Rs 5.08 crore for early completion of the project.

The project involved four/six laning of Karodi to Telwadi road section of NH 211 (new NH no 52) in Maharashtra under NHDP Phase IV-B on EPC mode.

The provisional completion certificate has been issued by the authority and the project has been declared fit for entry into commercial operation as on 6 March 2021.

Consequently, Dilip Buildcon is entitled to receive the bonus of Rs 5,08,51,800 in lieu of early completion (30 days prior to the scheduled completion date) of the said project.

The company's consolidated net profit jumped 106.27% to Rs 182.20 crore on 7.09% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 2,746.20 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

Shares of Dilip Buildcon gained 1.63% to end at Rs 653.60 on BSE Friday, 12 March 2021. Dilip Buildcon is one of the leading full-service infrastructure company with construction capabilities in roads & bridges, mining, water sanitation, sewage and dams with a presence in over 19 states.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar, March 13 : An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces at the Rawalpora area in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Saturday evening, officials said.

The firefight between terrorists and security forces began after the latter cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of a specific information about the presence of terrorists there.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where the terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

"An encounter has started at the Rawalpora area in Shopain. The police and security forces are on the job," the police said.
With her razor-sharp cheekbones and eyes boldly staring at the viewer, Dee Smarts self-portrait Im here is a picture of strength, beauty and resilience.

Her bald head and pallor, artfully depicted in the small painting with delicate brushstrokes, is the only hint of the tumult in the artists life. It has been a bloody crazy couple of years, she said.

I just want to dive into every person I paint: artist Dee Smart in her Alexandria studio on Friday. Credit:James Brickwood

A former actor who appeared in Home & Away and Water Rats, Smart laughs as she describes her extraordinary and horrendous past two years, which includes separating from her husband Chris Hancock after more than two decades. The two remain close and Smart speaks glowingly of him.

Her first big solo exhibition of portraits of women artists, poets and musicians at the Nanda/Hobbs gallery in late 2019 was followed just days later by an operation to remove a tumour the size of a tennis ball from her bladder. The 54-year-old mother-of-three started chemotherapy soon after.
New York, March 13 : Even as a severe supply constraints remain the biggest concern for many nations trying to accelerate the vaccine drive against Covid-19, tens of millions of AstraZeneca doses are lying idle in the US manufacturing facilities.

This is because results of the vaccine's crucial clinical trial in the US are yet to be declared and the company has not yet applied for approval of the vaccine with the US regulators, The New York Times reported.

And even though the doses remain unused in the US, the country is reluctant to release them for use in other parts of the world where the vaccine has been approved.

More than 70 countries have approved the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, the NYT report said on Thursday, citing a company spokesperson.

However, the unused vaccine doses have triggered a debate among officials in the US with some favouring their release, while others stress on their preservation.

US President Joe Biden had earlier said that by the end of May, there should be enough vaccine doses for every adult in the country.

"If we have a surplus, we're going to share it with the rest of the world," Biden told reporters on Wednesday, as he spoke on vaccine supply in general terms.

"We're going to start off making sure Americans are taken care of first." The US in May 2020 secured 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine by pledging up to $1.2 billion if the vaccine proves to be effective.

According to the NYT report, about 30 million doses are currently bottled at AstraZeneca's facility in West Chester, Ohio.

Another company called Emergent BioSolutions with which AstraZeneca has pact to produce its vaccine in the US, has also manufactured enough vaccine for tens of millions more doses, said the report.

It was earlier believed that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine will be one of the first to be approved for emergency use in the US.

But this has not happened as the company has been slow in disclosing the results of clinical trials in the US.

The US has already approved three Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use and if the supplies of these vaccines and others that might get approval ramp up, the need of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country may become much less than earlier predicted.

A number of countries like Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Romania and Thailand have suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine after it was linked to blood clots in recipients, while Austria and France have decided to continue using it.

The World Health Organization is assessing the current reports on the vaccine.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, March 13 : A 12-year-old boy was injured when snatchers opened fire upon being confronted in North West Delhi's Shalimar bagh. A bullet hit the boy on his arm and he was rushed to the hospital.

A PCR call at 2.30 am on Friday was received at Police Station Shalimar Bagh that two boys on a Pulsar bike had snatched a mobile phone and opened fire in which a boy has been injured and is being taken to the hospital.

Mubarak, 36, a resident of Shalimar Village, told the police that he drives a Tata Ace vehicle and was unloading goods from it after attending a function.

He was standing on the Max Hospital Road and talking on the phone when two boys on a bike snatched his mobile phone by brandishing a pistol.

When he was being threatened, one Ravi Kumar and other labourers standing nearby ran towards him. Seeing the labourers approach, the accused ran away and fired one round towards them.

"The bullet hit Ravi Kumar's son, who was standing there, on his left hand. The injured was taken to a hospital and discharged after first-aid and necessary treatment," said Usha Rangnani, DCP North West Delhi.

A case under sections 394 / 397/ 34 IPC and 27 Arms Act has been registered and an investigation is on.

Several teams have been formed to identify and arrest the snatchers.
Sometimes, it takes a pandemic to get the band back together.

Suzanne Freed, Charley Wininger and I met in 1968 when we were reporters for our community college newspaper, COMMUNIQUE. Needless to say, every time I hear a track from Dire Straits album of the same name, it sends me back in time, although the album was released 10 years later.

We served in various capacities, with Charley and Suze editing the entire paper while I edited the Cultural Arts section, covering everything from rock albums to ballet performances. I got the chance to interview Seals & Crofts and Ravi Shankar, got to meet Edward Villella and hang out with John Zacherle.

Our paper was printed on newsprint, was manufactured using hot metal rather than cold type and many, many, many hours were spent at the printing press overseeing printing, making last minutes corrections and guzzling caffeine of one kind or another.

Suze and Charley and I had been in contact via emails and videos since 2014, so it wasnt that much of a shock when we saw each other on Zoom for the first time. Usually, when you see a friend you havent seen for awhile, you think How did they get so old? not realizing theyre thinking the same thing about you. Not this time. I looked at our faces on my desktop monitor and thought Wowwere all here. Were actually all here.

It is an astounding moment when you realize that youve outlasted something you helped to create.

Both Charley and Suze are published authors of memoirs, an honor that still escapes me. Suze is also a solo performance artist and storyteller. The three of us are still writing, still active in politics and still staying true to the course we set for ourselves 52 years ago.

We lived and wrote through the days of Nixon and Humphrey, the death of Jimi Hendrix, Kent State, Woodstock, Altamont. We listened to Let It Be and Let It Bleed. We knew the country was headed in a bold, new direction. We just werent sure what that direction was. We were worried, but we dealt with it through the arts and with a determined sense of humor.

And now, we find ourselves in another particularly dangerous period of history, one that is costing us the lives of friends and family.

At the time we spoke, things were still up in the air, leadership wise. We told ourselves that no matter what, we would find a way through it. And we will.

Because what this short face to face taught me is that some things dont disappear with time. Things like goals and aspirations, concerns for other humans and getting to the heart of the matter. That we dont necessarily abandon the dreams of our youth as we get older, but embroider upon them, like a favored old pair of torn jeans.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, says St. Paul, But, when I became a man, I put childish things away. Weve seen the result of childish behavior and how hanging on to outmoded notions of what is fair and right can cause quite a disturbance in the flow.

Our conversation occurred towards the end of 2020. I reached out to Suze and Charley to find out if they had thoughts about the events that followed in 2021.

Charley wrote back It will be a year full of surprises and full of reasons to fret and fear. But I still believe in the fundamental decency of this country and its people, and all peoples, because in our hearts we all want the same thing. Sometimes things have to fall apart a bit to make a better world.

As Ive often said, the universe shifts, things fall off the table. Some are precious things you no longer can keep. Other things, you could do without. But, this is now the table you have at your disposal. You have to deal with the cards youve been dealt.

Since the events in January 2021, things have seemed to calmed down a bit. Order has been restored, at least temporarily. We dont wake up every morning, grab our iPhones and scream What NOW?!

But, Suze and Charley and I know better than to let our guard down.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

We know that. You know it, too.

Hold those grey heads high!

Suzes book Loving Richie, a memoir of her brother in the time of AIDS, and Charlies book Listening To Ecstasy: The Transformative Power Of MDMA are available wherever you get your books.

Comments for this and all columns may be submitted to Talk To The Old Guy on Facebook. Love to Charley & Suze!
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Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Overcast with showers at times. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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A man in his 30s died and a second victim was injured early Saturday morning when a fight in the middle of a Denver Harbor street ended with shots fired, Houston police said.

Investigators said four men were brawling at about 12:30 a.m. near Lyons Avenue and I-10 when one victim was struck by a vehicle. The fight escalated into a shooting, with the deceased victim hit in the abdomen and the surviving victim shot in the arm and foot, Houston Police Commander Elizabeth Lorenzana said.
In response to public criticisms, leaders of Hoai Nhon Town in the south-central province of Binh Dinh on Thursday said that they will replant trees on an area of land that had been emptied to make room for erecting a landmark sign to advertise the name of the town.

Construction of on the sign that reads Thi Xa Hoai Nhon (Hoai Nhon Town) began last month on a mountain peak, which is located about 500 meters from the towns center.

On completion, the sign now stands facing towards the Lai Giang River, on a bare land plot amidst other green parts of the mountain.

This scene sparked criticisms among Binh Dinh people.

According to local residents, more than 1,000 square meters of productive forest owned by the locals on the mountain had been cut down for the projects implementation.

The local authorities compensated the owners of the deforested area and are planning on the compensation and relocation of a household living at the foot of the mountain to a safe place to avoid landslides in the rainy season.

The sign advertising the name of Hoai Nhon Town is seen on a bare land lot standing out amidst other green parts of a local mountain in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre

Regarding the public outrage, during an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday, a leader of Hoai Nhon Town affirmed that the local authorities had obtained the approval of the provincial Peoples Committee before carrying out the project.

The project was meant to serve the public and give a facelift to Hoai Nhon Town, the leader said, reasserting the information that the People's Committee of Hoai Nhon Town had negotiated and compensated the former owners of the affected productive forest area properly.

The sign advertising the name of Quy Nhon City is seen on a local mountain in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre

The leader also refuted comments criticizing that the project went against the governments principle of encouraging afforestation.

Following the projects completion, the local authorities have plans to afforest the affected area as soon as possible, just like other similar projects in the province, said the official.

The similar projects the official referred to include the landmark signs that read Quy Nhon City in the capital city of Binh Dinh Province and Ghenh Rang  Tien Sa, which advertises the name of an area with numerous popular tourist spots in the same city.

The sign advertising the name of Ghenh Rang - Tien Sa is seen afar on a local mountain in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre

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A Connecticut COVID vaccination plan that partly inspired the presidents national timeline for all American adults to be eligible for the shot could be sped up even more, Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday.

While Lamont did not provide specifics, the governor said he hopes to accelerate the eligibility for each of the age groups.

Give us a few days to get back to you, but I think were going to try and accelerate along the way, Lamont said, speaking at a press conference in Danbury during a visit to a vaccination clinic for child care providers.

On Thursday, President Joseph Biden announced he would direct states, tribes and U.S. territories to open vaccinations up to all adults by May 1 closely aligned to Connecticuts plan to have all of those 16 and older eligible on May 3.

Partly Connecticut has really inspired this accelerated schedule, said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who joined Lamont at the Danbury event.

We started with a goal of a million a day, 100 million in the first 100 days  the United States is gonna beat that, Blumenthal said. What Connecticut has shown is if you have the vaccine, people will come. Provide the vaccine, people will use it.

The senator downplayed concerns about vaccine hesitancy, saying Bidens $1.9 trillion stimulus plan signed into law on Thursday will turbocharge production of the vaccines.

Vaccines are going to be available to everyone who wants it by May. Period. End of story. Everyone who wants to be vaccinated, will have it by May, he said.

Bidens message Thursday night was a little more sanguine. The president said adults will be able to get in line for the shot by May, but admitted not everyone will be able to get vaccinated right away.

Connecticut has led in the delivery. Connecticut has said, give us more vaccine and well deliver it, and that has inspired the kind of major commitment to manufacturing that youre seeing in the American Rescue Plan, Blumenthal said, referring to the official name of the stimulus.

Its unclear exactly how much sooner Connecticut could make the vaccine available to each of the age cohorts used to determine eligibility.

Look, how far you open up the lense is not a function of how much we love you, its a question of how many vaccines we have to distribute, said Lamont, who on Friday received his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The governor said the state is getting more vaccines, but the other factor is what percent of each age group is interested.

Connecticut is offering the vaccine to anyone over the age of 55, along with school and child care workers in addition to health care workers, first responders and others who became eligible in earlier rounds.

Under the timeline Lamont released last month, those 45 and older will become eligible on March 22. Those 35 and older become eligible on April 12 followed by everyone 16 and older on May 3.

The eligibility age drops to 35 on April 12, before opening up to anyone over the age of 16 on May 3.

More than 1.25 million vaccine doses have been administered in the state, according to data obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media on Friday. Of those, at least 840,000 were first doses, including about 27,000 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Nearly 80 percent of those between the ages of 75 and 84 have received at least one dose. About 61 percent have been fully vaccinated, the data shows.

Those between the ages of 55 and 64 showed the highest uptake of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. That age bracket became eligible on March 1, a few days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the third vaccine for emergency use. The vaccine can also be stored at much warmer temperatures unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, making it ideal for smaller providers who do not have access to cold storage equipment.

Josh Geballe, the states chief operating officer, also noted the vaccines appeal because it only requires one shot for a recipient to be fully vaccinated.

After slight surges earlier in the week, COVID numbers have appeared to stabilize in recent days. On Friday, Connecticut reported 1,185 new COVID cases with a daily positivity rate of 2.47 percent out of 47,985 tests. There were two fewer patients hospitalized with COVID, dropping the statewide total to 381  the lowest its been since Nov. 2. There were four more deaths associated with the disease, increasing the official Connecticut death toll to 7,765.

However, data from two labs conducting genomic testing of the virus has indicated that up to 40 percent of Connecticuts cases could involve the variant first detected in the U.K., known as B.1.1.7., the Connecticut Mirror reported. Cases of a variant known as B.1.351 have also been confirmed in the state.

That variant is believed to spread more easily, and scientists in the U.K. believe the strain could also be more deadly.

Connecticut reported its first confirmed death from the B.1.1.7 variant earlier this week.

Lamont downplayed concerns about the variant on Thursday, saying he has no plans to postpone lifting COVID restrictions next week. The governor has said the state will change course and reimpose restrictions if cases spike again.

Right now, the good news is the vaccine seems to be pretty successful against both of the variants, Lamont said.

Lamont noted the vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which rely on mRNA, can be adapted quickly if a booster shot is needed to protect against a variant.

Lamont also argued that while the variants might comprise a larger percentage of the states total infections, its not reflected in higher infection rates and that is very important.
In mid-March last year, staff members at an assisted-living community in Ridgefield realized that Fred Marchionnas week-long cold symptoms had gotten much worse.

The cough and a runny nose that the 88-year-old retired businessman had suffered all week and downplayed to his family, had now descended into his chest. His breathing grew more labored, a sign of pneumonia.

It was clear on Friday March 13th that Marchionna needed medical help.

That was the day when much of normal life throughout the United States ceased. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, and amid pressure over the shortage of testing capacity for the new coronavirus, he declared, I dont take responsibility at all.

In Connecticut, 2,000 people applied for jobless benefits that day, signaling an abrupt recession. The Department of Public Health reported that among the dozen Connecticut residents with COVID-19, most were middle-aged or younger.

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

Marchionnas eldest son, Michael, had last visited on Wednesday, the day before Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossings closed to outsiders. He just seemed to be getting worse, Michael recalled this month.

That Friday night, Fred struggled to catch his breath. An ambulance crew arrived and rushed him the 7.7 miles to Danbury Hospital.

Peter Yankowski / Hearst Connecticut Media

Emergency room staff including Dr. Paul Nee gave Marchionna a coronavirus test. An infectious disease expert, Nee was on the lookout for the next COVID-19 patient, a week after Connecticuts first confirmed case appeared in that same hospital.

Lynn Ecsedy, Michaels sister, met her father in the hospital Emergency Department that Friday night.

By Sunday, the test report came back showing Marchionna was positive for COVID-19. His breathing was becoming more difficult. The virus was going about its deadly business.

The hospital staff gave Fred oxygen therapy. When that didnt help he was put on comfort care, because his living will prohibited intubation  a ventilator tube down his windpipe to keep him breathing on a machine.

Marchionna has not been identified until now and his family has not previously spoken about his case.

The cascade of dire symptoms continued. When Lynn came back to see him on Monday the 16th, he was able to speak, but just barely.

The governor

Connecticuts first case was reported on March 6, a New York resident who worked in Danbury and Norwalk hospitals. Now, top government and medical officials were preparing for the worst.

We just knew that New Rochelle, then New York City was the hot spot and it was coming our way, Gov. Ned Lamont recalled recently. We had talked to Phil Murphy, he said of the New Jersey governor, and it was coming his way.

Working the phones to the White House, which Lamont described as pretty dysfunctional, led to little help. They kept talking about it in terms of states. We said its a not a state, its a region. This is a contagion that knows no borders.

Information on the virus was still scant.

What you dont know can kill you and we didnt know a lot, Lamont said in his State Capitol office. And there werent many people you could go to. Lets face it. There was no PPE stockpile. Washington D.C. was, on a good day, AWOL, and generally negative...or youre getting absolutely wrong-headed signals that were dangerous.

Lamont started working with the northeast-region governors, whose chiefs of staff, including Paul Mounds in his office, set up close contacts. Lamont was terrified that hospitals would get overwhelmed. He wondered, Are we going to have gurneys sitting in the hallways?

Just days earlier, experts such as Dr. Albert Ko at the Yale School of Public Health and Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases were saying the general public didnt need to worry about wearing masks. That changed quickly, worsening the shortage at hospitals.

If I couldnt get the masks, you couldnt get the nurses in and if you cant get the nurses in, whos going to take care of people? Lamont said.

He and other governors in the region launched daily news conferences that included medical experts as guests.

Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

You cant pretend you know the answers, Lamont said, looking back on those briefings. But you have to tell people why youre thinking about it, and if you change, why you changed. I think people gave all the governors a little bit of the benefit of the doubt, because we were thinking out loud together.

The doctors

Dr. Michael F. Parry, chairman of infectious diseases at Stamford Hospital, saw it coming from Asia in early January. By February, he called for town-hall style meetings with staff to discuss the new pneumonia working its way across the Pacific Ocean to Washington State.

We talked about the kind of ER management to observe in case we ran into someone from overseas and if you happened to see a patient from China and hes febrile and short of breath, Parry recalled of the telltale fever and signs that COVID was working into patients lungs.

By the first week of March, the hospital was stocking up on supplies and establishing a coronavirus protocol.

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

Parry, who turns 76 this month, came back from semi-retirement for the pandemic. Stamford Hospital saw its first case around the time Fred Marchionna was diagnosed in Danbury Hospital.

The shortage in COVID tests limited their availability to patients with symptoms. Results could take a week.

Our percentage of positive tests was about 50 percent. The need for PPE was intense, Parry recalled. Nursing home populations were heavily infected.

At Danbury Hopsital, Dr. Nee and his colleagues established procedures for treating people with COVID-19. Daily conference calls tracked N95 masks, gowns and gloves. The staff started planning what could happen if a major outbreak occurred. Testing simply wasnt available.

We werent sure whether we were preparing on the hospital level, Nee said, And on the 6th, it hit us like an unexpected left hook.

All of that was on Nees mind one week later when he spoke with Ecsedy after Fred Marchionna arrived from Ridgefield Crossings.

The patient

Most weeknights in the year following the death of his wife, Beverly, Fred Marchionna would get a visit from Michael, an aerospace-software engineer who worked nearby. They would watch some of the early news on TV, chat about the day for 15 or 20 minutes, then walk to the elevator for dinner downstairs.

Michael would exchange pleasantries with his fathers table mates, then head home for his own dinner in Southbury with his wife, Laura.

A longtime employee and executive at PerkinElmer, Fred Marchionna was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Washington, D.C. He met Beverly Wheeler when they were students at the University of Maryland, in the early 1950s  when she was dating someone else.

After serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Marchionna joined RCA, working on that companys radar division in southern New Jersey. In 1965 the family moved to Connecticut, where Fred took a job at PerkinElmer, one of the regions major employers.

He loved model trains, science fiction and gadgetry, rising in the company to business administrator, focusing on large-scale planning, including the construction of the companys Danbury headquarters, and working on its best-known project: the Hubble Space Telescope.

Fred and Beverly lived in Bethel, Newtown, Cornwall and New Milford, where Fred ran the annual holiday train show. They raised four children: Michael, now 65; and Lynn, Susan and James. In 1973, Fred was endorsed to fill a vacancy on the Newtown Board of Finance. After retiring from PerkinElmer in 1988, he soon became the office manager for a Waterbury law firm.

In their New Milford ranch house, chock-full of dozens of antique clocks the couple collected, Fred had a perfect set-up: a full basement for his wood shop and elaborate, L-shaped model-train layout. An accomplished woodworker, Fred presented each of his four children with handmade Shaker-style, slant-top secretary desks as marriage gifts. The first grandkids got custom, hand-hewn oak rocking horses, for family heirlooms.

But by 2016 or so, Beverly was developing some age-related health issues and Fred became worried about their future.

Michael took some of the tools and trains when Fred and Beverly moved into a one-bedroom unit at Ridgefield Crossings on busy Route 7. His parents didnt have to worry about cooking or keeping up a property, and could enjoy each others company in what would become the last year of Beverlys life.

On Monday, March 9, 2020 just four days after the first anniversary of his mothers death at age 86, Michael noticed that his father had cold symptoms.

I generally didnt see him over the weekend, but he was coughing and his nose was running more than normal, Michael said. By Wednesday it was escalating. Lynn, 64, visited her father that night, watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, then a nature show.

He kept coughing, but said its just a cold, Lynn recalled Friday.

She told him she was worried. He didnt want to see the staff nurse. That generation didnt really want to talk about things like that, she said.

On Thursday, Fred called Michael to tell him not to come by after work. Management had put the facility in lockdown as part of Lamonts early round of executive orders, limiting visitors in long-term care facilities.

Scott Mullin / For Hearst Connecticut Media

Michael worried about the outbreak. He was scared that healthcare workers from Norwalk and Stamford could bring the virus to Ridgefield Crossings vulnerable elderly population of 138 residents in the three areas of the complex: assisted living, memory care, and rehabilitation.

The chief of staff

Paul Mounds had just been promoted to Lamonts chief of staff at the end of February. A former aide to U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1, then a legislative liaison in the State Capitol under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Mounds remembers a blur of meetings that week, as Marchionnas illness emerged.

Ken Dixon/Hearst CT Media

On Saturday the 7th, while his wife and parents took him out to Ruths Chris steakhouse to celebrate his 35th birthday, Mounds kept looking down at his cellphone to track events the day after Lamont joined Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton to announce the states first COVID case.

By 9:30 Sunday morning, Mounds and Josh Geballe  who as Lamonts chief operating officer would emerge as the governors point man in the COVID crisis  were meeting with state health officials, Lamont adviser Jonathan Harris, and Bob Clark, Lamonts chief legal counsel, to discuss strategy. They mapped out drafts of emergency declarations.

On Monday March 9, as Fred Marchionna was showing the first signs of his infection, Lamont got on a call with a dozen other governors and the White House.

That week was a real trial by fire, Mounds recalled, with Lamont engaged in back-to-back meetings with staff, leading lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and corporate CEOs.

It was frantic, Mounds remembered. There was no playbook for this. Its so easy to overthink. Its so easy to underthink. Its hard to calmly think. I couldnt catch my breath. There were life-and-death situations and we didnt know how rampant COVID was in our state. The good thing was, we had leadership in our commissioners and we were rowing in the same direction. But there were so many unknowns.

The death

Lynn stayed overnight with her father that Friday night at Danbury Hospital. Family visits were not yet barred but were supposed to last for just an hour. He was really very quiet and pretty much slept the whole night, she said.

She recalled being masked up and likely exposed to the virus. An antibody test later indicated that she was never infected. Her father was finally admitted around 4 a.m. and she stayed another few hours, getting home to Brookfield at around 9.

Michael visited on that Sunday, the day the test came back, and Lynn was there the following day. Their father was able to talk but was sleepy. He was very, very tired, but he knew I was there, Lynn said. I told him I loved him.

The nursing staff gave Lynn his blood oxygen-level readings, announcing when he reached the level at which a patients condition was dire enough to normally go on a ventilator.

The hospital was very nice to let us visit, Lynn said. I dont know if there was anything they could have done for him.

But in the pandemic, they could not remain with their father.

Marchionna was taken to the seventh floor, to a comfort-care area near the intensive care unit, a signal to the family that their father was dying. The hospital staff arranged for a brief video visit for Fred with Lynn and Michaels younger sister, Susan, in North Carolina.

James, their younger brother, was supposed to drive down from Vermont on the 17th, but Lynn doesnt know if he did. They havent talked about it.

Frederick H. Marchionna died at 10:24 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020  Connecticuts first COVID fatality. The state would not learn of his death until well into the following afternoon.

Dr. Nee phoned Lynn to say her father had died. His death certificate lists acute respiratory distress, pneumonia and COVID-19 as the causes of death.

Soon after, all visitors were prohibited at Connecticut hospitals. Im sure its been very difficult for the hospital staff, Lynn said. The staff has been filling in for families. She doesnt know if anyone was with Fred when he died.

The announcement

On the day after his father died, Michael Marchionna began showing his first symptoms of COVID: massive aches across entire muscle groups, as if his entire body were cramping up. Symptoms lasted for about five days, with a couple days of slight fevers. He rated the pain level at eight out of 10.

That afternoon, Lamont stood on the north steps of the historic State Capitol, and solemnly announced the states first COVID fatality. I regret to inform you that weve had our first Connecticut fatality.... And the first death is not unexpected, but its a shock. Its a shock because it makes this so real for all of our families. Our hearts go out to that man and his family.

Lamont called for a moment of silence. Our hearts go out to all the families across the state of Connecticut and our great state.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal issued a statement acknowledging the death of Marchionna, though not by name, offering his thoughts to the family.

This tragic death demonstrates the critical need for more robust federal action to fight this insidious deadly epidemic, he wrote. Swift, strong federal action  a true medical surge  must include more tests, ventilators, personal protective equipment, and other vital supplies.

For Nee, it was the start of a cascade of infections.

He was from a facility that was hit hard, the physician said of Fred Marchionna. The state Department of Public Health reports that 29 residents at Ridgefield Crossings died from COVID-related causes by the end of 2020.

As we reflect on the past year, we first honor the fond memory of this resident, as we do for his fellow, beloved members of our community who have passed during the global pandemic, said William Crawford, executive director of Ridgefield Crossings, in a statement on Friday. We will never forget those we lost due to the pandemic and look toward the future with immense hope that the worst of the global spread of COVID-19 is far behind us.

Theres been a lot of tragedy, Dr. Nee said. But there are a lot of people we saved who got very sick. We prevented moms and dads from dying. We all do our best every day at the hospital. Everyone has become so much closer, the nurses, the technicians.

As of Friday 7,765 Connecticut residents had died with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, well more than half of them 80 or older. A memorial service is being planned for Fred Marchionna on April 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Southbury.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT

U.N. looks to U.S. private equity investor to help fund famine fight in Yemen

World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley reacts as he speaks to the press during his stopover in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (Photo : REUTERS/Anne Mimault)

The United Nations World Food Programme is hoping to get a share of hundreds of millions of dollars from a private foundation set up to help Yemen by U.S. private equity investor Tim Collins, U.N. food chief David Beasley said on Friday.



More than six years of war in Yemen - widely seen as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran - have sent the impoverished country spiraling into what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.



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In a document shared with aid groups and seen by Reuters, the 2021 Famine Prevention Foundation aims to "avert a widespread famine by getting immediate assistance to the maximum number of people" experiencing famine or on the brink of famine.



Beasley said that he has spoken with Collins several times about the foundation, which has yet to be publicly announced.



"Tim's working hard on a private foundation of funds," Beasley told reporters. "He expressed his concerns about the governments around the world being stretched because of the crisis that we're now facing because of COVID."



Collins, founder of U.S. private equity firm Ripplewood Holdings LLC, declined to comment.



Most funding for U.N. aid appeals comes from governments, so the creation of the Famine Prevention Foundation is novel.



Contributors to the fund are thought to include entities in Gulf countries, an aid source told Reuters. Aid agency Action Contre la Faim told The New Humanitarian media outlet, which first reported on the new fund this month, that the money was thought to have come from private Gulf entities.



"The aim of the fund is to demonstrate that the U.N. can promptly scale up responses when given the means to do so ... it is a way to reassure donors, in particular Gulf donors," the aid source said.



The foundation is being run by John Ging, former director of U.N. aid operations, and Neal Keny-Guyer, the former chief executive of Mercy Corps aid organization, said two sources familiar with the situation.



Earlier this month countries only pledged $1.7 billion for humanitarian aid in Yemen - less than half the $3.85 billion the United Nations was seeking for 2021 to avert a large-scale famine.



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Beasley estimated the foundation would have sums in the hundreds of millions of dollars.



Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Yemen director Mohammed Abdi said the group had applied for money from the foundation.



"These funds, if received, will be a much-needed addition to our work," he said. "Far more money is still needed, along with concerted international action to bring about an immediate ceasefire in Yemen and stop pushing millions more into starvation and misery."



While it's not clear where the money for the foundation has come from, both Beasley and Abdi said accountability and due diligence had been carried out.



Abdi said it had received assurances from the foundation that if the Norwegian Refugee Council receives a grant it will be "free to provide assistance based only on the needs of the most vulnerable."



Some 80% of Yemenis need help, with 400,000 children under the age of 5 severely malnourished and more than half the population of the Arabian Peninsula country - 16 million people - are going hungry, according to U.N. data.



A Saudi Arabia-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 after the Iran-aligned Houthi group ousted the country's government from Sanaa. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system. The people's suffering has been worsened by an economic and currency collapse, and by the COVID-19 pandemic.


COLUMBIA  Two men have been charged in a shootout at a Columbia motorcycle dealership that left a man dead and four others injured, authorities say.

The incident at Capital City Cycles on Two Notch Road near Interstate 77 on March 11 stemmed from an undisclosed argument that "led to a shootout," Richland County Sheriff's Department said. No details of the disagreement were released.

Charles Lilly, 55 of Beech Island in Aiken County near the Georgia border, died in the shooting, the Richland County Coroner's Office said.

James Hill, 58, has been charged with murder in Lilly's death and assault by mob in the first degree, the sheriff's department said. He is from Powersville, Ga., outside Macon, according to court records.

Kristopher Wheat, 36, also was arrested after being released from the hospital and charged with assault by mob, a felony charge that carries a minimum sentence of 30 years if convicted. Wheat also faces obstruction and unlawful weapon possession charges. Wheat lives about two miles from the cycle shop, according to his address listed in court records.

Hill and Wheat were booked at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Jail records showed both men still detained as of late afternoon.

Neither Hill nor Wheat have previously faced charges in South Carolina, according to a criminal history report from the S.C. Law Enforcement Division.

Two other men, who have not been identified, remain hospitalized in unknown condition, the sheriff's department said.

The shooting is still being investigated and more charges could follow, the agency said.

An employee who answered the phone at Capital City Cycles on March 12 said owner Byron Dinkins declined to comment on the shooting.
India has done its best to help the world during the COVID-19 crisis under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday.

After offering prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala here, Piyush Goyal told reporters that during the pandemic period, the country with its over 130 crore population has shown the world its resilient strength by quickly recovering after a fight with the dreaded virus.

India was not dependent on anybody during the pandemic period, rather it extended support to the world in the battle against the virus, Goyal claimed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the true spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (regarding the world as one family) has initially supported with supply of medicines to over 150 countries besides COVID-19 vaccine supply to over 75 nations from India, Goyal noted.

"This is the true spirit and strength of the people of India that we ever care for the world while protecting our self," Goyal said adding that the presiding deity of Tirupati Lord Balaji blessed and encouraged us to serve the world during the COVID-19 period. Noting that COVID-19 pandemic has not yet ended, he urged people to be careful and protect themselves by strictly observing the protocols including maintaining social distance and wearing masks at all times.

We have to wait till everybody is vaccinated and till a cure is found, he said. After the COVID-19-induced lockdown was eased, India's economy is back on its feet and the Indian railway has done more freight loadings this year compared to last, besides reinstalling and restarting almost 80 percent of trains including mails and expresses in the country, he said.

In Tirupati, expansion work at the railway station was nearing completion and that would help it receive more trains from different parts of the country, he added.

Also read: COVID-19 pandemic: Pune, Nashik, Nagpur see lockdown, curbs as Covid cases surge

Also read: 'Time to say goodbye': Sachin Vaze shares cryptic message; files anticipatory bail plea in Hiren murder case
Hero Chris ODonovan pictured on Wednesday next to the pond where he was involved in the rescue of three-year-old Crystal ODriscoll on Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Bill Browne

A Fermoy man has been hailed as a hero after he saved the life of a young child who had become trapped in a deep pond near her home.

Chris O'Donovan, who lives near the pond, was out for a walk with his dog on Tuesday March 9 when the dramatic rescue took place.

Crystal O'Driscoll, a three-year-old girl who lives with her family nearby, had become trapped when she followed a ball that she was playing with strayed into a deep section of the pond.

While she had gone out of her depth, she was able to perch herself on a rock to keep her head barely above water. Chris was almost at the exit to the area when he saw Crystal's brother running around frantically. He went to investigate and saw Crystal trapped.

Speaking to The Corkman, Chris detailed how the rescue unfolded.

"I live local to the area. I'm only around 500 yards from it. I was taking my dog for a walk, and I was approaching the exit near the ponds when I noticed a young boy that was hopping around the place on the other side of the pond.

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"It's a big pond too, they are not little duck ponds, they are fairly big. I could see this young boy hopping around and so I went to take a look, and as I got closer, I could see this small blonde head of a young girl inside in the middle of the pond," Chris said.

"She was motionless. There was no hysterical crying or anything. I shouted out to her and I asked her if she could stand up but she shook her head so seeing that, I just jumped into the water without a second's thought, I went straight in.

"I got out to her as quickly as possible, and the water was up to my waist when I got to her. I have to say, she was very clever, she had managed to sit herself on a rock underneath the water to keep her head above the surface. Now, she couldn't go back or forward or sideways, so she knew that she was in trouble," Chris continued.

Upon reaching the girl, Chris said that he asked her to put her hands up in the air, and he then picked her up. Chris said that "she locked onto" him and wouldn't let go until they were back on dry land.

"She wrapped her legs around my chest and she held my hands so tight. She was just locked onto me. I had a fleece, and I wrapped it around her because she was just absolutely ice cold, the poor thing."

Chris quickly got Crystal home to her parents, where her father had been out looking for her and her brother, and they quickly got her to the doctors. Chris said that he checked in on them on Wednesday and that Crystal was doing well.

"We could have been waking up to different headlines in Fermoy today but, thankfully, it's a positive story in the end," Chris added.

Meanwhile, speaking on C103's Cork Today Show, Crystal's mum, Emma, said her children were playing ball together and the ball must have wandered.

"We're more than grateful that Chris was there and acted so quickly because the outcome could've been an awful lot worse.

"We'll never be able to thank him enough for it," she added.
It grew out of a labor march in New York City that gave rise to International Women's Day on March 8.

In February 1908, 15,000 women marched in NYC demanding better pay and the right to vote. The Socialist Party of America declared the first National Woman's Day a year later to remember the event. At an international women's rights conference on March 8, 1910, a German activist named Clara Zetkin suggested the creation of an International Women's Day. This eventually became a month-long event.
As promised by utility executives, monthly electric bills have gone up and theyll go up again next month.

Entergy base bills increased $9.61, or 10.5%, to $100.52 for a residence using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity when March 2021 is compared to March 2020 for customers between Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. And bills were $105.44  up $13.64, or 14.8%  in suburban New Orleans and the rest of the 1 million Entergy customers around the state, according to a report released by state regulators.

Entergy services about half the states 2.1 million electricity customers. Much of the increase came from customers repaying Entergy for the cost two new plants: one in Lake Charles and the other in Washington Parish.

Other utility companies also sent out higher bills in March, says the Louisiana Public Service Commission report that tracks monthly bills. Cleco, which services parts of Acadiana and the North Shore, but mostly central Louisiana, charged $99.63 or $12.68, or about 14.5% more than last year for the same amount of electricity.

Utility communications during outages under fire by Louisiana regulators: 'Something has to give' Louisiana regulators gave the states utility companies passing grades for doing their bit to restore power after last weeks historic ice sto

Statewide, the average March bill was $99.34, which covers usage during one of the coldest Februarys ever in Louisiana. The statewide average was $5.77, or 6%, more expensive than the same month last year.

The way utility bills work, generally, is that the PSC sets a rate that covers the costs of making, transmitting, and delivering power plus a profit. That sum is divided by the number of customers to set a rate. The rate then is multiplied by the amount of power a particular customer consumed in a given month.

And the cold of February led to higher-than-normal usage as residents tried to keep warm and keep their water pipers from freezing.

Usage was up considerably around the state, said PSC Secretary Brandon Frey, who is in charge of the staffers for the five elected utility regulators.

Entergy Louisiana reported that on average customers used 3% more power in February when compared with February 2020. That means the usual March bills added another $3 to the $100.52 for the utilitys Baton Rouge and Acadiana customers to cover the average increased usage. But those who used more power than the average 3% are going to see even higher bills.

The cost of restoring power that was knocked out all over the state, which customers also will have to pay, wont be determined for another year.

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About 1 in 4 Louisianans lack access to drinking water in wake of winter storm Roughly a quarter of Louisianas population was still without access to clean drinking water as of Monday, a week after a winter storm tore th

Were not seeing the full impact yet, said Logan Atkinson Burke, head of Alliance for Affordable Energy, a consumer group based in New Orleans. Thatll come in April.

Utilities in Louisiana are heavily invested in natural gas to run the turbines that generates electricity. In addition to equipment and pipeline problems caused by the cold, the plants were running full tilt to make enough electricity to meet customer demand during those cold days. The price for most of the natural gas used by a generating plant was negotiated months in advance. But when utilities needed more, they often had to buy it on the daily market, where during the winter storm prices were sky high.

Under the rules, utility companies are allowed to pass along their fuel costs to customers. It takes two months for fuel costs to show up bills.

When the PSC meets Wednesday, theyre set to vote on a plan that instead of putting all the fuel costs on the April bill, as is the usual custom, payments will be spread out over several months, said PSC Secretary Frey, adding, Itll definitely soften the impact.

Though the PSC can just issue an order, things go smoother if the utility companies agree and Entergy seems to. Entergy Louisiana expects to recover the increased fuel and power costs over multiple billing cycles to mitigate the impacts to customer bills, the company said in a statement.

But PSC Chairman Greene added that while the fuel costs will be spread out, regulators also are to be looking at what the companies did during the winter storm, how they prepared their equipment, and the steps that were taken to try mitigate the high fuel prices. It is important to me that the utilities are accountable for their fuel decisions, even in crisis, rather than simply stick the bill to their customers without question, Greene said.

Cost per 1,000 kWh residential in March 2020 in March 2021

Entergy Louisiana (around Baton Rouge) $90.91 $100.52

Entergy Louisiana (around New Orleans) $91.80 $105.44

Cleco $86.95 $ 99.63

DEMCO $96.83 $ 99.20

Source: Louisiana Public Service Commission

Migrants crossing from Mexico into the United States are using a bar on the border in Texas to wash and change before heading inland, the bar owner has said, as Democrats in the state begin to criticize Joe Biden for failing to anticipate the situation.

The U.S.-Mexico border is seeing a surge in arrivals, with migrants turning up in numbers not seen since May 2019.

Roberta Jacobsen, a former ambassador to Mexico who is serving as a special adviser to Biden, admitted on Wednesday that it was no coincidence that the surge came as Biden took power, promising a 'more humane' policy.

Border Patrol agents found 96,974 migrants last month, up from 75,312 in January. Another 3,467 were taken into custody at ports of entry.

Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande await transport into the U.S. on Friday in Penitas, Texas

Doris, 6, an asylum-seeking unaccompanied minor from Honduras, awaits transport on Friday

Migrants from Central America are in Mexico after being deported from the U.S. on Thursday

Almost half - 43 per cent - were from Mexico, with 20 per cent from Honduras, 19 per cent from Guatemala, 6 per cent from El Salvador, and 12 per cent from other countries.

Two thirds, 68,732, of those encountered were single adults - the most single adults for any month since October 2011, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), which advocates for human rights and social justice along the border.

Nearly all single adults were expelled, WOLA said, but the 9,297 unaccompanied children who arrived in February were taken to shelters, which are rapidly-becoming overwhelmed.

The majority of the children were from Guatemala, followed by Honduras and Mexico.

So far in March, U.S. agents are detaining more than 4,200 people per day, which if sustained would rival the 132,856 apprehensions recorded in May 2019 - which was the most in 13 years.

Roberta Jacobsen, a special advisor on migration, addressed the issue on Wednesday

Lupe Cabrera, whose family has run Cabrera's Bar in the small Rio Grande city of Granjeno for 60 years, said that he frequently found migrants in the bathrooms of the bar.

'When I go in the mornings, sometimes I go to do some work, there's people in the bathroom; they hide in the bathrooms,' Cabrera told National Review.

'Me and my brother own a trucking company, too. They'll hide in the trucks.'

Cabrera said he's seen a significant uptick in migrants over the last several weeks.

Many people have used the bar as a meeting spot, where new arrivals can be picked up and driven away.

'They use it as a "Where are you? I'm at the bar here,"' Cabrera said.

'When I was younger, you'd always see people crossing over, but it was always men. They were coming to work.'

Now, instead of Mexican workers, he is seeing more Central American families.

He said he offered some migrants a shower, and recently offered a teenage boy with a baby a place to sleep on the bar's stage.

He has even had young women give birth at the bar, including one who recently had a baby 'right by the trash bin'.

Lupe Cabrera's family have run the bar for over 60 years

Lupe Cabrera is pictured at his bar in the Texas city of Granjeno, right on the Rio Grande

Cabrera's bar has often served as a meeting point for migrants looking to move on into the U.S.

Cabrera said that during Donald Trump's presidency, the number of illegal border crossings in the area dropped significantly.

'Most of the people I see are harmless,' Cabrera said of the migrants.

'But you never know what the hell's going on, who's crossing, or what.'

Border agents say the number of migrants observed on surveillance cameras who successfully evade capture, known as 'got-aways,' has soared.

Officials told The Washington Post that they counted 1,000 'got-aways' on a single day in February, and the National Border Patrol Council estimate 39,000 have slipped through the net so far this year.

A new report by The Cato Institute, published on Wednesday, found that the number of 'got-aways' rose throughout Donald Trump's presidency, despite his pledge to increase border surveillance.

In fiscal year 2016, Border Patrol agents witnessed about 100,000 successful entries.

By 2018, the number had risen to nearly 128,000, and by 2020 hit almost 156,000.

Migrants are pictured waiting for a lift on Friday morning along the Rio Grande

Democrats representing border regions are beginning to ask why the Biden administration was not better prepared.

Vicente Gonzalez, a congressman representing Texas whose district includes the McAllen-Reynosa border, warned that the situation was going to get worse.

'My concern in the recent weeks, in my district, is migrants who made it across the border,' he told CNN.

'They made it across the Rio Grande Valley, were processed and released.

'I can assure you, it won't be long before we have tens of thousands of people showing up to our border, and it'll be catastrophic for our country, for my region, for my district.

'In the middle of a pandemic, in an area where we've lost over 3,000 people in my small congressional district, I think we need to have a better plan in place.'

Representative Vicente Gonzalez warned that there would soon be tens of thousands of arrivals

Representative Henry Cuellar said the problem began under Trump, and has worsened

Henry Cuellar, another Texan in the House, and whose district covers a large swathe of the border from McAllen towards Piedras Negras, said in early March that the problem began under Trump, and has worsened with Biden.

He also accused the Biden administration of hiding the real number of unaccompanied children at the U.S.-Mexico border.

'Yeah, look, we can play with words, is it a challenge or is it a crisis,' Cuellar said on Fox News.

'Let's look at the numbers. Since August of last year the numbers have been increasing. And especially October, November and December we were hitting 70,000. In January we had 78,000.

'And this is, again, under the Trump administration, now moving into the Biden administration.'

'I don't care what we call it, but I can tell you this  those numbers of people being released, they're purposefully withholding that information. They've been told not to withhold that information.

'I now know that they're bringing people from McAllen over to Laredo, processing them in Laredo, and they're going to release them in my community.'

And state senator Juan 'Chuy' Hinojosa, another Democrat, who lives on the border, told The Hill that he does not think the Biden administration was prepared for the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border.

'It's gotten worse,' Hinojosa said.

'I don't think, quite frankly, the Biden administration was aware of what's happening on the ground here, which you can understand because they're just coming in and trying to get people up to speed with what's happening, but I don't think they were aware there were that many coming across.

'The Border Patrol is overwhelmed, they're throwing their hands up because they don't know what to do.'
A security official inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Herat province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan (Hamed Sarfarazi/AP)

A powerful car bomb killed at least eight people and injured 47 in Afghanistans western Herat province, officials said.

The death toll in the explosion late on Friday that also destroyed 14 houses is expected to rise because several of the injured were critical, said Rafiq Sherzai, a spokesman for the provincial hospital.

One of the dead and 11 of the injured were Afghan Security Forces personnel while the remainder were civilians, including women and children, said Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian.

No one has claimed responsibility.

Within hours of the attack, the UN Security Council at a press briefing in New York condemned an alarming increase in attacks in Afghanistan targeting civilians even as the Taliban and the Afghan government hold on-again-off-again talks in Qatar.

These heinous attacks have targeted civil servants, the judiciary, the media, health care and humanitarian workers, including women in prominent positions, those who protect and promote human rights, and ethnic and religious minorities, the council said.

Expand Close Locals inspect the site of a car bomb attack in Herat province, west of Kabul (Hamed Sarfarazi/AP) / Facebook

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The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for many of the targeted killings while the Taliban and the government have blamed each other for trying to sabotage efforts to reach a peace agreement.

The slow pace of talks and the increasing violence has prompted the United States to cobble together a peace proposal, which was delivered last weekend.

Both sides are expected to review and revise the eight-page plan ahead of a far-reaching meeting the US has proposed to be held in Turkey within weeks, when Washington hopes to see an agreement.

The US meanwhile is reviewing a peace deal the Trump administration signed with the Taliban, which calls for the final withdrawal of the remaining 2,500 US troops from Afghanistan by May 1.

The growing consensus is for a delay but in a sternly worded letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last weekend pressing for progress on making peace with the Taliban, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said all options, including the withdrawal, are still on the table.

The proposed peace deal offered by the US calls for an interim peace government to shepherd a post-war Afghanistan to elections and constitutional reforms. It also calls for the protection of equal rights for women and minorities.

The UN Security Council also called for full, equal and meaningful participation of women, and a quick move toward a reduction in violence.

Vaccine delivery is likely to remain slow, the agency said.

S&P Global Ratings says Ukraine may vaccinate less than 3% of population against COVID-19 in the first half (H1) of 2021.

"Ukraine is set to receive 2.3 million doses  of 8 million secured  via the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility in first-half 2021, enough to administer two doses per person to 2.7% of its population," the agency said in a report on March 12, 2021.

Read alsoCOVID-19: Health ministry pledges those wishing will be vaccinated by late 2021It is noted the Ukrainian authorities have secured 25 million doses so far through various sources, enough to immunize 30% of the population with two doses.

"However, vaccine delivery is likely to remain slow," the experts said.

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, as well as members of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas.

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.

According to the Health Ministry, elderly people are next to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine.

Reporting by UNIAN
Associated Press

The largest warship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances, the latest calamity to strike one of the countrys vessels in recent years amid tensions with the West. The blaze began around 2:25 a.m. and firefighters tried to contain it, the Fars news agency reported, but their efforts failed to save the 207-meter (679-foot) Kharg, which was used to resupply other ships in the fleet at sea and conduct training exercises. The vessel sank near the Iranian port of Jask, some 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) southeast of Tehran on the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz  the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- A new law in New York requires employers to offer up to four hours of time off so workers can get their Covid-19 vaccinations.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislation into law on Friday.

It requires all employers -- public and private -- to grant up to four hours of time off for each vaccination shot. The law is meant to keep workers from using any vacation time to get vaccinated.

The law goes into effect immediately. It is set to expire at the end of 2022.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share with a Syracuse-area reporter? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
The bishops are calling for the return of democracy and denounce junta violence, recalling that South Korea also suffered from military oppression. Card. Yeom offers a donation and a letter of support to Card. Bo. Protestant leaders ask the UN to implement an embargo. The Seoul government blocks export of military material and official economic aid.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - The Conference of Korean Catholic Bishops and the National Council of (Protestant) Churches in Korea (Ncck) have expressed solidarity with the people of Myanmar for how much they are suffering from the coup d'etat, a harbinger of violence and blood , and demand a return to democracy.

The Catholic bishops released a statement two days ago in which they underline their "deep concern" for what is happening in the Southeast Asian country. They recall that South Korea also went through military oppression and this impels the closeness of the Church to the people of Myanmar who continue to show public resistance.

Card. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, archbishop of Seoul also sent a letter of solidarity to Card. Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, together with a donation of 50 thousand US dollars.

In the letter, the Cardinal says: " I've deeply lamented over the news on the Myanmar military's suppression and violence against peaceful demonstrators," he said. "I express solidarity with the Myanmar people who long for democracy and hope that they will reclaim democracy as soon as possible."

In a statement released two days ago, the NCCK said: ""We declare that we will pray for the restoration of democracy, freedom and human rights in Myanmar in alliance with Korean churches and religious circles and civil societies in the world.

After suggesting that each community offer a minute of silence for peace and democracy in Myanmar during Lent, the Protestant Council asks the UN to take a stand against the military regime, with an arms embargo and a travel ban.

Yesterday, the Seoul government announced a halt in exports of military equipment to Myanmar, including tear gas and armoured trucks, which had already been exported in the past. South Korea has said it will rethink to curb official development assistance projects, while keeping those closely linked to the population. In 2019 Seoul offered $ 90 million in aid to Myanmar. About 25-30 thousand people from Myanmar live in South Korea.
The United States and other wealthy countries are standing in the way of low- and middle-income countries seeking better access to COVID-19 vaccines, health-equity advocates say.

South Africa and India have led an effort at the World Trade Organization to waive drug companies exclusive rights to manufacture their vaccines during the coronavirus pandemic.

Countries with major pharmaceutical industries, including the United States, several European countries and Japan, have opposed the waiver. WTO, the global trade regulating body, operates by consensus, so the proposal fails without unanimous support.

It is shameful that U.S. policy is prioritizing profits over life, and doing so in the name of the American people, Emily Sanderson, senior grassroots advocacy coordinator for the activist group Health GAP, said in a statement.

The pharmaceutical industry says patents are not the biggest barriers, however. Supplies and expertise are the major limitations, executives say. But the industry says novel partnerships already in place will meet the demand for vaccines.

Vaccine rollout has been highly unequal so far. While deliveries are accelerating in many higher-income countries, theres over 100 countries where not a single (dose of) vaccine has been delivered, said Matthew Kavanagh, director of the Georgetown University Global Health Policy & Politics Initiative.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced plans Thursday to vaccinate enough Americans by July 4 to get life nearly back to normal.

Meanwhile, COVAX, a World Health Organization-backed program to improve vaccine equity, plans to vaccinate just 3% of participating countries populations by then.

Manufacturers in waiting

Advocates say more people would get vaccinated if drug companies would relinquish control of their products.

We know that in India, in South Africa, in Senegal, in Thailand, there are producers that within six months could start making vaccines if the information about how to do so was shared with them, Kavanagh said.

Plus, he added, the vaccines were developed in a large part with public funding from taxpayers in the United States and Europe, which should limit drug companies' rights to them.

The conflict has echoes of the fight over HIV/AIDS drugs two decades ago. Over the vigorous opposition of drug companies and their host governments, several developing countries broke patents to produce lifesaving antiretroviral medications at much lower cost than the companies were charging.

It ultimately opened the door for developing-world manufacturers to produce low-cost generic drugs that have helped control HIV/AIDS.

Many say those lessons should be applied to COVID-19.

If a temporary waiver to patents cannot be issued now, during these unprecedented times, when will be the right time? WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on Twitter earlier this month.

We need equal access to life-saving tools everywhere, if we are to end the #COVID19 pandemic. If a temporary waiver to patents cannot be issued now, during these unprecedented times, when will be the right time? Solidarity is the only way out. #VaccinEquity https://t.co/VTSholGOpZ  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 4, 2021

Supply bottlenecks

But the pharmaceutical industry says revoking intellectual property will not get more shots in arms.

The bottlenecks are the capacity, the scarcity of raw materials, scarcity of ingredients, and it is about the know-how, Thomas Cueni, head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), told Reuters.

A better approach is to continue the intense collaboration already taking place between companies, governments and other partners around the world, Megan Van Etten, senior public affairs director at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), an industry trade group, said in a statement.

Rival companies have teamed up to increase supplies of COVID-19 vaccines.

Earlier this month, Merck announced it would help to manufacture Johnson & Johnsons vaccine in a deal brokered by the Biden administration. Sanofi is producing shots for Pfizer-BioNTech after its own vaccine suffered a setback. And AstraZeneca partnered with the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker, to boost supplies of its vaccine.

All told, the industry plans to manufacture 10 billion doses of vaccine this year, which would in theory be about enough to immunize the world's entire adult population.

Pharmaceutical companies say intellectual property protections were how the industry was able to produce safe and effective vaccines against a novel virus in less than a year.

Undermining the very policies that have helped research companies move so quickly against the pandemic wont provide relief for people and will leave us all less prepared to confront future public health threats, PhRMA's Van Etten said.
National City anticipates it will spend as much as $150,000 to pay a law firm that has been handling its labor negotiations for the past year.

The six-figure cost is three times the amount the city planned to spend before some rounds of negotiations got underway around March 2018. So far, the city has incurred nearly $88,000 in costs for services provided by Meyers Nave, Riback, Silver & Wilson.

The total costs are expected to rise. While the city reached an agreement with a union that represents its municipal employees in November, negotiations with its police and fire unions are not over yet. While the negotiations have not hit a snag, the talks have gone on longer than expected.

As a result, the City Council was forced to revise the contract between the city and Meyers Nave to increase the contract price from $50,000 to $150,000 in order to cover the anticipated costs to finalize the labor negotiations.

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Although the city agreed to pay Meyers Nave up to $50,000 under the original contract, the costs of the firms services exceeded the amount agreed upon by almost $38,000 as a result of the labor talks dragging on longer than anticipated, city staff said in a report.

When the City Council considered the amendment to the original contract on Jan. 22, the costs had already exceeded the contract price.

City Manager Leslie Deese acknowledged it was an oversight, adding that the city doesnt employ a contract administrator.

While costs pile up as negotiations drag on, its not uncommon for cities to hire outside lawyers or contractors to handle the process. Deese said the city generally outsources the work to Meyers Nave, mostly because of limited resources and specialized expertise within City Hall.

We want to make sure we have the best people there at the table, Deese said, adding that labor laws change constantly.

She added that negotiating with three labor groups is a full-time job.

While the citys former human resources director and deputy city manager handled some negotiations in the past, she left for a position elsewhere as the early stages of negotiations got underway.

Deese said there are several reasons the negotiations have gone on longer than anticipated. A main reason is that the city was at the table with its three labor groups concurrently for some time.

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Scheduling conflicts  between union members and attorneys  complicate the process, she said. And for the City Council, which gives direction to the citys negotiator, other tasks and discussions take up time during closed-door meetings, Deese said.

This isnt the only matter that the council is talking about in closed session, she said.

Sources said the negotiations with the police and fire unions appear to be in the final stages. Deese declined to share details about the talks.

James Stiles, president of fire union, National City Firefighters Local 2744, described the rounds of negotiations with the city as amicable.

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He said both sides have been understanding of each other. His 40-member union understands the financial challenges the city faces due to its $4 million deficit, while the city appears to grasp the unions concerns, including retention issues, Stiles said.

Union leaders have agreed to contribute more to pensions, but hope to receive more competitive benefits from the city under the new two-year contract.

Were trying to maintain our competitiveness in the workforce, Stiles said.

The new contract will replace the previous one that expired June 30.

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Omar Ramirez, the president of the National City Police Officers Association, did not respond to questions about the ongoing negotiations. The unions contract expired on Dec. 31.

The two-year contract the city reached with the National City Municipal Employees Association  which is represented by the Service Employees International Union, Local 221  includes a pair of 3 percent raises and a $600 increase in employer contribution to medical insurance. Employees will contribute up to 2 percent more to their pensions.

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

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Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
By Rachit Vats and Eric M. Johnson

(Reuters) - Co unveiled a new order for its 737 MAX on Friday, pushing its shares up 6% as it renews efforts to recapture investor confidence following a two-year safety crisis.

The deal to sell 24 of the 737-8 model to a backer of Canadian low-cost carrier Flair Airlines comes after Reuters reported it was poised to win another, much larger deal with Southwest Airlines.

Shares in rose 6.2% to $267.86.

has been trying to rebuild its image with passengers and airlines following the nearly two-year grounding of the MAX after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people.

This week marked the second anniversary of the second accident, with a final investigative report expected any day.

Boeing said Miami-based private equity firm 777 Partners, which has a stake in Flair Airlines, agreed to buy 24 737-8 airplanes with an option to purchase a further 60.

Flair, which was recently relaunched by veterans of European budget giant Wizz Air, is now operating one plane for domestic flights. It said it would lease 13 of the 24 aircraft from 777 Partners starting this year.

Reuters on Wednesday reported Boeing was on the verge of a deal to sell dozens of 737 MAX 7 jets to Southwest Airlines in potentially its largest 737 MAX order since the jet's safety ban was lifted.

Both deals would provide a much-needed injection of cash for the U.S. planemaker, which ended last year with more than $60 billion in debt and an historic loss of $12 billion.

The coronavirus pandemic has further complicated the MAX's recovery by decimating demand for air travel and new jets.

Ultra low-cost carriers, or ULCCs, are seen as the winners of the COVID-19 crisis as they offer a no-frills experience at low prices.

They are pervasive in Europe's fragmented market, with Hungarian Wizz Air - a key Airbus customer - competing with the likes of Ireland's Ryanair, a top Boeing user like Southwest.

They have grown more slowly in North America.

In December, Alaska Airlines agreed in December to buy 23 737 MAX 9 jets and Ryanair ordered 75 jets.

At Southwest, Boeing was fending off a challenge from the newer Airbus A220, building on a position as the airline's exclusive supplier as Airbus struggles to reduce production costs for the Canadian-designed A220, industry sources said.

Analysts have described Southwest as a must-win for Boeing and crucial to its broader recovery.

Analysts caution it faces a list of other challenges, from production of its 787 Dreamliner to the delayed development of its 777X and financial overruns on a U.S. Air Force tanker.

(Reporting by Rachit Vats, Shreyasee Raj in Bengaluru, Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, Tim Hepher in Paris, Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri, Maju Samuel and Sonya Hepinstall)

(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.)

California Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks, who is seeking re-election to a four-year term, is being blasted by some party leaders who say hes failing the basic functions of his job and want Gov. Gavin Newsom to do something about it.

In a letter to the governor obtained by The Chronicle, several party officials asked Newsom to take urgent action to ensure the party has a strong leader before a potential gubernatorial recall election and next years midterms.

The letter doesnt specify what the urgent action would be, and Newsom lacks the authority to replace the party chair. But he can endorse an opponent or decline to back Hicks.

So far, Hicks only opponent for re-election is former state schools Superintendent Delaine Eastin. Voting lasts from March 24 through April 21. Hicks won the chairs job in 2019 after the resignation of Eric Bauman.

The letter blames Hicks for a variety of Democratic problems, including a failure to engage emerging immigrant populations in Southern California and the Central Valley that contributed to the partys loss of four House seats last year.

Signers include Carlos Alcala, chair of the Chicano Latino caucus; R.L. Miller, chair of the environmental caucus; Sean Dugar, a member of the partys executive board; Soli Alpert, chair of the Young Democrats progressive caucus; and Amar Shergill, chair of the progressive caucus. Alcala, Miller and Shergill are also members of the partys executive board.

We can do better than Rusty Hicks, the letter says. We hope you agree.

Newsom doesnt. His strategist Dan Newman told The Chronicle that the governor continues to have complete confidence in the California Democratic Party and Chair Hicks as we work together to get through the homestretch of the pandemic crisis.

Hicks said via e-mail: With 57,000 volunteers and the largest small-dollar donor base in our history, the California Democratic Party is moving aggressively forward into a brighter future. I look forward to earning the opportunity to do even more in the years to come.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
People attend a funeral of Chit Min Thu, who died in an anti-coup protest in North Dagon Township in Yangon, Myanmar, March 13, 2021. Photo: REUTERS.

At least six protesters were killed by security forces in Myanmar, witnesses and media reported, as activists marked the death anniversary on Saturday of a student whose killing in 1988 sparked an uprising against the military government.

Three people were killed and several injured when police opened fire on a sit-in protest in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, two witnesses told Reuters. Another person was killed in the central town of Pyay and two died in police firing in the commercial capital Yangon overnight, domestic media reported.

"The security forces initially stopped the ambulance from reaching the injured people and only allowed it later," a 23-year-old protester in Pyay told Reuters, asking not to be named for fear of retribution.

"By the time they allowed it, one of the injured became critical and he later died."

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The deaths came as the leaders of the United States, India, Australia and Japan vowed to work together to restore democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.

More than 70 people have been killed in Myanmar in widespread protests against a February 1 coup by the military, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group has said.

Saturday's protests erupted after posters spread on social media urging people to mark the death anniversary of Phone Maw, who was shot and killed by security forces in 1988 inside what was then known as the Rangoon Institute of Technology campus.

His shooting and that of another student who died a few weeks later sparked widespread protests against the military government known as the 8-8-88 campaign, because they peaked in August that year. An estimated 3,000 people were killed when the army crushed the uprising, at the time the biggest challenge to military rule dating back to 1962.

Aung San Suu Kyi emerged as a democracy icon during the movement and was kept under house arrest for nearly two decades.

She was released in 2008 as the military began democratic reforms. Her National League for Democracy won elections in 2015 and again in November last year.

On February 1 this year, the generals overthrew her government and detained Suu Kyi and many of her cabinet colleagues, claiming fraud in the November elections.

The coup in Myanmar, where the military has close ties to China, is a major early test for US President Joe Biden.

His administration described a virtual meeting with the Indian, Japanese and Australian leaders on Friday, the first official summit of the group known as the Quad, as part of a push to demonstrate a renewed U.S. commitment to regional security.

"As long standing supporters of Myanmar and its people, we emphasise the urgent need to restore democracy and the priority of strengthening democratic resilience," the four leaders said in a statement released by the White House.

A spokesman for the junta did not answer phone calls from Reuters seeking comment.

South Korea snaps defence ties

United Nations human rights investigator Thomas Andrews on Friday dismissed as "absurd" comments by a senior Myanmar official that authorities were exercising "utmost restraint".

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he called for a united approach to "strip away the junta's sense of impunity".

Former colonial power Britain on Friday warned its citizens in Myanmar to leave, saying "political tension and unrest are widespread since the military takeover and levels of violence are rising".

South Korea said on Friday it would suspend defence exchanges and reconsider development aid to Myanmar because of the violence.

The Kremlin said Russia, which has close ties to Myanmars military, was concerned over the mounting violence and was "analysing" whether to suspend military-technical cooperation.

"We evaluate the situation as alarming, and we are concerned about the information about the growing number of civilian casualties coming from there," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying.

The UN Security Council this week dropped language from a statement that condemned the army takeover as a coup, due to opposition by China, Russia, India and Vietnam.

Poland's foreign ministry said a Polish journalist was arrested this week in Myanmar, the second foreign reporter to be detained. A Japanese journalist was briefly held while covering a protest.

Riot police and armed soldiers entered the general hospital in Hakha, in the western Chin state, forcing all 30 patients to leave and evicting staff from on-site housing, said local activist Salai Lian.

Soldiers have been occupying hospitals and universities across Myanmar as they try to quash a civil disobedience movement that started with government employees such as doctors and teachers but has expanded into a general strike that has paralysed many sectors of the economy.

On Friday evening, large crowds gathered for evening vigils. In Yangon, they lit candles in the shape of a three-finger salute, the symbol of the movement, while saffron-robed monks gathered outside a pagoda in the northern Sagaing region.
GENEVA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A group of countries on Friday condemned the killings of civilians by Australia's overseas military personnel at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, saying "credible reports show Australian soldiers have committed serious war crimes."

Delivering a joint statement on behalf of these countries at the ongoing 46th session, Jiang Duan, minister of the Chinese mission to the United Nations in Geneva, urged the Australian government to carry out comprehensive and fair investigations into reported cases of summary execution, torture of civilians and other gross human rights violations committed by Australia's overseas military personnel.

The joint statement called on the UN Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Special Procedures and civil societies to monitor relevant judicial processes carried out by the Australian government.

The statement also expressed concern over the Australian government's operations of offshore detention centers in third countries.

"In particular, those detention centers fall short of adequate medical conditions where a large number of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers have been detained over a long period of time or even indefinitely, and their human rights have been violated," the statement said.

"We urge Australia to immediately close down all offshore detention centers and take concrete steps to protect the rights of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, especially children," it added.

The statement also voiced concern over the increasing racial discrimination and violence against women, as well as the long-standing insufficiency in the protection of the rights of aboriginal peoples in Australia.

All non-essential shops, bars and restaurants have been closed over the weekend in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia due to rising coronavirus infections.

Authorities in Bosnia imposed measures after doctors warned the virus has "exploded" in recent days, and urged people to respect the restrictions already in place.

Bosnia has so far confirmed more than 5,000 deaths related to COVID-19.

Authorities on Saturday said a further 42 people have died in the past 24 hours, with 1,058 new infections in the country of 3.3 million people.

Vaccination in Bosnia has been slow with the stalled arrival of jabs through the COVAX program.

The Balkan nation has received 10,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Serbia, while the country's Serb-dominated region has acquired Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.

In neighbouring Serbia, authorities also ordered non-essential shops to close for at least the weekend in the face of rising case numbers.

The government-appointed crisis body said the measures will take effect on Friday evening and last until Monday, when authorities will decide on how to proceed.

Belgrade resident, Branko, who didn't give his last name, said he believed "they (bars and restaurants) should be closed for longer period of time".

Meteja Bijelic, who also lives in the capital, said it was "better something than nothing, but I think we are late with measures."

Serbia has recorded more than 4,000 new infections each day over the past week, with doctors warning the number of hospital patients is rising despite the success of the national vaccination program.

The country of 7 million so far has vaccinated more than 1.5 million people with at least one dose of a COVID-19 shot, which is among the highest rates in Europe.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Coming Home to Irelands Lost Harp Tradition

Musician Sylvia Crawford and the early Irish harp

One of the most enduring of sounds, synonymous with the Emerald Isle, is that of the dulcet Irish harp. But the Irish harp that many of us are familiar with is a relatively modern instrument. Prior to the late 19th century, Ireland had a rich tradition of making and playing a different kind of harp, which is now referred to as the early, or old Irish harp.

The new type of harp that came to Ireland was based on the Anglo-continental harp tradition, musician Sylvia Crawford said on a video call. Eventually, as the old Irish harp makers and harpersthe term used to describe the old harp playerspassed away, the knowledge of the early harp tradition went with them.

Musician Sylvia Crawford is one of a number of experts and enthusiasts dedicated to learning and playing the early Irish harpa rich Irish tradition that died out at the end of the 19th century. (Simon Chadwick)

Crawford is one of a number of early Irish music experts and enthusiasts who are reviving the old Irish harp tradition. In 2019, she completed her masters in ethnomusicology, specifically focusing on 18th-century Irish harper Patrick Quin.

An engraving of Patrick Quin in the October 1809 edition of The Monthly Pantheon. (Courtesy of Sylvia Crawford)

My aim is to look at what the evidence is about the old tradition.  But also to bear in mind that it was traditional music, so to respect that, and bear in mind [that] this wouldve been an unwritten music and an oral tradition transmitted from master to pupil, Crawford said.

With the last of the old harpers having passed away and the traditional teaching from master to pupil therefore unavailable, Crawford had to look to many historic sources to understand and reconstruct the tradition. Its an ongoing process that she likens to painstakingly constructing a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle without a picture.

Meeting the Harp

Crawford first remembers seeing harps in her neighborhood in Portadown, Northern Ireland, when she was 6 or 7 years old. It was in the 1970s. One day, while playing in the street, she saw her neighbors taking harps from their car into their house. That was my first encounter with harps, and in fact one of the men in that family was a harp maker, she said.

Many years later, she came across the same family, not on her street but in a video from the RTE (Irelands national public service media) archives, when she was studying for her masters degree. Inside the house was a room full of young pupils who were learning to play the harp: There was a lot of brown and orange  [It was] very 1970s, she said.

It was in the late 1990s that Crawford heard the old Irish harp for the first time, in Galway on the west coast of Ireland. Master harper Paul Dooley was playing the tune.

He was a wonderful, wonderful player.  And I heard this sound, and I saw him sitting just quietly playing on the street busking; that was very common in Galway in those days. There was something about the sound of that, I thought: This is different; this is a different sound than Ive heard before, she said.

Dooleys harp playing piqued Crawfords interest in the instrument. As a classically trained pianist and a traditional Irish fiddler, Crawford was already well-versed in both the classical and traditional Irish music heritages.

I was very much involved in the early music scene in Galway and I was playing these old Irish harp airs. And I was playing them on my fiddle, and I was playing them on my piano, and I thought to myself: Id love to get one of those harps and play this music  on the actual instrument it was composed for, she said.

Edward Buntings piano arrangement of Limericks Lamentation, which he collected from harpist Patrick Quin with the title Lochaber, as published in A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland, 1809, by Edward Bunting. (Courtesy of Sylvia Crawford)

Learning to Play the Old Irish Harp

The early Irish harp is a diatonic instrument with no mechanisms (levels or pedals) for changing the pitch. And apart from the metal strings, it is basically made of three parts: the sound box, the neck, and the pillar. The harp is held together by the tension of the metal strings. Theres no glue holding it together. In the old Irish harps, the sound box was carved out of one piece of wood, traditionally willow.

Theres a lot of strain on the construction, and you can see a lot of the old harps have big iron rods around them holding them together where theyve likely burst open from the middle because of the tension of the strings, Crawford said.

In 2006, Crawford bought her first early Irish harp. She thought playing it wouldnt be that different from playing the piano. She was wrong. She soon realized that the unique nature of the instrument made it challenging to play. When one of the metal strings is plucked, it rings and doesnt stop, so when the next string is plucked, the two strings ring together. If a third string is plucked, then theres a clash, she explained. This is much more challenging than it appears because I have to learn to control this resonance, she said.

Crawford discovered some harpers who tried to play by borrowing from historical harp technique and others who were adapting modern harp technique.

Although she learned to play the instrument from several people, she felt something was not quite right. I was playing these old laments and old Irish airs on an old instrument  but to me, it was outside of the world of traditional music, she said.

One technique Crawford used when starting to learn was to color code the strings to see what she was doing. But she soon realized that the old harpers wouldnt have played the instrument that way; in fact, many of them were blind. And the harp itself doesnt have any visual clues as to where the harper is in the instrument when playing, she explained. One particular note has two strings, so harpers could only orientate themselves by sound.

As an experienced fiddler, she knew that one of the things that makes the fiddle sound Irish is the bowing technique. There are many different styles and regional differences, Crawford explained, but the bowingwhere it slurs into the beatis one of the real distinctive features of the Irish fiddle sound.

She began to wonder if there wasnt a similarity between bowing on the fiddle and fingering on the harp, each giving the instrument its Irish sound.

Meeting Patrick Quin

Two people who helped Crawford learn more about the old Irish harp, including the distinct fingering techniques, are from the 18th century: harper Patrick Quin and musician Edward Bunting.

Crawford was already familiar with the work of Bunting. But she met Quin around six or seven years ago at the Summer School of the Early Irish Harp run by The Historical Harp Society of Ireland, in Kilkenny, southeast Ireland. Its an annual event devoted to the early Irish harp.

During one presentation, there was a slide that showed Buntings handwritten piano arrangement of a tune hed collected from Quin, which is now held at Queens University Belfast.

Edward Bunting in the Annals of the Irish Harpers, 1911, by Charlotte Milligan Fox. (Courtesy of Sylvia Crawford)

The university has a collection of Buntings notebooks from when he visited the old harpers and recorded their music at the end of the 18th century. Crawford says its important to note that when Bunting was collecting this music, he was outside of the Irish music tradition: He didnt play the harp. He wasnt a Gaelic speaker. Buntings purpose was not to preserve the harp tradition but to record the tunes before the last of the harpers died.

Edward Buntings piano arrangement of The Butterfly, which he collected from harpist Patrick Quin, as published in A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland, 1809, by Edward Bunting. (Courtesy of Sylvia Crawford)

At the bottom of this particular slide, Crawford noticed a note that said something like Patrick Quin, County Armagh, near the Blue Stone. I thought, I know exactly where hes talking about, she said. Crawford had grown up in that very area on a road called the Drumnacanvy Road, which led to the Bluestone Road.

Suddenly, Crawford could imagine Bunting sitting down beside Quin, in one of the old cottages along that roadBunting with his notebook and Quin playing his tune. It suddenly came to life in my imagination. But I also thought, Nobody else knows where the Blue Stone is. I know because it was up my road. Hes my harper. I need to focus on him, she said.

Although there was some research on Quin, there wasnt that much known about him, she said.

The more Crawford found out about Quin, the more she realized how her life, although centuries apart from his, mirrored aspects of his life. For example, Quin lived in Portadown in County Armagh, where Crawford grew up; both of them played the fiddle, and of course both had the harp in common.

Crawford was living in Brittany, France, at the time, but she decided to move back home to County Armagh, to focus on finding out as much as she could about Quin.

Learning From a Past Master

Quin was a real master of his art. One person described how he threw his fingers across the strings with all the ability of a master, Crawford said.

Delving deeper into her research, Crawford discovered that Quin was associated with the Fews, an area in South Armagh with a strong literary and poetic tradition. So no longer was Patrick Quin just a harper from Portadown. He was connected to this really important Gaelic literary and musical culture, she said.

Among the tunes Bunting collected from Quin were three of the first tunes traditionally taught to young harpers. Bunting collected versions of those particular tunes from various harpers, but Patrick Quin was the only harper source for all three tunes. From the point of view of trying to reconstruct a musical tradition, having that information was wonderful, Crawford said.

She also discovered an oil painting of Quin in a private collection; it was unknown before. In the painting, Quin is vividly depicted playing the Castle Otway harp that is now owned by Trinity College Dublin.

The Castle Otway harp in The Irish and the Highland Harps, 1904, by Robert Bruce Armstrong. (Courtesy of Sylvia Crawford)

By closely looking at the painting, she could see how Quin was seated quite low, and that he rested the Castle Otway harp on his left shoulder. The modern harp rests on the right shoulder. She could also see that he held the harp between his legs and how he steadied it with his knees.

What fascinated her the most in the painting was Quins fingers. You can see his left hands fingers up on the strings and his right hand low in that left-high, right-low position that old harpers played. But you could see more information than that; you could see exactly the shape of his fingers on the strings. And you could see his bass hand in this sort of spread-out shape with his fourth finger extended, she said.

At the time, Crawford had a simplified copy of the Castle Otway harp on loan from The Historical Harp Society of Ireland. She was aware that the painting was not a reliable source because of its static nature and because the artist could have used artistic license. However, she combined what she found from the painting with information from a chapter in one of Buntings publications (1840). When writing about how the harpers played, Bunting included a table of tune fragments and showed exactly which fingers were used in each fragment.

As Crawford played the harp by relying on these discoveries, her fingers flowed into what Buntings fragments described.

Musician Sylvia Crawford with her early Irish harp, which is based on the Castle Otway harp once owned by 18th-century Irish harpist Patrick Quin. (Simon Chadwick)

Celtic motifs are carved into Sylvia Crawfords poplar harp. Traditionally, willow would have been used to make the early Irish harps, but large blocks of willow are now harder to find. (Simon Chadwick)

Because traditional Irish music was oral, she decided to study other oral music traditions. She learned that certain characteristics differ a great deal in oral and written traditions. For example, recurring motifs are used in lots of different contexts, the idea of being taught by rote and copying, the idea of associating an aural sound with a movement or a hand or finger movement, and the idea of naming these very specific fingering techniques, she said.

As she read about oral traditions, she saw what Bunting had written about playing techniques, which he had collected from the harpers, in a different light. I started to realize that hed given us a lot of this information. But because he did not play the harp himselfhe was an organist, pianist, and arrangerhis published work had to be interpreted to be fully understood, and then reconstructed or pieced together.

Continuing the Old Tradition

Crawford stresses that theres a lot more still to be discovered about the early Irish harp. And each discovery is the result of experts working together on one anothers research. Ultimately, Crawford feels a sense of responsibility to share what shes found. Any insights that I have, I really do want other people to build on those in the future, she said.

Shes currently writing a book about the first tunes taught and the playing techniques of the early Irish harp, explaining how she came to her conclusions and the importance of interpreting what Bunting wrote. She especially wants to draw attention to his work because without him we would have no possibility of doing research and understanding the early Irish harp.

On a very personal level, its made me realize that I didnt have to go to Galway looking for traditional music. I didnt have to go to Brittany looking for traditional music. It was right on my road; it brought me back home, she said.

To find out more about Sylvia Crawford and the old Irish harp, visit SylviaCrawford.net

In 2020, musician Sylvia Crawford led a workshop for The Historical Harp Society of Irelands Early Irish Harp Discovery Day at the Remembering Bunting Festival, in Belfast. (Simon Chadwick)

Remembering Edward Bunting

In celebration of St. Patricks Day, March 17, the organizers of the Remembering Bunting Festival, held in February, have extended online access to the festival, which includes talks and performances from across the world. To access the festival and to learn more about Edward Buntings legacy, visit RememberingBuntingFestival.com



The Harp of Erin, 1867, by Thomas Buchanan Read. Oil on canvas. Cincinnati Art Museum. Erin or Eriu (pronounced Eire) is the goddess of Ireland. (Public Domain)
Despite Great Lakes water levels remaining above average, they are down from last years levels according to the Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District.

The most recent lake levels forecast from the Corps of Engineers says that the level of Lakes Michigan-Huron is at 580.64 feet, 9 inches below the same time in 2020, when the record for highest monthly mean for March was set.

The forecast also has the lake levels one inch below where they were in February.

The February 2021 monthly mean water levels across all the Great Lakes ranged from 7 to 23 inches below levels from this time last year.

Deanna Apps, a physical scientist with the Corps of Engineers, said that last year, Lakes Michigan-Huron had a minimal seasonal decline which set up the record-breaking levels experienced across 2020.

The February monthly mean (for Lakes Michigan-Huron) was 10 inches below last year, Apps said. Despite tracking below last year, its still 27 inches above average. Its still high despite being below the record highs of last year.

Since November 2020, the Great Lakes Basin has experienced four consecutive months of below average precipitation. This combined with a cold air outbreak during January lead to increased evaporation across the lakes and caused an ice jam to develop in the St. Clair River.

When ice jams, occur, water levels downstream of the restriction decline, while water levels upstream of the restriction rise.

Drier conditions this winter aiding in seasonal declines on all the lakes, said Detroit District Watershed Hydrology Branch Chief Chris Warren in a statement. However, as water levels being their seasonal rise there is still potential for coastal impacts since water levels remain high.

Late winter and early spring are typical Great Lakes seasonal rise periods because of the increased rainfall and runoff. Water levels typically peak in the summer or early fall.

Even with the lower lake levels, some lakes are still well above average. Apps said that those who live near the shoreline still need to take caution when storms and wave action move through the area, with the potential for shoreline flooding and erosion still present.
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A woman who refused to wear a face mask inside of a Galveston bank on Thursday has been charged with trespassing and resisting arrest, according to police.

Terry Wright, 65, would not put on a face mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when asked to by a manger inside of the Bank of America at 6109 Central City Blvd., Galveston Police Department officers said. The bank called the police after Wright reportedly did not leave the business when told to.
Kylie headed out of town for a much-needed break with her daughter.

The 23-year-old makeup mogul was seen landing in Palm Springs, California, on a private jet with three-year-old Stormi on Friday.

Her latest trip came as she posted a series of revealing snaps clad in a plunging semi-sheer baby blue bodysuit on Instagram.

Break time: Kylie Jenner was seen landing in Palm Springs, California, on a private jet with three-year-old Stormi on Friday

'Miss jenner,' she captioned the sultry image.

Kylie showed off her incredible curves in the fitted, sleeveless garment, keeping a leather coat hung off her shoulders.

She had her brunette locks pulled up into a romantic 'do and her face fully made-up for the photo taken at her Kylie Cosmetics headquarters.

The reality television star posted an additional slideshow of snaps in the same outfit, striking a number of seductive poses around her office.

Comfy flight: Jenner was far more covered up for her flight to the desert, wearing a long cream-colored jacket and loose fitting white jeans for the trip

Helpful hand: The fashionista kept her hair messily pulled up with a clip and carried a cup of coffee as she helped her daughter down the plane's steps

'The main character,' she wrote alongside the post.

Jenner accentuated her pert derriere as she sat on a long white couch, rocking a glamorous red lipstick and a pair of open-toed strappy high heels for the photos.

She also bent down in front of her signature elevators in another shot, displaying the incredible makeup job done by Ariel Tejada.

Fitted garment: Kylie showed off her incredible curves in the fitted, sleeveless garment, keeping a leather coat hung off her shoulders

Social stunner: The 23-year-old makeup mogul's latest trip came just as she posted a series of revealing snaps clad in a plunging semi-sheer baby blue bodysuit on Instagram

She had her brunette locks pulled up into a romantic 'do and her face fully made-up for the photos taken at her Kylie Cosmetics headquarters

Show off: The reality television star posted an additional slideshow of snaps in the same outfit, striking a number of seductive poses around her office

The star was far more covered up for her flight to the desert, wearing a long cream-colored jacket and loose fitting white jeans for the trip.

She paired the comfortable ensemble with white sneakers, black sunglasses and a yellow crocodile purse for the journey.

The fashionista kept her hair messily pulled up with a clip and carried a cup of coffee as she helped her daughter down the plane's steps.

The stylish child sported a pastel purple sweatsuit and white sneakers to match her mom.

She held on tight to her mermaid doll as she carefully made her way down onto the tarmac.

The masked pilot met them on the ground to send them on their merry way as a car waited to pick them up.

BTS: On Thursday, Kylie showcased her toned body while preparing for the new Instagram shoot in a series of behind-the-scenes clips on her Instagram stories

On Thursday, Kylie showcased her toned body while preparing for the new Instagram shoot in a series of behind-the-scenes clips on her Instagram stories.

The businesswoman shared footage of her lifting her leg in the skintight ensemble and posing in a mirror of her meticulously-organized glam room.

Jenner decided to take a weekend getaway from her massively successful beauty business, which expanded with the launch of Kylie Skin in 2019; the brand initially offered six facial care products before the company began offering skincare items.

Loving mom: Kylie welcomed her little girl with her then boyfriend Travis Scott and kept mum about her pregnancy until after the baby was born on February 1, 2018

Kylie welcomed her little girl with her then boyfriend Travis Scott and kept mum about her pregnancy until after the baby was born on February 1, 2018.

The former couple have remained amicable co-parents since breaking up in 2019 and have even spent holidays together as a family.

They were the subject of a swirl of reunion rumors after they posed up together in revealing Halloween costumes last fall, but they were not in fact back together.
The faded blue boxes, often covered in graffiti, stand at dozens of intersections across New Orleans, rusted by weather and time.

The pay phones that used to be inside are mostly absent. Some are covered in cement. A few receivers remain, though lifting them from their hooks usually doesn't produce a dial tone.

But soon enough the pay phone kiosks, relics of a century when people carried around loose change to make calls instead of smartphones, will disappear from public-rights-of-way for good.

City Hall officials announced last week that they have asked a contractor to remove the 77 boxes they know about out of their concrete and dirt bases.

Taking them down will improve the aesthetics on public avenues and boulevards, they said.

Removing these outdated kiosks is a big quality-of-life win for residents who live in these neighborhoods," said city Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Ramsey Green.

+8 'Out of control': New Orleans struggles with trash as sanitation spending shrinks On any given day as she drives down Almonaster Avenue, Renee Cambrice can spot heaps of crumbled Styrofoam cups, crushed beer cans and empty p

For more than a century, a neighborhood pay phone was a public amenity, just as useful and ubiquitous as a U.S. Postal Service drop box.

But nobody much uses them anymore. Roughly 96% of Americans own cell phones, according to the Pew Research Center, and most own smartphones that double as hand-held computers.

Major phone companies don't want the hassle of maintaining phone booths either, and in recent years city officials across the U.S. have been clearing out the few that remain. Last year, New York City officials announced they would remove the 3,000 pay phones still remaining across the five boroughs, citing complaints from residents and the need to free up sidewalk space.

Can't see the map below? Click here.

In New Orleans, the push to remove the boxes began when Michael Burnside, a Central City resident, got sick of seeing them and other eyesores in his neighborhood.

Two years ago, Burnside asked representatives from two City Council offices to tour his neighborhood and see its problems. Though the dilapidated kiosks were a small thing, the group soon decided that hauling them away "was something we could actually do that would sort of change the tenor of hope," Burnside recalled.

But first the city had to figure out who owned them. Though AT&T once managed the phones, the communications giant offloaded them in 2008 to independent operators, citing a desire to get out of the pay phone business before it became unprofitable.

+3 New Orleans' overgrown lots will be targeted more often under this rule change The New Orleans City Council backed rules on Thursday requiring property owners to keep their grass 8 inches shorter than current rules permit

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A search of the city's franchise records showed that a smaller company, Mid City Pay Phone, last managed many of the devices. When a letter sent last summer to Mid City's last-known address went unanswered, the city began moving to pull the kiosks off of public-rights-of-way, City Councilmember Helena Moreno's Chief of Staff Andrew Tuozzolo said.

A contractor, Hard Rock Construction, has been paid $60,000 to complete the job. Its crews will replace any concrete damaged by the removals. Phone boxes on private property won't be touched.

That means there are still a few options for anyone with a dead battery and some spare change  who can also remember the number of the person they want to call.

Elizabeth Gaytan owns what is likely one of the last pay phone companies in the New Orleans area, Americoin. Gaytan bought Mid City's private inventory when it went belly-up years ago, along with J. Miller Enterprises' booths when that company shuttered for good, she said.

"Its a dying business. And the ones I still have are ones where customers pay me to have the phones there," she said. A retired BellSouth employee, Gaytan, 74, knows how to run the computer system that gives each phone its dial tone.

Americoin has three or four working phones still left in New Orleans, mostly along Claiborne Avenue on gas stations and on other private property. Others in its stock are inoperable, and Gaytan said she's been removing them little by little.

The blue booths on public neutral grounds "belong to the city," Gaytan added.

In a statement, Moreno said that finally removing the phones will help beautify some neighborhoods. "Picking up these disconnected pay phones is just one small way to show respect for our neighborhoods and make progress toward more inviting public spaces," she said.

The first 10 will be pulled out of Central City and made available to buyers at the city's April public auction. The remaining 67 will be removed in the coming months, city officials said.

How polluted with plastic is the Mississippi River? Residents can help measure it Baton Rouge a pilot site to use a free mobile tracking system letting public log type, location of litter

Burnside said that the two nearest to his South Liberty Street home  one on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and another on Simon Bolivar Avenue  were removed Tuesday. He hopes artists will buy them and turn them into something eye-catching.

"Somebody could make a complete joke, take one of these out there to wherever the old Beauregard statue was," he said, a display similar to the Mardi Gras Indian suit that was installed on the base of the former Jefferson Davis monument on Fat Tuesday. "Thats the kind of city we are."

Residents who wish to report additional locations of abandoned pay phone kiosks may report them to 311.

See the list of known locations of the abandoned kiosks.
Dave Hughes is preparing to move from Melbourne to Sydney this year after landing a breakfast radio show gig in the harbour city for 2Day FM.

But the comedian is becoming increasingly concerned about finding a home for his family to live in when they relocate in the coming weeks.

Dave, 50, told The Sydney Morning Herald this week that he has until Easter to find a residence for his journalist wife Holly and their three children - son Rafferty, and daughters Sadie and Tess.

'I've got a deadline': Comedian Dave Hughes (pictured) has expressed dire concerns for his family as his Sydney house hunt becomes 'desperate' as he relocates from Melbourne for radio gig in harbour city

'Mate, I've met every real estate agent in Sydney... I've seen some beautiful houses and I've seen some bloody expensive ones too,' the radio host revealed.

'I like North Bondi, but you know I'm just not sure if it's the right place for us. And I've got a deadline... if I don't come through soon it will be a disaster.'

'At this rate we'll be living in Kyle's pool shed soon,' he joked, referring to his radio rival and friend, KIIS FM host Kyle Sandiland's mansion up for rent.

'If I don't come through it will be a disaster': Dave said he has until Easter to find a home for his wife Holly and their three children - son Rafferty, and daughters Sadie and Tess. All pictured

Quick return? If need be, returning to Melbourne wouldn't be a problem for Dave and his family as he owns a $3million five-bedroom in Elsternwick

Before making the move to the New South Wales capital, Dave told the Herald Sun last year that he was ready for the change to scenery and 'something different'.

'I do love Melbourne, but have lived here since 1995 so it'll be fun to try another part of Australia for a while,' he said.

If need be, returning to Melbourne wouldn't be a problem for Dave and his family owns a $3million five-bedroom home in Elsternwick.

The home was built by The Block winners Elyse Knowles and Josh Barker in 2017, which Dave is currently renting it out for $2,000 per week.

A piece of The Block history: The home was built by The Block winners Elyse Knowles and Josh Barker in 2017, which Dave is currently renting it out for $2,000 per week

This week, a radio ratings report by Mumbrella revealed Dave's new show, The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin, only saw an audience increase of 0.2 per cent from its predecessor in 2019.

They hold an audience share of 4.4 per cent for the survey period, which extended from January 17 to February 27.

It's the first radio survey of the year as the new breakfast show premiered on 2DayFM on January 18.
It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
2FM presenter Jennifer Zamparelli from Malahide has launched the Aware Paddy's Day Walk, the organisation's 15th annual St Patrick's Day event, urging people all over Ireland to come together 'virtually' in support of Aware's vital mental health services.

Aware continues to see a sustained increase in demand for its services as the public navigates the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. The Aware Paddy's Day Walk will raise vital funds to ensure the organisation can meet the increased demand and continue to deliver its free support, education and information services nationwide.

Taking place on St Patrick's Day, participants can choose their route, distance and pace, while abiding by government safety measures.

Corporate organisations are also urged to get involved, with the event providing a fun way to bring the team together virtually in a shared cause.

Online registration is available now at www.walkforaware.com at a cost of 25 per person.

Each participant will receive a pair of St Patrick's Day inspired green laces in acknowledgement of their contribution and are encouraged to wear them proudly when joining in the event.

Stephen Butterly, Head of Fundraising at Aware commented: 'Aware has hosted a St Patrick's Day Walk for over 15 years. It's not possible to run the event in its usual guise but we can still come together virtually and feel connected while remaining physically apart.

'This year, we are asking individuals, households and bubbles from all over the country to take part in the virtual Aware Paddy's Day Walk, to mark St Patrick's Day and raise vital funds for Aware. We continue to see a sustained increase in demand for our services as we all adjust to living with COVID-19.

'The generosity and engagement from the public for these virtual events not only provides valuable funding for our free services, but also contributes to raising awareness, breaking down stigma and facilitating important conversations about mental health.'

Butterly continued: 'We hope to see people from communities all over Ireland get involved this St Patrick's Day. Keeping each other safe is of paramount importance, so we would remind participants to take part safely and adhere to all government guidelines."

The Aware Paddy's Day Walk is supported by Dublin Port Company and its CEOC Eamon O'Reilly, said: 'Dublin Port is delighted to throw its support behind the virtual Aware Paddy's Day Walk. With people set to take part from across the country, it is a great opportunity to raise funds for a worthy cause.'
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After several attempts of injecting cosmetic fillers to her buttock at home, a woman from Da Nang City was faced with severe reactions and tissue necrosis.

JW Cosmetic Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has recently admitted L.T.K, 26, a patient from Da Nang City who was suffering from severe buttock pain, staffers of the hospital reported.

K. said that she had had her dermal filler injected at cosmetic facilities multiple times in the past, and recently switched to self-injection after buying VND150 million (US$6,500) worth of filler of American origin, as advertised by the seller.

To help cut cost, she asked a friend, who only has informal training in cosmetic treatments, to help injecting fillers to her buttock, only to find out two months later that her rear area got swollen up, with large abscesses forming and pain ensuing.

After seeing no success trying to break the abscesses and remove the fillers by herself, she was heading to Ho Chi Minh City for medical help, but chose to drop off midway in Binh Duong Province to get treatment sooner.

Here, she underwent six days of filler removal surgery, but it barely helped as another abscess formed in the meantime, which required K. to eventually go to a doctor in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Doctor Nguyen Phan Tu Dung, director of JW Cosmetic Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, preliminary examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning showed that filler leakage had spanned K.s left buttock and reached pelvic bones, leading to swelling and threats of tissue necrosis, while a severe lesion in the middle of the bruising area caused excruciating pain for the patient.

Seeing the situation, the doctors at JW Cosmetic Hospital ordered an immediate filler removal surgery for K.

After a four-hour surgery, K. was pulled out of danger and is receiving intravenous antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection.

On Thursday, she met with inspectors of Ho Chi Minh Citys Department of Health as well as local police officers, who sought to clarify the details of the cosmetic treatment incident.

Regarding the case, Dung of JW Hospital highly recommended against buttock filler injection due to the substantial risk of upsetting the venous and cerebral system in the area, which may in turn lead to tissue necrosis.

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A Golden Eagle has gone missing from his home at Newcastle airfield.

'I've had five sleepless nights,' owner John Nugent said yesterday, still looking for Kalin the eagle. 'He's my buddy,' he said.

John believes the bird is within 12 miles or so of home.

'I think he's hiding somewhere and looking for me as much as I'm looking for him.'

Kalin went missing last Thursday after undoing his leash and flying off.

He has never hunted for food or been out in the wild. John said that if he thought Kalin was safely flying free and content now, he would call off the search, but he is concerned that the bird will not be equipped for the wild.

He has had Kalin since last year and was in the process of rehabilitating him.

'I just want to get my bird home,' said John.

'I do think he's around this area.' His concern is that Kalin could have been caught by the wind, or pestered by other birds. His biggest fear is that a farmer might shoot the bird, concerned for their own animals.

'He's not a threat at all,' he said. 'I'm asking farmers to please give him a chance and not shoot him'.

He is asking anyone who thinks they have seen him to take a photo so that John can identify him. Kalin has two black leather straps on his leg.

'There have been no definite sightings at the moment,' said John.

Many people have come forward with potential sightings but unfortunately the birds they have seen have been red kites or other species and not the missing eagle.

'I think the whole country is looking for him,' said John. 'And I thank them as I'm just one guy. People have been very good.'

His intention was to let Kalin fly independently on St Patrick's Day, with a GPS to keep track of him. The eagle had been in an aviary before coming to Newcastle. John feeds him on drumsticks and chicken thighs, and flies him from pole to pole with food.

Kalin would normally have a tracker when flying, but not when he is resting, so he did not have one on when he disappeared.

John has been out searching daily since the eagle went missing.

'This bird has never hunted. He's 12 years old. He has never been out in the wild at all. He's never hunted live for food. His favourite food is chicken legs from a supermarket. He feeds from the hand all the time,' said John.

Anyone who thinks they might have spotted the bird is asked to send a photo to John at 086 239 4417.
Almost half of Republicans say they will not get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to them compared with just six percent of Democrat men, according to a new poll.

The study, released by PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll Thursday, surveyed 1,227 US adults from March 3 to March 8 about their views on taking one of the three vaccines approved by the federal government.

It uncovered stark differences in opinion depending on political beliefs with 49 percent of Republican men saying they would not be taking the shot, while just 6 percent of Democrat men said the same.

More than a third (34 percent) of Republican women also said they will not get vaccinated, compared to just 14 percent of Democrat women.

Overall, around two-fifths (41 percent) of Republicans said they will not get the vaccine, while 24 percent said they have already been administered it and 3 percent were unsure.

By contrast, almost two-third of Democrats (58 percent) said they will take the vaccine when they are eligible, with 29 percent having already had it, and 2 percent unsure.

Just one in 10 - 11 percent - Democrat supporters said they would not take the vaccine.

The survey shows an ongoing distrust in the COVID-19 vaccine among a large proportion of the US population as Joe Biden announced this week all Americans will be eligible for vaccination no later than May 1.

Almost half of men who identify as Republicans say they will not get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to them and nor will almost half of Donald Trump supporters, according to a poll released by PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll Thursday (above)

The poll also found a high amount of opposition among Trump supporters, with 47 percent saying they will not get the vaccine compared to just 10 percent of Biden supporters who said the same.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both received their first dose in December and second three weeks later in January 11 live on TV in an effort to win over skeptics.

Comparatively, Trump did not get the vaccine when then-Vice President Mike Pence did in December with the White House saying at the time he would wait until he was recommended to take it by the medical team because he was still benefiting from the antibody cocktail given in October when he was hospitalized with the virus.

It then emerged earlier this month that Trump quietly received the vaccine at the White House back in January.

He also appeared to change tact when giving his first public address since leaving the White House telling supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference: 'How unpainful that vaccine shot is, so everybody go get your shot.'

Survey respondents were also asked about their views of how Biden has handled the pandemic since taking office.

Overall, 62 percent said they approved and 30 percent disapproved.

Unsurprisingly, the approval rating fell to 30 percent among Republicans and 22 percent among Trump supporters.

A man receives the new one-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from a nurse at a vaccination site in Covina, California this week

Aside from political belief as a factor, ethnic minority groups have long been more skeptical about getting the vaccine.

The new poll showed 37 percent of Latinos do not plan to get vaccinated, compared to 25 percent of black people and 28 percent of white people.

Overall, 30 percent of all adults surveyed said they will not get the vaccine.

A total of 68 percent have either had the vaccine already or said they will get it while 3 percent are unsure.

The nation's top immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci has previously said 75 to 85 percent of the population must be vaccinated for the US to reach herd immunity.

Based on the poll's findings, this target is some way off.

Dr. Vin Gupta told CNBC this week if Americans don't get the shot and lead to herd immunity, the pandemic will likely continue for some time.

'All forecasts right now say that we're going to be past the worst of this with normalcy by say end of June, early July,' he said.

Joe Biden receives his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Delaware in December on television

Mike Pence receives the COVID-19 vaccine in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, on December 18

'That, however, is contingent on people actually getting the vaccine to the tune of 75 percent to 80 percent of eligible adults by that time period.

'If that's not the case - if there's skepticism or hesitancy that high - we're not going to get there.'

Many Americans have voiced concerns about the vaccine, particularly the speed with which it was developed.

However medical experts are assuring the public it is safe and urging people to get vaccinated when it is their turn.

Despite the skepticism, a separate poll this week found most Americans believe people should be vaccinated before returning to returning to normal life.

The survey by Reuters/Ipsos, of 1,005 US adults aged 18 and older on Monday and Tuesday, found six in 10 Americans want to work for an employer who requires everyone be immunized against coronavirus vaccine before returning to the office.

It emerged earlier this month that Trump quietly received the vaccine at the White House back in January. He told supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference 'everybody go get your shot' (pictured)

Seventy-two percent of Americans said it was important to know 'if the people around me have been vaccinated,' with 60 percent saying they wanted to work for an employer 'who requires everyone to get a coronavirus vaccine before returning to the office' and 56 percent thought unvaccinated workers should stay home.

A majority, 62 percent, also said unvaccinated people should not be allowed to travel on airplanes.

Fifty-five percent agreed that unvaccinated people should not work out at public gyms, enter movie theaters or attend public concerts.

Dr Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said the poll responses made sense, given the social restrictions placed on everyone over the past year.

'People are saying: 'If I'm vaccinated, it's going to change my life,'' Adalja said.

'And if you're not vaccinated, that's your choice. But you're going to be in a different status because you might be a carrier of this virus, so you could spread it to another unvaccinated person.'

The poll's results suggest the pace of vaccinations may pick up as more vaccines become available and more people want them.

A new poll found 60% of Americans want to work for an employer 'who requires everyone to get a coronavirus vaccine before returning to the office

Surveyors also found that 62% don't believe unvaccinated people should be allowed to travel on airplanes

This survey found that, altogether 54 percent of respondents said they were 'very interested' in getting vaccinated.

That was up from a January survey, when 41 percent expressed the same level of interest, and 38 percent in a May 2020 poll before a vaccine was even developed.

It also found disparities along party lines, with about 69 percent of Democrats very interested in getting a COVID-19 shot compared to 45 percent of Republicans.

Republicans, who have been generally less concerned than others over the past year about the coronavirus, were also generally less supportive than Democrats of workplace and lifestyle restrictions for the unvaccinated, according to the poll.

Yet even among Republicans, four out of 10 said they supported keeping people without vaccines from going to gyms or movie theaters.

Five in 10 Republicans think vaccines should be required for airline travel.

Twenty-seven percent of Americans said they were not interested in getting vaccinated, which was relatively unchanged from a similar poll that ran in May.

Interest in the vaccine increased over the past year among whites and racial minorities, with about six in 10 whites and five in 10 members of minority groups now expressing a high level of interest.

To date, 101 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have gone into the arms of Americans with 10.5 percent of the population now fully vaccinated and 19.9 percent having received at least their first dose, Bloomberg data shows.

Biden this week announced Thursday that all American adults will be eligible to receive the vaccine no later than May 1 and promised some semblance of normalcy by July 4.

This came just hours after he signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package into law and weeks after the third vaccine - the Johnson & Johnson - was approved.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single shot compared to two shots needed for Pfizer and Moderna, meaning the federal government has sped up the timeline for getting shots in arms.
Gov. Kate Brown said Friday it was too soon to tell all Oregonian adults that theyll be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations starting May 1 -- and that she wont accelerate the current timeline for starting vaccinations despite President Joe Bidens direction a day earlier that all states should do so.

Brown is sticking to her plan to begin vaccinations of the general population of Oregonians 16 and older by July 1 -- a full two months later than Biden now says is possible. But Brown said she wants to see federal weekly shipments of vaccine actually increase to Oregon before she makes any new promises to residents.

If the doses are there, I have every intention of utilizing all available state and federal resources to match the presidents timeline for universal eligibility, Brown said.

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said Oregon already has been burned by promised increases by the Trump Administration that didnt come through in January. He wants hard numbers on what we can expect and when.

Until we get more clarity, Allen said, we need to keep our current timelines in place. We cant disappoint people who eagerly want a vaccine.

Currently, residents 65 and older, health care workers and daycare, preschool and K-12 employees are eligible to receive vaccine.

March 29, Oregon would allow a new wave of residents to start getting shots: People age 45 and older with underlying conditions that include cancer, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. The group also encompasses people who are homeless and frontline workers including those in agriculture and food processing. Friday, officials said theyll also grant eligibility to pregnant women age 16 and older starting March 29.

By May 1, the state plans to open inoculations to people with underlying conditions ages 16 to 44, as well as a long list of frontline workers including grocery store employees, restaurant and bar staff, retail store employees, bus drivers, construction workers and government employees.

By June 1, the state plans to allow the general healthy population of Oregonians 45 and older to start vaccinations. By July 1, anyone 16 or older should become eligible for the vaccines, officials have said.

Brown said if the state does open vaccinations to all Oregonians by May 1, she will make sure people with underlying conditions, people who are homeless and frontline workers will get access to the vaccine before the healthy general population does. That would likely mean moving up the states existing timeline for the groups tentatively set to become eligible May 1 under Browns existing plan.

Allen said Friday if Oregon sees the big increases promised by Biden, the state will have the vaccination site infrastructure to handle them. Allen said health care providers are administering about 24,000 first- or second-dose shots per day now, and they can double that to about 48,000 per day.

Oregon is ready, Allen said.

But saying a site has the ability to administer more shots and actually making that happen are two different things. Last Saturday at the drive-thru site at Portland International Airport, seniors and other eligible Oregonians with appointments found themselves stuck in hours-long lines for vaccinations as site staff expanded capacity to a record 5,800 doses in one day.

Allen said Oregons vaccination sites have the capacity to keep the state on track toward reaching its current eligibility timeline of opening inoculations to all Oregonians 16 and older by July 1. But its unclear if the state will need to increase vaccination site capacity even further under Bidens swifter vaccination schedule.

As of Friday, more than 800,000 Oregonians had received at least one dose of vaccine, leaving close to 3.4 million residents still without vaccine.

As a point of context, assuming a rate of 24,000 first-dose vaccinations a day, it would take roughly four and a half months to get everyone remaining one dose.

But some Oregonians will refuse to get vaccinated, and children younger than 16 also arent currently eligible. To reach herd immunity, many scientists say at least 70% of people must be vaccinated, but likely more. If Oregon doubled its current vaccinations per day, it could reach that minimum threshold for possible herd immunity by the end of June.

That might make Bidens goal a real possibility -- that Americans can begin to mark our independence from this virus by the Fourth of July if they continue to follow safety precautions and get vaccinated when their turn comes. Brown echoed that idea Friday.

We are all hopeful we can safely be reunited with our family and friends for small gatherings by the Fourth of July, she said. And as your governor I will do everything I can to make it happen.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
People who are convinced that they are right and good are immensely dangerous. They believe that their virtue allows them to behave outside the rules of truth or justice.

This must be the explanation of the extraordinary misrepresentation of this newspaper, and of the British popular press in general, during the CBS interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, screened in this country by ITV.

During the broadcast, a montage of supposed British newspaper headlines was shown. Many of them were in fact from non-UK publications.

But this was not the worst of it. The headlines, some of them not even real, were dishonestly displayed to suggest open racial bigotry aimed at the Duchess of Sussex.

The Mail on Sunday today provides a full analysis of this grotesque exercise in irresponsible and dangerous falsehood. Worst of all was a doctored headline, so distorted and cut that it suggested the very opposite of the truth.

Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in conversation with Oprah Winfrey during last week's controversial interview. During the broadcast, a montage of supposed British newspaper headlines was shown. Many of them were in fact from non-UK publications

This newspaper was actually attacking a series of revolting text messages, a racist assault on Ms Markle, sent by the girlfriend of the then Ukip leader (who resigned as a result of our report).

The presentation on CBS contrived to suggest that we were expressing the very thing we were condemning.

How could CBS, once the home of the greatest and most principled of all American broadcasters, Edward R. Murrow, have sunk to such depths of distortion?

How could ITV, the inheritor of decades of superb news and current affairs broadcasting, have allowed itself to be used as a conduit for such televisual effluent?

No interpretation of the principle of free speech permits such behaviour. Those responsible should be identified and held to account.

The broadcasters should swiftly admit their wrongdoing, and apologise.

Open up the skies again  and see the hopes of a nation soar

For the sake of the British people who have patiently endured unheard of restrictions on all the joys of life for almost a year, for the sake of the airline and travel industries which employ so many and contribute so much to our national wealth, it is vital that the Government draws up a plan for the reopening of foreign travel.

Families and business alike need the stimulus of real hope. Our economy and society need the regeneration that open airports will bring.

Many countries, such as Turkey, Greece, Spain and Portugal, long to welcome British holidaymakers again, as much as those holidaymakers long to revisit them. They are as keen as we are to find workable ways to open up.

Mail on Sunday comment: Families and business alike need the stimulus of real hope. Our economy and society need the regeneration that open airports will bring. Pictured: People walk through arrivals at London's Heathrow airport

The miraculous success of the world-beating UK Covid vaccination programme means that by the time summer arrives, millions of Britons will be protected against the virus and protected against spreading it.

Those in most danger from it will also be immeasurably safer.

If new variants arise, or other countries fall back into difficulties, it will not be hard to implement measures to contain this.

Total safety is impossible  but by any measure, the danger once presented by Covid-19 is hugely diminished and regulations which were once easily defended are becoming irksome and hard to justify. This will accelerate as the weather warms and more weeks of lockdown drag by.

We need clarity and decision to allow everyone to plan their liberations, a firm position so well-designed that there is no danger of it being rescinded later.

There should be no more muddled thinking and no more internal battles, but a Government united in a wise and well-crafted policy.

What we need above all is for Ministers to decide, and stick to what they have decided.
Sonic Unyon Danko Jones has announced a new album called Power Trio.

The 10th studio effort from the Canadian rockers will arrive August 27. You can listen to the first single, "I Want Out," now via digital platforms. The song reflects the feeling we've all had while quarantining amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more Danko Jones, you can watch the band's streaming concert airing Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. Visit DankoJones.com for more info.

Here's the Power Trio track list:

"I Want Out"

"Good Lookin'"

"Saturday"

"Ship of Lies"

"Raise Some Hell"

"Blue Jean Denim Jumpsuit"

"Get to You"

"Dangerous Kiss"

"Let's Rock Together"

"Flaunt It"

"Start the Show"

By Josh Johnson

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - said on Friday it will begin notifying owners April 1 in its new recall of 2.9 million vehicles in North America with potentially defective driver-side Takata air bags after U.S. regulators demanded the fix in January.

The second largest U.S. automaker said in January it would comply with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration request and that the recall would cost $610 million. The defect, which leads in rare instances to air bag inflators rupturing and sending potentially deadly metal fragments flying, prompted the largest automotive recall in U.S. history of more than 67 million inflators.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler)

(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.)
OnScene TV

Houston police found a man dead early Saturday morning on the citys southeast side after responding to reports of shots fired in the area.

Investigators said the man, whose name and age were not released, was found shortly after midnight about a quarter-mile southwest of the intersection of Almeda-Genoa and Blackhawk.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, T.D. and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic OGorman, T.D. have announced changes to fee arrangements for students living in Direct Provision.

From the start of the 2021/22 academic year, international protection applicants who have permission to work and are seeking to access Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses will no longer have to pay international fees of 3,600.

In addition, an examination will be carried out to extend the student support scheme to those who wish to carry out postgraduate courses and to an extension of English language supports.

Minister Harris said: The Government has now set out its vision to end direct provision and I strongly support that goal.

It is my role as Minister for Further and Higher Education to ensure there are no barriers for people living in direct provision to accessing third level.

Last year, we removed some of the obstacles to the student support scheme which led to a fivefold increase in the number of applications and grant holders. I am planning to undertake a further review of the scheme in 2021.

The student support scheme offers similar supports to those available to undergraduates in the SUSI grant scheme. A review of the student support scheme will be undertaken in 2021 to examine the impact of the improvements made in 2020 and to look at the possibility of extending it to postgraduates.

Minister Harris said: The waiving of the international fee for PLCs will move further towards a level playing field and improve opportunities for people.

I will now ask my officials to consider if there are any further financial barriers impacting on access to third-level education for those in the international protection system provision that can be removed.

Minister Harris added: My Department is now engaging with colleagues across Government on these matters.

I hope these changes will help more people access further and higher education in Ireland.

Minister OGorman added: As a Government, we have made a commitment to introduce a new model of international protection that focuses on integration from day one. Removing the financial barrier attached to PLC courses for people in the international protection process reflects that commitment. It will support people to upskill and lead to increased opportunities for entry into further and higher education, supporting international applicants to live independently and continue with their lives.
Journalists began to seek him out. Some of his responses became internet memes. A few examples:

Influenza is not a cold, just like a tiger is not a cat.

Youre bored to death at home, so the virus will be bored to death, too.

Stay away from fire, thieves and your colleagues.

His Weibo social media account, which he started in the middle of last year, has 3.6 million followers. Many of his videos have been viewed tens of millions of times. An article he co-wrote on the pandemics global prospects last March, when Europe and the United States were exploding with infections, was viewed more than 860 million times on his departments official WeChat account alone.

Maintaining a high profile in China often requires discretion. Late last year, Jack Ma, the technology billionaire, publicly criticized regulators. The authorities quickly swooped down on his business empire.

Dr. Zhang doesnt challenge the government, but neither does he always toe the official line. Late last year, some Chinese officials pointed to findings that the virus had been found on the packaging of imported food, suggesting that the coronavirus may have been brought to China from overseas. Dr. Zhang has told his audience not to worry about it: The chance of catching the virus from imported goods, he said, is lower than dying in a plane crash.

Im not going to hide the information because Im worried that I could say something wrong and cause some controversies, he said over the summer. We always share what we know.
Finance impacts EVERYONE as COVID has depleted funds that the Vatican and has the pope and his people begging for donations like everybody else.

And so, we're uncertain about this blog post decrying the disparity betwixt conservative cash vs. progressive poverty amongst the American Catholics.

Fact is, as more than a TRILLION BUCKS worth of stimulus is injected into the economy, counting money against inflation is mostly an act of faith nowadays.

Read more . . .
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy this morning followed by isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
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Japan's Foreign Ministry has released two short English-language videos on the Internet to mark the 10th anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan.

One of the videos, titled "Ten years of reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake" shows progress made in rebuilding affected communities in the Tohoku region.

Australian rugby player, Scott Fardy, was in the region when the disaster struck and decided to stay on as a volunteer.

In the video, he says, "I saw that Japanese people cared for each other so much." He says, "We're going to get through this Coronavirus."

The video also features Operation Tomodachi -- the joint relief operation conducted by the US military and Japan's Self-Defense Forces.

The video ends with a message, "Tohoku is moving forward with gratitude for your reconstruction support."

The other video focusing on Fukushima Prefecture shows New Zealander Sylvia Gallagher who moved to Iwaki City in the prefecture after the disaster and began producing Japanese washi paper.

She says that Fukushima's "strength to never accept defeat is truly incredible", and that she wants the whole world to know about Fukushima and its resilience.

Foreign ministry officials say they want people around the world to know that the Tohoku region is moving forward with international support and calls on people to explore the rich tourist attractions of Fukushima.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 20:16:51|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Seven-year-old Yemeni boy Basher has been suffering from chronic renal disease for about two years. Recently, his weekly sessions of dialysis have been reduced from thrice to twice, not because his illness has alleviated but because there isn't enough diesel in the country.

"The continuing blockade on north Yemen stops fuel ships coming in, which leads to power shortage for hospitals in Sanaa," Ammar Suleiman, father of Basher, said.

Basher, crawling inside his father's arms, looked blankly at his blood running through the tubes on the dialysis machine at the crowded renal disease ward of the Al-Thawra hospital, which is one of the several dialysis centers left in the capital of Sanaa.

"Sometimes the power went go three or four times during a session due to the diesel shortage. Then we had to keep the machine running manually to avoid blood clotting," the father said.

However, in the standard of a Yemeni patient, Basher is among the lucky ones because his family can still afford the dialysis sessions while so many more families can not.

Local health authorities estimate more than 10,000 patients in Yemen are suffering from renal failures and require dialysis several times every week. Most of them cannot afford the skyrocketing medical bills and their lives are in grave danger.

Bashair, a girl in her early twenties, said she now lives near death as her family could not afford more dialysis sessions, which were free before the war erupted.

"I can't afford the transportation fee just coming to the hospital. We can't afford the session fees either. I am now in a bad condition and I fear for my life," the girl lamented.

Facing a severe shortage of medical supplies, fuels and funds, most hospitals in Yemen cut many aids to the patients who desperately need them.

It was a dilemma for the hospitals: to cut aids will result in many deaths but to keep them will drain out its meager resources and eventually see even more deaths.

In a recent statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the dialysis centers in Yemen suffer from a severe shortage of essential supplies such as medication and fuel to run hospital equipment, as well as a lack of funds to pay health care workers.

Dr. Abdul-Malik Jahaf, head of Al-Thawra Hospital, said harsh livelihood in Yemen and the lack of healthcare services increased the number of patients with kidney failures.

"The health situation is worsening and may collapse totally, and this may create a great tragedy as those who come to Al-Thawra hospital for treatments are from impoverished areas and do not have the ability to pay for treatment and medicine in private hospitals," Dr. Jahaf said.

"In the hospital, there used to be 1000 beds besides 135 other beds in the intensive care unit (ICU). But due to the fuel severe shortage, we decreased the number to 527 and ICU beds to 78. Patients who live on dialysis are also affected. The lives of them now hang in balance," the doctor said. Enditem
For Subscribers Gov. Noem hires jet consultant to help South Dakota buy new aircraft

An out-of-state consultant has been hired for $195,000 by Gov. Kristi Noem's administration to help the state of South Dakota buy a new aircraft.
PRESSURE MOUNTING FOR CUOMO TO RESIGN: De Blasio slams end of travel quarantine; Biden lays out coronavirus vaccine blueprint, latest numbers, and into the weekend we go. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Friday, March 12, 2021

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  More accusations of sexual misconduct and workplace hostility against Gov. Andrew Cuomo emerged on Friday, but the governor again resisted calls to step down.

A number of state Democratic lawmakers have called on Cuomo to resign, including U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and the state Assembly has started an impeachment investigation.

A female news reporter said that Cuomo had sexually harassed her when she covered Albany, and dozens of other women shared their experiences working in or covering the Cuomo administration in New York magazine.

At City Hall, Mayor Bill de Blasio slammed Cuomo for lifting the quarantine requirement for New York visitors. De Blasio said that only those who have been fully vaccinated should be exempt from the quarantine.

Meanwhile, a University of Maryland study of cell phone traffic showed that Americans are leaving their homes at levels even higher than those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside-down, and we need information like we never have before.

How many new cases were there on Staten Island today? How many deaths? How many people have been released from the hospital?

What are Bidens plans to end the pandemic? What are Cuomo and de Blasio doing to keep New Yorkers safe?

What other news is top of mind?

More importantly, when are we going to get back to normal, whatever normal is?

Its almost too much to keep up with.

So every day around 4 p.m., Mark and I take to Facebook Live to give you all the information you need. You can then look for this written wrap-up on SILive.com at the end of the day.

Well give you the numbers and all the latest news. Well answer your questions. Well follow up on your news tips.

Well share the good news too, the way that the Staten Island community is coming together in this time of crisis. Or well just share this strange and unique pandemic moment with you, as fellow Staten Islanders.

Were all in this together. Well all get through this together.
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When it comes down to creating otherworldly pieces of four-wheeled machinery thatll have you question just how far a tuners madness can possibly go, Mansory certainly takes the cake. With the exception of their Ferrari 812 Superfast-based undertaking, its difficult to recall a single time when this manufacturers surreal exploits havent stirred a great deal of controversy in the automotive realm.Quite frankly, it appears Brands aftermarket doctors dont exactly give a damn about the criticism thats constantly being thrown at them. At the end of the day, if taking things to the extreme is your specialty, polarizing opinions from the public are an absolute must. I mean, we can all agree that creatures such as  Gronos  or  Le Mansory  certainly arent for everyone, right?Although the companys aftermarket package for Maranellos beloved Superfast did a great job at proving this firm is actually capable of subtlety, the same cant be said about Stallone - an 812 GTS that looks as if it belongs in a different galaxy. Before we proceed with a closer analysis of this fiend, well be reminding ourselves of the stock rides main specs and features.Within its engine bay, The Prancing Horses convertible packs a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 powerplant. At approximately 8,500 rpm, this untamed monstrosity will be more than happy to summon as much as 789 hp. On the other hand, the engine is fully capable of producing up to 530 pound-feet (718 Nm) of twist at 7,000 revs.A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox hands the mills force over to a rear-wheel drive system, enabling the Italian beauty to accelerate 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) in just three seconds. Additionally, top speed is generously rated at no less than 211 mph (340 kph). Now that weve covered the standard vehicles powertrain characteristics, lets see what Mansorys mutant stallion has to bring to the table.The very first thing youll spot is a carbon fiber body kit thats as outlandish as it is comprehensive. While precise details on the individual components contained by this aerodynamic package remain scarce, we notice the front fascia being adorned with an ominous splitter. At the rear, the crew went about installing a carbon diffuser and one beefy spoiler that sits atop the deck lid.On the flanks, Stallone wears new mirror housings, as well as a pair of custom side skirts in between the wheels. Oh, and speaking of footwear; the GTS 812 crawls on YN.5 forged wheels from Mansorys own inventory, measuring 9.5 x 21 inches at the front and 12 x 22 inches at the rear axle. Their rims are hugged by high-performance 265/30 ZR21 tires up front and 335/25 ZR22 rubber on the opposite end.As you step inside the cabin, you will find what the enterprise refers to as a sport-oriented atmosphere that perfectly combines functionality and comfort. Personally, Im not necessarily a huge fan of the blue leather upholstery covering just about everything from the door panels and dashboard, to the fresh steering wheel and seats.However, Ill thank the heavens for the white accents and carbon fiber trimmings that level things out a little. To wrap it all up, a set of aluminum pedals and illuminated door sills have also been added. Right, lets take a quick look at the mechanical side of this ordeal, shall we?The team fiddled with the beasts 6.5-liter V12 colossus to unleash some truly outrageous performance figures. To be more concise, the leviathan will supply a whopping 820 hp and 546 pound-feet (740 Nm) of unforgiving torque at optimal revs. This state of affairs bumps the 812s top speed to 214 mph (345 kph), which might seem modest, but itll definitely be more than enough.Mansory hasnt revealed any details on Stallone s pricing and availability for the time being. Nonetheless, if your wallet can handle $340,000 for the original 812 GTS, Ill bet this aspect shouldnt be a problem!
The underwater neutrino telescope was lowered to a depth of 750-1,300 meters in Lake Baikal

Russian scientists on Saturday launched one of the world's biggest underwater space telescopes to peer deep into the universe from the pristine waters of Lake Baikal.

The deep underwater telescope, which has been under construction since 2015, is designed to observe neutrinos, the smallest particles currently known.

Dubbed Baikal-GVD, the telescope was submerged to a depth of 750-1,300 meters (2,500-4,300 feet), around four kilometres from the lake's shore.

Neutrinos are very hard to detect and water is an effective medium for doing so.

The floating observatory consists of strings with spherical glass and stainless steel modules attached to them.

On Saturday, scientists observed the modules being carefully lowered into the freezing waters through a rectangular hole in the ice.

"A neutrino telescope measuring half a cubic kilometre is situated right under our feet," Dmitry Naumov of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research told AFP while standing on the lake's frozen surface.

In several years the telescope will be expanded to measure one cubic kilometre, Naumov said.

The Baikal telescope will rival Ice Cube, a giant neutrino observatory buried under the Antarctic ice at a US research station at the South Pole, he added.

Russian scientists say the telescope is the largest neutrino detector in the Northern Hemisphere and Lake Baikalthe largest freshwater lake in the worldis ideal for housing the floating observatory.

"Of course, Lake Baikal is the only lake where you can deploy a neutrino telescope because of its depth," Bair Shoibonov of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research told AFP.

"Fresh water is also important, water clarity too. And the fact that there is ice cover for two-two and a half months is also very important."

The telescope is the result of a collaboration between scientists from the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Russia and Slovakia.

Explore further Scientists claim that all high-energy cosmic neutrinos are born by quasars

 2021 AFP
Bengaluru, March 13 : Exactly after a month of her arrest by the Delhi Police in an alleged toolkit case, 22-year-old climate activist Disha A. Ravi posted her maiden four-page statement on her Twitter account on Saturday evening revealing her trials and tribulations.

Asserting in her statement that she is still fighting for climate justice, she termed that her autonomy was violated when her pictures "splashed" all over news channels just for TRP.

She said that she had been pronounced guilty by ratings-hungry news channel.

The Delhi Police arrested her late on Friday 13 in the night from her Bengaluru residence in connection with an online document that canvassed support for the farmers' protest. However, 10 days later, she was granted bail by a Delhi court. The court also slammed the Delhi Police for their 'scanty and sketchy evidence'.

Along with her four page statement, she also wrote on Twitter that "I'm letting this out into the internet void in order to present a narrative that is my own".

"P.S. This is based on my personal experience and does not represent the opinion of any climate movement, group, or organisation," she tweeted as she narrated her experience through the court trials.

She ended her four page statement quoting Soni Sori, an adivasi school teacher turned political leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAM) in Sameli village of Dantewada in south Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

In her statement while recalling her ordeal, she pointed out how she was not provided with a lawyer in the first hearing in court and sent to police custody in a move that had appalled legal and civil rights experts.

"As I stood in that courtroom, desperately searching for my lawyers, I came to terms with the fact that I would have to defend myself. I had no idea whether there was legal assistance available. Before I knew it, I was sent to five days in police custody," she said.
Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei had called for a reset in ties with the US after falling foul of former president Donald Trump, but the Biden administration has listed his company as a potential national security threat

US regulators on Friday listed Huawei among Chinese telecom gear firms deemed a threat to national security, signalling that a hoped for softening of relations is not in the cards.

A roster of communications companies thought to pose "an unacceptable risk" to national security included Huawei Technologies; ZTE; Hytera Communications; Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Dahua Technology.

"This list is a big step toward restoring trust in our communications networks," said Federal Communications Commission acting chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

"This list provides meaningful guidance that will ensure that as next-generation networks are built across the country, they do not repeat the mistakes of the past or use equipment or services that will pose a threat to US national security or the security and safety of Americans."

The five Chinese companies that provide communications equipment or services were on a roster compiled by the FCC and the Homeland Security Bureau as per US law.

Huawei chief and founder Ren Zhengfei last month called for a reset with the United States under President Joe Biden, after the firm was battered by sanctions imposed by Donald Trump's administration.

In his first appearance before journalists in a year, Ren Zhengfei said his "confidence in Huawei's ability to survive has grown" despite its travails across much of the western world where it is maligned as a potential security threat.

The comments came as the firm struggled under rules that have effectively banned US firms from selling it technology such as semiconductors and other critical components, citing national security concerns.

Insisting that Huawei remained strong and ready to buy from US companies, Ren called on the Biden White House for a "mutually beneficial" change of tack that could restore its access to the goods.

Continuing to do so, he warned, would hurt US suppliers.

Founded by Ren in 1987, Huawei largely flew under the global radar for decades as it became the world's largest maker of telecoms equipment and a top mobile phone producer.

That changed under former president Donald Trump, who targeted the firm as part of an intensifying China-US trade and technology standoff.

Trump from 2018 imposed escalating sanctions to cut off Huawei's access to components and bar it from the US market, while he also successfully pressured allies to shun the firm's gear in their telecoms systems.

Ren also has had to deal with the December 2018 arrest of his daughter, Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, on a US warrant during a Vancouver stopover.

Meng, 49, faces fraud and conspiracy charges in the United States over alleged Huawei violations of US sanctions against Iran, and separate charges of theft of trade secrets.

Explore further Huawei smartphone sales plunge as US sanctions bite

 2021 AFP
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk to a motorcade vehicle after stepping off Marine One at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Del., on March 12, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

White House Plans PR Blitz to Sway Doubters of COVID-19 Package

President Joe Biden and top officials in his administration are going to work convincing doubters of his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.

Biden is scheduled to undertake a Help is Here tour to multiple locations to speak to Americans directly to tout what they see as a crucial bill in the fight against COVID-19.

Biden is scheduled to visit Delaware County, Pennsylvania on Tuesday to speak about the plan, while he and Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Atlanta, Georgia on Friday. Biden also has a White House event on March 15 to explain details of how the plan will be implemented.

First Lady Jill Biden, meanwhile, will go to Burlington, New Jersey on Monday as Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff speak to people in Las Vegas. The second couple will go to Denver, Colorado the following day, and Emhoff will travel alone to Albuquerque, New Mexico on Wednesday.

During their trips, they will discuss the benefits of the American Rescue Plan for working families, and they will engage with people at each of these stops about how the American people can benefit from the components of the package moving forward, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington on Thursday.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press conference at the White House in Washington on March 11, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Biden and the others will emphasize the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, the extension of supplemental unemployment aid, and $1,400 checks that will be sent to most Americans, among other provisions. Direct payments will hit some peoples bank accounts as early as this weekend.

The tour comes as the White House fights criticism of attracting zero Republican votes in Congress for the relief package.

Congress approved it using a budget process that enabled Senate Democrats to avoid needing any GOP support. Besides unified Republican opposition, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted no, arguing many of the programs the funding would support are already funded through prior packages.

Biden and the White House have pointed to polls that showed, among respondents, bipartisan support for the fresh bill, but Republican lawmakers have questioned that line of thinking.

Thats a joke. I mean public polls are only as accurate as the people doing them, the methodology they use and all that stuff, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told reporters on Capitol Hill this week. When people find out about some of the provisions in the bill, such as sending direct payments to people in jail, theyre going to be outraged, he added.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said that Republicans may support some of the provisions, such as direct payments or the funding to boost COVID-19 vaccine administration and distribution.

Biden said in a primetime address Thursday that the bill will enable the reopening of more schools as he projected families being able to gather for cookouts on July 4th if the number of vaccinations continues on its current trajectory.

U.S. Air Force National Guard MSgt. Mathew Ramsey stands by as patient Lance Lloyd receives the COVID-19 vaccine during a community vaccination event in Martinsburg, W.Va., on March 11, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

He also described the package as a historic piece of legislation that delivers immediate relief to millions of people before trumpeting the direct payments.

In the coming weeks and months, Ill be traveling, along with the first lady, the vice president, the second gentleman, and members of my Cabinet, to speak directly to you, to tell you the truth about how the American Rescue Plan meets the moment. And if it fails at any [point], I will acknowledge that it failed. But it will not, he said.

Harris on the same day told a roundtable in Washington that the relief package will lift half of Americans children living in poverty, out of poverty.

Bidens speech drew criticism from many Republicans, who noted he didnt give credit for former President Donald Trumps administration for launching the race to develop COVID-19 vaccines. There were also shots at his relief package.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, echoing many GOP legislators, referred to the bill as a boondoggle disguised as COVID relief, adding in a statement: Biden and Democrats in Congress chose to pass a partisan bill where only 9 percent of the money is targeted to fighting the pandemic, all while continuing to ignore the suffering of American families that are struggling while out of work and out of school.

Biden flew to his home in Delaware on Friday, ignoring shouted questions about whether New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign, and has no scheduled events this weekend. Vice President Kamala Harris remains in Washington but also has no events on her schedule.
The U.S. will restore full humanitarian assistance funding to areas of rebel-held northern Yemen to help millions on the brink of famine, the State Department announced on Friday.

Why it matters: "Fighting and massive displacement of people, crippling fuel shortages and rising food prices have 50,000 Yemenis already caught up in famine and 5 million more a step away from it, the United Nations says," per AP.

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Roughly 400,000 children in the country under age 5 are at risk of dying from malnutrition, according to U.N. projections.

Context: Fridays announcement comes almost a year after the Trump administration halted some aid to the country, claiming that Houthis were diverting the foreign assistance for themselves.

The renewed U.S. humanitarian support comes with additional monitoring and measures to ensure the rebels do not interfere with the aid, a senior official for humanitarian assistance at the U.S. AID told AP.

What they're saying: The United States supports the free flow of fuel, food, and other essential goods into Yemen," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Friday. "However, doing so requires not only that goods pass smoothly through ports, but also that they are allowed to pass through the country freely, including through areas under Houthi control.

Tim Lenderking, U.N. special envoy for Yemen, expressed concern that the Houthi rebels were blocking fuel deliveries to a main port and "focusing on fighting to capture more territory," AP writes.

"Tragically, and somewhat confusingly for me, it appears that the Houthis are prioritizing a military campaign to seize central Marib province," Lenderking added.

Flashback: The civil war in Yemen began in 2014 when Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and territory in the north. Saudi Arabia in 2015 tried to force the rebels out through an unsuccessful air strike.

Story continues

What to watch: The Biden administration aims to revive U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the nation's conflict, reversing previous administrations support for the Saudi-led military offensive that sought to roll back the Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

So far, "The rebels have shown no sign of relenting despite Bidens diplomatic overtures, adding to tensions between the U.S. and its strategic partner Saudi Arabia," AP writes.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has announced an investigation into the lawfulness of privatization of strategic enterprises and subsoil deposits in the country by individuals.

"Those, who believed that a controlling stake in strategic defense enterprises, in particular Motor Sich, may end up with not the state, but in private hands, and land and subsoil deposits that belong to the people of Ukraine may also be seized, should also receive a fair and legitimate reaction from Ukraine. How did this happen? Again it is a rhetorical question. But the answers will be found by law enforcement agencies, together with the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources," Zelensky said in a video message posted on his Facebook page on Friday evening.

"Citizens should know: how and on what conditions a number of people in Ukraine received certain resources. Those who did it legally have nothing to fear. And to establish this, a most detailed audit will be carried out, the results of which will be presented to society. I am sure that these answers should not be rhetorical, but concrete, exhaustive and well-reasoned  both for citizens and for possible future court cases," the head of the Ukrainian state said.

At the same time, according to him, the names "do not make any difference." "One thing is important - are you ready to work legally and transparently or do you want to continue to create monopolies, control the media, influence deputies and other civil servants? The first is welcome. The second ends," Zelensky stressed.

According to him, what is happening in the country can be described by words "Ukraine fights back." "Fights all those who have been dealing blows to it for many years, taking advantage of its weakness, lack of law, order and most importantly  justice  While you and I believed that justice existed, and tried unsuccessfully to find it, some appropriated state resources, subsoil, strategic enterprises, pipelines, and even, as it turned out, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. In a word - everything in sight," said the president, noting that restoring justice in Ukraine was one of his key promises.

In this context, he also recalled the blocking of assets, property, the cancellation of licenses and permits of enterprises associated with MP of the Opposition Platform - For Life faction Viktor Medvedchuk, as well as the order to return the PrykarpatZakhidTrans oil pipeline into state ownership.

"All this is by no means a complete list of steps taken by the state recently. And not the final list of measures that will be taken by the state in the near future. I emphasize - taken by our state, at our discretion, in accordance with our duty, and not because someone called us," Zelensky said.
The finance minister Conor Murphy has announced the creation of two new financial watchdogs to scrutinise Stormont spending.

Mr Murphy said the establishment of a Fiscal Council and the Fiscal Commission represents a real step forward for public finances.

He explained the Fiscal Council will be a stand-alone and permanent body, focusing initially on the Executives draft 2021-22 budget and would bring greater transparency and independent scrutiny.

The Fiscal Commission will conduct a review of Stormonts fiscal powers, a process which has already taken place in the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken called it a welcome chance for Stormont to put its house in order.

As Chair of the Finance Committee it is good to hear, after a delay of a year, that the Fiscal Council is finally being established, he said.

The need to critically and independently examine our budget process, how our Departments allocate funding and, above all, to bring clarity to how our Executive manages our multi-billion-pound budget has never been greater.

He added: The question as to whether Northern Ireland is ready yet to set further tax raising powers, without first putting and then demonstrating it can put its house in order is a moot one; the role of a Fiscal Commission will require considerable scrutiny.

Both bodies will be made up of a panel of experts with the Fiscal Council to be headed by Sir Robert Chote, who chaired the Office of Budget Responsibility over the last decade.

The Fiscal Commission will be led by Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
Italian premier Mario Draghi speaks after visiting a Covid-19 vaccination centre, at the Rome Leonardo Da Vinci airport in Fiumicino (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Pool Photo via AP)

Italys new premier has pledged to triple the number of daily vaccinations administered throughout the country as coronavirus cases rise.

Mario Draghi inspected a vaccination centre at Romes Leonardo da Vinci airport on Friday and noted the pace, now running 170,000 shots daily, had picked up this month.

Italys medicines agency blocked the use of one batch of AstraZeneca vaccines, after several grave adverse events were reported, Mr Draghi said, describing it as a precautional decision in line with other European nations.

Meanwhile, Italy is tightening Covid-19 restrictions for Easter weekend as many hospitals warn they are running out of ICU beds for coronavirus patients.

The government decided at a Cabinet meeting the entire nation will be under strict red zone rules during the Easter weekend of April 3-5.

The day after Easter, called Little Easter, is a national holiday when many Italians travel or gather in parks and at beaches for picnics with friends and families. Travel between regions is already banned under previous restrictions.
Kogi, Abia, Imo and Benue are the states yet to show any sign of willingness to begin implementation of the national minimum wage in their...

Kogi, Abia, Imo and Benue are the states yet to show any sign of willingness to begin implementation of the national minimum wage in their states.

The list, which is in the custody of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), highlights the implementation stages of the national wage in all the states of the federation.

Deputy General Secretary of NLC, Bello Ismail, told The Guardian in Abuja that while most states are paying workers salaries, what is paid is not in tandem with agreed terms with state councils.

He said: As far as the salaries of workers are concerned, most state governments are paying. Where we have a challenge is how much of the salaries are paid.

In some states, they pay in percentages. In such a state, it is difficult to accuse such states of not paying, but what are they paying? In that context, labour cannot accuse state governments of not paying salaries, but some are not paying salaries in full.

But labour recognises states, such as Lagos, Jigawa and Akwa Ibom for doing very well as far as payment of salaries is concerned.

In the list, no substantial progress has been made by the governments of Abia, Kogi, Benue and Imo states, while Kano recently came out to declare its inability to continue the implementation, citing the ravaging effects of COVID-19 on its finances.

Bello disclosed that the outbreak of COVID-19 since March last year slowed the process of minimum wage negotiation, adding: All the negotiations that were on had to be put on hold because of the pandemic. We have not been able to kick-start the process since then. Negotiations were on in states like Yobe and Kebbi until COVID-19 came.

He hinted that the economic instability induced by COVID-19 was cited by most state governments for restricting minimum wage implementation to level one to six while resisting extending it to other levels of service.

States that fall within this category include Sokoto, Bauchi and Kwara, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is yet to commence the implementation of the new wage.

Also, most states are reluctant to pay the arrears, citing a lack of resources.

Conflicting reports are trailing the issue in Imo State. While the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma, Oguwike Nwachuku, insisted that his boss had approved the payment of the N30, 000 minimum wage for workers in the state, with effect from January, this year.

Nwachuku, said: Yes, the governor has approved payment of N30, 000 minimum wage and payment started in January. If you go to the Head of Service and Accountant General in the state, you will see it.

But some senior workers tdisclsoed that they were yet to receive any money on top of what they usually receive, rather about N3, 000 was being deducted from their salaries.

A few junior workers explained that they only received about N10, 000 additionally to their pay package in January, stressing that they did not enjoy such last month, while others who have issues with the automated payroll system accused the government of not paying them since February 2020.

A senior worker on Grade Level 13 confided in The Guardian: We have not seen any additional money in our salaries, instead, the state government is deducting N3, 000. It is not static; it varies.

Another junior worker on level 5, who pleaded anonymity, said she only received an additional N10, 000 last January, but nothing extra was received last month, adding: As far as I am concerned, it is not minimum wage payment.

Efforts to reach the state NLC Chairman, Austin Chilapku, proved abortive, as his phone number was switched off at press time.

It would be recalled that Uzodimma, in his 2021 Appropriation Bill last December, which has been passed and assented to, promised to start payment of the new wage in January this year.

In Abia, the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, and state Chairman of NLC, Uchenna Obigwe, insisted that the state government was not defaulting in payment of the wage to its workers.

President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, insisted that the minimum wage is a national law that no state government can decline to implement.

Meanwhile, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has observed with deep concerns, the non-implementation of the minimum wage of N30, 000 for Nigerian workers by some state government since April 2019, when the National Minimum Wage Act, as amended, was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It expressed worry that some state governments are deploying different antics to shy away from this responsibility by deliberately delaying the negotiation process with their labour unions, calling on the defaulting state governments to urgently implement the wage for their workers, as anything contrary is clearly unlawful and a breach of the Act, which can lead to industrial disharmony in the affected states.

Its General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, told The Guardian in Abuja that it was dangerous for state councils to negotiate terms that are out of the national framework, as contained in the Act.

He also described as nonsensical, arguments that wages should be decentralised in the country because the economic realities prevailing in states are not the same, saying: As far as I know, such argument, especially from government officials, is nonsensical.

So, because the cost of living is higher in Lagos than Oyo, the wage that workers in Oyo take should be lower than that of Lagos? That argument cannot be further from the realities. We all know that the state governors, state legislators and other government officials receive virtually the same wages.

Why cant we, therefore, say that the governor of Yobe State should take less remuneration than that of Bayelsa or Lagos? Why are all the members of the Houses of Assemblies in all the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, collecting the same amount? Is that not correct?

Why would anybody come with the argument of prevailing economic circumstances to determine the minimum wage in Nigeria? Why is it that the wages of workers that is not up to 10 per cent of what is paid as emoluments of workers always become the problem?

If we tabulate it, is what government functionaries are collecting not much more than that of workers? The salary and allowances of one governor can offset the salaries of thousands of workers. We are not talking about deputy governors, speakers of the state Assemblies, their deputies and principal officers of the House.

What about numerous special advisers, senior special advisers and other advisers that advise special advisers? What about overseas trips and nebulous training? There is so much waste in this country.

If various arms of government reduce wastages, there will be so much money that paying workers will never be a problem. To my mind, it is not lack of money that is our problem; it is the love for wastages and wickedness in the high places.

Meanwhile, pioneer director-general of the Bureau for Public Service Reform (BPSR), Dr. Goke Adegoroye, has cautioned the organised labour against weaponising industrial action.

He said: The question we need to ask ourselves is: How sincere and genuine is labour in using the strike to drive their demands. Strike by labour has become an instrument of getting the attention of those who contribute dues and check-off to them so that it would look like they are doing something.

In many cases, the organised labour knows that they are not right, but they want to use the strike to justify their election.

The painful thing is that when they strike and government attempts to apply the principle of no-work, no-pay, they say no. Anywhere in the world when you decide to go on strike, you should be ready to take care of yourself from the dues check-off during the period. That is how it is done in any civilised society.

But in Nigeria, they will go on strike without rendering any service and still demand a salary. They are a lot of people been affected by labour strikes. We need to search our conscience each time we talking about pay or labour issue, we should put ourselves in the position of Nigeria. If we see ourselves as Nigeria, can we say we are doing the right thing?

Labour is shouting that N30, 000 is small, but there are a lot of people earning less than that. So, who will agitate on their behalf? This is a time for us to pity Nigeria. Nigeria is our host. We need to be conscious enough.

Adegoroye insisted that the government determining the right workforce commensurate with certain tasks is key in ensuring there is social justice, adding: Salary is not really the thing. Of course, you need to pay people enough, so that they can live in dignity, so they wont be tempted to steal and those who are honest will continue to have the courage, to be honest.

But then, we must also be able to determine the right workforce we need for the job we are doing. If we cannot determine that and you bring so many people more than the number that is required, how do you expect things to work, he asked rhetorically.
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At least 12 people were killed in Myanmar after violent crackdowns on anti-coup protesters on Saturday, making it one of the deadliest days since the military regime took power last month.

Four protesters were killed, and 19 others were injured with nearly half of them in critical condition in Sein Pan ward of Mandalay, the nations second largest city, according to authorities. Witnesses and local media outlets said three protesters were killed in Yangon overnight, two died in the Bago region and one protester was shot dead in the Magway region.

The death toll was 81 as of Friday, according to the UN Human Rights Office, with the latest fatalities yet to be tallied. On March 3, 21 protesters were killed, while 12 died in crackdowns on March 11.

Demonstrators continued to take to the streets in Mandalay on Saturday evening, with tens of thousands of engineers and engineering students chanting for an end to military dictatorship and the release of detained leaders including democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Clover Moore has promised to serve out a full term if re-elected as Sydney lord mayor  and says her successor will be a member of her council ticket this year.

The 75-year-old noted that by the time the election is held in September  delayed by 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic  she will effectively already have done a year of the term.

Were well and truly into the work, she said. Asked if that meant she would stay on as mayor until the following election in 2024, she said: Oh yes.

Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore has vowed to serve out a full term if she is elected for the fifth time later this year. Credit:Steven Siewert

March 27 will mark 17 years since Cr Moore was elected as lord mayor in 2004. At that time, she was also the state MP for the seat of Bligh, later renamed Sydney - a role she held until 2012 when the state government forced her to choose between the two.
Residents group want judicial review of An Bord Pleanalas granting of planning permission to a controversial Fosterstown project

A residents group in Swords has been formed to launch an appeal against the granting of permission for a large apartment complex at Fosterstown in Swords.

The South Swords Residents Group are raising money to fund their bid for a judicial review of An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant the development planning permission.

The group says its aim is to 'put forward and secure a plan for responsible use of the Fosterstown land that is aligned with Fosterstown Masterplan for the area'.

The group laid out its aims on a gofundme page which has been set up to raise a target of 35,000.

At the time of writing, the page was only four days old and had already raised 3,750 for the cause.

The group says that despite 181 local objections to the development, An Bord Pleanala granted the controversial project planning permission, which will see a 265-apartment complex built in Fosterstown, Swords.

The group say they are not against 'sustainable development' but claim this project is not in keeping with the masterplan for the area.

Cllr Dean Mulligan (I4C) has encouraged his social media followers to back the move by the new residents group and has made his own objections to the project known.

The group are not only appealing for funds but for volunteers to join them.
New Delhi:

The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued a notice to Jharkhand government over the deaths of 52 children at MGM hospital of Jamshedpur.

The NHRC also asked union health ministry to issue suitable directions to all states and union territories to check recurrence of such incidents.

At least 52 infants died in last one month in Jamshedpurs Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College hospital.

As per ANI report, the superintendent of MGM hospital had said malnutrition is the reason behind the deaths. The state has been facing the problem of malnutrition among kids, and latest figure added insult to injury.

Also Read | Jharkhand: 52 infants die in last one month in Jamshedpurs MGM hospital

The development came on the close heels of Gorakhpur tragedy where 30 kids died due to lack of oxygen.

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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Minneapolis City is set to pay the family of George Floyd a sum of $27 million to settle a civil lawsuit over the man's death in police custody.

Floyd was killed after former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the Black man's neck.

Chauvin is in the middle of a murder trial as jury selection continues, according to an Associated Press report.

Floyd family attorney Ben Crump said it was the largest pretrial settlement ever for a civil rights claim. Crump thanked the city leaders for showing their care to George Floyd.

"This makes a statement that George Floyd deserved better than what we witnessed on May 25, 2020, that George Floyd's life mattered, and that by extension, Black lives matter," Crump said as U.S. News reported.

Philonise Floyd, George's brother, said that even if his brother is no longer here, he is with him in his heart.

Council members met privately before they came out with a decision. And then they unanimously vote for the massive payout when they returned to the public session.

The huge settlement amount was even higher than the $20 million the city agreed two years ago to give to the family of a white woman killed by a cop.

L. Chris Stewart said the amount of a settlement changes evaluations and civil rights for a Black individual when they die. Steward is another attorney working with George Floyd's family.

The settlement approved by the council includes $500,000 for the south Minneapolis neighborhood. The said area includes the 38th and Chicago intersection that was blocked with barricades since George Floyd's death.

However, the city did not specifically say how the money will be spent.

In a federal civil rights lawsuit filed against the city and four police officers charged in Floyd's death last July, his family said the former cops violated Floyd's rights when they restrained him, and the city allowed the culture of racism, excessive force, and impunity to thrive in its police force.

RELATED ARTICLE: Former Police Officer Derek Chauvin Charged With George Floyd's Killing Released on Bond

George Floyd's Case

George Floyd was announced dead on May 25 after Chauvin pressed his knee on his neck for nine minutes. His death triggered protests in Minneapolis and other states.

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office involved Neal Katyal in the case to help with the prosecution. Katyal was a former solicitor general who has handled cases before the Supreme Court, according to an AFP News report.

Katyal said the trial is a landmark criminal case, saying it is one of the most important in the nation's history.

"The fact that a police officer has been charged criminally for an abusive use of force, that in and of itself is an outlier," Ashley Heiberger, a former police officer now working as an advisor on police practices, said in a report.

The three other police officers involved in the case are Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. They are set to face lesser charges, and they will be tried separately.

Meanwhile, Chauvin was released from prison on bail in the fall. On Thursday, a judge reinstated a third-degree murder charge against him.

Chauvin is also charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree murder. He is seen to plead not guilty to all charges.

His lawyer, Eric Nelson, said that Chauvin acted in accordance with MPD policy, citing his training and duties as a licensed peace officer. Nelson noted that Chauvin only did what he was trained to do at the time.

READ MORE: George Floyd Suspect Derek Chauvin Beats 3rd-Degree Murder Charge Against Him

WATCH: George Floyd's Family Speaks After $27 Million Settlement Deal With Minneapolis - From Bloomberg Quicktake: Now





CARLSBAD, Calif.  Thousands of California parents who want to see their students return to school have experienced an emotional roller coaster this week, with many saying its hard to put any trust in the governments conflicting narrative and decisions on school reopenings.

In early March, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $6.6 billion incentive plan, declaring that it was time for kids to safely return to the classroom. But just six days into the push, one of his health department appointees denied the applications of three San Diego-area school districts to expand in-person learning, overturning a decision by the top county public health official who had approved the districts opening plans two weeks ago.

The decision dashed the hopes of parents and local school officials pressing to increase the number of students allowed in the classroom. Prior to the ruling, the districts were so confident about their prospects for expanding in-classroom learning that they planned to send children to school starting this past Monday one-day a week with hopes of quickly increasing the number of days in the month ahead. (The plans also allowed for students to learn at home virtually if parents prefer and some teachers with COVID concerns and co-morbidities to continue teaching remotely.)

Dr. Naomi Bardach, a pediatrician and head of the states Safe Schools for All Team, refused to approve the expanded opening plans or give the districts the opportunity to appeal to comply with the new testing requirements outlined in her denial. Bardach cited two reasons for decision: She asserted that the districts dont have asymptomatic testing protocols in place; and she said the percentage of students on secondary campuses on Jan. 14 was too low, so there isnt a solid enough track record to reopen. When the districts asked if they could add the testing protocols, Bardach told them her decision was final.

Ginny Merrifield, the executive director of the Parent Association of North County, which has pushed for reopening, called the decision shocking and unconscionable, arguing that it amounted to a Catch-22 that they couldnt open because there werent 25% of students in the classrooms before the state shut down area schools during a spike in COVID cases last fall. Some officials at districts that were denied estimated they had roughly 20% of their students on campus back then and never knew that there would be a 25% threshold to expand. At least some of the districts seeking the waivers had tried to return to in-classroom learning more broadly in early January but paused their plans when teacher unions threatened litigation.

Michael Allman, a trustee of the San Dieguito Union High School District, told RealClearPolitics that this double bind is what drove the superintendents the most crazy.

Bardach has stood firm amid a fierce backlash about it on social media.

California is committed to the safe reopening of schools, as reflected in new reopening dates announced every day, a spokesman for the California Public Health Department said in an emailed explanation to RCP. But the shortest path isnt always the fastest one  we must ensure that the proper safety measures are in place so that schools can both reopen and stay open.

The spokesman said the applications in question were approved with conditions  allowing for schools to bring back groups of 15 students at a time to meet the mental health and academic needs of students most impacted by the pandemic. By allowing only small groups of students on campus, the districts will be better prepared for a successful reopening once the county reaches the red tier, an improved standing from its current purple tier COVID status.

The California government uses the tiers to determine how businesses and schools can operate, and Newsom, who will likely face a recall special election in the fall, announced Thursday that increased vaccinations in several counties, including San Diego, would set them on a course for reaching the red tier Wednesday. (With the final petition deadline looming next Wednesday, recall organizers have hit nearly 2 million signatures, roughly 500,000 more than needed to trigger a special election, which will more than allow for an expected 20% that election officials could throw out as unverifiable.)

Allman and other critics say that Bardachs approval with conditions actually amounted to a full denial because they were already bringing back the groups of 15 students at time and were looking to expand in-classroom attendance. He noted that the local county health officials had visited his districts campuses and signed off on their plans to expand in-classroom learning. He also pointed out that the adjacent school district in the city of Vista is operating at the same level they aimed for because they moved more aggressively to expand in-classroom learning last fall while his and other districts proceeded slightly more cautiously in part because of the union resistance.

Were in identical situations now, but the state is saying Vista can expand, but we cant. Thats discriminatory, he added. It has nothing to do with public health.

Allman and other school reopening advocates cite a flood of new data at the national, state and district levels  finding that all students experiencing school by Zoom or other remote methods are falling behind in their studies, with students of color and high-poverty communities suffering bigger setbacks.

The social media pushback against Bardach has included an allegation that the health official has a conflict of interest because her husband, Jonathan Katzman, serves as the chief product officer at the Minerva Project, a company that offers virtual learning services and has touted itself as uniquely suited to help academic institutions that have been closed during the pandemic. A Minerva spokesman said the companys online services dont pose a conflict of interest for Bardachs family because the company has no contracts at any level of the California government and has only begun to offer a revamped high school curriculum this past fall with two pilots schools -- neither of which is located in California.

We do not enable any high school to use our services mid-year. We only work with high schools on contracts that last 10 years (well past any impact of the pandemic) and we have no offerings for middle schools of any kind, company spokesman Ben Nelson told RCP. Much of our current work is in higher education and professional learning.

Kate Folmar, spokesman for the California Health and Human Services Agency, also defended Bardach against the criticism, arguing that it is both false and offensive to suggest that Dr. Bardach is motivated by anything other than a desire to safely reopen schools.

In addition, Dr. Bardach is one member of a cross-agency team that reviews school reopening plans, Folmar added. She is not the sole decision maker. This response failed to satisfy some parents who argued that high school students will have a hard time making up the lost classroom time this year and some of the parents of these students could look to Minervas programs to try to make up the education gap over the summer.

There should be no appearance of impropriety for an appointed official who now has control over millions of students, one San Diego-area parent tweeted. Thousands of doctors to choose from, and @GavinNewsom could not find ONE without any ties to companies that might be affiliated with remote learning?

Area parents are on edge after two recent suicides at separate North County San Diego high schools, tragic incidents they believe are the result of social isolation (schools have been mostly closed in the area for roughly a year). Fed up students have gathered on sidewalks at busy intersections waving signs demanding that schools open now and asking, How many more suicides are enough?

While directly linking teen suicides to school closings is impossible, recent studies have shown a sharp increase in mental health emergencies during the pandemic. In Clark County, Nevadas largest county, 18 students took their lives by mid-December last year, pushing the local school district to ramp up plans to bring students back as quickly as possible even as the area continues to post high numbers of COVID cases and deaths.

On Thursday, three more San Diego area parents filed suit against the San Diego Unified School District, the states second largest, for failing to provide enough in-person learning and sufficient access to virtual teaching. The lawsuit referenced a state bill Newsom signed last summer stating that school districts and charter schools shall offer in person instruction, and may offer distance learning. The lawsuit contends that San Diego Unified violated the law because it hasnt offered in-classroom learning for the vast majority of its students.

San Diego officials have said they are planning to reopen with hybrid instructions for all grade levels the week of April 12 to allow for teachers to get vaccinated and for the country to hit the red tier. Newsom has set aside 10% of all vaccine doses for teachers across the state.

As the school districts await their expected red-tier status with its looser requirements for reopening, Allman is also looking to the judicial system for answers. He could have some soon. The Parents Association of North County previously sued Newsom and state health officials to overturn reopening restrictions on middle and high school students. A San Diego County Superior Court judge is expected to render a decision early next week.

Newsoms office hasnt responded to RCPs questions regarding why he allowed Bardach, one of his appointees, to reject the school district applications, a move that appeared to undermine his school reopening push.

Despite the widespread confusion and consternation among parents and school administrators, Newsom, in his state of the state address Wednesday night, argued that the opposite is true. He said his administration is providing something that the pandemic had upended when it comes to reopening schools and businesses and providing vaccinations: Now we are providing certainty, he declared during a speech delivered in an empty Dodger Stadium. Certainty that we are safely vaccinating Californians as quickly as possible. Certainty that we are safely reopening our economy. Certainty that we are safely getting our kids back in classrooms.

The speech coincided with news breaking that the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest public school system in the nation, had struck a deal with the teachers union to bring back in-class instruction. It was a breakthrough after weeks of impasse and a recent overwhelming union vote backing a refusal to return unless a number of their conditions were met, including providing enough vaccinations for teachers and other school staff.

Newsoms likely recall challengers have seized on the mixed messages his administration is sending on school reopenings. On Thursday, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican, said Newsom is ill-equipped to handle the multiple crises currently plaguing the state and is failing to stand up to the teachers unions.

Since officially launching his campaign for governor last month, Faulconer has been holding press events in front of schools, hitting Newsom over the reopening issue. Kids in all grade levels, in all school districts, deserve to be back in school now, Faulconer said. The partial reopening plan announced by Gavin Newsom  isnt even close to good enough for our kids and teachers.
As we have noted several times, President Biden appears to be in a state of age-related mental decline. The mainstream media are playing the part of the courtiers and townsfolk in The emperors new clothes. Along comes historian and Spectator deputy editor Dominic Green to play the part of the little child in the Telegraph column President Biden is crumbling before our eyes. Here is the top half:

Joe Bidens decline has become so painful to see and so embarrassing to watch that it feels cruel to mention it. But its even more cruel that Bidens team act as if its not happening, and most of Americas media look the other way.

On Thursday night, Biden marked the first anniversary of the Covid-19 shutdowns and his fiftieth day in the White House by giving the first televised address of his presidency. He hadnt been seen in public for three days.

From the moment he wheezed up to the lectern and peered into the camera, you could tell Biden was on top form: croaky sentiment, sporadic belligerence, and only the occasional moment when he looked oddly distant and perplexed.

He got through twenty minutes, then tottered off without taking any questions. This is how low the bar now is for Biden. And we can see how hard Biden has to fight, and what a long run-up he requires, if he is to clear it.

We can see it in his struggle to follow the simple lines on his autocue, and in his bungling of the simplest ad-libs. We see it in the clips of his increasingly desperate handlers trying to block him from questions at his rare and carefully managed appearances before the cameras. Most of all, we see it in his eyes.

What am I doing here? Biden asked after fumbling his autocue lines in an address in Texas in late February. He reached for the cue cards that are now his constant companion. Im gonna lose track here.

Bidens supporters call him gaffe-prone[.] Its true: hes always thought with his mouth open. Its also true that he bravely overcame a speech impediment in childhood, and that anxiety and age can cause a stutter to recur. But these arent gaffes or stutters.

Compare how he moves and sounds now to how he was a year ago, let alone five years ago. Biden looks and sounds frail. He seems visibly distressed at his inability to carry out the simplest requirements of office  and at a time when the requirements are simpler than usual.
Archbishop Romulo Valles highlights the 5th centenary celebration of the Christian faith in the Philippines, which will be officially inaugurated on Easter Sunday. Pope Francis is anticipating the occasion with a Mass in St. Peters Basilica in Rome on Sunday, 14 March.

By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis will mark 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines with a Holy Mass on Sunday in St. Peters Basilica. Due to the pandemic, only a limited number of faithful will be allowed at the 10 am (Rome time) Mass on 14 March.

The Christian faith that arrived in the Philippines 500 years ago, is very much alive today in the joyful witness to evangelical charity by Catholics, even in hard times, says Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The Philippine Church has been preparing for this great jubilee celebration for 9 years, with each year having a specific theme.



It all began when the great 16th-century Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, who led a Spanish expedition to the so-called East Indies, 1519 to 1522, reached what is today known as the Philippines on 16 March 1521. His sailors had planned to remain there for a month and a half. It is believed that during that time, the first Mass was celebrated on Filipino soil on March 31, 1521, on the island of Limasawa, south of Leyte. Some 800 were baptized to form the first Catholic community.

Centenary celebrations

The Catholic Church in the Philippines has chosen Easter Sunday, 4 April, to formally inaugurate the year-long celebration of the 5th centenary. On that occasion, in a ceremony, Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), will flag off the opening of the Holy Doors of pilgrim churches across the nation. The theme of the jubilee celebration is Gifted to Give.

Joyful faith

Faith is a gift from God. And so, we are joyful in this special jubilee year, Archbishop Valles said. He explained to Vatican Radio that they are also joyful because they have experienced that faith has given meaning to life. In a sense, faith helps us to navigate through the journey of life, and this faith is lived not only individually but also in the family and in the community.

Witnessing to faith in Jesus in the Asian context, according to Pope Francis, Archbishop Valles said, means to show the joy of believing. It is joyful to believe and entrust our lives to Jesus. Life in the Philippines, he said, is difficult but faith helps them to be strong amidst the storms of life and forge ahead, assured that the Lord with them. This is the reason behind the joy of the 500 years of the Christian faith in the Philippines - the joy of living in the Lord.

Commitment to evangelize

This faith also entails the duty to evangelize. But even before we can evangelize, he explained, we first need to deeply realize and appreciate that we are gifted - gifted with faith from the Lord.

Listen to Archbishop Romulo Valles

That is why our theme for the celebration is Gifted to Give, he said. With the awareness that you are gifted, also comes the desire to share this faith. The entire program of the celebration of the jubilee year, the archbishop said, is centred around this theme of reviewing and appreciating again the gift of faith, and realizing the duty of the mission to share this faith.

Five hundred years ago, we had that first encounter of faith, the Philippine bishops president said. The first seed of faith was planted in their forefathers, and today the Church in the Philippines is trying to help the faithful not only to encounter Jesus personally but also to meet Him in those they serve, especially the needy, the poor and the marginalized.

Charity amid hard times

However, in the present context of the pandemic, Archbishop Valles said, it is difficult to witness to evangelical charity. He spoke about the bad times the Filipinos have been going through over the past two years.

At the end of 2019, there were strong earthquakes in the Philippines, killing many lives and destroying numerous homes. At the start of 2020, another volcano erupted near Manila, causing the evacuation of thousands of people. By March of that year, the Covid-19 pandemic struck the Philippines. The end of the year saw 2 strong typhoons.

Im just amazed at our people and our churches, the CBCP president wondered. It was a difficult situation but I would believe that the Church in the Philippines, in a very silent way, became a witness to evangelical charity.

Both the rich and the poor went out to help the victims of these tragedies. During the pandemic, the dioceses organized in all the parishes the delivery of food packs to poor families who lost the means of their livelihood.

In his own Archdiocese of Davao, Archbishop Valles pointed out, he was very hesitant to make a public appeal to help poor families whose breadwinners lost their jobs but was touched by the response of the people. It is the same story in other dioceses of the Philippines, he said.

Recently, when the vaccination programme kicked off in the Philippines, churches volunteered to offer the government their facilities as vaccination centers, especially in remote areas. Hence, when asked to be witnesses to evangelical charity, to be a house with open doors that offers hope and strength, Archbishop Valles said they stood up to the challenge. He said they still continue to be a Church that, above all, is able to offer charity, mercy and compassion in times of great difficulty.
The Government of India will sell its entire stake in Tata Communications through an offer for sale and the rest to Tata Son's investment arm Panatone Finvest.

In a regulatory filing on Friday (12 March 2021), Tata Communications announced the signing of amendment agreement between Government of India, Panatone Finvest, Tata Sons and the company for sale of the entire shareholding in the company by the Government of India.

Currently, the government holds 26.12% stake in Tata Communications, Panatone Finvest 34.8% and Tata Sons 14.07%, respectively.

As an initial step, the government will sell up to 4,59,46,885 equity shares, forming 16.12% equity shareholding of the company through an offer for sale (OFS) through the stock exchange.

Immediately after the OFS, the government shall sell the remaining equity shares held by it in the company to Panatone. The price of equity shares to be sold to Panatone will be arrived at by dividing the aggregate of the product of the number of equity shares sold (under the OFS) and the corresponding price at which such equity share is sold, by the total number of equity shares sold (under the OFS).

Upon completion of aforesaid transactions, the government will cease to be a shareholder of the company.

In view of the above, the government, Panatone, Tata Sons and the company entered into an amendment agreement with regard to amending the shareholders' agreement dated 13 February 2002 which was entered into at the time of disinvestment by the government in 2002 between the Government and Panatone and to record the terms and conditions for transfer of the agreed percentage of shares of the company held by the government to Panatone.

Public sector VSNL was privatised in the year 2002 by disinvesting 25% shareholding along with transfer of management control to the strategic partner, Panatone Finvest. Following the strategic disinvestment, the name of the company was changed to Tata Communications.

Shares of Tata Communications fell 0.21% to close at Rs 1289.75 Friday.

Tata Communications is an Indian telecommunications company. On a consolidated basis, the company posted 428.1% jump in net profit to Rs 309.15 crore on a 0.1% decline in net sales to Rs 4,222.83 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a report compiled by a UK mattress firm, Belfast was picked as the most sleep-deprived city in the UK

Move over New York, Belfast has been officially named as the new city that never sleeps.

In a report compiled by a UK mattress firm, Belfast was picked as the most sleep-deprived city in the UK.

Google search terms relating to sleep deprivation were analysed in the UK's 20 most populated cities, including phrases like "can't sleep" and "insomnia".

Belfast had the highest result with 1,931 relevant online searches per 100,000 people, with residents 38% more likely to seek out help online than the average score across other cities.

Newcastle Upon Tyne was second with 1,855 searches per 100,000 people while London was the lowest at 693.

The report also suggests that anxiety surrounding the pandemic may have contributed to an increase in sleeping problems, informally known by researchers as "Coronasomnia".

Between the start of 2020 and 2021, searches for sleep-deprived terms were said to have increased by nearly a third (30%).

Birmingham experienced the biggest increase with a 51% surge in relevant searches since the pandemic started.

This was closely followed by Leicester which saw a 50% increase, with London, Glasgow and Bristol also increasing their searches by 38%.

A survey conducted by The Sleep Charity UK in April last year also concluded the pandemic was having a serious impact on sleep.

Out of 2,700 people, close to half (43%) said they were finding it hard to sleep with unease around the pandemic also affecting three quarters of people (75%).

Advice from the NHS to combat insomnia includes keeping regular sleeping hours, with going to bed and getting up at the same time each day can help to programme the body to sleep.

Creating a restful sleeping environment can be helped by controlling temperature, lighting and noise in the bedroom as well as moving pets to another room at night.

Regular exercise to relieve stress, avoiding cigarettes, cutting down on caffeine and avoiding over indulgence in food or alcohol are also recommended.

Relaxation techniques before going to bed can include taking a warm bath, listening to quiet, soothing music or doing some gentle yoga.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 18:18:17|Editor: huaxia

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Gabon's Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (3rd R), Minister of Foreign Affairs Pacome Moubelet Boubeya (2nd R), Minister of Health Guy Patrick Obiang Ndong (1st R) and Chinese Ambassador to Gabon Hu Changchun (2nd L) received the China-aided Sinopharm vaccines at the airport in Libreville on March 12, 2021. (Xinhua)



The first batch of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Libreville, the Gabonese capital on Friday, the first anniversary of the start of the pandemic in the central African country.

LIBREVILLE, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Libreville, the Gabonese capital on Friday, the first anniversary of the start of the pandemic in the central African country.

Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, accompanied by two ministers and the Chinese Ambassador Hu Changchun, welcomed the arrival of the cargo at the airport.

China responded quickly to the Gabonese government's request for vaccines and was the first country to do so, fully demonstrating the brotherhood between the two countries, said Ossouka Raponda.

The China-aided Sinopharm vaccines arrived at the airport in Libreville, Gabon, on March 12, 2021. (Xinhua)



Gabon is confident in the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines, she said, adding that with the support of China, Gabon will surely overcome the epidemic.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba said Friday on social media that the national vaccination campaign was about to start and that healthcare workers, security forces, people at risk and the elderly will be the first to benefit from it.

The aid demonstrates the deep traditional friendship and the great political trust between the two countries. China is actively implementing the promise to make its vaccines an accessible and affordable global public good for developing countries and is taking concrete steps to build a closer China-Africa community of common destiny and a closer global health community, said Ambassador Hu.

Gabon reported its first case of infection on March 12, 2020. As of Friday, it has recorded a total of 16,313 confirmed cases with 93 deaths related to COVID-19. 
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Leaders from the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have united in opposition to security measures at the Capitol that include deployed National Guard troops and fencing around the building due to concerns over cost, the strain on readiness and a lack of clear threat.

A group of Senate leaders on Friday, led by Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, demanded answers from acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman about what justifies the need for fencing around the complex and the continued deployment of National Guard troops.

Since the events of Jan. 6, Capitol Police has repeatedly failed to provide specific, credible threat intelligence to adequately justify the current Capitol security posture, which remains disproportionate to the available intelligence, Inhofe wrote, along with four other Senate leaders.

The letter to Pittman came a day after the House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D- Wash., and ranking Republican Mike Rogers of Alabama issued a joint statement that called for a measured drawdown of the Guard deployment.

We are deeply troubled by the current level of security around the United States Capitol. More than two months after the Jan. 6 attack, the seat of our nations democracy remains heavily protected by guardsmen and surrounded by a perimeter fence, Smith and Rogers said.

The backlash from Congress mounted after Defense Secretary Llyod Austin approved a request this week from the Capitol Police to keep about 2,300 National Guard troops deployed to the Capitol until late May.

About 26,000 Guard members were sent to the Capitol in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the building, and more than 5,200 troops now remain in Washington. The deployment was initially set to end Friday before it was extended.

A 7-foot, chain-link fence topped with razor wire was also erected around the Capitol after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building.

Its entirely unclear to us why the fencing around the complex remains without a specific threat to the Capitol and with the ability to rapidly re-deploy fencing should a threat arise, Inhofe wrote in the letter to Pittman.

The letter was also signed by Richard Shelby of Alabama, Marco Rubio of Florida, Roy Blunt of Missouri, and Rob Portman of Ohio., the ranking Republicans of the Senate Appropriations, Intelligence, Rules and Administration, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees respectively.

The senators also bashed Austin for approving the request to extend the troop deployment without specific underlying threat intelligence and no mission task analysis.

This request will cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars and further strain the Guard and its brave men and women, they wrote.

In order to reestablish a secure and open building, the Republicans wrote to Pittman that the Capitol Police must make improvements by working with other federal and local civilian law enforcement agencies and slammed the continued militarization of Capitol complex security.

However, the senators acknowledged we are cognizant of the generally heightened threat environment in which you are operating.

Smith and Rogers also questioned the security measures. They sent a message to Austin that they want to cut back the number of troops in the city.

We appreciate our guardsmen answering the call to protect the Capitol, but its time for us to review what level of security is required, so they can return home to their families and communities, they said.

The congressmen argued the bolstered security is not warranted at this time and warned of the financial costs associated with this prolonged deployment, though some level of support from the Guard is necessary.

The Senate leaders in their letter Friday to the police chief requested responses to a long list of questions by March 19. The questions span from specifics about the intelligence that the police force received of possible threats in advance of Jan. 6 to the possibility of using surveillance to replace Guard troops.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R- Ky., told reporters Wednesday that the security measures are over the top.

Im extremely uncomfortable with the fact that my constituents cant come to the Capitol. Theres all this razor wire around the complex. It reminds me of my last visit to Kabul, he said.

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In response to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who has said Washington will oppose the release of Irans frozen assets in South Korea until Tehran returns to full compliance to the 2015 nuclear deal from which the U.S. has officially withdrawn, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has advised the new Biden administration that the same failed policy of maximum pressure campaign exercised by the Trump administration will not produce new results.

Repeating the same policy won't yield new results, Zarif tweeted, Tehran Times reported.

Zarif said such remarks are incompatible with the statements by the Biden administration that claims it favors diplomacy.

U.S. claims it favors diplomacy; not Trumps failed policy of maximum pressure, Zarif added in his tweet.

Asked about Irans frozen funds in South Korea at the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Blinken said, If Iran comes back into compliance with its obligations under the nuclear agreement, we would do the same thing.

However, Zarif said, despite Bidens claims, his secretary of state still insists on pursuing the same futile policy with regard to Iran.

"Secretary Blinken boasts about blocking Korea from transferring our own money to the Swiss Channelonly used for food and medicine," Zarif regretted.
Protests in Portland, Oregon, in 2020 (2020 The Associated Press)

Police arrested at least 100 protesters in Portland, Oregon stopping the demonstration in its tracks just minutes after it started.

The Oregonian reported that officers used a tactic called "kettling," where they surround protesters and contain them within a small area. Police told the demonstrators that they were detaining everyone within the perimeter they had created for the "investigation of a crime but didn't specify what crime they were investigating.

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Portland Police tweeted during the police action: "To everyone inside the perimeter: you are being detained for investigation of a crime. You are not free to leave. You must stay where you are and comply with officers' lawful orders."

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Protesters gathered at around 8.30pm on Friday and started marching at around 9pm. Threats of arrests started coming from the police only minutes after the start of the march, with officers arguing that protesters were blocking traffic and saying that they would be subject to arrest, citation or crowd control munitions if they didn't disperse, according to The Oregonian.

Police said at around 9.20pm that they were circling the protesters and that mass arrests were imminent, calling the detentions temporary. A crowd formed on the outside of the police perimeter chanting let them go. Some people outside the police perimeter facing off with officers were reportedly pepper-sprayed by law enforcement.

KGW reported that posts on Twitter were calling people to the scene to protest against the presence of officers from the Department of Homeland Security in the city and calling for accountability for police violence against BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color).

Read more: Its you: Portland mayor blames racist Trump for violence as he warns those seeking retribution for dead MAGA fan

At around 10.15pm, police started letting legal observers and reporters go, giving them pieces of duct tape with their name and birth date to fasten to their chests, and taking pictures of them without their masks on.

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Videographer Adam Costello told The Oregonian that two windows were smashed and that may have led to the officers' show of force. Police followed the march from the get-go and the protest lasted less than 15 minutes.

Portland Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler told the paper in January that if kettling is to be used as a technique it has to be well-planned and well-trained for".

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He added: What I think we should do is have an open conversation with all of our law enforcement partners and legislative leaders about which tools are appropriate and how to best use them.

Im not saying kettling should be off the table, but I think we should have a conversation about how we should use it as a tool and use it appropriately should we decide to use it.

This was the second night in a row that police used force to deal with protesters after using tear gas on Thursday night as some demonstrators were continuing an anti-oil pipeline protest from earlier in the day.

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According to a statement by Portland police, 13 people were charged with crimes.

The Portland Police Bureau said: Officers detained a group of about 100 in a march that devolved into property destruction in the Pearl District.On Friday, March 12, 2021, at about 9pm, a group began marching in the street, blocking vehicular traffic, from Jamison Park, 810 Northwest 11th Avenue. They were advised by loudspeaker that the street was open to vehicular traffic, but the crowd continued to march in the street.

At about 9.15pm., at Northwest 15th Avenue and Northwest Overton Street, some in the crowd began breaking windows. Officers moved in to address the criminal behaviour.

The Bureau added: As the event unfolded, groups formed on the outside and physically challenged officers. Some threw rocks and full cans of beer at officers. Officers deployed some OC (pepper) spray and one impact munition. Arrests were made, including two suspects carrying firearms, wearing body armour and helmets.

Read More

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Thousands of residents living on the eight islets that compose the Cham Islands in the central province of Quang Nam have found themselves dealing daily with the threat of monkey hordes.

Constantly rushing from the forest, the monkeys of the Cham Islands are noisy, steal from local households, and attack local residents.

In one particular instance last month, a group of people having lunch in front of a local homestay were attacked by a troop of monkeys which invaded the kitchen, smashed a rice cooker, and stole bags of fruit.

A brewing feud

Households in Area 4 of Moi Hamlet seem to be the most vulnerable to the monkey menace, with many reporting that theyve forced to eat their meals indoors.

We have tiny holes in our house which I thought only mice could sneak into, but it turns out monkeys can too. They sneak in and take our food and clothing when were not paying attention, said Pham Thi Ngoc Hue, 63.

Behind Hues house is an open space which serves as an outdoor kitchen. Though the area had once been completely open, Ho, Hues husband, has had to secure it with iron grids.

Still, his efforts dont seem to have stopped the monkeys.

Ho said during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year holiday), their internet and TV connections were interrupted when monkeys destroyed the cables on their roof.

Friend turned foe

There was a time when local residents found monkeys to be interesting and friendly. Now, theyre a nightmare with schools, offices, and homes all under constant threat of monkey invasion.

Many locals believe the problem came about in the past two or three years due to the construction of a roads around the islands that have impeded on the monkeys homes and food sources. The menace gets so intensive that residents urge local authorities to find solutions.

There used to be many langsat fruit trees in the forest behind my house. Monkeys came down from the mountain to pick the fruits before returning back to their houses. They rarely interacted with humans, said Le Ngoc Quang of Moi Hamlet.

Now, their presence has become so feared that locals no longer refer to the pests as monkeys but rather as sirs.

Le Thi Bich Cong, another islander, said her neighbor has been the victim of a money attack, with a troop of monkeys stealing rice and fish from the household.

They are smart. They knew to unplug the rice cooker, open the lid, and wait for rice to cool down before eating, said Cong.

A house on Cham Islands has its window covered by iron grids to keep monkeys away.  Photo: Thai Ba Dung/Tuoi Tre

Above average monkey population

According to a study published in 2019, Cham Islands host eight troops of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), equating to hundreds of monkeys and a distribution density much higher than the jungles in other parts of Vietnam.

Nguyen Van Vu, deputy director of Cham Islands Marine Park, said the monkey menace might be due to a combination of factors.

The increase of monkey-human interactions could be due to the impacts of infrastructure development which have led to a decrease in food sources. Being fed by tourists may also be a contributing factor, said Vu.

Tran Huu Vy, director of Greenviet Biodiversity Conservation Center, said the scarcity of food sources, along with an abundance of food from human habitation has made the monkeys more willing to impede of human space.

We have to stop feeding monkeys and must start fencing our homes and covering trash bins so that the monkeys gradually regain their food gathering skills, said Vy.

An altar on Cham Islands is built with two doors to prevent monkeys from stealing offerings.  Photo: Thai Ba Dung/Tuoi Tre

Peculiar altars

Local residents have also set up peculiar altars in front of their houses to deter monkeys.

Each of these altars has two doors locked in order to prevent monkeys from stealing offerings.

It is tiring to wait for incense to burn up so I decided to make doors to lock up the altar, said islander Vo Quy Anh.

Pham Thi My Huong, head of Tan Hiep Commune Peoples Committee, said local authorities are well aware of the issue.

The provincial authorities are planning to establish a new nature reserve. The commune has requested to have conservation areas separated from residential areas and tourism spots that do not invade monkeys habitat, said Huong.

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More than one year ago, religious services in Louisiana and across the nation came to a grinding halt. Holiday celebrations were muted, holy rituals involving physical touch were revamped, people lost out on after-worship social visits and services went online.

Meanwhile, faith leaders scrambled to minister to those who were ailing from sickness and tragedies brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Baton Rouge-area Catholic churches to keep coronavirus rules for now, bishop says Catholic churches in the Diocese of Baton Rouge will keep their current precautions to limit the spread of coronavirus, Bishop Michael Duca sa

Last week marked one year since a person was admitted to a New Orleans hospital and became the first to test positive for the illness COVID-19, setting up a tectonic shift in daily life in the days that followed. Baton Rouge's first case was confirmed March 17.

What many thought would be a weeks-long interruption turned into months of grim ups and downs. The state endured wave after wave of viral surges that have left at least 9,100 Louisianans dead.

Those first few weeks were kind of traumatic, said Bishop Michael Duca of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

Duca recalled the mostly empty Easter service he gave last year, with only cameramen and the cathedral's pastor.

"That was the big kind of shaker that said oh boy this is kind of serious," Duca said. "But it also showed we were resilient."

Following a significant drop in viral infections over the past several weeks in Louisiana, several local faith communities are slowly inching back to normalcy. Many are taking a cautious approach to welcome back their flocks.

Catholic diocese guidelines call for masks, social distancing when possible Louisianas move to a modified Phase 3 reopening means that the Catholic Diocese of Lafayettes 120 churches will not be encumbered by state-m

For a brief time in early March last year, air hugs and kisses became the norm, holy water was drained from vessels and hand sanitizer was placed at the entrance to churches.

At the time handwashing, keeping a physical distance and staying home when sick and capping gatherings to 250 people were among the slim list of orders public health officials initially issued.

But that quickly changed.

Infections from the virus skyrocketed quickly after, prompting state officials to hastily call for people to stay home.

For houses of worship, the limits on crowd sizes above 10 people came at a time when people leaned heavily on their faiths to guide them through the dark period. A brutal hurricane season, as well as nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and a contentious presidential election added to the stress and worries.

Many churches and places of worship, pivoted to streaming services even as the state slowly pulled back on restrictions allowing them to resume in-person services.

People are hurting, people are still hurting. I think the election showed a lot of difficulties, said the Rev. Rene Brown of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church. The virus keeping people in, people losing their jobs, thats caused a lot of people to tune in.

+4 Skip the holy water, pass the hand sanitizer: Faithful worship as coronavirus cases climb With hand sanitizers substituting for holy water, worshipers congregated at Baton Rouge churches Sunday to pray for a state, nation and world 

In a way, he said the move to streaming services has attracted more viewers and his downtown Baton Rouge church has seen an increase in congregants.

Church leaders at Mt. Zion have decided to continue with a rotating schedule dictated by people's zip codes for services, a system that allows them to attend in person at least once per month.

That arrangement, along with physical distancing, requiring masks and other safeguards, has kept anyone from getting sick at the church, Brown said. And none of his followers have died from COVID-19.

Catholic churches in the Baton Rouge diocese have also taken a similar, cautious approach by continuing with limited attendance even after Gov. John Bel Edwards removed capacity limits for religious services earlier this month.

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Near the beginning of the pandemic, Duca granted a dispensation to the Sunday obligation to attend Mass if parishioners were sick, at high risk from the virus or concerned about spreading it. Masses were eventually canceled for several weeks not long after.

Even when in-person services resumed, they were heavily changed, including sacred ceremonies that were altered, spaced-out pews and mask requirements.

Ash Wednesday, for instance, saw priests sprinkle ashes on parishioners' heads instead of making the traditional marks on the forehead. Some churches have even set up dispensable holy water after the vessels were drained.

Hardships brought on by the virus's global spread are unlike any others the Catholic Church has seen in centuries. War and oppression didnt stop Masses, even if people had to gather in secret  a reality even in some parts of the world today.

But the threat of the coronavirus was different from outside hostilities because parishioners and members of the church could be a danger to each other if they unknowingly spread the virus.

In a way, Duca thinks the televised and online broadcasts of services helped reach more people in the past year. Churches lost money because they couldn't hold fundraising events, but offerings and donations have improved

Some small churches, however, have had to contend with fewer donations during the pandemic.

The Rev. Frank Collins, who preaches at Little Zion Baptist in Plaquemine and First Bethlehem Baptist in Arnaudville, said donations have had to come from online payment services  a disadvantage since some members of his congregation dont have the internet.

With the churches being small and catering to people from often modest backgrounds, the past year has had its share of financial challenges.

If it wasnt for the technology, I think it would be really bad, Collins said.

He too has found creative ways to bring services to his small flock, including streaming on social media and putting speakers outside of the church so people can worship in their cars.

Thats my calling, and thats my job, so I never left my post, Collins said. All I know is when Sunday morning comes, I have to go to church. Pandemic or not.

Collins, who also serves as the chaplain for the West Baton Rouge Parish Coroners Office, said its been difficult to help ease the trauma for the hundreds of families whose loved ones were victims to violence because hes had to forgo home visits and instead do them by phone.

For safety's sake, Catholic priests also couldn't visit the sick or their families in places like hospitals or nursing homes due to worries about spreading the virus, leading to frustrations.

Wider availability of vaccines could soon change that.

Recent federal guidance allows people who are vaccinated to gather in small groups without masks indoors.

Collins said he plans to resume baptisms and other rituals that he couldn't perform for more than a year, as families feel more comfortable with his visits now that he's vaccinated.

Duca has also voiced strong support for the shots, saying that people should take them if they can at the earliest opportunity.

The diocese has, however, echoed concerns from the Vatican about for Catholics to make a moral evaluation on the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot because stem cells from abortions were used in it.

Vaccines are critical to getting the nation and city moving again, as well as a return to normal for religious gatherings, Duca said.

"I think people are just craving that connection of being together," Duca said. "Just going out for dinner, the simplest things that we took for granted  thats what Im looking forward to the most."
MasterChef Australia's Khanh Ong has encouraged those suffering from depression, isolation or loneliness to reach out to others for support.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, the chef revealed he knew exactly what it felt like feeling 'sad' and needing 'a little attention' - particularity after filming finished on the 2020 cooking series.

'I came off filming MasterChef and I was on top of the world and then I was told I wasn't allowed to see my friends or my family and I couldn't leave my home,' he said.

'Don't be too scared': MasterChef Australia's Khanh Ong (pictured), 28, has encouraged those suffering from depression, isolation or loneliness to reach out to others for support

'That was really difficult. I started to then realise what I cared about.'

The Vietnamese food guru, who spent a majority of his time in lockdown cooking and speaking with loved ones via Zoom or the phone, added he let his family and friends know when he felt down.

'Don't be too scared to admit that you may be feeling down or lonely or isolated. It's really important to reach out otherwise you are dealing with it alone,' he said.

Since starring on the twelfth series of the Australian cooking game show, Khanh has focused on rebuilding his restaurant, The George on Collins.

Open and honest: Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, Khanh revealed he knew exactly what it felt like feeling 'sad' and needing 'a little attention' - particularity after filming finished on the 2020 cooking series

Much like many other eateries and businesses in Melbourne, The George on Collins was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and Victoria's multiple lockdowns.

Things appear to be moving up for Khanh, however, with the former reality TV star looking at opening a second venue in potentially the South Yarra area.

He has also been regularly updating his followers on Instagram of his movements, recipe creations and outings.

Who is he? Khanh rose to stardom on the 2018 season of MasterChef Australia, where he fell just short of the grand finale in season 10

Khanh rose to stardom on the 2018 season of MasterChef Australia, where he fell just short of the grand finale in season 10.

He then appeared on MasterChef Australia: Back to Win in 2020, before being sent home after losing a fine dining challenge.

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14. For further support contact Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 and MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.
In the "Dear Abby" section of the Chicago Sun-Times this week, there was a question from a nanny about having to keep her sexual preference a secret from a conservative family. The nanny doesn't work for that family any longer but maintains a close relationship with the parents and children. The parents asked the nanny to keep her relationship in the closet around their children. Naturally, the nanny feels conflicted by the dilemma.

The question this raises is, are conservatives guilty of purity-testing?

The concept has a provocative history. A December 2019 article from the Atlantic described how "purity tests" were dividing the Democrat Party. Purity-testing is part of the kit and caboodle of "woke" politics. A person's position on a social issue or his preference on a lifestyle choice comes under scrutiny. He must pass a barrier to entry to gain access into the tolerant left's tent.

In the nanny case, the parents in question are within their domain to shield their children from information the parents don't want to discuss in their home. The parents are the final arbiters of what sort of upbringing they want for their children, regardless of how the general public perceives that. As long as the children are not harmed or neglected, this is a hands-off area for meddling officials and social experiments.

That premise doesn't address the issue directly, though. Yes, the parents are perfectly entitled to raise their children in a home that looks askew at homosexuality. No justification is necessary. It is a matter of prerogative. Still, how is asking the nanny  a member of the home for years  to remain quiet about the woman she lives with honoring the nanny's commitment and relationship with the family?

The nanny obviously wants to maintain a close relationship with the parents and children. It comes through in her question to Abby. It should come as no surprise that a caregiver wants to stay close to the people she cared for. The totality of the circumstances in this case point to an age-old problem that has shoehorned conservatives for generations: how do churchgoing folks reconcile their scriptural beliefs with a secular society that does not universally subscribe to the same belief system?

Pre-Trump, Republicans could safely assume that their figurehead would check off enough boxes to satiate the religious crowd on the right. It was a foregone conclusion that whoever would carry the mantle would share enough overlap that the questions of sexual and gender preference did not warrant thorough investigation. After Trump shook the GOP tree, dumping many bad apples to the ground and down the hill, the party has seen an influx of individuals who never saw themselves cheering for Team Red. As a result, there is severe dissonance between lifelong conservatives who follow strict religious practices and a new breed of MAGA-types who subscribe to varying degrees of Republican ideology.

The resulting Catch-22 is both an understandable growing pain for the party and an inevitable concern about growing the base to include as many voices as possible. The question should not center on asking politically homeless types to take a purity test to join the conservative ranks. Instead, it should focus on finding common ground and respecting differences that make no never-mind in another's person private life. Until this growth spurt has passed, more gatekeeping will probably be the norm and not the exception.

Image: Petri Damsten.
Soft vs aggressive Hindutva plays out in Nandigram

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 13: "I am a daughter of a Hindu family", asserted Mamata Banerjee and went on to recite ''Chandi Path'', an ode to Goddess Durga, as she treaded the path of "soft Hindutva" to court the majority Hindus in communally cleaved Nandigram on Wednesday.

By the time she got immobilised and confined to a hospital bed in Kolkata following a mishap at the hustings which the Trinamool alleged was a conspiracy to "take her life" and the BJP a "well-scripted drama", the Trinamool boss had visited 12 temples in two days.

Nandigram, which first grabbed national headlines in the mid-2000s because of the anti-land acquisition agitation led by Ms Banerjee, is back in news again after the West Bengal chief minister decided to take on her former protege Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP in December, on his home turf.

Mamata Banerjee injury: Bengal govts report to EC finds no mention of 4-5 attackers

Banerjee visited 12 temples and a mazaar, Islamic mausoleum, during her campaign in Nandigram this week which had to be cut short after she got injured.

Adhikari, who claimed Ms Banerjee recited the ''Chandi Path'' incorrectly, called the Trinamool chief an "adulterated Hindu who cannot wash away the sins of appeasement politics".

Banerjee's temple-hopping and chanting shlokas at an election rally are being seen as an effort to counter the BJP's strong Hindutva push, as also an attempt to blunt the criticism over her alleged Muslim bias.

"Don't play the Hindu card with me," she declared at the rally on Tuesday.

Nandigram has over 30 per cent Muslim population, which has stood solidly behind the Trinamool over the last decade.

Adhikari is eyeing the majority of the rest 70 per cent, escalating the fight for Hindu votes.

Adhikari has often told his election rallies that he has complete faith in the "70 per cent electorate and is not worried about the rest 30 per cent".

Although senior Trinamool leaders insisted that her visit to temples was part of the party's "inclusive policies", rival BJP said it was aimed at denting their burgeoning Hindu support base as she had realised that only the Muslim votes were not sufficient to see her through.

Initially, Furfura Sharif cleric Abbas Siddiqui's ISF was to field a candidate for the seat as part of the Left-led grand alliance, a move that could have divided a significant chunk of the Muslim votes.

However, later the alliance agreed to leave the seat for the CPI(M) which fielded its youth wing DYFI's state president Minakshi Mukherjee, much to the relief of the Trinamool.

"We don't believe in communal politics, unlike the BJP. Suvendu is a traitor and has forgotten all the ideals that he had learnt in the Congress and TMC. That is why he is trying to make it a fight between the Hindus and Muslims. We have no religious agenda," senior Trinamool MP Saugato Roy told PTI.

Hitting back, Adhikari questioned the need for the chief minister to visit so many temples. "She decided to contest from the seat due to the 30 per cent population of a specific community. You see the leaders who are moving around with her in Nandigram and you will understand," he told PTI.

"I am a Hindu, and I don't want to divide communities. It is the TMC which is trying to drive a wedge between them with its appeasement politics," Adhikari added.

A senior Trinamool leader in the district conceded that only the Muslim votes can't ensure the party's victory in the seat.

West Bengal elections 2021: JMM to support Mamata Banerjee's TMC in upcoming polls

"If Suvendu manages to consolidate Hindu votes given the communally charged atmosphere in Nandigram, things might get difficult (for TMC)," he said.

According to Trinamool sources, the soft Hindutva push by the party may be a new thing in Nandigram, but it has been the party's strategy following the electoral reverses in the 2019

Lok Sabha elections.

The party's decision to organise ''Brahmin Sammelan'', give allowances to Sanatan Brahmins and extend financial assistance to Durga Puja committees were all part of that carefully planned strategy, they said.

Elections in Bengal will be held in eight phases, beginning with polling for 30 seats on March 27. Votes will be counted on May 2.

The Trinamool leadership countered Adhikari's claim, saying Ms Banerjee's temple visits were nothing new. Her government, the party said, has been helping Durga Puja committees in the state with generous financial assistance for years, with the chief minister personally inaugurating many pandals.

"Both the TMC and BJP are trying to communally polarise the voters of the state. We will resist it and fight for the rights of the masses," CPI(M)'s Purba Medinipur district secretary Niranjan Sihi said.

Both Trinamool and BJP leaders admit that Nandigram stands communally polarised.

The shoots first appeared after the 2013 panchayat polls when elected Muslim members were given prominent roles in Zilla Parishads and the ruling party's district unit, they said.

A massive Ram Navami procession in the area in 2016, in which many Trinamool workers participated, widened the crack.

The BJP, which hardly had any presence in the area, made massive inroads by bagging over 1.96 lakh votes in the 2016 by-elections to the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat under which the Nandigram assembly segment falls.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP further consolidated its position, cinching over 5.34 lakh votes.

Local BJP leader Sabuj Pradhan claimed, "Nandigram is sitting on a tinderbox, and only the TMC's appeasement politics is responsible for it. If you deny the majority community its rights, you will have to face the consequences."

Sheikh Sufiyan, deputy chairman of the Zilla Parishad and Ms Banerjee's election agent, described the charge of Hindus being denied government benefits as a "disinformation and divisive" campaign by the BJP.

Nandigram Block 1 Trinamool president Swadesh Das said the BJP will be taught a lesson in secularism in Nandigram.

"If the BJP thinks it will get the entire Hindu votes, they are living in a fool's paradise," he said.

Political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty feels the BJP has, in a way, already become successful by making the Trinamool toe its line.

Comments "The BJP may win or lose Nandigram but it has been successful in forcing the ruling TMC to follow its Hindutva line for votes," he said.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 12:30 [IST]
The city of Minneapolis will pay $27 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of George Floyd. Attorneys for the family characterized it as the largest pretrial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death lawsuit in the history of the United States. But it came just at the murder trial of one of the former police officers who is accused of killing him is set to begin and some legal experts have raised fears that it could complicate that case.

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Lawyers representing Floyds family said the large settlement sends a powerful message that could serve as an example to other communities. This is a message that the unjust taking of Black life will no longer be written off as trivial, unimportant or unworthy of consequences, attorney Ben Crump said. The attorney also said it could help the city change the narrative. After the eyes of the world rested on Minneapolis in its darkest hour, now the city can be a beacon of hope and light and change for cities across America and across the globe, Crump said. Attorneys for Floyds family said that they will be working with the city to put in place measures to prevent another death of this nature from ever happening again.

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The lawsuit, which was filed In July accused the four former officers charged with his death of showing a reckless disregard for Floyds civil rights while the city was accused of failing to get rid of dangerous officers while fostering a culture of racism. The confirmation of the settlement came after the City Council unanimously voted to approve the amount. No amount of money can ever address the intense pain or trauma caused by this death to George Floyds family or to the people of our city, Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said. Minneapolis has been fundamentally changed by this time of racial reckoning, and this city council is united in working together with our community and the Floyd family to equitably reshape our city of Minneapolis.

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News of the settlement comes as jury selection continues for the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who is accused of killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for almost eight minutes. Some legal experts say the settlement is likely to make jury selection even harder. The vast majority of possible jurors already said they had seen video of Floyds arrest and now jurors might see the settlement as a sign that Chauvin did not act appropriately.

The amount of the settlement reflects how payments for police abuse are increasing rapidly. In 2015, for example, Freddie Grays family reached a $6.4 million settlement with Baltimore and New York agreed to pay $5.9 million to Eric Garners family.
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Anyone who tried to stay awake throughout Biden's first speech to the nation likely zoned out after three minutes. He is a boring speaker. We all know he is laboring to read the teleprompter as written, but he has difficulty even doing that.

Biden is the emptiest of suits who is being shuffled before the camera on rare occasions as the pretend president, but anyone with a pulse can see that the man is senile, diminished beyond reach. He is a clueless but willing tool of the Maoists who are calling the shots and are dedicated to their project, the third term of Barack Obama. And boy, are those behind-the-scenes folks excited by their newfound political power.

They have achieved their nirvana: a nearly brain-dead droid as the face of their totalitarian agenda, their one-world government global reset. But leftists never think ahead. They never consider the consequences of their unquenchable thirst for power and control over all of us who love and treasure our freedom from the tyrants the leftists and Democrats have become.

Watching Biden's pathetic meandering speech about COVID was mind-numbing. Not a word of gratitude for the warp speed production of several vaccines that is wholly thanks to Trump  Biden's message was still one of fear. A known liar all his life, he mentioned "truth" far too often, like a guilty criminal trying to convince the cop interrogating him that he is innocent, sealing his own fate. He said Trump did nothing! Whew! Biden takes lying to the public to a whole new level of absurdity. We all saw him get this nonexistent vaccine before he was inaugurated.

The left must keep us all in fear of COVID, anxiously awaiting the vaccine even though we now know that it is virtually unnecessary, as numerous effective treatments are readily available. Maybe we will be able to congregate with a few family members by the Fourth of July! As if we've not been gathering with family and friends for the past year!

A majority of the population figured out ages ago that the COVID scare is an extravagant hoax, just as the whole global warming scare is a monstrous hoax. God forbid our children learn that this planet is 4.5 billions of years old, that we humans are a recent species that has no power over the health of the Earth. The pseudo-intellectual arrogance of the climatistas is as astounding as the COVID fear-mongers' hysteria.

Biden reads words written by others. He can barely pronounce them correctly; he stumbles over the names of people he has allegedly chosen for his Cabinet. He couldn't remember his defense secretary's name, nor the "outfit" (the Pentagon) where he works! Not good. A sign of advanced dementia? Indeed.

Everyone sees it, everyone knows it, yet the leftmedia pretend Biden is sentient despite all the obvious signs to the contrary. All the usual suspects waxed rhapsodic over a speech they surely realized was pure bunk. I don't know how they do it, nor how they look at themselves in the mirror when they get home.

The sad state of affairs is that the United States, the greatest nation on Earth that has provided more freedom, more upward mobility than any other nation in history, that lost nearly 700,000 citizens to end slavery, is being led by a cabal of radical leftists whose names are perhaps unknown to us and who are intent upon fomenting racism where none exists, and who are equally intent upon destroying the Jewish and Christian values that are the core of Western civilization.

Enter Black Lives Matter and Antifa, still dedicated to destroying America as founded. Thanks to the two generations of miseducation of America's youths, our country's younger people have been co-opted by decades of leftist indoctrination on nearly all of our university campuses and the fake news spewed forth daily on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and NBC. Those who have embraced the nonsense, from Critical Race Theory to global warming, know nothing of our Founders, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the brief war in Kuwait, the war in Iraq, Afghanistan.

They have purposefully been taught that the U.S. is forever tainted by systemic racism, a colossal lie. They've not been taught to think critically, so they believe the rot they've been fed and dutifully post their abject submission to the cancel culture orthodoxy many times a day to ensure their social media reputation is sufficiently woke. These young (and old) programmed radicals are willing myrmidons; they follow the dictates of their "leaders" (professors and politicians) without question. That is where we are, what the miseducated of America have become: self-righteously arrogant, elitist, and thoroughly and willfully ignorant of American history. That is the tragedy of progressivism. It is cruel and destructive to all who embrace it as their creed.

President Trump was our Superman who miraculously won in 2016 and set about undoing the horrific and escalating damage done by progressives since the Wilson presidency. The progressives were racists then, and they are racists today. The "soft bigotry of low expectations" is their definition of social justice. The Obama administration really ramped up the "let's take America down a peg or two" agenda. Trump made great headway to undo that damage, so they set about rigging the election to stop Trump in his tracks. But Trump ignited a fervor among his supporters that is not going away.

It will take all of us who love America to organize, rally, and vote them out of office. That would be Pelosi, first and foremost; Schumer; and the rest of the Democrats in Congress whom those two control with their iron fists. Why all the Democrats in the House submit is anyone's guess. Blackmail? Bribery? Who knows? One thing is certain: they are all craven, self-serving, power-loving pols. They are all criminally corrupt, as are too many of the Republicans as well, which is how so many became so wealthy. They need to be stopped if America is to prevail.

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.
Horse milk has been a staple of Central Asian cuisine for centuries but now one farmer wants to introduce the drink to Britons.

Frank Shellard, 62, owns family farm Combe Hay, Somerset, and sells the mare's milk, as it is also known, of his 14 horses.

Each individual 250ml bottle sells for 6.50 and Mr Shellard said the health benefits of the drink have seen his customer base expand rapidly in the past few years.

The farm now sells to 150 people, with an increase in health and environmental consciousness causing a surge in demand.

But Mr Shellard, who also runs the stables at celebrity hotspot Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds, admitted that trading standards were initially 'taken aback' when he suggested he wanted to start selling the product.

And he said he still faces the challenge of changing people's minds to accept sweet-tasting horse milk as a mainstream drink.

Frank Shellard (pictured left, with one of his 14 horses, eight-year-old Bonnie, and right), 62, owns family farm Combe Hay, Somerset, and is the first British producer to sell horse milk

He told The Times: 'Its turning people round to it, that is the challenge.

'Change is hard for people and I would say if you had 100 people, I think 85 would probably pull back.

'But the only reason cows milk is so popular is because of marketing.'

Mr Shellard got into the business when he heard about the milk's supposed health benefits while working in Belgium.

He now drinks a litre of it a day and swears by the healing effects it has had on his daughter's and granddaughters eczema.

The milk is low in fat and high in vitamin C, with more similar levels of casein and _ to human milk than seen in traditional dairy products.

Each individual 250ml bottle sells for 6.50 and Mr Shellard said the health benefits of the drink have seen his customer base expand rapidly in the past few years

And last year researchers from Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, where the drink is hugely popular, said horse milk can help reduce the risk of developing cancer.

The study suggests horse milk is higher in albumin  a protein easily absorbed by humans  compared to cow's milk.

These proteins can help control blood pressure and have anti-inflammatory effects, researchers say.

They suggested that mares milk could therefore be used in treating inflammatory diseases, while it could also reduce the risk of cancer as it has the protein casein, which is toxic to breast cancer cells.

Professor Almagul Kushugulova, leading researcher at Nazarbayev Universitys laboratory of human microbiome and longevity, told The Times: 'Mares milk has been consumed throughout Kazakhstan and Central Asia since horses were first domesticated and it is one of the most beneficial animal fats.

'Also, due to its rich composition of enzymes, it stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria and limits to growth of unwanted bacteria in our guts.'

It's also been suggested children who are allergic to cow's milk can drink mare's milk without having a similar reaction.
Dr. Liam Sullivan may have more reason than most to be enthusiastic about approval of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

An infectious disease specialist for Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Sullivan participated in the clinical trials for the shot. He was told in December that he was part of the group that received the actual vaccine rather than a placebo, and was given the option of continuing in the study or getting a Pfizer vaccine through Spectrum.

Sullivan opted to stay in the study.

I am completely confident in the clinical trial that Johnson & Johnson ran and the protection of this vaccine, Sullivan said.

Many share his enthusiasm. But the J&J vaccine has come under scrutiny, especially after Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said last week that he rejected an offer of J&J vaccines for the citys vaccinations.

Detroit mayor turns down 6,200 Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines

In remarks Duggan has since walked back, the mayor cited clinical trials that found a 95% efficacy rate for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines compared to 67% for the J&J shot, adding, I am going to do everything I can to make sure the residents of the city of Detroit get the best.

Sullivan and other experts say thats an inaccurate characterization of the clinical trials, and blows past the distinct advantages of the J&J vaccine.

The J&J vaccine is not inferior, said Dr. Beth Wendt, , director of clinical operational effectiveness at McLaren Macomb Hospital. There are a lot of really good things about it.

First of all, comparing the clinical trial results for Pfizer, Moderna and J&J ignores some important differences between them, Sullivan said. One is that the J&J trial was conducted later than the other two, when COVID-19 variants were emerging. And among the countries where J&J tested its vaccine were South Africa and Brazil, which have particularly problematic variants.

So, unlike Moderna or Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson has real-world clinical trial data in South Africa and in Brazil against those variants, Sullivan said.

Yet another factor is that its hard to do an apples-to-apples comparison for any vaccine or drug based on clinical trials, Sullivan said. To put them head-to-head, you would need identical patient populations with identical demographics in identical circumstances. Everything needs to be the same because otherwise, we have a bunch of variables that you cant control for.

One more thing to keep in mind, Sullivan and Wendt said, is the clinical trials did show the J&J shot was comparable to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in preventing severe cases of coronavirus that could led to hospitalization or death. The lower percentage for J&J was in regards to symptomatic disease, including the more common mild cases.

Meanwhile, the J&J vaccine has some real advantages over the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, doctors say.

Its still very protective and much easier to give, said Dr. Paul Entler, a vice president at Sparrow Health System in Lansing.

The biggest advantage: It requires only one shot instead of the two doses necessary for those getting the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

The single-shot regime has several important implications: It means twice as many people can be fully vaccinated with the same number of doses; it makes it much easier to vaccinate hard-to-reach populations such as people who are homeless or shut-ins, and its much easier for providers, who dont have to schedule follow-up appointments.

It also means more people are fully immune much more quickly, a boon for those individual patients as well as communities seeking to get to herd immunity as fast as possible. A recipient of the J&J vaccine is considered fully immunized two weeks after that one shot, compared to the five- or six-week regime with the other two vaccines.

In addition, the J&J vaccine has much easier storage and handling requirements than the Pfizer and Moderna doses, which must be frozen and used quickly once they are thawed. By comparison, the J&J vaccine can be stored for up to three months in a regular refrigerator, which makes it much more suitable for use by doctors offices, Wendt said.

She also brings up another advantage of the J&J shot: Because it uses a different biotechnology than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, its easier to manufacture and to farm out that manufacturing to other companies.

Plants that produce other vaccines can produce (the J&J vaccine) more readily, Wendt said. That will allow more availability of this vaccine, which is a good thing.

When they open the floodgates of vaccine eligibility to more age groups, well need to have a supply to match, she said. Were going to have to keep up with it demand. So this might help us finalize the vaccination of the majority of our population, and get us to return normal life and help end this pandemic.

Read more on MLive:

COVID-19 is reshaping Michigan. Its not the first epidemic to do so.

To wed or not to wed?: How 6 brides are navigating weddings during a pandemic

7 things to know about Michigans expansion of vaccine eligible to ages 50 and older

This 105-year old Michigan woman whos survived 2 pandemics has wise words to share
Less than one-quarter of all Massachusetts residents have received a COVID-19 vaccination, a UMass Amherst/WCVB-TV poll shows, and Governor Charlie Bakers performance in creating the state vaccination system is receiving mixed reviews.

The poll of 800 Commonwealth residents showed that while the vast majority of Democrats (93 percent) are in favor of the vaccination programs and plan to get the shots, only 48 percent of Republicans and 46 percent of Independents say they definitely or probably will. Fully 35 percent said they definitely will not get the shots. That, UMass political science professor Raymond LaRaja said, is a problem.

Massachusetts has a trust problem on vaccinations, he said. More than one in five respondents said they are unlikely to get the vaccine, mostly because they do not think it was safe or effective. It is very partisan and ideological. Almost half of the self-described conservatives feel this way compared to just 5 percent of liberals.

When it comes to who is doing the best job for residents, President Joe Biden is getting great reviews  62 percent of residents said he is either doing very well (29 percent or somewhat well (33 percent). Gov. Charlie Baker is not doing as well. Only 44 percent of respondents said Baker is doing a good job, while the same number, 44 percent, pan his performance.

State residents are not exactly proud of the job Massachusetts is doing combatting COVID, LaRaja said. While most Massachusetts voters think the state is doing about average, as many as 28 percent think the state is vaccinating fewer people than other states, and an equal number of people think we are doing as bad as we are good.

Republicans definitely do not like the whole VOCID vaccine idea, surveyors said. The vast majority (73 percent) of Republican polled did not like how Joe Biden has handled the vaccination program, but at the same time only 44 percent of Republicans like Charlie Bakers approach, while more Democrats, (48 percent) give him good marks.

Governor Baker gets praised or blamed by equal numbers of voters, La Raja said. Remarkably, sentiments dont break down along party or ideological lines, as they do for President Biden. Appraisals of his job on COVID are all about him and not his politics. He knows it, and it will be part of his legacy. "

Current data indicates that white residents are 14 times more likely to have received a shot than African American or Latino residents.

The racial gap in vaccinations is real, political science Professor Tatishe Nteta said. Whites in the Commonwealth are more likely to have received the Vaccination when compared to people of color. Interestingly, a majority of the states citizens support taking into account race in determining eligibility for the vaccine and this is particularly popular among liberals (85 percent), Democrats (77 percent), and young adults (69 percent).

More than half of Republicans (51 percent) oppose using race as a factor for determining eligibility, along with 35 percent of independents. At the same time, 18 percent of Republicans and 23 percent of independents feel eligibility should be racially equal. Only 5 percent of Democrats oppose it.

While state K through 12 schools are scheduled to open the first week of April, the vast majority of Massachusetts residents think teachers should be able to get vaccinated before school starts.

While Governor Baker initially opposed providing the vaccine to K012 teachers and only changed state policy in response to pressure from the Biden Administration, the states residents overwhelmingly support vaccinating teachers in the Commonwealth, Nteta said.

Fully 91 percent of Democrats approved of the plan, while 56 percent of Independents and 49 percent of Republican approved.

The poll was conducted between March 5 and March 9 by YouGov. YouGov interviewed 846 respondents who were then matched down to a sample of 800 to produce the final dataset.
Each week, Sunday Life quizzes a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, contributing editor Georgie Gordon chats to actor Alex Dimitriades.

I dont follow trends any more. Im basically reconstituting all of my favourite things growing up; theres a bit of retro going on. Credit:Damian Bennett

How would you describe your style?

Mood-based. Style is about what makes you happy and being yourself, rather than being trend-based. A lot of people try to follow things that dont suit them; youve got to dress to your personality.

Whats the oldest thing in your wardrobe?

An awesome Earth, Wind & Fire 1975 tour shirt that I bought from a vintage store in Santa Monica 25 years ago, during my first trip to Los Angeles.

And the most recent addition?

Black Bally leather pants.
STAMFORD  At Purdue Pharmas downtown headquarters, a massive, white curtain appeared Friday. The Rolling Stones song Sympathy for the Devil blasted from nearby speakers. Along with it, came a bold message for onlookers.

FDAs Dr. Janet Woodcock must go, reads the curtain in blocky, black letters, surrounding a black-and-white picture of interim FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock.

Connecticut-based artist and activist Fernando Alvarez dropped the latest installment of his Curtains Project  a series of demonstrations that seek to highlight enablers of the opioid epidemic  in front of Purdues offices. In part, Curtains hopes to dissuade the Biden administration from nominating Dr. Janet Woodcock for FDA commissioner.

Woodcocks failure to properly regulate drug companies, like Sackler-owned Purdue Pharma, is a root cause of the opioid crisis, Alvarez said in a media release.

He gained national attention in 2018 when he dropped an 800-pound spoon, tinged brown to represent burnt heroin, in front of Purdue Pharmas Tresser Boulevard headquarters. Stamford Police later arrested Alvarez and charged him with obstructing free passage. Alvarez collaborated on the movement with Domenic Esposito, who created the heroin spoon.

Alvarez is now targeting Woodcock, who is considered a front-runner for the FDAs top spot in the Biden administration. But despite Woodcocks longtime seniority within the FDA, her candidacy has sparked some high-profile public criticism.

For more than a decade, Woodcock oversaw the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), the division that regulates over-the-counter and prescription drugs. A letter signed by close to 30 organizations  including Alvarezs other project, the Spoon movement  claims that, under Woodcocks purview, opioids were able to flood the market. The letter listed CDERs move to approve Purdue Pharma drug OxyContin for some pediatric patients 11 and older as a prime example of Woodcocks failures.

The Curtain Project began in December 2020, when Alvarez dropped a plastic shower curtain at the Department of Justice in Washington. An 8-foot tall picture of former Attorney General William Barr was printed on the clear liner. Behind it, onlookers could see a Sackler family tree, complete with each of their faces at the end of the branches.

Alvarez targeted Barr because of a settlement announced by his department in October. Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to three criminal charges before a federal judge in New Jersey as part of that settlement. Prosecutors have not levied any criminal charges against Purdues wealth owners: the Sackler family.

The Curtains Project argues that the Trump-era Department of Justices put Barr at the helm of a system that protects Purdue and the Sackler family.

These Curtains are a symbol, spotlighting the enablers obscuring wrongdoers who harm others for financial or political gain. Currently, we are targeting the many people who shield the criminals responsible for the opioid crisis from facing legal, civil, political, and social ramifications for their actions, according to a message on the Curtain Project website.

Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect artist Domenic Esposito created the heroin spoon.\
New Delhi, March 13 : Campus Front of India (CFI) national general secretary K.A. Rauf Sherif was using two SIM cards, which were not registered on his name, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed in its charge sheet.

The ED has filed its first charge sheet against five office bearers of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its student wing, the CFI, including Sherif in connection with its money laundering probe in February this year.

The ED charge sheet which has been viewed by IANS claims that Sherif used two mobile numbers. "But none of them were registered on his name," it alleged.

The ED said that Sherif used 79072***92 and 97478***48 which were registered on the names of other people.

The ED claimed that Sherif during his questioning stated that 97478***48 was given to him by his friend Thaha, who was working in Calicut, while the 79072***92 was given to him by his friend Midhun Ali.

The ED said that Sherif gave 79072***92 mobile number to banks for operating all his bank accounts, Income Tax returns and his accounts of googlepay etc.

When ED enquired Sherif why he used 79072***92 mobile number when he did not know in whose name it was subscribed, the CFI leader stated that since he took this SIM in 2017 so he did not "exactly" remember.

The ED also showed Sherif the customer application form for mobile number 79072***92 as per which the customer name was Richu Raju and not Midhun Ali, he stated that he did not exactly remember but it was possible that Richu Raju was his brother Salman's friend residing as neighbour in Anchal, Alencherry where they resided earlier.

Sherif was arrested by ED on December 12, last year, when he was trying to flee to Oman.

The ED case was primarily registered in 2018 taking the 2013 Narath PFI armed training case as the predicate offence. Later, the case registered by the UP Police against Siddique Kappan and three others last year was included as part of the money laundering case against PFI.

Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which probed the Narath arms training camp case against the members of the PFI and their political outfit Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Kerala, in its charge sheet had also mentioned the usage of the SIM cards issued on the names of other individuals and funding from foreign countries.

The NIA investigation had pointed out the possibility of Narath camp organisers having links with terrorist groups like Indian Mujahideen.

Furthermore, multiple reports suggest that between 2010 to 2013, the Kerala Police seized several country-made bombs, weapons, CDs and several documents containing Taliban and Al Qaeda propaganda from PFI activists in a series of searches.

PFI was also accused of chopping off a college professor's hand because he set a question in a paper that was 'disrespectful' to prophet Muhammad.

In a twist to the Kerala gold smuggling case in which the state Chief Minister's office is in the dock, the NIA has found links of PFI in the case with the arrest of Muhammad Ali Ebrahim and Muhammad Ali.

NIA investigators suspect that the PFI now has units in 22 states across the country.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
It is expected that Hanoi authorities in June will approve and issue the Red River subdivision planning, which will help the capital city become more spacious and modern.

Hanoi is about to approve Red River subdivision planning

The Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Party Committee on March 10 held a meeting to give opinions on the 1/5000 Red River subdivision planning project on a 40 kilometer long river section from Hong Ha Bridge to Me So Bridge, covering an area of 11,000 hectares that includes 55 wards and communes of 13 districts, with the population of 280,000-320,000.

At the meeting, the standing committee listened to reports and opinions after the inspection by the Party Committees Office and discussed the opinions of the members of the standing committee, with the focus on clarifying important issues, including the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, economic analysis, cost and benefit estimates, capital mobilization and plan implementation.

The standing committee assignef the Hanoi Peoples Committees Party Civil Affairs Committee to guide the completion of the planning, consult with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on issues related to the anti-flooding and embankment planning, and consult with the Ministry of Construction on the general planning of the capital city.

Director of the Hanoi Institute of Construction Planning Luu Quang Huy said in the past people said Hanoi turned its back to the Red River. But with this planning, Hanoi will face the Red River for development.

Hanoi Party Committees Secretary Vuong Dinh Hue said the leading urban planning experts the committee has consulted all said the plan is the best ever and it can meet all the requirements to get approval.



Hue said this is the result of the citys political determination to realize capital city planning, orient urban space development, embellish the city, give livelihoods to people, and improve the flood drainage corridor.

In 2016, the Prime Minister approved the master plan for flood control and dike planning for the Red and Thai Binh river systems.

Experts said the main challenges now are climate change and the extreme unpredictable weather.

It is expected that Hanoi will approve and issue planning in June after reaching consensus with relevant ministries and branches.

After the expansion of its administrative boundaries, Hanoi now ranks 30th among the 40 most populous cities in the world. The issues on urban infrastructure development have posed serious challenges for the municipal authorities.

After five years of implementing the citys 16th Party Conferences resolution, the appearance of the capital city is getting brighter, greener, cleaner, and more beautiful, civilized, spacious and modern.

Huong Quynh

Red River delta, the land of tugging games The tugging rituals and folk games were honored by UNESCO in 2015 as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, a multi-national project of Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Cambodia, and the Philippines.
Comedian Gina Yashere at the opening night of the African Film Festival in New York in 2018. J. Countess/Getty Images

Gina Yashere has championed Black and African actors and writers in Hollywood.

Chuck Lorre asked her to consult on his CBS show "Bob Hearts Abishola." Days later, she became a co-creator.

"There's a lot more me's out there waiting for a good opportunity," she told Insider.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

When comedian Gina Yashere was first brought in as a consultant on the CBS show Bob Hearts Abishola she was skeptical, even after her first meeting with series creator Chuck Lorre.

The show is about a middle-aged white man who falls in love with his Nigerian immigrant nurse, Abishola, while recovering from a heart attack. Lorre, who created the mega-hit shows Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, needed someone to help bring authenticity to his show idea and Abishola's character.

Lorre googled "female Nigerian comedian" and discovered Yashere on YouTube. She's well known in the United Kingdom as a comedian whose bits cover her experience as a Nigerian lesbian woman who left her native U.K. for the United States. Lorre watched her set as host of Live at The Apollo in London, and wanted to meet her.

"So, originally, I was brought on as a consultant on all things African. It sounded weird to me," Yashere told Insider, recalling her meeting with Lorre. "Once I got in the room with the guys, I began to really like them. I could see that they were trying to make a really good show, and it wasn't really an exploitative thing."

The pairing worked, and she was promoted to co-creator of the show after two days.

"She flew over from England to spend a couple days with us to just talk us through what she thought we could be doing," Lorre said during a panel discussion promoting the show "And after a couple days, we just went, let's see if she'll stay with us... Don't leave!"

She eventually became an executive producer, writer, and actress -- playing Kemi, Abishola's best friend. "I got in the room with them and just started helping them create an overall sort of template for the sitcom, giving them character names," she said.

Story continues

Gina Yashere and Chuck Lorre in 2019 discussing their show Bob Hearts Abishola. Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images

Bringing her in could easily be the best decision Lorre and his other co-creators, Eddie Gorodetsky and Alan Higgins, made when creating the show. In its first season, Bob Hearts Abishola, was CBS's highest-rated new sitcom with over 5 million viewers consistently every week, though reviews have been mixed. Now in its second season, the ratings are still consistent, and the show was renewed for a third season in February.

But Yashere, who has been living in the U.S. for over 13 years, isn't an overnight success. Her IMDB page is proof of that with acting, producing, and writing credits starting back in the early 2000s. Her self-funded comedy specials Skinny B*tch and Laughing to America were sold to Netflix and are available now. She became a regular on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah as the show's British correspondent in 2017.

"THIS IS A BLACK SHOW NOW"

Yashere was able to have an impact from early on. "I know you're used to doing things a certain way, but technically in the eyes of the world, and in the eyes of CBS, this is a Black show now." The storyline of Abishola and her family, which is based on Yashere's life, naturally meant at least half of the cast, and a number of writers would need to be African and Black.

"Abishola's life story is based on my mother's story," Yashere said "My mother had us kids in England with my dad, then my dad couldn't get good work in England. He was a qualified lawyer, my mom was a qualified teacher, but they couldn't get work because England in the 60s and 70s was super racist."

Like Abishola's husband in the show, Yashere's dad moved back to Nigeria when she was a child, leaving her mom in East London as a single mother. Yashere based the character she plays, Kemi, on her aunt and aspects of her mother.

"Kemi is was kind of an amalgamation of those two, the fun side, the outspoken, you know, not giving a crap side, and does what she wants to do," she said about the comic relief character she created for herself.

Yashere also had a hand in choosing which actors to cast, and said she was mindful of her own experience auditioning for black and African roles in Hollywood and how demoralizing it can be. "I made sure I was in all the auditions to make sure that, when those black actors walked in that room and saw me, they could relax and enjoy the audition knowing that they're not going to be asked to do any kind of coonery."

Gina Yashere, (left) as Kemi and Folake Olowofoyeku as Abishola on the set of "Bob Hearts Abishola" Michael Yarish/CBS via Getty Images

She was also adamant that they cast a dark-complexioned, Nigerian actress to play Abishola, knowing that proximity to whiteness is usually the Hollywood standard, even with African roles.

"You'd watch movies with African characters, and the actors were completely wrong," Yashere said. "Their style of dress was completely wrong, or you have an entire family and every one of them has got a different accent from a different country within Africa."

They ended up casting the actress Folake Olowofoyeku to play Abishola, a Nigerian nurse with braids, who has created a life for herself and her son, while being estranged from her husband, with the help of friends, family, and community in Detroit. The show's fluency with Nigerian and Black American culture makes it stand out among other sitcoms.

"You can tell research was done, and it speaks to what actually happens in a Yoruba family. It's refreshing," said Dolapo Adedapo, a Nigerian nonprofit consultant and radio show host, who was included in an NPR story about the show when it first aired.

Yashere was also a force behind making sure that half of the show's eight-person writer's room was Black. She invited Lorre, Gorodetsky, and Higgins to comedy shows around Hollywood to introduce them to other Black comics. "She's a writer too, you should hire them," she would tell them whenever she noticed an act had gone over well.

All of this has brought positive attention to CBS, which has been criticized for its lack of diversity in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Last summer, the network announced that by 2022-23 season, half of its writers would be non-white. The announcement came after the Writers Guild of America West's Committee of Black Writers released an open letter calling on the industry to "revolutionize the way our industry hires writers."

"A LOT MORE ME'S OUT THERE WAITING"

Yashere's success with Bob Hearts Abishola has left her convinced she can do more. "Being able to book black actors and book black writers has given me a new passion. So moving forward, I want to carry on executive producing and bringing through other talent," she said.

The creators and lead actors in "Bob Hearts Abishola" (from left) Chuck Lorre, Gina Yashere, Billy Gardell, Folake Olowofoyeku and Al Higgins attend The Paley Center For Media in 2019. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage

As her career continues to unfold it never escapes her that there are more people like her- women, black, LGBTQIA, immigrant, etc- waiting for an opportunity to break into the business. Understanding that she can't do it alone she also plants seeds to the people in power around her.

"You know, I said to Chuck, recently, you guys discovered me, but there's a lot more me's out there waiting for a good opportunity."

She is also a new author. Her book Cack-handed, a memoir about her life before she moved to the U.S., hits bookshelves in June. Cack-handed, which means left-handed, and hence awkward and clumsy, in British slang, represents for Yashere how non-traditional her rise in Hollywood has been. She started off as an engineer, a path that she says delighted her immigrant mother, but decided to become a comedian after taking off a summer to act in a community play.

Now with Bob Hearts Abishola she's showing that a left-handed professional can hold sway in a world built for right-handers.

"I've never wanted to push myself into a box that they put me in. I've never wanted to do things that are against my core principles," she said. "So because of that, it took me a lot longer to make it. But it feels a lot sweeter now because I'm making it on my own terms."

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Photo: The Canadian Press FILE- In this Sept. 3, 2020, file photo, Rochester, N.Y. Mayor Lovely Warren addresses the media during a news conference in Rochester, N.Y. An investigation into the official response to Daniel Prude's police suffocation death last year in Rochester, is faulting the city's mayor and former police chief for keeping critical details of the case secret for months and lying to the public about what they knew. The report, commissioned by Rochesters city council and made public Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)

An investigation into the official response to Daniel Prudes police suffocation death last year in Rochester, New York, is faulting the citys mayor and former police chief for keeping critical details of the case secret for months and lying to the public about what they knew.

The report, commissioned by Rochesters city council and made public Friday, said Mayor Lovely Warren lied at a September press conference when she said it wasnt until August that she learned officers had physically restrained Prude during the March 23, 2020, arrest that led to his death.

Warren was told that very day that officers had used physical restraint, the report said, and by mid-April she, then-Police Chief LaRon Singletary and other officials were aware Prude had died as a result and the officers were under criminal investigation.

In the final analysis, the decision not to publicly disclose these facts rested with Mayor Warren, as the elected mayor of the city of Rochester, said the report, written by New York City-based lawyer Andrew G. Celli Jr. But Mayor Warren alone is not responsible for the suppression of the circumstances of the Prude arrest and Mr. Prudes death.

Warren said in a statement that she welcomed the report because it allows our community to move forward.

Throughout city government, we have acknowledged our responsibility, recognized that changes are necessary and taken action, she said, citing various measures on police practices and discipline.

In her statement, Warren didnt address the reports specific assessments of her own conduct.

A special counsel to the city administration disputed claims that Warren had lied.

The mayor spoke based on the facts known to her at the time and if what she said wasn't true it was because Singletary had misled her, Carrie Cohen said.

The report said Singletary told the mayor the officers restrained Prude, but the chief consistently deemphasized the role of restraints in Prude's death, and his statements to officials didn't capture the disturbing tenor of the entire encounter."

Singletarys characterization likely impacted how city officials viewed the matter, the report said.

A lawyer for Singletary said, under a first review of the report, Singletary was truthful in his statements" to Warren and other city officials.

He never participated in any coverup nor did he intentionally downplay the circumstances" around Prude's death, Michael Tallon said in a statement.

When asked by the mayor to lie, he declined and he announced his retirement the next day," he added.

Warren told the public Singletary initially told her Prudes death was a drug overdose, but Fridays report said he never told her that. Singletary, meanwhile, made untrue statements by omission when he failed to correct Warren's claim during a September news conference that she was not informed Prude's death had been ruled a homicide, the report said. It said Singletary told her of the finding on April 13.

Additionally, the report said, a city lawyer in August discouraged Warren from publicly disclosing Prudes arrest or commencing disciplinary action against the officers after she viewed body camera video of the encounter for the first time.

The lawyer incorrectly stated that the city was barred from taking action against the officers while the state attorney generals office was investigating Prudes death, the report said.

There are no surprises in there. It confirms most of what I already knew, said attorney Elliot Shields, who represents Prude's brother, Joe.

What it shows me on a larger scale is the systemic failures of the city, he said.

The body camera video, made public by Prudes family in early September, shows Prude handcuffed and naked with a spit hood over his head as an officer pushes his face against the ground, while another officer presses a knee to his back. The officers held him down for about two minutes until he stopped breathing. He was taken off life support a week later.

A grand jury last month declined to indict the officers involved.

Lawyers for the seven police officers suspended over Prudes death have said the officers were strictly following their training that night, employing a restraining technique known as segmenting. They claimed Prudes use of PCP, which caused irrational behaviour, was the root cause of his death.

Rochester's city council authorized the independent investigation into the handling of Prude's death within days of the video being made public and voted to give investigators the power to subpoena city departments.

Celli, in the report, noted that the decision to inform the public of a significant event is a policy judgment, and a political one, not a legal one, and that there are no written rules or standards in Rochester governing the mayor or other officials in such matters.

It is not for the special council investigator to pass judgment on whether the decisions by Rochester officials not to disclose the arrest and death of Daniel Prude were right or wrong, Celli wrote. The judges of that question are the citizens of the city of Rochester and the public at large.

The report also confirms that Rochester police commanders urged city officials to hold off on publicly releasing the body camera footage of Prudes suffocation death because they feared violent blowback if it came out during protests over the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

In a June 4 email, Deputy Chief Mark Simmons cited the current climate in the city and the nation and advised Singletary to press the citys lawyers to deny a Prude family lawyers public records request for the footage of the encounter that led to his death.

We certainly do not want people to misinterpret the officers actions and conflate this incident with any recent killings of unarmed Black men by law enforcement nationally, Simmons wrote. That would simply be a false narrative, and could create animosity and potentially violent blow back in this community as a result.

Totally agree, Singletary replied, according to the emails.

Rochester officials released the emails last fall, along with police reports and other documents. Warren fired Singletary and suspended the city lawyer, Corporation Counsel Tim Curtin, and communications director Justin Roj without pay for 30 days in response to fallout over the case.

Prudes death sparked several weeks of nightly protests and calls for Warrens resignation. His family has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the police department sought to cover up the true nature of Prudes death.
Centre should uphold provisions of Places of Worship Act: CPI-M

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 13: The CPI(M) on Saturday questioned the need to examine the validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, saying the Centre should uphold the provisions of the legislation in its response to the Supreme Court.

The remarks came a day after the top court sought the Centre's response to a plea against certain provisions of the 1991 law, which prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on two-day campaign in poll-bound Assam, West Bengal

The PIL assumes significance amid demands by some Hindu groups to reclaim religious places at Mathura and Kashi. "It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court has opened the way for a re-examination of the Places of Worship (Special Provision) Act, 1991," the Left party said in a statement.

The Act mandates that the character of all religious places of worship should be maintained as it was on August 15, 1947, and no suit or proceedings shall lie in a court of law with respect to the character of places of worship, the CPI(M) said.

"This effectively barred courts from entertaining cases which raise disputes over places of worship that existed as of August 15, 1947," it said. "The law further provided that such cases already pending in courts would stand abated."

The petition alleges that the 1991-law creates an "arbitrary and irrational retrospective cut-off date" of August 15, 1947, for maintaining the character of the places of worship or pilgrimage against encroachment done by "fundamentalist-barbaric invaders and law-breakers". The CPI(M) said the Act granted an exception for the Babri Masjid/Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya, which was then under dispute.

No new COVID-19 case of UK variant in Madhya Pradesh post last week: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

While invoking this exemption, the Supreme Court, in the 2019 Ayodhya verdict, reaffirmed that similar such cases cannot be entertained with respect to other sites in view of this Act.

The CPI(M) politburo reaffirms that the grounds on which this law was enacted "need not be re-examined," it said. "The Central Government must respond to the Supreme Court seeking its views in a firm affirmation of the Places of Worship Act, 1991."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 18:47 [IST]
Aged care homes and hospitals will be closed to non-essential visitors in Greater Brisbane for the next three days after a doctor tested positive to Covid-19.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the new restrictions on Saturday after a doctor at Princess Alexandra Hospital, in Brisbane, returned a positive result.

The junior medic had assessed two patients who had the more-deadly UK variant of the virus on Wednesday before she tested positive on Friday, and genomic testing is underway to confirm whether the doctor has the same strain.

Aged care homes and hospitals will be closed to non-essential visitors in Greater Brisbane for the next three days after a doctor tested positive to Covid-19. Pictured: The Morning After cafe has been closed after a positive case visited it

Brisbane residents should immediately quarantine if they visited the Morning After Cafe (pictured) at West End between 2pm and 3.15pm

Ms Palaszczuk revealed the doctor had not yet received the Covid-19 vaccine despite the national roll out entering its third week, with front line healthcare workers among the first to be promised the jab.

The federal government had high hopes of vaccinating all Australians by October, though shipping blockades overseas and a slow start to the program has pushed the deadline back to Christmas.

The delay to the vaccine program has sparked fears of another potential Covid-19 outbreak in the country.

Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Sonya Bennett listed a pub, cafe and gym as 'high risk', saying the doctor had visited the venues while potentially infectious, with a McDonald's restaurant added as a low-risk exposure site.

Aged care homes and hospitals will be closed to non-essential visitors in Greater Brisbane for the next three days after a doctor tested positive to Covid-19 (pictured, Princess Alexandra Hospital where a doctor tested positive to Covid-19)

State premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the new restrictions on Saturday after a doctor at Princess Alexandra Hospital, in Brisbane, returned a positive result

The Corporate Box Gym at Greenslopes has been labelled a 'high risk' venue with residents told to quarantine if they visited between 5.45pm and 7pm on Thursday

Residents should immediately quarantine if they visited the Morning After Cafe at West End between 2pm and 3.15pm, or the Corporate Box Gym at Greenslopes between 5.45pm and 7pm on Thursday.

Anyone who also attended the Stones Corner Hotel between 7pm and 7.45pm on the same day should isolate immediately.

The McDonald's at Coorparoo was also labelled a 'low risk' venue and visitors should get tested if they were at the restaurant between 3:10pm and 3:20pm on Thursday.

'Now, the good news is as the premier said there's only been a short period of time infectious in the community and apparently the person was sitting out side as well,' Dr Bennett said.

'We can be assured about that and we should be fairly easily be able to identify through the contact tracing app who was also there at that same time.'

Ms Palaszczuk said contact tracers had yet to identify all the potential sites the doctor may have visited while infectious.

'This doctor has not been out in the community for a long period of time,' she said. 'It's been very short and very limited in her contacts.'

Health minister Yvette D'Ath said non-essential visitors would be restricted at the Princess Alexandra Hospital as authorities raced to trace any contacts of the doctor.

'We are taking measures as we announced last night in relation to Princess Alexandra Hospital as well,' she said.

'High risk' and 'low risk' venues were identified on Saturday after a Princess Alexandra Hospital doctor returned a positive Covid-19 test result

Anyone who also attended the Stones Corner Hotel between 7pm and 7.45pm on the same day should isolate immediately

Residents should immediately quarantine if they visited the Morning After Cafe at West End (pictured) between 2pm and 3.15pm, or the Corporate Box Gym at Greenslopes between 5.45pm and 7pm on Thursday

Vaccine rollout deadline extended The Federal Government aimed to vaccinate the entire country by October, though now expects to reach the milestone by Christmas. Four million people were supposed to have also received the jab by the end of March. So far, only 125,000 people have received it. Mr Morrison blamed international supply blockages for the delay, after Italy stopped a shipment of AstraZeneca shots from leaving for Australia. Patients will also have to wait 12 weeks, instead of the promised four, to receive their second shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Mr Morrison sought to correct the record on the government's aim to have the entire Australian population vaccinated by October. 'The first dose to be administered by October - that's what I meant,' he said. 'We were clear a month ago that the October deadline would not include the second dose.' He is still optimistic that 150,000 residents will be vaccinated by the end of the week. Advertisement

'So restricting non-essential visitors. Also looking at any release of patients first identifying whether they have been in contact with this doctor.'

Ms Palaszczuk revealed the doctor had not yet received the Covid-19 vaccine.

'At the PA there have already been 1,615 start ha have received the first vaccine,' she said.

Ms Palaszczuk batted away questions from reporters on why the doctor had not been vaccinated.

'Not everyone working in contacts with hotel quarantine people have been done to date,' she said.

'You know, it's a slow and steady process to get this right. Of course, as the Health Minister said, as we get more and more supply, more and more people are going to get vaccinated.'

Dr Bennett added the doctor had taken precautionary measures when assessing the Covid-infected patients.

'This doctor still wore appropriate PPE during the time she was with the patients,' she said.

Queensland was just hours away from enjoying a fresh easing of its remaining lockdown restrictions when the Princess Alexandra Hospital doctor returned a positive Covid-19 result

A McDonald's at Coorparoo was also labelled a 'low risk' venue and visitors should get tested if they were at the venue between 3:10pm and 3:20pm on Thursday

QUEENSLAND VENUES ON ALERT AFTER DOCTOR CAUGHT COVID HIGH RISK VENUES Morning After cafe, West End, Brisbane: Thursday March 11, 2pm to 3.15pm Corporate Box gym, Greenslopes, Brisbane: Thursday March 11, 5.45pm to 7pm Stones Corner hotel, Stones Corner, Brisbane: Thursday March 11, 7pm to 7.45pm LOW RISK VENUES McDonalds, Coorparoo: Thursday March 11, 3:10pm to 3:20pm Corporate Box gym, Greenslopes, Brisbane: Thursday March 11, any time after 7pm Advertisement

'There were no reported breaches in use of the PPE. What we know about this virus is that it is highly infectious. Both the rapidity at which the doctor became infectious and the fact there were no identified breaches shows that.'

The Princess Alexandra Hospital sent an email to staff labelling the incident as a 'moderate risk' and urged anyone who showed symptoms to stay home.

'As you may have heard, a positive case with unknown origin has been detected in the Metro South Health catchment,' the email read.

'The case is a medical officer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.'

The doctor had contact with Covid-infected patients on the morning of March 10 before leaving the hospital and being in the community for the next 24 hours.

The lockdown conditions include banning non-essential visitors and mandatory masks to be worn by those inside the facility.

Non-urgent and elective surgeries will also be delayed until the lockdown lifts.

Non-essential visitors to the Princess Alexandra Hospital have been banned and elective surgeries have been postponed because of the lockdown (file image)

The Queensland government's contact tracing team is working to track the man's movements and identify people who have been in close proximity with the doctor.

'The hospital is actively working to ensure the safety of staff and patients on campus while contact tracing is undertaken,' a Queensland Health statement said.

'Anyone with any Covid-19 symptoms should get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result.'

The hospital's emergency department will remain open but the hospital is urging the public to seek assistance to other hospitals or GPs if possible.

The Princess Alexandra facility is one of Australia's main teaching hospitals with 1,050 beds and nearly 6,000 staff.

The doctor's case is the first local transmission of coronavirus in Queensland since January 11.

Meanwhile, Queensland Health has issued an urgent coronavirus warning after fragments of the virus were found in two wastewater treatment plants.

The Princess Alexandra facility is one of Australia's main teaching hospitals with 1,050 beds and nearly 6,000 staff

More than 60 suburbs have their water treated at the facility sparking concerns the virus might have spread undetected.

The fragments were found at the Bundaberg plant and the Gibson Island plant in south Brisbane with authorities unsure if they are from historical or new cases.

'We are concerned by the new variants that are emerging overseas that are more contagious than previous variants we have seen in Queensland,'chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said on Friday.

'It's also possible that this detection relates to previous COVID-19 cases that can shed viral fragments for a couple of months after they are no longer infectious.'

A day earlier, authorities discovered fragments of coronavirus at other treatment plants in the state.

Coronavirus fragments have also been discovered this week at two wastewater treatment plants in Queensland sparking warnings for residents of more than 60 suburbs (pictured: a trainee hydrographer takes a sample of wastewater to test for COVID-19)

Two plants in Cairns, the Marlin Coast and Cairns North facilities, returned the positives results along with the Fairfield plant in Brisbane South and the Mackay South facility.

Dr Young repeated calls for anyone experiencing even mild symptoms to self-isolate and get tested as soon as possible.

'Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell,' she said.

'We can't be complacent, we're still in this pandemic.'

She said detecting new cases quickly and containing any potential spread of the virus was still an urgent priority.
London, March 13 : The UK's exports of goods to the European Union (EU) fell by 40.7 per cent in January, while imports from the bloc dropped by 28.8 per cent, the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Falling imports of goods, excluding non-monetary gold and other precious metals, were largely seen in machinery and transport equipment, and chemicals from the EU in January, particularly in imports of cars and medicinal and pharmaceutical products, Xinhua news agency quoted the ONS as saying on Friday.

January marked the first month of trade after the Brexit transition period ended on December 31, 2020.

The ONS said multiple factors may have attributed to the falling trade in goods between the UK and the EU.

In addition to the changes facing Britain after the transition period ended, the country went into another national lockdown at the beginning of January.

Stockpiling of goods from the EU increased in November and December 2020 in preparation for the end of the Brexit transition period, just like the UK's goods imports from the EU also peaked in the weeks approaching previous Brexit deadlines in March and October 2019, the ONS said.

The ONS said data suggested that importing and exporting to the EU began to increase toward the end of January 2021.

The UK government announced on Thursday that it will delay post-Brexit checks on some EU goods coming into the country to help firms recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The need for health certificates on imports such as meat and milk will be pushed back from next month to October.

In contrast to the falling exports to the EU, exports of medicines and pharmaceutical products to non-EU countries increased in January, and a large proportion is represented by increasing exports to China and Japan, according to the ONS.

President Joe Bidens task was daunting as he marked the first anniversary of the week when the coronavirus forced America to shut down. He needed to acknowledge the loss of more than 529,000 lives to the coronavirus pandemic and the accompanying economic suffering, while offering a sense of optimism that the future can and will be brighter.

The first 50 days of Mr Bidens presidency have offered examples of his leadership style  and how it differs from that of former president Donald Trump. Thursdays speech from the White House provided another revealing glimpse. Instead of a president saying, Only I can fix it, Mr Biden said he can only succeed with the help of others.

Looking directly into the camera, he said, I will not relent until we beat this virus. But I need you, the American people. I need you. I need every American to do their part. That contrast in leadership styles underscored what the transition from the 45th president to the 46th has meant.

Midway through his first 100 days in office, Mr Biden might have been tempted to use his first nationally televised speech merely to take a modest victory lap over the passage of the nearly $2trn coronavirus relief package that he signed into law earlier on Thursday. That will come soon enough. Instead, mixing empathy with hard realities, he provided a blueprint for returning the country to some sense of normalcy by summer, while appealing to all Americans to help him make it

happen.

Mr Biden made many promises during his campaign, but none more important than to lead a national effort to defeat the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic, and that has been almost a singular focus. In the months ahead, he will face difficult battles to fulfil pledges on climate change, immigration, infrastructure, racial justice and voting rights. Even now, he is struggling with a growing crisis of unaccompanied minors on the southern border.

But the success of his presidency will rest in large part on winning this first big battle against the virus. The reality he outlined underscored that America is still far from victory. The country remains in a race, pitting the goal of vaccinating most adults as quickly as possible against the threat of virus variants that are spreading rapidly and that potentially require a new round of shutdowns and economic dislocations.

That may be why the president emphasised what remains to be done as much as what already has been done. To a nation exhausted from a year in shutdown, Mr Biden offered hope. He set a goal of having families and friends able to gather together to celebrate the Fourth of July, and he ordered states to make all adults eligible for the vaccine by May 1, earlier than previously expected.

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But with hope came words of caution. He warned against backsliding in behaviours that could allow new variants of the virus to spread and set back the timetable for a return to normal. That means continuing to wear masks and practise social distancing, and getting vaccinated as soon as possible once eligible.

Things today are better than when Mr Biden took office, but he and his team have not done this alone. Development of the vaccines began during Mr Trumps administration, and the roll-out, halting as it was, started before Mr Biden was sworn in. Still, in the first months of the new administration, two things have happened.

First, availability of vaccine supply has increased, and so too has the pace of shots administered, dramatically so. Second, Mr Biden won a major victory with the passage of the American Rescue Plan over united Republican opposition. He signed it into law hours before his speech.

Faced with a choice of trying to win even minimal support from Republican lawmakers or ploughing forward as quickly as possible without them, Mr Biden never hesitated to push ahead. He was criticised for seeming to abandon his calls for unity on Inauguration Day, but lessons learned from his days as vice-president shaped the thinking of his team: Go as big as possible as quickly as possible with legislation, and dont hold out hope for long for getting help from Republicans.

Amid outside predictions that the size of the final package would have to shrink by as much as a few hundred billion dollars, Mr Biden held firm, agreeing to just enough tweaks to win the support of Democrat Senator Joe Manchin. That and a ruling from the Senate parliamentarian that stripped out the proposal that would have raised the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour provided the formula to assure passage.

Now, officials say, they are applying another lesson from the Obama years: not to take for granted that they will receive the political credit for the benefits of new legislation. In selling the plan over the coming weeks, in trying to alert Americans to the benefits included in the package, Mr Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris will try to blunt Republican criticism and hold public opinion on their side. ( Washington Post)

 Washington Post
Not that theyre no longer a part of alternative sex cultures, but its now actually more often than not framed as therapy culture, and this idea that in order to be polyamorous you have to be self-aware, you have to have good communication skills, good boundaries, a sophisticated understanding of consent, says Ford. Its not situated as much in relationships like, Oh well everyones just horny. For me, it was more down to the nitty gritty, sexual stuff, and growing up with porn, and not doing enough of that in my university years because I was too introverted, says filmmaker Jan Oliver Lucks, left, pictured with Natalie Medlock, in There Is No I In Threesome. Credit:HBO Max This is partly, says Ford, because while our culture still promotes monogamy, promotes individualism and the notion of romantic love, there is more rethinking about how we might structure our families and relationships in light of various social realities  children staying home longer, the rising cost of childcare  that are making it increasingly difficult for families to have one stay-at-home parent. So do open and polyamorous relationships work? In Lucks case  spoiler alert  his relationship imploded.

She slowly recast me as her main primary partner and she had, perhaps without her knowing it at first, lost interest in me, or the connection wasnt as strong, says Lucks, whose fiancee fell in love with her boyfriend. For me, it stayed pretty much just on a sexual level, but for her it [having other lovers] filled a need for an emotional connection and, like, a loving partner that pays attention. A couple of years after the couples breakup, in 2018, Lucks was so low that he went on anti-depressants. (Partly, he has said, this was due to reliving the failure of his relationship while making the film.) In large part, he says his film is a cautionary tale of how not to engage in an open or polyamorous relationship, as they did everything wrong: living apart for long periods, in addition to his hatred of conflict, and the fact that he would go on a hike instead of openly talking to her. Also, he now realises he was simply intellectualising an emotional or physical urge. Sex therapist and relationship counsellor Jacqueline Hellyer, of Sydneys The LoveLife Clinic, isnt surprised. Its the latest thing to be polyamorous and have consensual non-monogamous relationships, and all this sort of stuff, and too many people are engaging in it and thinking its just a rational thing; Yes, I have my rights. Sometimes people go, to be with one person is like being possessed, and no one owns me, and my relationship is a cage, and all this sort of bullshit, but what theyre omitting is the fact that sexuality and relationships are primarily an emotional thing, Hellyer says, adding that jealousy breaks apart many polyamorous relationships shes seen.

Loading When we look at human sexuality from an evolutionary lens, we are so sexual because it bonds us, she says, meaning that it helps a couple stay together, which is helpful to humans  compared to other mammals  because our young are comparatively helpless for a lot longer and the presence of both parents helps them survive. (In comparison, she says, other mammals only have sex when the females in heat and their babies are independent far younger.) This is why, says Hellyer, it is extraordinarily hard for polyamorous couples to prevent themselves from falling in love with new partners. Its not impossible  one female client she had, for instance, took a lover because she was pretty bored in life, had younger kids, and the husband was not all that exciting a lover. Shes much happier, says Hellyer, and her sex life with her husband  who accepted the arrangement as long as it didnt involve dating or dinner, in addition to other boundaries  became much better as a result. Swinging, too, says Hellyer, is often less problematic, because its an experience a couple goes through together. Numerous clients relationships, she says, have been enhanced by swinging as a result of sharing an exciting experience which created a stronger bond.

But of polyamory she says: Often I find that to develop the ability to have a successful polyamorous relationship, [a couple discussing what they will get out of the experience that will make their relationship stronger, being self-aware and supporting each other to be happy], you kind of develop the skills to have a really successful monogamous relationship, so why would you [do it?]... I think were putting the cart before the horse. We [many of us] dont even know how to have a relationship, let alone multiple relationships. That is also the conclusion that Lucks, 37, has come to. I think monogamy is the norm for a reason, says Lucks, who has been single for five years and has just met a woman with whom hes beginning a relationship. Im glad I tried an alternative, because I would have always wondered, he says. [But] I would go into boring monotony [now] and embrace it. Id get very excited about the missionary position. *Lucks fiancee is played in the film by actor Natalie Medlock, who recreates the events from Lucks relationship. Lucks ex-fiancee gave him permission to do this after she dropped out of the film a year into making it, when they broke up.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attends a virtual science showcase to mark British Science Week in this screenshot provided (Photo : Buckingham Palace/Handout via REUTERS)

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has made her first appearance since a tell-all interview by grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan rocked the monarchy, but made no reference to the crisis it had caused her family.



During the Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan said a member of the royal family had made a racist comment and Harry criticised his relatives for how they dealt with press treatment of his wife, with the fallout dominating the British media since it aired last Sunday.



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On Thursday, Harry's elder brother Prince William told reporters "we're very much not a racist family", the day after the 94-year-old monarch herself issued a statement on behalf of the royals in which she said they were saddened by how challenging the couple had found the last few years.



The Sun newspaper, citing an unnamed source, said Harry's father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, had wanted to issue a point by point rebuttal, but the royal family had decided not to get involved in a 'tit for tat' battle.



In a video call with scientists and schoolchildren to mark British Science Week, the queen did not refer to the interview at all, the royals' usual approach to what they have said was a private, family matter.



Instead she discussed the latest updates from NASA's Mars Perseverance mission, as well as the discovery of a rare meteorite which landed in Gloucestershire, western England last month, the first to be recovered in the United Kingdom for 30 years.



"I'm glad it didn't hit anyone," the queen quipped during the "virtual showcase", which took place on Wednesday although details were only released by Buckingham Palace on Friday.



When told by space scientist and broadcaster Maggie Aderin-Pocock that she had been inspired to follow her career by the exploits of Russian Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space in 1961, Elizabeth, who has reigned for 69 years, recounted that she had met him shortly afterwards at Buckingham Palace.



Asked what he was like, she replied: "Russian, he didn't speak English. He was fascinating and I suppose being the first one, it was particularly fascinating."


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Thursday, March 11, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Pfizer has guaranteed delivery of at least 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses per week starting later this month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
If the population of the Star Wars universe as a whole seems to struggle with making rational decisions, there might be a good reason for that. In 2015, a psychologist/psychiatrist duo from opposite sides of the world teamed up for what they surely expected would be one of those lighthearted "we had extra grant money" studies and ended up writing not just one but a series of papers analyzing the characters of Star Wars. In fact, the residents of a galaxy far, far away represent such a big and broad array of psychiatric disorders that the scientists recommend using the films as teaching tools in college classrooms (some of which have heeded the suggestion).

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The most troubled, of course, are those Skywalker boys. According to multiple professionals over the years, Anakin Skywalker displays clear signs of PTSD and/or borderline personality disorder, which can be hard to distinguish from each other, including splitting (that is, black-and-white thinking), projecting, and "infantile illusions of omnipotence." Nothing says "frantic efforts to avoid abandonment" like joining the dark side based on an irrational fear of spousal death. Luke, meanwhile, is a textbook model of adolescent depression, what with his "not doing chores, hanging out in bars," and "bullseyeing womp rats," and later shows symptoms of prodromal schizophrenia, including auditory and visual hallucinations and grandiose delusions of saving the galaxy. (It turns out he's right, but that's beside the point.) Kylo Ren, too, exhibits much the same behavior as his grandfather, to the point of dressing up like him.

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Talk about an unstable sense of self.

But that's hardly the end of it. According to the pair, General Organa shows symptoms of histrionic personality disorder ...

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"Inappropriate seduction" is definitely, um, one way to describe that.

C3PO, obsessive-compulsive disorder; Lando Calrissian, gambling addiction ...
GANGS of children roaming the streets of Abbeyfeale, frightening elderly people and tormenting shop owners needs to be tackled, said Cllr Liam Galvin.

I dont expect gardai to be running home with a child on the side of the street. Im not asking for that. What I am asking for is parents to be held accountable for children under 16 years of age, said Cllr Liam Galvin at a Newcastle West Joint Police Committee meeting.

Cllr Galvin read out a motion calling on the Minister for Justice to enact legislation to put the onus on parents of children under 16 who are gathering / loitering and engaging in antisocial behaviour to be responsible for their children.

I would recommend that sanctions be imposed on parents whose children are engaging in such behaviour by means of fines and that these fines would be recovered by way of attachment of earnings, said Cllr Galvin.

He said the only way to hurt anyone is in their pocket.

Gangs of these children are loitering around shop doors, loitering around supermarkets, small businesses that are still open, frightening the living daylights out of customers for obvious reasons. Parents should be responsible here  I dont expect guards to be responsible.

There is no fear in these young lads. They dont care what garda comes up to them. Long ago I can remember if you saw a garda walking up the footpath you would cross over the road. Now they will walk down past and they could even take the cap off the gardas head  that is the cheek they have. What is going on around the towns is a sick joke during Covid, said Galvin.

Cllr Tom Ruddle said it is also a major issue in Newcastle West.

Children under 12 are travelling in packs, intimidating older people and dumping rubbish. Parents have to be more involved. They dont know where their children are. They are roaming around every evening, said Cllr Ruddle.

Cllr Jerome Scanlan said he has seen children as young as 5 or 6 and up to 12 or 13 going around in groups of 9 or 10.

The biggest issue here is the word respect  it has disappeared form our dictionary. There is no respect for older people and for the garda force amongst a lot of our community. The only way to deal with it is to send them home. Do gardai have the power to send them home? he asked. Cllr Scanlan said it is also very serious for people in private houses because they are disturbed by these youngsters running about and making noise.

Newcastle West Superintendent Aileen Magner said Covid has heightened the whole problem of young people roaming the streets and gathering in crowds.

Some young people prefer to be out of their homes than in them at times. Sometimes people just dont look for them. We all like to know where our children are but we are not all the same. I absolutely agree that it can be very intimidating for particularly the elderly and vulnerable to see gangs of children on the street or loitering outside shops. It is something we will definitely address through the issuing of ASBOs, said Supt Magner. Under the law, children who have not reached the age of 12 cannot be charged or arrested for ordinary offences.

Supt Magner said they dont have the power to send children home to their parents.

A lot of these kids are vulnerable themselves because of their circumstances. We are also very mindful of that.

We have a duty of care to very young children that might be roaming the streets.

Its not that there is nothing we can do, there is nothing unless they are committing a criminal offence that we can do.

There is nothing stopping us engaging with these young people, said Supt Magner, who asked councillors to contact gardai when they get reports.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The office-warming cocktail party on MinterEllisons floor in a flash new Collins Street skyscraper on Wednesday last week was supposed to be a celebration for the law firms partners  a chance to mingle and mark the end of Melbournes long lockdown. But considering what had happened only hours earlier between the firms chief executive Annette Kimmitt and one of its most senior and storied partners, Peter Bartlett, many arrived expecting ugly scenes over the canapes and sparkling wine. Annette Kimmitt was forced to leave her job as Minter Ellison CEO in the fall-out over an email she sent. Credit:Louie Douvis/AFR That morning Kimmitt had fired a broadside against Bartlett on the firms all-staff email channel to more than 2000 people. It was the legal equivalent of a barbecue stopper. Earlier, the media had revealed the lawyer (and long-time defamation adviser to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald) was helping Attorney-General Christian Porter respond to allegations he had raped a 16-year-old girl in 1988  allegations he strongly denies. Kimmitts email was a direct challenge to Bartlett. The acceptance of this matter did not go through the firms due consultation or approval processes. Had it done so, we would have considered the matter through the lens of our Purpose and Values, she wrote.

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The nature of this matter is clearly causing hurt to some of you, and it has certainly triggered hurt for me. I know that for many it may be a tough day, and I want to apologise for the pain you may be experiencing. She followed up with a second, similar missive addressed directly to the firms more than 250 partners, saying, we have a process that we follow when accepting new work. Senior sources at the firm, who do not want to be named, say the email blast caught Bartlett by surprise. But, like a lawyer presenting his defence, he fired back fast, proclaiming his adherence to traditional legal principles  the right of a client to counsel  and, subtly, the importance of loyalty to the firms clients. Peter Bartlett is a veteran media lawyer and former chairman of the firms board. Credit:Jim Rice With the claims against the [Attorney-General], I would have thought that a majority of our partners would believe that everyone is entitled to a presumption of innocence and legal representation, Bartlett wrote in an email to the firms partners. Ive worked with many corporate, employment and other partners over the years to try and protect their clients from media exposure, some of whom have been accused of harassment and more. I have advised many federal and state ministers, premiers and prime ministers from both parties. These are the leaders of one of the firms largest clients, he added. MinterEllison has contracts worth $93 million with the federal government, and Bartlett is advising the Prime Minister himself. Scott Morrisons office, he wrote, had recently called to thank him for the assistance he had rendered the Attorney-General.

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By the end of this week, the email exchange had cost Kimmitt her job. She is the highest profile scalp so far from the public debate over sexism and sexual assault now engulfing Australian politics. The other person seemingly under most pressure is another woman, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds. Once again, a woman pays the price for speaking up, tweeted the Greens Senate leader, Larissa Waters amid a stream of social media criticism of the firm. But the events at MinterEllison this week highlight another issue too: the tension inside many venerable legal firms between legal tradition and a new emphasis on their social licence to operate. Dozens of lawyers, junior and senior, interviewed this week  off the record  said this conflict was playing out across legal precincts in Sydney and Melbourne. Credit: To some extent its a generational split between Millennials and the old guard, but it also divides old-style lawyers and newer managerial experts for whom reputation is key. Big firms sell the idea that they are socially responsible to appear attractive to younger staff, while still taking on clients who can pay the bills  big tobacco, big pharma and in this case, someone accused of historical rape. A showdown didnt end up happening that night at the cocktail party  Bartlett arrived late and Kimmitt never showed.

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Instead, cliques supporting either side continued the fight anonymously in the media as a lobbying campaign ensued among the partners. Annette Kimmitts position immediately came under fire after her all-staff email. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Purpose with a capital P Much has been made in some media reports about the fact that Kimmitt is an accountant  rather than a lawyer  in charge of the nations most prominent legal firm. This is actually traditional at Minter Ellison. But insiders say Kimmitts most profound impact in the firm was her drive to instil a greater sense that it needed a social licence to operate. This, at its simplest, describes the ongoing commitment a business has to its employees, stakeholders and the wider society beyond its basic legal obligations, and without which it could find itself with a damaged reputation. In high-impact industries such as mining, for example, social licence encompasses how they treat the local environment, their response to climate change or their relationship to Indigenous communities. But, maintaining social licence is a growing focus for businesses everywhere.

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At MinterEllison, particularly under Kimmitts stewardship, this has meant dedicating resources towards pro bono work, outreach to disadvantaged communities, investment in social enterprises and a pledge to (act) ethically and sustainably in all of our business operations. Among lawyers, its a contentious idea. Some say its mostly virtue-signalling  a public relations exercise to attract clients and potential high-talent recruits. And its questionable how much influence corporate responsibility mission statements exert when firms are deciding who to represent. Law firms dont really have too many values. Like most businesses, they think about dollar signs and their reputation, which are linked together, said a lawyer who formerly worked at MinterEllison. Media lawyer Peter Bartlett on stand-by as AFP officers raid The Age offices in 2011. Credit:Craig Abraham The decision to stop taking a particular type of client is mostly done because they are so reviled by the public or other clients or government  like tobacco companies  that keeping them means losing reputation, potentially other business and therefore money. MinterEllisons client list makes it difficult to discern a pattern of what is acceptable. It has included asbestos and coal companies, troubled casino giant Crown Resorts and barrister-turned-police informer Nicola Gobbo. MinterEllison, whose official communications in the past fortnight have been virtually nil, has refused to provide the Purpose and Values policy that Kimmitt cited in her email. Neither she nor Bartlett has responded to requests for an interview, nor has the chairman and partner David OBrien, who moved decisively against Kimmitt on Wednesday.

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On the FactCheck page, The Associated Press tracks down some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals that were shared widely on social media. The AP takes those untrue stories, checks them out and sets the records straight in this weekly series of news articles.


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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A bill that aims to bridge the urban-rural divide in New Mexico and passed the House with bipartisan support now awaits consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.

The bills sponsor, Rep. Roger Montoya, D-Velarde, remains hopeful that his proposed Rural Opportunity Act gets to the Senate floor before the 60-day legislative session ends March 20.

I feel confident that once its heard and gets onto the floor, there will be support, he said.

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The measure, House Bill 16, was approved via a 65-0 vote in the House on March 3. Along the way, the bill has picked up 26 co-sponsors, including a dozen Republicans.

People saw the logic, Montoya said. They were very much on board because they saw it as something equitable that addresses rural areas all across New Mexico.

The bill would create an interim committee that, over the next two years, would make recommendations about how to improve services in rural areas like access to running water, wastewater treatment, health care services, electricity and broadband.

About one-third of the states 2.1 million residents live in rural areas where access to services is inconsistent, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill, which also notes a shortage of health care workers in New Mexico is most profound in rural areas.

Montoya said the bill is designed to take an approach similar to what he used as a community organizer: identify a problem, invite a diverse group of people with different perspectives and then try to solve it.

The interim Rural Opportunity Act Committee would be made up 14 lawmakers who would meet when the Legislature is not in session.

While the proliferation of interim committees has come under fire from some lawmakers, Montoya said the proposed addition would fill an important niche.

This is pulling everyone together to decide what the plan needs to be and what the recommendations should be, he said.

Under the bill, the committee would produce findings and recommendations by Dec. 15 each of the next two years, after which it would be disbanded. By then, Montoya said lawmakers should have all they need to craft legislation to address the disparity in services between rural and urban areas.

Montoya said the Rural Opportunity Act is cousin legislation to Senate Bill 193, which would create a rural equity ombudsman within the Department of Finance and Administration.

The needs are just too massive for just one person in an ombudsman role, he said.
ATLANTA, March 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Spelman College announced the public phase of the largest comprehensive campaign in the history of the institution. With a goal of $250 million, Spelman Ascends is focused on the strategic initiatives of increasing financial aid, endowing faculty professorships, funding a technology infrastructure transformation and building a Center for Innovation & the Arts that houses programs in the arts, innovation and entrepreneurship.



In just over three and a half years, hundreds of generous donors have made gifts to Spelman, resulting in more than $240 million  96% of the goal  that will support the College's strategic priorities:

delivering on the promise of graduating with a competitive edge every student who enrolls at Spelman ;

; elevating the Spelman difference through support of the College's extraordinary faculty;

difference through support of the College's extraordinary faculty; enhancing the technology and operational infrastructure;

and promoting academic innovation by developing new programs and a new academic facility.

With the campaign not ending until 2024, Spelman is certain to exceed its goal, allowing the College to pioneer new academic programs and continue to graduate Black women who are global leaders. An increase in the number of applications from 5,000 five years ago to almost 11,000 for this academic year suggests that the momentum of the campaign is having a beneficial effect.



"The excellence of Spelman College has significant impact on our global community. The investment that our generous supporters continue to make to our beloved institution transforms lives and lifts communities," said Rosalind G. Brewer, C'84, chair of the Spelman College Board of Trustees. "Their gifts enrich the experiences of our students, invest in exceptional faculty and support initiatives that address society's most pressing challenges. We are grateful for their magnanimous contributions."



Generous Donors

The Atlanta-based liberal arts powerhouse dedicated to the education and empowerment of women of African descent has attracted seven and eight-figure gifts from Patty Quillin and Reed Hastings, MacKenzie Scott, Seth and Beth Klarman, Spelman trustee Ronda Stryker and William Johnston, Spelman trustee Ted and Barbara Aronson, Spelman trustee Susan and Tom Dunn, Jon Stryker, Spelman Board Chair Rosalind G. Brewer, C'84, and John Brewer, Leonard and Louise Riggio, Frank and Laura Day Baker, Jean G. Brophy and Martha Lee Kemper, Spelman trustee Mary R. and John F. Brock, the Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation honoring Diana King, the estate of Joan B. Johnson, Erin Johnson Tolefree, C'2001, and Spelman trustee Cara Johnson Hughes, C'2003.



Many gifts from supporters like Bank of America, the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Morgan Stanley & Company, Ford Motor Company, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, the WISH Foundation, the Ernst & Young Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation have led to partnerships and programs that help close the gap on inequities that exist in our society by connecting future leaders to the resources they need to succeed.



Academic Excellence

New academic programs supported by the campaign include the Atlanta University Center for Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective; the Center for Black Entrepreneurship (in collaboration with Morehouse College and the Black Economic Alliance); the Institute for the Study of Gender and Sexuality; Spelman's participation, in collaboration with Morehouse, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse School of Medicine, in the AUC Data Science Initiative; as well as a new program to ensure employment and/or continued professional development for every Spelman graduate.



"We share great appreciation for the ongoing and generous support from those who love Spelman. Their contributions enable the College to continue its rich history of matriculating Black women leaders who go on to successful careers in fields such as science, politics, law, education, entrepreneurship and the arts," said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. "Our ability to surround our students with committed faculty, a challenging yet loving environment and a rigorous innovative academic experience is a direct result of our dedicated community of supporters."



Cherished Community

A vital part of that community of supporters has been our Spelman alumnae. They have risen to the occasion, making nearly $17.5 million in commitments to the College, including via the [email protected] Technology Fund and the Spelman Strong Fund, a crucial bridge between tuition revenue and actual operation costs. In a show of true sisterhood, there is tremendous momentum and energy around the alumnae fundraising campaigns for scholarships that honor Spelman's seventh and first Black woman president, Johnnetta B. Cole, Ph.D., and political pioneer Stacey Abrams, C'95.



Contributors to the campaign from Spelman's board of trustees, alumnae, students, faculty, staff, volunteers and community shared their reasons for making gifts to the College during a virtual event announcing the public phase of its comprehensive campaign that was live streamed today at 2 p.m. EST on Spelman.edu, Facebook and YouTube.



Spelman's legacy has always been one of movement forward and upward from its start as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary in the basement of Friendship Baptist Church to one of the nation's top liberal arts institutions. Her daughters, Spelman alumnae, and the faculty that teach Spelmanites embrace the core value of aspiring to ascend as leaders in their communities, professions and across the globe.



This campaign will propel the College even further, setting up the next generation of students, scholars and administrators to carry-on the tradition of progressive and pioneering innovation and excellence. Spelman Ascends.

About Spelman College

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a leading liberal arts college widely recognized as the

global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, the College's picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students. Spelman is the country's leading producer of Black women who complete Ph.D.s in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The College's status is confirmed by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked Spelman No. 54 among all liberal arts colleges, No. 19 for undergraduate teaching, No. 4 for social mobility among liberal arts colleges, and No. 1 for the 14th year among historically Black colleges and universities. The Wall Street Journal ranked the College No. 3, nationally, in terms of student satisfaction. Recent initiatives include a designation by the Department of Defense as a Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM, a Gender and Sexuality Studies Institute, the first endowed queer studies chair at an HBCU, and a program to increase the number of Black women Ph.D.s in economics. New majors have been added, including documentary filmmaking and photography, and partnerships have been established with MIT's Media Lab, the Broad Institute and the Army Research Lab for artificial intelligence and machine learning.



Outstanding alumnae include Children's Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman, Starbucks Group President and COO Rosalind Brewer, political leader Stacey Abrams, former Acting Surgeon General and Spelman's first alumna president Audrey Forbes Manley, actress and producer Latanya Richardson Jackson, global bioinformatics geneticist Janina Jeff and authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones. For more information, visit www.spelman.edu.

SOURCE Spelman College

Related Links

www.spelman.edu


Your daily newsletter is back, and Apples expensive smart speaker is going away. Late Friday TechCrunch was the first to report that Apple is discontinuing the original HomePod, news that came out after people noticed it going out of stock on the companys website.

In a statement, Apple said it would focus instead on the $99 HomePod mini, which is sad news for all fans of pricey speakers from tech companies. HomePod joining Googles Home Max on the scrap heap is good news for specialists like Sonos, but to me its just another example of why people are skeptical of investing in these niche devices made by tech companies.

Last year Sonos recycle-mode effort tried to push users away from devices that were as much as a decade old, and owners still revolted. Apple and Google have promised ongoing support and updates for their speakers, but how long do you really think it will be until these speakers are unplugged from their respective ecosystems?

 Richard Lawler

Filter options like the Critter Cuddler and Basic Breather help it fit your needs.

Its spring, and for many of us that means one thing: allergies. Nicole Lee tried out the Mila air purifier that takes a different approach from many other high-end options as it focuses on being more customizable. There are seven different pre-configured air filters for people with different concerns, whether theyre pets, allergies, smells or something else. Its a pricey option at $360, but worth considering if youre just trying to get through your day without another sneezing attack.

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Find out your status from the comfort of your couch.

Ellume

In recent months, the FDA has approved a number of COVID tests which can be administered in the comfort of your own home and return results in a matter of minutes rather than days. Andrew Tarantola will walk you through some of the different options that are available and how they all work.

Continue reading.

And Sonys WH-CH710N are on sale for $98.

The 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad is down to its lowest price yet, and you can still grab the 11-inch version for less as well. Nintendo knocked 35 percent off many Mario games this week  the sales last through March 13, so there's still time to save money while adding to your games collection. Plus, the latest smartphones from OnePlus remain hundreds of dollars off.

Here are all the best deals from the week that you can still snag today, and remember to follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for more updates.

Continue reading.

WTF are NFTs?

This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the wild world of NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, with Engadget Senior Editor Dan Cooper. What do they mean for the future of art and commerce? And should you care about them at all? Also, we chat about Microsofts finalized Bethesda acquisition, as well as Facebooks push to dismiss its latest antitrust charges.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or Stitcher.

Continue reading.

AT&T expects to have up to 150 million HBO and HBO Max subscribers by 2026.

AT&T execs told investors the company plans to roll out an ad-supported version of HBO Max in June. However, if you opt for the ad-supported tier, you won't have access to the movies that Warner Bros. is releasing on HBO Max and in theaters on the same day.

For those, you'll either need to pay for the standard plan (where those movies will initially be available for a month) or wait until they arrive on HBO Max on a permanent basis.

Continue reading.

But wait, theres more...

Netflix 'test' pushes password sharers to get their own account

Disney World will let you use your phone instead of a MagicBand

Elon Musk reveals why the SN10 Starship exploded

How Apple's Shortcuts can help you clean out your iPhone or iPad

Volkswagen's ID.4 EV is the basic people mover you've been waiting for

The inventor of the cassette tape has died

Canoo plans to launch this oddly-shaped electric truck in 2023

How to clean and organize your Mac

T-Mobile will start automatically enrolling customers in an ad targeting program

Microsoft will match Chrome with more frequent Edge updates

Switch FPS 'Neon White' looks super weird, so here's how it works

Tesla is building a 100MW energy storage project in Texas

The OnePlus 9 series will debut with Hasselblad-tuned cameras on March 23rd

Google says Chrome 89 was built to save memory and load faster


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Box office bomb? Redland Drive-In reboot in doubt due to communication gaffe

JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News Folks looking forward to the reopening of the Redland Theater may be sorely disappointed if the current property owner and prospective businessman do not reach an agreement.

Folks looking forward to the reopening of the Redland Drive-In Theatre may be sorely disappointed if the current property owner and prospective businessman do not reach an agreement.

Andrew Thomas, the prospective businessman, first announced in mid-February his plans to reopen the theater, under the impression he had the go-ahead, he said.

Lloyd Gillespie, the current property owner, had no idea who Thomas was or of his intention to reopen the theater, he said.

I am Lloyd Gillespie. Ive never spoken with Andrew Thomas, I dont know him and I dont know anything about the Redland Theatre being sold, he said in an interview Thursday. I am the owner and I dont know anything about it being reopened.

He and Thomas spoke for the first time in a phone call Friday during which they learned there was more than a little miscommunication.

The men had communicated through a conduit, Thomas said. He named two men, Gillespie named one; both agreed theyd spoken with a man named Vince.

However, both had vastly different experiences with the man.

Gillespie met Vince only a few times, and at one point Vince asked Gillespie about purchasing the theater. Gillespie told Vince his grandsons were planning on turning the property into an RV Park and hed ask them. They didnt seem to have a problem with it at the time, but he never heard from Vince again, he said.

It comes down to the guys in the middle giving an inaccurate picture on both sides, Thomas said. We even filed for an LLC, opened bank accounts  this was all happening on my end because he told me explicitly the deal is done.

Thomas hadnt planned to announce the opening of the theater as soon as he did, but accidentally published the Facebook page early. He asked Vince if Gillespie would mind and said Vince told him Gillespie would be thrilled.

Gillespie was not thrilled.

Media coverage quickly followed the page being published and Gillespie grew more concerned about fake news being spread in the community. The Lufkin Daily News made repeated attempts to contact Gillespie before publishing the February story, to no avail.

Gillespie is bothered to think the community will be upset with him if the theater does not reopen, but said he needs more time to determine what the next best steps are.

Further complicating the issue, the Texas Department of Transportation purchased a part of the property, including the screen and marquee, for the U.S. Interstate 69 expansion project, Rhonda Oaks, Lufkin division communications director, said. The structures are set to be demolished in the next few weeks.

Thomas believes there is an opportunity to buy the structures, and possibly expand further back into other property Gillespie owns. But none of those ideas will be finalized until both men meet in person and can discuss the issue at length.

Gillespie asked Thomas to bring a business proposal he can present to his grandsons. Hes skeptical of the business, though, and doesnt believe it will succeed. He thinks people will attend one movie, realize they dislike the heat and the bugs and never go again.

Thomas currently owns and operates several successful drive-in theaters and is confident in the business model.

I still believe in the project in theory, he said. For me, what has me to the point where I want to keep giving it a shot is the response from the community.

The community has shown support for the project since rumors of the theater reopening first circulated online. Unless both men come to an agreement, however, it may not be enough to bring the old theater back.
Sikander Kher All Set To Make Hollywood Debut With Monkey Man Co-Starring Dev Patel

Actor Sikander Kher is set to make foray into world cinema with British-Indian actor Dev Patel's debut directorial venture Monkey Man. Kher made his acting debut in 2008 with Hansal Mehta-directed Woodstock Villa and went on to feature in multi-starrers such as Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey , Players , Aurangzeb and Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive . The 39-year-old actor took to Instagram to share his excitement about working on Monkey Man.

So this is what I was doing in Indonesia for 4 months! #MONKEYMAN, Kher posted on his Instagram Stories alongside a picture with Patel.

The 30-year-old actor, known for movies such as Slumdog Millionaire and Lion , also stars in the revenge thriller, which recently completed filming and will release on Netflix in 2022.

Patel plays an unlikely hero who emerges from prison to take on a world enmeshed in corporate greed and eroding spiritual values, seeking revenge from those who took everything from him many years ago. Set in modern-day India, the movie will also be layered in mythology. Patel has co-written the film's script with Paul Angunawela and John Collee.

"Moneky Man" also features actor Sobhita Dhulipala and Patel's "Chappie" co-star Sharlto Copley. Besides this film, Kher has season two of Sushmita Sen-fronted show Aarya , in his kitty. In the Disney+ Hotstar series, Kher essays the role of Daulat, a trusted aide of Sen's protagonist.
This painting by Brian Cleare depicts what Rosslare Fort would have looked like in the 19th Century

On Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, 1835, a boating tragedy in the waters between Wexford Quays and the Fort of Rosslare led to the loss of twelve lives. Seven of the twelve were children.

We are no strangers to tragedy in the waters off our Wexford coast. In 1835, the ill-fated Pomona, the Mexico and the World Concord had yet to sail into our history books. For centuries our coastguard and lifeboat volunteers have been honoured for their bravery in saving lives at sea, and their stories have been handed down with pride. Sadly, this story has been largely forgotten and lost in time.

In 1835, Ireland was recovering from an outbreak of cholera. Over 50,000 people had died from the disease between 1832 and 1834. But Wexford Harbour was busy. Gas lanterns had been installed on the Quay, with a lamplighter employed to tend them at dusk and dawn.

Out on Rosslare Fort there was a thriving community too, with revenue, coastguard and pilots stationed there. The square at The Fort housed the officers and their families. There was a church and a school.

On St Patrick's Day in Wexford town the markets were busy, with possibly the same festive atmosphere that we associate with St Patrick's Day today. In 1835 the markets in the south-east were selling butter at an average of 3 pounds 5 shillings per cwt., oatmeal and barley at 12 shillings per cwt., whiskey was 4 shillings and 8 pence for an Irish gallon, and bacon pigs were 1 pound 3 shillings each.

People observed their holy day and made time for a trip to town. They would have stocked up on supplies, possibly met up with friends and maybe even wet the shamrock.

The coastguards stationed at Rosslare Fort brought their families by boat on the five mile trip to Wexford - easier, possibly, than the eighteen mile road trip by donkey and cart.

The Wexford Conservative of March 21st, 1835, gave a scathing report of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Wexford town, a town, it said, that boasted of being the most truly Catholic town in Ireland - 'a town well stocked with holy fathers, holy sisters, holy mothers in the many nunneries, convents and in the college.' From dawn until dusk there were 'universal scenes of drunkeness and immorality'.

The article went on to question the character of Saint Patrick himself. If the Irish set aside this day to celebrate the character of the man, and observe his practices, then he must have been a 'drunken, praying, pugnacious priest'. It notes that the day ended with many black eyes and bloody noses!

And just two columns below this, they reported the terrible drowning tragedy that happened on the evening of that St Patrick's Day - 'it is some gratification under the melancholy circumstances, to know that the men were all perfectly sober on leaving the quay' it said.

The Rosslare Coastguard boat left Wexford Quays to return to the Fort after their day out at about 3.30 p.m. on that afternoon of March 17, 1835. The children must have all been in good spirits, looking forward to telling their mothers, waiting at the Fort, all about their day. Rowing the five mile trip from Wexford would probably have taken less than an hour. There were five adults and seven children on board, the youngest not much more than a toddler.

At around 4 p.m., nearing 'the flats', the Wexford Freeman reports, 'it came on to blow a perfect hurricane, and the boat was upset'. They were in sight of the Fort and home. The distress was noticed by the pilots on Rosslare Fort, who immediately rowed out to assist. By the time they arrived there was no sign of the boat's occupants. In mere minutes there had been unimaginable scenes of panic and desperation, and then nothing but the sounds of the storm.

The yacht of G Grogan Morgan (he had built Arcandrisk House, Barntown, in 1833) was moored nearby. A boat from the yacht was put out to help, but to no avail.

Had the weather changed so suddenly that they were unprepared, or had they seen the change coming as they left Wexford, and had hoped to get back to the Fort before it reached them?

(Two pigs, which had been bought at the market, made it to the flats and were brought to the Fort by the pilots).

Mr Morgan's boat brought the terrible news to Wexford. As word of the tragedy spread, reporters were reluctant to name those on board 'in the forlorn hope that the report we have received may be found to be incorrect'.

Sadly, of course, the news was true. It cannot be imagined the heartbreak it brought to Rosslare Fort. Three widows and nineteen children were left bereft, as were parents, relatives and friends in the little, close knit community. The Coastguard Station was left devastated. Ten people who lost their lives that day were officially named. The identities of two others have remained unclear.

Those lost were:

James Jupp - H.M.Coastguard, aged 33, and his son, William, aged 9. James left a wife, Leah, and four children - the youngest, Richard Thomas, was only 4 months old.

James Harmer - H.M.Coastguard, aged 46, and his three children - one daughter and two sons. The body of his son James, aged 18, wasn't found until Monday, April 6. James left a pregnant wife, Elizabeth, and at least one other child. Her baby, Herbert James was born just weeks after the tragedy, in April 1835.

Thomas Hooper - H.M.Coastguard, aged 39, and his two sons, Benjamin, aged 15 and John, aged 11 years. Sadly, in the previous year, 1834, Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth, had also lost a young son, Richard, aged just 2 years.

Eliza Green - aged 4 years. Eliza left heartbroken parents, Robert and Sarah Green and two little sisters.

The Wexford Conservative of Saturday, March 21 reports that also lost were 'a servant woman and the son of a man who was saved, who we regret to hear is in a very precarious state and is quite unable to give a rational account of the cause of the disaster.'

The Bristol Mercury added 'Whether the accident was owing to any indiscretion on the part of the men, or from the heavy gale which was blowing at the time, we have not heard.'

In the days following the tragedy, reports were written of the widows and children left behind.

'The above calamity is one of no ordinary description, involving, as it does, in penury and want, three widows and nineteen surviving children, thus deprived of the means of support, and oh! what a lesson to the contemplative mind is afforded by the sudden and perhaps untimely deaths of so many human beings.'

The Wexford Freeman reported 'It is a matter of painful recollection that the men who came to so untimely an end, all have large and helpless families, unprotected and unprovided upon the world.'

An appeal went out to the public 'to extend their sympathies to the Widows and Orphans in extreme want - the smallest donation will be thankfully received by the Inspecting Commander of the District - the Collector of the Customs, or by the proprietors of the respective Newspapers, and duly acknowledged.'

By April 4 a list of the donations received at the Customs House was published. Among the named contributors were:

Mrs Waddy, Cloeast - 5 shillings

Major Boyd - 2 pounds

Boyd children - 1 pound 5 shillings

Dr. Lindsey's servants - 6 shillings and 6 pence

Mrs Harvey, Bargy Castle - 4 pounds

Harvey children - 2 pounds

Robert Hughes, Ely House, his family and servants - 2 pounds 5 shillings

The dead were laid to rest in the little graveyard at St Peter's Church, Kilscoran. It is a beautiful Church in beautiful, quiet, leafy surroundings. The graves are still well marked today, though the headstone inscriptions, sadly, have become more weathered and illegible with every passing year. This tragic story, part of our history, should be told. Those who drowned should be remembered. Think of them on St Patricks Day.

(Three years later in 1838, as a result of an appeal from the Coastguards, Rosslare got its first Lifeboat station - Rosslare Fort No 2).
The big news on Chauvin trial day 5 took place over at the Minneapolis City Clowncil, as our friends at Justice & Drew call it. The city settled the wrongful death case brought by George Floyds next of kin for the world-beating sum of $27 million.

The Star Tribune reports: Attorneys for the Floyd family hailed it as the largest pretrial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death lawsuit in U.S. history, saying the payout sent a powerful statement about the value of Black lives in America. The screenshot below depicts the Star Tribune above the fold on page 1 this morning, while we are about midway in the process of jury selection.

If I were counsel for Chauvin I think I would want to revisit the issue of venue with Judge Cahill just about every day. The five prospective jurors interviewed yesterday yielded one woman  juror number 42  who will sit on the jury. She is the seventh selected as we head toward 14 or 16 (including two or four alternates).

Juror number 44 is an executive with a health care nonprofit. Her opinion of Chauvin based on the videos she has seen is somewhat negative. She expressed sympathy for George Floyd (he didnt deserve to die) and the officers. Everyones life was changed by this incident, she said.

She believes that our laws havent kept up with social changes. Reform is needed. She believes that the judicial system is racially biased, that excessive force against blacks must stop, that the system is inherently biased, that white privilege is a reality.

However, she is an analytical person who asserts she can and will be fair and impartial. She understands she is required to render a verdict based on the facts. She is not good for the defense but Nelson passed her for cause because he has a limited number of peremptory strikes and an unfavorable jury pool with which to contend.

Judge Cahill announced that the parties had agreed to the release of prospective jurors 58, 80, 81, 84, 93, 94, and 100 for cause. Twenty-three of the first 100 prospective jurors have accordingly been released for cause by agreement of the parties. It is representative of the venue problem that permeates the case.

Understanding the interest in the jury, Judge Cahill authorized release of the following information on the seven jurors seated so far.

 No. 2: white male; 20s

 No. 9: multi/mixed race woman; 20s

 No. 19: white male; 30s

 No. 20: white male; 30s

 No. 27: black male; 30s

 No. 36: Hispanic male; 20s

 No. 44: white woman; 50s

Our friends at Justice & Drew at KTLK 1130 AM/103.5 FM have deputized me as their correspondent on the case. I appeared for a segment each morning this week at 8:00 a.m. Producer Samantha Sansevere kindly clipped the audio of these segments and posted them here. Yesterday morning Howard Root joined us. Given Howards personal experience as a criminal defendant, I thought it was a particularly lively segment. I have embedded it below.

(TNS)  Residents passed the full warrant at town meeting Wednesday night, including an article funding a broadband expansion project intended to provide high-speed Internet throughout town.Voters at the Troy Elementary School gymnasium easily approved the broadband measure, 92  5.The project will be funded by $222,311 in municipal bonds, to be repaid fully by the broadband provider Consolidated Communications via user fees. Consolidated will also contribute $1.4 million to the installation effort, according to Doug Batchelder, a member of the town's broadband committee.Batchelder said the maximum user fees for residents who choose to receive broadband service will be $9.50 per month, adding that the charge could fall as more people opt into the program.Broadband committee member Lisa Steadman said 27 percent of Troy residents do not currently have access to high-speed Internet and that broadband expansion will give all of them a chance to receive that service.Steadman, who also represents Troy on the Monadnock Regional School Board, said that group includes 40 local students who attend public school and at least a dozen who are homeschooled. The broadband project will help them, in particular, she said, noting that remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the so-called "digital divide" between students with and without reliable Internet at home. "It's just so unfair to the kids that don't have access to the Internet," she said. "It's putting them further behind."Steadman added that the project will be a boon for property owners, since research indicates that access to high-speed Internet increases home values. Rob Koester, Consolidated Communications' senior vice president for consumer products, said at the meeting Wednesday that broadband installation could begin in late August, after the state issues and funds municipal bonds.Troy voters also easily approved a $2.1 million operating budget for the current calendar year. That figure represents a 33.5 percent increase from the town's 2020 budget, but selectboard Chairman Dick Thackston explained that much of the increase  about 31 percent  was due to the addition of the town's water and sewer commission budget to the general municipal budget. (That budget was voted on as a separate warrant article in previous years.)Before passing this year's budget, residents approved an amendment adding $3,000 for the town's ambulance service. First Deputy Fire Chief Joe Callahan proposed the amendment, telling meeting attendees that the fire department needed additional funds to hire someone to provide emergency medical services training. The department had been receiving EMS training from a volunteer since 2015, he said, but that volunteer can no longer help due to work and family obligations.Attendees passed a warrant article establishing a new expendable trust fund for the demolition or repair of hazardous and dilapidated buildings, which Thackston said can be used to finance critical infrastructure work.They also approved an article allocating a total of $87,200 to various capital reserve funds and another article authorizing the town to spend $125,000 for road maintenance on Quarry Road and Bigelow Hill Road. Those repairs would largely be funded by a state highway grant and the town's highway capital reserve fund, with nearly $25,000 to be raised through taxes.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The daughter of the boss of one of Mexico's most powerful drug gangs has pleaded guilty to carrying out financial dealings with Mexican firms identified as narcotics traffickers, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Friday.

Court documents showed Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez made property transactions for six businesses providing material support to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) run by her father Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, the department said in a press release.

In so doing, the 34-year-old dual U.S.-Mexican citizen violated criminal penalties of the foreign narcotics kingpin designation act, known as the Kingpin Act, the department said.

Her guilty plea came about thanks to the United States' commitment to disrupt and dismantle all aspects of the CJNG, the press release cited special agent in charge Bill Bodner of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Los Angeles field division as saying.

U.S. officials have described Oseguera, who was arrested in February 2020, as the gang's main money launderer.

She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11 and faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.

Oseguera is also a niece of Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, boss of Los Cuinis, an outfit allied to the CJNG. He was arrested in 2015 and has been fighting extradition to the United States.

Her father, a former policeman, remains at large. "El Mencho" is one of the most wanted men in Mexico and has a $10-million U.S. bounty on his head.

(Writing by Anthony Esposito in Mexico City; editing by Grant McCool)
People waiting outside Kamayut Township Court in Yangon, Myanmar, for the hearing of four detained journalists, March 12, 2021.

The first group of six out of the nearly 40 media workers detained covering protests against Myanmars ruling junta appeared in video conference trials Friday, while protesters in major cities defied a tightening crackdown that has seen 73 people killed so far, lawyers and witnesses said.

Of the 37 journalists detained during nearly six weeks of anti-junta protests in the wake of the Feb. 1 coup, 22 have been released. Six of the 15 still in custody appeared in several township court video trials Friday to face charges under Article 505(a) of the Penal Code, for defamation and incitement for their reporting on the anti-military protests, lawyers said.

Those who appeared on Friday were Kay Zun Nway from Myanmar Now, Thein Zaw from the Associated Press, Ye Myo Khant from Myanmar Pressphoto Agency, Aung Ye Ko from 7Day News, freelance reporters Banyar Oo and Thint Myat Zaw, and Hein Pyae Zaw of Zeegwet Journal.

All had their pre-trial extension period extended until trials at the end of this month, lawyers said.

After the initial hearing, the two accused were allowed to have a video-chat with a member of their families online, said Myint Aung, a High Court lawyer who is defending Kay Zun Nway and Aung Ye Ko.

They were also allowed to retrieve their belongings after providing proof of ownership. We were told we could apply for bail at the next hearing, the lawyer added. Aung Ye Ko is to appear again in court on March 24 and Kay Zun Nway on March 25, he said.

Thein Zaw from AP, Hein Pyay Zaw from Zeegwet Journal and another reporter had their first video hearing at Kamayut court today  also on 505(a) charges, which carry up to three years in prison.

We submitted an application to transfer power of attorney from the accused to the defense team, said Cho Cho Lin, Hein Pyay Zaws defense lawyer.

A member of the family of the accused and the representing lawyer were allowed into the courtroom, the lawyer said. The hearing was on video and I saw three of them -- my client, Thein Zaw and Yan Myo Aung.

Police crack down on protesters in Yangon's North Dagon Township, March 12, 2021. Credit: RFA Detentions and media bans

A report from AP on the trial of photographer Thein Zaw said he had not been seen by his lawyer or any of his family members since his arrest on Feb. 27 in Yangon.

AP quoted Thein Zaws lawyer, Tin Zar Oo, as saying said his family has been dropping off food and supplies for him at Insein Prison, where visits are not allowed because of coronavirus concerns.

A diplomat from the US embassy was seen in the court.

Still in detention are Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) reporters Aung Kyaw and Min Nyo, Ye Yint Tun of Than Daw Sint News, Kyaw Nay Min of the Choon Journal, freelance reporter Pyay Phyo, Kamayut Media chief editor Nathan Maung and co-founder Hanthar Nyein. It is not known where they are being held and what charges they are facing.

On Monday, the military council officially banned independent media outlets Mizzima, DVB, 7Day News, Myanmar Now, and Khit Thit News following earlier raids on the offices of Mizzima and Myanmar Now. Security forces raided the offices of Khit Thit Media and Kamayut Media on Tuesday.

The military regime has sued The Irrawaddy, an independent online news media outlet, under Article 505(a) for a Feb. 20 video showing the police asking for 13 million kyats (US$9,200) from relatives to release striking doctors who they detained at an anti-regime protest, the news outlet said.

The Irrawaddy published the video, featuring the civilians voices. Military-run Myanma Radio and Television claimed The Irrawaddys report was false, the media outlet said in its report on the lawsuit.

After nearly six weeks of protests, increasingly met by violence that has killed 73 protesters and others since the Feb. 1 military takeover, anti-coup protesters carried on in several towns and cities across the country of 54 million people, witnesses said, causing several injuries and leading to many arrests.

Security forces destroy property to scare protesters and supporters in Mandalay, March 11, 2021. Credit: RFA

Scary cat and mouse chases

In Yangons Taungthugone Ward, security forces injured three protesters and arrested ten other demonstrators.

Police and soldiers chased down protesters into small lanes to make the arrests, a witness told RFA.

They used sound bombs and rubber bullets to scare people and there were some who got hit on the back and one who got hit in the face, he witness said.

They fired 7 or 8 sound bombs. We had to hide inside the house for over an hour.

In Yangons South Okkalapa, security forces used teargas and sound bombs to disperse protesters and burned posters and blankets, arresting several roadside venders. Witnesses in the citys Sangyaung district saw cat-and-mouse chases of protesters in small lanes and alleys by troops, who used gunfire to disperse protesters. There were no reports of casualties or arrests.

In Mandalay, a man was wounded in the arm by police gunfire and three youths got arrested, as troops patrolled parts of the city around midnight shooting guns and firing slingshots to intimidate the residents.

Myanmar doctors, who have played a key role in the nationwide civil disobedience movement and staged work strikes against the regime, on Friday rejected claims made by the military that two young female protesters gunned down at demonstrations were shot by someone other than soldiers.

Protesters stage a candlelight protest at Yangon's Hledon Junction, March 11, 2021. Credit: RFA

'Serving up blatant lies'

At a news conference in Myanmars capital Naypyidaw Thursday, regime spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun claimed that the bullets that killed a young woman in Naypyidaw and another young woman in Mandalay were not the kind of ammunition used by our security forces.

It was found that they were not shot from the front where the security forces were or at the back if she had turned around. It looked like they were shot from the side or from beneath at close quarters, said Zaw Min Tun.

He was referring to the first protester to die in the anti-junta demonstrations, a 20-year-old female grocery story worker named Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing, who was shot in the head in the capital Naypyidaw Feb. 9 and died 10 days later. Also slain in protests was Ma Kyal Sin, a 19-year-old ethnic Chinese woman who was shot in the head on March 3 and became a focus of national anger after troops disturbed her grave to remove her body.

The doctors who attended to the wounds of the deceased rejected the military juntas statements.

They are just serving up blatant lies. There are no third parties using guns, said a doctor who treated Mya Thwe Thwe Khine, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"In both cases of Mya Thwe Thwe Khine and Ma Kyal Sin, the bullets came from the front. We can see it clearly on the recorded videos. They fell down as they turned back. It is so obvious that the bullets came from the security force, the doctor said.

Maung Maung Swe, a member of the upper house of parliament who was on the funeral committee for Ma Kyal Sin, said the military may deny it was their bullet that killed the woman, but the people do not have guns. They are the ones who were shooting.

All the video files taken that day showed it was the military who was shooting at protesters, Maung Maung Swe added.

They are just lying. I dont need to say anything else because we all know they are liars.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Mar. 12The principal and an assistant principal at Hamilton High School submitted their resignation notices on the same day to city school officials last month, the Journal-News has learned.

According to documents obtained through a public records request, Hamilton High School Principal John Wilhelm and Assistant Principal Jana Lewis will end their employment with the district this summer.

Both veteran high school administrators submitted letters of their coming resignations on Feb. 25.

They informed district officials they will remain in their current positions through the rest of the school year, formally ending their employment with Hamilton Schools on July 31.

Neither Wilhelm and Lewis provided specific reasons in their resignation letters for departing, and neither responded to messages seeking comment.

Hamilton Schools Superintendent Mike Holbrook was asked by the Journal-News if there were other reasons regarding the unusual, simultaneous submission of resignation notices by two top leaders of the high school, but he declined to respond beyond wishing both well.

"The Hamilton City School District and board of education do not comment on personnel matters," said Holbrook. "The district wishes Mr. Wilhelm and Mrs. Lewis the best with their future endeavors."

Their resignations came barely a month after the former Hamilton Schools Athletic Director Bill Stewart quit in the wake of district and Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) investigation into the ineligibility of a high school boys basketball player.

The Journal-News was the first to report on the investigation, which included findings of Stewart's violation of state prep eligibility procedures, said Hamilton officials.

Wilhelm, who is in his eighth year as the high school's principal, earns more than $129,000 annually.

In his resignation letter, Wilhelm told district officials "thank you for understanding my decision to leave this position as I look for an opportunity to expand my own growth and experiences."

Story continues

Lewis, who has been an assistant principal at the high school since 2011, earns more than $102,000 annually.

In her resignation letter, Lewis stated "there comes a time when life takes you in a different direction and that time has come for me."

"Thank you for understanding my decision to leave this position," she wrote, without elaborating further.
Members of the Provisional National Government of Vietnam stand guard in uniform at the groups compound in the Mojave Desert in California September 2, 2018.

A court in Vietnam has sentenced four people on charges of activities to overthrow the peoples government for their involvement in an anti-communist Vietnamese government in exile, state media reported.

Vu Thi Kim Phuong, 51, Le Van Lac, 55, Nguyen Thi Kim Duyen, 43, and Le Van Sang, 49, received sentences on Thursday ranging from five to 13 years for participating in research for the Provisional National Government of Vietnam, the indictment said.

The provisional government was founded in 1991 by soldiers and refugees that had been loyal to the South Vietnamese government prior to the countrys unification under communist rule in 1975. It is headquartered in Orange County, California. In 2018, Vietnams Ministry of Public Security classified the provisional government as a terrorist organization.

According to the indictment, Phoung had from 2015 to 2019 conducted research for the provisional government. She and the other three registered people to participate in a poll that would establish the provisional governments president Dao Minh Quan as leader of a new non-communist government in Vietnam.

In Feb. 2020, they were arrested after having registered 1,595 people for their poll, well short of their goal of five million.

Phuong was sentenced to 13 years in prison, while Lac, Duyen and Sang received seven, six and five years respectively.

Vietnam has arrested two others for their involvement with the government in exile this year.

RFA attempted to contact the provisional government for comment but received no response.

Freedom score decreases

Vietnams foreign ministry on Thursday said it was a protector and advocate of human rights, rejecting a report by a Washington-based watchdog group which classified it among countries that were not free

In Freedom in the World 2021 report, Freedom House gave Vietnam an overall score of 19 out of a possible 100, a one-point decrease from last years rating. Vietnam scored three out of 40 in political rights, and 16 out of 60 in civil liberties.

When asked about the report at a news conference, Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson for Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Vietnam has always made an effort to refine its laws and policy to better ensure human rights, the rights of citizens, and it has actively taken part in international cooperation for human rights.

She said that Vietnam has a consistent policy that promotes human rights including those stipulated in the countrys 2013 constitution and other related documents.

The Freedom House report said that in 2020 the balance of the world trended toward tyranny.

As a lethal pandemic, economic and physical insecurity, and violent conflict ravaged the world, democracys defenders sustained heavy new losses in their struggle against authoritarian foes, the report said.

The Freedom House has described Vietnam as a one-party state, dominated for decades by the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

Freedom of expression, religious freedom, and civil society activism are tightly restricted. The authorities have increasingly cracked down on citizens use of social media and the internet, it said.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab leaves 10 Downing Street as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stays in intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital suffering with COVID-19 and Raab was asked to deputise, London, Britain, on April 9, 2020. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

UK Says China Noncompliant With Hong Kong Joint Declaration

The UK now considers the Chinese regime to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Joint Declaration, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Saturday.

Beijings decision to impose radical changes to restrict participation in Hong Kongs electoral system constitutes a further clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration, Raab said in a statement.

Chinas latest decision to undermine Hong Kongs electoral system and stifle democratic voices renders it in ongoing non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declarationhttps://t.co/KFcjYxEbG3  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) March 13, 2021

On March 11, Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), approved a draft decision to change Hong Kongs electoral system, making it virtually impossible for the opposition to affect the outcome of elections.

The electoral changes will further reduce democratic representation in the former British colony and introduce a mechanism to vet politicians loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and make sure that only so-called patriots are allowed to rule Hong Kong.

Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, had called the proposed move the biggest step so far to obliterate Hong Kongs freedoms and aspirations for greater democracy under the rule of law.

Chris Patten, Hong Kongs last British governor speaks at The Foreign Correspondents Club to promote his new book in Hong Kong, on Sept. 19, 2017. (Vincent Yu/AP Photo)

Raab said: This is part of a pattern designed to harass and stifle all voices critical of Chinas policies and is the third breach of the Joint Declaration in less than nine months.

The Chinese authorities continued action means I must now report that the UK considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Joint Declarationa demonstration of the growing gulf between Beijings promises and its actions.

Beijing had promised universal suffrage as an ultimate goal for Hong Kong in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

But the regime has refused to grant more democracy to the city, and has instead been tightening its authoritarian grip following the imposition of a national security law in June 2020.

On Feb. 28, the Hong Kong government charged 47 pro-democracy activists with conspiracy to commit subversion, only because they took part in an unofficial primary vote held by the pan-democracy camp in July 2020, ahead of the LegCo elections originally scheduled for September 2020.

A woman (center L) uses her phone while waiting to vote during primary elections in Hong Kong on July 12, 2020. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images)

On Friday, foreign ministers of the G7 countriesCanada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the United States, along with the foreign policy representative of the European Union, expressed their grave concerns at the Chinese authorities decision fundamentally to erode democratic elements of the electoral system in Hong Kong.

In a joint statement, the G7 foreign minister called on the Chinese regime to act in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its other legal obligations and respect fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, as provided for in the Basic Law.

Separately, the European Commission, the EUs executive body, on Friday highlighted the alarming political deterioration in Hong Kong in its annual report to other EU institutions.

China is consciously dismantling the One Country, Two Systems principle in violation of its international commitments and the Hong Kong Basic Law. The regressive electoral changes approved yesterday in Beijing are yet another step down this path, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
Once on the brink of extinction in North America, the rarest subspecies of gray wolf has seen its numbers almost doubling in the last five years, with further increases anticipated in 2020, according to US wildlife managers.

According to the most recent annual survey, at least 186 Mexican gray wolves live in the wild in New Mexico and Arizona. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, this is the fifth year in a row that the endangered species' population has expanded.

Mexican Gray Wolves

Mexican wolves were reintroduced to the American Southwest more than two decades ago. Environmentalists, local communities, and habitat managers have been pitted against one another as a result of the program's management, which has resulted in many court challenges. The most recent situation concerns a rewrite of the agency's animal management strategy.

Judicial filings contained some information from the survey conducted during the winter.

Environmentalists voiced concern about the numbers but cautioned that the wolves' future was also in jeopardy.

Related Article: Red Wolves are Going Extinct and Chances of Recovery are Extremely Low

Coexist with Humans

According to Bryan Bird, director of Defenders of Wildlife's Southwest initiative, ensuring that wolves and humans will coexist will continue to be an integral part of the species' long-term recovery. He shared confidence that the federal government would prioritize wolf recovery.

"While seeing an uptick in wolves is promising, limited genetic diversity and high rates of illegal killing continue to stymie conservation efforts," he said. "There is still work to be done to create a self-sustaining Mexican gray wolf population," says the author.

More rigorous protections for wolves are required, according to Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity, as well as more successful releases from captivity into the wild.

Meanwhile, ranchers and rural communities in the mountainous areas of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, where the wolves roam, believe cattle deaths due to predation are on the rise.

Unlike wolf reintroductions in Yellowstone and the northern United States, wildlife authorities in the Southwest are dealing with an ecosystem that encourages a year-round calving season, which means livestock-wolf clashes are ongoing rather than seasonal.

Despite attempts to scare them away with range riders on horseback or flagging near fence lines, ranchers say the wolves are getting bolder. Feeding caches are also used by the wolf recovery team to drive wolves away from animals.

Population Growth

According to the most recent study, there were 114 wolves in New Mexico and 72 in Arizona, up 14% from the previous year. The wolf recovery team recorded a roughly 25% growth in population in 2019.

Service to Fish and Wildlife Around half of the 124 pups born in 2020 survived, according to Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator Brady McGee. Mexican wolf pups have a 50 percent chance of survival.

Pup Protection

"Pup development and recruitment in the wild population are crucial for the species' recovery. In a tweet, he said, "We are delighted to see this number continue to grow."

In 2020, the wolf recovery team will release 20 captive-born pups into seven wild dens as part of a cross-fostering experiment aimed at increasing genetic diversity in the population. Seven of the pups have since been caught and collared, according to officials, and attempts to decide how many survived wills continue this year.

In 2020, there were still marginally more packs roaming than the previous year. There were about 20 breeding pairs of pups.

In 2020, the recovery team reported 29 wolf deaths. Many of these cases are still being reviewed, and authorities seldom share any more.

Radio collars are used by wildlife managers to monitor the wolves and offer timely reports on their location and actions, which may assist in population control. Collars have been attached to over 100 wolves.

The Mexican wolf was once widespread in the United States Southwest and northern Mexico, but by the 1970s, it had all but disappeared, causing the US government to establish a captive breeding policy. About 350 Mexican wolves can be held in over 55 zoos and other facilities throughout the United States and Mexico.

ALSO READ: Chinese Zoo Under Scrutiny After Replacing Dead Wolf with a Rottweiler

For the most recent updates from the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Kolkata, March 13 : Seamless transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh has the potential to increase national income by as much as 17 per cent in Bangladesh and 8 per cent in India, says a new World Bank report.

Titled "Connecting to Thrive: Challenges and Opportunities of Transport Integration in Eastern South Asia", the report contends that improving transport connectivity between the two countries could increase exports even further, yielding a 297 per cent increase in Bangladesh's exports to India and a 172 per cent increase in India's exports to Bangladesh.

Previous analysis indicates that Bangladesh's exports to India could increase by 182 per cent and India's exports to Bangladesh by 126 per cent if the countries signed a free trade agreement.

"Geographically, Bangladesh's location makes it a strategic gateway to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and other East Asian countries. Bangladesh can also become an economic powerhouse by improving regional trade, transit and logistics networks," said Mercy Tembon, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan.

"While trade between India and Bangladesh has increased substantially over the last decade, it is estimated to be $10 billion below its current potential," Tembon said, adding: "The World Bank is supporting the government of Bangladesh to strengthen regional and trade transit through various investments in regional road and waterways corridors, priority land ports, and digital and automated systems for trade." Today, bilateral trade accounts for only about 10 per cent of Bangladesh's trade and a mere 1 per cent of India's trade. In contrast, in East Asian and Sub-Saharan African economies, intraregional trade accounts for 50 per cent and 22 per cent of total trade, respectively.

"In fact, it is about 15-20 per cent less expensive for a company in India to trade with a company in Brazil or Germany than with a company in Bangladesh, the report points out. High tariffs, para-tariffs, and non-tariff barriers also serve as major trade barriers. Simple average tariffs in Bangladesh and India are more than twice the world average," the World Bank report said.

The report analyses the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA); comApares it with international best practices; and identifies its strengths as well as gaps for seamless regional connectivity.

The report also discusses regional policy actions the countries can take to strengthen the MVA and proposes priorities for infrastructure investments that will help the countries maximize its benefits.

The World Bank report says : "Weak transport integration makes the border between Bangladesh and India thick. Crossing the India-Bangladesh border at Petrapole-Benapole, the most important border post between the two countries, takes several days.

" In contrast, the time to cross borders handling similar volumes of traffic in other regions of the world, including East Africa, is less than six hours, the report highlights.

"The eastern sub-region is poised to become an economic growth pole for South Asia. An important component of this development potential is for countries to invest in connectivity - rail, inland waterways, and roads," said Junaid Ahmad, World Bank Country Director in India.

"This is especially true as the region begins its economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Ultimately, connectivity offers the promise of long term sustainable and inclusive growth." At present, Indian trucks are not allowed to transit through Bangladesh. As a result, the northeast of India is particularly isolated with the rest of the country and connected only through the 27-km-wide Siliguri corridor, also called the "chicken's neck".

This leads to long and costly routes.

Goods from Agartala, for example, travel 1,600 km through the Siliguri corridor to reach Kolkata Port instead of 450 km through Bangladesh. If the border were open to Indian trucks, goods from Agartala would have to travel just 200 km to the Chattogram Port in Bangladesh, and the transport costs to the port would be 80 per cent lower, the report estimates.

According to the report, all districts in Bangladesh would benefit from integration, with the eastern districts enjoying larger gains in real income. States bordering Bangladesh such as Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura in the northeast, and West Bengal on the west, and states further away from Bangladesh such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra would also gain huge economic benefits from seamless connectivity.

However, unleashing the full potential of integration in the region requires strengthening the agreement signed in 2015.

Countries need to address a number of challenges such as infrastructure deficits, particularly in designated border posts, harmonization of regulations and customs procedures, the report says.

"The transport integration agreements in eastern South Asia represent a significant step toward the creation of a cross-border integrated transport market in the sub-region, with the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) being the cornerstone of that integration.

The agreement can achieve full potential by adopting good practices; addressing gaps and inconsistencies in infrastructure and market failures in transport services; and adopting complementary policies that remove binding constraints caused by market imperfections," said Matias Herrera Dappe, Senior Economist and Charles Kunaka, Lead Private Sector Specialist and authors of the report.

The report recommends key policy actions countries should take to strengthen the MVA.

These include:

Harmonising driver's licensing and visa regimes

Establishing an efficient regional transit regime

Rationalizing and digitizing trade and transport documents

Liberalizing the selection of trade routesThe report also makes the following policy recommendations to improve regional connectivity:

Standardize infrastructure design

Expand the effective capacity of core transport and logistics infrastructure along regional corridors

Ensure competition in transport service markets

Deploy modern information technology infrastructure at land ports and seaports

Develop off-border custom clearance facilities in Bangladesh and IndiaThe following complementary interventions would help spreading the benefits of regional transport integration to local communities, the report adds:

Connecting local markets to regional corridors

Removing logistics bottlenecks in export-oriented value chains

Improving women's participation in export-oriented agricultural value chains at the macro, community, and household levelsThe opening of a new bridge on river Feni connecting Tripura to Bangladesh's Chittagong port has been hailed as a game-changer for India's Northeast as it holds out the promise of ocean access to the landlocked hill region.

The bridge was virtually inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

Modi's visit to Bangladesh later this month is likely to take forward many more connectivity projects.
Bhubaneswar, March 13 : The members of opposition BJP and Congress and ruling BJD created pandemonium over different issues in the Odisha Assembly on Saturday.

Soon after the House assembled for the day, opposition members went near the Speaker's podium and created ruckus over Mandi mismanagement.

The ruling party MLAs demanded an apology from BJP legislator Subash Chandra Panigrahi, who attempted suicide by consuming sanitiser in the Assembly over paddy procurement issues on Friday.

The MLAs of the ruling party stood up and protested the act of suicide attempt by Panigrahi. Later, they rushed to the Speaker's podium and created a ruckus demanding an apology from the BJP legislator. Some Ministers also went to the well along with the ruling party MLAs.

Unable to run the House smoothly, Speaker Surya Narayan Patro adjourned it two times. First, till 11.30 am and then till 4 pm.

The BJD members alleged that Panigrahi has ruined the sanctity of the House by attempting suicide during its proceedings and maintained that they will not let the House run till the BJP MLA apologises.

"We strongly condemn the suicide bid by the BJP MLA in the House. We haven't witnessed such an instance in the House ever. He should immediately apologise for his act," demanded BJD MLA Pratap Keshari Deb.

On the other hand, Congress and BJP MLAs opposed such protest by the ruling party in the well of the Assembly. They demanded an apology from the ruling party MLAs.

"This is the first time that Ministers went to the well of the House and created an uproar. We will not allow the House to function until they apologise," said Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati.
If anyone was going to die alone in a hospital, few people at Opaskwayak Cree Nation couldve guessed it would be Garry Darwin Ross.

If anyone was going to die alone in a hospital, few people at Opaskwayak Cree Nation couldve guessed it would be Garry Darwin Ross.

The beloved schoolteacher died last December in hospital at age 54 from COVID-19, after a life dedicated to convincing youth that they can exceed expectations.

Like 150 other First Nations people in Manitoba, his life was cut short by a virus that has disproportionately hurt and killed Indigenous people.

A year since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, Garrys widow says each of the losses has touched many.

"I want people to understand that COVID not only affected our family, but it affected our community as well," said Rhonda Ross, who met her husband in high school.

Garry excelled at sports, but struggled with classes. Hed come from the small Mosakahiken reserve, where everything was in Cree, but there was no high school. At Opaskwayak, he struggled to express his thoughts in English.

He eventually became a schoolteacher, and instinctively looked out for students who struggled.

"That is why he chose teaching, because he felt he could help children in that way  and, in essence, heal some of the past hurts he had gone through in his life," Rhonda said.

That made everyday outings a challenge. Rhonda said Garry would always stop if any of "his kids" asked to talk.

"Every time wed be somewhere in public, wed have kids come running, saying, Mr. Ross, Mr. Ross," she recalled.

"I struggled with that at the beginning, but I came to understand what that meant. He felt a connection to them, and he wanted them to be the best that they could be."

A 2018 photo shows him grinning, stuck to a brick wall with duct tape. He and a fellow teacher had challenged students to read as much as possible, offering 12 inches of tape for each book. They clearly exceeded expectations.

Against his own childrens wishes, Garry would spoil his grandkids with McDonalds and candy.

But those meetings were few and far between during the pandemic, which was ruthless when it hit Opaskwayak.

Even reserves with road access and a healthy business community struggle with cramped housing, thanks to decades of federal underfunding. Parts of the Indian Act all but forbid home ownership, making it complicated for bands to fund repairs and new builds.

That makes it hard to maintain physical distancing, or to isolate people exposed to COVID-19. Other reserves have struggled to keep hands clean without running water, or to work from home using spotty, unreliable internet connections.

Even in cities such as Winnipeg, COVID-19 is hitting First Nations people harder because they deal with chronic diseases, many a result of decades of inadequate health care.

So far, First Nations people make up one-third of all COVID-19 cases in Manitoba and half the intensive-care hospitalizations, despite representing only 10.5 per cent of the population in the 2016 census.

Some of the youngest people to die from the coronavirus in Canada have been First Nations living in Manitoba.

At Opaskwayak, the military deployed last November to help after all 28 residents of the reserves personal-care home caught the virus.

"This is scary; it is a nightmare scenario for that community," Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said at the time.

The Ross family had stayed home as much as possible, but Garry kept teaching. The band figured that strict protocols could help the most vulnerable children stay engaged through schooling.

Garry and Rhonda both got sick. She recovered, but he kept getting worse, despite having an active lifestyle.

He deteriorated at the hospital in The Pas, and was airlifted to Brandon four days later.

He died alone in the intensive-care unit on Dec. 2. No one had been allowed to visit. Under provincial public-health restrictions at the time, only five people could attend his funeral.

"I wouldnt want anybody else to go through the things weve had to go through as a family," Rhonda said, urging everyone who can get vaccinated to do so.

One of Garrys daughters, Tiar Wheatle, cut her hair and braided it like sweetgrass and placed it in his grave. In Cree tradition, hair carries the blood memory passed on through generations.

Garrys birthday was Aug. 16, and his grandchildren gather on the 16th of every month for what they now call Poppa Day.

After his death, dozens of people offered condolences, overwhelming Rhonda. Panhandlers spoke about him dropping off meals. Strangers remembered him doing small favours.

Rhonda wants Manitobans to remember that every COVID-19 death has a deep impact.

"It was almost like we werent carrying the load ourselves," she said. "It was something, to be able to see how far his passing was being felt."

The family has set up a bursary fund on Facebook to support 15 students who are persevering through personal struggles. Its a way for everyone he touched to keep his spirit going.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
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Scott Morrison plans to set up a travel bubble with Singapore by July that would finally allow Australias to holiday overseas.

The prime minister's ambitious plan would also use the Southeast Asian island state as a quarantine and vaccination hub for returning Australians.

Australians would be allowed to travel to Singapore without approval from the Department of Home Affairs, provided they are vaccinated for coronavirus.

Under the plan, Australians would be allowed to travel to Singapore without approval from the Department of Home Affairs, provided they have been vaccinated for coronavirus

The prime minister's ambitious plan would also use the Southeast Asian island state as a quarantine and vaccination hub for returning Australians

Singaporeans who had the the jab would be able to travel to Australia without having to complete two weeks of hotel quarantine, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

It may also be possible for people from other countries to enter Australia via Singapore after completing quarantine there.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan has already held talks with his Singaporean counterpart Chan Chun Sing about the plan.

'Singapore are very keen to work with Australia on a proof of vaccination certificate and we agreed our officials should work together on this,' he said.

'I'm scheduled to travel to Singapore in the coming months and this will be a key topic of discussions as we seek to explore a travel bubble with Singapore.'

The plan would help bring home some 40,000 Australians who are currently stranded overseas.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said he believes other nations will open as the vaccine rolls out.

'We are working with Singapore at the moment, potentially for a bubble in July,' he told the ABC's Insiders program

'As the vaccine rolls out not only in Australia but in other countries, we will reopen more bubbles.'

Another reason for the proposed bubble is to facilitate thousands of international students finally returning to Australia for the second university semester.

Students could quarantine in Singapore before flying on to Australia before classes begin, and Singaporean students could come straight in.

Universities Australia estimated losing the vast majority of international students cost 17,300 jobs and $1.8 billion in revenue.

It may also be possible for people from other countries to enter Australia via Singapore after completing quarantine in the Southeast Asian city-state

Attempts at similar arrangements with New Zealand appear at a stalemate. Pictured: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Sinapore has vaccinated 6.7 per cent of its 5.7 million citizens with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines - far ahead of Australias 0.4 per cent.

About 15,000 Australians lived in Singapore in April 2020 and about 70,000 Singaporeans were in Australia, but many have left since then.

Meanwhile, attempts at similar arrangements with New Zealand appear at a stalemate.

Eastern Australian states have allowed New Zealanders to travel freely to Australia since late last year but NZ is yet to reciprocate.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been frustrated with Australian states flicking the switch from open borders, or 'green zone', to closed, or 'red zone', on short notice in response to NZ outbreaks.

From that frustration, it appears the two countries are no longer attempting to work together on bubble arrangements.

New Zealand's Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins says a goal of shared plans between the two countries has all but been abandoned.

However Mr Morrison says he would happily open Australia's borders to Kiwis when Ms Ardern chooses to.
There was controversy on social media on Friday following an allegation by a Twitter user who accused the Feminist Coalition (FemCo) of withdrawal of $51,000 worth of bitcoin from the #EndSARS donation account.

The coalition is one of the major groups that provided financial support for Nigerian youth during last years protests against brutality and extrajudicial killings of citizens by the now-disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS).

During the protest in October 2020, donations were made to the coalition by their supporters through bitcoin, after government authorities reportedly blocked its account.

After the protest, the coalition stopped receiving donations, saying it would give the breakdown of how the remaining funds of about N87 million would be disbursed.

Fraud allegations

On Friday, a Twitter user with the handle @Rx_Deyholar, alleged that the Coalition moved $51,000 worth of bitcoin to a newly generated account.

Feminist co withdrew $51,000 worth of Bitcoin from their donation wallet on the 5th of this month silently, he wrote on Twitter.

The allegations later generated furore, with many Twitter users calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged withdrawal.

I will personally join in signing a Petition to EFCC if the feminist co doesnt come forward and account for every Kobo in that Bitcoin wallet and give a satisfactory reason as to why they cleared the wallet and persons involved. This is not an allegation, but a call to account, @von_Bismack wrote.

But the Coalition, responding to the allegations via a press a release, showed the amount they received and spent.

They claimed that the funds alleged to have been secretly withdrawn was part of a sale for N57,590,000 with a third party between November 16 and December 1, 2020.

The delay of the transaction was said to be a result of clog in the bitcoin network.

Our public statement of October 22nd outlined the allocation of the remaining funds.

The balance of funds were to be spent as outlined below:

1. #EndSARSresponse (Medical)  N20,114,087.25

2. The Legal Aid Network  N15,741,459.59

3. Relief for victims of police brutality and families of the deceased  N40,228,174.51

4. Memorial for the Fallen  N5,247,153.197

5. #EndSARSMental Health Support  N6,121,678.73

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Since October, we have continued our voluntary work with a great sense of duty and the diligence that managing public trust deserves. This work involved ensuring proper procedures were in place to manage donations and identify and verify numerous claims of the several victims of police brutality.

This aligns with the values of transparency and accountability we have upheld in our public communications since our intervention. Listed below are Feminist Coalitions fund allocation activities in line with our statement. Please note that all funds crowdsourced by the Feminist Coalition are separate from funds externally raised by other groups, including our beneficiaries, such as EndSARSResponse.

#EndSARSresponse (Medical) & #EndSARSMentalHealth Support Between October and November 2020, we donated N20,114,087.25 to #EndSARSresponse (Medical) and N6,121,678.73 to #EndSARSMental Health Support. Relief for Victims of Police Brutality From November 2020 to February 2021, the Feminist Coalition donated N40,000,000 to 80 families (N500,000 each) across Nigeria who have lost loved ones to police brutality or have been victims themselves. Within the fund for police brutality victims, we provided one fatally impacted family with additional funds for housing (rent), clothing, food, furniture, transportation and school books totalling 5,682,000. In total, victims of police brutality and/ or their families received N45,682,000.

Several beneficiaries publicised their receipt of these funds on their volition, but the Feminist Coalition is committed to the victims privacy and would not dishonour their memory.

Other details of the funds spent by Feminist Coalition is provided on their official Twitter handle.

It can be read here.
Experts have said fears of a 'fourth wave' hitting the US may have been overblown as Florida continues to record falling coronavirus cases and deaths despite having more cases of the UK's super-COVID variant than any other state.

CDC data shows a fifth of all US cases of the more highly contagious and more deadly B.1.1.7 strain first detected in the south of England have come from the Sunshine State.

In total, Florida has recorded 690 cases, dwarfing much of the rest of the US where 44 of all 50 states have recorded fewer than 100 cases. The next highest state Michigan has 563 followed by Colorado with 267.

The prevalence of the new strain on US soil sparked fears of a fourth wave of the virus, just as the nation was getting back on its feet and states were reopening.

All eyes have been on Florida as - alongside the high number of variant cases - the state has also pursued one of the most aggressive reopening plans and has no mask mandate in place.

This will heap pressure on other states that have significantly lower rates of UK COVID and overall coronavirus cases, to follow suit and reopen.

In recent weeks, swathes of maskless spring breakers have flocked to packed bars and beaches and Governor Ron DeSantis has urged people to visit the state to get its economy back up and running.

But while fears were mounting that the strain and a relaxation of rules would create a melting pot for the new virus strain, cases and deaths have continued to follow a downward trend across the state.

CDC data shows a fifth of all US cases of the more highly contagious and more deadly B.1.1.7 strain first detected in the south of England have come from the Sunshine State

The dark line in this chart shows the seven-day rolling average of the new B.1.1.7 strain as a proportion of all new cases in Florida. The figures are estimates based on available data with the pink area showing the margin of error

Florida cases by variant: Original SARS-CoV-2 = 1,967,169 UK variant B.1.1.7 = 690 Brazil variant P.1 = 5 South Africa B.1.351 = 1 Total cases 1,967,865 Source: CDC/Florida Health Department Advertisement

Dr. Eric Topol of Scripps Research told Yahoo News Florida had been a test case to see if the new strain would ravage the US.

'We have a bellwether to know if the B.1.1.7 strain will hit the US  Florida,' he told Yahoo.

And so far, the prevalence of the new strain has not translated into more deaths or cases of the virus.

'And there's no sign of any increase in cases. All good so far,' he said.

'The good news from Florida is an encouraging sign for the rest of us. It doesn't mean America is out of the woods. But it does suggest we could emerge sooner than we thought,' wrote Andrew Romano for Yahoo News.

Florida has in fact seen a 75 percent drop off in total cases since early January.

The state's latest COVID surge peaked on January 8 at 84 daily new cases per 100,000 population, but cases have steadily dropped and stood at 22 per 100,000 on Thursday.

Hospitalizations have also declined by half over the same period, as has Florida's test positivity rate, which is now at 4.88 percent.

Deaths have also declined sharply with five deaths recorded Thursday, down from 131 exactly one month ago on February 11.

This comes despite the new variant accounting for almost a fifth of all new cases recorded in the state between December 19 - when the first case of the new strain was detected in Florida - and February 25, according to Outbreak.info.

In total, 18 percent of cases recorded in this timeframe are that of the new strain. These percentages are estimates calculated by Outbreak.info based on available data.

Florida leads the nation in confirmed cases of the UK variant with 690 while most other states have less than 100 cases of the strain

A map of all the COVID-9 variants across the US and where they are located

College students have descended on Florida for spring break with Fort Lauderdale beaches packed with maskless revelers

A mix of spring breakers, families and locals at Cocoa Beach this week

'If cases continue to drop in Florida despite circulating variants, maybe the variant won't be as bad as was predicted,' PhD epidemiologist Suzanne Judd (not pictured) told DailyMail.com. Above, spring breakers descend on Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday

Yet new cases in Florida have continued to plunge, dropping 75% from early January, despite doomsday warnings about the Super Bowl and relaxed business restrictions.

The strain's dominance is however increasing the data shows, with the seven-day rolling average reaching 33 percent on February 25, the date for which data is last available.

Earlier this week, separate researchers estimated that B117 had actually reached more than half of all new cases in Florida, after accounting for just 4 percent of cases a month ago.

In total, the 690 cases of the new variant accounts for a small proportion of the 1.9 million cases Florida has recorded since last March.

That said, health experts estimate the true number of variant cases in Florida is much higher than official figures as less than 1 percent of cases are tested for mutations.

Dire warnings were sounded from UK officials that the B117 variant is up to 70 percent more contagious than prior strands, and new research suggesting it is twice as deadly, sparking fears that a variant surge could outpace vaccine rollouts.

While Florida suggests fears may have been overstated, experts say the data must be continually checked.

The percentage of Florida surveillance tests with 'S gene target failure', the vast majority of which are B117 cases, are seen above surpassing 50% this week

Deaths have dropped sharply in Florida as hospitalizations and cases also decreased

'I think we just keep watching the data. If cases continue to drop in Florida despite circulating variants, maybe the variant won't be as bad as was predicted,' Suzanne Judd, a PhD epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Public Health, told DailyMail.com.

'This is why we have to avoid speculating on variants until we have the data,' she added.

Some experts think the positive signs that the variant is not sparking a new wave could be at least partly down to the vaccine rollout.

Meanwhile, 18.5 percent of Floridians have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine, and 10 percent are now fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.

Judd, the epidemiologist, pointed out that data from Israel showed that even partial vaccination seems to limit the spread of B117, suggesting that the vaccine rollout arrived just in time.

'While the variant spread rapidly in the UK, there was little data as to how it would spread in population with some level of vaccination,' she said.

College students have descended on Florida for spring break with Fort Lauderdale beaches packed with maskless revelers. Florida is the B117 capital of the US but has declining cases

Meanwhile, troubling new researche has emerged suggesting that the B117 variant, also known in the UK as the 'Kent variant', is more lethal as well as being more contagious.

The more infectious variant, which swept across the UK at the end of last year before spreading across the world, is between 30 percent and 100 percent more deadly, a new study found.

Epidemiologists from the Universities of Exeter and Bristol said the data suggests the variant is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate among adults compared with previously circulating strains.

Robert Challen, from the University of Exeter, lead author of the study, said: 'In the community, death from Covid-19 is still a rare event, but the B117 variant raises the risk.

'Coupled with its ability to spread rapidly, this makes B117 a threat that should be taken seriously.'

Researchers looked at death rates among people infected with the new variant and those infected with other strains.

They found that the variant first detected in Kent led to 227 deaths in a sample of 54,906 patients  compared with 141 among the same number of closely matched patients who had the previous strains.

Mutations of the virus have raised concerns about whether vaccines would be effective against the new strains, including the B117 strain.

But research suggests the Pfizer jab is just as effective against the variant of coronavirus as it was against the original pandemic strain, and other studies indicate the Moderna vaccine is also highly effective against the variant.
Francesca Paris is The Eagle's data and public records reporter. She was previously the North Adams reporter. A California native and Williams College alumna, she has worked at NPR in Washington, D.C. and WBUR in Boston. Find her on Twitter at @fparises.
Facebook has partnered with Worldwide Media to bring the Planet Marathi presents Filmfare Awards Marathi 2020 on Facebook Watch on 14th March 2021, at 7.00 PM IST in India and 7.00 PM EST for the US & Canada. Catch your favourite celebrities from the Marathi film industry, along with behind-the-scenes action, performances, and red carpet highlights from the award ceremony on Filmfares official Facebook page.

Facebook Watch is a place to discover and enjoy videos on Facebook. Home to a wide range of videos such as live events, shows, sports, news or music videos  Facebook Watch is a destination where content, community and conversation come together.

Speaking on the occasion, Facebook India Director, and Head of Partnerships Manish Chopra said, Our focus in India with Watch has been reflective of the diverse consumer tastes in the country. With movies and cinema being extremely popular with our community, we are excited to partner with Filmfare to enable users across the globe to come together and celebrate the excellence of Marathi Cinema with Filmfare Awards on Facebook Watch. We hope this experience will enable people to share, connect and entertain themselves with content they like on Facebook.

Worldwide Media CEO Deepak Lamba said, "We at Filmfare truly believe, the best way to reach out to our audience to watch the celebration of excellence in Marathi cinema at Filmfare Awards Marathi is via Facebook, a universal community engagement spot. Collaborating with a like-minded partner, Facebook is enabling us to have a resounding positive influence on the way Filmfare fans consume, perceive and share content. With this vision, our presence on Facebook Watch will bring all the Cinephilia closer yet again."

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The West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees are organizing the enormous opposition among educators, parents and students to the homicidal reopening of schools throughout the region. Register today and invite your coworkers and friends to attend our next meeting at 2 p.m. PST today!

On Tuesday, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) teachers union announced a tentative agreement (TA) to reopen schools for in-person learning. The announcement has been met with widespread opposition and anger from educators, many of whom have already begun declaring on social media that they will be voting against the agreement.

First-grade teacher talks to her students in class [Credit: AP/Scott Sonner]

The deal reached by UTLA and LAUSD will allow elementary school students to return classrooms on April 19, while secondary students will return in late April when the district predicts all educators should have access to both doses of the coronavirus vaccine. The LAUSD school board also voted in favor of the agreement Friday morning, sending it to Los Angeles teachers for a vote.

Fully in-person instruction will be offered for preschool students, while elementary students will be divided into two cohorts, with the first attending school in the morning and the second in the afternoon.

The return to classrooms will inevitably result in heightened transmission of the disease in the second most populous metropolitan area in the United States.

Only a few weeks ago, Los Angeles was the global epicenter of the pandemic, with more than 22,000 Angelenos now having died from the disease. The majority of LAUSD students are considered impoverished, with many living in multi-generational, overcrowded housing conditions which will only contribute to mass community spread after those students return home from overcrowded classrooms.

In reviewing distributed schedules, educators have also come to the realization that the work day has been extended by nearly an hour. An elementary school educator told the World Socialist Web Site, The day used to end at 2:19 and now the schedules show 3:00 p.m. Additionally, we have been asked to come in 20 minutes, it is unclear if we are working in part during our lunch, and now we are told we are expected to stay at least another 10 minutes after work.

A teacher with 25 years of experience in LAUSD who wished to remain anonymous told the WSWS, I just found out the TA includes increasing teachers work day by one hour. UTLA SELLOUT!! The UTLA said if we don't agree to it, the district can just unilaterally impose it on us, whatever they want, without even the threat of going on strike. What a bunch of weasels. The spineless UTLA is in the pockets of the Democratic Party and doing the bidding of the district like the scoundrels that they are.

He emphasized that teachers are being blackmailed into voting yes on the deal. The union is telling us that if we vote No we have to accept the districts reopening plan, but we are already doing that. What kind of union rolls over and doesnt even threaten a strike under these conditions?

Tuesdays announced agreement is the result of a sham vote held by the UTLA last week. Many teachers believed they were voting in favor of safety measures that prioritize students and educators, which the UTLA limited to vaccinations and the stipulation that LA County move from Californias most dangerous purple tier to the still deadly red tier based on the numbers of infections, along with the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitary supplies.

Many educators are voicing concern for special education students and the staff and teachers who care for them, noting that it is impossible to socially distance as many require toileting and feeding supports. Teachers are rightfully demanding the plans for how a supposedly safe environment will be provided for the special needs students.

Educators are reporting being blindsided with the TA and numerous teachers are coming forward on social media declaring they are uncertain on what it was they voted on last week in the UTLA survey. Many believed they were committing to proclamations by the UTLA that they would lead a fight to keep schools closed until the spread of the virus is contained. It is becoming clearer to thousands of educators that the UTLA forced them into a sham vote, knowing full well the county and state were headed into the red tier.

Opposition to the TA has grown to such a degree by both educators and parents, that the UTLA has been working overtime to corral and shut down the growing chorus of denunciations, encouraging members to talk shop in the UTLAs private Facebook page and not air their concerns on large social media groups that include tens of thousands of parents and workers.

Los Angeles County officials announced Friday that on Monday the county will move into the red tier. This is not the result of significantly lowered case numbers, but due to a rewriting of the metrics after two million vaccines have been distributed across the state to the populations that reside within lowest income populations, what the state has deemed the Vaccine Equity Quartile.

Los Angeles County also used the opportunity of the announcement to allow the resumption of partial in-person dining along with the reopenings of indoor gyms and movie theaters. Those businesses will be allowed to reopen up to 25 percent capacity as of 12:01 a.m. Monday morning.

The California Blueprint for a Safer Economy now stipulates that once the two million vaccine threshold is reached, the Purple (Widespread) tier will shift from a 7 day average of greater than 7 cases per 100,000 to greater than 10 cases per 100,000; and the Red (Substantial) tier will be widened to 4-10 cases per 100,000.

This is part of a concerted effort by Californias Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, the Democrat-controlled state legislature, and a bipartisan policy to reopen businesses and the economy. Schools are the linchpin for a broader reopening and all measures are being taken to facilitate this, even artificially rewriting the metrics.

The forcing open of schools in LA comes nearly one month after Chicago city officials conspired with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) to pry open K-12 schools despite widespread opposition to reopening. Teachers in Los Angeles and beyond must learn from the betrayals of the CTU and begin organizing independently.

The West Coast of the US has become the primary front in the ruling class campaign to open schools everywhere, with districts and teachers unions from Seattle to San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and all other major cities throughout the region moving forward in lockstep to force educators to accept reopening.

A fighting program is needed to prevent these deadly actions. Already in Michigan, where schools opened in early March, K-12 schools have become the primary source of outbreaks. In the first week of March, 47 school outbreaks were recorded and over 220 staff, teachers and students tested positive for COVID-19, while there were 71 youth-related outbreaks that included sports.

John, a LAUSD middle school teacher told the WSWS, I will vote no. Ive come to see the UTLA as stupid and spineless. The proposed setup for middle school and high schools is idiotic. I'll be in the room with the same 12 kids all day. But I won't be teaching them. I'll teach only via zoom (having to wear at least a mask), and they will be zooming their classes while they sit in my room. Simply idiotic!

He added, The union leadership does not understand or does not care to use the power of organized labor. The position should have been that we are not returning this spring. The LAUSD has 33,000 teachers. They cant open schools without us.

The individual anger and opposition by teachers and families must find organized political expression. It is not enough for educators to overwhelmingly vote NO on this sellout agreement hatched between UTLA and LAUSD, they must begin formulating their own way forward.

At 2pm PST this Saturday, March 13, the West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees are meeting to discuss how educators and other sections of the working classincluding healthcare, food production, logistics and other workerswill carry this fight forward.

All decisions regarding school openings and closures must be overseen by rank-and-file committees formed by workers and parents, in consultation with trusted scientists of their choosing. These committees will determine what is safe, not what the ruling class and its media mouthpieces claim they can afford. The interests of human life must take precedent.

We urge all educators, parents and students in Los Angeles, throughout California and across the West Coast to make plans to attend Saturdays meeting and invite your coworkers and friends.
Israels navy conducted a joint exercise with Cyprus, Greece and France in the eastern Mediterranean this week as the countries continue to bolster defense cooperation amid ongoing tensions with Turkey.

Exercise Noble Dina was led by the Israeli navy off Cyprus west coast, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. The exercise, which ended Thursday, included anti-submarine procedures, search-and-rescue scenarios and a scenario simulating battle between ships, the IDF said. Israeli Dolphin-II class submarines also participated in the exercise.

The drills build on increased defense cooperation between the four countries in the eastern Mediterranean since Turkey has become increasingly assertive in the region in recent years.

Disputes over hydrocarbon rights in the eastern Mediterranean have drawn together governments seeking to limit Turkeys claims, including France and the United Arab Emirates  which also oppose Turkeys ambitions in Libya.

Amid bitter tensions last year, a Greek frigate rammed a Turkish naval vessel that was escorting a Turkish seismic research vessel in waters claimed by Athens. Tensions have continued despite talks. Israel, Egypt, France and the UAE openly backed Greece last summer amid the dispute.

The UAE joined mutual naval exercises with Greece, Egypt and Cyprus for the first time late last year after inking a deal with Athens that would allow for mutual basing on each others territory. Abu Dhabi also signed an agreement with Cyprus in January.

Greece has also sought to buy the United States highly advanced F-35 fighter jet. If eventually accepted, Athens would join an exclusive club of nations allowed access to the Joint Strike Fighter, a privilege Washington took away from NATO-ally Turkey after officials there purchased Russias S-400 missile defense system.

Speaking about the latest Noble Dina exercise Friday, Rear Adm. Eyal Harel, who leads Israeli naval operations, said the drills are of paramount importance in strengthening the navys connection with foreign fleets who share common interests.

Greece, Israel and Cyprus are aiming to complete a major undersea natural gas pipeline to Europe by 2025, and have plans for other joint infrastructure projects. Turkey has voiced opposition the EastMed pipeline and signed an exclusionary maritime zone deal with Libya shortly after its announcement.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico Republicans have kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for much of the last year.

But U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., and state Senate Republicans both sent Friday letters lauding the governors recent comments about President Joe Bidens executive order to pause new oil and gas leasing on public lands.

While the Lujan Grisham administration has not formally asked the U.S. Department of Interior for a waiver from the order, the Democratic governor told business leaders this week she was clearly concerned about the Biden administrations decision.

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She also suggested New Mexicos efforts to tackle climate change, including measures aimed at curbing carbon emissions, should be recognized by the federal government.

Specifically, New Mexico could get an exemption from the federal order under a program giving credit to states that show progress on environmental protections, Lujan Grisham suggested.

Given that backdrop, New Mexico Senate Republicans pointed out GOP-backed legislation to officially request a waiver has stalled at the Roundhouse during this years 60-day legislative session.

Given the large number of anti-oil and gas bills introduced by Senate and House Democrats this legislative session, your recent statements could not have come at a more critical time, they wrote in the Friday letter that was signed by all 15 GOP senators.

For her part, Herrell said she was pleased the governor has recognized the potentially damaging effects of the federal order, as New Mexico currently gets more than 40% of its total revenue from taxes and royalties on the oil and natural gas industries.

Herrell also asked Lujan Grisham to urge New Mexicos two U.S. senators  Democrats Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan  to file legislation in the U.S. Senate to exempt the state from the federal order, just as she has done in the U.S. House.

Biden issued the executive order to indefinitely pause all new leasing activity on federal lands just days after taking office in January.

The pause on new lease sales, aimed at giving the federal government time to review permitting and leasing procedures, does not affect oil and gas drilling under valid existing leases in New Mexico and other states, according to the U.S. Department of Interior.

Top Governors Office staffers and state environment officials had a telephone discussion about the federal order with Interior Department staffers this week.

That came after state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst said in a February letter that uncertainty caused by the order has already caused oil rigs to leave New Mexico for Texas, where federal land is more sparse.
Republicans on Capitol Hill are seizing on the record surge in migrants at the southern border to bring increased scrutiny to President Joe Bidens immigration policies and the administration's recent easing of some restrictions.

"If you look at where we are right now, you have thousands of people crossing illegally into the United States every single day. Those border states are getting overrun, its a drain on their resources, there are super spreader caravans coming across," Rep. Steve Scalise, the House majority whip, said in a statement.

"This was all done by President Biden and President Biden can address and reverse this policy, and were calling on President Biden to reverse his policy thats created this Biden border crisis," Scalise said.

PHOTO: House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, joined by other Republican House members, speaks during a news conference about the situation at the United States southern border, outside of the Capitol in Washington, March 11, 2021. (Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

MORE: In return to Justice Department, Garland brings background in domestic terror to a nation in crisis

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is leading a delegation of a dozen Republican members to the border on Monday to assess the crisis at the border, his office said.

And Senate Republicans are in the early stages of organizing a trip of their own, but the dates have yet to be determined, sources familiar with the planning told ABC News.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., reportedly met last week with other conservative Republicans to tout what they see as a potent line of attack heading into the crucial midterm elections, which could determine the balance of power in the Senate.

"What we are witnessing of course is Biden's border crisis," Rep. John Katko, N.Y., the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. "If you want to think of it another way, it's a disorder at the border, by executive order."

PHOTO: Migrants from Central America stand near the Paso del Norte international border bridge after being deported from the United States, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, March 11, 2021. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)

In a news conference earlier this week, the White House coordinator for the southern border, Amb. Roberta Jacobsen, admitted what she described as the current struggle in conveying the right public messaging on the issue.

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"I think when you look at the issue of mixed messages, it is difficult at times to convey both hope in the future and the danger that is now. And that is what were trying to do," Jacobsen said during Wednesdays White House press briefing. "And I -- I will certainly agree that we are trying to walk and chew gum at the same time."

John Sandweg, a former general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, told ABC News immigration is a no-win issue.

"You cant win politically on immigration, for whatever reason its a supercharged issue in this country, and you really just have to focus on whats the best policy and everything else will fall in line," said Sandweg, who also served as the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under former President Barack Obama. "That's where the administration finds itself again: they're not moving fast enough for the folks on the left and theyre moving too slow for folks on the right."

Sandweg added the United States is "more than capable" of handling the situation at the border.

"We'll be able to handle it," Biden said earlier this month when asked if there is a crisis at the border.

MORE: New immigration bill revives citizenship debate, puts pressure on Biden to deliver

Two Texas lawmakers, Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, joined forces to travel together to the border Friday, visiting Carrizo Springs and Loredo to tour a detention facility and meet with local leaders.

Cornyn and Cueller, along with Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, urged DHS to "quickly take action to vaccinate all DHS law enforcement officers and agents."

"As you know, DHSs law enforcement officers are at significant risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their work with detained and vulnerable populations," they wrote. "The recent growing surge in migrants crossing the southwest border has only amplified that risk."

During a conference call with reporters on Friday, a senior administration official said "the state of Texas has not been as cooperative," speaking about offering FEMA assistance grants to local cities on the border and other organizations.

"It's been more difficult, because of the state of Texas inability or unwillingness to cooperate with us," the official said, adding that officials are looking at "workarounds," potentially with local jurisdictions, but didnt provide specifics.

Republicans step up attacks on Biden over handling of migrant surge at border originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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Seven years after Credit Suisse promised federal prosecutors that it would stop helping rich Americans hide their wealth from tax collectors, a whistle-blower is contending that it continued to do just that, raising the possibility that the Swiss bank could face a fresh investigation and steep financial penalties.

The allegations, laid out in documents sent last week to the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service, were made by a former Credit Suisse employee. The former employee said that the bank continued to hide assets for its clients long after it promised prosecutors it would close those accounts, according to copies of documents obtained by The New York Times.

The whistle-blower, whose identity is unknown, is also contending that Credit Suisse lied to federal prosecutors, the Internal Revenue Service and members of Congress during their yearslong inquiry into how Swiss banks helped Americans defraud the government. Those investigations ultimately led to a settlement in May 2014 between Credit Suisse and federal prosecutors, in which the Swiss bank pleaded guilty to helping some of its American clients evade taxes by cloaking their wealth through offshore shell companies.

Credit Suisse was fined a total of $2.6 billion, but avoided even higher fines because it vowed to the Justice Department and a Senate panel that it had not only stopped the practice, but that it would close any and all accounts of recalcitrant account holders. The bank also pledged to help the United States pursue other criminal investigations, according to the plea agreement. Credit Suisses guilty plea and steep fine were rare in 2014. It was the first time in more than two decades that a lender of its size had admitted wrongdoing in an American court.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13)  The surge in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila is pushing the capacity of several major hospitals in the region towards collapse, according to medical authorities.

As of March 13, intensive care units of the Philippine General Hospital, the San Lazaro Hospital, the Philippine Lung Center, and the East Avenue Medical Center were operating at full capacity, the frontliners said.

Bed allocations for COVID-19 cases at PGH and San Lazaro are now 70% and 60% occupied, respectively, hospital executives pointed out.

Earlier this week, the PGH announced that an online appointment is necessary before patients are allowed to have a face-to-face consultation with their physicians.

RELATED: PGH temporarily stops accepting walk-ins, implements other precautions due to rising COVID-19 cases

READ: Hospital admissions due to COVID-19 rising

"Hospitals are getting full with COVID-19 cases. Please protect yourself and your family," PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said in a Facebook post.

Dr. del Rosario also urged the public to follow health protocols as the country has been reporting an increase in new COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Dennis Ordona, head of COVID department of the East Avenue Medical Center, said that while the hospitals' ICU has always been full, they witnessed "an increase in the trend of COVID cases."

"So what is happening now is we are allocating more beds for COVID patients which were previously allocated for non-COVID patients," Dr. Ordona added.

On Saturday, the Department of Health reported that the Philippines recorded 5,000 new COVID-19 infections for the first time in almost seven months, bringing the total to 616,611 with 9.2% or 56,679 active or currently ill patients.

READ: PH lists 5,000 COVID-19 cases for the first time since August

Dr. Anna Ong-Lim of the Department of Health-technical advisory group late on Friday said that surge should not be solely blamed on the presence of new virus variants, but also on the public's complacency.

"It's hard to say that the major driver is due to the new variants," she told CNN Philippines' News Night.

READ: DOH reports COVID-19 variant unique to PH, first case of Brazil variant

Dr. Ong-Lim noted that while it is true that they have been picking up variants among positive cases that have undergone genome sequencing, the number was "quite low."

"When we look at people going around, we do notice that many people have become quite relaxed in the use of their personal protective equipment, face mask, face shield. I'm sure this is also contributing to our problem," she said.

Dr. Ong-Lim said the spike in COVID-19 cases should serve as a "wake up call for everybody to try to do their best to contribute towards containing this new increase in cases."

CNN Philippines' Crissy Dimatulac contributed to this report.
Stepanov says the new strain is more contagious and affects more young people.

Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said the country faced a "rather difficult period" over the spread of a new COVID-19 strain.

"We must understand: we have really faced a rather difficult period in terms of a new coronavirus strain... It is more contagious, i.e. more people become infected, it affects more young people. Moreover, we see a change in the clinical picture: it affects the central nervous system, kidneys, liver. That is, a completely different clinical picture," he said during the Svoboda Slova [Freedom of Speech] panel show hosted by Savik Shuster on Friday.

Speaking about the situation in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, Stepanov said the situation had stabilized in terms of the number of new cases over the past few days.

"I mean, we do not have such an increase [in the number of patients] that we had before... At least, Ivano-Frankivsk region is not included in the tops by the number of new patients every day," the official said.

Read also Ukraine may re-impose tough quarantine if health system on verge of collapse  official COVID-19 in Ukraine: What is known

A surge in daily coronavirus cases has been reported in Ivano-Frankivsk region. More than 90% of beds allocated for COVID-19 patients in the region have been occupied.

As of February 22, 2021, the so-called red quarantine zone was introduced in the region.

On March 4, 2021, the Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases said the first two cases of the UK strain of the novel coronavirus had been officially confirmed in Ukraine. The new strain was found in two patients from Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Ukraine confirmed 13,276 new active COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours as of March 13, 2021, having reported this year's highest indicator vs. 13,514 cases recorded as of December 11, 2020, as an all-time high.

The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,451,744.

Reporting by UNIAN
MOUNT PLEASANT  Like a lot of homebuyers, Shiv Sethi had several specific items on his wish list as he began to search for a new house in downtown Charleston.

Sethi wanted a property with a decent-sized lot in a quiet, walkable neighborhood with easy access to green space.

After all, Sethi wasnt just buying the home for himself; he had to think of Ellie  his 55-pound, 4-year-old goldendoodle.

Taylor and Brendan Davis had similar requirements as they decided on a new home in Mount Pleasant. The young couple was moving from Tampa, Fla., and had to consider how Tucker  their energetic, people-friendly, 8-month-old English cream golden retriever  would adjust to his new surroundings.

A recent survey by the National Association of Realtors found that pets play a prominent role for homebuyers. Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed found that animals, especially dogs, influence buyers decisions in searches for new homes. Pet-friendly features such as fenced yards, pet doors and walkable neighborhoods are on the top of buyers' wish lists.

Those pet-friendly features have only been magnified during the pandemic.

Pets have always been important for buyers, but since the pandemic it has become a huge factor, said Caroline Perkins, a real estate agent for the Cassina Group who helped the Davis find a home in Park West in Mount Pleasant. Since buyers are home a lot more because of the pandemic, they want more yard space. They want to be able to walk their dogs. They want dog doors. Those features are becoming more and more important.

Shelter Animals Count, which tracks shelters and rescue activities across the country, found that adoptions were up across the country by 20 percent in 2020. The group, which tracks about 500 rescue organizations nationally, recorded 26,000 more pet adoptions in 2020 than in the year before.

Shelters and rescue organizations in the Lowcountry have experienced almost double the number of adoptions since the beginning of the pandemic.

Taylor and Brendan Davis said it took a few extra weeks to adopt Tucker because most of the shelters and breeders they contacted were sold out of dogs.

It was impossible to find a rescue dog, said Taylor Davis. It seemed like everyone was getting a dog during the pandemic.

Having a neighborhood where they could walk Tucker was a priority when settling on a house. Their home is near Laurel Hill, a county park with several miles of wooded trails.

We wanted a fenced yard that didnt back up to anything, Taylor Davis said. Having those trails in Laurel Hill was a huge selling point for us. Tucker loves to walk back there, and its been great for socializing.

Had Tucker not been in the picture, the Davises said they probably would have bought a different home.

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We would have probably lived a little closer to downtown, probably wouldnt have wanted as big a yard, Brendan Davis said.

Sethi, meanwhile, is still in the house-hunting process. He lives in Union Square on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and works as a private wealth manager. Like many New York City residents, Sethi has found that working remotely during the pandemic has allowed him a certain flexibility in his residence.

I have clients all over the country, and I think what the pandemic taught a lot of people is that where you physically work is less relevant because of all the virtual tools that are available now, Sethi said.

Sethi came to Charleston for the first time on vacation in 2015 and instantly fell in love with citys Southern charm and warm winters. He knew almost immediately that he wanted to move to the Lowcountry, and the pandemic has only accelerated his timetable.

Working in finance, it would have made the transition to Charleston pretty difficult, Sethi said. The pandemic proved that you could live and work outside of New York.

Ellie is his constant companion, so picking just the right house with the exact amenities is going to be crucial. Taking Ellie out on a walk or to do her business can be a time-consuming chore in Manhattan. He wants more of a low-maintenance experience in Charleston.

I definitely wanted a nice yard, something where she could run around and get some exercise, Sethi said. I wanted a quiet neighborhood, less noisy and clean, and a place that had easy access to the yard. I want to be able to leave my back door open so she can go out when she wants.

Sethi is still searching for just the right property in downtown Charleston, but is confident he will find it eventually.

Ellie is part of Shivs family, so having a fenced yard was one of those non-negotiable items on his list, said Ashley Graham, a real estate agent for the Cassina Group. Weve had so many clients that have gotten pandemic pets in the last few months, so getting those pet-friendly features is very important. The ability to work from home and having pets has changed certain dynamics in the market.

Besides fenced yards and walkable neighborhoods, other features that attract pet owners are dog doors, special flooring and mudrooms with animal washing stations.

Those amenities like a fenced yard, a washing station or a dog door shouldn't add any significant up-front costs when buying a home.

"The biggest cost is having a bigger yard for a pet," said Owen Tyler, managing broker of The Cassina Group. "Land is a commodity, so the bigger the lot the more it's going to cost."

Pets, however, could have an impact when selling a home, Tyler said.

"If your house smells like a dog or cat, it's going to lower the value of your home," Tyler said. "If you have pets, we always recommend getting a thorough cleaning before you show the house."
A growing number of Americans support workplace, lifestyle and travel restrictions for those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, a new poll found.

Conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, the survey found six in 10 Americans want to work for an employer who requires everyone be immunized against coronavirus vaccine before returning to the office.

Additionally, most respondents believe vaccinated people should not be allowed to travel on airplanes.

The poll's results suggest the pace of vaccinations may pick up as more vaccines become available and more people want them.

A new poll found 60% of Americans want to work for an employer 'who requires everyone to get a coronavirus vaccine before returning to the office

It also found 55% said unvaccinated people should not work out at public gyms, enter movie theaters or attend public concerts. Pictured: A patient is vaccinated against COVID-19 in Los Angeles, California, March 2021

For the poll, 1,005 U.S. adults aged 18 and older were surveyed online on Monday and Tuesday.

Altogether, 54 percent of respondents said they were 'very interested' in getting vaccinated.

That was up from a January survey, when 41 percent expressed the same level of interest, and 38 percent in a May 2020 poll before a vaccine was even developed.

About 69 percent of Democrats said they were very interested in getting a COVID-19 shot as did 45 percent are Republicans.

Interest in the vaccine increased over the past year among whites and racial minorities, with about six in 10 whites and five in 10 members of minority groups now expressing a high level of interest.

Twenty-seven percent of Americans said they were not interested in getting vaccinated, which was relatively unchanged from a similar poll that ran in May.

Surveyors also found that 62% don't believe unvaccinated people should be allowed to travel on airplanes

When it came to political parties, 25 percent of Republicans and seven percent of Democrats

But foreshadowing the social challenges that may emerge as the U.S. begins to pull out of the yearlong pandemic, the latest poll showed a majority of Americans want to limit the ways in which unvaccinated people can mix in public.

Seventy-two percent of Americans said it was important to know 'if the people around me have been vaccinated,' according to the poll.

A majority, 62 percent, said unvaccinated people should not be allowed to travel on airplanes.

Fifty-five percent agreed that unvaccinated people should not work out at public gyms, enter movie theaters or attend public concerts.

When asked about the workplace, 60 percent of Americans said they wanted to work for an employer 'who requires everyone to get a coronavirus vaccine before returning to the office' and 56 percent thought unvaccinated workers should stay home.

Companies could soon feel increasing pressure to address those concerns.

About 19 percent of the U.S. population has already received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine and President Joe Biden said in a televised speech on Thursday night he would direct states to make all adults eligible for the vaccine by May 1.

Dr Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said the poll responses made sense, given the social restrictions placed on everyone over the past year.

'People are saying: "If I'm vaccinated, it's going to change my life,"' Adalja said.

'And if you're not vaccinated, that's your choice. But you're going to be in a different status because you might be a carrier of this virus, so you could spread it to another unvaccinated person.'

The poll results were somewhat split along party lines. Republicans, who have been generally less concerned than others over the past year about the coronavirus, were also less supportive than Democrats of workplace and lifestyle restrictions for the unvaccinated, according to the poll.

Yet even among Republicans, four out of 10 said they supported keeping people without vaccines from going to gyms or movie theaters.

Five in 10 Republicans think vaccines should be required for airline travel.
S.C. Sen. Jack Lindsay stepped off the state airplane in 1984 and into a nasty controversy: He and his entourage had just returned from Florida, where they had attended the Super Bowl, and a local TV reporter was there to capture the image. Public pressure forced the state Aeronautics Commission to charge the powerful Marlboro County attorney $3,000 for the flight, and the Senate Ethics Committee, in one of its only two public actions over more than two decades, issued a public reprimand.

It was the most notorious abuse weve ever seen of the state planes, but certainly not the only one. There have been many other scandals  involving Gov. Mark Sanford, who had to pay ethics fines for using state planes for personal errands and campaign events, and Gov. Nikki Haley, who hitched one for news conferences and ceremonial bill signings even though lawmakers had specifically prohibited that, and a smattering of less colorful legislators  each instance unearthed when a reporter got a tip and checked out state flight logs.

The latest abuse was reported by Columbias State newspaper, this time involving the 34 flights that House Democratic Leader Todd Rutherford took on the state's airplanes since 2012, often to vacation destinations, where he was speaking at a conference or had some other type of business that was tangentially related to his job as a legislator. He was accompanied on six of those trips by his girlfriend and now wife, whose presence apparently wasnt even tangentially related to legislative business and might have violated state law.

Of course, Mr. Rutherford wasnt the only state legislator taking legally questionable and ethically unjustified taxpayer-funded flights; he was just the most frequent flyer. The newspaper also reported that Rep. John King took 24 flights; Rep. Carl Anderson took 14; 17 legislators hitched a state plane between three and 10 times, 15 twice and one once. Fourteen of the flyers have since left office.

There probably are legitimate reasons for state legislators to use one of the state's two King Airs, which cost $1,000 to $1,500 per hour to fly; thats presumably why state law allows it, as long as they sign a form stating that it's for official state business. But Mr. Rutherfords trips  like many legislators trips  tended to be for conferences, often at luxury resorts, of the sort that legislators have agreed to count as official state business but that certainly arent an essential part of their jobs.

And on Tuesday, Senate Republican Leader Shane Massey and Sen. Wes Climer revived legislation the Senate (but not the House) had passed in 2003 to sell the state planes. Mr. Massey told a news conference last week that taxpayers dont need to be paying for vacations for legislators. More to the point: If this were the first reported abuse, then I probably wouldnt take the drastic step of saying, Lets just sell the planes, but whats gotten me to this point is this isnt the first reported abuse. Its not even the second.

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Worse things could happen than selling the state's planes. But a more conservative approach would be to analyze the cost of forcing the governor, Commerce Department officials (among the big users) and other public officials to take commercial flights or rent a charter when they need to fly versus the cost of maintaining the state fleet. That likely would reduce the number of times taxpayers have to pay for flights  certainly flights by legislators  but we wont know whether it would be cheaper until we do an analysis.

Meantime, lawmakers need to do what should have been done decades ago: tighten up the rules for using the plane. Under current law, state planes are available for any official business by the governor and other constitutional officers, legislators and members of state boards, commissions and agencies, along with their invitees. But official business isnt defined  so it too often includes conferences sponsored by lobbying groups or by one of the many regional and national associations for state legislators that frequently hold conferences at resort locations. And since they don't have to pick up the tab, some legislators reserve a state plane when there's plenty of time to drive.

At the least, flyers should have to justify why its essential to take a flight and show that its less expensive to use a state plane than to fly commercially. And someone other than the person reserving the flight  ideally someone who doesnt have to worry about political retribution  should be required to sign off on those calculations.

Its not rocket science.

The reason we keep having scandals involving abuse of state planes isnt that its difficult to regulate them. Its that our lawmakers have chosen not to. The rest of us would really like to see that effort finally get off the ground.
Police in Vallejo are looking for a missing 12-year-old girl last seen late Thursday evening.

The missing girl is Zoila Delacruz. She is described as Hispanic, approximately 5 feet tall and weighing 170 pounds.

Ofc. Brittany K. Jackson, a Vallejo police spokesperson, said Delacruz was last seen by her family at 11 p.m. Thursday. She recently moved to Vallejo with her family. It is believed that she left her home, in the 2000 block of Tennessee Street, between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. Friday.

Delacruz was last seen wearing a black hoodie with the word "Kush" on the back, along with black leggings with a floral design.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vallejo Police Department at (707) 552-3285, or dial 911 or contact your local law enforcement agency.

There are no further details at this time.

The California Highway Patrol has identified a suspect involved in last Tuesday morning's shooting on the Bay Bridge near Treasure Island.

The suspect is Luis Candelaria, and detectives are currently looking for him. The CHP said Friday evening that Candelaria is considered armed and dangerous.

At approximately 8 a.m. Tuesday, the CHP was advised that a gunshot wound patient was being treated at a San Francisco hospital. Detectives assigned to the CHP Golden Gate Division's Special Investigations Unit responded to the hospital and spoke with the shooting victim, who was in critical condition. After interviewing the victim, detectives determined that the individual was shot in the chest at 5:25 a.m. while standing near his 2003 Subaru Outback on the right shoulder of eastbound Interstate 80 near the Treasure Island offramp.

The shooting suspect fled the scene.

The CHP said the shooting is being actively investigated as of Friday evening. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the CHP Investigation Tipline at (707) 917-4491.

Police investigators are looking into whether two recent shootings, one of which was fatal, might be related, according to Fremont police officials.

On Wednesday night, a man whose name has not been released was killed in an attempted home invasion at the Mosaic Apartments in the 39000 block of Fremont Blvd.

In that shooting, a group of armed suspects tried to force their way into an apartment when a resident inside opened fire, striking one of the suspects, who died in a nearby parking lot.

At least one of the people trying to get into the apartment also fired shots but no one inside was hit, according to police.

One of the residents, 23-year-old Brian Robles, was under investigation at the time by Fremont officers, who suspected Robles of being involved in a Jan. 24 drive-by shooting, during which he allegedly fired a single shot at or near a pedestrian at Grimmer Boulevard and Blacow Road, according to police.

The intended target of that shooting never reported the incident to police, but investigators were able to recover witness statements and video evidence.

Based on that evidence, officers identified a possible suspect in February and began investigating Robles, who lives at the same Mosaic Apartments unit where Wednesday's shooting occurred, police said.

After Wednesday's shooting, officers arrested Robles on suspicion of "willfully discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner" for the January shooting.

A different resident of the apartment is suspected of firing the shot that killed the home invasion suspect, police said.

Police are still looking for the suspects who tried to force their way into the unit and are investigating whether that incident was somehow in retaliation for the January shooting, among other possible motives, according to Fremont police spokeswoman Geneva Bosques.

Robles was booked at Santa Rita Jail and released after posting $50,000 in bail.

His first court date is scheduled for May 13.

Anyone with information about either shooting can contact the Investigations Unit at (510) 790-6900 or Major Crimes Task Force at (510) 790-6660.

The pilot of a small two-seater aircraft made a successful emergency landing Friday afternoon in the East Bay hills near the Lafayette Reservoir after his plane ran out of fuel.

The pilot landed on hilly property owned by the East Bay Municipal Utility District. just before 3 p.m.

EBMUD spokesperson Andrea Pook said the pilot was uninjured after landing his plane. She added that the emergency landing resulted in no impacts to utility district watershed lands nor the Lafayette Reservoir.

The aircraft was not damaged.

A Berkeley man was arrested Thursday morning for arson and carrying a loaded shotgun after he set the duplex he was living in on fire, police said Friday.

Officers went to the 1500 block of Stuart Street to check on the welfare of a man who was apparently acting erratically in his home.

Neighbors told police that they heard glass breaking and the 34-year-old man yelling and banging on the walls.

According to police, officers tried to speak with the man, but he refused to open the door. Officers tried more than once and failed, police said.

Officers left after deciding the man was by himself and was not in any danger. But, at about 10 a.m. dispatchers received a call that the duplex was on fire and the man was outside his home holding a shotgun and acting erratically.

Officers went back to the home and detained the man while firefighters extinguished the fire.

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Assistant police inspector Sachin Waze seeks anticipatory bail

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Mar 13: Assistant police inspector, Sachin Waze who has been accused by the wife of businessman Mansukh Hiran of killing has sought anticipatory bail before a sessions court.

The matter will come up for hearing on March 19, following which notice is likely to be issued to the ATS, which is probing the case. Hiran's wife Vimla alleged that the Scorpio vehicle which was with him an was found with gelatine sticks outside Mukesh Ambani's house was with Waze for four months.

Sachin Vaze, Mumbai cop removed after political row in Ambani security scare case

Waze was on Friday transferred from the crime intelligence unit to the special branch. Teams of the ATS and NIA, which has taken over the probe have almost identified Hiran's last location from where he disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

The agencies found a face mask and several handkerchiefs on Hiren's face when his body was pulled out of creek in Thane. Waze in his statement to the ATS has denied that he had used the Scorpio.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 9:00 [IST]
WASHINGTON  Tucked into the $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue law is something of a surprise coming from a Democratic Congress and a president long seen as a champion of public education  nearly $3 billion earmarked for private schools.

More surprising is who got it there: Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader whose loyalty to his constituents diverged from the wishes of his party, and Randi Weingarten, the leader of one of the nations most powerful teachers unions, who acknowledged that the federal government had an obligation to help all schools recover from the pandemic, even those who do not accept her group.

The deal, which came after Mr. Schumer was lobbied by the powerful Orthodox Jewish community in New York City, riled other Democratic leaders and public school advocates who have spent years beating back efforts by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to funnel federal money to private schools, including in the last two coronavirus relief bills.

Democrats had railed against the push by President Donald J. Trumps education secretary, Betsy DeVos, to use pandemic relief bills to aid private schools, only to do it themselves.
Portland police issued an arrest warrant Friday for a Vancouver woman in a minor hit-and-run crash that drew unwarranted attention last week to City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty when a motorist mistakenly identified her as a suspect in the collision.

Police released investigative reports, audio of the initial non-emergency call and TriMet surveillance video of the suspect car.

They used the video to rule out Hardesty and identify Shirley K. Collins, 64, as the woman behind the wheel of the car believed to have rear-ended a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Evelynn Starr Ellis, 46, of Portland, according to police reports.

Both Hardesty and Collins are Black. Ellis is white.

Read the police reports.

The warrant accuses Collins of two counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver and causing property damage.

Hardesty flatly denied any involvement in the March 3 crash and called for a city investigation on how the accident and her name became public.

Im telling you today, these allegations are false, and to be frank, these allegations are suspicious, she said at the time.

The mayors office announced the public release of the police documents due to the significant number of requests for them, it said in a statement. Hardestys office is also reviewing the file and will respond to questions next week, the statement said.

The police reports show how Ellis, the woman who reported the collision, erroneously told a dispatcher and then police investigators repeatedly that she recognized Hardesty.

The rear-end crash occurred at 4:48 p.m. at Northeast 148th Avenue and East Burnside Street. Ellis called non-emergency dispatch at 11:09 p.m.

Ellis said on the call that she didnt get the other drivers license plate number but I know who hit me.

This is where it gets bizarre. It was a city commissioner, she told the dispatcher, according to the audio. It was Jo Ann Hardesty. She was behind me for three stop lights. I know it was her.

Ellis said the other car had been directly behind her on East Burnside when they got stuck at three different traffic lights in a row. She reported that she could see the motorist behind her each of those times and observed her looking down in her lap.

Two officers went to Ellis home that night. She told police that she had been driving her silver 2020 Volkswagen Jetta south on Northeast 181st Street and turned right or west onto East Burnside.

Once she stopped at the first light at Northeast 174th Street, Ellis said she was kind of star struck when she looked in her rearview mirror, thinking, Oh that looks like Jo Ann, according to the police reports. Ellis said she recognized who she thought was the commissioner in the drivers seat of a gold sedan.

They again stopped at Northeast 162nd, and Ellis said she got another look at the same driver behind her. Once the light turned green, they stopped at a third light on Northeast 148th.

Thats when Ellis said she felt her car bump forward, rear-ended by the car behind her.

When the light turned green, Ellis continued through the light, put her hazard lights on and pulled over along Northeast 147th Avenue, and saw the car behind her drive past and the driver look directly at her without stopping, the police report said. Ellis said she honked her horn.

She reported slight damage to her rear bumper. The other car, she told police, was a tan four-door sedan, possibly a Toyota Corolla or similar style.

Ellis said she has seen Hardesty before in her professional capacity, on media reports and elsewhere in the city before Hardesty became an elected official.

Ellis decided to report the crash once she had arrived home and after calling her insurance provider. She also said she shared the encounter with friends, who did some research and discovered where Hardesty lived and the type of car she drives, according to a police report.

Officers Ken Le and Timothy Giles went to Hardestys home to look for her car but couldnt find it. They looked up her DMV records and found a gold-colored 2001 Volvo registered in her name. But police later traced the car to Volunteers of America. Hardesty has said she donated a car to the organization.

A sergeant checked the bureaus license plate reader system and also picked up the Volvos license plates in the vicinity of Hardestys home.

The two officers knocked on Hardestys door but no one responded. Police didnt give the time of that visit. Le then called Hardesty and left a message with his name and number.

On March 4, the day after the report, when another officer called Ellis back, Ellis backtracked a bit, saying she couldnt say 100% that the driver who had tapped her rear bumper was Hardesty. But if it wasnt, she told investigators, there was someone out there who looks a lot like her, according to the police report.

That same day, police obtained video footage of the collision from a TriMet camera along a MAX train platform and determined a silver 2008 Honda Accord registered to someone else was involved, police reports said.

Based on this video footage, I do not believe at this time Hardesty is the suspect driver involved with this collision, Officer David Enz wrote in a report at 6:25 p.m. March 4.

Police contacted Collins, who was one of two people named on the car registration. Collins initially claimed someone else had been driving her car at the time, investigators said.

Police did further review of the TriMet footage and identified the Collins as the driver, according to the reports. When they went back to her home to arrest her, they couldnt find her and she didnt respond to police calls, the reports said.

The officers who investigated noted Collins bears a resemblance with Hardesty. Collins, though, has short and grayish-white hair but was wearing a hood covering her hair at the time of the collision, according to police. Hardesty has long hair.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
Toronto Cardinal demands churches be treated fairly after film crew gets more access to church than funeral

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The head of the Archdiocese of Toronto has demanded that Ontario province stop imposing stricter guidelines on houses of worship than secular entities.

Cardinal Thomas Collins sent out a call to action last week denouncing how the government has imposed stricter limits on houses of worship for in-person gatherings than secular businesses.

Collins gave an example of a movie production crew that was allowed to have around 50 people filming in a church basement hall while a funeral at the same facility was limited to 10 attendees.

I do not believe that our elected officials and medical officers of health consciously intend to suppress religious freedom; I realize that they are in an extremely difficult position. We do, however, ask to be treated equitably, wrote Collins.

The province has relaxed restrictions in Grey (Lockdown) regions, with retailers permitted to operate at 25 percent capacity. Yet places of worship, regardless of whether they seat 100 or 1,000 people, must remain at a hard cap of 10 people.

Collins said it makes no sense that funeral at St. Michaels Cathedral (capacity 1,500) will be capped at 10 people, while around the corner dozens can enter the local liquor store and thousands will visit the Eaton Centre.

I encourage all of you  to respectfully request that any restrictions for places of worship use a percentage of capacity as opposed to an arbitrary number, he continued.

We are still in the midst of fighting a pandemic and we must be prudent in our actions. Our strict WorshipSafe protocols in our churches have proven to be effective. Its time to address the growing inequities facing our faith communities.

The letter provided a link to a webpage where people can contact their Member of Provincial Parliament, which will also be shared with Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

As with the United States, many churches in Canada have taken issue with province-level restrictions on in-person gatherings, arguing that they violate their religious freedom.

Last November, Toronto International Celebration Church filed a lawsuit against the government challenging the provisions of the Reopening Ontario Act that restricted religious services.

According to the Notice of Application that the church filed last year, TICC has been following various public health guidelines, like spacing out attendees, wearing facemasks, and enhancing sanitizing practices.

The church does not dispute the wisdom of such measures and, with the sole exception of the impugned provision, supports their imposition notwithstanding their impact on the free exercise of religion, explained the notice.

The impugned provision represents a 99% reduction on the number of worshippers who may attend an in-person service at the church. For the church, the impugned provision represents a near total ban on in-person religious worship.
Professor Luke ONeill has said it would be ridiculous and stupid if there were excess vaccines in North not supplied to the republic in a bid to stamp out Covid-19 on the island of Ireland.

Prof ONeill was speaking after Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster urged more cooperation on cross border vaccine sharing.

The immunologist agreed with Minister Foster, while speaking on RTE Radio earlier.

Go for it, no pride here, take whatever is going. If there are spare vaccines in the North, it is ridiculous if it wouldnt be given in the South. Its just stupid. Id have no hesitation, if anybody offers us a vaccine we should take it.

Read More

The UK is killing us; theyve vaccinated 36 people per 100 now and its incredible. The EU is only at 10, Prof ONeill said.

Over 664,000 vaccines have been administered in the North, which has seen infection rates fall to 64 cases per 100,000 people.

Prof ONeill said it was a cock-up from Astrazeneca that led to one of their two European plants in the Netherlands not receiving authorisation to produce the vaccine for Europe. He said the word is that the shelves are lined with vaccines in this plant and once Astrazeneca provides all the requisite documentation to the EU, it should clear the logjam.

Prof ONeill said Ireland should be in a far better position when people with medical vulnerabilities and older people are protected from the virus. This will have a huge effect on the number of hospitalisations and deaths, Prof ONeill said, meaning case numbers wont be as important a metric as it is now.

We dont report the number of people dying from the flu. Once we get over this phase, case numbers wont need to be reported. They will still be there but they wont be a concern as they wont be translating into hospitalisations and severity. The vaccines break that chain.

The data from Israel continues to amaze; the efficacy in their population. Theres good evidence these vaccines are working gangbusters so the two key milestones are to protect the vulnerable and then protect the elderly. Herd immunity will take months and months so lets not worry about that, lets just get vulnerable people and older groups protected as quickly as we can."

Prof ONeill says he doesnt think the recent uptick in cases is down to the return to school for many children and said all the data is showing that schools are doing really well.

It is just a bit more mingling is whats happening, Prof ONeill said.

The immunologist said what Ireland needs to look out for is if the slight increase in cases were to translate into a rise in cases once again.

We have to hope thats not the case, he said.
It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
Highlights OnePlus is all set to launch its OnePlus Watch alongside the OnePlus 9 series.

The smartphones are scheduled to launch on March 23 a

OnePlus shared a short teaser of the smartwatch on Twitter to confirm the launch.

OnePlus is all set to launch its OnePlus Watch alongside the OnePlus 9 series. The smartphones are scheduled to launch on March 23 and now the latest tweet by the company has confirmed the launch of the smartwatch.OnePlus was long-anticipated to step into the arena of smartwatches. The company so far has manufactured smartphones, earphones, earbuds, fitness bands, and Smart TVs.

OnePlus shared a short teaser of the smartwatch on Twitter to confirm the launch. The teaser barely reveals any details about the upcoming watch but OnePlus confirmed it by saying, "You asked for it. You're getting it." When you tap on the tweet you will be taken to the OnePlus community page. There you will find a note by a staff member asking the followers to guess the product. But only the wrong answers are expected out of the followers.

Giving a hint about the product, the staff member writes, "This fresh addition to the OnePlus family is healthy, punctual and even takes care of you while you sleep." There is no information about the smartwatch but from the teaser, it can be concluded that it is going to feature a round dial and could have a metal build. Just like the high-end smartwatches, it could also come with an AMOLED display.

Previous reports had hinted that the OnePlus smartwatch will run on Google's WearOS. The company is also expected to come up with its own proprietary OS system like the Huami Amazfit. The watch is expected to come with some of the common features of a smartwatch including the heart rate sensor, blood oxygen level tracker, sleep tracking, GPS tracking, and others. On the inside, it could use a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip to run the show. If reports are to be trusted, it will use the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 4100. The same chip has reportedly been used in the upcoming smartwatch lineup of Motorola. OnePlus could launch two variants of the smartwatch, one could be a trimmed down version of the main watch that the company is planning to launch. The India launch of the smartwatch seems imminent as it has already received Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification. But OnePlus is yet to make the details about the smartwatch official, till then all the information that is floating on the internet should be taken with a grain of salt.

Apart from the watch, the company is all set to launch the much-awaited OnePlus 9 series. OnePlus is expected to drop two smartphones under the 9 series including the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro. The company has collaborated with popular camera company Hasselblad to fine-tune the cameras in the OnePlus 9 devices

A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation on Friday granting public and private employees time off to receive the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination.

Under this new law, employees will be granted up to four hours of excused leave per injection that will not be charged against any other leave the employee has earned or accrued. This legislation becomes effective immediately.

Our essential employees have been on the front lines of this pandemic since day one, and as we begin to work toward a new normal in a post-pandemic world, it is critical that these employees are able to get vaccinated as quickly as possible to protect themselves and their families, Cuomo said. This legislation will allow both public and private employees to take time off to get vaccinated without exhausting the leave they have earned, putting us one step closer to getting every single New Yorker vaccinated and defeating this virus once and for all.

Said Assemblyman Charles D. Fall (D-North Shore): The quicker and more efficient we can get residents of New York vaccinated, the faster we can reopen businesses, further extend business hours in a safe manner and once again achieve normalcy in our daily lives. We all realize that the vaccine roll-out has not been smooth, to date, but with the federal administration bringing forth a clear plan to get more vaccine in arms, this law ensures that hardworking New Yorkers are not forced to choose between losing wages and receiving their vaccination.

As of Friday, 178,118 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered across New Yorks distribution network in the prior 24 hours, and more than 1.12 million doses have been administered over the past seven days, Cuomo said. The week 13 allocation from the federal government continues being delivered to providers for administration.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

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Maharashtra is the worst-hit state due to the coronavirus pandemic. India's richest state has imposed restrictions on various cities and towns including Pune, Aurangabad, and Nagpur.

There, however, is no official confirmation on whether India's financial capital Mumbai will see any lockdown or not. The BMC is prioritising wide-scale testing and tracing to bring down the case count.

Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally has peaked to more than 22.82 lakh. Out of these, over 1.1 lakh people have succumbed to the disease whereas more than 21.17 lakh people have been discharged. The state has 52,723 active COVID-19 cases.

DISTRICTS UNDER LOCKDOWN IN MAHARASHTRA

Night curfew in Pune

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has imposed a night curfew to contain COVID-19 spread. Schools and colleges will remain shut till March 31 while hotels and bars will remain closed between 11:00 pm-06:00 am. Punekars can invite not more than 50 people to events like weddings, funerals and other ceremonies.

Lockdown in Akola

Akola district administration has announced a complete lockdown from 08:00 pm on Friday to 08:00 am on Monday. Essential services to remain open.

"Partial lockdown" in Aurangabad

The district administration in Aurangabad has imposed a partial lockdown in the district between March 11 and April 4. Under this lockdown, malls, markets, and cinema halls shall remain shut during weekends.

Famous tourist spots like the iconic Ajanta and Ellora caves will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays, while function halls aren't allowed to organise weddings during the entire lockdown period. Restaurants are allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity till 9 pm and people can order food till 11 pm.

Complete lockdown in Nagpur from March 15-21

The Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government has imposed a lockdown in the Nagpur district from March 15 to March 21. Essential services like vegetable, fruit shops, and milk booths shall remain operational.

Strict restrictions in Nashik

Nashik district administration has imposed several restrictions in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. As per Nashik Collector Suraj Mandhare, shops, and establishments except those involved in essential services will remain shut between 07:00 pm- 07:00 am. Educational institutions are currently shut in the district though classes will continue for students of classes 10 and 12 due to upcoming board exams.

Curfew in Jalgaon, Osmanabad

Districts like Jalgaon and Osmanabad have imposed night curfew to bring down the COVID-19 caseload. In Osmanabad, there will be a complete lockdown on Sundays.

Earlier this week, a Saamna editorial warned of an imminent lockdown in Maharashtra to curb the COVID-19 spread. The editorial reads, "Is Maharashtra heading towards another lockdown? Cases across the country are increasing, and Maharashtra's contribution is major, which is a cause of concern... People should maintain self-discipline and put some restrictions on themselves. Take care, else lockdown or strict restrictions are unavoidable."

Also read: COVID-19 in India: 24,882 new cases reported; active cases spike in Maharashtra
Paxton, IL (60957)

Today

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 70F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable.
202010dean

Zoom Founder And CEO Eric Yuan On How He Started The Business And Where It's Headed In 2021

Join University of Miami Herbert Business School as they host tech mogul and Zoom CEO Eric Yuan. In this timely webinar, Mr. Yuan highlights the importance of a workplace culture of happiness and urges that businesses pay greater attention to the digital divide.

Listen as Yuan answers questions posed by Dean John Quelch and Ernie Fernandez, the Universitys vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer, regarding Zooms evolvement as the preeminent videotelephony and online chat services platform and his own leadership development.
Cherry blossom at Donghu Lake Park in Wuhan, Hubei province. They attract large number of tourists every year. [Photo by Li Bo/For Chinadaily.com.cn]

WUHAN, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province, once hardest-hit by COVID-19, invites medical workers and their relatives across China who had assisted with the fight against the epidemic in 2020 to enjoy its cherry blossom season this year.

All A-level tourist spots in the city will offer free entry to medical workers, and Wuhan University, one of the best places in the city to feast the eyes of cherry blossom admirers, announced it would provide free exclusive visits for them from Saturday to Sunday.

Exclusive activities including guided tours, shows and performances will be held in the following three years, said Wu Ping, vice president of the university.

Data shows over 21,000 medical workers have registered online to visit the campus during the weekend, including over 3,800 of those from outside the city.

A total of 1,500 students and teachers of the university have volunteered to provide services for them such as guided tours and taking photos.

According to official figures, the epidemic in Wuhan had been gradually brought under control with the assistance of more than 42,000 medical workers across China, and the city has reported no new local cases since May 18, 2020.
The family-owned and Fingal-based courier business Zendfast is announcing 40 new jobs and a company expansion plan for their courier service business.

The company has seen an increase in demand of 114% for its services over the last 12 months as it specialises in an innovative delivery process for businesses using its own bespoke software and disrupting the courier and delivery sector by offering a premium, on-demand and fully tracked same day and next day delivery service.

Zendfast was launched in 2017 by CEO Declan Murray as an 'on-demand, Uber-style' courier company. Declan and his son Colin both from Rush, have been growing the business over the last four years and have honed their services during that time as the company differentiates itself from its competitors by focusing on ensuring the highest quality courier service available to clients whose values are equally focused on quality over quantity.

In that time Zendfast has also focussed significant investment into a rebrand and launched a new website which enables them to communicate their high-quality services and offers their customers an ability to follow live tracking and delivery updates at www.zendfast.com Zendfast has seen a substantial increase from businesses trying to manage remote staff with documents, laptops, desks, chairs and care packages in the form of hampers being shipped to people now working from home due to COVID.

With business particularly within the services sector such as tech, engineering, accountancy firms, law firms and high-quality retail, food and drink, pharma and logistics sectors engaging the services of Zendfast.

Declan says: 'We are delighted to be expanding our business and be in a position to hire 40 new staff over the next three years. Our business growth had been on a steady trajectory however due to the pandemic the demand from the population for courier delivered goods has of course increased, but so too has the number of businesses who have shifted from business to business delivery to business to consumer delivery.

'A lot of businesspeople plan meticulously, work hard, and have great business ideas; but the ones that survive times of uncertainty are the ones that can adapt quickly to change and circumstances. We have seen many businesses who have used our services or any courier services for the first time doing a pivot from the 'normal' target market due to COVID. It is great to see such innovation in these times.'
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PPS, a South African insurance and investment advisory company, has suffered a cyber attack at the hands of unknown hackers.

The company notified clients in a statement today that their services may be disrupted as it attempts to restore functionality to its IT infrastructure.

PPS regrets to inform you that we have fallen victim to a malicious cyber attack on our IT systems, PPS group chief executive Izak Smit told clients.

Our ongoing independent forensic investigation continues, our IT experts are now focused on restoring full functionality.

Smit said that PPS has focused on continuing to deliver services to customers via alternate methods as it works to resolve issues caused by the hack.

We have implemented a number of alternative processes in the interim to minimize the impact to you, he said.

Continuing with our usual high-quality service delivery to our members is our priority.

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause you and thank you for your patience while we expect to experience continued delays over the coming days.

Guidance for clients and exposed data

It is unclear whether PPS has fallen victim to a ransomware attack that has compromised its systems or if it has suffered a data breach affecting clients personal information.

Smit did not specify what type of attack was suffered by PPS, only stating that they were working to fix the resulting problems.

PPS has also not disclosed whether sensitive client information has been compromised, such as ID numbers, contact details, payment information, or other data.

This information is valuable to attackers as it can be used for identity theft and other online fraudulent activity.

Smit advised clients that should they require any assistance following this cyber attack, they can contact one of the companys service hotlines, depending on their package.

Now read: Google faces lawsuit over collecting Incognito browsing data
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The problem with Cuomo is no one has ever liked him, said Richard Ravitch, a former Democratic lieutenant governor. Hes not a nice person and he doesnt have any real friends. If you dont have a base of support and you get into trouble, youre dead meat.

New Yorks two Democratic senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have now abandoned him, along with most of the states congressional delegation. A majority of the State Legislature, whose members he has long treated dismissively, have called on him to resign, including more than 40 percent of his fellow Democrats.

I have not met a person yet in New York politics who has a good relationship with Andrew Cuomo, said State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, a Democrat and outspoken critic of the governor who also once worked in his administration. And Im not saying close relationship, Im saying good relationship. Even people who are close to him I cannot say in good faith have a good relationship with him.

As one Cuomo adviser put it, the governor has burned so many bridges that he has left himself with virtually no path forward. Yet those who have been close to Mr. Cuomo say they cannot imagine him resigning, not least because it would leave him short of matching the three full terms of his father, Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, let alone topping him with a fourth by running in 2022.

The elder Mr. Cuomo, who died in 2015, looms large in almost any discussion of the younger Mr. Cuomos ambitions to stay in the governorship. At Andrews third inaugural address, the one in which he equaled his father, he wore a pair of Marios shoes, according to a person familiar with his wardrobe.
Although the stars of Stray are dogs, its subtitled. As filmmaker Elizabeth Lo follows several dogs around the streets of Istanbul, they wander through snippets of conversation. The dogs pay attention to the people streaming by, but theyre far more interested in bones and bits of food on the ground than the words of random strangers.

The film focuses on three dogs, who go by names that seem to be given to them by people on the streets: Zeytin, Nazar and a puppy named Kartal.

Though Zeytin has facial expressions that seem easy to anthropomorphize, the film is not particularly sentimental. The dogs wander across streets, barely avoiding cars and trains, and they examine all sorts of garbage while scrounging for food. Sometimes Lo uses close-up profile views of the dogs, and often she follows them at tail level, from a little too close behind.

While the dogs are oblivious, the translations suggest the film has an awareness that is not primarily about Turkeys canines. The movie offers an odd view of Istanbul, to a great degree dictated by the wandering dogs, though Los film is not so randomly constructed.

Turkey prohibits the killing or euthanizing of dogs. That is a reversal of a policy of exterminating strays that eventually was overturned due to popular outrage. Early in the film, an onscreen message notes that Turkey outlawed the killing of stray dogs due to protests against the practice. Its not noted in the film, but the government used to allow poisoning of stray dogs to control the population, which was seen as cruel, unsafe and unsightly. Following the reversal in the early 2000s, the Turkish government captures, neuters and treats stray dogs to prevent the spread of disease. In the film, many dogs sport the ear tags that show theyve been treated. The filmmakers outfitted their stars with GPS devices so they could find and follow them over the course six months in 2018 and 2019.

While there are occasional views of Istanbuls iconic Hagia Sophia mosque and its minarets in the hazy distance, many of the scenes are filmed in grittier areas and along the waterfront. A few nighttime scenes are in popular commercial strips, lined with cafes and bright storefronts.

There was a 2017 documentary called Kedi about Turkeys cats, but this film resembles a very similar recent film from Russia. Inspired by Laika, the dog Russian scientists sent into space, Space Dogs followed strays on the streets of Moscow and used footage of the Soviet space programs use of dogs. The 2014 Hungarian drama White God also featured packs of dogs, and one of its main characters is an abandoned dog.

Its in one construction site in a dilapidated area that the films concept comes into focus. The dogs are following a bunch of young people who are squatting. One man refers to them as glue-sniffers, and its revealed that theyre Syrian immigrants or refugees. Theyre surviving on the streets as well.

While there are some long, mesmerizing sequences following dogs, the snippets of conversation are telling. One amusing but sad snippet features a man lecturing a woman about the intentions of someone who has followed her on Instagram. But at another point, a dog trails a political rally, and the crowd is protesting the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. While shes filming from a dogs eye view, Lo seems focused on humanity on the streets.

Stray opens Friday, March 12, at Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo received backlash on Friday after he said he is 'not part of the political club' when refusing to resign following a slew of sexual harassment claims.

Cuomo, whose father Mario Cuomo served three terms as governor, tried to distance himself from politics while addressing calls for his resignation from politicians amid allegations he sexually harassed or behaved inappropriately toward seven women.

'I was not elected by the politicians, I was elected by the people,' Cuomo said. 'Part of this is that I am not part of the political club. And you know what? I'm proud of it.'

New York Attorney General Elect Andrew Cuomo, left, joins hands with his father former New York Governor Mario Cuomo in 2006

In 1990, Cuomo married Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy whom he divorced in 2005

Cuomo married Kerry Kennedy were married for 15 years and have three daughters together

His comments have since sparked ridicule online with critics pointing out his deep ties to politics and lengthy political career.

'I, a card carrying member of Sam's Club, am proud to say that I am not a member of Sam's Club,' Washington Post columnist David Moscrop tweeted.

Cuomo, who earned a law degree from Albany Law School in 1982, started his political career in his mid-20s while working as campaign manager on his father's 1982 campaign for governor.

'Says the man who has been a governor for 11 years, was state AG before that, was married to a Kennedy and is the son of Mario Cuomo,' CBS News reporter Grace Segers tweeted.

After his father was elected to his first term, Cuomo worked as one of his policy advisors before landing a job in 1984 as a New York assistant district attorney.

'Literally theres a bridge named after his father, who was also the governor of ny, but sure,' Twitter user @_laurenenen noted, referring to the Mario M. Cuomo bridge he had named after his father when the Tappan Zee Bridge was replaced.

In 1990, Cuomo married Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and niece of former President John F. Kennedy. They were married for 15 years and have three daughters together.

Critics took to Twitter to point out Cuomo's familial and professional ties to politics after his comments

'HIS FATHER WAS A GOVERNOR AND HE MARRIED A KENNEDY IN THE GREATEST DYNASTY MERGER SINCE JULIE NIXON MARRIED DAVID EISENHOWER,' @constans tweeted.

From 1990 to 1993, Cuomo served as chair of the New York City Homeless Commission during New York City mayor David Dinkins' administration.

In 1993, Cuomo was appointed as an assistant secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in President Bill Clinton's administration.

He served as HUD Secretary from January 1997 until January 20, 2001 when George. W. Bush became president.

In 2002, Cuomo made his first attempt at running for governor in an attempt to unseat former Republican Governor George Pataki, who unseated his father, but was not elected.

In 2006, Cuomo was elected Attorney General of New York and served in the role until he was elected governor in 2010.

Cuomo became Governor of New York in 2011 and has held onto the role since then, now also serving as chair of the National Governors Association.

Another Twitter user noted: 'He's literally chair of the national governor's association.'

New York Governor Mario Cuomo makes a victory speech after winning re-election, at the Sheraton Centre in Manhattan, New York on November 4, 1986. Andrew Cuomo is pictured top right

Andrew Cuomo, right, announces his candidacy for Governor of New York in 2002 - his first attempt at the office in which he was not elected

Cuomo, left, is trailed by his father former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, right, during a 2002 campaign stop in Brooklyn while running to unseat Republican Governor George Pataki who unseated his father

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have demanded Cuomo resign - becoming the most powerful Democratic voices to call for him to leave office in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.

Schumer and Gillibrand, who serve as New York's two sitting senators, released a joint statement Friday afternoon.

'Confronting and overcoming the COVID crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct,' the statement reads.

'Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.'

MEMBERS OF THE NY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CALLING FOR CUOMO'S RESIGNATION Issuing statements Friday: Rep. Jerry Nadler Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Rep. Jamaal Bowman Rep. Mondaire Jones Rep. Yvette Clarke Rep. Adriano Espaillat Rep. Carolyn Maloney Rep. Grace Meng Rep. Nydia M. Velazques Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney Rep. Antonio Delgado Rep. Brian Higgins Rep. Paul Tonko Issued statement last week: 14. Rep. Kathleen Rice Advertisement

Both had previously said an independent investigation into the allegations against Cuomo was essential.

Shortly after the Senators' joint statement was released, House Intelligence Chairman and California Rep. Adam Schiff also urged Cuomo to resign.

'I don't think he can carry on,' Schiff told Wolf Blitzer on CNN.

Meanwhile, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapooli tweeted: 'These allegations are extremely disturbing and are impairing Governor Cuomos ability to lead, as our state struggles through a crisis and must make critical budget decisions. It is time for him to step down.'

Earlier on Friday, New York representatives Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined 12 of the 17 other New York Congressional Democrats also demanding that the Governor step aside.

Pressure is growing on Cuomo as a seventh woman alleged sexual harassment in a first-person essay published in New York magazine on Friday.

Additionally, 30 women spoke to the same publication claiming they experienced bullying while working for the Governor.

But a defiant Cuomo told reporters in a conference call Friday that he will not bow to 'cancel culture' by tending his resignation. He then hit out at colleagues who are calling for him to go.

'Politicians take positions for all sorts of reasons including political expediency and bowing to pressure,' he stated.

On Friday evening, Cuomo was seen looking strained as he paced up and down outside the Governor's Mansion in Albany with his daughter, Mariah.

At one point, the Governor draped a blanket over his shoulders as he spoke into the phone while sipping from a bottle of Saratoga Springs water.

Cuomo is pictured outside the Governor's Mansion in Albany with his daughter on Friday

The Governor draped a blanket around his shoulders and appeared to be in a downcast mood as he was spotted outside his residence

In the same conference call with the reporters on Friday, Cuomo stated: 'Women have a right to come forward and be heard and I encourage that but I also want to be clear - there is still a question of the truth.

'I did not do what has been alleged. Period. I won't speculate about people's possible motives, but I can tell you as a former Attorney General, who's gone through this situation many times, there are often many motivations for making an allegation.

'That is why you need to know the facts before you make a decision.'
COLUMBIA  A rift has broken out between four GOP lawmakers and the S.C. Department of Veterans Affairs over a proposal to put county-level veteran service offices under state control.

State Reps. Richard Yow, William Bailey, Kevin Hardee and Sandy McGarry sent a letter to the department this month demanding to know what bills the staff has "encouraged our members to vote for, not vote for, or taken any other kind of legislative action upon."

The request invoked the state's Freedom of Information law.

All four lawmakers oppose a bill which would turn the county-level offices that exist to help veterans into regional ones overseen by state government.

Yow, R-Chesterfield, is an Air Force veteran who spearheaded the letter. He doesn't want county officials and lawmakers to lose their decision-making power over locally funded offices.

"There's a difference in oversight and being able to appoint and bring in someone that doesn't understand each each county is unique in South Carolina," Yow said.

South Carolina lawmakers created an independent state veteran's department last year. It is designed to advocate on behalf of veteran needs and protect the militarys interests. The agency is led by Secretary William Grimsley, a retired Army general with more than three decades of military experience.

Grimsley's first major policy proposal was to restructure the way veterans get help.

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By state law, each of the states 46 counties must have a dedicated office and staff to help veterans. They provide assistance in applying for federal and state benefits, while the director of each office is appointed by a countys Statehouse delegation.

Each branch is funded at the local level. They do not provide direct medical care and are separate from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

But because of the imbalance in the states population, some veterans in areas with smaller governments arent getting the same level of service as larger counties, such as population-heavy Charleston, Berkeley and Greenville.

Grimsley proposed what he called "an incremental plan to shift responsibility for veteran services from individual counties to the state-level Department," a statement sent to lawmakers last week said.

Critics say such a consolidation will reduce access for some and give local governments less control.

In an effort to upset the proposal, the small group of representatives took aim at the agency's director of government affairs, who, they said, was not registered with the state Ethics Commission as a lobbyist prior to answering questions and educating lawmakers about the bill.

Candace Terry, director of government affairs for the agency, told The Post and Courier she was informed she did not need to register as a lobbyist when she accepted her job.

Several days following the letter, she decided to register as a "measure of goodwill."

Grimsley said he will provide the lawmakers with the information in the name of transparency and what helps the 400,000 veterans in the state.
For Subscribers Gov. Noem hires jet consultant to help South Dakota buy new aircraft

An out-of-state consultant has been hired for $195,000 by Gov. Kristi Noem's administration to help the state of South Dakota buy a new aircraft.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday announced candidates for 12 out of the 13 seats the party will be contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections. The candidate for the Bagur constituency will be announced later.

S Gopal will be contesting from Uruliyanpet, V Anipal Kennedy from Uppalam, Sun Kumaravel from Mangalam, L Sampath from Mudaliyarpet, R Siva from Villiyanur and V Karthikeyan from Nellithoopu constituency.

SP Sivakumar will contest from Raj Bhavan constituency, A K Kumar from Mannadipattu, S Muthuvel from Kallapattu, A Mugilan from Thirupuvanai, AMH Nazeem from Karaikal south and M Nagathyagarajan from Niravi Thirupattinam.

Polling for 30 assembly seats in will be held on April 6.

As many as 10,02,589 electors will choose the candidates for the 15th legislative Assembly of

The Congress-led government in the Union Territory fell before completing its five-year term under the Chief Minister V Narayansamy.

Narayanasamy had resigned on February 22 ahead of a floor test in the 33-member House (including three nominated) following the resignations of five Congress and one Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) legislators.

On February 23, President Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation of Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his council of ministers.

In the 2016 Assembly polls, Congress had won 15 seats, All India NR Congress eight seats, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) got four seats, walked away with two MLAs. BJP could not win any seats.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kolkata: The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) will release its manifesto for the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly polls on Sunday (March 14), said sources.

According to TMC sources, the party was about to release its manifesto earlier but the programme has to be postponed after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee suffered injuries on Wednesday (March 10) while campaigning in Nandigram.

Meanwhile, Banerjee, who was admitted to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata after suffering injuries in Nandigram, was discharged on Friday (March 12) evening.

The chief minister, who was on a two-day visit to Nandigram from where she filed her nomination on Wednesday (March 10), alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during election campaigning.

Banerjee sustained "severe bone injuries" on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination.

Elections in West Bengal 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.

The state is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with Trinamool Congress, Congress-Left alliance, and the BJP in the fray.

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A Metropolitan Police officer charged with the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard is due to appear in court on Saturday.

Serving police constable Wayne Couzens, 48, was charged on Friday evening with kidnapping and killing the marketing executive, who went missing while walking home from a friends flat in south London on March 3.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.

It comes as police said Couzens was taken to hospital for a second time in 48 hours on Friday for treatment to another head injury sustained in custody, before he was discharged and returned to a police station.

He was previously treated in hospital for a separate head wound on Thursday, also sustained in custody when he was alone in his cell.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave confirmed the charge in a statement outside Scotland Yard on Friday night.

He said: I would like at this stage to pay tribute to Sarahs family for their fortitude and forbearance through what can only have been the most intensely difficult few days.

Our thoughts remain with them as this matter progresses.

Regarding the second head injury, a Met Police spokesman said Couzens was being monitored by officers when he sustained the wound.

(PA Graphics)

A spokesman said: The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment to a head injury sustained while in custody in a cell on Friday.

He was being monitored by officers and received immediate first aid. He was discharged the same day and returned to custody.

The Met Police said Couzens joined the force two years ago in September 2018 when he worked for a response team covering the Bromley area, before moving to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February last year.

Couzens was arrested on Tuesday in Kent, with Commissioner Nick Ephgrave commenting at the time that the fact he is a serving police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing.

Ms Everard is thought to have walked through Clapham Common towards her house in Brixton  a journey which should have taken around 50 minutes.

Police vehicles in Ashford in Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Scotland Yard confirmed on Friday afternoon that human remains found in an area of woodland in Ashford, Kent, two days earlier had been identified as Ms Everard.

Her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the public, with many women and girls sharing stories online of experiencing violence by men.

People have vowed to attend a vigil at Clapham Common in honour of Ms Everard on Saturday evening, despite the Metropolitan Police warning the public they should stay at home or find a lawful and safer way to express your views.

Organisers of the event, titled Reclaim These Streets, are continuing talks with the police to work out how it could go ahead safely, while a planned event in Edinburgh will now take place virtually.

Rozina Spinnoy, who has organised a vigil in Brussels for Sarah Everard (Rozina Spinnoy/PA)

Scotland Yard is facing an investigation by the police watchdog into its handling of separate allegations of indecent exposure against Couzens, whose primary role was on uniformed patrol duties of diplomatic premises, mainly embassies.

He was alleged to have twice exposed himself at a south London fast food restaurant three days before Ms Everard went missing.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is to probe whether two officers responded appropriately in their investigation.

A forensics team searched an area of land outside the back fence of the Couzens house in Deal, Kent, on Friday, while uniformed officers were posted at a derelict garage in Dover, which was run by his family.

Police said a woman in her 30s, who was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of assisting an offender, had been released on bail to return to a police station on a date in mid-April.
Since he was a kid, Forrest Babcock has always been focused on the sky.

The optical engineer has had a longtime love for astronomy and has poured thousands of hours into building and rebuilding telescopes.

On Wednesday night, however, two of those telescopes were stolen from the rural property near the Washington-Yamhill County line where Babcock kept them.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office said someone broke the lock on a forest green 1997 Wells Cargo enclosed trailer with a ramp door, nabbing a pair of prized telescopes worth over $16,000.

Deputies are now searching for the thieves. And Babcock and his wife, Janet Zuelke, said the telescopes hold more sentimental and community value than can ever be replaced.

Zuelke said she and her husband have been trying to start the Carlton Observatory, which they envision as a science center focused on astronomy. While plans for the center are still in the works, the couple has been sharing telescopes with the public for eight years.

The goal was to bring scientific literacy to the people of our community, Zuelke told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday. In a rural area, in this state, resources are hard to come by for something like this.

The couple, who live in the community of Carlton, have several telescopes, but they particularly cherish the two that were stolen.

Babcock built the larger telescope, nicknamed Big Blue, by himself. The telescope, which hes spent nearly 50 years building and rebuilding, is a 15-inch diameter Newtonian Reflector that weighs 800 pounds.

His wife called the telescope something of an ambassador for the future observatory.

Babcock and Zuelke would load Big Blue into their trailer and take it around the region for impromptu star parties, which have been paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the parties  held in locations including vineyards, school properties and parking lots  people peered skyward through the telescopes powerful lens. Its an experience thats hard to forget, Zuelke said.

Once you look through that eyepiece, youll remember when you saw Saturns rings, she said.

THE UNITRON

Babcock became interested in astronomy when he was only five years old. His brothers gifted him his first telescope  a cheap model  but he spied the one he wanted in a science magazine when he was 12.

That telescope, the Unitron, cost $400.

It might as well have been a million (dollars), Zuelke said.

Babcock didnt get the Unitron. But years later, his son spotted a telescope that looked familiar at a Goodwill store and sent him a picture.

Forrest had a moment, Zuelke said. It was the telescope he had dreamed about as a kid.

The couples son brought the telescope home, and Babcock has spent the last few years rebuilding it.

It was much cheaper than the original  it was at Goodwill, for heavens sake, Zuelke said. But that piece became really sentimental because of that.

KEEP LOOKING UP

Zuelke said she and her husband have been able to pull one positive from the theft of their beloved telescopes.

Babcock always removes the lens from the Big Blue telescope when hes finished using it so the lens doesnt collect condensation.

And hes already building a new instrument that can handle the powerful lens.

Our motto is, Keep looking up, Zuelke said. And if thats our motto, thats what were trying to do now.

Meanwhile, she asked people to keep watch on Craigslist and Facebook to see if anyone is trying to sell the telescopes, which likely wont be of any use to the people who stole them.

If they dont know what theyre looking at, theres no value to them, she said. Theyre stuck with it. They cant sell it  theyre going to have to dump it somewhere which is really sad.

The trailer that was stolen from the couples property near Southwest Bald Peak and Laurelwood roads is 16 feet long and has an aerodynamic bubble on the front. The trailer also has multiple Oregon Star Party stickers on its ramp, and its license plate number is U227280.

Anyone with information about the stolen telescopes can contact Washington Countys non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com
Rome, March 13 : Italy has approved a fresh round of tight anti-Covid restrictions nationwide, which will be implemented between March 15-April 6, including Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi's cabinet passed the decree on Friday, after discussing it on Thursday night with the scientific-technical committee (CTS) counselling Italian authorities during the pandemic emergency, reports Xinhua news agency.

The provision will bring Italy back into a sort of lockdown-light, with restrictions very similar to those imposed over the Christmas-New Year period, which had allowed keeping the pandemic curve under control in January.

The three-tiered system, which divides the country into yellow, orange, and red zones -- for lower, medium, and high level of contagion risk, respectively -- was confirmed.

The new decree provided the whole country will turn "red" during the Easter weekend (April 3-5), thus embracing the maximum level of restrictions on business and social life.

In these days, people will be required to remain at home as much as possible, but for one single visit allowed to another private home a day by maximum two adults plus under-14 children.

Bars, restaurants, hairdressers, beauty salons and any other leisure facility will remain closed.

Ahead of Easter, and starting on Monday, the regions currently in the yellow zone will be moved up into the orange zone, regardless of their local pandemic condition.

In addition, the decree provided that any area in the country registering more than 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days on average would be automatically declared a red zone between March 15 and April 6.

An ongoing ban on inter-regional travels due to expire on March 27 was extended, adding to the night curfew in place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The reopening of theatres and cinemas, scheduled on March 27, was postponed.

As of Saturday, Italy has registered 3,175,807 Covid-19 cases, with 101,564 fatalities.

Over 6.3 million people in Italy have so far been administered coronavirus vaccines, including President Sergio Mattarella, who received the first shot on Tuesday.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday designated five Chinese companies as posing a threat to national security under a 2019 law aimed at protecting US communications networks. The FCC said the companies included Huawei Technologies Co , ZTE Corp, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co.

A 2019 law requires the FCC to identify companies producing telecommunications equipment and services "that have been found to pose an unacceptable risk to US national security."

Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement: "This list provides meaningful guidance that will ensure that as next-generation networks are built across the country, they do not repeat the mistakes of the past or use equipment or services that will pose a threat to US national security or the security and safety of Americans." The 2019 law used criteria from a defense authorization bill that previously identified the five Chinese companies. In August 2020, the US government issued regulations barring agencies from buying goods or services from any of the five Chinese companies.

In 2019, the United States placed Huawei, Hikvision and other firms on its economic blacklist. Last year, the FCC designated Huawei and ZTE as a national security threat to communications networks - a declaration barring US firms from tapping an $8.3 billion government fund to purchase equipment from the companies.

In February, Huawei challenged the declaration in a petition filed with the Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals. Huawei declined to comment on Friday on the new FCC designation. Hikvision said late on Friday it strongly opposed the FCC decision "and is weighing all options on how to best address this unsubstantiated designation. Hikvision does not belong on a list for next-generation networks."

The other three companies did not comment or could not be reached for comment. The FCC in December finalized rules requiring carriers with ZTE or Huawei equipment to "rip and replace" that equipment. It created a reimbursement program for that effort, and US lawmakers in December approved $1.9 billion to fund the program.

Also read: Alibaba monopoly case: China mulls record $1 billion fine on e-comm giant
They arent much to look at now  but when a two-phase, $5 million renovation project by the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center is completed, seven casitas on the citys West Side will come back to life.

Theyll illustrate how thousands of San Antonians lived in the early 20th century  in small homes, packed closely together, usually occupied by extended families.

For poor and working-class Mexican American families, these casita clusters were a way of life, providing vital support networks. Some still stand on the West Side, but they are endangered by time and gentrification.

The first phase of the Esperanza project has been completed. The second phase, which includes those seven casitas, is about to start. Its scheduled to be finished in August 2022.

In all, the project will nearly double Esperanzas footprint on South Colorado Street, in a place called El Rinconcito de Esperanza.

El Rinconcito is the diminutive form of rincon, the Spanish word for corner or nook. The Rinconcito on South Colorado is the hub of the Esperanza centers West Side cultural programming. It hosted educational, artistic and cultural events, including oral history gatherings, before the pandemic brought everything to a halt.

Since then, the little free library out front has stocked canned goods rather than books. A sign asks that you take what you need and give what you can.

El Rinconcito sits on the eastern edge of an arts and cultural mecca that includes many West Side landmarks, architectural treasures and some of the citys most active arts, cultural and nonprofit institutions.

Several Tejano figures, signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, are buried in a historic cemetery nearby.

Directly across the street lies the future: an 88-unit apartment complex being built by the San Antonio Housing Authority in partnership with the NRP Group.

Nearby stands Alazan-Apache Courts, the historic public housing project that the Esperanza and others helped to save.

Esperanza is nearing completion on another West Side heritage preservation project: the restoration of Lermas Nite Club, one of the longest running live conjunto venues in South Texas.

Phase 1 of the Rinconcito project restored two casitas on South Colorado, one large and one small.

That phase also created a space for Esperanzas beloved MujerArtes cooperative, which teaches low-income Latinas the art of working and creating with clay. The cooperatives new home had its grand opening in September 2017; Esperanza describes it as the first commercial adobe structure built in San Antonio in 100 years.

Phase 1 cost $1.8 million.

Phase 2 will include the transformation of the old Rubens Ice House into El Museo del West Side, the first museum dedicated to the areas Mexican American history and the first to focus on the contributions of poor and working-class San Antonians.

A second adobe structure will be constructed to serve as a gallery. Phase 2 also will include rehabilitation of those seven casitas at 812 South Colorado St.

The casitas will provide space for Esperanza Radio and an oral history recording studio; for curanderos, or healers; and for research and internet services.

The central grounds will be designed as a multipurpose outdoor performance and event space.

Ultimately, El Rinconcito will look like an arts and cultural village and operate like a community center.

The second phase will cost $3.1 million. To fund it, Esperanza received $1.5 million from the Westside Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and will raise the balance through grants, foundations and donors.

Graciela Sanchez, director of the Esperanza center, says the Rinconcito complex is an example of green construction principles and represents an inclusive economic development.

It will create more than 80 temporary construction jobs and 35 permanent full- and part-time jobs, the latter with health insurance, paid sick leave and other benefits.

Signs around the neighborhood insist Mi Barrio No Se Vende  my neighborhood wont be sold or sold out. But, clearly, pieces of it are.

Esperanza is focused on threats to the areas historic and cultural identity.

Its not just San Antonio, Sanchez said. Communities of color and poor communities get demolished.

Other casitas in the area need repairs so they can continue to provide affordable housing.

A $250,000 city of San Antonio pilot project is looking at ways to help owners maintain shotgun houses, another architecturally significant type of home in the area.

Sometimes they just need the money to fix the roof, Sanchez said. People want to save what they have, but dont have the economic means.

Theyre living to survive. Its food vs. fixing the roof, she said.

Looming gentrification creates a different kind of tension. It already has changed the East Side and the near South Side.

The West Side is the last frontier, Sanchez said. The reason we came last is because we have the jails, the homeless shelters and Alazan-Apache public housing.
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Former make-up mogul Napoleon Perdis and his family used to own opulent homes around the world, including a mid-century compound in Palm Springs coveted Movie Colony, a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, a Double Bay villa and an apartment in New York. Now theyre all gone.

A modern day dandy with a head full of make-up, nail polish and a wardrobe of designer clothes - often in vibrantly coloured leathers - Perdis was hard to miss. He accessorised with a Hermes man bag so enormous it made a Birkin look like a change purse. But it all went with the territory.

He was one of the worlds top 10 make-up artists, with shows at New York Fashion Week, his own program on The Discovery Channel and an exclusive partnership with the Primetime Emmys. Whether he was purring into Melbournes Bourke Street Mall in a tank or emerging from a private plane in Brisbane for an airport reception, it seemed Perdis had only one gear: Over The Top.

Napoleon Perdis is now based in Athens, which is in the middle of an extended COVID-19 lockdown. Credit:Bill Georgoussis

But all that changed in January 2019 when his eponymous brand called in the administrators with estimated debts of $22 million in Australia alone. Former Witchery executive Henry Lee and Daigou Queen Livia Wang took control of the company. Perdis empire collapsed as he presided over his very own Bonfire Of The Vanities.
Photo: (Photo : National Cancer Institute / Unsplash)

Kathleen Folbigg was dubbed Australia's Worst Female Serial Killer upon her conviction in 2003, allegedly for the manslaughter and murder of all 4 of her children before age 2. She has already served 18 years in prison, and now new scientific evidence came to light that could grant her pardon.

If freed and the convictions against her are overturned, her case would be the worst miscarriage of justice in the history of Australian law.

Did Kathleen Folbigg Smother Her Children to Death?

Even at the time of the conviction, the deaths of the four children of Folbigg were unexplained, noting only SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as the only possible cause.

There were no signs of strangulation. Still, she remained a suspect, in part due to her family history. Her father, Thomas John Britton, had murdered her mother when Kathleen was just 18 months old.

Hence, circumstantial evidence and ambiguous entries from Folbigg's diary led Australia's judges to firmly reject the notion of reasonable doubt, concluding that she intentionally caused her to her children and that smothering was the obvious method, BBC reported.

It should be noted that Folbigg's then-husband was the one who handed the diaries to the police; diary entries which Folbigg says have been taken out of context and landed her in the position she was in.

ALSO READ: Single Mom Fears Son With Autism Will Kill Her, Begs Help For Violent 9-Year-Old

The children's deaths occurred between 1990 and 1999, 90 scientific experts, two of whom are Nobel laureates, signed petitions to pardon Folbigg. The experts found scientific evidence to show that the children were not smothered by Folbigg, Independent UK reported.

Instead, they discovered all four children had rare genetic conditions that could explain their deaths. The evidence can back up Folbigg's stand all along that the children died of natural causes.

In 2015, Forensic pathologist Professor Stephen Cordner re-examined the children's autopsies and concluded, "no positive forensic pathology supporting the contention that any of the children were killed."

He further found "no signs of smothering." In 2018, forensic pathologist Matthew Orde agreed with Professor Cordner stating, "all four of the children's deaths are by natural causes."

Complete Genome Sequencing Shows Folbigg Children Had Rare Genetic Mutations

At the time of Folbigg's trial, geneticists failed to determine a genetic cause for the children's deaths. By 2018, gene sequencing technologies have improved, making it possible to pinpoint the genetic causes of children's deaths.

To do this, first, the geneticists collected Folbigg's genome from swabs of saliva from inside of her cheek. Folbigg was then found to have the rare CALM2 genes, which only 75 other people in the world have.

How is DNA Collected from Children Who Passed Away for a Long Time?

Pathologists have investigated the health concerns of two of the children at hospitals. Hence, frozen tissue samples and immortalized cells or cell lines were preserved in ways that do not destroy the DNA.

For the other two children, the geneticists used the tiny blood samples obtained from a heel-prick upon a child's birth, stored in a card. Parents would know of this blood-sample collection as the newborn screening. Some technologies can amplify the DNA and extract suitable quality DNA from the small amount of dry blood, MamaMia reported.

ALSO READ: Australian Siblings Never Sleep Again; Rare Insomnia Disease Bound To Kill Them

Not SIDS, But Rare Genes Caused Death of Babies, Under Age 2

The mother and her four children's complete genome sequencing showed that two children-Laura and Sarah-inherited the CALM2 G114R (calmodulin) genetic mutation from their mother. CALM2 can cause sudden cardiac death and premature death in infants and children.

Both girls suffered from infections before they died, which scientists suggest have triggered a fatal arrhythmic event. The eldest boys, Caleb and Patrick, have been found to have a rare genetic variant, BSN, which could cause lethal epileptic fits. The boys' medical history showed epilepsy and floppy larynx.

ALSO READ: New Study Reveals Genetics Could Better Predict Suicidal Tendencies Within Families

The NSW government previously assured the public no stone was left unturned with Folbigg's case. But science points to the conclusion of reasonable doubt. The scientific evidence is "compelling and cannot be ignored," human geneticist Professor Jozef Gecz stressed.

Professor Fiona Stanley, a child, and public health researcher, lamented Folbigg's case noting "deep concern that scientific and medical evidence was ignored over circumstantial evidence." Should the scientists' petition to pardon Folbigg be granted, the solicitors handling Folbigg's case can work on having her conviction overturned so she could be given parole.
From KJZZ.com Utah. COVID-19 vaccine side effects & deaths: The lack of information on how, where to report With so many people getting the same vaccines all at once, most people are hearing post vaccine experiences varying from mild, to terrifying. For a growing number here in Utah and across the country, the COVID-19 vaccine taken to save a life put them dangerously close to losing their own.



By Heidi Hatch, KUTV Thursday, March 4th 2021

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV)  Like many others, Eunjin Kim felt like shed been hit with an instant case of influenza after getting her second shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

I was laying there with a down comforter and with the electric blanket and still shivering," Kim said.

Carissa Spencer didnt have to wait for her second shot of the Pfizer vaccine to feel like something wasnt right. She had swelling that moved down the right side of her body.

"I was extremely nervous, it wasnt very attractive at all," Spencer said.

Cari Banks also received the Pfizer vaccine. Hours after getting the first shot, she was rushing to the nearest hospital. Four days and two emergency rooms later, Banks was released from University of Utah Hospital.

I got up there and coded again and they brought me back down. All the breathing and wheezing had ruptured my vocal cord.

###



Here's a car! But I don't know that brand, nor drive a steering wheel on left, stick shift car. You have to.

Here's dinner! But I don't eat pork sausage, it's against my religion. You have to.

Here's a house! But I have mobility issues and can not manage staircases. You have to.



Here's a vaccine! But I don't know anything about any of the three. I might want to choose. You have to take what we give you. And we won't teach you how to report a problem when you leave our brief observation period.



Americans are lining up with glee for the C jab with nary a care as to which product they get, let alone any understanding of the differences. Science is so important! "We" are anti-science because we want choice, right to decline and information. They refuse to read any science other than what the media feeds them.



Reader Judy sent us this important article that may disappear. As little as Americans know about the jabs, they know less about the system to report adverse effects. COVID-19 vaccine side effects & deaths: The lack of information on how, where to report




On March 7, 1936, troops marched into the Rhineland and British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden warned Adolf Hitler that any attack against France or Belgium would force Britain to defend their allies.

While the situation worsened in Europe, in Syracuse, people were reading about what sounded like a shocking crime.

Someone had tried to mail a bomb to the Chancellor of Syracuse University.

The Herald breathlessly reported the story on the morning of March 8. The first paragraph sounded frightening:

A package addressed to Comrade Chancellor Charles Flint, Walnut Street, Syracuse, N.Y., and opened in the Syracuse Post Office early Saturday was declared by United States Secret Service experts to have all the appearance of being a carefully-prepared and powerful nitroglycerine bomb.

- Photos from the March 8, 1936 Syracuse Herald show the address label and contents of the "bomb" which was sent to Syracuse University Chancellor Charles W. Flint. Courtesy of World ArchivesCourtesy of World Archives

The so-called bomb was picked up from the citys University section and delivered to the main Post Office. Postal employee Edward Baisley heard a ticking sound inside the package while the mail was being sorted.

The Syracuse police were called, and the Secret Service were notified.

After an officer sliced open the package with his pocketknife, Agent William Karp peeked inside.

Thats a bomb, all right, he declared.

The package was put into a metal can and doused with water.

An investigation of its contents found a partly dismantled but going alarm clock of a cheap type, two dry cell batteries, two pasteboard tubes and cotton, which had a gummy feel, like it had been soaked it nitroglycerine.

There was also a playing card inside, the ace of spades, considered a symbol of death.

The always hyperbolic Syracuse Journal declared the bomb was the work of a madman who showed professional skill in fashioning the machine.

Well, maybe not.

Both the Journals and the Heralds opening paragraphs made it sound as if the bomb was an instrument of mayhem. A Herald headline called the bomb an infernal machine.

But in reality, the bomb was a dud and further, after a little more thought, nothing more than a harmless prank.

A taste test of the cotton found that the gummy feel was from dissolved ordinary table sugar.

Then there was the fact that Flint was not even in Syracuse at the time the package would have been delivered. He and his wife were in Florida doing a speaking tour.

Comment was made that a person intelligent enough to nave put together the mechanism in the package would, in all probability, have ascertained If Chancellor Flint was in the city before mailing a bomb to him, the Herald theorized.

It was also noted that a serious bomber would not have mailed a bomb on a Saturday as it would be not delivered until at least Monday.

(The use of the word Comrade on the address label was also interesting. If it was someone looking to make a statement about Communism, Flint was an odd choice. The chancellor, the Herald wrote, had taken no public stand against Communism which would make him a target for any crank adherent of that creed.)

If widespread newspaper coverage of the bomb being discovered did anything, it forced the perpetrators to come forward.

On Sunday, March 8, 1936, 25 Syracuse University students, all men mostly from the School of Architecture, arrived at Police Headquarters to confess that they had sent the fake bomb to Flint.

The newspaper reports, indicating a widespread investigation, led to hasty conferences among the under-grads Sunday morning, the Journal reported. They decided that their safety lay in mass action and after a conference with Dean Harold Butler of the College of Fine Arts, they marched down to police headquarters in a body.

Like probably most college pranks, this one grew out of idle conversation on a late Friday night.

While members of the architecture school struggled over a drawing of a church (yes, really!) a plan was hatched.

All of the 25 students played a role.

One got the alarm clock, other contributed some wire and cotton. Someone rustled up a shoebox and another found some old batteries.

The idea of partly dismantling the clock and keep it ticking was meant to make it look more bomb-like.

The original plan was to send it to a one of SUs sororities but that was ruled out in favor of sending it to Flints house.

Adding comrade to his name was just a sheer stroke of genius, they thought.

The laughter died down when they were each charged with disorderly conduct, their ties and belts taken from them and placed in holding cells.

All pleaded not guilty and were paroled.

They must have become very nervous when Postmaster Edmund Weston declared, What those students did is a federal offense, and the case must be thoroughly investigated by postal inspectors.

But there was little chance of that.

It was pointed out, the Herald said, that no postal regulations could be cited which forbade the mailing of sugar, cotton, clocks or dry cell batteries, even in an arrangement looking pretty much like a bomb.

The students crafted a written apology to Flint.

They explained that the incident, which was now called the Sugar Bomb Hoax, was not meant to be disrespectful, but was done in the spirit of fun.

To his great credit, Chancellor Flint did see the funny side of the whole matter.

I could think of several sins of omission and commission for which I deserve a blowing up, Flint wrote in an official statement on March 18, but I couldnt even guess which particular one merited such seemingly drastic treatment.

He considered the matter over.

It was a good joke and he hoped the boys will settle down and do some studying for the rest of the semester.

Read more

1911: After the resignation of a popular principal, Baldwinsville students go on strike

1921: The day Syracuse took a stand against dancing by banning the camel walk, the toddle and the shimmy

1911: To make city safer, Syracuse considers taking on a public menace: bristling hat pins

Stuck inside? Check out our true-crime podcast

An invention from Upstate NY soon became the preferred method of execution across the United States -- the electric chair. In The Condemned, we trace the history of the chair through the stories of five men who were sentenced to death for their crimes. Explore our series here.

This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle at jcroyle@syracuse.com or call 315-427-3958.
THE narrative of the domestic-violence industry relies on a simplistic gender stereotype: men are brutes, women are honourable victims.

Opinion

THE narrative of the domestic-violence industry relies on a simplistic gender stereotype: men are brutes, women are honourable victims.

The common assumption is that its men, not women, who use violence to exert power and control in relationships. Its women who need to take the kids and flee for refuge in a government-funded network of shelters, programs and counselling. Its also the default premise on which the legal system usually sides with women who say they have been assaulted and are seeking alimony and custody of the kids.

Of course, theres lots of truth to this stereotype. Men often initiate domestic violence and its certainly a proper use of government funding to help women who are in danger. Womens shelters and programs deserve every dollar they get.

But women are not always innocent victims. With a frequency that surprises some people, women attack their male partners.

On March 2, Statistics Canada released the latest figures on domestic violence. Of all intimate-partner violence reported to police in Manitoba in 2019, 5,228 victims were female, and 1,252 victims were male.

The number of male victims is significant  on average, more than three Manitoba men per day say theyre attacked by their partners  but its also under-reported because the StatCan data are based only on police reports. Men are less likely than women to alert police when theyre victims of domestic violence. Some men fear they would be perceived as weak and unmanly, and their complaints wouldnt be taken seriously by police.

StatCan offers only statistics. For fleshed-out portrayals of male victims, were grateful to a unique study initiated by The Laurel Centre in Winnipeg, which involved many academics and community partners. Its the first study to focus on men abused by their female partners across the three Prairie provinces.

The studys final report  it was published five months ago without recognition by mainstream media  is called "The Multi-Faces of Intimate Partner Violence Across The Prairie Provinces: Men As Victims." Its writers interviewed a total of 45 men.

One man said: "She tried stabbing me in the stomach and I caught the knife with my hand and severed my tendons when she pulled it out."

A reason why many people are skeptical when men say they are victims of domestic violence is that usually, men are larger physically. A males greater strength would be expected to let him overpower her if it came to a bare-handed fight.

But many men dont retaliate, because they are taught from an early age that guys dont hit girls. Also, women intent on assault often use weapons such as kitchen knives or heavy household objects, and weapons can nullify superior physical strength.

One man said: "One time were in the parking lot of Walmart and we were arguing, and I got out of the car and I was walking away, and she drove up behind me and like clipped my legs... And I was like Why would you do that? and she said Ill run you over next time."

The "Men As Victims" report notes that domestic abuse against men can also be verbal, economic or emotional. Typically, the men were threatened and lied about by women who know police and the judicial system are inclined to support women over men in domestic conflicts.

One man said: "My wife made a false allegation that she had been assaulted And the police believed her, even though she had no evidence of injury and I had significant evidence of injury."

Another guy said: "Using my child as a form of abuse not letting me see him in a reasonable manner using access to my son as leverage."

One reason its rare to hear men talk about being victims of domestic abuse is that theres nowhere for them to talk about it. Men are denied access to most services provided for abused women, such as shelters, counselling and legal help.

To change this unfair gender bias, we can start by believing men who have the courage to break the silence, rise above the toxic norm of strong-and-silent masculinity and discuss the abuse inflicted on them by their female partners.

Their stories are particularly necessary to hear for the professionals who already work with female victims of domestic violence. Its these trained professionals who know the ropes and are in a position to expand options so the system can also help men who are victims.

For the safety of the men of Manitoba  perhaps including our brothers and sons  its vital to accept that domestic violence is not just a womens issue. Regardless of the victims gender, violence is unacceptable.

carl.degurse@freepress.mb.ca

Carl DeGurse is a member of the Free Press editorial board.


Liliana Maria Grist, the owner of two Midland Subway franchises, was arrested Wednesday after she and a partner allegedly tried to break into a Florida Best Buy from the roof with two ropes, 11 duffel bags and a 64-foot ladder.

Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office responded to an alarm call at a Best Buy in Brandon, Florida early Wednesday morning, according to a tweet from the agency. When they arrived, officers allegedly discovered a roof hatch had been breached and found a suspect, Dustin Jay Ammons, attempting to hide.

Burglary tools, the duffel bags and ladder were found with Ammons, according to police. He was wearing all black clothes and an earpiece.

Grist was waiting in Ammons car in an AMC Theatre parking lot across the street, also wearing an earpiece, the agency tweeted.

Ammons and Grist have each been charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, possession of burglary tools and criminal mischief. Arrest records show Grist has been released on $6,000 bond; Ammons was still in custody at the Hillsborough County Jail as of Friday afternoon.

Grist co-owns two Subway franchises in Midland, one on Longview Avenue and one on Midland Drive, with Christopher Grist, according to property records. The two also own a franchise location in Andrews.

Ammons has a long track record of similar burglaries throughout Texas, according to news reports. He was arrested in March 2019 for attempting to rob a Target store in Kyle, the Hays Free Press reported.

In that incident, he allegedly cut a hole in the roof and entered the Target with a rope, harness and grappling hook. Authorities believe he was using a two-way radio to communicate with a getaway driver, but his accomplice was never identified, according to the Hays Free Press.

He was also sentenced to seven years in prison following a 2012 jewelry theft at a Costco, for which he pleaded guilty to stealing more than $127,000 in diamonds and designer watches, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Ammons reportedly entered the Costco by knocking a large hole into the side of the store, then bypassed the motion sensors and gained access to the jewelry display by shooting the glass cases with a BB gun.

The Express-News reported Ammons was previously affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, who he was convicted of selling stolen guns to in 2007.

Grist and Ammons live together in San Antonio, according to HCSO arrest records. Subways media office did not respond to a request for comment.
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Switzerland has removed Spain from its list of risk countries for Covid-19 now that the epidemiological situation has improved, so travellers from Spain will not have to quarantine on arrival.

Portugal has also been removed from the list, but passengers from Spain and Portugal will still have to present a negative PCR test if they arrive by air. Travellers wont have to prove theyre negative if they arrive in Switzerland by road or train.

Countries with an incidence rate of 60 per 100,000 inhabitants in 14 days or higher are included on Switzerlands risk list.

Anyone from a risk country who fails to comply with the quarantine rules in Switzerland can be fined up to 4,600 euros.
The ruling party has chalked out a strategy to reach every voter by convening of booth-level party committees in the crucial hours before the March 14 polling. (DC file photo)

Hyderabad: As the campaign for the Legislative Council elections for graduate seats ended on Friday, the TRS leadership has shifted its focus to micro-level booth management and is working hard to ensure a high voter turnout in its favour.

The ruling party has chalked out a strategy to reach every voter by convening of booth-level party committees in the crucial hours before the March 14 polling. The party has formed a 30-member team per booth, and these entities are being monitored by in-charge ministers, party MPs, MLCs and legislators.

The booth teams were asked to personally reach out to every voter, track the voter slips distribution, help voters in identifying polling booths and ensure they reach the booths and exercised their franchise. Each team will have at least three women besides students and employees from government and private sectors.

The 2015 graduate MLC polls had witnessed poor voter turnout  a little over 35 per cent  and the party leadership believes that this was a prime reason why TRS lost the Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahbubnagar seat. To avoid this, the party leadership has taken several steps.

TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and working president K.T. Rama Rao on Friday held a tele-conferece with all incharge ministers and other leaders overseeing the elections and guided them on the strategy to be adopted in the final hours before the polling to boost the partys winning chances.

The data of each and every graduate voter, comprising their address and phone number was provided to all party election incharges. They were asked to share the data with booth-level party committees. Instructions were given to booth committees to track each and every voter, reach out to them and ensure they cast their vote.

Micro-level booth management became all the more important in the wake of fears about a poor voter turnout due to the long weekend.

All parties fear that the four-day holiday  Maha Shivaratri on March 11, Shab-e-Meraj on March 12, Second Saturday on March 13 and Sunday on March 14  would adversely impact the voting.

Parties which secured mobile phone numbers of voters have shared the data with their booth-wise teams. These teams are calling up the voters, requesting them not to leave the city and urging those who already left city to return by March 14 to cast their votes.
A gym, cafe and hotel on Brisbanes southside are at the centre of an urgent contact-tracing operation after an infected doctor working on a COVID-19 ward, who had not been inoculated, visited them on Thursday, sparking Queenslands latest coronavirus scare.

The doctor was strongly suspected to have caught the highly contagious UK strain of COVID-19, which will be confirmed on Sunday.

West Ends Morning After cafe on Vulture Street, which was visited by the PA Hospital doctor on Thursday. Credit:Tony Moore

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and state Health Minister Yvette DAth confirmed the doctor had not yet been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Early on Wednesday morning, the doctor worked with two patients who both had the UK strain.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 16:06:20|Editor: huaxia

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Workers unload the first batch of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines at an airport in Libreville, the Gabonese capital, on March 12, 2021. The first batch of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Libreville, the Gabonese capital on Friday, the first anniversary of the start of the pandemic in the central African country. Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, accompanied by two ministers and the Chinese Ambassador Hu Changchun, welcomed the arrival of the cargo at the airport. (Xinhua)

LIBREVILLE, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Libreville, the Gabonese capital on Friday, the first anniversary of the start of the pandemic in the central African country.

Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, accompanied by two ministers and the Chinese Ambassador Hu Changchun, welcomed the arrival of the cargo at the airport.

China responded quickly to the Gabonese government's request for vaccines and was the first country to do so, fully demonstrating the brotherhood between the two countries, said Ossouka Raponda.

Gabon is confident in the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines, she said, adding that with the support of China, Gabon will surely overcome the epidemic.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba said Friday on social media that the national vaccination campaign was about to start and that healthcare workers, security forces, people at risk and the elderly will be the first to benefit from it.

The aid demonstrates the deep traditional friendship and the great political trust between the two countries. China is actively implementing the promise to make its vaccines an accessible and affordable global public good for developing countries and is taking concrete steps to build a closer China-Africa community of common destiny and a closer global health community, said Ambassador Hu.

Gabon reported its first case of infection on March 12, 2020. As of Friday, it has recorded a total of 16,313 confirmed cases with 93 deaths related to COVID-19. Enditem
NEW YORK, March 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Noble Midstream Partners, LP ("NBLX" or "the Company") (NBLX) relating to its proposed acquisition by Chevron Corp and is affiliates. Under the terms of the agreement, NBLX shareholders will receive 0.1393 shares of Chevron per share.

The investigation focuses on whether Noble Midstream Partners, LP and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, and 2) whether the transaction is properly valued.

Click here for more information: http://monteverdelaw.com/case/noble-midstream-partners-lp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



About Monteverde & Associates PC

We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2019 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.



If you own common stock in Noble Midstream Partners, LP and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.



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Attorney Advertising. (C) 2021 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC ( www.monteverdelaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

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Samsung Galaxy M12: Setting New Benchmark For Budget Smartphones With 90Hz screen, 6000 mAH Battery & 48MP Cam News oi-Rohit Arora

The budget smartphone segment has seen exponential growth in the last decade, not just in India but across the globe. Notably, Indian consumers don't like to compromise on either features or performance, even on a tight budget. Most trusted brands like Samsung remarkably understand today's Gen-Z consumers' requirements and always deliver the best-in-class products.

The company's Galaxy M series is one such smartphone lineup that caters to the masses with affordable yet powerful smartphones.

The Galaxy M12 comes as the latest budget-oriented handset from Samsung, designed to deliver more on performance. Powered by an octa-core Exynos 850 processor based on 8nm architecture, the handset churns out flawless performance. The Galaxy M12 also takes the display quality in the budget a notch higher. The 90Hz refresh rate is another center of attraction here.

Here's how Samsung is redefining the budget smartphone segment with the Galaxy M12:

Segment-Leading Display Performance

The Samsung Galaxy M12 sets new benchmarks in the display department. The smartphone flaunts a 6.5-inch IPS PLS display with a fluid 90Hz refresh rate making the Galaxy M12 one of the few budget-friendly smartphones to offer a higher refresh rate panel. The buttery smooth 90Hz screen makes the Galaxy M12 a delight to use. It is nothing like we have seen anything on a budget handset.

When compared to other smartphones in its class, the Galaxy M12 offers 30 more frames every second, resulting in a fluid gaming experience and buttery smooth scrolling on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. The PLS display developed by Samsung offers a better viewing angle and higher brightness when compared to an IPS panel found on most smartphones in the segment. This is what enables Samsung to include an ultra-smooth 90Hz panel on the Galaxy M12.

Moreover, the slim bezel profile complemented by a tall panel instantly grabs your attention. It is a joy to watch movies and shows seamlessly on the HD+ Infinity-V panel, which delivers 720 x 1600 pixels screen resolution and has a screen-to-body ratio of 81.9 percent. The immersive viewing experience will leave you spellbound.

The smoother refresh rate, crisp color production, and higher brightness levels are what you need for high-end gaming and to binge-watch your favorite shows while on the go. Unlike most budget smartphones, the Galaxy M12's 90Hz screen supports HD video playback on the popular OTT apps. You can enjoy your favorite movies and series on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix on the Galaxy M12's vivid display in high definition.

Monster Performance With Exynos 850 Processor

The Samsung Galaxy M12 employs the in-house Exynos 850 processor. Built on Samsung's flagship-grade 8nm architecture, the octa-core processor has a 2GHz clock speed and gets accompanied by the Mali-G52 GPU allowing the handset to deliver the maximum in terms of pure performance. This GPU and CPU combination can handle most modern games without any issues and doesn't consume a lot of power in doing so.

Due to the higher clock speed, the Exynos 850 leads in both single-core and multi-core performance, hence, offering a great user-experience in varied use-cases. The built-in 4G modem makes the Galaxy M12 a 4G Rockstar, as it can offer up to 300Mbps download and 150Mbps upload speeds on a wireless LTE network on both SIM slots.

The Galaxy M12 seamlessly handles day-to-day tasks such as photo/video editing, web-browsing, calling, etc. Not only this, the handset is designed to perform well with heavy apps and graphics-intensive gaming. You can play higher FPS (Frames Per Second) games on the phone's 90Hz refresh panel, something possible only with flagship smartphones.

With up to 6GB blazing-fast LPDDR4x RAM, multitasking is always swift on the Galaxy M12. You can run up to 15 apps on the smartphone simultaneously without worrying about any lags or performance issues.

Moreover, the storage crunch issue is something you wouldn't have to experience on any Samsung device. The Galaxy M12 offers 128GB eMMC 5.1 class onboard storage space, sufficient to store high-resolution images, music files, games, documents, and videos. The additional 1TB storage support is what you would appreciate if low storage has been an issue for you. Overall, you can store gigabytes of data on the Galaxy M12 and use it whenever you need it most.

Powerful Camera Hardware For Pocket-Friendly Pricing

The Samsung Galaxy M12 brings along the most powerful smartphone camera hardware in the Rs. 10,000 price mark. The device packs a quad-lens camera module which has a 48MP primary sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. This sensor dedicatedly captures minute details even in the most challenging lighting situation. The images shot from the 48MP primary sensor show a wide dynamic range and crisp details. A 48MP camera can capture 48 million pixels, which brings out the details that a naked eye can't see.

Clicking a wide-angle shot becomes simple with the 5MP ultra-wide-angle sensor that offers an industry-leading 123-degree FoV, so you can capture a lot more on a single frame. The wide-angle lens also makes the Galaxy M12 a perfect budget camera device for landscape photography.

The additional pair of 2MP sensors with an f/2.4 aperture adds depth effect and also captures macro shots. It creates that perfect bokeh in the portraits that can give some high-end camera phones a run for their money.

You can use the Galaxy M12 to capture the best of your moments with just a click. The quad-camera is further complemented by carefully curated shooting modes that enhance the imaging experience multifold. Last but not the least, the Galaxy M12 also ensures crisp and vibrant selfies with its 8MP front-facing camera. The camera captures natural-looking self-portraits in different and challenging light situations.

A Battery Beast

If a smartphone running out of fuel within hours of usage has kept you shuffling devices, your search stops right here. A monster 6,000 mAh battery is what drives the Galaxy M12. Once again, Samsung has understood what a consumer needs and has incorporated hardware from its premium and mid-range smartphone to the Galaxy M12.

This big-sized battery gets accompanied by 15W fast charging technology. No more carrying the charger around everywhere you go and the USB Type-C port makes it a future-ready smartphone. Just plug in the device for around an hour and forget the charger for the entire day. The smartphone can typically last for more than two-days on one full charge. You can play games, stream HD videos, play music all day long, and the Galaxy M12 will still have some juice left at the end of the day. It's a smartphone designed for power users who don't want to compromise on performance.

So Why Choose The Galaxy M12?

Samsung has been one of the best brands when it comes to quality smartphones. The Galaxy M12 is one of the best examples of the company's ingenuity in designing a powerful beast that doesn't burn a hole in your pocket. You get an affordable smartphone that focuses majorly on performance delivery overall. Be it for photography, battery backup, or display, the handset sets new standards for budget Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung is currently running the #MonsterChallenge, where 12 celebrities will face-off with the Samsung Galaxy M12 in a one-of-a-kind race. And we don't think they are going to outperform the Galaxy M12. Hence, our bet is on the latest Monster smartphone from Samsung.

The Monstrous Galaxy M12 is priced at only Rs. 10,999, which makes it a highly compelling budget smartphone that offers next-level features and specifications. Besides, the ICICI Bank Debit and Credit card users can get a flat Rs. 1,000 off on Amazon.in, driving down the price to Rs. 9,999. This is one of the few smartphones that offer a mammoth 6,000 mAh battery and a 90Hz display at this price range, and is a winner by all means.

Best Mobiles in India
Bengaluru, March 13 : Tainted BJP leader, Ramesh Jarakiholi on Saturday lodged a complaint with Sadashivanagar police through one of his close aides and former MLA, M. V. Nagaraj, the police said.

According to the police, Nagaraj arrived with a signed duly complaint copy from Ramesh Jarakiholi and submitted it to us.

"We are verifying the veracity of this complaint," the officer told IANS.

According to the police, there is no mention of anyone's name; it just states that 'Fake CD' was released to defame him by 'unknown people'.

The police added that the complaint also requests the police to 'investigate' thoroughly into the alleged episode.

The complaint by Ramesh Jarakiholi assumes significance in the backdrop of Karnataka government forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional Police Commissioner, (West) Soumendu Mukherjee two days ago.

The SIT was formed after a CD was released to news channels in which Ramesh Jarakiholi was seen in compromising position with a woman, which went viral and this cost him ministerial berth.

Ramesh is one among 17 legislators who defected from Congress and JD(S) parties which brought down the coalition government headed by H. D. Kumaraswamy in 2019 and paved the way for forming of BJP government headed by its leader B. S. Yediyurappa.
New York, March 13 : US Senator Bernie Sanders has invited Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos to a hearing next week on income and wealth inequality.

"I have invited Jeff Bezos to testify in the Budget Committee next week to explain to the American people why he thinks it's appropriate for him to spend a whole lot of money denying economic dignity to workers at Amazon, while he has become $78 billion richer during the pandemic," Sanders tweeted.

The Amazon CEO, however, turned down the offer to attend the hearing slated for March 17, CNBC reported on Friday.

Amazon, which has seen its sales growing dramatically during the pandemic as people rushed to get their supplies through online services due to the Covid-19 restrictions, has faced criticism from several quarters for allegedly not putting in place enough measures to protect its warehouse workers.

Sanders, who is the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was among those who criticised the online retail giant for ending hazard pay for frontline workers and other labour practices during the pandemic.

He previously drew attention to the disparity in pay between top executives of the company and those who carry out the packing and delivery of the packages.

As other labour advocates also demanded higher wages for Amazon workers, the company in 2018 raised minimum wage to $15 an hour in the US.

The Senate hearing, titled "The Income and Wealth Inequality Crisis in America," will also include testimony from Jennifer Bates, a worker from Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama where employees are making unionisation efforts, said the CNBC report.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
What is truth and does it matter? For centuries, civilised society has been founded on the idea that the answer to such questions was Yes.

But now the whole world is in the midst of a deep, cultural shift.

For some, it is not merely a battle but a war. We live in an age, whipped along by social media, where the concept of the truth has disappeared.

Instead of the truth, we have that wonderful Oprah-ism: Your truth. The troubles now roiling our Royal Family, and indeed our whole culture, largely originate in this change.

It is most telling that when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down for a tell-all interview, they did so with Oprah Winfrey.

Instead of the truth, we have that wonderful Oprah-ism: Your truth from the interview last week

As Oprah was a friend of Meghan, there must have been an attraction in the belief that they were likely to get away with their litany of outrageous claims, unlike if they had faced a more forensic interviewer.

The latter would never have allowed them to offer as truth whatever they decided it is.

They would have been asked follow-up questions and to give hard evidence to back up their assertions. Instead, the couple were free to spin out their sob story in a cascade of subjective truth.

For instance, the Duchess said there was a period in 2019 when she just didnt want to be alive any more and that this was a very clear and real and frightening, constant thought.

The couple were free to spin out their sob story in a cascade of subjective truth

Predictably, within hours, the whole world was running with her version of events. On BBC2s Newsnight, presenter Emily Maitlis talked irresponsibly of the sense of attempted suicide of the Duchess of Sussex.

There is a big difference between having dark thoughts and actually attempting suicide. It may be a painful distinction to analyse, but its vital when such an important cornerstone of British life  our Monarchy  is in the cross-hairs.

Similarly, with Meghans other most explosive reveal: that while pregnant, a member of the Royal Family asked about her unborn babys skin colour.

Assuming this claim is true, there need be nothing sinister about a relative wondering what the latest addition to the family might look like. It would be natural to wonder whether the baby would have Harrys ginger hair or take more after its mother.

Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis talked irresponsibly of the sense of attempted suicide of the Duchess of Sussex

Yet now, across the world, people who may know next to nothing about the Royal Family are under the impression that it is institutionally racist and senior members have a problem with black people.

For anyone who knows the good work that the Royal Family does with communities all over the globe, this is tragic to see. The memories of the crowds cheering Harry and Meghan in Windsor on their wedding day and the fact that it was watched by a UK TV audience of 13 million people lie far in the distance.

There was a time when all of this and more could have been pointed out by people with a voice.

But no longer, now that we are living in an age with a ferocious culture war.

And the reaction to the Oprah interview has galvanised those on one side, giving them more weapons in the battle over issues such as class, identity politics, race and gender.

This is a tragedy for everyone who cares about social harmony and rational thought.

I have often said that what we are witnessing is nothing less than a great mass derangement.

Its having a toxic effect, breaking society into myriad interest groups and giving self-ascribed victims of social injustice a bogus moral sense of superiority. Add to this the fact that there is a great divide in opinion between the generations on such topics as the Monarchy and free speech, and many of us have great fears about how much damage will be done by all these exploding cluster bombs before a ceasefire can be declared in this crazed culture war.

The reaction to the Sussexes interview, sadly, wont be the last explosion. Most worryingly, we are now being encouraged to think that we must never question the truth of someone who presents themselves as a victim.

Even if it means they can get away with smears and provide no evidence. Anything must be accepted from anyone who cloaks themselves in the garb of victimhood. Inevitably, in this culture war, there has been much collateral damage.

Damage will be caused by these cluster bombs before a truce is called

TV personality Piers Morgan has lost his job for daring to doubt the Duchesss testimony, and, in particular, dismissing her claim that she had been suicidal.

Morgans trademark is his punchy and pungent views. Any sane society would simply allow people to agree or disagree with him. But not in our deranged age.

Indeed, supporting Morgan can have profound consequences.

His former screen colleague, Sharon Osbourne, stood up for him and demanded that another woman US interviewer should provide evidence if she was going to accuse Morgan of racism.

Ian Murray resigned as executive director of the Society of Editors after it was not acceptable for the Sussexes to make claims of racism about the British Press

The result? Osbourne was hounded by the online group-think mobs and tearfully felt obliged to issue an apology to the black community, saying she promised to listen and learn and try to be better.

Similarly, Ian Murray (no relation to myself), resigned as executive director of the Society of Editors after saying on behalf of the organisation that it was not acceptable for the Sussexes to make claims of racism about the British Press without supporting evidence.

And yet the couple themselves were allowed free rein by Oprah Winfrey to imply that British newspapers are racist.

Whats more, during their interview by US network CBS, distorted images of Press headlines were used in a montage to support the Sussexes narrative.

How typical of a culture where selected famous people feel free to make outrageous claims without proof or accountability.

Ironically, perhaps we should be grateful for Oprahs interview. For it has become an exquisite example of this ugly and divisive debate.

Maybe we can all use it to learn from the perils of corrupting the truth and setting different parts of society against each other.

How typical of a culture where selected famous people feel free to make outrageous claims without proof or accountability

Yes, issues of race, politics and gender are a minefield but it is only through open and honest debate that we can understand and accept other peoples opinions and sense of identity.

Many of us still hope for a world where people are listened to for the content of their words and character, regardless of their nationality, class, colour of their skin, religion or politics.

A world where people are listened to not because of the chromosomes they were born with but because what they say makes sense and matters just as much as what we think ourselves.

In other words, a world where the concept of truth still matters.
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Paducah Police Seek Help to Find Missing Women

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Police are asking for the public's help with locating a missing woman last seen on Paducah's south side.Thirty-three-year-old Sarah Norman is white, 5 feet 3 inches tall, approximately 110 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.She was last seen at the Hickory House Motel on Bridge Street at 6 pm on Thursday. She was wearing a black and white dress, with brown cowboy boots.Paducah Police are also searching for 37-year-old Veronica Saunders.Saunders is described as white, 5 feet 7 inches tall, approximately 165 pounds, with black hair and blue eyes.She was last seen at the 600 block of Coronado Court wearing a black t-shirt, gray pants, and black tennis shoes.Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these people are asked to contact Paducah Police.
The concerns of residents in Rosses Point village ahead of what promises to be another busy tourist season - depending on the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions - were heard at last week's meeting.

Cllr Thomas Walsh raised the issues of upgraded toilet facilities, illegally parked camper vans and speeding on the R291.

He said: "Last year there was a huge influx of welcome domestic tourists to many of our wonderful scenic areas, including Rosses Point.

"Issues raised by the community and visitors alike include the poor condition of the public toilets at the beach in Rosses Point, a lack of a disabled toilet, the speed of traffic into Rosses Point village both on the main road and also the speeding concerns on the old road and the poor surface of the car-park.

"It has also been highlighted the need to address the overnight camping vans illegally parking along the road leading to the beach front. "This has caused issues with access to the beach car-park for vehicular traffic and pedestrians alike, also the lighting of fires in the grass for barbeques and litter tipping."

The motion received the support of Cllr Thomas Healy, who said that while camper vans bring in tourism, the right facilities must be in place to accommodate them.

Cllr Marie Casserly also offered her support, particularly on the camper vans issue, while Cllr Martin Baker said when the toilets are being improved they should also incorporate a changing area for adults with disabilities.

In response, Senior Engineer Tom Brennan told councillors that toilet facilities will be improved for the new season, while the council is examining the issue of illegally parked camper vans. The reduction of the speed limit on the R291 is to be considered under the upcoming Rosses Point RRDF Public Realm Enhancement Design Project. Temporary measures will be introduced in the meantime, he concluded.
The four QUAD leaders discussed ''free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region'' as well as the coronavirus pandemic. leaders also released a joint statement wherein the countries have pledged to uphold the international order.

The QUAD leaders of four countries- India, Japan, USA, and Australia attended the first online virtual summit of the QUAD group of nations, which is viewed as part of the efforts to balance Chinas growing military and its assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. QUAD leaders vowed to secure the Indo-Pacific region.

This was the first time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden met at a public event after Mr. Biden took office. Joe Biden stated that a free and open Indo-Pacific is essential to each of our futures.

During his opening remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue  QUAD has come of age and will remain an important pillar of stability in the region. The leaders further discussed Chinas growing aggression in the region during the coronavirus pandemic. As per the sources, the ongoing tensions between India and China and Chinese intrusion at LAC were also discussed n the meeting.

Also Read: Quad will remain an important pillar of stability in Indo-Pacific region: PM Modi

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Singhla stated that all contemporary issues were taken up at the QUAD meeting. the meeting also focussed on the centrality of ASEAN, post-pandemic recovery, and maritime security. Briefing the reporters about the Summit, Mr. Singhla said that it was decided that Indias manufacturing capacity is something that is going to be leveraged to make US vaccines. he further said that the financing for the creation of additional capacities shall come from the USA and Japan while Australia will contribute to the delivery matters and logistics.

The Ministry of External Affairs also released a report on March 12 titled QUAD Leaders Joint Statement- The Spirit of the QUAD.

The China concern

While Mr. Hrash Singhla underlined that there were discussions on regional issues but refrained from revealing any details over the matter as they were confidential, Sources said that all the countries had a sympathetic view towards India over the LAC tensions with China. the leaders also discussed global and regional issues of shared interest and vowed to ensure security and counter the threats in the Indo-pacific region.

Also Read: #China5YearPlan:Xi Pushes for tech supremacy, rakes up controversial infrastructural plans
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

The Only Security Is Global Security

March 12 , 2021 (EIRNS)The real product of a growing human economy is not steel, shoes, wheat, or computers. It is the creation of new technologies and new universal principles that serve to expand the productive powers of labor and provide a platform for supporting more people at better living conditions, capable of working more effectively on the next scientific and cultural challenges whose existence is made accessible by those new principles. Without such creative production, all economies will stagnate and die, for two reasons. First, because resources become physically more expensive over time, as the best sources are exploited and production shifts to lower-quality reserves, requiring more energy and effort to extract. For this reason alone, a stationary economy is actually a contracting one. Second, because a society not oriented around developing the fruits of creative thought and progress, is one that has lost its connection to the most essentially human aspect of the individuals soul.

In the interconnected world of today, an efficient commitment to growth is the only durable basis for national, or even individual, security. Consider the case of the pandemic:

Viruses, especially RNA viruses, mutate all the time. Some of those mutations have no impact on the viruss behavior, while others reduce or prevent its functioning, and others can allow it to be more infectious or more difficult to defeat. The more SARS-CoV-2 infections there are, the greater the number of new variants. Today, there are now several variants of the coronavirus that are appreciably different from those originally encountered. Current and future variants, such as those brewing in Brazil, pose a threat to the efforts to build up immunity through vaccination.

From this perspective, a purely national approach to vaccination does not provide durable security to the people of that nation. A me first approachor rather a me only approachfails both practically and morally. The United States has tens of millions of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine sitting on shelves, unable to be used without the FDAs OK. But there are dozens of countries around the world that have approved its use. Wouldnt it make sense to make them available?

More broadly, a purely nationalor individualapproach to health care overall does not provide security. What is the condition of the worlds health monitoring and delivery systems? What is the condition of the worlds infrastructure required to support such systems? Could the Democratic Republic of Congothe worlds most significant source of the cobalt used in electric vehiclescreate a public health system under its current electricity production of around 10 to 15 watts per person? Of course not.

The situation in Yemen is hellish, with widespread food insecurity developing under years of sanctions and war. Emergency food is needed, of course, but what about the paradigm driving the desperation? Will Saudi Arabia continue to torment this nation?

Two decades into the 21st century, there still exists the threat of hundreds of millions of human beings, with their own thoughts, dreams, identities, and potentials, being unable to eat. How could this be?

Against this background, how crazy is it that members of the Green religious cult (sponsored by the British military-financial-intelligence empire) propose a program of 3030, to set aside 30% of the Earths land by 2030. Or even 5050, to maintain half of the Earth free of human influence and benefit? And why stop there? Is there any reason that we shouldnt just go for 100100 and kill ourselves off? People proudly speak about having a child-free lifestyle, as a positive act for the environment. But whats the point of having an environment without any people?

The greatest threat facing the world is not climate change. And it is most certainly not China. Its the British-promoted ideology that growth is bad, that nature should reign supreme, and that any mishap that may befall us should be blamed on our insufficient devotion to the Green cause.

Lyndon LaRouche writes in his 1984 book There Are No Limits to Growth: Human life is sacred, and its increase is not only an expression of the universal law of the universe, but if man fails to bring his willful practice into agreement with that law, then the society so failing becomes unfit to exist, and will collapse, to make way, sooner or later, for one which fulfills the law. That is the Law of Population.

What we see playing out before us is a society, the British Empire, which is indeed unfit to exist. But it is not simply collapsing. It seeks to prevent the rise of any other society that is committed to this law of population. And it is willing to risk war, even nuclear war.

Neither powerful friends, a large retirement account, nor a hoard of water, canned goods, or vaccines can protect you from that. Will you have the personal security living, today, in a way that will allow you to pass away with a smile on your face, knowing that you are acting to live a truly productive life?
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday designated five Chinese companies as posing a threat to national security under a 2019 law aimed at protecting U.S. communications networks.

The FCC said the companies included Huawei Technologies Co, ZTE Corp, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co.

A 2019 law requires the FCC to identify companies producing telecommunications equipment and services "that have been found to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security."

Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement: "This list provides meaningful guidance that will ensure that as next-generation networks are built across the country, they do not repeat the mistakes of the past or use equipment or services that will pose a threat to U.S. national security or the security and safety of Americans."

The 2019 law used criteria from a defense authorization bill that previously identified the five Chinese companies. In August 2020, the U.S. government issued regulations barring agencies from buying goods or services from any of the five Chinese companies.

In 2019, the United States placed Huawei, Hikvision and other firms on its economic blacklist.

Last year, the FCC designated Huawei and ZTE as a national security threat to communications networks - a declaration barring U.S. firms from tapping an $8.3 billion government fund to purchase equipment from the companies.

In February, Huawei challenged the declaration in a petition filed with the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Huawei declined to comment on Friday on the new FCC designation.

Hikvision said late on Friday it strongly opposed the FCC decision "and is weighing all options on how to best address this unsubstantiated designation. Hikvision does not belong on a list for next-generation networks."

The other three companies did not comment or could not be reached for comment.

The FCC in December finalized rules requiring carriers with ZTE or Huawei equipment to "rip and replace" that equipment. It created a reimbursement program for that effort, and U.S. lawmakers in December approved $1.9 billion to fund the program.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Howard Goller, Daniel Wallis and William Mallard)
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San Francisco/New Delhi, March 13 : Xiaomi on Saturday welcomed a US court ruling to temporarily suspend the decision by the Department of Defence asking the US companies not to invest in the Chinese conglomerate.

The company said in a statement that it will continue requesting the US to remove designation of Xiaomi as a Chinese military company.

"Xiaomi believes that the decisions of designating it as a Chinese Communist Military Company are arbitrary and capricious, and the judge agrees with it. Xiaomi plans to continue to request that the court declare the designation unlawful and to permanently remove the designation," the company said.

The trade ban on Xiaomi was set to go into force from next week.

The court has removed, in full and with immediate effect, the Executive Order on "US persons to purchase Xiaomi's securities and the requirement on US persons to divest their holdings".

Xiaomi reiterated that it is "a widely held, publicly traded, independently managed corporation that offers consumer electronics products solely for civilian and commercial use".

"We are committed to working with our global partners to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology," a company spokesperson noted.

In January, the US government blacklisted Xiaomi as a "Communist Chinese military company".

A Xiaomi spokesperson had said: "The company confirms that it is not owned, controlled or affiliated with the Chinese military, and is not a 'Communist Chinese Military Company' defined under the NDAA. The company will take appropriate course of actions to protect the interests of the Company and its shareholders".

In July 2020, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Chinese telecom companies, Huawei and ZTE, as national security risks to America's communications networks.

-IANS na/
Of course, the results of the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan had a negative impact on internal stability in Armenia, but I strongly disagree with the characterization of the [recent events as an] attempted coup detat in Armenia, Ayvazian told Al-Arabiya television during a visit to the United Arab Emirates.

This was a kind of political positioning by some members of [the Armenian armys] General Staff, he said in an interview publicized by the Armenian Foreign Ministry. They just made a political statement, which is not an attempted coup in itself. This was also the assessment of different countries and international organizations.

There are no elements of a coup detat in Armenia. Armenia continues to be a democracy, and the current situation, as I said, will be dealt with according to democratic standards in our society.

In a February 25 statement, the Armenian militarys top brass demanded the resignation of Pashinian and his government, accusing them of putting the country on the brink of destruction after last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinian rejected the demand as an attempt to stage a military coup. He twice held rallies in Yerevan to counter what he called opposition-backed attempts to end the peoples power.

The prime minister also sacked General Onik Gasparian, the chief of the armys General Staff. Gasparian denounced the move as unconstitutional and said he will challenge it in court.

Pashinian did not accuse the military of trying to seize power when he met on Wednesday with other generals who signed the February 25 statement. Instead, he thanked them for their military service.

I trust in you and believe that you have served the country in good faith, added Pashinian.
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Dev Patel is all set to release his directorial debut film, Monkey Man on Netflix. The streaming giant recently revealed to have bought the worldwide rights for the film worth around USD 30 million. The agreement reportedly excludes territories like Spain, Latin America, Iceland, Former Yugoslavia, Poland, Russia and Baltic States, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pan-Asian PTV and China, where the makers have pre-existing deals.

For the unversed, Dev Patel is best known for movies such as Slumdog Millionaire, Lion and The Personal History of David Copperfield. Apart from directing Monkey Man, Dev has penned the script along with Paul Angunawela and John Collee and will also be seen starring as the lead. He reportedly will be seen as the unlikely hero who emerges from prison and takes on the world.

Talking about the film's Netflix release he said in a statement, "I'm so thrilled to be partnering with Netflix on this adventure. I hope this will be a fresh addition to the genre at a time in this industry where my story can become our story." Patel was inspired by the Hindu myth about the deity Hanuman, who is half man-half monkey, while working on the film.

Dev revealed that the film was shot during the pandemic and it was one of the least challenging parts of the film. "The opportunity to reimagine stories from my childhood and infuse them with my love of action cinema has been an absolute joy," he added.

The revenge drama set in India also features Made in Heaven star Sobhita Dhulipala along with Patel's Chappie co-star Sharlto Copley. The film comments on corporate greed which is eroding spiritual values in society.

Dev Patel also serves as the producer on the project, alongside Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Jomon Thomas, Samarth Sahni, Christine Haebler and Anjay Nagpal. Monkey Man set to release in 2022, is a co-production between BRON Studios and Thunder Road Pictures, in association with Creative Wealth Media.

ALSO READ: Dev Patel To Narrate National Geographic Series India From Above Releasing On Independence Day

ALSO READ: Oscars 2017: Dev Patel Loses Oscar Battle To Mahershala Ali From Moonlight
Aileen McDonnell spent four days carving out the message at Silver Strand beach due to tidal changes. Photo: Art Altitudes Droneworks.

A Mayo woman has carved a 380-foot high by 365-foot long message on a beach in Mayo to highlight the frustrations of some Irish people at the speed of the vaccine rollout thus far.

Aileen McDonnell wrote the gigantic message increase supply with a syringe on Silver Strand Beach in Mayo as part of her Beep at 3 campaign in which she is encouraging people to beep their car horns at 3pm on Mothers Day as a unifying call to the Dail.

Ms McDonnell is hoping the social media campaign will show the extent of the disappointment at the speed of the vaccine rollout in Ireland and will trigger Ministers into going the extra mile to secure more vaccines.

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Aileen chose March 14 for the campaign as it is exactly 365 days since churches and pubs in Ireland shut their doors.

"I would ask the public to take a video of their beeping, whether it is in their local village, suburb, housing estate, town or city and send that video to the social media platforms of Twitter, Facebook or Instagram under the hashtag #CALLtoTheDAIL, Aileen said.

"The intention is that all of our videos are a representation of our voices in unison which may reach our Government Ministers and encourage each Minister to go the extra mile to increase the vaccine supply and to amend the errors of the vaccine rollout.

"I understand that our Government must be tired but we are all tired. We are all in the one boat and we are urging each minister to row that bit stronger and negotiate firmer terms with the suppliers of the Covid-19 vaccines.

Aileen said her message on Silver Strand beach is 365-feet long to represent the length of Irelands lockdown and each letter is 110 feet high as she wants the Government to give 110pc in securing more vaccines for the Irish people.

Ms McDonnell said this should be a signal of support to Government to give them the strength to fight harder for Irish vaccine supplies.

"For those that do not have a vehicle, please join the campaign by banging your pots and pans to make some noise at 3pm on Mothers Day, Aileen said.
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser

Over the past year, Congress passed five bipartisan and targeted relief bills totaling $3.7 trillion to sustain our economy, support our hospitals, save small businesses, and fund the development and distribution of life-saving vaccines.

Now, Democrat Leadership is pushing through a $1.9 trillion package that the White House Chief of Staff has deemed the most progressive domestic legislation in a generation. At a time when we should be focused on economic recovery, getting our children back to school, and vaccine distribution, Washington Democrats are more concerned with appeasing their far-left base than working with Republicans to solve the serious issues that face our country.

Previously passed relief packages have succeeded in supporting our economy through the worst of this crisis and more funds remain available to fuel our continued recovery. Today, the unemployment rate is down to 6.2%, and the nonpartisan CBO projects more than 4% growth in GDP without any additional spending.

Pennsylvanias unemployment rate remains higher than the national average at 6.7%, due to protracted business restrictions that have hindered recovery. Democrats contend that this bill is necessary to defeat COVID-19, but just 1% is directed for vaccine distribution.

I am supportive of additional funding where it is needed, including for restaurants, families who suffered employment loss, nursing homes, and anything necessary to reopen our schools, but this package fails to recognize that many entities will receive more than is needed.

For instance, the vast majority of stimulus checks will be sent to those who havent missed a paycheck during this crisis and this proposal would actually give felons, including currently incarcerated murderers, a stimulus check paid for by the taxpayers. (This is accurate.) Out of work Americans have received significantly supplemented unemployment compensation for much of the past year, but Democrats want to extend this benefit through September.

All the while, businesses need employees to return to the workforce and fill open positions. Congress has already appropriated $74 billion for schools, and this proposal would allocate an additional $130 billion, with no requirements for in-person learning. States will receive $350 billion, on top of the $500 billion theyve already been provided, despite the fact that in many states like California, revenue is up. Democrats even included a provision for only federal workers to receive up to $35 an hour in addition to their full salary to care for a child who is learning from home. Clearly, federal workers are a very important special interest voter for the Democrats.

President Biden took office promising unity, but this package is a clear indication that such rhetoric was not sincere. Ten Republican Senators went to the White House to negotiate a compromise, yet nothing they suggested was included in the final text. In the House, I offered amendments that would have provided flexibility for the Paycheck Protection Program, and to allow funding allocated to the states to be used by state and local governments for rural broadband and infrastructure. Both amendments were rejected. Fortunately, the Senate bill added $10 billion for rural broadband development.

Since Democrats took control of government in January, Executive Orders were issued that have rattled the energy industry and driven up gas prices an average of 46 cents, disproportionally affecting low-income Americans.

A reversal of policies from the Trump Administration has led to a serious and avoidable crisis at the southern border, and now we have enormous bailouts that will have to be paid for by future generations. To solidify this form of governing and their policies, House Democrats passed H.R.1, which should be called the Washington Politicians Act as it allows for taxpayer-funded campaigns, and usurps the U.S. constitutional authority of state legislatures to determine their election rules, such as voter ID laws.

It is now more important than ever that the American people inform their Democratic members of the House and Senate that these bills are not in the interests of the vast majority of Americans and are being sold as something that they are not. These policies cater to special interests and will only result in enormously expanding our national debt and the role of the federal government in our lives.
OWENGAGE - Three students from Owendale-Gagetown Area School in Owendale have been named local winners in the 52nd annual America & Me Essay Contest, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.

The three students, who earned the first, second, and third place awards for their school, are Lucas McKnight, first,

Danielle Hunt, second, and Lily Willerton, third. All three received award certificates for their achievement.

Lucas' first place essay now advances to the state level competition, from which the top ten essays in Michigan will be

selected. The top ten statewide winners, who will be announced in April, will each receive a plaque, a medallion and a

cash award of$1,000. We will also be presenting each top ten statewide school with a $1,000 check, along with an

additional $500 if the school was sponsored by a Farm Bureau Insurance agent. Due to the current pandemic affecting

the in-person events, there will not be a scheduled awards day this year. The top ten students and their teachers will

still be notified and receive awards.

Several thousand eighth grade students from nearly 200 Michigan schools participated in the 2020 - 2021 America & Me

Essay Contest, which was conducted with the help of Farm Bureau Insurance agents across the state. The topic of the

2020 - 2021 contest was "My Personal Michigan Hero." Lucas should take great pride in advancing to the state level

competition.

A team of finalist judges, including a top Michigan government official as well as the sponsoring teachers of last year's

top two statewide winners, will determine the ranking of the top ten statewide winners this year.

Started in 1968 and open to all Michigan eighth grade students, the contest encourages Michigan youngsters to explore

the greatness of America and its people. As sponsor of the contest, Farm Bureau Insurance has earned 11 national

awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.
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Mandalay: Security forces in Myanmar on Saturday again met protests against last month's military takeover with lethal force, killing at least seven people by shooting live ammunition at demonstrators.

Four deaths were reported in Mandalay, the country's second-biggest city, two in Pyay, a town in south-central Myanmar, and one in Twante, a suburb of Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.

Details of all seven deaths were posted on multiple social media accounts, some accompanied by photos of the victims.

The actual death toll is likely to be higher, as police apparently seized some bodies, and some of the wounded suffered grievous gunshot wounds that doctors and nurses working at makeshift clinics will be hard-pressed to treat.

Many hospitals are occupied by security forces, and as a result are boycotted by medical personnel and shunned by protesters.

The independent UN human rights expert for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said Thursday that 'credible reports' indicated security forces in the Southeast Asian nation had so far killed at least 70 people, and cited growing evidence of crimes against humanity since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Other unofficial but carefully compiled tallies put the total number of deaths since the coup at around 90.

Saturday's killings did not faze demonstrators in Yangon who crowded a downtown commercial area past the official 8 pm curfew to hold a mass candlelight vigil and to sing about their cause. The mostly young protesters rallied at an intersection where they usually gather for daytime protests.

After-dark rallies was also held in Mandalay and elsewhere.

Reports on social media also said three people were shot dead Friday night in Yangon, where residents for the past week have been defying the curfew to come out onto the streets.

Two deaths by gunfire were reported in Yangon's Thaketa township, where a protest being held outside a police station was dispersed.

A crowd had gathered there to demand the release of three young men who were seized from their home earlier Friday night.

Photos said to be of the bodies of two dead protesters were posted online.

The other reported fatality Friday night was of a 19-year-old man shot in Hlaing township.

The nighttime protests may reflect a more aggressive approach to self-defense that has been advocated by some protesters.

Police had been aggressively patrolling residential neighbourhoods at night, firing into the air and setting off stun grenades in an effort at intimidation. They have also been carrying out targeted raids, taking people from their homes with minimal resistance.

In at least two known cases, the detainees died in custody within hours of being taken away.

Another possible indication of heightened resistance emerged Saturday with photos posted online of a railway bridge said to have been damaged by an explosive charge.

The bridge was described in multiple accounts as being on the rail line from Mandalay to Myitkyina, the capital of the northern state of Kachin.

The photos show damage to part of a concrete support.

No one took responsibility for the action, but it could serve a two-fold purpose.

It could be seen as support for the nationwide strike of state railway workers, who are part of the civil disobedience movement against the coup.

At the same time, it could be aimed as disrupting the ability of the junta to reinforce its troops in Kachin, a state whose residents have long been at odds with the central government.

The Kachin ethnic minority fields its own well-trained and equipped guerrilla force, and there has been outrage in Myitkyina at security forces' killing of anti-coup protesters there.

The prospect of sabotage has been openly discussed by some protesters, who warn that they could blow up a pipeline supplying natural gas to China.

They see China as being the junta's main supporter, even though Beijing has been mildly critical of the coup in its public comments.

In Washington on Friday, the Biden administration announced it is offering temporary legal residency to people from Myanmar, citing the military's takeover and ongoing deadly force against civilians.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the designation of temporary protected status for people from Myanmar would last for 18 months. The offer of temporary legal residency applies to people already in the United States.

Mayorkas said in a statement that worsening conditions in Myanmar would make it difficult for those people to safely return home.

The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party led a return to civilian rule with a landslide election victory in 2015, and an even greater margin of votes last year.

It would have been installed for a second five-year term last month, but instead Suu Kyi and President Win Myint and other members of the government were placed in military detention.
Haley Link Brinkmeyer, 28, died January 21

A physical therapist died at her home in January just two days after she received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Haley Link Brinkmeyer, 28, died January 21 after she received an mRNA shot believed to be either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, according to the COVID Blog.

The blog, which is operated by COVID Legal USA, aims to publish articles that minimize the effectiveness of masks and vaccines amid the pandemic and helps people file litigation against companies enforcing mandatory vaccine policies.

Brinkmeyer's death shocked her family, her mother Shauna O'Neill Link told the blog.

In what appears to be a Facebook comment to another user, Link allegedly spread conspiracy theories that the vaccine was created for 'depopulation.'

'My 28 year old daughter took the vaccine on a Tuesday and she was dead by Thursday,' Link allegedly said in the comment, which was shared by the blog.

Haley Link Brinkmeyer, pictured with her husband, died January 21 after she received an mRNA shot believed to be either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine

Brinkmeyer met her husband, left, while attending Reitz High. The high school sweethearts were crowned homecoming king and queen, right

Her husband's father, James Brinkmeyer, posted memorial photos of Haley Link Brinkmeyer

Her mother Shauna Link allegedly posted this comment to Facebook after the death of her daughter

'Autopsy shows no other red flags. Corner (sic) has assured us he will get to the bottom of this vaccine crap.'

She added: 'Anything with Bill Gates or Quack Faucis name attached should be a red flag. Depopulation my folks, depopulation. Thats their objective.'

Link's Facebook account appears to have since been deleted. DailyMail.com has reached out to Brinkmeyer's husband, Evan Brinkmeyer, for more information and additional comment.

Brinkmeyer met her husband while attending Reitz High. The high school sweethearts were crowned homecoming king and queen and were married for two years.

She graduated from University of Evansville in 2018 with a doctorate in physical therapy and was a member of AOII Sorority, according to her obituary.

Haley Link (center left) with husband Evan Brinkmeyer (by her side in orange shirt) and her mom Shauna O'Neill Link

'Our hearts have been broken upon the passing of Evans wife and high school sweetheart Haley Link Brinkmeyer. No words can express the depths of the loss being felt by Haley and Evans families,' father-in-law James Brinkmeyer posted on Facebook.

'We will put our faith in God to give us strength as we try to understand why. Please pray for Haley and Evan and their families. Lastly if you have kids give them a hug today and tell them you love them.'

The young physical therapist worked at North River Health Campus, a senior living community in Evansville, Indiana, the blog reported.

North River Health Campus posted photos and a message about COVID vaccines to Facebook on January 20, around the same time she got the shot, according to the blog.

'Appropriately themed "Shots of Hope," our halls were adorned with all of the colors of the rainbow. Residents and staff alike rolled up their sleeves to do their part to slow the spread of this terrible virus,' the senior living center captioned the post.

It was not immediately clear if Brinkmeyer received the jab at that time.

According to her obituary, the family asked for to donations to The Haley Link Brinkmeyer Foundation - created to provide assistance and medicine for diabetes patients.

Images from a Jan. 20, 20201 post by North River Health Campus, captioned: We were honored to be able to hold our first of three COVID Vaccine clinics today'

Images from a Jan. 20, 20201 post by North River Health Campus, captioned: We were honored to be able to hold our first of three COVID Vaccine clinics today'

News of Brinkmeyer's death was shared on Twitter by Houston ophthalmologist Dr. Richard Urso.

'No reason for young people to feel they need this vaccine. IFR is extremely low,' he posted.

Urso, who has been an outspoken proponent of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment, has previously been reported to the Texas Medical Board for using it in patients, according to The Texan - a news site run by a prominent Tea Party activist.

The Texas Medical Board later dismissed the complaint and said there was 'insufficient evidence to prove that a violation of the Medical Practice Act occurred,' MedPage Today reported.

His Twitter feed shows that he has also called masks 'nonsense' and criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci as well as multiple public health agencies.
Sanjeev Gupta has urged colleagues in his GFG Alliance empire to cut the fat in their businesses, after the group was sent reeling by the collapse of Greensill Capital.

In an email sent to staff yesterday, seen by the Mail, the steel tycoon warned there would be 'less group support' available now its major backer Greensill had tumbled into administration.

Financial services firm Greensill, run by Gupta's friend Lex Greensill, was a major lender to the loosely connected group of businesses known as the GFG Alliance.

Stoking the flames: Financial services firm Greensill, run by Sanjeev Gupta's friend Lex Greensill, was a major lender to the group of businesses known as the GFG Alliance

It fell apart this week after its insurer refused to renew a vital policy, meaning Greensill would be on the hook for huge losses if any of its customers failed to repay their debt.

Greensill's backers, including Credit Suisse and asset manager GAM, abandoned the lender  leaving it insolvent. Its collapse has raised fears over the future of businesses in Gupta's GFG, which relied heavily on Greensill for cash. Firms which are part of GFG include Liberty Steel, Britain's third largest steel maker with around 3,000 employees at 11 sites.

In a message to colleagues yesterday, 50-year-old Gupta said GFG was in a 'challenging situation which requires careful management'. He added: 'We are asking all of our businesses to take prudent steps to manage their cash positions carefully and reduce their call on group resources.'

Gupta added that he would be 'working around the clock to ensure our people and communities have a sustainable future.'
Photo: The Canadian Press Meng Wanzhou, centre, chief financial officer of Huawei, walks back to B.C. Supreme Court after a lunch break, in Vancouver, on Thursday.

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has rejected a bid by Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to admit additional sworn testimonies from employees of the telecom giant as evidence in her extradition case.

Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes says in a ruling released Friday that the proposed evidence has no purpose in an extradition hearing, which has a different mandate than a trial.

She says an extradition judge considers whether the requesting state has provided evidence establishing a case, but does not engage in a broader weighing of evidence or consider the general strength of the case.

Meng is wanted in the United States on fraud charges that both she and Huawei deny.

She is accused of making false or misleading statements to international bank HSBC to the effect that Huawei no longer controlled technology company Skycom, when in fact it continued to do so, putting the bank at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

While she rejected the sworn testimonies, Holmes provisionally allowed an expert report to be admitted into evidence subject to further submissions.

Holmes says that evidence will be relevant only if she is persuaded that a loss or risk of loss to HSBC may be considered too remote because enforcement action against the bank was unlikely.

Meng's arrest at Vancouver's airport in 2018 precipitated a chilling of Canada-China relations. The arrest in China of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, has widely been seen as retaliation.

Meng's lawyers had argued in court that the proposed evidence would demonstrate that the U.S. case against Meng provided to Canadian officials was "manifestly unreliable" and that HSBC staff were well aware of Huawei's relationship with Skycom.

But Holmes ruled that making credibility findings is not her job.

"The proposed evidence could do no more than offer an alternative narrative from that set out" by the United States in its summary of the case, Holmes wrote in the decision.

"These would take the extradition hearing beyond its proper scope."
Capcom has faced another security breach among its systems and it has had enough, especially with its online, work-from-home setup which was subjected to major hacks and threats against the company. The company's solution for this is to make their employees report on-site and back to the old setup where they meet face-to-face.

Naturally, this is a massive health concern for CAPCOM and their headquarters in Osaka, Japan, but still pushes to do so despite the many health implications that it brings. Moreover, this is a close breach against the Japanese gaming company which has been hit with a ransomware attack called the "Ragnar Locker" last November.

The attack is a significant one against CAPCOM, especially as it threatened to leak files from the company, particularly with the upcoming sequel to one of their massive gaming franchises, "Resident Evil VIII." Back then, "RE:8 The Village" was only on speculations and leaks, without any reveals or discussions from the gaming company.

Read Also: 'Bravely Default 2': How to Get 'True' Ending-There's More to Story than Defeating the Boss!

CAPCOM Security Breach Forces Employees to On-Site Work

The threat of COVID-19 has forced people to clamor to homes and face restrictive lockdowns that prevent them from engaging in social events or in the public to help avoid and stem the transmission of the virus. Companies were forced to observe lockdown restrictions as well, but it is business-as-usual so they have to migrate work online.

Capcom Osaka was also observing this until its recent controversy that forced people to report on-site and risking the transmission of the virus which has plagued the nation for a year now. According to Kotaku on Friday, March 12, as translated from Business Journal Japan, Osaka is in a state of emergency due to a rapid outbreak of cases, but Capcom is still forcing employees to report to work.

The company argued that it was because of a security breach that they cannot fix, particularly with online and remote working situations among hundreds of its employees. The risk of COVID-19 infection is still at large and people fear that this may be the case within Capcom if it continues to call upon its employees on site.

Capcom: Security Overhaul?

Capcom needs to work on its security system instead of forcing people to report to work, which is riskier as its operations highly depend on human output and manpower. With Capcom US and its entire network already facing the "Ragnar Locker" ransomware and the most recent breach, online security should be their top priority.

The November breach among Capcom's system has already cost them a massive 1TB of employee and customer data, along with several game files and information that could potentially dent the company's integrity. Despite this, Capcom argued that it is prioritizing its employees' health by providing a healthy working environment within its site.

Related Article: Capcom: 'Ragnar Locker' Ransomware Attack Takes Almost 1TB of Confidential Files!

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Paris: The top diplomats of the G7 (Group of Seven) group of countries expressed 'grave concerns' about China's national legislature approving a resolution to drastically overhaul Hong Kongs electoral system to ensure only patriots can rule the city, a move which would further clamp down on opposition voices in the city.

"We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union are united in expressing our grave concerns at the Chinese authorities decision fundamentally to erode democratic elements of the electoral system in Hong Kong". "Such a decision strongly indicates that the authorities in mainland China are determined to eliminate dissenting voices and opinions in Hong Kong," the joint statement from the G7 countries read.

The G7 ministers said the package of changes combined with mass arrests of pro-democracy activists and politicians, undermines Hong Kong`s high degree of autonomy under the One Country, Two Systems principle.

"The package will also stifle political pluralism, contrary to the aim of moving towards universal suffrage as set out in the Basic Law. Furthermore, the changes will reduce freedom of speech, which is a right guaranteed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration," the statement read.

"The people of Hong Kong should be trusted to cast their votes in the best interests of Hong Kong. Discussion of differing views, not silencing of them, is the way to secure the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong," it added.

The group calls on China to act in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its other legal obligations and respect fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, as provided for in the Basic Law.

"We also call on China and the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in Hong Kong's political institutions and end the unwarranted oppression of those who promote democratic values and the defense of rights and freedoms," the group added.

The National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday(March 11) passed the resolution by a near-unanimous vote, paving the way for the biggest shake-up to the city`s electoral system since its return to China in 1997, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP).

A total of 2,895 delegates voted in favour of the proposal, which will authorise its standing committee to finalise the details of the electoral reform process and applauded for the longest period after the Hong Kong electoral proposal was passed.

Under the new electoral system, NPC members and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, will be part of the Election Committee in the selection process of the city's leader next year, reported Xinhua news agency.

Less than a year after imposing the draconian National Security Law, China last week had launched a legislative process for drastic electoral system reform in Hong Kong, which could benefit the pro-establishment camp and further quash the political opposition in the city.

The Election Committee will be expanded to add these 300 Beijing loyalists and the Legislative Council will also be expanded to 90 seats from 70.

Although Chinese officials have insisted that the measures are necessary to establish a `democratic electoral system with Hong Kong characteristics`, critics have warned that it would limit the space for the opposition in the city and roll back years of effort to liberalise the system, reported SCMP.

Ahead of the NPC`s vote on the electoral measures, Britain said the proposed changes to Hong Kong`s electoral system would be another attack on the former British colony`s rights and freedoms.

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President Donald Trump gestures during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 21, 2019. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Makes Surprise Appearance at Dog Rescue Fundraiser

Former President Donald Trump made an unannounced visit to a dog rescue fundraiser in Palm Beach on Friday.

I didnt exactly prepare for this, but I was walking and I hear everybody screaming and I said, wow whats going on, Trump said.

The former president, wearing a white polo shirt and a red Make America Great Again cap, praised the non-profit, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, for doing important work.

We had many meetings at the White House and the Oval Office having to do with saving and helping dogs, Trump said. I just want to thank you. I hope youre having a good time.

Since leaving the White House, Trump has spent a lot of time catching up with old contacts and socializing with members of his exclusive Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, according to his adviser, Jason Miller.

According to its website, Big Dog Ranch Rescue held its 8th annual Wine, Women & Shoes Friday fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on Friday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The rescues event at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday is sold out.

One of the event photos features Lara Trump, the former presidents daughter-in-law. Lara Trump has supported the annual event and the non-profit for many years, according to a video from the rescues website. She helped the organization this year by helping pass a bill making animal cruelty a federal crime, one of the organizers said.

The former president praised his daughter-in-law and jokingly prodded her about running for the Senate. Lara Trump has considered a run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina but has not made up her mind.

According to its Twitter profile, Big Dog Ranch Rescue is the largest no-kill dog rescue in the Southeastern U.S.

Sip world-class wines, shop the latest fashions, participate in the Best-in-Shoe competition while you enjoy an exquisite luncheon. Be dazzled by an energetic fashion show (and of course our famous celebrity doggie fashion shoe). Shop the runway as the fun continues around the pool! the Mar-a-Lago event description states.
In 2018, following several unfortunate incidents of sexual harassment, the Manitoba legislative assembly adopted, on a unanimous all-party basis, a respectful workplace policy (RWP). The RWP governs interactions among MLAs and with political staff, legislative officials and public servants. There is a separate administrative RWP for the civil service, overseen by the Civil Service Commission.

Opinion

In 2018, following several unfortunate incidents of sexual harassment, the Manitoba legislative assembly adopted, on a unanimous all-party basis, a respectful workplace policy (RWP). The RWP governs interactions among MLAs and with political staff, legislative officials and public servants. There is a separate administrative RWP for the civil service, overseen by the Civil Service Commission.

Any RWP must balance such values as respect, safety, privacy, confidentiality, timeliness, fairness (both procedural and substantive) and accountability to ensure that justice occurs in resolution of harassment complaints. A policy must also deal with different types of misconduct requiring different kinds of procedures and penalties.

Designing and enforcing an RWP in the intense, partisan, adversarial environment of a legislature poses distinctive challenges compared to other organizational settings. It would not be surprising if the Manitoba legislature did not get the policy exactly right on the first try.

The first high-profile use of the RWP came in a dispute between Adrien Sala, an NDP MLA, and Paul Beauregard, a politically aligned deputy minister in the civil service. Back in 2012, Beauregard donated to Brian Pallisters leadership campaign. In 2017 he left an executive position at Bell MTS when the premier appointed him head of the Treasury Board Secretariat.

At the time the opposition raised questions about how Beauregard would avoid potential conflicts of interest (COI) regarding decisions affecting Bell MTS. The premier assured the legislature that Beauregard would recuse himself from all such decisions.

In October 2020, based on leaked emails, Sala alleged Beauregard prevented Manitoba Hydro International from bidding on a contract to provide networking services to various government offices, and instead an extension was awarded to Bell MTS. To the NDP, this was a real or perceived conflict of interest.

In response, the premier insisted Beauregard was simply communicating a cabinet decision, that he had complied with COI rules and that, by attacking Beauregard, the NDP was denigrating civil servants at large.

In December, Sala revealed that Beauregard had filed a complaint against him under the RWP and that an investigation was underway. Sala claimed that the complaint violated his "parliamentary privileges," one component of which is the right to free speech within the legislature. He further complained that the independent investigator hired by the legislature had pressured him to reveal his sources at Hydro.

The Speaker took Salas point of privilege under advisement, and on Thursday issued a precedent-setting ruling that the NDP MLAs privileges were indeed violated when Beauregard filed his respectful-workplace complaint.

Last month, Beauregard issued a press release, prepared by a communications firm, citing the investigators finding that Salas remarks to the media violated the RWP. Beauregards statement claimed he suffered damage to his psychological well-being and reputation. We do not know, however, whether this claim was substantiated by the investigator, because her report was never released  not even to the complainant or the respondent.

In this instance, the RWP policy was not the right route for resolving a dispute that straddled the boundary between politics and administration.

The dispute revolved around allegations of conflict of interest. There is an administrative policy on COI for civil servants that is overseen by the clerk of the executive council. The current clerk happens to be a partisan figure appointed by the premier in 2020, so an investigation conducted by him would not be seen by many as fair and credible. A better route would have been to involve the COI commissioner, an independent officer of the legislature.

Currently, the law he oversees is exceedingly weak and applies only to MLAs, but a bill before the legislature would extend its coverage to senior civil servants such as Beauregard.

The RWP investigation that found Sala guilty could weaken "parliamentary privilege," the doctrine that allows MLAs to speak freely without fear of lawsuits. It is hard to exaggerate the importance of privilege. Reducing privilege protection could have a chilling effect on vigorous debate needed to hold governments accountable.

Currently, privilege applies only to speech that is part of "parliamentary proceedings," not to remarks made to the media or on social media. However, given the importance of questioning the actions and motives of governments, courts in New Zealand have recently recognized a "qualified privilege" for remarks made outside of the legislature.

Without access to the investigators report, we cannot know what weight she assigned to the argument made by the premier that impartial, career civil servants should not be the targets of political attacks. I agree with the principle; however, as a politically aligned deputy minister, not a career civil servant, Beauregard was entitled to civility, but not to immunity from criticism.

Salas comments might be seen as "fair comment," a concept used by the courts to protect free speech that has some factual basis and is not reckless.

A safe RWP process requires as much confidentiality as necessary to protect victims of sexual harassment. In this case, however, the complaint was fought out in public. Releasing only the findings, not the full report, was procedurally unfair to the complainant and the respondent and ultimately left the public in the dark.

Paul G. Thomas is professor emeritus of political studies, University of Manitoba.
An exterior view shows The Venetian Las Vegas, one of the properties owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp., in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan.12, 2021. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Sands Asian Bet Facing Economic and Political Risks: Expert

As Las Vegas Sands Corp. eyes Macau and Singapore for future growth, an expert warned that this move will likely be entangled with economic and political risks.

The upscale resort and casino company announced on March 3 that it has reached an agreement to sell its Las Vegas real property and operations, including The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and the Sands Expo and Convention Center, for an aggregate sale price of approximately $6.25 billion. Meanwhile, the company plans to continue its business in Asia.

The move marks the companys growing interest in the Asian market.

Asia remains the backbone of this company and our developments in Macao and Singapore are the center of our attention. We will always look for ways to reinvest in our properties and those communities, Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Goldstein said in a statement.

Las Vegas Sands is spending $5.5 billion to renovate and grow its casino holdings in Macau and Singapore, The Nevada Independent reported.

However, an expert in Chinas economy and politics warned that the risk in the Asia market is piling up for Las Vegas Sands.

Frank Tian Xie, John M. Olin Palmetto Chair Professor in Business at the University of South Carolina Aiken, told The Epoch Times that the risks are from two different aspects: economic and political.

Xie said Sands investment in Macau obviously aims at attracting people from China. In the past, a lot of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials went to Macau to gamble to either enjoy themselves or to launder money.

However, Xi Jinpings vigorous anti-corruption campaigns since 2012 have largely curbed officials from going to Macau, or other parts of the world.

In the meantime, the Chinese economy is not doing well, foreign exchange reserves are tight, so there is not much money to take outside of the country.

Sands has underestimated the economic risk, Xie said.

The other issue is political risk.

Xie said regardless of who helped Sands to get the gambling license before, they are all a liability now. Some of the political figures with whom the Sands had established relations before may have belonged to the Jiang Zemin faction.

Jiang is the former leader of the CCP who heads a faction that has struggled with Xi Jinping for control of the Party.

Furthermore, the chances of a total collapse of the CCPs political system and economy are increasing, and Sands has under-assessed this risk too, Xie said.

Since Sands was granted a gambling license in Macau in 2002 and became the first foreign gambling group to be licensed there, the scale of Sands investment in China (Macau) has grown by factors of tens.

The Epoch Times reached out to Las Vegas Sands for comment.

Macaus Gambling License Renewal: a CCP Bargaining Chip?

Sands is facing some uncertainties after it decided to completely shift its focus to China. The biggest one is whether Sands gambling license in Macau can be renewed after it expires in June 2022.

The Macau government has not yet openly disclosed its intention as to whether it will renew Sands license. However, as the tensions between the United States and China continue, there are concerns that as Sands is a U.S. company, its license renewal could be affected.

As early as the end of 2018, Hong Kongs Oriental Daily reported that while there had been rumors that the government of Macau might initiate an open bid for gambling licenses, details of the renewal of current licenses were not disclosed, and the reason might be that the Macau authorities were waiting for instructions from Beijing.

The media outlet quoted Macau current affairs commentator So Man-yan as saying, Apparently, one of the main reasons for the Macau governments delay in announcing the license renewal arrangement is that it is waiting for instructions from the central government.

So said, three of the six licensed gaming companies (including Sands Venetian Macao) are U.S. companies, and this could be an important bargaining chip for the Chinese Communist authorities in the U.S.-China trade war.

Katherine Jiang, a Hong Kong-based financial and investment analyst, told the Epoch Times that in addition to the uncertainty surrounding the extension of Macaus gambling license, Sands growing investment in China will make it hard for it to pull out, and the bet is very risky.

Hoffman Ho Man, the Deputy Chairman of Success Universe Group Limited, told Headline Daily that the Sandss gambling license renewal will likely be affected by the U.S.-China tension and the Macau government may intend to award licenses to Chinese companies or change the rule of license renewal to benefit some local or Chinese businesses.

Old Connection With Beijing Facing New Tests

Company profiles show Sands properties in Macau include Sands Macao, the Venetian Macao, the Plaza Macao, the Parisian Macao, and the Londoner Macao. The company also owns Cotai Expo, one of the largest convention centers in Asia, as well as Cotai Arena, the largest performance venue in Macau.

The company invested $265 million in the Sands Macau Hotel in May 2004 and opened the $2.4-billion Venetian Macau in August 2007.

Various lawsuits indicated that Las Vegas Sands gained their gambling license in Macau through intensive engagement with CCP officials.

In 2004, Hong Kong businessman Richard Suen who brokered the deal between Sands and the CCP, sued Sandss late founder Sheldon Adelson in the United States. Suen alleged that he arranged Adelsons meetings with Qian Qichen, former Chinese vice premier and then-director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, and Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Olympic Committee and Secretary of the CCP Beijing Municipal Committee in 2000.

Edmund Ho, then-governor of Macau, issued gambling licenses afterward to Sands when Macaus three gambling licenses were split into six.

The case was settled in March 2019 after 14 years of legal battle. Terms of the settlement werent announced.

However, the old connection established by Sands then will likely face new tests as Xi Jinping became the leader in China in 2012.

After taking office, Xi sought to consolidate his power in the party to avoid being eliminated in factional politics. In Xis anti-corruption campaign, many high-ranking officials associated with the Jiang Zemin faction have been arrested, The Epoch Times reported.

Its unclear if Sands has a strong tie with the Xi faction.

Jennifer Bateman contributed to this report.


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It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
The current president of the Chamber of Commerce was a guest on RTL Radio on Saturday afternoon.

In an interview on RTL Radio on Saturday, the former Minister of Finance Luc Frieden stressed that the government needs to step up the pace of its vaccination campaign. Other countries could serve as examples of a more pragmatic and efficient approach.

On the other hand, Frieden defended the decision to delegate the purchase of vaccines to the European Commission, while adding that it may have been beneficial to still allow individual countries to make their own purchases on top of the joint orders. Frieden also supports the idea that the EU should not export vaccines for the time being.

When asked about the early vaccinations affair at the Hopitaux Robert Schuman, the former politician of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) replied that "if rules have been laid out, they need to be respected". Frieden stated that the vaccination strategy and the prioritisation of certain groups simply made sense.

While Frieden declined to comment on the justifications given by Jean-Louis Schiltz, he explained that Hopitaux Robert Schuman regularly hiring Schiltz's law firm is not a conflict of interest "per se".

'Strive to be among the best'

The current president of the Chamber of Commerce stressed that Luxembourg "always needs to strive to be among the best". In order for the economy to recover, the government needs to organise a quick and effective vaccination campaign, which would then allow the country's companies to operate normally again. After that, the priority should be on offering companies an appealing business environment, which should include an appropriate tax law.

Regarding the future of the CSV, Frieden stated that he will not participate in the party's general assembly on 24 April, during which members will elect the next party president. As president of the Chamber of Commerce, Frieden has decided to distance himself from party affairs. However, he did add that it would not be "an atypical situation" in any party, if multiple candidates entered the race.

Frieden concluded by saying that he does not plan to return to politics himself, and he also does not believe in a comeback of Luxembourg's former Prime Minister and President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.


How the mighty are fallen, at least when the fallen mighty person is New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo. The man whom, last year, leftists were celebrating as the ultimate antidote to the alleged horrors and errors flowing from the Trump White House is now so reviled that the entire Democrat party has turned against him, and, in the ultimate insult, the AP is comparing him to Donald Trump.

I don't need to recite in too much detail the mini-deification that Democrats in politics, Hollywood, and the media sent Andrew Cuomo's way in 2020. While Trump sent hospital ships, ventilators, masks, and pop-up hospitals, Cuomo talked and talked and talked. And with every shining pearl of wisdom that dropped from his lips, Democrats fell more deeply in love. The apotheosis was the Hollywood establishment giving Cuomo an Emmy for his stirring performance as the pandemic governor, leading his people to safety despite the daily horrors of a virus and a Trump presidency.

Those days are long gone, as is the Trump presidency. When New York A.G. Letitia James (probably with an eye on the governor's mansion herself) revealed that Cuomo had misrepresented the number of elderly people who died on his watch, the Democrat party realized that it had a big problem. The problem wasn't so much that Cuomo's policies had turned nursing homes into abattoirs. That was water under the bridge.

The problem was that, if too much was made of the fact that he caused the unnecessary, premature, and lonely deaths of so many elderly New Yorkers, there might be a domino effect that would take down other Democrat governors who embraced the same policy of sending COVID-infected patients into nursing homes to clear hospital beds. They did this long after it became clear that, thanks in large part to Trump's efforts to speed production of ventilators, masks, and pop-up hospitals, clearing beds was no longer the necessity everyone had first assumed. Nothing deterred the governors in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania from their cruel, unreasoning determination to send sick people to live among those most vulnerable to the virus.

Cuomo had to go, and he had to go for reasons other than manslaughter. Fortunately, in December, a woman who had worked with Cuomo had accused him of sexual harassment. Suddenly, she went from an inconvenience to a lifeline, especially when another woman said Cuomo had harassed her, too. As of this writing, seven women have accused the governor of sexual harassment. For outspoken Democrat feminists, they sure kept quiet until it was obvious that he was on his way out, but whatever.

With a politically correct reason to cancel the governor, leftists inside and outside New York started calling for Cuomo's resignation. To their chagrin, he refused to go. Instead, Cuomo claimed  accurately enough, in an ironic way  that he was being made a victim of cancel culture:

JUST IN - NY Gov. Cuomo says he won't "bow to cancel culture"pic.twitter.com/gjsnJ0o9rV  Disclose.tv  (@disclosetv) March 12, 2021

If nothing else, you have to admire the chutzpah. However, now that both of New York's senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have demanded Cuomo's resignation, I expect him to retire fairly quickly. To her credit, AOC was the only person who said Cuomo should go, not just because he made women uncomfortable, but also because he was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.

To show just how low Cuomo has fallen, the AP, in a travesty of a "news" report, likened the erstwhile beloved governor to Trump, while praising Biden for Trump's accomplishments fighting the virus:

The escalating political crisis has spawned an impeachment inquiry in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, and threatens to cast a cloud over President Joe Biden's early days in office. Republicans have seized on the scandal to try to distract from Biden's success tackling the coronavirus pandemic and challenge his party's well-established advantage with female voters. Biden, a longtime ally of Cuomo and his father, former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, has avoided directly addressing the controversy, although it's becoming increasingly difficult. White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday declined to say whether Biden believes Cuomo should resign. She said every woman who has come forth "deserves to have her voice heard, should be treated with respect and should be able to tell her story." [snip] A defiant Cuomo earlier in the day insisted he would not step down and condemned his Democratic detractors as "reckless and dangerous." "I did not do what has been alleged. Period," he said, before evoking a favorite grievance of former President Donald Trump. "People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth."

I guess the activists at the AP think this  ahem  "reporting" will help distract from the fact that Biden's record with women and little girls is way worse than Cuomo's. It's rather delightful to see Democrats discover that, now that they control everything, they have nowhere to hide when their despicable behavior catches up with them. Even a blankie and a beer aren't going to make anything better for soon-to-be-ex-governor Cuomo:

You know its bad when youre wearing a blankie https://t.co/ZNw2R8TCDc  Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) March 12, 2021

Image: Andrew Cuomo by Donkey Hotey. CC BY 2.0.
City Editor

Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has cover statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids.
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Covering the Christians United for Israel's (CUFI) 15th anniversary, the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) describes CUFI as "one of the most powerful voices for Israel in the United States."

Pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of CUFI, told the JNS Press that he never imagined CUFI would achieve so much and that God has blessed the organization. when it stepped into the role of fulfilling the biblical mandate to stand with Israel. Hagee further noted that Christian Zionism in the U.S. was a "sleeping giant" that only needed a nudge to be awakened.

"This said, I noted when we launched CUFI that there was a sleeping giant of Christian Zionism in this country. That giant has now been awakened. When millions of people share a passion for Israel, great things are possible," he said.

All the misrepresentations aside, Hagee is elated at the accomplishments of CUFI.

"I won't use the word 'proud' because the glory for CUFI's success is God's alone," he said. "The most significant achievement was bringing together millions of people from many different backgrounds and denominations across America in support of one single cause-Israel and the Jewish people."

JNS agrees on this noting their observation of the organization's leadership and grassroots supporters as reflecting the "diversity and forward-thinking in its support for Israel, and not afraid to call out all forms of bigotry and anti-Semitism while remaining true to its biblical values."

More Joining the Cause

On the grassroots level, more than 4,000 university students have joined CIFU, the Pro-Israel news agency reports.

Mareyah Washington, a junior at St. Augustine University and head of the school's CUFI chapter, told JNS that her support for Israel is rooted in her own personal faith.

"You are sometimes viewed as a sell-out for advocating for a non-African nation," she said. "However, Israel has a long history of standing with and protecting Africa, as do the Jewish people with African-Americans."

Pastor Jay Bailey, lead pastor of Solid Rock Church in Columbus, Ga. who has been involved with CUFI since 2010 said that CUFI will continue to inspire and challenge thought leaders and political influencers.

"The Bible mandates that we love and honor Israel, and in doing so, we are honoring God and His eternal Word," he told JNS while also noting how the initiative bridged Christians' relationship with the Jewish communities.

"The relationships that have been forged, especially with the Jewish community, have been deeply meaningful and fulfilling. What has been particularly special to experience has been the receptivity of the Jewish people," he said.

Despite the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States, Bailey said that CIFU has now 10 million members and more joining the organization's cause.

"The challenge is clear: It is noble, it is right, and it summons us to embrace it," said Bailey.

On the political level, the Christian Zionism worldview has also played a role in the lobbying of international policies in support of Israel. CUFI was reportedly involved in the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018, and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty in the following year.

As for the organization's legacy and continuity, Hagee said that nothing will stop it as long as it "remains true to its Biblical values."

"We have an impact because our people understand that to be a faithful supporter of Israel requires action and failure to act provides Israel's enemies abroad and the anti-Semites here at home with an opening for their hatred to take root and propagate," he said.

By adopting Japanese processing technology, Nguyen Thu Hong has been able to produce fried fish cakes infused with fruit and other flavors that have proven a big hit both at home and abroad.

One of Vietnams iconic dishes, particularly in Hanoi and other northern localities, cha ca (fried fish cakes) is made from seasoned ground fish (usually catfish) that has been both charcoal grilled and fried.

Cha ca typically pairs well with bread or rice vermicelli.

Hong has made a name for herself among the local foodie community thanks to her creative blend of fine-quality fried fish cakes and array of other iconic dishes she produces.

She recently debuted a new type of banh chung (square glutinous rice cake) that uses her fried fish cake as one of its main ingredients.

The scientist-turned-entrepreneur also donated sponge cake topped with fried fish cakes to frontline healthcare workers in mid 2020, when Vietnam was fighting off its second wave of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections.

Upon graduating in 2011 from her masters program in marine research in Japan, Hong decided it was time to establish her own startup in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam.

With a passion for the food industry in her veins and research expertise under her belt, the young woman jumped headfirst into a cha ca startup.

Her company was later recognized at the Vietnam Startup Wheel 2016, a local competition for startups held by Business Startup Support Center annually, and has since received several investment offers, including an investment fund worth over US$1 million, helping her secure enough capital to perfect her products, map out a development strategy, and strengthen her human resources.

Seasoning the delicacy

After returning from Japan in 2013, Hong worked as a researcher at the Nha Trang-based Institute of Oceanography while researching and testing her unique recipes for fish cake.

She later left her job to launch Cam Ranh Food Co., Ltd. (CARAFOODS) and her brand, Hong Fish Paste.

According to Hong, each time she travelled from Vietnam to Japan for her masters program, she brought along 30-40 kilograms of fried fish cakes, winning over the hearts and stomachs of her Vietnamese cohorts.

Selling the fish cakes not only enabled Hong to pay her tuition, but also allowed her to understand Japanese tastes.

After acquiring essential processing technology, Hong was granted a two-week internship from her professor at one of Japans reputed fish paste firms.

Fried fish paste with dragon fruit and other vegetables as one of the main ingredients are most sought-after products by Nguyen Thu Hongs company. Photo: C.K. / Tuoi Tre

According to Hong, the CEO of the Japanese firm served as a great mentor, telling her If you are to develop a fried fish cake business in Vietnam, you must first turn yourself into an expert in the area and invite a like-minded investor to join you. Only then can you accelerate the process.

But it was not as easy as she hoped.

After dozens of business pitches, Hong connected with a local angel investor who was willing to accompany her to Japan to meet with her professor and the Japanese CEO for talks about partnership.

As a researcher, Hongs passion and academic knowledge fueled her desire to launch her own company. However, passion and knowledge alone were not enough to keep it afloat.

One of her sources of inspiration came from the dragon fruit bread, debuted by a local baker in February last year as metric tons of Vietnams dragon fruit are barred from being exported to China in light of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic.

The baker used the red-flesh fruit as one of its main ingredients and saw many people queue up for their new bite.

Eager to help the farmers use their surplus dragon fruit, Hong began working on ways to incorporate dragon fruit into her fried fish cakes.

An unlikely match, fish cakes and dragon fruit make a surprisingly delicious fusion, and an attractive color to the traditional delicacy.

Many believe that dragon fruit goes well with starch, and should be prepared with bread, pizza, or vermicelli, Hong noted. Technically speaking, fish cakes, arent a likely match for the fruit.

Hong's success was followed by more recipes using farm produce, including fried fish cakes with pumpkin and butterfly peas.

In addition to working hard on her receptors, Hong ensures that her products are clean, organic, and sustainable by using a Japanese food processing technology which excludes the use of Neobor  an additive often used in fish paste to provide added chewiness.

Im committed to turning out products that are not yet available on the market and have the potential to become national brands, Hong shared.

Above all, I want to give everyone access to safe, healthy food.

Aside from her startup, Hong works with other local entrepreneurs and participates in community activities.

In 2018, she and several partners founded Khanh Hoa Startup Club, which has organized nearly 40 free-admission events to date in order to provide aspiring youth in and outside of the province with tips on how to successfully launch a startup and expand their networks.

The club founders are set on building a firm, supportive startup ecosystem with a message that reads Being with one another for sustainable growth and turning its members into global citizens.

My greatest success so far is not the launch of a firm or an investment fund of US$1 million, she shared. Really, my most remarkable achievement is learning how to be the one living with the present, making myself better day by day and building wealth for my family, company, and the community.

With these principles in mind, the aspiring entrepreneur is also active in community work.

While she was studying in Japan, she and some other international students formed a group to provide cooking tutoring sessions for Japanese people to finance scholarships for needy students in Vietnam.

The program, which is still running, has helped relieve financial difficulties for many underprivileged students, allowing them to access proper educations and stable jobs.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Sydney-based pilot James 'Jimmy' Nicholson is hoping to find love as Channel 10's 2021 Bachelor.

But it's been revealed the handsome suitor isn't new to TV or having an inner circle of famous pals.

Daily Mail Australia can confirm the 31-year-old has a bevy of reality TV mates in his celebrity network, including former Bachelor, Bachelorette and MAFS stars.

The Bachelor EXCLUSIVE: Jimmy Nicholson already has a string of famous friends, including interesting reality TV connections with Bachelor runner-up Bella Varelis and MAFS groom Mikey Pembroke

Bella Varelis - The Bachelor

Bella Varelis recently revealed that she briefly dated Jimmy after her heartbreaking rejection from last season's Bachelor Locky Gilbert.

Former Survivor star Locky filmed his finale with Bella in July, and she appeared to test the waters with Jimmy in the months that followed.

'We were chatting and went on a couple dates towards the end of last year, we got set up by a friend,' Bella told The Wash, not revealing who the mystery pal was.

She added: 'He's a really lovely human, definitely deserves to find love!'

Case of the ex? Bella Varelis, 27, (pictured) recently revealed that she briefly went on a few dates with Jimmy after her heartbreaking rejection from last season's Bachelor Locky Gilbert

'He's really lovely human, definitely deserves to find love! Bella only had kind words to say about Jimmy (pictured) to the publication

Who knew? Once signed to Chadwick Models, Jimmy is understood to have become close with former Bachelorette star-turned-model Samuel Johnson (pictured)

Samuel Johnson - The Bachelorette

Interestingly, Bachelorette star Samuel Johnson once dated Bella too, and both Bella and Jimmy are friends with Sam on Instagram.

Once signed to Chadwick Models, Jimmy is understood to have become close with former Bachelorette star-turned-model Samuel.

The pair were both cast for similar jobs and worked alongside each other for several years chasing their dreams of appearing on magazine covers.

Sam's brother is also a pilot, which makes another possible connection between the two men.

Sam famously appeared on Georgia Love's season of The Bachelorette before he was sent home for failing to connect with her on a double date.

Once rivals, now friends! Daily Mail Australia understands that Jimmy and Mikey were once 'rivals' playing rugby against each other for different high schools

Mikey Pembroke - Married At First Sight

Former Married At First Sight groom Mikey Pembroke is believed to also be friends with the new Bachelor.

Daily Mail Australia understands that Jimmy and Mikey were once 'rivals' playing rugby against each other for different high schools.

It's understood, they later managed to form an unlikely friendship, with Mikey, 30, revealing Jimmy is a 'really good guy'.

'He's a mate of mine, we hang in the same social circles, he's a really good guy,' he spoke of their friendship.

Links: The soon-to-be Bachelor star is also followed on Instagram by other local stars including actor Hugh Sheridan, and 2018's Miss Universe Australia Francesca Hung (pictured)

Meanwhile, the soon-to-be bachelor is also followed on Instagram by other local stars including actor Hugh Sheridan, and 2018's Miss Universe Australia Francesca Hung.

It is also understood that Married At First Sight groom Jake Edward's disgruntled ex girlfriend, Paige McCuskey, is also following the soon-to-be reality star.

The Bachelor will premiere later this year on Channel 10
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In The Saracens Mark (Atlantic, May.), Perrys Elizabethan sleuth, physician Nicholas Shelby, must solve murders in London and Morocco.

How did this series originate?

Id written a historical novel set in ancient Rome, which got rave rejections from publishers. I would have given up on getting published if it hadnt been for their supportive comments. So I decided to have one last attempt, and set the story in Elizabethan London. Being a Londoner and a Shakespeare fan, I have a soft spot for Southwark, where the Rose and the Globe playhouses were, and which was the citys red light district at the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

What about this era fascinates you?

It was a time of great upheaval, the shift from the medieval into the early modern. Religion was a paramount factor in every single persons life. In England, we went from Catholic to Protestant, back to Catholic and then to Protestant again, all in barely 50 years. From the scientific aspect, its the dawn of the modern world. Physicians are beginning to challenge the erroneous assumptions of the pastthe purpose of even the heart isnt understood. And astronomers are starting to think the unthinkablethat the earth is not the center of the cosmos.

Why make your lead a physician?

I wanted my lead to be very competent in his own world, but also beset by self-doubt. What better than a physician? This is a time when medicine is based on assumptions made by ancient Greeks and Romans. Nicholas is good at the practical side of what he does, having been a surgeon in the war in the Spanish Netherlands. He can treat wounds and fix bones. But he learns that all the theory hes been taught about how the body works and how it should be healed is based on ignorance. When he needs it most, it fails him. He has to rediscover his own self-worth.

Where did the idea for the Moroccan part of the story come from?

I wanted to get Nicholas out of Southwarkjust for a change, really. In my research for the other books, Id learned there was a company set up in London in the late 16th century to trade with what was then called the Barbary Shoremodern-day Algeria and Morocco. A visit by a Moroccan envoy to London had made the exotic fashions and manners of the people they referred to as Moors very popular. There was a political element to this relationship, too. Despite the fact that in the eyes of each nation, the other was heathen, they both had Catholic Spain as an enemy.
The shock and horror of homicide is somehow compounded when the crime is committed by a family member, violating the trust many see as inherent to sharing DNA or exchanging vows.

Most of us think of families as representing safety and love, says Charles Spicer, v-p and executive editor at St. Martins, whose forthcoming releases At Any Cost and Golden Boy show that some homes are anything but safe. Families are places of refuge where we go for emotional support and protection from danger. How terrifying, then, to be taken inside a family where that very danger is hidden, lying in wait, ready to strike.

Here, we round up new tales of crimes committed within the family unit that also explore larger issues, including failures in the criminal justice and mental health systems.

Buy this book Bookshop IndieBound At Any Cost Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar. St. Martins, Apr. On New Years Eve 2009, the body of Shele Covlin, a successful wealth manager in New York City, was discovered floating in a bloody bathtub by her two young children. Her death was initially ruled an accident, and it took a decade for justice to be served. In 2019, Covlins estranged and abusive husband, Rod Covlin, was convicted of her murder, after attempting to frame his daughter for the crime and plotting to kill his parents. PWs starred review calls the book a riveting account and a chilling plunge into the mind of a psychopath.

Couple Found Slain Mikita Brottman. Holt, July Psychoanalyst Brottman (An Unexplained Death) probes the U.S. mental health system through the story of Brian Bechtold, who in 1992 walked into a police station and confessed to killing his parents in their Maryland home, claiming to have been possessed by the devil. Bechtold, then 22, was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and for 27 years has been interned at a maximum-security psychiatric hospital; in her book, Brottman describes Bechtolds life before the murder, and his post-conviction world in the institution.

Golden Boy John Glatt. St. Martins, July In 2020s The Perfect Father, Glatt chronicled the crimes of Christopher Watts, who admitted to smothering his pregnant wife and two young daughters in 2018. Here, he turns his attention to another familial homicide. Thomas Gilbert Jr., a Princeton grad and son of a Manhattan hedge fund manager, shot his father in the head at point-blank range in 2015. Gilbert pleaded not guilty, with his lawyers mounting an insanity defense, but he was convicted of second-degree murder in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison. His mother, whom Glatt interviewed for the book, maintains that her son killed his father as a result of acute mental illness.

My Brother the Killer Alix Sharkey. Harper, Aug. Journalist Sharkey explores the different life paths he and his younger brother, Stuart, have takenAlix writes and travels the world, and Stuart has been imprisoned for 20 years after being convicted of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of his 15-year-old niece. While also detailing their upbringing in southeast England under the thumb of their violent, alcoholic father, Sharkey seeks to answer the question of what makes a murderer and attempts to convince his brother to reveal the location of the childs remains, to bring the family peace.

Return to the main feature.
Lex Greensill is said to be keen to work 'voluntarily' for the administrators & the firm

The billionaire founder of Greensill Capital is in talks to remain with the firm despite its collapse.

Friends of Lex Greensill said the banker is hoping to work for the company during the administration process.

The Australian is said to be keen to work 'voluntarily' for the administrators and the business, whose advisers include former Prime Minister David Cameron, to figure out a way of saving as much of the firm as possible.

Greensill  which specialises in providing small and medium-sized businesses with access to working capital finance to run their day-to-day operations  went into administration last week.

Yesterday reports suggested that British taxpayers are exposed to more than 1billion of debt from the troubled business empire of Greensill and Sanjeev Gupta's steel group GFG Alliance.

Greensill was unable to repay a 100million loan to Credit Suisse and had been hit by defaults from GFG Alliance, a key customer.

Greensill and administrator Grant Thornton declined to comment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the fourth Global Ayurveda Festival virtually, has acknowledged the importance of Ayurveda and traditional medicines in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister talked about the rising demand for Ayurveda products, growing global interest in Ayurveda, and the potential for wellness tourism in India. Talking about the rising interest in Ayurveda products, both domestically and globally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PM Modi said, "The current situation presents a right time for Ayurveda and traditional medicines to become even more popular globally. There is growing interest in them. The world is seeing how modern and traditional medicines are important to further wellness. People are realising the benefits of Ayurveda and its role in boosting immunity."

Describing Ayurveda as a "holistic science", the PM said its impact and influence is immense and it helps in conditions related to both physical wellness and mental well-being. He also acknowledged the growing interest of youngsters in Ayurvedic medicines and growth in opportunities due to combining traditional and modern medicines. He called upon the teaching community to focus more on Ayurveda and traditional medicine-related researches and urged the startup community to look at Ayurvedic products.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted Ayurveda's potential in boosting India's wellness tourism whose basic tenet is to treat illness and further wellness and said-- "Whether you want to treat your body or retreat for your mind, come to India".

The Prime Minister went onto pitch for a global Ayurvedic summit and emphasised the need to promote food items related to Ayurveda. "Let Ayurveda be a driving force, which brings the world to our land. May it also create prosperity for our youth," the Prime Minister said.

Also read: Patanjali criticises IMA for seeking explanation from Harsh Vardhan over Coronil

Also read: 'United by our democratic values': PM Modi says Quad force for global good
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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Hong Kong: Govt opposes EU report

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed strong opposition to the remarks in the report on Hong Kong issued by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said it takes great exceptions to the biased and ungrounded political smearing against the Hong Kong National Security Law.

It noted national security is a matter within the purview of the central authorities. It is the legitimate right and duty of every state to safeguard its national security. Be it adopting a unitary or federal system, legislation on national security is invariably carried out by the central authorities rather than local government.

Enacting laws on national security with extraterritorial effect is also squarely in line with international practice. In many countries, laws regarding national security have extraterritorial effect.

It pointed out that the European Commission is demonstrating their obvious double standards against the Hong Kong SAR.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said it is untrue and biased to say that the National Security Law has had a chilling effect on the exercise of rights and freedoms in the city.

The National Security Law clearly stipulates that the Hong Kong SAR shall protect the rights and freedoms enjoyed by residents under the Basic Law, and International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights, as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong in accordance with the law.

The four categories of offences of endangering national security which the National Security Law provides are narrowly defined with the elements, the penalties, mitigation factors and other consequences of the offences clearly prescribed. Law-abiding people will not unwittingly violate the law.

It should however be pointed out that no one is above the law. Any acts, regardless of whether the relevant rights have been exercised, if violence is involved or the law has been violated, will have gone beyond the constitutionally guaranteed bounds.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said it should not let politics override justice. Political pluralism does not mean attempts to seriously undermine the performance of government duties and functions can be made. The arrests made by Police are based on evidence and strictly according to the laws in force.

It emphasised that no one has any privilege to break the law without facing legal consequences.

Police have a statutory duty to maintain public safety and public order and a set of stringent guidelines on the use of force consistent with international human rights norms and standards.

Since the National Security Laws implementation, stability has been restored to society and national security has been safeguarded in the Hong Kong SAR.

The report called into question China's willingness to uphold the one country, two systems principle. The Hong Kong SAR Government said this is a groundless accusation.

Hong Kong SAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China (PRC), a local administrative region that enjoys a high degree of autonomy under one country, two systems and comes directly under the Central People's Government (CPG).

To uphold and implement the principle of one country, two systems meets the interests of the Hong Kong people, responds to the needs of maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and serves the fundamental interests of the nation. The CPG has time and again made it clear that it will unswervingly implement the policy of one country, two systems.

On the postponement of the General Election of the Legislative Council, the peoples health and well-being are the overriding concern of any responsible government. The Hong Kong SAR Government has repeatedly stressed that the postponement of the 2020 LegCo General Election is entirely based on public health grounds.

According to the decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) on August 11, 2020, the sixth-term LegCo of the Hong Kong SAR will continue to discharge its duties for no less than one year until the commencement of the seventh-term LegCo. The decision also states clearly that the seventh-term LegCo will have a term of four years after it has been formed in accordance with the law.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also disagreed with the report's claim that the decision to disqualify four LegCo members undermined Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

The NPCSC's decision on the qualification of LegCo members of the Hong Kong SAR on November 11, 2020, clearly establishes that a LegCo member does not fulfil the legal requirements and conditions on upholding the Basic Law and pledging allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR if the member advocates or supports Hong Kong independence, refuses to recognise the PRCs sovereignty over Hong Kong and the exercise of the sovereignty, solicits intervention by foreign or external forces in the Hong Kong SAR's affairs, or carries out other activities endangering national security.

The decision is applicable to the members of the sixth-term LegCo whose nominations were decided to be invalid in accordance with law by the Hong Kong SAR during the nomination period of the election for the seventh-term LegCo originally scheduled for September 6, 2020.

The report also expressed concerns about the unfounded accusations of bias against courts. It is enshrined under the Basic Law that the courts of the Hong Kong SAR can exercise independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, free from any interference.

The Basic Law clearly stipulates that judges and other members of the judiciary of the Hong Kong SAR shall be chosen on the basis of their judicial and professional qualities. The constitutional duty of judges, in the exercise of their judicial power, is to apply the law and nothing else. Such duty does not change when judges decide cases arising from or involving political controversies.

Additionally, the report expressed doubts about certain prosecutorial decisions. The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that no one should interfere with the independent prosecutorial decisions which are based on an objective assessment of all admissible evidence, applicable laws and the Prosecution Code, without political considerations.

The Basic Law stipulates that prosecutions in the Hong Kong SAR are made by the Department of Justice, free from any interference. Prosecutions would only commence if there is sufficient admissible evidence to support a reasonable prospect of conviction.

This story has been published on: 2021-03-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin Ul Haque chaired a virtual meeting with the newly elected leadership of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), as well as the Pakistan-China Business Council (PCBC)

BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Mar, 2021 ) :Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin Ul Haque chaired a virtual meeting with the newly elected leadership of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), as well as the Pakistan-China Business Council (PCBC).

Congratulating the FPCCI's new leadership team, the Ambassador highlighted the FPCCI's important role as a platform for Pakistan's vibrant private sector to contribute to policy making and strengthen overseas economic cooperation.

The Ambassador and his team briefed the participants on Pakistan's economic diplomacy in China, which had achieved tangible results despite the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Positive outcomes included the 18 percent year-over-year increase in Pakistan's exports to China in 2020.

The meeting included discussion on opportunities for Pakistani and Chinese enterprises under the upgraded Pakistan-China Free Trade Agreement that took effect from 2020.

As Pakistan's largest trading partner and major source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), China was playing an important role as a partner in Pakistan's economic development.

Ambassador Haque invited the FPCCI/PCBC and Pakistani enterprises to play their full role in enhancing business and commercial linkages with the vast Chinese market.

Both sides also discussed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that has entered a new phase of higher-quality development focusing on industrial relocation, agricultural modernization, socioeconomic development and infrastructure upgrading. Emphasizing CPEC's potential as a transformational project, the Ambassador highlighted the pivotal role of enterprises from both countries in maximizing the benefits accruing from CPEC's current stage.

It was agreed to continue result-oriented consultations and organize joint meetings between Pakistani and Chinese enterprises to forge synergies and practical linkages.

The Ambassador was accompanied by Ahmed Farooq, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, Badar Uz Zaman, Commercial Counsellor, and other officers of the Embassy.

The Consuls General based in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai also joined the meeting.
It is suspected that sparks from a fire they may have started to smoke out bees at a hive may have resulted in the blaze (Representational image: PTI)

A 40-year-old Chenchu tribal, Lingamaiah, on Saturday, succumbed to burns that he sustained in a forest fire on March 7 in the Amrabad tiger Reserve. This is the first incident in which a fire in a forest in Telangana state has resulted in the loss of human life.

Lingamaiah died at the Osmania General Hospital, where he was battling for life since March 7. Three other Chenchus, from Mallapur Penta, who also received burns in the same incident are receiving treatment for burn injuries.

It may be recalled that a group of 11 Chenchus from Mallapur Penta, a hamlet deep inside the tiger reserve, were reported to be out in the forest searching for tubers and to tap honey when they were caught in the fire.

The months leading up to the peak summer are considered the fire season in the states forests. In Amrabad, the undergrowth dries up by the end of January and the trees shed their leaves turning several parts of the forest into potential tinder boxes. While there is no certainty on how the fire, in which the Chenchus were caught, started, it is suspected that sparks from a fire they may have started to smoke out bees at a hive may have resulted in the blaze.

Tribal welfare minister Satyavathi Rathod expressed distress at Lingamaiah's death and, in a statement, said the government would assist his family comprising his wife and five children in every possibly way. The government will ensure the education of the children and their marriages, she said.

The minister said the government sanctioned an immediate relief of `1 lakh to Lingamaiah, and equal amounts to the three other Chenchus who are undergoing treatment. Three others who also suffered burns and were recuperating in their hamlet have been given `50,000 each, Rathod said.
New Delhi: 'Effortless and painless', expressed the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata, after getting the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday (March 13, 2021).

Ratan Tata also truly hoped that everyone can be immunised and protected soon. The Tata Trusts Chairman took to his official Twitter account to announce the news. He wrote, "Very thankful to have gotten my first vaccination shot today. It was effortless and painless. I truly hope everyone can be immunised and protected soon."

Very thankful to have gotten my first vaccination shot today. It was effortless and painless. I truly hope everyone can be immunised and protected soon.  Ratan N. Tata (@RNTata2000) March 13, 2021

Ratan Tata shared the news a day after India recorded a significant milestone in its countrywide COVID-19 vaccination drive which started on January 16, 2021.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), more than 20 lakh (20,53,537) coronavirus vaccine doses were given on Day-56 of the vaccination drive (March 12) through 30,561 sessions. This is the highest single-day vaccine administration so far.

"16,39,663 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose (Health Care Workers and Front Line Workers) and 4,13,874 HCWs and FLWs received the 2nd dose of vaccine," said the MoHFW.

Cumulative of over 2.82 crore vaccine doses have been administered through 4,86,314 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Saturday. These include 72,93,575 HCWs (1st dose), 41,94,030 HCWs (2nd dose), 72,35,745 FLWs (1st dose) and 9,48,923 FLWs (2nd Dose), 12,54,468 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbidities (1st Dose) and 72,91,716 beneficiaries aged more than 60 years.

The vaccination of the FLWs started on February 2, whereas, the next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1, for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.

Meanwhile, India recorded 24,882 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours that took the country's active count climbs to 2.02 lakh.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio  Federal authorities Thursday accused a jilted lover from Northeast Ohio of delivering a bomb that exploded in front of a rival suitor.

Prosecutors in Maryland filed federal weapons charges Thursday against Clayton McCoy, 30, of Chesterland. The charges say the device blasted shrapnel into the victims body last fall. The victim, who was not identified, suffered serious injuries, including burns, to his chest and legs, according to a federal affidavit filed in U.S. District Court.

Magistrate Judge Carmen Henderson ordered McCoy detained without bond and transferred his case to Maryland, where federal prosecutors will try his case. His attorney for Thursdays hearing, Darin Thompson, could not be reached for comment. A person who answered the phone at McCoys home declined to discuss the case.

The hearing came a day after state and federal authorities arrested McCoy and searched his home on Sherman Road for evidence.

Dawn Machon, an agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said in an affidavit that authorities responded to an explosion Oct. 30 in Manchester, Maryland, a small town north of Baltimore, that seriously injured a man.

The bomber placed the device on the victims front porch in a clear plastic bag that contained a cardboard box at about 8:30 a.m. The victims grandfather noticed the package, which weighed about 10 pounds and had no return address, and brought it inside the house.

According to Machons affidavit, the victim returned home from work about 5:30 p.m. and opened the box. He found a smaller, white box inside it. As he opened it, a small nail that appeared inserted in the box was pulled outward, the affidavit says.

As he removed the nail, the victim heard whistling or hissing followed by the blast, the document says. BBs and triangular-shaped metal pieces struck the victim as shrapnel scattered across the room, according to the affidavit.

After the explosion, authorities interviewed the victims girlfriend. Investigators asked whether she knew of anyone who could be responsible for the explosion.

The woman told authorities about McCoy. She said that she knew him for about seven years through Dagorhir, a role-playing, live-action combat game, the affidavit says. They had communicated often online and planned a camping trip together in October, Machon says in the filing.

McCoy, according to the affidavit, told the woman that he had feelings for her. The woman, however, said she was in a relationship with another man, who later turned out to be the victim of the blast. McCoy and the woman agreed to be friends. They never went on the trip.

In a follow-up interview at a hospital in November, the victim said he knew McCoy for three years. He told investigators that McCoy was proficient with wood and metal and could have the ability to create the device, according to the affidavit.

The victim, however, didnt think McCoy would have been responsible for the bomb, the document says.

Last month, authorities obtained Google location data for McCoys electronic devices for Oct. 30, the day of the bombing. It showed that McCoy used Google Maps at 1:24 a.m. to obtain directions to the victims home in Manchester, Maryland, the federal filing says.

Four minutes later, one of the devices moved away from McCoys home on Sherman Road and, for nearly seven hours, headed toward

Maryland, making stops for food and gas, according to the document.

It says McCoys electronic device entered the victims neighborhood at 8:18 a.m.

McCoy is charged with transporting explosives with the intent to injure and using or possessing a destructive device. State prison records and the affidavit show McCoy was convicted of pandering an obscenity involving a minor in Geauga County Common Pleas Court in 2013 and served a four-year term.
Five municipalities in northern Luxembourg could merge by 2023 in order to strengthen the region in relation to southern and central Luxembourg.

The Ministry of Home Affairs continues to support the five municipalities of Bettendorf, Diekirch, Erpeldange-sur-Sure, Ettelbruck, and Schieren in their steps towards the merger by 2023. In this context, the municipalities and the ministry meet up regularly. The last meeting took place at the beginning of February.

This week, Minister for Home Affairs Taina Bofferding received a letter from the five municipalities requesting state financial support for the merger of 5,000 per inhabitant. Although the amounts of special aid were recently increased by 10% on the initiative of the minister, the aid requested by the "Nordstad" municipalities is much higher than that

The ministry stated that it will analyse the financial demands and the list of projects that the municipalities intend to implement in the future. The state council will ultimately determine the precise amount of the special aid for supporting the merger.

In a press release, the ministry points out that the government is already carrying out a number of major projects to promote the development of the "Nordstad" municipalities and the quality of life of their inhabitants and will continue to do so.

However, the ministry also acknowledges that the "Nordstad" merger project is "the most ambitious ever undertaken in Luxembourg".
John Finucane has welcomed a decision by the Council of Europe to reopen the case of the 1989 murder of his father, solicitor Pat Finucane (Liam McBurney/PA)

The son of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane has welcomed a decision by the Council of Europe to reopen his fathers case.

John Finucane, Sinn Fein MP for North Belfast, said the decision to reopen examination of the case by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) was a hugely significant move.

The 47-nation council, which oversees the implementation of ECHR judgments, has also called on the UK authorities to step up efforts to conclude all legacy killing inquests within five years.

Expand Close The Council of Europe has decided to reopen its investigation into the murder of Pat Finucane in North Belfast in February 1989 (PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Council of Europe has decided to reopen its investigation into the murder of Pat Finucane in North Belfast in February 1989 (PA)

Mr Finucane welcomed the decision, calling it a hugely significant move, which will advance calls for a public inquiry into his fathers murder.

He told the PA news agency: Its very unusual for the Council of Europe to reopen an investigation.

We have been hopeful as a family that they would do that, but we certainly werent complacent.

This is a result of efforts not just by my family but also by the Irish Government, and I want to thank them for their efforts in that regard.

I think what the announcement today does is it puts a level of scrutiny and spotlight on the British Government and how they propose to deal with the investigation and all of the circumstances around the murder of my father.

The Council of Europe has reopened the investigation into my fatheras killing.



This is a hugely significant move.



The British govt have been criticised internationally for their failure to establish an inquiry & this level of scrutiny is vital to ensure truth can finally emerge pic.twitter.com/pQtQBHfWtm  John Finucane MP (@johnfinucane) March 12, 2021

Asked if it makes a public inquiry more likely, Mr Finucane said: I think it does, because the announcement last November that the British Government essentially wanted to bat this back to the PSNI and the Police Ombudsman, I dont think that really held much water with anybody internationally.

I think the Council of Europes decision today puts focus and scrutiny on that.

It requires the British Government to justify how that decision will live up to the Convention standards. Thats the international human rights standard which the British Government are still bound by.

I think that does draw out the weakness of the British Governments position and I would say it does advance our calls for a public inquiry.

Leading European human rights body the Council of Europe decided to reopen its examination of the case on Friday.

In a statement, the Council said it did so in order to supervise the ongoing measures to ensure that they are adequate, sufficient and proceed in a timely manner.

The Council has invited the authorities to clarify how the ongoing police and Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (Oponi) processes will proceed promptly and in line with Convention standards.

In December the UK Government decided not to hold an immediate public inquiry into the killing of Mr Finucane in 1989, a move branded an insult by the solicitors family.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said he was not taking a public inquiry off the table but that further examinations of the case by police and the Police Ombudsman should conclude first.

The Council rebuked the UK Government at the time for failing to enforce judgments by the ECHR involving security forces killings and suspected collusion cases in Northern Ireland.

Statement on behalf of the Finucane family following the decision by @coe to reopen the case of #patfinucane pic.twitter.com/DoFpRQA9vU  Michael Finucane (@michaelfinucane) March 12, 2021

Pat Finucane, 39, who represented republican and loyalist paramilitaries during the conflict, was shot dead in his family home in North Belfast in February 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) in an attack found to have involved collusion with the State.

UK authorities have also been called on by the Council of Europe to step up efforts to reach its targets of concluding all legacy killing inquests within five years.

Acknowledging delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Council noted: Some progress is now being made, inquests are resuming and recovery planning is under way.

In a statement on Friday it strongly encouraged the authorities to step up their efforts to accelerate as far as possible to meet their target of the conclusion of all inquests within five years.

It has asked for concrete information and explanations as to what measures are being taken to meet the current timeframes and prevent unnecessary delays.

While noting the authorities intention to introduce legislation under the Stormont House Agreement to address legacy issues as soon as possible, the Council outlined its profound concern about the lack of detail over a plan to do so.

The Government must get the Finucane inquiry under way without further delay and heed Council of Europe calls for a human rights-compatible approach to dealing with all outstanding legacy cases Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International

The decision was also welcomed by Amnesty International.

Patrick Corrigan, the human rights groups Northern Ireland programme director, said: This is a welcome move by the Council of Europe, but it is deeply regrettable that the UK Governments shameful refusal to open a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane has made it necessary.

Given the failure to properly investigate this killing, previously identified by the European Court of Human Rights and the UK Supreme Court, it is appalling that the Government continue to shirk not only their duty to the Finucane family but also their obligations under international law.

The Government must get the Finucane inquiry under way without further delay and heed Council of Europe calls for a human rights-compatible approach to dealing with all outstanding legacy cases.

In February 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that investigations into the fatal shooting of the solicitor have not been effective and fell short of international human rights standards. In November 2020, the government again refused a public inquiry into the circumstances of his killing.

The decision not to hold an immediate inquiry into the killing was criticised by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Green Party late last year.

Expand Close (left to right) Katherine Finucane, with her brother, John, and mother, Geraldine, at the offices of Finucane Toner in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp (left to right) Katherine Finucane, with her brother, John, and mother, Geraldine, at the offices of Finucane Toner in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

A letter signed by Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, the SDLPs Colum Eastwood, Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry and the Green Partys Clare Bailey urged a rethink from the UK Government.

They said the decision was neither a credible nor tenable position.

It was an insult to the Finucane family, the senior party figures added.

Your approach to this matter is now a matter of serious public concern.

To avoid a public inquiry, you have clearly made a calculated decision to embark on a high-risk distraction strategy that now places both the Office of the Police Ombudsman and the PSNI in the midst of a historic murder investigation at a time when the intent is to take legacy out of policing.

Your suggested approach potentially risks wider confidence in the rule of law and the administration of justice.

The issue has divided political opinion in Northern Ireland and several unionist politicians have welcomed the Governments decision, arguing that a public inquiry is not justifiable when so many other bereaved families are still waiting for answers.


The massive need for face masks since the covid-19 pandemic has swept the world and has resulted in large manufacture of disposable masks, but it's now feared that if not disposed appropriately can cause a huge threat to the natural planet.



New research assessed across the earth shows that humans are presently using mind-blowing 129 billion face masks each month. The average usage of 2.8 million masks is taking 31 days in a month around the world to be used in a minute

An Increase in Environmental Risks

Researchers now caution that the total amount of masks, with their plastic makeup, presents an increase in environmental risk and efforts should be made to keep it from becoming the subsequent plastic crisis.

University of Southern Denmark environmental toxicologist Elvis Genbo Xu and Princeton University expert in civil andenvironmental engineer professor Zhiyong Jason Ren explained that "Disposable masks are plastic properties, that can't be readily biodegraded but may shatter into tiny plastic grains, known as nano and microplastics that widespread in ecosystems."



The large creation of disposable masks is on a related scale as plastic containers, which is approximated to be 43 billion each month. Researchers explained that unlike plastic containers, of which an estimated 25 percent are reused, there is a formal recommendation on mask reprocessing, giving rise to more possibility to be inappropriately disposed.

ALSO READ: Environmental Cost of Doing Laundry

Micro-Sized Components

If not disposed for reprocessing, like other plastic rubbish, disposable masks can finish upt in the surroundings, oceans, and clean water systems, where weathering can create a huge number of micro-sized components - funnier than 5mm in just a week and more fragment smaller than 1 micrometer into nano plastics.

Previous summer marine biologists cautioned that inappropriate disposal of pandemic-related rubbish meant there could quickly be "much masks over jellyfish" in the Mediterranean Sea.

Nanoparticles Worries

A representative of the department of Alpes-Maritimes Eric Puget who is a French politician explained that polypropylene nanoparticles producing these masks which safeguard humans, risk everly causing problems in our ecosystems and their biodiversity

The researchers presently caution that the makeup of the mask means they breakdown very quickly into harmful micro-sized particles. When rotting in the environment, the masks might discharge more micro-sized plastics, quickly and simpler than huge plastics like plastic bags.



The scientists emphasized they don't precisely understand how masks add to the massive number of plastic waste noticed in the environment - simply because no data on the degradation of masks exist in nature.

Mask-Only Waste Bins

Dr. Genbo explained: "Though we understand that, similar to other plastic residues, disposable masks may also pile up and discharge dangerous biological and chemical substanceswhich is a heavy metals such as bisphenol-A, adequately as pathogenic micro-organisms. These may present indirect negative effects on plants, humans, and animals."

The scientists have advised governments to create mask-only waste bins for compilation and disposal and said other ways for lessening the impact of the masks could be for many people to accept using reusable cotton masks, expanding biodegradable disposable masks, and executing formalized trash management for expunging of masks.

RELATED ARTICLE: Despite its Benefits, Technology is also Responsible for Many Environmental Concerns

For more news, updates about environmental risks and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
When Gary Rose was 19, he joined the Army, but it was the Army who chose Gary Rose for Special Forces training. He spent the better part of two years training to be a medic, and he needed every minute of that instruction.

Two years after walking into a recruiters office, he found himself in the middle of a days-long battle during a secret war in Laos where many of his fellow soldiers and allies were wounded. It was his job to save them.

Rose aided an estimated 60 or more men during those hard-fought four days. He eventually was recognized with the Medal of Honor for his dedication to saving lives.

A medic is part of the morale support system, he told the Knights of Columbus in a 2019 interview. The bond you have with these men, its almost unbreakable. You have a sense that youre part of something greater than yourself.

After completing basic training and jump school, he began Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Thats where he learned the ins and outs of combat medicine while supporting some of Americas best soldiers.

Pvt. 1st Class Gary M. Rose at Fort Benning, Georgia, in September 1967. (Gary M. Rose)

Rose was sent to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) in 1970. With the 5th Special Forces Group, his teams job was to reconnoiter the Ho Chi Minh Trail and attack the flow of troops and supplies coming into South Vietnam. It was dangerous work.

We had the highest number of missing in action of any unit, he said. We lost a tremendous amount of people.

On Sept. 11, 1970, Roses unit joined native fighters called Montagnards for Operation Tailwind, 70 kilometers behind enemy lines in Laos. Their goal was to force the North Vietnamese Army to respond to them instead of moving south to attack American airfields. The shooting started before they hit the ground.

From the get-go, after we crossed a certain line, we started taking ground fire, Rose later told the Army.

The mission ended up being a 96-hour moving gunfight while outnumbered 10 to 1. Roses unit was wracked by heavy small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. He was injured early on, but no one was spared.

I was hit on two different days, he said. A hole in your foot and a hole in your arm was not considered a serious injury.

Rose and his elite squad were attacked constantly over the span of four days and had to operate on little sleep, with more and more wounded, day in and day out. But the plan was working so they pressed on. The wounds were piling up, and Rose was running out of ways to treat them.

Throughout the fighting, it was up to Rose to go out into the open field, under enemy fire and tend to them. He brought them back to friendly areas, firing at an often-unseen enemy as he moved his buddies to safety.

It never occurred to me to worry about the enemy, Rose said. Its not my function; my function is the wounded. No matter what happens, youre going to do whatever you can to bring them home.

On the fourth day, the Green Berets were running low on ammunition and running out of food. They needed to get out as soon as possible, but the heavy fire on the ground was keeping their extraction away from the area.

They tried for three days to get us out, Rose said. We were up against a large number of people, and we were down to not much ammunition left.

When they cleared a landing zone on day four, the first helicopter left with the worst wounded. A second helicopter took more. Rose estimated 35 were left on the ground.

Eventually, the helicopters got most of the Americans out. The third helicopter that came in had a much harder time getting there than the others, taking what Rose described as a pounding.

By the time the third gunship came in, it had lost an engine, there were fuel lines broken and the hydraulic systems were failing. But the enemy rounds kept coming.

I heard somebody say, Oh, were gonna crash, and the next thing I knew was, Im on the ground, he said.

He and a Marine were thrown out of the helicopter on a controlled roll. They hit the ground before the helicopter did. The two watched as the helicopter they had been on just moments before crashed.

The helicopter was smoking and on fire by then, so I got back inside the helicopter and started moving people out, Rose recalled.

Equipment and other supplies had spilled on top of the wounded in the helicopter, so Rose started tossing those items out, too. He removed the crew and the wounded passengers and did what he could for them until another helicopter arrived.

The next thing he can remember is being back on the launchpad in Dak To, South Vietnam. All 16 Americans that left for the mission were wounded, but all survived the operation. Only three Montagnards were killed. Rose refused to be treated for his wounds until the rest of the men were first.

Statistically speaking, the people who have analyzed this said that none of us should have made it out of there, he said.

Operation Tailwind tied up an estimated 40,000-50,000 Communist troops. They also overran a North Vietnamese Logistical Headquarters hub and gathered trunks filled with intelligence about its operations. The operation itself was classified until 1998.

There are 58,000 names on the [Vietnam Veterans Memorial] wall, and I dont know if without our unit doing what we did, would that wall have 100,000 names on it? said Rose, 73.

In the immediate aftermath of the operation, Rose was recommended for the Medal of Honor but received the Distinguished Service Cross instead. In 2017, the award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor, and Capt. Gary Rose accepted it in person from President Trump.

In that operation, it wasnt just the Army. Its a collective medal from my perspective, he said. All the courage, honor and dedication to duty those men served went for 30 years without even being acknowledged, let alone recognized.  This medal points to the fact that you can say, Faithful servant, well done.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Lucknow, March 13 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday described the Samajwadi Party as a dispensation promoting corruption, nepotism, casteism and neglect of merit during recruitments. Yogi said between 2012 and 2017, appointments to government posts in the state were distributed among the members of only one family.

One appointment process was looked after by some influential uncle while the other was allotted to a nephew, maternal uncle or grandfather. The Chief Minister was having a face-to-face meeting with the youth during the distribution of appointment letters to 271 Block Education Officers (BEOs) in the Basic Education Council at Lok Bhavan here.

Yogi said since 2017, appointments have been made to four lakh government posts. This is the highest in any four consecutive years since 1950. Many states may not have had so many appointments since decades. As many as 1.2 lakh appointments have been made in the Basic Education Council. There were appointments to 1.37 lakh posts in the police department.

The Chief Minister said the previous governments had abolished 54 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) companies, while the present BJP government which is committed to a strong law and order situation in the state set up three PAC companies of women, too.

Yogi said earlier caste, religion and money was the basis for getting a job. The youth was desperate and dejected.

Drawing comparisons of one dynasty to the characters of the Mahabharata, the Chief Minister said during that period the uncle-maternal uncle-grandfather blocked the progress of India, similarly a single family remained an impediment to the progress of Uttar Pradesh.

Yogi said now in Uttar Pradesh only competiveness and merit are the criteria for getting government jobs. No one can say any longer that they got a job by paying money or through influence.

The Chief Minister congratulated the newly appointed BEOs who joined the Basic Education Council and also spoke about the corruption in the various selection commissions/recruitment boards of the state four years ago.

Yogi said earlier every appointment was made by looking at caste and religion. Many a times, besides giving jobs, people from one family also used to search for bridegrooms for their daughters and sisters. The image of these commissions was tarnished.

Yogi said the present government has given a clear warning that the commissions would have complete freedom to do their work, but if any complaint of irregularity is received, then the entire commission will be acted upon. The result of these efforts is that today no one can say that they got a job through influence.

In the programme, the CM also inquired from the youth about the need to pay a bribe or make recommendations anywhere during the entire selection process, but all the youths unanimously denied such a need.

While giving the appointment letters, Yogi told the BEOs that as a competitive student, the methodology they had expected from the government, now after being a part of the system, they should work in the same way. He said if the job is gotten through fair means, the honesty in their work should reflect as well.

While addressing the newly appointed BEOs, the CM said that in the last four years, teamwork has led to the makeover of primary education. Today the problem of proxy teachers is finally over. The training of teachers is taking place. Infrastructure has been developed in schools, with as many as 5.5 lakh children taking admission in schools. The quality of education has also improved. Now it is the work of the BEOs to take these tasks forward.

Yogi said,"The development block is your (BEOs) command area, you are responsible for every educational activity there. The BEOs should also inform its senior officials about its innovations and good work."
A serving policeman, ASP Danladi Edibo, attached to the anti-cult unit in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, has...

A serving policeman, ASP Danladi Edibo, attached to the anti-cult unit in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, has allegedly handcuffed and detained a 22-year-old man, Mr. Chukwunonso Ikenna Ogbukagu, for disapproving his relationship with his mother, Mrs. Ogbukagu.

Chukwunonso, who revealed this to journalists after he escaped from the unlawful detention, said he visited Nimo, a town in Njikoka LGA to see his mother who recently left his dad to rent a separate house, but noticed that the mother had a male friend who always visited her in the apartment.

When I demanded from my mother who the man was, I found out it was the same police officer, ASP Danladi who had a problem with my father, who also caused my parents to separate.

The man knowing that I had noticed who he was now called some policemen who came with guns and handcuffed me and detained me in a toilet in the apartment. I stayed there for four days without food or water, and later I realized that I may die if I continue to be here, so I summoned courage and escaped.

He begged the State police command to come to his aid, as his life was in danger, as the Edibo may come after him.

Meanwhile, the father of the victim, Chief Ikenna Ogbukagu has petitioned the Anambra State Police Commissioner, CP Monday Bala Kuryas, called for the restraint of ASP Edibo from further harassing him and members of his family.

In an interview, he further stated that, ASP Danladi Edibo has been harassing me and members of my family. He collected my wife from me, and I said I have no problem with that, that he can keep her. He has taken her, and rented a house for her in Nimo, and I did not protest, yet he has been threatening me.

Last year, he came to my house at about 1am with police officers, destroyed my doors and arrested me, saying that I sponsor cultists. There is nothing he has not done to me. I am very afraid for my life now, that is why I petitioned the commissioner to come to my aid.
The farmers' protest which has been going on for more than a hundred days now is unlike anything that the country has seen in a very long time.

Hundreds of thousands of farmers mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been sitting on the borders of Delhi since November demanding the withdrawal of three farm laws passed by the Narendra Modi government.

The farmers, young, old, and women came to the national capital in the winters and stayed put there, braving some of the coldest night the national capital has recorded.

But now as temperatures have started rising and the scorching summer approaches, the farmers are in no mood to back down.

Instead, the ingenuity that helped them survive the winter is already at work at the borders.

One of the ways, the farmers are trying to adapt is by building brick houses.

Kisan Ekta/ Twitter

Bracing for summers

Houses are being constructed at places where the farmers had earlier pitched tents. For building 'pucca' houses with bricks, masons have been called all the way from Punjab.

Karamjit Singh, who looks after the media cell of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), told IANS," On Friday, farmer leaders from Punjab discussed constructing 'pucca' houses at Singhu border. The meeting revolved around ways to protect farmers at the border from the scorching summer. There are four houses in all being built at the border, but their number is likely to increase. All these houses will be two-storeyed."

A beautiful house on Singhu Border made by Kissan.

Now there Win or Die. #FarmersSuicideModiQuiet pic.twitter.com/h2XgAbfEJv  KulSidheart... (@Kulveer23058593) January 10, 2021

"Due to a large number of farmers at the border, these two-storey buildings are being built and if the agitation is prolonged further, our preparations need to be stronger."

Mosquitoes in the night and the scorching sun during the day has compelled farmers to build 'pucca' houses at the border.

The summers have arrived at Delhi borders. @khalsaaid_india teams are carrying out fogging drives to keep our farmers community safe from mosquito borne diseases.



These drives are done periodically at Singhu and Tikri border.



Thank you for your support.#FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/rEzHyA5x9p  Amarpreet Singh (@amarpreet_ka) March 13, 2021

The farmers say they will apply for a temporary electricity connection, but if their request is denied, they will use generators to power their electricity needs.

Farmers have started constructing Pakka Houses at Singhu Border also, But Delhi police stopped them today to do so. Now they will wait for there Farmer Leaders for further orders. #farmersprotest #SinghuBorder pic.twitter.com/kWOoCSWgvU  Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) March 12, 2021

Before this, many protesters had modified their trolleys to make them liveable in summer and even equipped these with air-conditioners.

ANI

It is not just at Singhu border the farmers have started building houses for summer, in Tikri too such structures are coming up.

"These houses are strong, permanent just like the will of the farmers. 25 houses built, 1000-2000 similar houses to be built in coming days," Anil Malik, Kisan Social Army told ANI.

ANI

The farmers had said that they have come to the national capital for the long haul and are even prepared to stay there for years if necessary until the government withdraws the three farm laws.


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A major time lag between vaccination rates in Northern Ireland and the Republic could have implications for disease patterns as both jurisdictions seek to ease restrictions, the deputy chief medical officer in the North has warned.

Dr Naresh Chada told the Irish Independent that health officials are keeping an eye on the pace of the roll-out in the Republic in the hope that the levels between jurisdictions level out. But Dr Chada said that any major time lag between the North versus the south could be a concern.

Something we may really need to keep a close eye on is if there was a major time lag between the percentage of the people that are vaccinated in the North versus the south, Dr Chada said.

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Its unknown at the minute in relation to what that would do with disease patterns. Its definitely something we will have to keep an eye on.

In Northern Ireland, 614,629 first doses have been administered  approximately 42pc of the adult population.

Comparably, 396,089 first doses of the vaccine have been issued in Ireland  just over 11pc of the adult population.

Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann said on Tuesday he expected the rate of inoculation to accelerate following the arrival of a significant delivery of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Mr Swann said it would be the largest delivery of a single vaccine that weve ever received in Northern Ireland... well really see an escalation of our vaccine programme.

Meanwhile, Ireland, one of 27 member states signed up to the EU procurement deal, is currently experiencing significant delays to AstraZeneca supplies, causing vaccination targets to be revised yet again.

The modellers and scientists will have to look at what will happen to the virus across Ireland and think of factors like differential rates of vaccination between the North and the south, said Dr Chada.

If a lot of people in the North have had at least one dose of the vaccine, depending on which vaccine they have had, both vaccines are going to provide them with a relatively high level of protection.

Currently there isnt really a lot of travel between the North and south but that is likely to change depending on the two jurisdictions and what political decisions are made on that.

Dr Chada said it was impossible to speculate about what might happen if vaccination rates are not on a more level setting when restrictions ease and that the health authorities in the North have been engaging with their counterparts here on a regular basis.

We do keep a very close eye on disease transmission rates North and south and we are in contact with the public health agencies in the south, he said. We are always looking to see what is causing certain patterns at certain times. The vaccine will be playing into that.

Figures on case numbers this week showed significant declines in counties Donegal and Monaghan, which have been hotspots for the virus. Dr Chada said it was too early to say if this was partly attributable to the vaccine effect.

We have seen a good drop off in Derry city and Strabane in the last week for example and some of the other border counties have shown lower rates, for example Newry, Mourne and Down, and those were quiet problematic areas for some time, he said.

There is quite a lot of movement across the Border... Its probably too early to say if the vaccine has had an impact but there are low rates in the border and thats good news for everyone.

Loading As of early this week, there had been 86,369 vaccinations delivered across the country. Just over 72 per cent of those had been given via state-run clinics, and the remaining by the Commonwealth, in aged and disability care. In Victoria, there have been more than 30,000 doses administered at hospital-run clinics, including more than 80 per cent of the states hotel quarantine workers. Victorian authorities say they are well on track to meet their goal of 40,000 doses within the first four weeks of the program. A crucial test for Australias rollout will come from Monday, March 22, when mass deliveries of the locally manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine are set to begin, kicking off phase 1b of the program, which will see all Australians aged over 69 eligible for a jab. A spokeswoman for federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Victorian state government had been given 38,610 Pfizer vaccines and 50,800 AstraZeneca vaccines as of Thursday, with a further 23,400 Pfizer doses set to be delivered on Sunday.

Some of these doses are kept aside to ensure supplies for second doses. By the end of March, its expected that with a number of mass vaccination clinics, Victoria will have capacity to vaccinate 10,000 people each week. Large-scale centres have been planned at the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Convention Centre, the old Ford Factory in Geelong, Sunshine Hospital car park and a function area of the Heidelberg Rehabilitation Hospital. Professor Cowie said the state government was also looking at establishing mobile vaccination teams to reach vulnerable Victorians. The slow start to Australias vaccination program has been partly blamed on delays to international shipments of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, but Professor Duckett said he understood there were 700,000 doses in the country and cited a failure of logistics to deliver more. World Health Organisation officials have said Australians are still vulnerable to coronavirus and need vaccines just as much as those in countries experiencing severe outbreaks.

The Australian population remain overwhelmingly susceptible to this virus because they have been protected by their government, protected by their public health system, protected by the strategy that was used by Australia, said Dr Mike Ryan, head of WHOs public emergencies program. A federal Health Department spokeswoman said states and territories had been provided with an indication of the allocations of the vaccines they would receive to the start of April. University of South Australia epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman believes it wont be a major problem if the vaccine rollout isnt complete until the end of the year. But he said the news that a Brisbane doctor who had coronavirus after treating two COVID-positive patients had not been vaccinated highlighted the need to deliver it to as many people as possible. Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley told ABC radio on Friday that the Victorian government was responsible for vaccinating 37 per of Victorians, leaving the federal government to oversee the delivery of the remaining 63 per cent, a task that will heavily rely on the nations GPs.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

It was a throwaway line in a grim Human Rights Watch report that sent me on my quest: The Taliban run dozens of unacknowledged prisons. Here, for me, was a new and sinister aspect of the kind of parallel government that this insurgent group has constructed in Afghanistan.

Bombings and shootings have been written about at length. These prisons were an overlooked element in the Talibans terror campaign: a below-the-radar network of incarceration that is waiting to arbitrarily swallow up and punish citizens who are considered enemies of the group.

As the Kabul bureau chief for The New York Times, I surmised that this network must have affected a substantial number of Afghans. My goal was to describe the physical features of these prisons as closely as possible, the conditions under which the Talibans prisoners are held and the psychological aftermath. What followed was a trip north, to Badakhshan Province, and a series of wrenching accounts of beatings, privation, despair and lingering trauma, culminating in one interview I will remember for a long time.
One hundred years ago electric cars were a common sight on city streets in Europe and the United States. Many of them had a range comparable to that of today's EV's.

Below is an overview of early electrics and their specifications, put together from sales catalogs and books.

1907 Catalog (various manufacturers)





























Source: "An illustrated directory of the specifications of all domestic and foreign motor-cars and motor business wagons gasoline, steam, and electric sold in this country", New York, 1907. See also the overview of early electric trucks from the same catalog.

Car models were indicated differently at the beginning of the twentieth century, mostly consisting of the brand name, a model number and the car body type. Most body styles were derived from those available in horse-drawn carriages (overview here).

Columbia Electric Vehicles (source, 1901)

The Mark III (picture) has come to be generally recognized as almost a standard type of American electric vehicle. It has a single 25-ampere motor. Max speed = 12 mph. The battery, consisting of 44 chloride cells, has a capacity of 75 ampere-hours at a 3-hour rate, giving a mileage of 35 miles over ordinary roads. The total weight of the finished vehicle is 2,570 pounds.

Another well-known style of pleasure carriage is the dos-a-dos, designated as Mark VI (picture). A single 30-ampere motor is employed. Battery consists of 44 cells, and when discharged in 3 hours will furnish 90 ampere-hours, for a mileage of 35 miles. Maximum speed = 11 mph.

In the Mark VI, Dauman Victoria (picture), a somewhat radical departure from the lines usually followed in motor vehicle building has been made. Weight = 3,250 pounds. Range = 30 miles, max speed = 11.5 miles.

The Mark XI, Brougham-de-luxe (picture), intended for personal use, is rear-driven by a single 40 ampere motor. battery of 44 cells. Mileage of 28 miles, speed 12 mph.

The two other popular styles of vehicles are the small Victoria and runabout, termed Mark XII (pictures). Their mileage = about 30 miles. The motor is rated at 20 amperes, battery of 44 cells, furnishing about 45 ampere-hours, max speed 14 mph, weight about 1900 pounds.

All vehicles of this company are equipped with combination volt and ampere-meters.





Automobiles of the American Electric Vehicle Company (source, 1901)

Runabout top buggy for 2 persons: 2.5 HP

Break for 4 persons: 4 HP,

Dos-a-dos for 4 persons: 4 HP,

Mail Phaeton for 4 persons: 4 HP

Top Surrey for 4 persons has 4 HP

Six-passenger break: 5 HP.

One charging will run a vehicle 35 to 50 miles. The batteries can be recharged in the carriage, and in about 3 hours time, shutting off automatically when filled. They consist of 42 accumulators. Maximum speeds vary from 12 to 15 mph. (pictures).

The Waverly Electric Motor Vehicles by the Indiana Bicycle Company, Indianapolis (source, 1901)

Three sizes of motors are used according to the weights of the vehicles: 1.5 HP for the runabout, 2.5 for the Phaeton and Stanhope, and 3.5 HP for the delivery wagon. The battery consists of 44 cells varying in capacity from 60 to 125 amperes; the lightest weighing about 9 pounds per cell. Maximum speed = 14 mph. The runabout (source + picture) is intended for two persons, but has an emergency seat for two more. It weighs about 1,200 pounds and has a radius of 35 miles.

The Stanhope of phaeton (source + picture) is a most convenient carriage for touring or a physician. It has a radius of 40 miles and a top speed of 14 mph. This company also makes a brougham, equipped with a 3.5 HP motor and a 44 cell battery. Removable rear-seat, and for winter-use it is provided with an electric heater. The Waverly merchandise delivery wagon is a heavier and more powerful vehicle than usual, with a 3.5 HP motor and a radius of 40 miles. Max speed is 12 mph. (source + picture).

100-mile Electric Roadsters

Early EV manufacturers and battery makers could not agree on how to position the electric vehicle in the market. Some were convinced that the electric should be marketed as a short distance city vehicle. They saw it as a mistake to try and sell the electric as a touring vehicle, because its range would always be inferior to that of a gasoline powered car.

Instead, they focused on the fact that the range of electrics was sufficient for most people.

"Electrical World" wrote in 1909: "The average EV, as built today, has considerably more available mileage on one charge of battery than the average vehicle of ten years ago, and what is more, has a considerably greater mileage than is actually needed in the run of business or pleasure, except where a long tour is undertaken."

"I do not believe the average daily mileage of most cars is above, say, 30 miles", said the German-American engineer Charles Proteus Steinmetz to the New York Times in 1915. Steinmetz had developed a more efficient motor - incoporated in the 1917 Dey Electric Roadster - but he did not turn that advantage into a longer range. Instead, he choose to develop a lighter and cheaper vehicle (1400 pounds or 636 kg): "The series motor consumes about 20 percent more power than the controlled motor. With the same mileage, this means a savings of 20 percent of the battery weights, and as the battery is a considerable part of the car weight, a further saving of power due to lesser weight which has to be carried". (Sources: 1 / 2 / 3).

But not everybody agreed. Like Fritchle and his 100-mile Victoria, some EV manufacturers tried to convince the public that the electric vehicle was as suited for touring the countryside as the gasoline automobile. In the 1910s several electric roadsters appeared on the market, modelled after their popular gasoline powered cousins (equipped with a faux radiator), and aimed at male drivers (early electrics had mainly been marketed to women).

The 15 HP Babcock Electric Roadster (1911) had a range of 100 miles when driven at 17 mph (27 km/h). Its top speed was 30 mph or 48 km/h (source). The Bailey Electric Roaster, built in the same year and having a similar top speed, had a range of up to 118 miles (190 kms) on a single charge when driven at a speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) (source). From an advertisement in the September 13, 1913 Boston Evening Transcript:

"The Bailey Electric Roadster has startled the automobile world. An electric that will average 20 miles per hour for 100 miles on one charge is a distinct innovation in electrics, and for the first time puts the EV in the field as a direct competitor for the gasoline car".

Hypermiling records

The range of electrics was also demonstrated by setting hypermiling records - staged events, run at slow and constant speed over carefully selected roads using special tyres.

Already in 1899, two American engineers covered 100 miles (160 km) on a single charge. In 1909, Emil Gruenfeldt of the Baker Motor Vehicle Company covered 160.8 miles (259 km) on a single charge in his Baker Electric Roadster (illustration on the left). Two years later, he beat his earlier mark by travelling 201.6 miles (324 km) without recharging the batteries (source).

Data of French record runs name a range of 190.76 miles (307 km) as early as 1901, set at an average speed of 17 km/h by Louis Krieger, a record that stood until 1942 (sources: 1 / 2). In 2009, the Tesla Roadster set a new hypermiling record for electric vehicles: 311 miles or 501 km on a single charge. This result was obtained at a speed of 55 km/h.

Catalogs from the NYPL Digital Library (1909)

Studebaker electric pleasure vehicles. Pictures & specifications.

Baker electric vehicles. Illustrations & sales talk - no specifications.

Babcock Electrics. Only illustrations (picture intro).

Rauch & Lang Electric. Small selection below. Click on the car and next on the green arrow to see the specifications.

Video

A 1914 Detroit Electric in action

A 1920 Milburn Electric in action

Low-tech Magazine makes the jump from web to paper. The first result is a 710-page perfect-bound paperback which is printed on demand and contains 37 of the most recent articles from the website (2012 to 2018). A second volume, collecting articles published between 2007 and 2011, will appear later this year.

Read more: Low-tech Magazine: The Printed Website.
"I see you like carrots," the man donning a navy-blue-collared shirt tells the curious kid sitting next to him. "Me too!"

"I see you like carrots," the man donning a navy-blue-collared shirt tells the curious kid sitting next to him. "Me too!"

"Carrot muffins, carrot cake, carrots all buttered up in dilly," he says, as the mischievous adolescent glances back obliquely, with children's books in the backdrop and a hoard of other vegetables on a table at the foreground. "What about you?"

"See this green stuff," the boy responds, holding the root's frond with a chuckle. "I don't eat that part."

It's the kind of charm you could only expect from an affable Manitoban with a carrot for a microphone, reminding young kids to "eat their veggies."

Sure, he's been the face of multiple campaigns and is the president of one of Canada's largest vegetable suppliers. And, of course, his interminable laundry list of accomplishments include the Queen's Jubilee medal and the Lieutenant-Governor's award for outstanding contribution to the community.

But to most people in the province, Larry McIntosh is the friendly guy from old-timey commercials just like this one.

KEN GIGLIOTTI \ FREE PRESS FILES To most people in the province, Larry McIntosh is the friendly guy from old-timey commercial.

After 27 years as chief executive officer for Peak of the Market, the business for whom he did numerous of these popular broadcast ads during his tenure, McIntosh is calling it a career and stepping down from his role. He plans to stay on for as long as required to ensure a smooth transition.

The food produce and distribution company's board of directors will begin the search for a new CEO next week.

His was the kind of love for Manitoba that kept pulling him back over the years, McIntosh told the Free Press. But eventually that love for the Prairies led to a love for his wife, whom he also met by moving to the province.

It was the mid-'80s when McIntosh was first transferred to Winnipeg. At the time, he was working for Dylex Limited, one of Canada's largest retailers before it folded in 2001.

"I've lived everywhere, from Halifax and Fredericton to elsewhere in Canada," he said in an interview. "But I'm originally from Toronto."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS After 27 years as chief executive officer for Peak of the Market, McIntosh is calling it a career and stepping down from his role.

McIntosh was with Dylex for 16 years, climbing the corporate ladder to become the vice-president for one of their major chains called Bi-Way and Drug World Divisions.

"I was in Winnipeg for three years before I was sent back to Toronto," he said.

When McIntosh went back to Ontario, his heart ached for Manitoba. "Truth be told, it immediately felt like home, even though I wasn't born here. And Manitoba's always been my home since."

That's why he applied for a job opening at a small, local company which was virtually unknown to most people back then: Peak of the Market.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS McIntosh has become "synonymous to everything to do with the local agribusiness industry," said Peter Loewen, chairman of the company.

Since then, McIntosh has become "synonymous to everything to do with the local agribusiness industry," said Peter Loewen, chairman of the company.

He joined the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce as a director and later became a chair of the network, then held the same titles at the Winnipeg Chamber. From 2006 to 2009 and 2019 to 2021, he represented Canada at the Produce Marketing Association, based in Delaware. And on top of that, he was also a director at the Canadian Red Cross National Board and Harvest Manitoba Food Bank during those years.

"It was a lot of mixed feelings when Larry told us he wanted to retire," said Loewen. "His commitment, dedication and extreme passion to the produce industry and community at large, not just for Peak, leaves big shoes to fill. We're so thankful to him."

PHIL HOSSACK / FREE PRESS FILES McIntosh says "the only period we've been separated this whole time has really been the pandemic because I'm now at the office and she's (Shelley) working remotely."

Shelley McIntosh, now the executive assistant at the company, was already working at Peak when McIntosh arrived.

"We were together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We even travelled to conventions, conferences and everything together," he said.

Somewhere during that time, the two fell in love. They now have a family together.

Over the years, they've seen farmer strikes, agricultural crises, controversial provincial and federal legislations leading to strife between growers, suppliers and distributors. But nothing quite like COVID-19, said McIntosh.

"And in fact," he said, "the only period we've been separated this whole time has really been the pandemic because I'm now at the office and she's working remotely."

If there's one thing McIntosh has learned during his long tenure, it's to keep things light and take it easy. "Honestly, it's why I remember those commercials the most," he said.

"The first time we were recording one was in a park and I had this idea to use a carrot. People made fun of it sometimes early on, but it's what sort of became our signature."  Larry McIntosh

"The first time we were recording one was in a park and I had this idea to use a carrot," he added. "People made fun of it sometimes early on, but it's what sort of became our signature."

Loewen said it's because of those "funny things on TV" that people began to recognize Peak of the Market. Under McIntosh's leadership, the company has had its 26 best fiscal years of growth in its 79-year history, with 2019-2020 being the highest year for sales.

The company has even grown during COVID-19, said McIntosh. And demand has been higher than ever before.

"We were pretty lucky with COVID," he said. "Early on, it was an unknown time  we didn't know at first how we were going to react or how we were expected to react. We didn't even know how this was being transmitted.

"But we knew that people would still need their food, and so we stepped up and I'm so happy to see that more people are actually eating vegetables during the pandemic."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS McIntosh plans to spend time in his retirement continuing volunteer work as a board member at several organizations.

That's why McIntosh said he's proud of retiring now. "I'm feeling so good about leaving because I'm leaving the company in a good position," he said.

"I expect nothing but more growth and fresher ideas. But the biggest thing I want to say is to never take things too seriously. We have a serious business, but you need to have fun while you're doing it."

McIntosh plans to spend time in his retirement continuing volunteer work as a board member at several organizations. Most prominently, he hopes to represent Manitoba's interests at his recently-appointed position to the new Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council.

Twitter: @temurdur

Temur.Durrani@freepress.mb.ca
Confession time. I cannot sing like David Bowie nor write plays like Harold Pinter nor poems like Rudyard Kipling. Yet we do have something in common. We have all said no to the offer of a gong.

Actually even that isn't quite true. In my case it was suggested by Alastair Campbell when he was Tony Blair's right-hand man rather than actually offered. But I'd have said no if it had been so it comes down to the same thing in the end.

That's partly because the only reason they'd give an honour to someone they regarded as a troublesome hack would be to make him a bit less troublesome.

It's also because the whole honours system is, to use Whitehall jargon, unfit for purpose.

Not to mention often downright corrupt and shrouded in secrecy.

This week the curtain was lifted a little  albeit by accident rather than design.

The Government has set up online classes for people to 'master' the honours nomination system to help them get awards.

We know about it because the letter from the Government department was leaked.

The honour system is 'downright corrupt' writes JOHN HUMPHRYS, after it was revealed the Government set up online classes for people to 'master' the nomination system

So was the list of big business bosses who received it. No wonder there is great embarrassment in Whitehall.

Let's give you a flavour of the lucky recipients. One was Serco, the private company that has made a fortune helping to run so many of our public services  including the Test and Trace system, which is costing us an eye-watering 37 billion.

The leak happened on the very day that Parliament's Public Accounts Committee delivered a damning indictment of Test and Trace.

It had contributed nothing to tackling the pandemic. Yet it's still managing to spend a fortune on 2,500 management consultants, some of whom have been paid a whopping 6,000 a day.

Not bad considering only a fraction did anything to earn it. Or so says the committee.

Serco, the private company that has made a fortune helping to run so many of our public services, including Test and Trace (pictured, a drive-in testing facility) was one of the recipients of the classes

They also mentioned the salaries pulled down by the two top bosses: 7.4 million last year, much of it in bonuses. You may ask: for what precisely?

Serco was not alone in being invited to learn to apply for gongs. Two of the world's biggest accountancy firms were on the list as well in spite of deeply troubling questions being raised about their own standards.

So were Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple. Doubtless a reward for their skills in tax avoidance.

These are companies whose sole concerns are share prices and bonuses. Their behaviour is often cited as one of the principle causes of Britain's hopeless record on productivity.

Rishi Sunak has already 'honoured' them  with a Budget promise of huge tax breaks over the next couple of years to get them to invest.

So why are they being urged to get their bids in for all those tempting gongs? Is it too cynical to suggest that certain civil servants and politicians are looking to their own futures after they leave Whitehall?

Put bluntly the honours system embodies much of what is wrong with modern Britain: corruption, abiding snobbery and obsession with status.

Just look at the titles themselves. The most modest is the bem, the British Empire Medal. What Empire is that then?

The more elevated is Commander of that same British Empire. Then you start getting into knighthoods.

This silly Ruritanian distinction between awards is meaningless. All it does is bolster something dear to the heart of British snobbery: hierarchy and a pecking order.

Remember that wonderful scene from Yes Minister when Bernard explains to the PM the meaning of knighthoods: 'CMG means 'Call me God'; KCMG means 'Kindly call me God'; GCMG means 'God calls me God'.' Perfect.

So should we just dump the lot of them? Actually no.

Rather bizarrely, you may think, I would keep the rank of BEM.

Lewis Hamilton has become 'Sir Lewis' because he can drive a car very fast. He's made a vast fortune from doing it, which is why he has chosen to live in Monaco where he pays rather less tax than he would in the country that honoured him

Its name would have to change but not its purpose. It does what any decent honours system should do and that is reward ordinary people for extraordinary service.

It gives them recognition, be they lollipop lady or magistrate or nurse or teacher. They get their name in the local paper and a medal for the mantelpiece to be worn on special occasions. And why not?

Recognition is the one justification for an honours system. Why give honours to those who are already widely recognised and well rewarded?

Lewis Hamilton has become 'Sir Lewis' because he can drive a car very fast. He's made a vast fortune from doing it, which is why he has chosen to live in Monaco where he pays rather less tax than he would in the country that honoured him.

Another sportsman, long retired, is Ian Botham. He now has a seat in the House of Lords and nobody seems quite sure why. A peerage is, after all, the cherry on top of the honours cake.

It gives the new lord or lady a role for life in helping determine the laws that govern all our lives without the great inconvenience of having to persuade us to vote for them. And Prime Ministers have been scattering peerages around like confetti in recent years.

There's not always a sordid financial calculation involved, although it does no harm if you can afford to bung the odd million into party coffers. But Prime Ministers have different motives for creating so many new peers. One is that it helps keep truculent MPs in line.

'Are you quite sure you can't bring yourself to support the PM?' says the smiling chief whip to the rebellious old lag who knows his chances of getting into the Government have long passed and who always thought his leader was a bit of a twerp anyway.

'Pity really . . . you'd have looked good in ermine. Plenty of companies out there who like having the odd lord on their board, too . . . '

The old Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe liked to say that the House of Lords was proof that there really is life after death.

Maybe, but it's right and proper that we should benefit from the wisdom and experience of people such as David Blunkett and Ken Clarke.

They have no political ambitions left but still want to be of public service. And they have more than earned their elevation to the upper house.

If we kick an MP out of his job at the General Election we don't approve when the Prime Minister promptly gives him a peerage so he can carry on being a minister. That's what Boris Johnson did with Zac Goldsmith. It's showing two fingers to the electorate

But it is absurdly bloated. More than 800 members. The second largest legislature in the world. Beaten only by the Chinese National People's Congress.

The question is what kind of upper house we want it to be. We know what we don't want.

If we kick an MP out of his job at the General Election we don't approve when the Prime Minister promptly gives him a peerage so he can carry on being a minister.

That's what Boris Johnson did with Zac Goldsmith. It's showing two fingers to the electorate.

The real honours story is not who gets them but who hands them out. It has become primarily a device for politicians to court popularity, raise money and get their way. At its worst it is rotten to the core and has been for years.

Lloyd George had a price list: 400,000 (in today's money) for a knighthood, four times as much for a peerage. Parliament eventually passed an Act to stop it, but it didn't work. It just became a bit more subtle.

There has scarcely been a Prime Minister in recent history who hasn't been embroiled in an honours scandal.

So here's a suggestion. Let's pass a law that says making a party donation above a modest amount automatically disqualifies you from accepting a peerage from that party.

Perhaps a BEM might be allowed  but I don't suppose the rich donors would be very impressed by that, would they?

Better, surely, that the present system should be abandoned and restructured to recognise those who genuinely deserve recognition, can get it no other way and wouldn't dream of greasing political palms even if they could afford it.

Perhaps that will be a topic for those who sign up to the online classes. But probably not.
Security forces in Myanmar have again clashed with demonstrators protesting against last months military takeover, killing at least four people.

Three deaths were reported in Mandalay, the countrys second-biggest city, and one in Pyay, a town in south-central Myanmar.

There were multiple reports on social media of the deaths, along with photos of dead and wounded people in both locations.

The independent UN human rights expert for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said on Thursday that credible reports indicated security forces in the south-east Asian nation had so far killed at least 70 people, and cited growing evidence of crimes against humanity since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Reports on social media also said three people were shot dead on Friday night in Yangon, Myanmars largest city, where residents for the past week have been defying an 8pm curfew to come out on the streets.

Two deaths by gunfire were reported in Yangons Thaketa township, where a protest being held outside a police station was dispersed.

A crowd had gathered to demand the release of three young men who were seized from their home earlier on Friday. Photos said to be of the bodies of two dead protesters were posted online. The other reported death on Friday night was of a 19-year-old man shot in Hlaing township.

Expand Close Protesters gather for an anti-coup demonstration in Mandalay, Myanmar (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters gather for an anti-coup demonstration in Mandalay, Myanmar (AP)

The night-time protests may reflect a more aggressive approach to self-defence that has been advocated by some protesters. Police had been aggressively patrolling residential areas at night, firing into the air and setting off stun grenades in an effort at intimidation. They have also been carrying out targeted raids, taking people from their homes with minimal resistance. In at least two known cases, the detainees died in custody within hours of being taken away.

Another possible indication of heightened resistance emerged on Saturday with photos posted online of a railway bridge said to have been damaged by an explosive charge.

The bridge was described in multiple accounts as being on the railway line from Mandalay to Myitkyina, the capital of the northern state of Kachin. The photos show damage to part of a concrete support.

No one took responsibility for the action.

In Washington on Friday, the Biden administration announced it is offering temporary legal residency to people from Myanmar, citing the militarys takeover and ongoing deadly force against civilians.

Homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the designation of temporary protected status for people from Myanmar would last for 18 months.

The offer of temporary legal residency applies to people already in the United States. Mr Mayorkas said in a statement that worsening conditions in Myanmar would make it difficult for those people to safely return home.

The February 1 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.

Ms Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party led a return to civilian rule with a landslide election victory in 2015, and an even greater margin of votes last year. It would have been installed for a second five-year term last month, but instead Ms Suu Kyi, president Win Myint and other members of the government were placed in military detention.
Woman Injured in Purchase Parkway Rollover

By West Kentucky Star Staff

GRAVES COUNTY - A Tennessee woman was hospitalized after her truck rolled over near Wingo Friday.Deputies with the Graves County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the Purchase Parkway where 49-year-old Velvet Pope of Milan, Tennessee, was driving when her vehicle reportedly hydroplaned, rolled across the median, and came to rest on its roof.Pope was taken to a hospital for treatment of her injuries. She had her pet pit bull with her at the time. The dog did not appear to be injured but was turned over to animal control until someone could retrieve it.The southbound lanes of the parkway were shut down for about 90 minutes while the scene was cleared.
Shortly after being elected to the Texas House last November, Liz Campos talked with her campaign consultant, Manuel Medina, about how she should fill the chief of staff position in her office.

Campos had interviewed a few prospects and wasnt yet sold on anyone.

I told him, I want to find someone that I can trust. I dont want to micromanage. I want someone to take the lead and be a strong chief, Campos recalled.

For Campos, that meant finding someone like Medina. He told her hed be willing to do the job.

I said, Really? For real? I was floored, Campos said, because I didnt expect that.

Campos had good reason to be surprised.

Unlike many people who end up serving on legislative staffs, Medina didnt particularly need a job.

He lives in the Dominion and has run a lucrative consulting business for years, working on campaigns in both the United States and Latin America. A decade ago, his firm made at least $2.5 million in government contracts from Panamanian agencies.

This is someone who was able to spend more than $100,000 of his own money on a 2012 campaign for Bexar County Democratic Party chair.

Theres also the issue of temperament. Medina likes to run things, to be the boss rather than the aide.

He spent six years as local party chairman, remaking the Bexar County Democratic Party in his own flamboyant image and building a cadre of loyalists who came to be known as Manuelistas.

In 2017, he ran for mayor of San Antonio, generating a lot of noise but only 15 percent of the vote.

Medina likes the spotlight and the best legislative aides are selfless servants who toil in the shadows so their bosses can shine.

So Medina seems an unlikely choice to be a staffer for a state representative. But both he and Campos sound delighted with his first two months as her chief of staff.

For me, its always been about people, policy and, yes, politics, Medina said. Whether it was sanctuary cities, comprehensive immigration reform, Pre-K 4 SA, equality with the NDO (Non-Discrimination Ordinance) or helping veterans with the Hazlewood Act at the Legislature, policy was always at the forefront.

Even when I ran for mayor, I addressed generational poverty, institutional racism, quality of life issues like transportation.

Campos has dedicated her first legislative session to grappling with the issues of affordable housing, homelessness and senior care.

That really attracted me to her and shes given me the opportunity to work alongside her, Medina said.

Campos has authored 54 bills during this session, covering everything from nursing-home regulation to the temporary abatement of evictions for at least two months after a governor-declared disaster occurs.

From the very beginning, when the representative was talking about homelessness and affordable housing, it hit home with me, Medina said. When she talked about seniors and regulating nursing homes a little bit more, it really hit home to me.

Campos, a San Antonio businesswoman who once served as chief of staff for former state Sen. Carlos Uresti, prides herself on being a self-starter who manages her own campaigns. That was the case with her unsuccessful 2019 District 3 City Council bid and continued with her 2020 run for the Texas House.

Nonetheless, she hired Medina as a consultant to help with voter outreach because she was stirred by how strongly he believed in her candidacy.

I was very grateful for someone like him, that is so knowledgeable, to reach out and offer to work with me, Campos said.

Camposs campaign paid Medina $23,500 for consulting services in the general election, which Campos carried with nearly 62 percent of the vote.

For Medina, getting to work behind the scenes at the Capitol must be a welcome change after years of being the center of political acrimony in San Antonio Democratic politics.

As party chair, he did a good job of raising money and filling vacant precinct-chair positions. But he alarmed many longtime party activists with the way he intermingled his consulting activities with party business  and with his penchant for taking sides in Democratic primary battles.

In 2014, he received nearly $400,000 in consulting fees from U.S. Senate candidate David Alameel during a primary contest, while turning the party office into something of a local Alameel headquarters.

During Medinas wildly divisive 2017 mayoral bid  defined by his threat to oust then-City Manager Sheryl Sculley the day after his election  he used the party office as his own campaign base.

After losing his party chairmanship in 2018, Medina faced accusations of financial corruption from his successor, Monica Alcantara. The local party organization effectively split into pro-Medina and pro-Alcantara factions.

Medina sounds like hes far removed from those battles right now. He only had to travel 80 miles to get there.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

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Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

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Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

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Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

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Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

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Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

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Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

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Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

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Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

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Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

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Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

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Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

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Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

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7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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Armenia ex-President Sargsyan nephew acquitted

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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

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Democratic Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan gave a virtual State of the City address on Tuesday, March 9. As the site for the speech, the seven-year mayor and former medical center CEO chose the new $1.6 billion Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant on the citys east side to highlight the success of his administrations pro-corporate policies.

Democratic Party Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan delivering his State of the City presentation on March 9 at the new Stellantis Mack Assembly Plant on the citys east side [Source: City of Detroit video stream]

Duggan began by praising Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler) management and the UAW for collaborating to get the Mack Avenue facility open. It is a marvel; they built a 2.5 million square-foot plant in 18 months during a COVID pandemic, he declared. When this plant is going, 250,000 vehicles a year are going roll off that line. Not built in Tennessee. Not built in South Carolina. Not built in Huntsville, Alabama. Built right here on the east side of Detroit and for that we are enormously grateful.

Duggan pitched the jobs, which start at $17 an hour, as high-paying middle class jobs to a city whose working class in 1960 enjoyed the highest per capita income in the United States. Wages have been driven so low with the collusion of the UAW, that the auto industry is complaining that Amazons $15 an hour wages are luring away necessary labor.

After handing over $400 million in public property and tax incentives to FCA/Stellantis in the last few years to keep jobs in Detroit, the company has agreed to give Detroit resident applicants priority over non-Detroit residents. Through the implementation of the Detroit At Work taskforce, over 10,000 residents applied for jobs, or as Duggan put it in his address, Detroiters moving to the middle class.

Peddling Chrysler as family, Duggan noted that the Jefferson North Assembly Plant is hiring another 1,000 workers for 4,000 total new hiresmany who have been transferred from other plants in the area.

He also lauded General Motors for making the decision to build the worlds most technologically advanced auto facility at the shuttered Poletown plant. GM reversed the decision to close the facility, now known as plant zero, in 2019 after the UAW handed over concessions by betraying the strike by 40,000 GM workers.

Duggan praised Stellantis and auto parts companies Dakkotanow operating on what used to be Kettering High SchoolFlex-N-Gate and Spencer Butcher for their preferential hiring of Detroit residents. He also mentioned Universal Logistics, which is owned by the notorious Maroun family, whose patriarch died over the summer and received an especially warm shout-out from the mayor and the New Center Stamping (NCS) plant.

Amazon, which is building a facility on the former Michigan state fairgrounds, received praise for not asking for tax incentives. This is how far weve come, Duggan said.

All of Duggans comments on the devastating economic conditions in the citythe product of deliberate policies over decades of deindustrialization, factory closures and the destruction of tens of thousands of jobs that impacted the entire working classwere presented through the lens of racial equity.

He said, What equity means is eliminating the barriers which prevent workers from being able to fill jobs. Duggan then outlined the deals that the citys leadership is making with various companies to keep low-paying jobs within the city limits.

By using the word equitya euphemism of the African American upper middle class and bourgeoisie used to conceal the socio-economic class differences within urban populations across the countryDuggan was making a parochial appeal and pitting the citys majority working class black population against their brothers and sisters in the suburbs.

At the same time, in order to entice emerging industries, including healthcare and technology alongside of auto manufacturing, certain changes have to be made in the conditions of the citys population. To this end, a limited set of measures are being implemented in Detroit to make the impoverished working class more attractive to corporate investment and opening facilities in the city.

Some of these changes include the Michigan Drivers Responsibility Act, to restore drivers rights to the 76,000 residents who were without licenses due to poverty and to address the 25 percent of all residents who do not own a car in the Motor City. Duggan thanked President Joe Biden for assisting with the money needed to update the shoddy bus system.

Another measure is the Detroit Promise, which would guarantee free tuition to community colleges and universities for students living in the city. Duggan said that these programs are being offered in order to prepare the Detroit workforce for the industries of the future that the city administration is attempting to attract post-bankruptcy. In other words, the children living in poverty in Detroit with little to no access to quality public schools are viewed not as a generation with a right to an education but part of the workforce of the future to be exploited by global capitalist enterprises.

Duggan praised his supporters in the Detroit and Michigan Democratic Party, including congresswoman and DSA member Rashida Tlaib, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, former health department director and candidate for governor Abdul El Sayed, and members of the city council. He also made sure to appropriately suck up to the real bosses of the city, including the Ilitch family and Dan Gilbert, both of whom have been given premium real estate development opportunities through slimy land grabs in divvying up abandoned property downtown.

Gilbert, the founder of Quicken Loans and the Rock Companies, became the 10th richest person in the world for a day last Tuesday, with the largest wealth increase in a single day among the history of richest billionaires alive. His net worth now stands at $57.3 billion, while the poverty rate in Detroit is 30 percent.

Incredibly, after thanking the real estate mogul Gilbert, Duggan said that there is no greater disparity in trying to start a business than the racial gap, and asked Who gets the prime property? Those with a sophisticated real estate background. As if he had no role in giving prime real estate to billionaire speculators, including the Gilbert bills rammed through the state house and senate in 2017!

After hailing Gilbert and Ilitch, Duggan moved on to an important base of his political supporters within the black upper middle class in Detroit. While he has functioned as a power broker with the Detroit billionaire elite and the global auto industry, Duggan has been careful to ensure that a section of these businesses and individuals have been included and allowed to cash in on the comeback of the city.

Duggan boasted about his ability to get financing and grant money for the citys African American elite from JP Morgan Chase and Kellogg Foundation, which have agreed to invest $18 million in an entrepreneur of color fund in Detroit.

Duggan returned to the equity concept in discussing 4,000 housing units that were being reserved for low-income residents for the next 15 to 30 years. The Detroit Land Bank Authority currently owns 88,000 houses within the city proper, or approximately 25 percent of all residential properties.

He claimed that 16,500 vacant lots throughout the city have been sold to owners of neighboring properties in the largest transfer of property in America from city to residents, with no mention of why tens of thousands of blighted homes and lots have been sitting empty for decades or who is responsible for it.

While referencing the moratorium on water shutoffs and evictions, Duggan again placed the blame squarely on residents and said that we owe Whitmer an enormous debt of gratitude for water bill funding and the assistance programs that have been set up recently. You have to help yourself. Those who can afford to pay, must pay. We do need to find a permanent solution for 2023.

The mayor did not mention the more than 1,856 Detroit residents who died from COVID-19 until near the end of his more than hour-long speech. Detroit became an early epicenter of the pandemic with hospitals so overwhelmed that medical workers at Sinai-Grace hospital, owned by the mayors former company Detroit Medical Center, had to stack bodies in vacant rooms and utility closets.

The economic fallout for the pandemic led to an official unemployment rate of nearly 50 percent. Despite Duggans boasts about new jobs, the official unemployment rate in Detroit remains at 20 percent, with the real numbers much higher due to the thousands who have fallen out of the labor force.

He bragged that Detroit led this country in dropping the COVID infection rate, not acknowledging why the impoverished city was one of the early epicenters to begin with. Duggan closed his address by asking viewers to remember those we have lost, including an image from a summer tribute on Belle Isle to COVID-19 victims.

Instead of doing everything possible in the next monthsincluding keeping schools closed and non-essential workplaces shut downto keep workers safe until vaccines are made available to all, Duggan chastised the population for distrusting the citys vaccination plan. If we dont get vaccinated, were going to be going to funerals that are not necessary. Lets get vaccinated and lets get Detroit back open.

While Duggan and his corporate and local business backers are hailing the comeback of Detroit, it is a fact that a new generation of the working class is being hired and developed in the city and these workers will be coming into struggle against capitalism. With the UAW completely discredited and the Democratic Party exposed as a right-wing instrument of the corporate and financial elite, these largely younger and internationally diverse workers will be receptive to the program of socialism advanced only by the World Socialist Web Site and Socialist Equality Party.
He pointed out that Sanjeeva Reddy and his wife ended their lives at P. Chintakunta village after they failed to repay their debt of Rs. 11 lakh following losses in agriculture. (Photo: Facebook @NaraLokesh)

VIJAYAWADA: Telugu Desam national general secretary Nara Lokesh on Friday held Jagan Mohan Reddy government responsible for the agricultural debt crisis in AP, which led to the latest suicide by a farmer couple at Allagadda in Kurnool district.

He pointed out that Sanjeeva Reddy and his wife ended their lives at P. Chintakunta village after they failed to repay their debt of Rs. 11 lakh following losses in agriculture.

Lokesh accused Jagan of immersing himself in his party foundation day celebrations while farmers are facing a life and death situation on account of worsening debts due to the failure of crops. He hoped at least now, the Chief Minister will rise from his deep slumber and prevent suicides by farmers. He demanded that the CM immediately rescue the family of Sanjeeva Reddy.

Condemning the vindictive attitude of YSRC, the TD general secretary maintained that false cases have been filed against former Anaparthy MLA Ramakrishna Reddy after the latter started exposing the illegal activities of local YSRC legislator.
Coronavirus vaccine stocks in the UK are expected to more than double, allowing for up to 1 million doses a day in the next few weeks, according to reports.

All over-40s should have been offered their first vaccine by Easter, The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday, citing government sources.

The paper said a bumper boost to supplies will allow the vaccine rollout to expand rapidly next week.

Similarly, an analysis for The Times found Britain is on course to offer every adult in the country at least one dose of a vaccine by around 10 June, more than a month before the governments target of the end of July.

It added that the UK was currently set to immunise all adults around two months before the European Union.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, has pledged that all over-50s will have been offered jabs by 15 April, and everyone over 18 by the end of July,

More than 23 million people have now had their first dose of a vaccine as of Thursday.

It comes after a major new study found two doses of either the Pfizer or Oxford vaccine dramatically cuts transmission of the virus.

Public Health Scotland and the University of Glasgow assessed 300,000 NHS workers and their households between 8 December  the first day of vaccination in Scotland  and 3 March to give the first direct knowledge of how the jabs impact transmission.

The study assessed the records of people who live with both vaccinated and unvaccinated healthcare workers, and found the rate of Covid-19 among them was at least 30 per cent lower when the health worker had received a single dose.

Given that people living with healthcare workers could also catch the virus from other sources, researchers said the 30 per cent figure is a low estimate.

For those living with workers who had both doses of either vaccine, their risk of Covid was found to be at least 54 per cent lower.

The number of people infected with coronavirus continues to fall across England, though appears to be levelling off in Northern Ireland and Scotland, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The Suga administration recently submitted a bill to revise Japans Act on Special Measures to Facilitate Investment in Agricultural Corporations.

The bill aims to expand the recipients of investments from special agricultural funds, or limited liability partnerships consisting of financial institutions specialised in financing agricultural businesses. Special agricultural funds are currently only permitted to invest in the agricultural sector, but the revision would also allow investments in the fishing, forestry and food-processing sectors.

By making greater financial resources available to producers and exporters of agricultural and food products, the Japanese government aims to expand agricultural exports from 922.3 billion yen (US$8.5 billion) in 2020 to 2 trillion yen (US$18.5 billion) by 2025, and 5 trillion (US$46.1 billion) by 2030. The revision is expected to play a significant role in helping to promote exports given the large investments that are needed in infrastructure systems, overseas marketing and advertising, and human resources development.

The promotion of agricultural exports  nicknamed seme no nosei, or proactive agricultural policy  has become an important element of Japans economic growth strategy. This is in sharp contrast with Japans old protectionist policies in the past.

Japan is negotiating with other countries to remove or relax trade barriers and regulations on agricultural products. It is promoting Japanese food product sales by hosting business fairs overseas. Japans Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) established a new agency in 2017, the Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center, for overseas sales promotion and branding of Japanese food products. MAFF also started the Global Foodstuff Export Project in 2018, which provides business consulting to producers and exporters. Third, the government provides financial support to producers and exporters to invest in infrastructure systems for exporting their products.

Thanks to such measures, Japan has achieved its goal, set in 2005, to increase agricultural exports from 300 billion yen (US$2.8 billion) to 1 trillion yen (US$9.2 billion) by 2025 almost five years early. Japans agricultural exports grew faster than expected, particularly over the last 10 years, thanks to growing global demand for food products and the rising popularity of Japanese food overseas. But still, the growth rate has slowed in the last three years.

Japan faces a number of challenges in continuing to grow its exports of agricultural products beyond the need for investment and proactive government promotion. As such the government will need to take action in following areas.

First, Japanese agricultural products lack price competitiveness in the global market due to high production costs. For example, despite the different rice grain varieties, the average wholesale price of rice in Japan was five times higher than that in Thailand in 2020. Japan can address domestic efforts to suppress rice supply to increase its value through subsidies as well as measures to encourage rice farmers to produce alternative crops.

Second, Japans target markets have various trade barriers to food imports, including tariffs, health and safety regulations and other non-tariff barriers  particularly in developing countries. For example, China requires foreign rice to be sterilised in fumigation facilities before shipping. There are only seven facilities of this kind throughout Japan and building more would be costly. While the Suga administrations law revision would certainly help in this regard, Japan should also negotiate with China to lift such regulations in the future. - eastasiaforum.org
New Delhi, March 13 : Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP), a Delhi Government-run hospital, has so far treated more than 10,000 covid-19 patients, which, he claimed, was the highest number of Covid-19 patients treated at any one medical institution across the nation.

LNJP has 300 dedicated beds for Covid-19 patients whereas the number of patients is only 20.

The Health Minister stated that the healthcare system of the national capital has in no way lagged behind the private healthcare system for serving Covid-19 patients.

"I can proudly say that the treatment given in Delhi Government hospitals was no less than private hospitals. We took many quick decisions whenever the need arose and increasing the number of beds was one of them. The Delhi Government made LNJP Hospital India's largest Covid-19 treatment facility in which more than 10,000 Covid-19 patients were treated," he said while addressing a gathering of Delhi Legislatures and Corona-warriors at the Vidhan Sabha.

Jain extended his gratitude to all the corona warriors for their precious contribution in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. He stated that initially, reports claimed that patients faced problems during admission into the hospital.

"We found that the admission process was lengthy. Taking notice of it, we immediately passed the order for holding areas in all the hospitals for the immediate relief of all the patients. This in itself was a big change in the healthcare system. As a result, the patients used to get admitted within 10 minutes of their arrival in the Delhi Government's hospitals." Jain also announced that the Delhi government has declared the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Burari area as a non-Covid hospital now.

"We have always assured about the availability of beds in the Delhi Government's hospitals for providing best treatment not only to the people of Delhi but also to the people who live hundreds of km away from Delhi," Jain said.

Lauding the efforts of 'Covid warriors', Jain said, "Corona warriors have made Delhi proud with their efforts in fighting the pandemic. Even after so much pressure, the corona warriors worked so well."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 22:34:56|Editor: huaxia

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A gantry crane loads containers onto a freight train bound for Kazakhstan in Nanning international railway port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2021. Loaded with 49 containers of heavy machinery, the China-Europe freight train will arrive in Nur-Sultan in thirteen days after a 5,031-kilometer journey. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A rapidly evolving tax package that would expand two tax breaks for low-income New Mexico workers while raising tax rates on wealthier state residents and some businesses inched one step closer to final approval Saturday.

The Senate Taxation, Business and Transportation Committee voted 7-4 to advance the House-approved legislation, House Bill 291, after tacking on several changes.

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The changes include phasing out 2013 corporate income tax cuts signed into law by then-Gov. Susana Martinez and revising income thresholds for new proposed personal income tax brackets.

However, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, withdrew several amendments he had previously proposed, including an increase in New Mexicos tobacco tax rates and a modest decrease in the states gross receipts tax base rate.

Wirth said an expected influx of federal stimulus dollars and a projected $2.7 billion in cash reserves give the state some cushion to make sweeping changes to its tax code.

The time to have this discussion is right now, Wirth said Saturday.

He also said the legislation, in its current form, could cost the state roughly $60 million in the coming budget year, but would generate additional revenue in future years.

Some senators questioned the timing of the tax package given the states revenue outlook, however, with Sen. Bill Tallman, D-Albuquerque, asking, Why are we trying (to raise taxes) when were so flush with revenue coming in?

But Tallman ultimately joined the committees other six Democrats in voting to advance the bill to the Senate Finance Committee, while the panels GOP members voted in opposition.

The original tax measure would expand two different tax credits for low-income New Mexico workers while setting a higher tax rate for top-earning state residents.

Those provisions would remain in the bill under the proposed changes, as would a new top state personal income tax bracket of 6.2%. That rate would apply to annual income over $622,000 for married couples filing jointly, and for income in excess of $415,000 for single individuals.

New Mexicos top personal income tax bracket is currently set at 5.9% under a 2019 law, but had been at 8.2% before a 2003 tax cut pushed by then-Gov. Bill Richardson took effect.

Backers of the bill say it would make New Mexicos tax code more progressive, while also diversifying the states revenue base. Money from taxes and royalties on oil and natural gas industries, a historically volatile revenue source, currently make up more than 40% of total state revenues.

But critics of the tax package say the higher rates could be harmful for businesses already struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is a direct hit on a lot of small businesses, said Sen. Ron Griggs, R-Alamogordo.

In addition to the personal income tax changes, the bill would make it easier to qualify for both the Low Income Comprehensive Tax Rebate and the Working Families Tax Credit, which is currently available to those who make less than $15 an hour.

The changes would allow New Mexicans ages 18 to 24 and those working legally who are not U.S. citizens to qualify for the tax benefits.

The tax package now advances to its final assigned committee, the Senate Finance Committee, with one week remaining in the 60-day legislative session.
More people are choosing to die at home rather than in a hospital due to Covid restrictions. Photo: Stock

The Irish Cancer Society has reported a surge in demand for its night nurse service as more people than ever want to die at home because of hospital visitor restrictions.

The society said yesterday that demand for the free service, in which a qualified nurse provides overnight care for palliative patients in their own homes, surged by a fifth since the beginning of the pandemic a year ago.

Demand was particularly high in Co Kildare, which saw the number of requests for the service increase by 76pc last year, followed by a 70pc increase in Co Wicklow and a 60pc increase in Co Dublin.

Demand has continued to rise this year with more nurses needed in almost all parts of the country, the charity said, adding that the service provided 7,662 hours of care last year.

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However, demand for nurses has exceeded supply and the society is now urging qualified nurses to apply for a role with the charity.

Donal Buggy, director of services delivery for the charity, said: Over the last year we have recruited more nurses than ever and some of our nurses have even postponed their retirement to help with delivering the service, but we still dont have enough.

We know that dying at home surrounded by friends and family can provide such comfort to patients, and we want to ensure that we can keep providing such a vital support for anyone who might need it.

Nurse Anna Drynan Gale said the pandemic has been especially hard on families whose loved one is receiving palliative care. But the service is invaluable for them.

With a growing number of families choosing to bring family members home to die, having a night nurse enables them to do this for loved ones who in other circumstances might have remained in hospital, she said.

Families want and need to be together, they want to be close, they want to be present. They are especially grateful for the support, expertise and professionalism that night nurses bring in what can be a very daunting and emotional time. It is such a rewarding job, and the people we support are so appreciative of what were able to do for them.

Antoinette Britton, whose husband Brian received night nursing care prior to his death in February in 2018, said the service was invaluable to their family.

Brian always said he wanted to die at home, but I was feeling very fearful and anxious about how we could make it work as we approached that stage. We were only able to do it thanks to the Irish Cancer Societys Night Nursing Service.

They made sure Brian had everything he needed in the end. It was wonderful because it meant we all had our own time and we could care for him until the end, but we also had that very necessary professional backup for things like medication, she said.

The night nurse service is always complementary to the community palliative care team or the community primary care team.

Anyone wishing to apply for the role can do so by contacting the charity at cancer.ie/jobs or by emailing recruitment@irishcancer.ie.
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

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Sydney musician Flume has one overriding hope around his nomination for best dance recording at Mondays Grammys: that his internet connection holds up long enough to get through the virtual ceremony.

No way did I expect to be nominated for a Grammy, says the producer, whose real name is Harley Streten, of the surprise journey of earworm single The Difference. The track was made during a day session with fellow indie fave Toro y Moi (Chaz Bear) and released more than a year ago.

Sydney producer Flume is up for a Grammy for best dance recording. Credit:Zachary Chick

Sometimes these tracks can fall through the cracks, the ones that arent part of a proper album campaign. So it feels very validating or something, like the work feels official, Flume says. But its going to be a very different Grammys this year. Its going to be on Zoom.

After years of living in Los Angeles, he relocated to NSWs Northern Rivers at the beginning of the year, seeking both a slower pace of life and a safer refuge from the COVID-19 running rampant in the US. But when the weather turns, so does his Wi-Fi.


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New Delhi:

Gujarat government was pulled up by the Supreme Court on Monday for the slow trial in the rape case involving self-styled godman Asaram Bapu.



The apex court questioned as to why the victim has not been examined till now and asked the Gujarat government to file an affidavit in this regard.



The Jodhpur Police arrested Asaram on August 3, 2013 and since then, he is in prison.



A Surat-based woman has accused Asaram of sexual assaults between 1997 and 2006 when she was living in his Ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city.



In pics: From Asaram Bapu to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, self-styled Godmen accused in rape, criminal cases

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India as a democracy has guaranteed the right to protest throughout and the farmers' protests over agricultural reforms is an issue that is "absolutely and totally" a matter for the government of India, UK minister Lord Tariq Ahmad said on Friday ahead of his visit to New Delhi.

A debate in a UK parliamentary committee room earlier this week over the issue was condemned by India as "gross interference in the politics of another democratic country" and even led to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla calling in British High Commissioner Alex Ellis for a meeting.

Lord Ahmad, the minister of state responsible for Indian affairs in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), will begin his five-day visit to India on Monday.

"It was a very cordial meeting. It was the first time they were formally meeting and whilst the issue of the protests was discussed and India made clear their position, we have also reiterated the point that the parliamentary scheduling of debates and the nature of our parliamentary democracy is such (but) the government's position can be made very clear too," he said during a virtual pre-visit interaction with reporters here.

"The protests have been taking place for several months now and India as a democracy has totally guaranteed and secured the right to protest, which we fully acknowledge. I equally fully want to endorse, and regularly articulate, that the principle of the farmers' protest in terms of the actual nature of it is absolutely and totally a matter for the government of India. That position has been longstanding and has not changed," he said.

The minister categorically ruled out any scope of the matter overshadowing his extensive schedule in India, which covers ministerial meetings in New Delhi, followed by interactions with regional and community leaders in Chandigarh, Chennai and Hyderabad before concluding with trade talks in Mumbai.

The visit is seen as further finalising the groundwork for the forthcoming tour of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is scheduled to visit India in the coming weeks ahead of the G7 summit in Cornwall in June.

"The intense programme underlines the importance of our strong relationship with India. It follows on from our ongoing senior-level engagement at ministerial level. We look forward to the Prime Minister's (Johnson) visit in advance of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi visiting as part of the G7," the minister said.

"Our relationship with India is not just one of bilateral importance, it's also about how these two countries are working together and there's no better illustration than the current Covid-19 pandemic which grips us... The role that India has played as the pharmacy of the world has been phenomenal.

"We've been extremely collaborative in our approach to this and publicly acknowledged the role India played in unlocking certain other pharmaceuticals, including the delivery of paracetamol," Ahmad said.

With reference to planned supplies of a batch of Covishield vaccines from the Serum Institute of India to the UK, the minister reiterated that it symbolised the wide range of bilateral ties and would not impact both countries' commitment to ensuring supplies to more vulnerable regions through the UN-led COVAX facility.

"We work together with India on securing domestic supplies but that hasn't taken away from our commitment through Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) to the COVAX facility. India, through the likes of the Serum Institute of India, are absolutely integrated to ensure the supply of that," he said.

Ahmad's visit to India will coincide with the UK's release of the government's Integrated Review into its post-Brexit foreign policy priorities next week, which is widely expected to confirm a so-called Indo-Pacific tilt in favour of countries like India.

While not wanting to be drawn into the specifics of the review, the minister said: "It can be taken as read in as much as government policy is concerned, there is a very strong belief and focus on the Indo-Pacific tilt and it's right we do so. When you look at the countries within that part of the region, India is foremost in our minds."

This will be the latest in a series of high-profile UK visits to India in preparation for Prime Ministers Johnson and Modi signing off on a highly-anticipated UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership, which is seen a precursor to a wider free trade agreement (FTA) in the future.

Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several Delhi border points, including Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, since November 28, demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for their crops.

The Indian government has denied allegations that it was trying to put an end to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the mandi system. Multiple rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions have not been able to resolve the deadlock.

India has emphasised that the protests by farmers must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity and the Ministry of External Affairs said that some vested interest groups have tried to mobilise international support against the country. "Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken," it said last month.

Also read: India Today Conclave: India Cements MD N Srinivasan on why investors flock to Tamil Nadu
Defence chiefs have paid out more than 100 million to troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the past 13 years, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reached settlements with more than 4,000 service personnel who have suffered mental trauma, often following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Experts said the high sum was the result of historic failures to properly help soldiers left haunted by flashbacks of their time in battle.

Around six per cent of former troops suffer post-traumatic stress.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that the largest sum awarded was made in 2011 for 2.4 million to a Gulf War veteran.

Defence chiefs have paid out more than 100 million to troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the past 13 years, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The Ministry of Defence has reached settlements with more than 4,000 service personnel who have suffered mental trauma, often following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. (File photo of British soldiers during the 1991 Gulf War)

In total, some 3,730 payments were made under the MoD's Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), totalling 48.6 million, but the true bill is higher because some settlements will include annual income payments, at a further cost of 42 million.

In addition, there have also been 84 cases settled by the courts where soldiers decided to sidestep the AFCS, with payouts from these totalling 17 million.

Colonel Richard Kemp, a former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, said: 'The MoD failure to properly identify and support those suffering from PTSD has led to massive compensation payouts.

'Although psychological damage caused by combat has been known about for many years, properly identifying symptoms can be extremely hard. I am glad to say that the MoD is now becoming much better at this.'

More than 4,000 service personnel have taken their own lives since 1995.

News of the claims comes after the MoS won a significant campaign to persuade military leaders to introduce a 24/7 helpline for troops so they can discuss mental health issues.

Last night, an MoD spokesman said: 'We take all PTSD claims seriously and evaluate each claim based on whether the MoD has a legal liability to pay compensation.'
A federal regulatory agency is approaching the deadline to decide whether masks should be required at workplaces in the United States, in response to an executive order by President Biden.

On January 21, President Joe Biden's first full day in office, he signed an executive order that asked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, to consider if any new emergency temporary standards are needed to protect workers from Covid-19. That could include masks in workplaces, if necessary, the order said -- and such standards would need to be issued by March 15.

Covid-19 requirements from OSHA would be very different than the mask guidance and recommendations from the White House or the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

OSHA, a large regulatory agency within the US Department of Labor, has federal power to set and enforce standards to ensure safe working conditions that covers most working Americans in all 50 states. It can enforce requirements anywhere from local shops to factory floors to large corporations. Failure by a business to comply with any OSHA requirement can result in fines, jail time and legal liability.

Federally mandating masks in all workplaces is unprecedented. There were previous regulations on respiratory protection for workers in hazardous environments or healthcare roles, but not for the majority of the American workforce.

Earlier this year, OSHA issued guidance encouraging employers to implement measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace but did not mandate them to act. That may soon change.

A federal OSHA workplace mask regulation would apply even in states that are no longer requiring face coverings or have loosened Covid-19 restrictions.

A US Department of Labor spokesperson told CNN that OSHA is considering the need for an emergency temporary standard, or any new rules and regulations, to better protect workers during the pandemic. That includes considering rules for face masks, and OSHA is exploring using the first efficiency standard for consumer masks that can guarantee quality and effectiveness, which were recently published by ASTM International -- an international standards organization.

"As OSHA studies this potential action, it will consider the recent ASTM standard on barrier face coverings and its potential to provide the most effective personal protective benefits," a US Department of Labor spokesperson told CNN Wednesday.

Considering mask standards

ASTM International recently published the first national mask standard for consumers that outline minimum fit, design, performance and testing requirements and would require user instructions, package labeling and a permanent tag on the product. To meet ASTM standards, manufacturers are required to test their facial coverings in accredited labs to certify performance, register their products and use an outlined ASTM labeling system on their products.

Previously there were no standards for consumer masks, even though masks are highly recommended by US health officials to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

While many Americans have been going to work throughout the pandemic, some Americans have yet to return to their workplace in a Covid-19 environment. To ensure workers are safe, OSHA is working to expand the ability to report workplace safety complaints in relation to Covid-19 protection.

"We are preparing to implement a national emphasis program that focuses our efforts on violations that put the largest number of workers at risk of contracting coronavirus or are contrary to anti-retaliation principles," a Department of Labor spokesperson told CNN Wednesday. "OSHA is reviewing its enforcement efforts related to Covid-19 and identifying changes to better protect workers and ensure the safety of its compliance officers, "the spokesperson continued.

Pressure mounting

Pressure has been mounting on OSHA to adopt the new ASTM mask standards.

In a letter to Biden's top coronavirus advisers last month, a dozen health and safety experts -- including four members of Biden's former advisory board -- called on the CDC and OSHA to adopt the ASTM standard for better protection for workers and the general public.

The letter asks OSHA to create a higher benchmark for workers -- masks with 80% protection - using the design and testing criteria outlined by the ASTM standard.

Mask manufacturers are also encouraging OSHA to adopt the new ASTM mask standard. In two recent letters to the Biden administration, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, known as INDA, and the newly formed American Mask Manufacturers Association, or AMMA, tell the Biden administration that American mask and material manufacturers can adequately supply the country with high-quality masks and encourage the implementation of a national mask standard.

INDA represents more than 200 US suppliers of raw materials and equipment manufacturers and AMMA, is made up of more than 40 American mask manufacturing companies.

"Based on INDA's activities working with US government entities and its membership, it is INDA's opinion that the raw material shortage for the production of US face masks and respirators has been addressed for the time being," INDA President Dave Rousse said in the letter, which was sent to President Joe Biden.

The other letter, by AMMA, outlines the current US monthly production capacity of 902 million high-filtration masks and says there are 690 million unused high-filtration masks currently sitting in warehouses.

"We want to assure you that America's mask manufacturers have ample capacity to meet the entire needs of our nation during emergencies such as this pandemic," the AMMA letter says.

OSHA is required to respond to President Biden's executive order on March 15, 2021.
UPDATED: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) called Friday evening for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign, the highest profile calls yet for the embattled governor to step down  something he insisted earlier in the day he has no intention of doing but will wait for the results of two separate inquiries into allegation of sexual harassment.

Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct. Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign, the two senators from New York said in a joint statement.

More from Deadline

PREVIOUSLY: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Friday blasted politicians for putting opinions ahead of facts and said hell continue with the business of running New York until a pair of inquiries into allegations of sexual harassment are completed.

People know the difference between playing politics and bowing to cancel culture, Cuomo lashed out at a press briefing. There are now two reviews underway. No one wants them to happen more quickly and more thoroughly than I do. Let them do it. I am not going to argue this issue in the press. Thats not the way it should be done. Serious allegations should be weighed seriously, he said, implying that calls for him to step down are politically motivated.

Story continues

There are facts and then there are opinions and I have always separated the two. I do briefings. I put out the facts then I offer my opinions but they are two different things.

He denied the allegations, as he has twice before, saying he never harassed, grabbed or assaulted anyone. I never would. He admitted only that he may have unwittingly taken awkward photographs with women. Anna Ruch, who never worked for the governor and didnt know him, said he grabbed her face and kissed her at a wedding reception in September of 2019. Theres a picture showing it.

Now, is it possible that I have taken a picture with a person who after the fact says that they were uncomfortable with the pose in the picture? Yes. And thats what youre hearing about. I have taken thousands of pictures. I never meant to make anyone feel uncomfortable or awkward.

There are times I go to take a picture with a person and I can see theyre stand-offish, and I dont. I apologize for people I have taken pictures with and who after the fact said they were uncomfortable with that picture, he said.

The event had been billed as a regular Covid-update press briefing but felt like anything but that as reports have surfaced near daily of women accusing the governor of inappropriate behavior, sexual harassment and assault. The allegations have led to an impeachment inquiry by the Democratic-led State Assembly, an inquiry by New York Attorney General Letiticia James and calls by state and federal lawmakers for him to resign.

Democratic New York Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney among others added their voices to the rising chorus this morning.

Five women, including former aides, have gone public with allegations over the past month. Another accusation of groping was reported in a press account this week and referred to the Albany Police by a state official.

Cuomo has also been under fire for the administrations reporting of Covid-19 nursing home deaths, which is the subject of a separate inquiry by the NY AG.

Cuomo said theres important NY state work to be done like passing a crucial budget in the next few weeks and administering millions of vaccines. Asked if he could still be effective given the swirling allegations and calls for him to step down, he said, This is not the first time weve had to walk and chew gum.

Actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, who ran to the left of Cuomo and lost in an acrimonious Democratic primary in 2018, has been retweeting declarations of pols as they join the call for the governor to step down.

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Apple may still be in the HomePod business, but the original high-end speaker is no more. Apple just gave its original hi-fi smart speaker an unceremonious burial following a late-night update to its website Friday.

The timing of the news may have been surprising, but the substance was less so. The bigger, pricey HomePod (which Apple promises to continue supporting) has been languishing in a familiar limbo for high-end, Apple-branded speakers, while the arrival of a smaller, more affordable follow-up last fall turned out to be a harbinger of things to come.

Originally selling for $349 before Apple chopped its price to $299, the HomePod brings to mind the iPod Hi-Fi, a big white speaker with an iPod dock that landed with a thud in 2006. Cupertino scuttled the iPod Hi-Fi, which was shunned even by the Apple faithful, after just a year.

[ Further reading: Everything you need to know about Apple HomeKit ]

The HomePod, on the other hand, had its fair share of fans, and its easy to see why. Dressed in an eye-catching cloth wrapping, the HomePod ranks as the most sophisticated speaker Apple ever built, complete with an upfiring, high-execution speaker encircled by seven tweeters, with each driver powered by its own amplifier.

Powered by Siri, HomePod wasfor a timethe only smart speaker that acted as a home hub for HomeKit, Apples budding smart home platform. And with the arrival of AirPlay 2, you could arrange a number of HomePods in a multi-audio setup for playing different tunes in each room of your home.

The HomePod did win over a niche audience, many of whom did indeed buy multiple HomePods. But it never broke out into the mainstream the way that smaller, cheaper smart speakers from Amazon and Google did, and there are plenty of reasons why.

It was too expensive

First of all, that $349 price tagouch. Even after Apple belatedly cut it to $299, thats a lot of cash to lay down for a single speaker, although the HomePods premium price is a very Apple thing to do.

Of course, Apple wasn't alone in offering a pricey smart speaker. The $299 Google Home Max was our favorite smart speaker for music, but it too has been discontinued.

IDG HomePod extremely well designed, but too extensive and limited.

Its sound wasn't good enough

Of course, in the audiophile world, $300 for a speaker is peanuts, but the HomePod isnt quite right for audiophiles, either. In our review, we called the HomePods audio very good, but we also thought that Sonos Play:5 and the Google Home Max were better.

We were also tripped up by the HomePods omnidirectional design (how likely is it that youll place the speaker in the middle of the room?) and by its too-bassy sound signature (not surprising considering the speaker doesnt have any mid-range drivers).

It has limited streaming support

Beyond how music sounds on the HomePod, theres the matter of how many streaming music services the HomePod natively supports. Up until recently, the answer was a grand total of one: Apple Music.

Last year, Apple finally announced that Siri on the HomePod would begin supporting other, third-party music services as well, but so far only Pandora has signed up.

IDG HomePod was easy to set up but not so easy to play use with third-party streaming services.

That means if you want to stream tunes from, say, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, or YouTube Music, youll have to do so via AirPlay 2, an obstacle other speakers don't have.

Siri's not smart enough

Some of the best smart devices on the market are powered by HomeKit, and HomeKit boasts some of the best privacy-minded features weve seen in the smart home.

HomeKit Secure Video, for example, ensures that captured video from your security cameras and analyzed locally rather than on a third-party cloud server, and once your video clips are stored in iCloud, theyre encrypted so no one but you can see them.

But as good as many HomeKit smart devices are, there still arent that many of them, or at least not as many as those supported by Google Assistant, orbiggest of allAlexa. That means if youre using the HomePod as a smart speaker, youll have a much smaller universe of smart devices to control.

Alexa, meanwhile, enjoys support from more than 100,000 smart gadgets and counting, which you can control using a $50 (or frequently cheaper) Echo Dot. Siri just isn't as smart as its counterparts when it comes to controlling the devices in your home, and it's something Apple still needs to address with the HomePod mini going forward.

HomePod mini can still succeed

The new, smaller HomePod mini isnt so much a reason for the HomePods failure as it was the final nail in the coffin.

Priced at just $99, the HomePod mini brings Apples smart speakers into the realm of affordability (although theyre still not nearly as inexpensive as the Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini, which are $50 each).

Ben Patterson/IDG HomePod mini can succeed where HomePod failed.

The HomePod minis single driver wont knock anyones socks off, but its sound is certainly good enough, and certainly better than what youll hear from the cheaper Amazon and Google speakers. And if the HomePod mini is still saddled with limited HomeKit and music service support, well, thats an easier pill to swallow given its (barely) sub-$100 price tag.

Finally, the HomePod mini comes with a pair of flashy new hardware features that the HomePod lacks, including an ultra-wideband U1 chip that jazzes up the speakers music handoff abilities, plus a new radio that lets the smaller HomePod act as a Thread border router.

By solving many (if not all) of the HomePod's most vexing problems, it's no wonder Apple wants to put the HomePod mini front and center, while moving the older HomePod out to pasture.
A UK police officer was indicted for the murder of Sarah Everard on Friday. This was days following the discovery of authorities of the woman's remains in a wooded area outside London. Metropolitan Police Officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been arrested for Everard's murder. He will appear before the Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Suspect for Sarah Everard's Kidnapping and Murder Found

Everard, 33, went missing while walking home from a friend's house in south London's Clapham on March 3. Her body was discovered in the woodlands in Ashford on March 10, reported Mirror.

According to the Metropolitan Police, Couzens was not on duty when the victim disappeared. Rosemary Ainslie, Head of Special Crime at the CPS, stated, "Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police related to the death of Sarah Everard, the CPS has authorised the police to charge Wayne Couzens with murder and kidnapping," reported LAD Bible.

She added that the CPS's purpose is not to deliberate whether a person is guilty of a criminal offense but to make independent, fair, and objective evaluations regarding whether it is proper to present charges to a court. Ainslie also stated that criminal proceedings are ongoing, and nothing should be published that could jeopardize the defendant's right to a justified trial.

Couzens' charging came many hours following police officers' confirmation that the body discovered had been identified as Sarah Everard. Officials also disclosed that Couzens had again been hospitalized on Friday with a head injury. One day after being briefly admitted to the hospital for a similar injury sustained while "alone in his cell," reported Yahoo News.

Also Read: Another Police Officer Takes Own Life After US Capitol Siege

The accused joined the force two years ago in September 2018. This was when he worked for a response team covering the Bromley area. Then, he moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February 2020.

The most recent developments came as detectives stated that they had been given more time to question a serving member of the Metropolitan Police's elite diplomatic protection unit in association with the case. Couzens was first taken into custody on Tuesday in Kent on the suspicions of his involvement in the kidnapping and was then indicted for murder the next day.

Couzens has also been taken into custody over a separate incident of indecent exposure. The police watchdog is now probing into whether policemen responded rightfully to a report connected to Couzens three days before Sarah Everard's disappearance.

The development on Friday came after her devastated parents had paid tribute to their daughter as a "shining example" who was "kind and strong." Both parents have appealed for anyone with information to contact the police.

The case underscored how women usually feel unsafe while walking alone. British lawmaker Jess Phillips read Thursday in Parliament the names of 118 women and girls murdered in Britain last year whose alleged or convicted killers were men. According to Home Secretary Priti Patel, she would do all she can to protect women and girls after the outcry that has followed the victim's disappearance.

Related Article: 2 US Capitol Police Officers Suspended for Their Actions amid Fatal Rebellion

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The Uzbekistan Army has been learning to handle Sig Sauer assault rifles from the Indian Army during the joint exercise that is happening currently in Chaubatia of Ranikhet district, said senior military officials on Friday.

Moreover, all infantry battalions of the Indian Army have got at least 50 per cent of the required Sig Sauer rifles, said its spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand.

The frontline infantry battalions (posted along the Line of Control or the Line of Actual Control) have got Sig Sauer rifles in a much larger number while other battalions have got at least 50 per cent, he added.

The military exercise called Dustlik-2 between India and Uzbekistan started on March 10 and it will end on March 19. Col Amit Malik, who heads 13th battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, said, "We will be training them (Uzbekistan Army personnel) because they would be using it for the first time."

Around 45 personnel of the 13th battalion are conducting a joint exercise with around 45 personnel of the Uzbekistan Army. The focus of this military exercise has been counterterrorist operations.

The mainstay of the Indian Army's infantry has been indigenously-built Insas 5.56 mm rifle, which has a firing range of around 400 metre.

However, the Army has recently been shifting to American Sig Sauer 7.62 mm rifle, which has a firing range of 600 metre. The defence ministry had in September last year approved the procurement of 72,000 Sig Sauer rifles for the Indian Army.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Haitian immigrants are in fear for their lives due to the actions of the DHS

Recently, in an internal document, it was revealed that Department of Homeland Security officials knew that deporting Haitian immigrants back to their country during these times of political instability would put them in harms way  and did it anyway.

Now, lawmakers are asking the Biden administration to step in.

Friday, Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez and his Republican colleague, Marco Rubio, led the charge calling for a new round of deportation protections for Haitian immigrants in the US after a year of sweeping deportations, citing COVID-19 as the reasoning.

READ MORE: Sharon Osbourne apologizes after facing backlash for race comments

We write to express our deep concern about the complicated economic, security, and humanitarian challenges in Haiti and respectfully request that you consider redesignating Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Haitis protracted political crisis exacerbates the severe and prolonged humanitarian needs sparked by the 2010 earthquake, the senators wrote in a letter intended for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

People from Haiti and others who are seeking asylum in the United States sit and sleep outside the El Chaparral border crossing in the early morning hours on February 19, 2021 in Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

While the Government of Haiti has been able to receive limited numbers of Haitian nationals removed from the United States, it lacks the capacity to provide the needed reception and care for tens of thousands of returnees.

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How did it get this bad?

The violence in Haiti spiked over the last few weeks after the opposition partys calls for President Jovenel Moise to step down were unsuccessful. This created a unique two-headed monster for the Biden administration which now has to simultaneously roll back the immigration policies of the Trump administration  slammed by critics for being xenophobic  while also attempting to curb the new waves of frightened Haitians seeking asylum.

READ MORE: Black, Hispanic Americans more likely to experience job loss during pandemic, AP poll finds

Story continues

According to Buzzfeed, The Biden administration has continued to use a Trump-era border policy to turn back immigrants at the border, including Haitians, much to the chagrin of advocates who point out that it effectively seals the border.

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Historically, immigrants have been able to cite fear of being returned to their home countries as a reason to be allowed refuge at the border. But last March 11, after the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 was a global pandemic, border officials were able to use a section of the public health code known as Title 42 to turn back immigrants, characterizing it as a measure to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

In the twelve months since then, thousands of people have been turned back using this policy as a blanket reason. Over 900 Haitians were deported back to Haiti by ICE in the first part of February alone, although DHS sent internal messages admitting those people may face harm upon their return.

The situation in Haiti is placing an immense amount of pressure on the new administration, threatening to further strain border resources as they try to move forward with broad reforms, said Sarah Pierce, an analyst with the Migration Policy Institute.

New administration, new approach?

A DHS spokesperson said that while the agency is attempting to restore the asylum system at the border, the change could not feasibly happen overnight.

The return of a family is a solemn and heartbreaking event. That is especially true when the country of destination suffers instability, violence, lack of economic opportunity, or other challenges, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Im afraid I am going to get killed, said one recently deported immigrant named Marie, who crossed the border with her husband and infant before being sent back. It has been extremely difficult.

President of the Republic of Haiti H.E. Jovenel Moise speaks onstage during the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit on September 25, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Riccardo Savi/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)

The 38-year-old said she left Haiti after being kidnapped and raped, but when she crossed the border in late January, she was arrested along with her family and not allowed to plead her case for protection in America before being flown back two weeks later.

READ MORE: Bidens recovery plan to include infrastructure policy, expanded technology access

As a Haitian Pastor ministering in the community for over fifty years, I am shocked by the tragedy our nation is producing for Haitians seeking protections, Bishop Philius H. Nicolas with Evangelical Crusade of Fishers of Men, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Brooklyn, New York said in a statement sent to theGrio. By sending at least 17 deportations flights to Haiti since the beginning of February 2021, the U.S. has made the immoral choice to reject, instead of protect, over 1,000 Haitiansincluding more than 270 childrenseeking asylum and security.

Detaining and deporting asylum seekers doesnt just turn our back on immigrants. It shamefully turns our back on God, who calls us to welcome our neighbors. Instead, we must halt the returns of Haitians and many other Black nationality migrants, which are sending them to face danger and which has cost the lives of many. I call on the Administration to re-designate TPS for Haitians, and also to protect Cameroonians and Mauritanians through TPS.

To his point, the internal DHS report obtained by Buzzfeed states, Embassy Port au Prince briefed on the deterioration of rule of law in Haiti in recent months, and ongoing gang violence and human rights violations in the country. In light of these developments, DHS US Citizenship and Immigration Services will reevaluate whether expelled Haitians would face harm upon return to Haiti.

Then it goes on to confirm, Based on a recent analysis of conditions in Haiti, USCIS believes that Haitians removed to Haiti may face harm upon return to Haiti.

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The post Senators call on Biden to protect Haitian immigrants as DHS officials deport them despite fears in return appeared first on TheGrio.
Michelle Yeoh has been cast as Professor Anemone in The School For Good And Evil, joining Hollywood stars Laurence Fishburne, Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Sofia Wylie and Sophia Anne Caruso in the film which is being shot in Belfast.

Laurence Fishburne has joined the cast of the The School For Good And Evil, joining Hollywood actress Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Sofia Wylie and Sophia Anne Caruso in the film which is being shot in Belfast.

The Matrix and John Wick star Laurence Fishburne is to join the cast of a new Netflix film being shot in Belfast.

He will play The Schoolmaster and Michelle Yeoh, who appeared in James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drago, has been cast as Professor Anemone in The School For Good And Evil, joining Hollywood actress Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Sofia Wylie and Sophia Anne Caruso in the film.

In January Belfast Harbour Studios was announced as the site for the filming of the fantasy drama, which follows a group of girls and boys who are taken to an institution and trained to become fairy tale heroes and villains.
Secondary school students in Portlaoise and Clonasee are among 13,000 pupils around Ireland who are participating in Drinkawares Junior Cycle Alcohol Education Programme (JC AEP).

The programme involves 8-10 lessons delivered on a weekly/fortnightly basis by the trained teacher and to date, 134 schools have undertaken the programme including St Marys CBS, Portlaoise, and Clonaslee college.

The students will also be taking part in a university study on alcohol education & behaviours. It tracks 1st to 3rd year students experiences of alcohol education in Ireland in real-time.

As the national charity working to reduce and prevent alcohol misuse in Ireland, Drinkaware commissioned Maynooth Universitys Centre for Mental Health and Community Research to investigate the programmes effectiveness and, in particular, its primary prevention goal to delay the age of first drink.

350+ students from 19 schools across the country took part in the evaluation that was conducted over the three-year period (2018  2020).

The report found that as the students progressed through the JC AEP, the proportion who expressed no intention or interest in drinking, rose from 30% in 1st year to 54% in 3rd year. The findings also show that participation led to substantial and sustained improvements in students knowledge and understanding of alcohol when compared with pre-programme delivery data.

Students knowledge of the impact of alcohol on overall health and wellbeing increased substantially and progressively from 22% pre-programme to 50% in 3rd year. A similar increase was found regarding students who reported knowing a lot about alcohols impact on mental health which also doubled from 23% pre-programme to 46% in 3rd year. Nearly half (46%) of participating students identified the negative impact of alcohol on physical and mental health as a reason why teenagers do not drink.

There was a marked shift across some of the results when comparing 2nd and 3rd year data. For instance, the 60% (approx.) of students who indicated that they had never drunk alcohol remained fairly stable between 1st and 2nd year, but then decreased sharply by 17% as students went from 2nd to 3rd year.

The study revealed that 38% of 3rd year participating students who drink, have already experienced one or more negative effects of alcohol consumption, such as physical fights, arguments, accidents/injury, and/or feeling physically sick/vomiting.

A recurring theme was that of parents role in underage drinking. Parental permissiveness  even if this is only perceived by the student  and the ease with which alcohol can be accessed in the home setting, may either inhibit or enable underage drinking.

For instance, 57% of 3rd year students had first consumed alcohol either in their own or someone elses home, most saying they did so with little difficulty whilst only 1 in 4 said they got into trouble with parents for drinking.

In contrast to the 44% in 3rd year who cited tolerant parental views regarding alcohol, 19% indicated that their parents do not like to see them drinking, and 17% of those in 3rd year who had not started drinking cited concerns over their parents reaction as a deterrent to drinking.

The findings on the views of teachers, reflected a general consensus that parents/guardians should take primary responsibility for alcohol education (63%) and that they either were not fulfilling this role or needed support to do so.

With regard to the participating students and teachers views of the JC AEP, the study reveals consistently high proportions of students in each year of the evaluation, rated the JC AEP highly, for example 63% of students in Year 3 rated it as excellent, very good or good. 60% also said that they would recommend the programme to other students/schools.

Commenting on the report findings, Sheena Horgan, Drinkaware CEO said: 15 years of age is the average age of the first drink in Ireland. But average doesnt tell the full story. This study shows how attitudes, and behaviours shift markedly across 13 to 15 year olds (1st to 3rd year), meaning alcohol education before this age is vital. Maynooth Universitys rigorous and independent evaluation shows how programmes like Drinkawares JC AEP can make a significant contribution to the prevention/delay of underage drinking.

Lead author of the study, Professor Sinead McGilloway, Founder Director of the Centre for Mental Health and Community Research at Maynooth Universitys Dept. of Psychology said: To date, public policy on alcohol has primarily focused on older teenagers. However, our research clearly indicates that we need to engage with our children at a much earlier age. The collective findings of this study suggest that Drinkawares Alcohol Education Programme is a useful, feasible and high quality programme that is successfully engaging and empowering young people to develop sustained improvements in knowledge, awareness, understanding, confidence and appropriate decision-making skills around the consumption of alcohol The results also highlight the important role that parents play in protecting and educating their children on alcohol, and a need to provider better support to them in this regard.

Commenting on the next steps for Drinkaware and the Junior Cycle Alcohol Education Programme Horgan said: With this research clearly indicating how alcohol education can be effective, the time to act is now. We must progress and scale evidence-informed education programmes, such as the JCAEP, at a national level and also look at potential programmes for 1112 year olds if the disturbing trajectory of underage drinking and continuance of alcohol harm is to be halted. There is no place for alcohol in childhood, and through the collective efforts of Irish society, from educators to parents, to charities such as Drinkaware, we can make a difference to the next generations relationship with alcohol.
Continuing on in his role as governor, Governor Cuomo signed legislation on Friday granting employees time off to receive COVID-19 vaccination.

Public and private employees will be granted up to four hours of excused leave per injection. Under this new law, that excused leave will not be charged against any other leave the employee has earned or accrued. This legislation becomes effective immediately.

State lawmakers say this law ensures that New Yorkers are not forced to choose between losing wages and receiving their vaccination.
She recently shared her parental pride as her daughter embarked on a modeling career.

And on Friday, Vanessa Bryant continued to sing her eldest daughter Natalias praises, when she posted an acceptance letter from the University of California, Irvine to her Instagram Stories.

Vanessa, 38, added several emoticons to the screenshot of the letter, including a caption that said 'Yay! Closer to home.'

Proud mama: On Friday, Vanessa Bryant sang her eldest daughter Natalias praises, when she posted an acceptance letter from the University of California, Irvine to her Instagram Stories

The social media share comes one day after the widow of Kobe Bryant beamed over Natalia, 18, getting into Loyola Marymount University, as well.

On Thursday, Vanessa took to her Instagram Stories with a happy message touting the news of Natalia's acceptance into Loyola Marmount, located in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Playa Vista.

'So glad you got accepted but ... Too far j/k,' she wrote in the caption.

Great prospects: The social media share comes one day after the widow of Kobe Bryant beamed over Natalia, 18, getting into Loyola Marymount University, as well

Good news: Vanessa, 38, added several emoticons to the screenshot of the letter, including a caption that said 'Yay! Closer to home'

And last month, the mother of four took to the social media site with a shot of an acceptance letter to the University of Oregon Natalia had received.

The good academic news follows other recent positive developments for Natalia, who last month shared that she had signed a contract with IMG models.

Since then, both mother and daughter have posted stunning images from her first camera tests and photoshoots.

About her modeling endeavors, Natalia said in a statement: 'I have always been interested in fashion since a very young age. I have a love for the industry and ever since I can remember I wanted to model. There is a lot to learn but I feel this is a great opportunity for me to learn and express myself creatively.'

On Thursday: Vanessa took to her Instagram Stories with a happy message touting the news of Natalia's acceptance into Loyola Marmount, located in the LA neighborhood of Playa Vista

Last month: The mother of four took to the social media site with a shot of an acceptance letter to the University of Oregon Natalia had received

She also said in a previous Instagram Stories post that she was 'beyond thrilled and so honored to be a part of the IMG family.'

After Natalia turned 18 this past January, mom Vanessa paid a special birthday tribute to her oldest daughter, nearly a year after her father Kobe Bryant, 41, and sister Gigi Bryant, 13, perished in a tragic helicopter crash.

'You have displayed so much strength and grace throughout the most difficult year of our lives,' said Vanessa, who is also mother to daughters Bianka, four, and Capri, 20 months. 'Thank you for stepping in to help me with your little sisters.'

Kobe and Gigi died with seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020. Also killed in the crash were pilot Ara Zobayan, 50, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Keri Altobelli, 46, John Altobelli, 56, and Christina Mauser, 38.

Stunner: The good academic news follows other recent positive developments for Natalia, who last month shared that she had signed a contract with IMG models; seen on Instagram
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Last month, Egypt announced a new oil-and-gas exploration bid round in the Eastern Mediterranean. It notably took into consideration the coordinates of the continental shelf as declared by Ankara, according to the 2019 agreement between Turkey and Libya, registered by the UN last October. Ankara thus understood the Egyptian move as a positive message. As Middle East Eye reports, this was not the first message of its kind. Despite criticising the Turkey-Libya maritime agreement, Egypts foreign ministry raised eyebrows during the Rome conference in December 2019 by asserting that it "doesnt harm Egypts interests" in the Eastern Mediterranean.

When Egypt signed a maritime delimitation agreement with Greece in August 2020, experts noted that the agreement took into consideration Turkeys reservations on the maritime borders of the islands. According to Turkeys foreign minister, the agreement supported the Turkish thesis that the islands do not have sovereign continental shelves.

Cairo has recently introduced changes to its Libya policy that have brought it closer to Ankara. In the face of new facts on the ground in the North African country after Ankara successfully turned the tide against renegade Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, Egypt took a number of steps, sending a high-ranking diplomatic and security delegation to Tripoli and announcing plans to reopen its embassy for the first time since 2014.

These messages didnt go unnoticed in Ankara. On 3 March, Turkeys top diplomat endorsed Cairos respect of his countrys maritime borders. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu focused on the shared interests between the two countries and signalled Turkeys readiness to negotiate and sign a maritime jurisdiction agreement with Egypt.

Three days later, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar got involved in the Egypt diplomacy when he stressed during the Blue Homeland 2021 tactical exercise that the two countries share historical and cultural values, hinting at the potential for new developments.

Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin endorsed these statements when he told Bloomberg that a new chapter can be opened  in our relationship with Egypt. The fact that these messages are coming from the highest officials in the Turkish establishment reflects their seriousness.

Strengthening relations

The carefully crafted messages between the two countries respond not only to their common interests, but also to changing international and regional dynamics. US President Joe Bidens victory in last years election pushed many regional countries, including Egypt and Turkey, to recalibrate their policies to accommodate the new administration.

On the regional level, Egypt was unhappy with the outcome of the recent Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, as its supposed allies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, neither coordinated with Cairo nor took its interests into consideration when they agreed to reconcile with Doha.

The GCC reconciliation allows Turkey to strengthen its relations with Qatar, Kuwait and Oman while reaching a detente with Saudi Arabia and, to some extent, the UAE. In January, Egyptian officials had to listen to UAE officials express a desire to normalise relations with Turkey and to build on their mutual economic interests, while Egypt was on the brink of a collision with Turkey in Libya as a result of Emirati pressure.

Parallel to this, Greece and Turkey had their first official direct talks in five years on the standoff in the Eastern Mediterranean, while the UN prepared to convene a meeting to test whether a solution was possible to the Cyprus problem.

Cairo must have calculated that it would not be in its interests to remain anti-Turkey while its partners in the Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean - mainly the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Israel and even France - were de-escalating with Ankara. This might explain why the diplomacy between Egypt and Turkey seems to have intensified lately.

Maritime borders

For its part, Israel has been cautious about criticising Turkeys stance in the Eastern Mediterranean. Tel Aviv is banking on the EastMed pipeline project to export gas to Europe. But given that the pipeline may never see the light of the day due to its extreme length (1,900 kilometres), cost (around $7bn) and route through Turkeys claimed territory - which means that Ankara could block it - Israel will likely keep its options open with Turkey, as it would be the only alternative route.

Egypt has a similar issue with Turkey on the delimitation of maritime borders. Officials in Egypts foreign ministry and intelligence services have favoured a maritime deal with Turkey rather than Greece, as it grants Egypt a much bigger maritime area. But the Egyptian presidency agreed on a deal with Athens to secure some political gains, while not closing the door on Turkey - especially after the Emirati-Israeli accords, which harmed Egypts political, economic and strategic interests.

Aware of these facts and of Cairos geopolitical calculations, Ankara has been silently courting Egypt based on their common interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya. Ankaras carefully crafted messages are based on a win-win formula and the fact that cooperation with Turkey is in Cairos interests.

Indeed, in the pre-coronavirus period, Ankara offered many carrots to Cairo, increasing the volume of bilateral trade, investments and gas imports. Their economic relations have appeared immune to political fluctuations, rising over the last few years and crossing the $5bn threshold for the first time in 2018. Stability in Libya could boost this cooperation to unprecedented levels if Turkey and Egypt were to work together to rebuild Libya.

Lending a hand

Politically, Turkey has a vital interest in keeping Egypt from being held hostage to other states that want to use it as a shield in their own battles with Turkey - mainly the UAE and Greece. In this sense, Ankara lends itself a hand by opening up to Egypt, and the same can be said about Cairo vis-a-vis Turkey.

Still, the exchange of positive messages between Egypt and Turkey doesnt mean their possible rapprochement wont face challenges. It simply means that they are trying not to let disagreements on certain topics prevent them from working together on common interests.

Obviously, there will be spoilers who would prefer to see Turkey and Egypt clash rather than cooperate, in order to preserve their own influence. There is also the question of whether Egypts messages are genuine or not, given that unlike Ankara, its preference previously has been to work behind the scenes.

Either it wants to score tactical gains by using Ankara to regain its own value in the eyes of its partners (the UAE, Greece and Israel), or it aims to establish a delicate balance, keeping its options open with Turkey in order to secure maximum gains from all players.

This could explain why Cairo sometimes sends mixed or conflicting messages, as it wants to open up to Turkey without losing the support of the others. Either way, communicating with Turkey serves Egypts agenda.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms. Low 67F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden met leaders of Australia, India and Japan on Friday (March 12), a group central to his efforts to counter China's growing military and economic power, and said a free and open Indo-Pacific region was essential to all of their futures.

The White House says the virtual meeting of the countries known as the Quad, the first at the leader level, shows the importance Biden places on the Indo-Pacific region and that it will focus on ways to fight the coronavirus pandemic, as well as cooperate on economic growth and the climate crisis.

"A free and open Indo Pacific is essential to each of our futures," Biden told the meeting from the White House. "The United States is committed to working with you, our partners, and all our allies in the region, to achieve stability." Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he wanted the four "to forge strongly ahead toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and to make a visible contribution to peace, stability and prosperity of the region, including overcoming the coronavirus."

India and Australia have also emphasized the importance of regional security cooperation, which has been enhanced by previous lower-level meetings of the four countries.

A senior US official told reporters ahead of the meeting it would involve "an honest, open discussion about China's role on the global stage," referencing "challenges in the region" to free and open trade and commerce.

The Biden administration has said the Quad nations will announce financing agreements to support an increase in manufacturing capacity for coronavirus vaccines in India, something New Delhi has called for to counter China's widening vaccine diplomacy.

US officials say the countries will also set up a group of experts to help distribute vaccines in the region, as well as working groups for cooperation on climate change, technology standards, and joint development of emerging technologies.

The United States wants to strengthen ties with allies and partners as China adopts an increasingly assertive foreign policy in Asia and beyond. Washington says the additional vaccine capacity will be used in immunization efforts in Southeast Asia, where Beijing is competing for influence.

The virtual meeting including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will aim to lay the groundwork for an in-person meeting later this year, the administration said.

'WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF COOPERATION'

Morrison called the meeting "incredibly important."

"When governments come together at the highest level, this shows a whole new level of cooperation to create a new anchor for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," he told reporters.

Among the issues to be addressed are supply chains exposed as heavily reliant on China during the pandemic.

Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday (March 11) that the four countries would also work together to secure rare earth metals essential to the production of electric car motors and other products.

The Biden administration told Reuters on Tuesday (March 9) the United States and Japan would help fund Indian firms manufacturing vaccines for US drugmakers Novavax Inc and J&J.

However, Indian government sources said US curbs on exports of critical materials could hamper that effort and those to start large-scale distribution to Southeast Asia.

A second senior administration official told reporters on Thursday that Washington's focus was foremost on getting vaccines to Americans, adding, "We will not be talking about sharing vaccines right now."

India, Australia and Japan have all faced security challenges from China, strengthening their interest in the Quad. Cooperation among them dates back to their joint response to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004.

The Quad was revived under the Trump administration, which regarded it as a vehicle to push back against China's spreading influence. The United States hosted a foreign ministers' meeting in 2019, which was followed by another in Japan last year and a virtual session in February.

Fridays(March 12) meeting coincided with a major US diplomatic drive to solidify alliances in Asia and Europe to counter China.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin head to Japan and South Korea for the first face-to-face meetings between senior officials of the Biden administration and US allies - underscoring the critical importance Washington places on Asia and the China challenge.

Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will join Blinken in Alaska next week to meet with China's top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, and State Councillor Wang Yi - the first high-level in-person contact between the world's two largest economies under the Biden administration.

Washington has said it will not hold back in its criticism of Beijing over issues ranging from Taiwan to Hong Kong and the genocide it says China is committing against minority Muslims.

US officials have said they see the meeting with their Chinese counterparts as a "one-off session", with future senior-level engagements based on Washington seeing tangible outcomes to address its grievances with Beijing.

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The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the N9 billion it seized from a former Executive Director of First Bank, Dauda Lawal.

In a unanimous judgement, the five-man panel, led by Justice Muhammad Lawal Garba, dismissed the appeal filed by the EFCC against the judgement of the Court of Appeal which, among other things, ordered that:

The decisions of the Federal High Court, Coram Judice: Hassan, J. delivered in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/13/2017 on 16th February 2017 are hereby set aside. The order of final forfeiture of the sum of N9,080,000,000.00 (Nine Billion and Eighty Million Naira) to the Federal Government of Nigeria is hereby set aside. It is hereby ordered that the said sum of N9,080,000,000.00 (Nine Billion and Eighty Million Naira) be returned to the Appellant forthwith.

The above judgment, delivered by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, was in Appeal No CA/LAG/CV/480/2019 DAUDA LAWAL V. EFCC & ANOR dated March 25, 2020.

The Supreme Court judgement, which unanimously affirmed and upheld the above decision of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: SC.212/2020, EFCC v. DAUDA LAWAL.

In its judgment Friday, the Supreme Court upheld affirmed and determined that the order of final forfeiture of the sum of N9,080,000,000.00 made against Mr Lawal be set aside and rescinded; and that the said sum of N9,080,000,000.00 be returned to Mr Lawal forthwith.

The above judgment given by the Supreme Court of Nigeria brings to a close the case by EFCC against Mr Lawal which began in May 2016 when the EFCC accused him of money laundering and of obtaining monies suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

On October 7, 2020, the Federal High Court, Lagos Division discharged and acquitted Mr Lawal of the offences of money laundering, obtaining monies suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and the other charges brought against him by the EFCC in Charge No FHC/L/419C/2018 FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA V. DAUDA LAWAL.
Christchurch, March 13 : An official remembrance service was held on Saturday to mourn the 51 victims of the terror attacks at the two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city in March 2019.

Many others were also injured and traumatised in the terror attacks of the day two years ago, which according to Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern was "New Zealand's darkest day", reports Xinhua news agency Last year's national remembrance service to mark the first anniversary was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The second anniversary service, which was attended by about 1,000 people, became the first national memorial held after the tragic incident.

With the country currently at Covid-19 Alert Level 1, this year's remembrance service got the green light to go.

Measures were put in place to keep people safe, including encouraging physical distancing and use of the New Zealand Covid tracer apps.

Those most affected by the attacks, including survivors and families of the victims, told their stories at the event named "Ko Tatou, Tatou, We Are One".

The service was also live-streamed.

It is an opportunity to remember those who died in the attacks on the Christchurch mosques two years ago, the organisers said.

The service was jointly led by the local Muslim community, the government, and other social groups.

Those who died in the attacks were honoured in a portrait of remembrance on screen at the event, while the names of the 51 men, women and children killed in the shootings were read out, and a minute's silence was observed.

Ardern told the crowds of people that "much has been said, but words, despite their healing power, will never change what happened that day".

"Words will not bring back those men, women and children who gathered at their place of worship, quietly and peacefully when they were taken in an act of terror.

"Words will not take away the trauma that families, those who were injured, first responders, passersby who became rescuers and so many others experienced that day. But while words cannot perform miracles, they do have a power to heal. That means we must use them wisely," said the Prime Minister.

Mayor of Christchurch Lianne Dalziel said the second anniversary is an opportunity for people to come together in unity as they did in the wake of the attacks.

"We can join together to remember those who died and were injured and traumatized, along with the people who responded, from bystanders to the emergency services and hospital staff. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the response which rejected hatred and division and embraced love, compassion and unity," Dalziel said.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 79F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Microsoft CEO and several US lawmakers have said that they are appalled by the ongoing acts of hate against Asian Americans and condemned hate, racial discrimination and violence in all forms.

More than 3,000 incidents of abuse against Asian Americans were reported between March and December 2020, according to Asian American advocacy groups. There were only 216 reported cases in 2019, according to FBI statistics.

I am appalled by the ongoing acts of hate against Asian Americans and the Asian community globally. Racism, hate and violence have no place in our society. I am united with the Asian and Asian American community in standing against this injustice, Nadella said in a tweet, a day after US President Joe Biden said that the 'vicious' hate crimes against Asian Americans in the country amidst the pandemic was 'un-American' and it must stop.

Denouncing 'violent' attacks on the Asian Americans, Biden in his first prime-time address to the nation since assuming office in January, said that members of the community were harassed, blamed and scapegoated.

In a statement, Microsoft said that it condemns hate, racial discrimination, and violence in all forms.

Meanwhile, prominent lawmakers have joined hands to introduce a legislation to address the rise of hate crimes and violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congressman Donald M. Payne, expressed concern over an increase in racist attacks against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

I want to condemn the abuse and assault that has happened to Asian Americans during his pandemic in the strongest words possible, Payne said.

Hate and violence have no place in America at all. These attacks must stop because they are cowardly attempts to scapegoat and blame Americans for a pandemic that started thousands of miles away. Thankfully, we have a president who supports diversity and will protect all Americans in his language and his actions. It is time for us to come together as a country and that includes all Americans, he said.

Senator Dianne Feinstein said that over the past few weeks, nominees for the top three leadership positions at the Justice Department have appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, as has the director of the FBI.

At each hearing the topic of hate crimes came up, in large part due to steep increases in attacks against Asian Americans, she said.

The increase appears to be based on a fabricated connection between the Asian-American community and the COVID pandemic, a conspiracy theory with no basis in fact that is pure We must rebut the conspiracy theory itself and also directly confront the rise in hate crimes, Feinstein said.

Senator Alex Padilla, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senator Mazie Hirono and Congressmen Grace Meng in introducing legislation to address the rise of hate crimes and violence against AAPI communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I am disturbed by the recent increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California and across the country, Padilla said.

It is clear that this uptick in violence against Asian Americans is the direct result of the racist rhetoric used by political leaders with regard to the pandemic and we must take action to address it. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act will direct law enforcement to better collaborate across jurisdictions and expedite the response to COVID-19 related hate crimes, and will work to mitigate racially discriminatory language used to describe the pandemic, he said.

The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act would direct the US Attorney General to designate an official whose sole responsibility will be to expedite review of COVID-19 hate crimes from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The legislation also directs the Attorney General to issue guidance to state and local law enforcement agencies on appropriate public education campaigns and the collection of data on COVID-19 hate crimes.

The ongoing anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents, especially against our elderly Asian Americans, is absolutely horrific, said Congresswoman Meng. Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been nearly 3,000 reported incidents of physical, verbal, and online attacks against Asian Americans, she said.

Acting US Attorney Tessa M Gorman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Donald M. Voiret said that currently federal prosecutors and the FBI are reviewing two cases involving assaults on Asian-American neighbours that have been charged by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

These crimes, and other acts of hate and bias, have no place in our community. I urge members of our community to report hate-based crimes to either local or federal law enforcement and to contact our office's civil rights line with information about discrimination in areas like housing, employment, education, or public accommodations, Gorman 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.)
Brussels, March 13 : Europe must take concrete steps to improve the return of migrants with no permission to stay inside the European Union (EU) as well as the readmission into countries of origin, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said.

Addressing a press conference following a virtual informal meeting of the EU Home Affairs Ministers, the Commissioner said on Friday that it was time "to go from talking to acting" on return and readmission and to step up cooperation with third countries, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We need to urgently agree on a limited number of countries that we should focus on, set up a timetable so that the commission, together with member states, should reach out to negotiate with these countries," Johansson explained.

The EU Commissioner warned that she was ready to take decisive action if no progress is reached.

"If we do not reach sufficient progress, I am ready to table a proposal to the commission by summer to make restrictions on the visa policy," she said.

On the other hand, if sufficient progress is made or cooperation goes on well, "we are also ready to put forward on the table proposals for more generous visa policies", Johansson added.

She said cooperation with third countries must be comprehensive and include enhancing capacity, helping build asylum systems, border management, fighting human smugglers and police cooperation to help counter terrorism and fight organised crime.
 Flash

Another 6,609 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,248,286, according to official figures released Friday.

The country also reported another 175 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 125,343. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

More than 23.3 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

The figures were revealed as health authorities announced that vaccination staff are on standby to go to "maximum capacity" and vaccinate twice as many people from next week.

Supplies of coronavirus doses are due to "substantially increase", raising hopes the target to vaccinate all adults by the end of July could be brought forward, according to Sky News.

On Feb. 22, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his long-anticipated "roadmap" exiting the lockdown. The Monday reopening of schools in England was the first part of the four-step plan, which Johnson said was designed to be "cautious but irreversible".

Other parts of Britain, including Wales and Scotland, have also unveiled plans to ease the restrictions.

Experts have warned Britain is "still not out of the woods" amid concerns over new variants and the risks of the public breaching restriction rules.

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.
The Armenian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that the five-day exercises will start on March 16 and involve 7,500 soldiers, about 100 tanks and armored vehicles, some 300 artillery and anti-aircraft systems as well as warplanes and helicopters.

A ministry statement said they will take place in all operational directions of the armed forces in accordance with the Armenian armys training plan for the first half of this year.

The statement added that the drills are designed to check the combat-readiness of troops and their ability to rapidly act in the existing situation.

Azerbaijan will also hold next week military exercises involving thousands of soldiers. The Defense Ministry in Baku said earlier this week that they will be held in unspecified mountainous areas.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Friday that the Azerbaijani war games scheduled for March 15-18 were planned beforehand and will not jeopardize stability and security in the region.

Zakharova declined to comment on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs recent threats to force Yerevan to open a transport corridor between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave passing through Armenias Syunik province. Aliyev described Syunik as historical Azerbaijani lands.

During and after last years Karabakh war Russia deployed soldiers and border guards in Syunik to help the Armenian military defend it against possible Azerbaijani attacks. Armenian Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutiunian did not rule out last month the possibility of more Russian troop deployments to the area that also borders Iran.

Harutiunian also said that Russia is now helping Armenia restructure and modernize its armed forces. He said concrete recommendations have already been made on how to rearm the Armenian army but did not give any details.

Incidentally, Harutiunian had another phone call with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday. According to the Defense Ministry in Yerevan, they discussed bilateral military ties and Russias ongoing peacekeeping operation in Karabakh launched immediately after the November ceasefire.

Yerevan announced plans to further deepen Russian-Armenian military cooperation following the six-week war.
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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday said 29 people were killed in road accidents between January and February in Osun.

The Sector Commander, Kudirat Ibrahim, made this known in a statement issued by the Commands spokesperson, Agnes Ogunbemi, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) in Osogbo.

Mrs Ibrahim noted that 460 people were involved in the accidents which claimed 29 lives and got 188 others injured.

She said: The Command within the past two months recorded about 68 road traffic accidents which involved 105 vehicles.

We were able to rescue 243 people from the accident scenes while 29 persons lost their lives, she said.

To arouse the safety consciousness in the people, Ibrahim said the Command featured in 23 television and 91 radio programmes within the two months.

We also held two stakeholder meetings, had 11 publications in the dailies and staged 102 rallies in the motor parks.

There were also about eight advocacy visits to churches and mosques in the state to sensitise road users on the dangers of disobeying road traffic regulations, she said.

Mrs Ibrahim, who described the Corps as a frontline agency in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Command re-strategised its operational tactics to curtail the spread of the deadly virus.

The Command has also been able to implement structural upgrade with the available resources within its reach to fulfill the core mandate of the Commission, she said.

The sector commander said that a lot had been done between January and February to ensure that accidents were minimised in the state.

She called on road users to be road conscious always and to obey traffic regulations to avoid being caught in accidents that could lead to loss of lives and property.

(NAN)
AWD

Last year, there was one report in Japanese media that Lexus was looking to develop a new RWD platform to underpin not only the next-gen IS but also a shooting brake and a crossover. We think it was pure speculation. Even if it's true, we're talking about the next IS after this one that just came out, so it's in the distant future.Only a few of you remember this, but we have actually seen a Lexus wagon. It was in the days of the first-gen IS and it was called the Sportcross and it was offered between 2002 to 2005. In Japan, it was made a member of the Altezza family, available with. You could also have it with the 2JZ engine, though not the full-fat one, as it only made about 215 horsepower. The more popular engine in those days was a 2.0-liter, not a four-cylinder, but a six-banger. Those were the days!While fans of the Lexus brand have been asking for a wagon, it probably wouldn't sell in high numbers. So the only thing we can offer is the occasional rendering. This one is from a Chinese artist who goes by Sugar Design and is based on the new ES sedan, not the sportier IS. This makes a lot of sense from a practical standpoint but isn't that exciting, as you can't really picture a V8 under the hood.While the ES can be given a European-friendly wagon body, that doesn't automatically mean it's going to work in a saturated market like Germany. The segment is already fully saturated, and the only thing Lexus could possibly offer is the promise of reliability for its hybrid powertrains.
As promised by her for the hospital bed, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will kick-start her poll campaign on a wheelchair from Monday.

The Trinamool Congress supremo had returned home from the state-run SSKM Hospital on Friday evening, after receiving treatment for the injuries she sustained while campaigning in her constituency in Nandigram in East Midnapore earlier this week.

She will first visit the Purulia district where the Trinamool chief is scheduled to address two public meetings - one at Baghmundi's Jhalda area and another at the Balarampur Rathtala ground.

As per her earlier campaign schedule, she will visit two other districts - Bankura and Jhargram. Sources said that the CM will travel to all these districts by helicopter, but she would remain seated on a wheelchair as she still has a leg injury which has not healed totally.

Mamata Banerjee had sustained leg injuries during a poll campaign in Nandigram on Wednesday evening. She got admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital that night itself after she was rushed back to Kolkata via a green corridor. She was discharged from the hospital on Friday.


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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) has said that he would look into the case of Catholic priest Stan Swamy (right), held in India on allegations he was linked to Maoists. (IANS photo)
Laguna Beach City Council Votes to Censure Peter Blake

A Laguna Beach councilmember who was censured by city council says hell continue to attack the political colleagues when he feels provoked.

I think its just a waste of time, and why bother censuring me, because all youre going to do is make me angrier, Councilmember Peter Blake told The Epoch Times. Today Im angrier than I am normally, so that just means that Im going to attack you, even worse if you attack me.

Blakes comment came after his city council colleagues voted 4-0 to censure him for violating Laguna Beachs civility and decorum policy.

The March 9 motion was the first agenda item Councilmember George Weiss brought forward since being elected last December.

The Epoch Times reached out to Weiss but did not hear back by press deadline. During the meeting he said city council members are bound to represent all residents, including fellow city council members, and to hear them out.

It may not always be easy, or comfortable but public officials are held to higher standards of free speech than they are when they are in private conversation, he said.

If he could only be equally supportive of all residents that he was elected to represent, that would be great, instead his use issues public ridicule insults and threats when he disagrees with community members comments.

The censure motion was based on two categories Weiss accused Blake of violating in the civility policy.

According to Weiss, Blake insulted public communication about different Laguna Beach residents, which conveyed a false impression that community input is held into disdain by the council. Second, he was accused of making public derisive comments toward city councilwoman Toni Iseman.

Some of those comments included Blake calling Iseman a sycophantic slag.

Im not proud of the fact that I called her even a sycophantic slag, Im not proud of the fact that I said that shes not fit to serve and that she has cognitive impairment, but I stand behind it, and Im not apologizing for itI firmly believe that this woman is not qualified to be running the City of Laguna Beach, Blake said.

Iseman did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment by press deadline.

Blake claimed hes never initiated an attack against someone and that he only responds to comments made about him, which results in back-and-forth discord among residents and other councilmembers.

It just keeps going. Its like a vicious circle and keeps spinning round and round, he said.

Blake said Village Laguna, which has been running Laguna since the 70s, are the ones coordinating public attacks against him in every meeting and accusing him of being owned by big developers.

Village Laguna, a long-standing advocacy group influencing local politics in the city, did not respond for The Epoch Times request for comment.

The council heard over an hour of public comments from residents. Some supported Blake, while others condemned Blake for his remarks and played a voicemail he sent to Laguna Beach resident Lorraine Laguna, in which he threatened her with legal action and called her an expletive.

Blake said he left the voicemail after the resident called him a cocaine dealer on the community app NextDoor.

And I have been discouraged  I have felt threatened. I have gone to the DEA for a restraining order against Mr. Peter Blake, because I was scared. And that message that he left me frightened, Laguna said.

Blake said he ran against Laguna in 2018 and the comment she made was during the election cycle, which was damaging for his campaign.

Cocaine isnt part of my program. The fact that this woman had the nerve to call me a cocaine dealer, during the campaign is beyond me, Blake said. So, the message I left to her was a clear message that this was off the table, I wasnt willing to be called the cocaine dealer.

Other residents called in to support Blake and disapproved of the motion to censure. India Hynes and Cindy Shopoff criticized Iseman and Weisss behavior in interacting with the public, though they did not give specific examples.

Resident Catherine Jurca, who was in favor of the censure, said Peter Blakes treatment of Toni Iseman has been disgraceful. And to be honest, Ive been disappointed and embarrassed that her colleagues on council have previously taken no action against him.

Blake isnt the only councilmember in Orange County to be censured. Last November, San Clemente City Councilwoman Laura Ferguson was censured by three city councilmembers who claimed Ferguson disparaged city employees and released confidential government documents to the public.

A lot of this is also obviously theres a philosophical and ideological and political dynamic thats going on here, Blake said.

For them, as theyre watching whats happening throughout the country, with all this woke stuff and all this cancel culture, they feel emboldened to do it and even though Im an independent, Im a right of center independent.
The Houthis are pushing towards the gas-rich region of Marib, the governments last stronghold in northern Yemen.

Video Transcript

- The US-backed bombing of Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its allies has already created the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Now as Houthi rebels attempt to solidify their position in the north, the United Nations is warning of even worse to come.

STEPHANIE DUJARRIC: The violence has forced up to 15,000 people to flee since early February. Roughly 60% of them are reportedly residing in informal settlements and crowded sites where services are overstretched.

More than 20 million people, 20.7 to be more exact, need humanitarian assistance. Many of them are at the brink of starvation.

- Speaking in Washington, the US's envoy, Tim Lenderking, says the Saudis support what he calls his sound plan for a ceasefire, but feels that Houthis are prioritizing taking the government's last area of control in the north, the province of Marib.

TIM LENDERKING: We urged the Houthis to respond. That's why I was in the region for these last two weeks. And I will return immediately when the Houthis are prepared to talk.

- The World Food Program agrees a ceasefire is key.

DAVID BEASLEY: We could then scale up biometrics in a significant way, which will allow us to put more liquidity into the economy, which will drive the real value back up, which will allow food prices to stabilize more.

- But the Houthi say the ceasefire proposal fails to address the economic blockade that's led to such hardship.

MOHAMED ABDEL SALAM: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

INTERPRETER: The American proposal does not stop the siege or the fighting. However, it represents cosmetic understanding to bring back the siege. What the American envoy presented is a conspiracy to put Yemen in a more dangerous state than the current one.

- And the UN reports that in fact, the siege is tightening.

STEPHANIE DUJARRIC: Last month, no commercial fuel imports were allowed through Hudaydah port. That's zero. In recent years, more than half of commercial fuel imports had been coming through Hudaydah. This is the first time since the escalation of the conflict in 2015 that we've seen the level drop to zero. This is driving shortages and price rises.

- The Biden administration is, however, placing the blame for the impasse on the Houthis, and the US military is reported to be increasing its assistance to the Saudis, claiming such help is defensive and not offensive in nature. [INAUDIBLE] Al Jazeera.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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Former MP for Kumbungu @Ras Mubarak responds to allegations from his ex-wife

Ignore attention seeking xWife 



In 5years since Ms. Adams packed and emptied my house, I have never paid attention to any of the issues shed leveled against me save in court. And it has been so for good reason - the respect I have for my my kids, family and community.



Secondly, I have never been bothered because if she can hate her own father enough not to want him at her wedding, if she can hate the man who gave birth to her and named her, enough not to attend his his funeral when he passed away, peddling falsehood against me shouldnt be anything.



However, her latest attempt to link her issues with the most unfortunate abuse of #Lilian Dedjoe by her husband, which reportedly led to Lilians untimely death cant pass without a rebuttal. I got tag and trolled by all manner of characters over her latest meltdown. Integrity is not sold on the market, and lies told too many times tend to be believable.



For five or so years now, she has seized every opportunity from unsuspecting and gullible journalists and bloggers to abuse me in mainstream and on social media. Ive been trolled and called all manner of things by cowards hiding behind phones and computers. Its never bothered me one bit. I have a tough skin.



My political opponents from the same party in my constituency even used the lies she had peddled against me to disparage me in the most unimaginable manner. The effects of such barrage of psychological abuse on anyones mental health is unimaginable, if the person is not as blessed as I am, with a strong mind and will, it will drive them off the rails.



Just as I did in my response to her frivolous and poorly written petition that saw no light of day in court under strict proof, let me for the first time publicly, say that I have never physically, financially or emotionally abused her. One of her claims was that I was financially abusing her. I find her pathetic attempts to drag my name into her man-hating rants very unfortunate, especially when there are two beautiful kids between us.



When someone hates their father enough not to attend his funeral, one should know that such a person has had problems with emotional stability and needs help. May God rest his soul. Amen.



The first time I met Ms. Adams was during the funeral of the late President Mills. I was a member of the Funeral Planning committee and she wanted an interview for Metro TV which I declined.



My second encounter with her was the evening of 1st January 2013 at an event organized by my political party to celebrate the 2012 electoral victory at Osu Oxford Street in Accra, which I attended, in the company of my good friend, the Greater Accra regional Chairman of my party.

Again, she requested an interview. I insisted she spoke to Chairman Ade instead. I had lost the 2012 elections in Ablekuma North and wanted a hiatus.



Later that night, she came back, requested a lift back to Metro TV, claiming her company car was late in picking her and the crew up. She later confessed she couldnt stand my turning her requests for interviews down when literally politicians were falling over each other to have her interview them. Frankly, I wasnt moved. It has to take more than just looks to get get me interested if thats how she was getting interviews, poor her.



Anyway, we exchanged contacts and started talking about issues of mutual interest. Three days later, we began seeing each other frequently for lunch and dinners.



By end of February 2013, she had gotten pregnant. (a part of the story Im not proud about).



She delivered our first child together later that year. Three months before her delivery, she had quit Metro TV citing ill treatment meted out to her by her superiors. She had also moved in with me as the pregnancy got heavier.



When I encouraged her to return after delivery she refused claiming the job was not financially satisfying.

From the very onset we had issues and disagreements on just about everything. Initially I attributed her fussing to the throes that come with pregnancy. But it got ridiculously worse with time.



She had her strengths - good sense of humor, loved to read (and we could spend all day reading and sharing notes), loved comedy as I did, the sex was ok, the cooking was fantastic.



But something was off. We had serous issues - issues that bordered on values. For example, she wont talk to her own father, got mad at me for insisting he stayed when he attended our wedding. (apparently hed come uninvited). His crime, according to her, was that hed abandoned her and her mother. Reason enough not to have him at your wedding and attend his funeral when he passed? I doubt but shes entitled to the Western values that she holds dear.



In spite of the fact that we had a baby together, marriage was the last thing on my mind as the differences were just too wide and I had wanted to be sure it was the right decision.



Fact is, in spite of my imperfections, I am a proud Muslim, shes not. Theres no compulsion in religion. Im a proud African who believes Africans shouldnt be wearing hair from people of other races as that was no different from bleaching to look fairer than ones natural skin colour. She wanted to wear Brazilian hair or whatever they called it as a symbol of beauty. I couldnt force her to accept to pray five times daily or not to wear those unnatural hair from other races.



She even had Portia as one of her names before I met her. Such was how low her self-esteem was, as a child born and bred in the Zongos of Kumasi to a Muslim Gonja man from Kpembe and a Muslim Sisala woman from Tumu.

The question on my mind was whether - I wanted to be married to someone who regarded family as only her mother, husband, child and to a small degree one or two step-siblings?



In spite of these doubts, and with encouragements from friends and some family, we eventually got married in 2014, five months after shed delivered. I flew her and our daughter for her first ever trip to Europe for two weeks in Germany.



After we got married, I put in my best efforts to make it work. I believe she also did. We had disagreements just like any other couple but it never culminated in physical abuse as claimed severally by her. But even when it got very heated, we resolved our differences amicably without any third party hearing about us.



She wanted four children and immediately after each other. I didnt mind four but wanted it to be linked to income. I love children, but this is not our grandparents generation where one can have many children without thinking about the quality of their lives and time parents had to spend with them.



One of the biggest points of disagreements - which she brought up regularly, was why I refused to yield to her demands to sack my secretary. Yes. She insisted I sacked my personal secretary so I could hire her my wife as my secretary. (So much for a womens Right champion, aye)?



The request was so preposterous I couldnt wrap my good-governance and socialist head around it. Nepotism 101. The shame and embarrassment I would have brought to myself, family, party and country, - that I sacked a poor civil servant and made my wife my PS. I couldnt let myself and my president down. We were under siege by our governments critics over all manner of things.



Then she kept harping on about taking her on government trips abroad, how other politicians according to her were doing it, and she would often remind me how so and so big politician takes the partner on trips abroad or bought so and so material things for their spouse. She berated me but I took it in my stride. All I have is my integrity and wasnt going to throw it away after gaining notoriety for preaching good governance and fighting abuse of office.



I tried to keep her busy. Got her to enroll at GIJ, where she attended for a few months and abandoned school. I called in a favour from an Ambassador friend of mine and got her into Spannish classes.



When a friend of mine set up a tv station in Accra, I got her hired as news editor. She left within 3months. Then another friend gave her a job at his company in Kanda, again, she did it for a few months and left unceremoniously.



Claims that I starved her are as ridiculous as can be. While I was busy campaigning, I made sure she was ok. As a matter of fact, a month to election, I sent her money enough to last her and the household 8months. Though I knew I was winning, I wanted to be sure they were alright.

With my modest public servant salary and allowances, she had monthly financial allowance during our period together and a weekly home maintenance allowance for the entire period.

When we travelled abroad, we flew business class. She had a Nissan Armada v8, (a car I bought long before I went into government) placed at her disposal for her use. Her younger brother lived in our matrimonial home, and all expenses were paid by me. Even her mother, the grandmother of our two daughters, received payments for baby siting her own grandchildren (our daughters).



Throughout our marriage, she refused to allow my relatives visit, let alone enjoy short and brief stays, even though shed brought her uterine brother and later her mother to come live with us as she approached the due date for her second delivery.



Can anyone tell me which responsible public official would allow his wife to use his official vehicle whenever hes abroad (I was a CEO then). I discovered that each time I was away, she would abandon her vehicle, and use my official vehicle, causing me embarrassment, though I was the boss, it wasnt a conduct I was going to encourage as a public official.



This is someone who completely packed everything out of our matrimonial home, two months to my election, while I was away in the constituency. I made a report to the Nmai Dzorn police when I returned to Accra after the 2016 elections, just to take stock and for witnessing purposes. And invited at least two family friends to come witness what shed done.



This is someone who wanted to sleep in a hotel and not in my family house when she visit Tamale for my campaign launch. She flew into Tamale on the afternoon of the launch and left with the first flight the next day. Apparently in a hurry to return to Accra to pack out, without my knowledge. So much for a supportive wife, aye?



And guess what! When she packed out, she didnt even leave a bowl or glass for drinking water not to talk of a blanket. I returned to Accra on 10th December 2016 to meet a completely empty house. My neighbors said they thought we were moving out of the area, judging by the way thed striped and taken things out. And for four months, the only time I saw my daughters was when I appeared in court. They wont even tell me where shed taken the kids. I didnt even know where my kids were.



Shes disrupted the lives of the kids. In about five years, theyve changed 4 schools, In spite of the fact that she doesnt even consult me before making changes, I still pay my childrens fees, hospital and other expenses. Yet she would come on social media, rant for attention and make false claims of how shes breaking her back to pay fees.



I just recently told her we would split the cost of any school fees that is more than $1000 usd per child per term. From Canadian International, Brainy Barn, Dolly Memorial, Victoria Grammar or Maarif International, they would tell you how rudely she speaks to people as if she owns them.



Rasheeda is the last person to talk about abuse. Go to anywhere shes ever lived or worked, they would tell you how she treats people lower the ladder. Someone who want another woman sacked because her husband was the boss? Just like that. Such corrupt mentality.



Someone who ignorantly trashes and disrespects doctors and nurses at Korlebu where she delivered our eldest daughter and had a VVIP bed and treatment. When I drove her to Korlebu, while she was in labour, she didnt even have a referral. It took the intervention of a very kind Minister of Health I had called, who got in touch with the CEO to assist and by the time I arrived at Korlebu, there was already a bed with the CEO and later the Minister herself, passing by to be sure shes alright. It was the first time in my life I saw the stark reality of the challenges patients face in our big hospitals. Yet, she comes to the media and peddle falsehood and get away with it.



With three months to election when she delivered our second baby in a private hospital, instead of Ridge where I had made arrangements with some doctor friends for all the medical help she needed, she went ahead and checked into a private hospital. I suspended the campaigning for three weeks, got to Accra and spent time by her side in the hospital. And was at the theater for her Caesarian. Yet she would come on social media ranting as if shed been abandoned.



Besides, the point about having her mother move in with us in Accra and paying her for babysitting, plus domestic house help, was so I could work a little, spend time with family a little and campaigned a little.



My record of walking the talk, when it comes to championing for opportunities for women, is public record and available for all to see in parliamentary Hansard - be it arguing for creating equal opportunity at the top of the political ladder, increasing women representation in parliament or calling for more funding for shelters for abused women, closing the witches camps and retooling the police to go after partners who abuse their spouses.



The likes of Ms. Adams would rant on social media to court attention, and feed their egos. In any case, if she claims I was protected because I was an MP, what stops her from pursuing justice now that Im out of parliament? What stopped her from reporting a so-called abusive behavior to the elders or going to the police? With a mouth as acerbic as hers, that shouldnt never have been difficult. As a reporter, she knew her rights and knew what she ought to have done under the the circumstances. You dont look at the lives of other politicians, and assume, every politician is without scruples and can dip their hands into state coffers for their family. And when you dont get it, start ranting about being abused.



Has she ever gone to a hospital with a bruise, a cut or even a scratch? Its all lies. Let her not fool you with the acting. The same ignorant bitterness and anger she exhibited towards her father is is what she sought to exhibit towards me and I stood my ground.

Which correct woman would ask her husband to release his pin codes and bank details in the event he dies? Only Rasheeda Adams. If she wants to be exposed for the phony manipulator that she is, let her continue on that trajectory.



Why did she run away from returning to court when it was made clear to her that she would be subjected to strict proof? Did her incompetent lawyer not explain to her the wheels of justice may grind slowly but will eventually catch up with lawbreakers? And if she truly believed she had a case, should pursue justice? Was she not the one who run to me she was tired and needed out of court settlement?



That the courts frustrated her? Blimey, courts are there to serve justice, not to pander to the whims of a pompous little prat who thinks love is when a man falls flat on the ground for her to step on; that love is when a man spends more than he earns on his woman.

From a woman who was so fixated with my bank details and pin codes at a time I was busy fight to win an election, I ordinarily would have treated her with the contempt she deserves, but for the red line she crossed in attempting to say she suffered what Lilian most unfortunately suffered in the hands of her husband.



I condemn and abhor abuse in all forms. But the likes of Ms. Adams should be the last talking about being abused because shes never been through what abused women go through.





(Unedited)

Source: Ras Mubarak









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Ahead of Assam Assembly elections 2021, BJP booth committee president stabbed to death

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Tinsukia, Mar 13: A BJP booth committee president was stabbed to death in Assam's Tinsukia district by one person, who has already been arrested, police said on Saturday. According to a senior police officer, the incident took place on Friday night at No 1 Doomdooma Nagaon village under Bordumsa police station of the district.

After a minor altercation, one Jay Chandra Gogoi several times stabbed BJP member Deba Gogoi, who died of the injury, police said. The accused was later arrested and further investigation is on, he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on two-day campaign in poll-bound Assam, West Bengal

Meanwhile, the Tinsukia Information and Public Relations Officer said in a statement that there is no political angle in the murder and appealed to the people to maintain peace.

"As per preliminary reports, the incident took place due to family feud," the official release said. Meanwhile, BJP Assam President Ranjeet Kumar Dass condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the culprit.

The deceased was the president of the committee of the No 20 booth of Burhidihing Gaon panchayat under Margherita Assembly constituency, which is going for polls in the first phase on March 27.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 21:06 [IST]
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MADRID (Reuters) - Four Spanish regions have stopped administering doses from a batch of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine following reports of the formation of blood clots in some people who had been vaccinated, although the central government plans to keep using the shot.

Austria earlier stopped using the batch of AstraZeneca shots while it investigated a death from clotting and a case of pulmonary embolism.

Several Nordic countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Thursday and Spain's central Castille and Leon region decided on Friday to also stop using it as a precaution.

Officials in Andalusia, Asturias and the Canary Islands said they would not use shots from the suspect batch but would continue giving jabs from other deliveries.

None of the regions has detected any severe adverse effects.

A police union said most of the doses from the batch in question went to police officers and asked the Health Ministry to monitor them closely.

Health Minister Carolina Darias said authorities had only detected light side effects such as headaches, dizziness and intestinal troubles, while the frequency of blood clots among vaccinated people was no higher than among the general population.

In a statement on Thursday, AstraZeneca said it had found no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in safety data of more than 10 million records.

The World Health Organization is looking into the issue but said there was no reason not to use the drug, while Europe's EMA medicines regulator backed it and said the benefits outweigh the risks.

Darias said Spain would continue to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine until it received further guidance from the EMA.

Her ministry has administered some 5.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine, around 15% of which were made by AstraZeneca.

Since taming a third wave that peaked in late January, Spain's infection rate has fallen to its lowest since August but the rate of decline is slowing.

The government reported 5,348 new cases on Friday, bringing the total to nearly 3.2 million. Deaths increased by 173 to 72,258.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro, Emma Pinedo and Nathan Allen; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Moldova's Supreme Security Council has recommended that the government declare a two-week state of emergency over COVID-19, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on Saturday

CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th March, 2021) Moldova's Supreme Security Council has recommended that the government declare a two-week state of emergency over COVID-19, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on Saturday.

Sandu convened the Supreme Security Council earlier in the day to discuss the epidemiological environment in the country.

"The majority of Security Council members recommend declaring a state of emergency for two weeks. The government received a recommendation to work out a list of restrictions within the next three days," Sandu said at a briefing.

The Moldovan president expressed support for the council's initiative to reshuffle the national public health commission to include doctors and virologists, as well as to create a unified command center at the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations.

"We need to accelerate the vaccination and begin the second phase. We need to create an online register for citizens to sign up for vaccination. I ask the government to work out in detail and present these initiatives to parliament within the next three days," Sandu said.
Local Ireland, the association representing 42 weekly paid-for print and online newspapers around the country, has created a blank print and digital newspaper to illustrate issues facing the sector as a result of COVID-19.

The blank newspaper includes strong editorial messages from newspaper editors, adverts calling for Government support and a map showing newspapers in every county of Ireland but its 48 pages are mostly empty of stories.

The industry is calling on the Government to match its 5 million funding for local radio with support for local newspapers and is urging a fair share of Government advertising for COVID information campaigns.

President of Local Ireland David Ryan said:"The blank newspaper shows what will happen if professional, quality journalism is not supported.

"We have already seen measures being taken for shorter working weeks, lay-offs and redundancies.

"We provide a unique service to our readers both urban and rural.

Expand Close Minister Catherine Martin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins / Facebook

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"We are in every county, every town, every estate and every townland, in print and online.

"Our readers rely on us to give them the detailed local coverage that they cannot get anywhere else," he said.

Executive Director of Local Ireland Bob Hughes said: "Local radio stations, which operate in the same market as ourselves, received 2.5 million via a COVID funding scheme last April and have just been given the opportunity to apply to another 2.5 million scheme.

"We have received no such similar support.

"Government needs to come forward with creative solutions to support the industry during the current crisis.

"Ninety one per cent of our advertising comes from local businesses and many have been devastated by the pandemic, particularly those in the hospitality and tourism sector.

"We are also calling on the Government to ensure that local news publishers receive their fair share of advertising around national COVID campaigns.

"Our newspapers reach every sector in society including older people and the most vulnerable who rely on us for the latest information about changes in COVID restrictions and the roll-out of vaccines.

"We need to see a fairer distribution of advertising spend to serve our readers and to support our businesses."

The campaign has been backed by local Fine Gael TD and Minister for State, Frank Feighan.

"Our local newspapers face huge challenges and requires government supports," he said.

Minister Feighan has written to Minister with responsibility for Media, Catherine Marin seeking public service funding supports for the local and regional newspapers.

"As a public representative I have a clear concern where many people, especially younger people source their news and information.

"It has been proven that some news sources through the internet and social media broadcast and publish 'fake news' leading to mis-information and presenting a real danger to our society.

"One only has to observe the recent election in the USA where many people were convinced that the election was stolen from the outgoing President.

"I am urging people especially our younger generation to buy their local newspaper if not every week then as regularly as possible because like many things in life if you don't use it you will lose it. Since 2010, 16 local papers have closed.

"I have written to Minister Martin to request that local newspapers can benefit from funding like the 5 million allocated to local radio in two funding rounds to support its COVID coverage.

"Local newspapers have had no such support from Government to date, yet they provide an essential public service to us as readers in the same market.

"I understand that other countries offer direct and indirect funding for newspapers.

"I would like to see more advertising from Government and national agencies going to local papers.

"Many of the Covid-19 advertising communications campaigns run in the national press, radio and television have not featured in local papers.

"Given that many of our older people rely on local newspapers for their information it is vital to the distribution of public service information that Government publications use local papers particularly as we are involved in a vaccine roll out.

"In conclusion, I will do what I can within government to ensure we sustain our local newspaper in the community through policy and financial support and I urge my constituents to be aware of the imminent threat there is to this information resource that they, and our forefathers relied on for many years."

In response, Minister Martin said she recognised the essential role which the local print media sector as the provider of reliable and relevant news.

The importance of a strong and independent media sector has been highlighted in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, she said.

She also pointed out how the production and publication of newspapers, journals and periodicals and their distribution had been classed as an essential service during the pandemic.

The minister spoke of the Future of Media Commission which was recently established and which conducted a public consultation process which included an input from Local Ireland.

With regard to funding for local radio, the minister pointed out that this was administered through the Sound and Vision Scheme established on a statutory basis under the Broadcasting Act 2009 and funded by the television licence fee.

It was limited by statute to audiovisual and sound media and was administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

"There is no equivalent statutory scheme for the print sector but recommending an approach to the longer term of the print sector is among the matters to be considered by the Future of Media Commission.

"Furthermore, in terms of specific supports for the sector, it is of particular importance in relation to media organisations to avoid any perception of Government interference or influence and the funding of newspapers is therefore a complex issue," said the Minister.

She added that since assuming the role as being responsible for the media last September she had meetings with key stakeholders including Local Ireland which she last met with on February 17th.

The minister added that she had asked her officials to continue engagement with Local Ireland to further explore the issues facing the sector.

The campaign comes as the local newspaper sector invests also in digital strategies and expands readership through a variety of platforms so that local news is accessible to as wide an audience as possible.

Fact File

Local Ireland has 42 member titles across Ireland. Some 1.5 million people access one of these local newspapers each week in print and online.

There were 7 million unique visitors to those newspapers local news websites every month generating over 18m page impressions each month.

The Sligo Champion continues to grow its e-paper since its launch early last year and has proven to be a great success. Fine Gael is currently conducting a survey of all local media outlets to get its views on its future to ensure we, as a society, continue to have reliable, diverse and fair sources of information for our communities.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, shocked the world in their sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey. The married couple, who now reside in California, discussed issues theyve dealt with for years with the royal family. Their revelations included racist allegations, stories of isolation, and difficulties with securing mental health help.

In the interview, Meghan also expressed that she experienced suicidal ideation while pregnant with their son, Archie. Both Harry and Meghan said that Meghan was welcomed into the family at first. But there was a turning point. The moment that changed it all was a direct parallel to an episode of The Crown.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson  Pool/Getty Images

Is The Crown historically accurate?

Netflixs hit drama The Crown is historical fiction in that many storylines are based on real-life events. But the show, through its characters and dialogue, are fictional.

Seasons 1 and 2 focused on Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) and Prince Philip (Matt Smith) early on in their marriage. The following season introduced Prince Charles (Josh OConnor) and the rigid hold that the crown has over him. He pursued Camilla Parker Bowles (Emerald Fennell) but in season 4, was encouraged to court Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) instead.

The Crown showed Prince Charles and Princess Diana in Australia

RELATED: Prince Harry Just Said The Crown Is More Truthful Than the Media

Charles and Diana got married in The Crown Season 4. The episode Terra Nullius showcased their first tour to Australia after getting married. While there, the public got acquainted with Dianas charisma and beauty, up-close and personal. On the show, the couple mimicked an intimate dancing scene between the real-life Charles and Diana.

One of the factors that was different about Diana was how she interacted with people. Unlike Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who created distance between themselves and the public, Diana touched and hugged people.

Charles vocalized his jealousy to Diana on the show. He expressed that she was taking attention away from him on his tour.

OConnor spoke about the episodes importance and what it meant for the couple in a Netflix clip, Beneath The Crown: The True Story of Charles & Dianas Australia Tour.

It tells almost their happiest moment and then, a kind of resurgence, a kind of toxic spell that happens with Diana, he said. Where she becomes the love of the nation. Shes the spotlight, and Charles kind of realizing that he lost his way. She is now the leading role in this marriage.

On The Crown, the tour in Australia was a breaking point between Charles and Diana. And in real life, Harry and Meghan attributed their own 2018 Australian tour as a turning point for them as a married couple and the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle went on a similar tour to Australia

Harry and Meghan did a similar tour when they were newlyweds. The duo went to Australia, Tonga, New Zealand, and Fiji in 2018.

It really changed after the Australia tour, after our South Pacific tour, Harry told Oprah in their interview on CBS. It was the first time that the family got to see how incredible [Meghan] is at the job.

Oprah mentioned the similarity to Charles and Dianas trip. She asked whether the royal family felt jealous toward Meghan.

I just wish that we would all learn from the past, Harry replied. He added how effortless Meghan transitioned into royal public life on the tour. He also claimed that she was one of the greatest assets to the Commonwealth that the family could have ever wished for.

You can stream The Crown on Netflix.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.
Lucknow, March 13 : The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has restrained the state government and the State Election Commission (SEC) from finalising reservation for upcoming panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Hearing a PIL petition filed by one Ajay Kumar, a bench comprising Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Manish Mathur, on Friday, directed the government and the State Election Commission to furnish their response on the issue raised by the petitioner within 24 hours.

The court has fixed March 15 as the next date of hearing.

The petitioner has challenged an order of the state government issued on February 11, 2021 regarding reservation in elections.

Petitioner's counsel, Mohd Altaf Mansoor, said the government had issued UP Panchayat Raj (Reservation and Allotment of Seats and Offices) Rules in 1994, whereby it had provided that the base year for applying reservation on seats by rotation would be 1995.

Subsequently, the government issued another notification on September 16, 2015 providing that the base year would be considered as 2015.

The government applied reservation in zila and kshetra panchayat elections on this basis in 2015 elections.

"The said notification was issued considering the change in demographic conditions of the state and it is still in existence," the petitioner's counsel said.

"However, the state government is applying 1995 as base year for rotation in reservation for seats in panchayat elections in the entire state in contravention of the September 16, 2015 notification," the petitioner said.

"Even otherwise, in view of changed demographic conditions, as noticed by the state government in 2015, it does not stand to reason that the base year for the purpose of reserving seats be taken as 1995," the petitioner said.

When the petitioner's lawyer said the government was going to issue final reservation on March 17, 2021, the bench passed the interim order restraining the authorities from finalizing the reservation for panchayat elections.
Four people were killed and two others seriously wounded when a military plane crashed and caught fire while trying to land in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty.

The Emergency Situations Ministry said the two survivors were hospitalized and their condition was "extremely" serious.

The ministry said the AN-26 aircraft, carrying six passengers, was travelling to Almaty from the capital Nur-Sultan when it disappeared from radar screens around 5:20 p.m. local time on March 13.

The plane caught fire after it crashed at Almaty Airport, the ministry said.

Almaty Airport said in a statement that "the plane crashed at the end of the runway," although it did not offer an explanation for the accident.

The plane struck the ground near the village of Kyzyltu, near Almaty.

Video footage showed rows of fire trucks, police vehicles, and ambulances at the crash site.

Condolences

Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

"On my orders, work has begun to clarify the causes of the plane crash," Toqaev said on Twitter. "Such incidents should not be repeated."

Kazakhstan's National Security Committee said it owned the plane.

The AN-26 is a civilian and military transport aircraft that was produced in the Soviet Union until 1986. Hundreds have remained in service in former Soviet republics and other countries around the world.

The March 13 crash was the latest accident to hit the Central Asian nations aviation industry.

In December 2019, 12 of the 98 passengers and crew aboard a Fokker 100 aircraft on a flight operated by Kazakh airline Bek Air crashed near Almaty Airport.

The plane crashed while trying to take off from the Almaty airport en route to Nur-Sultan.

Authorities concluded that the most likely factor for the crash was an accumulation of ice on the plane's wings.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
The (Joseph) group, an ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Saturday announced the candidate list for the April 6 state Assembly election with party supremo P J Joseph fighting the poll from Thodupuzha constituency.

Senior leaders Advocate Monce Joseph MLA, K Franscis George, Thomas Unniyadan are contesting from Kaduthuruthy, Idukki and Irinjalakuda constituencies.

M P Joseph, son-in-law of former minister and supremo, K M Mani, is contesting from Trikaripurconstituency.

The UDF leaders had yesterday announced that as per the seat sharing agreement, 10 seats have been allocated for the Joseph faction of

Kerala Congress (M) had last year severed its three- decade-old ties with the opposition UDF and joined the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), however, a faction led by senior leader Joseph remained with the UDF.

A legal battle following the split resulted in the Election Commission allottingthe official 'Two Leaves' symbol to Kerala Congress (M) faction led by Jose K Mani, who joined the LDF.
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Its been nearly a year since Gov. Ned Lamont issued an executive order restricting nursing home visits throughout the state  hundreds of days since many residents have been able to hug their children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. But now, with new federal guidance released this week, long-awaited hugs with vaccinated seniors can officially resume.

It has been a crazy afternoon everybody, but this is something weve all been waiting for, said Mairead Painter, Connecticut state long term care ombudsman, during her weekly Facebook livestream Wednesday night, following the release of new guidance. Its not everything, right? We didnt get back everything that weve ever had as far as visitation, but it is such a step forward.

As Painter walked through a press release line-by-line, comments and questions from family members and friends flooded in.

3 1 of 3 Stephen Dunn / Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





When can we go? Tonight? How do we make sure the facility follows the guidance? Do we still stay six feet away?

Official guidance released Wednesday from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that facilities should allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), except for a few circumstances.

Stipulations recommend that unvaccinated residents not attend indoor visitation if county positivity rates are over 10 percent and less than 70 percent of residents have been vaccinated, if the resident has active COVID infection, or if they are quarantined.

Compassionate care visits should be allowed at all times, the guidance said, and visitor testing and vaccination should not be a mandated condition of visitation.

While some nursing homes had already resumed restricted in-person visitation already based on Sept. 17 CMS updates to protocol, advocates said it wasnt always widely followed or adhered to.

I dont think anyone should be waiting for guidance [from state officials] at this point. CMS has put out extensive guidance with regards to visitation in nursing homes, said Josh Geballe, Lamonts chief operating officer, during a March 8 press briefing prior to CMSs update. He said they are expecting that all operators comply.

The updated protocol was released less than an hour after a weekly statewide call with industry administrators, which Painter pointed out as ironic.

Had it come out just before that, we could have had the discussion today, she said on the livestream.

Vaccinations of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut have been a major priority in vaccine rollout. They were among the first to receive the precious doses once they were made available.

At Genesis HealthCare, approximately 86 percent of residents and 63 percent of staff have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Feifer. At Athena Health Care Systems, which owns 27 facilities across the state, more than 82 percent of residents and more than 60 percent of staff have been vaccinated, according to spokesman Tim Brown. And at Hancock Hall and Filosa, two Danbury nursing homes, more than 92 percent of residents and more than 70 percent of staff have been vaccinated, according to president and administrator Jennifer Malone-Seixas.

Once older adults are vaccinated and theyve completed the vaccine regimen, theres no reason why, from a purely scientific point of view, that they cannot return to some semblance of normalcy, said Laura Haynes, immunology professor at the UConn Center on Aging.

Despite these high numbers, these facilities were waiting for the official go-ahead before changing their policies.

But theyre eager for changes too, Painter said. She had heard that facilities had been writing letters to CMS and the CDC for additional guidance due to the impacts restrictions have had on their censuses. Some families have opted not to place loved ones in long-term care due to restrictions, she said.

At Athena Health Care Systems, Brown said theyre working to implement the new guidelines as soon as possible, and expects it to take a couple of days. Theyll still require masks, temperature checks, and other cleaning procedures, he said.

It does take a little while to make sure that were covering all our bases, he said.

We are currently reviewing the guidance and will adjust accordingly, Lori Mayer of Genesis HealthCare wrote in an email.

A national sigh of relief

Since the shutdown last March, stories of the extraordinary lengths family members have gone to see their loved ones have been plentiful. Now, theyll be able to see  and hopefully hug  each other again.

When they closed the doors at her mothers facility in Mystic, Liz Stern would sneak over at night to peak through the windows and make sure her mother was properly positioned and that her cup was within reach.

Stern, one of the founding members of the Connecticut chapter of a national advocacy group, Caregivers for Compromise, said that it was the first time since her mothers stroke in 2016 that she had been without a loved one by her side every day. Sterns mother died in November, unrelated to COVID.

We were forced to abandon her, Stern said. While shed already been involved in advocacy, these events threw her into the most passionate advocacy you could possibly imagine. On Friday, shes giving testimony in Hartford.

The general theme was cautiously optimistic, Painter said of the news among those who have been impacted. This was a sentiment Stern voiced, too.

People are concerned about how facilities and communities will interpret and implement the guidance. But overall, Painter thinks people were happy.

Painter said its important that guidance allows residents to touch their loved ones.

Finding this balance between social and emotional needs as well as medical needs I think is incredibly important, she said. It actually uses the word embrace in its language. And this is something residents have gone without for a year.

Maplewood Senior Living, an assisted living community with seven locations in Connecticut, has vaccinated over 95 percent of their population, and had already begun to allow more visitation with the help of 15-minute antigen tests prior to the release of new guidance. They recently started allowing entertainers, art therapists, and other enrichment partners back, according to Amy Silva-Magalhaes, senior vice president of operations.

But now, residents are also going to have the option to have close contact with loved ones if they so choose, said Silva-Magalhaes.

For Dr. Patrick Coll, a geriatrics expert with UConn Health, the impacts of isolation and lack of visitation have become increasingly concerning to him as time goes on. These limitations, he noted, were not without their own potentially damaging effects on residents.

Isolation has been shown to result in cognitive decline, worsening memory-related issues, and nutritional problems, according to research Coll reviewed. And unlike COVID infections and deaths, these quieter consequences are not so easily measured, he said.

Weve kind of reached a tipping point, he said of visitation restrictions just before the new guidance was issued. Those restrictions are probably more harmful than the potential benefits.

Connecticut requires just 1.9 hours of care a day for residents, Painter said. On top of that, pandemic staffing challenges at nursing homes, the use of personal protective equipment, and other physical limitations have caused even greater barriers in residents ability to receiving proper emotional and psychological care these past 12 months.

They need touch, Painter said.

Once residents and staff have been vaccinated, Coll advocates for a return to congregate dining and group recreation. These activities, along with visitations, should be a priority, he said.

One remaining worry involves vaccinating new residents and staff. Several places said they are in the process of trying to establish more regular on-site vaccinations to address this.

As families and advocates wait for nursing homes and facilities to implement the new guidance, it feels like theyve reached the light at the end of the tunnel, said Mary Daniel, founder of Caregivers for Compromise.

This national announcement has significant implications for people like Daniel, whose husband is in a care facility in Florida.

This changes everything for us, she said. This is going to get us back in.

However, Daniel said its going to take each state issuing its own clear, concise guidance to get facilities to adhere.

Its guidance, its not regulation, Stern said. Huge difference.
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In 2016, Bipasha Basu tied the knot with actor Karan Singh Grover and within a couple of years after being married, the duo started being quizzed about giving the 'good news' to their fans. While sometimes Bipasha and Karan took the questions sportingly, other times they lost their cool for being asked the same question repeatedly.

Of late, buzz mills again started churning out the rumours of Bipasha's pregnancy, but in his recent media interaction, Karan quashed all the rumours, and revealed why he is not ready to be a father yet.

In an interview with radio host Siddharth Kannan, Karan said, "I am open to the idea of being a father in life but sooner or later, I think I still have a little growing up to do myself. That is happening very slowly, so let's see."

When asked if the constant pressure of becoming a parent frustrates him, he denied and said, "Why would I bang my head against the wall? It is a natural progression -- people meet, fall in love, get married and then have a baby. But then, it's okay if you don't have a baby for some time. People are planning our family already, so let them plan. It's okay. I have told so many people so many times that I am pregnant, nobody believes me, so I don't know."

ALSO READ: Karan Singh Grover And I Are Very Close: Qubool Hai 2.0's Nehalaxmi Iyer

With respect to work, Karan is currently pumped up about his just-released series Qubool Hai 2.0, which also casts Surbhi Jyoti in the lead role.

Bipasha Basu, on the other hand, hasn't announced her upcoming project yet. She was last seen in Dangerous alongside her husband.

ALSO READ: Karan Singh Grover On Reports Of His Wife Bipasha Basu's Pregnancy: We Will Let Everyone Know
SK Innovation's battery plant site in Georgia / Courtesy of SK Innovation



Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has asked U.S. President Joe Biden to overturn a U.S. trade panel's decision against SK Innovation (SKI) in a misappropriation of trade secrets case concerning electric vehicle (EV) batteries.



Kemp repeated his request in a letter to Biden, Friday (local time), to save thousands of jobs in northeast Georgia directly tied to an SKI EV battery plant in the town of Commerce there



SKI has been building a plant in the U.S. state, to be completed by 2022, to provide EV batteries to Ford Motor and Volkswagen. It is also building a second plant at the site and has pledged to hire 2,600 people by 2024.



"The livelihoods of thousands of Georgians are now in your hands," Kemp said in the letter.



He asked Biden to veto the U.S. International Trade Commission's (USITC) recent ruling, stating, "It is contrary to the public interest and will seriously jeopardize your administration's environmental and economic goals."



Last week, the commission said SKI misappropriated trade secrets from its South Korea-based rival LG Energy Solutions (LGSE) for its development of EV batteries.



The USITC also said it was clear that SKI would have needed at least a decade to develop the knowledge it gained from the trade secrets stolen from LGES.



SKI claims it did not need LGES's trade secrets as its development and manufacturing methods for EV batteries was different from that used by LGES.



The commission's final ruling came about a month after it ruled in favor of LGES in the trade secret case and issued a 10-year import ban for SKI on some lithium-ion batteries and their components.



However, the USITC did permit the limited shipment of components to allow SKI to produce batteries at the plant for Ford Motor for four years and Volkswagen for two years.





Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs House Bill 521 at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, Thursday, July 16, 2020, in Marietta, Ga. Yonhap


Skretting Vietnam breaks ground on new $29 million factory

The new factory is located next to Skretting Vietnams existing facilities in Thuan Dao Industrial Zone, Long An. With an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes, the factory will enable effective feed supply to key farming provinces in the Mekong Delta and beyond.

With a mission and commitment to bringing good solutions to farmers and contributing to the sustainable development of aquaculture in Vietnam, Skretting Vietnam is dedicated to leveraging our global resources to offer a complete value proposition for our customers, said Bui Thuy Tien, general manager of Skretting Vietnam.
Tensions between Australia and New Zealand over the 501 deportations has come to a head over differing approaches to foreign policy, a foreign affairs expert says.

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It comes after Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton this week described the deportation of New Zealand citizens after they had been convicted of crimes in Australia as "taking out the trash".

Duttons officials allowed a Nine News reporter to interview the deportees as they were handcuffed and marched onto a plane back to New Zealand.

Melissa Conley Tyler, a research fellow at the University of Melbourne and the former director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, this morning told Q+A Duttons comments wasnt a very diplomatic way of putting things.

read more 'Taking the trash out'  Planeload of Australian deportees sent to New Zealand

I think our leaders struggle sometimes to understand that when you say something for a domestic audience, its also going to be heard overseas and you have to think about what message thats sending, she said.

Conley Tyler believed there was a genuine difference in the way that Australia and New Zealand are seeing this.

She explained that since 9/11, Australia has taken the view that living in the country was a "privilege" which can be "revoked and taken away", while New Zealand has a more values-based approach.

I think New Zealand still has much more of an idea of the responsibility that the country has towards its citizens and to people who have lived most of their life in that country, so I think theres a different policy approach that were seeing play out.

Conley Tyler adds that Australian citizens dont really know or havent thought much about the 501 deportations.

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Australians tend to be really surprised when they hear that there are any issues, she said.

We assume we like each other and were going to get on and its always a surprise when we discover, Oh, actually, we have a difference here, something that weve got to deal with diplomatically like we do with all countries.

read more Sending deportees to NZ a 'deplorable move by the Australian Government' - Hipkins

Conley Tyler said issues crop up between the two countries from time to time  such as the tension around the future of the New Zealand-born, Australian-raised IS supporter and the trans-Tasman bubble  with the past 20 years or so seeing more divergence between Australia and New Zealand.

I think we get surprised sometimes to realise that actually, we dont look exactly the same anymore  we have quite different approaches on some issues.
Nearly 30 years ago a malnourished two-year-old girl died in front of US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a refugee camp in northern Uganda. Three days ago UN food chief David Beasley met a starving five-month-old girl at a hospital in Yemen  she died on Thursday.

Whats the difference today? Ms Thomas-Greenfield said. Today we should have better information ... We can save lives if we know where to go and if we put the funding toward it.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield and Mr Beasley both recounted these stories during a UN Security Council meeting on food security, where UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that more than 30 million people in over three dozen countries are just one step away from a declaration of famine.

Famine and hunger are no longer about lack of food, Guterres told the 15-member body. They are now largely man-made  and I use the term deliberately. They are concentrated in countries affected by large-scale, protracted conflict.

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He announced the creation of a high-level UN task force on preventing famine led by UN aid chief Mark Lowcock.

Parts of Yemen, South Sudan and Burkina Faso are in the grip of famine or conditions akin to famine, Mr Guterres said.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced the worlds largest food crisis last year, with nearly 21.8 million people facing acute hunger between July and December.

Mr Guterres, Mr Beasley and Ms Thomas-Greenfield also raised particular concern about food shortages in Ethiopias northern Tigray region, where Ethiopian government troops began an offensive against Tigrays former ruling party after regional forces attacked federal army bases in the region in November.

Food stocks are depleted. Acute malnutrition is rising. The ongoing violence has prevented humanitarians from helping desperately hungry people, Ms Thomas-Greenfield said.

In war-torn South Sudan, Mr Guterres said 60pc of people are increasingly hungry.

Food prices are so high that just one plate of rice and beans costs more than 180pc of the average daily salary  the equivalent of about $400 here in New York, he said.

Norfolk barn is focus for creative Christianity

A barn in rural South Norfolk is a thriving focus for the arts and creative Christian spirituality, as well as a recording studio and a craft centre, all run by an ordained couple. Kevin Gotts reports.
Dublin model Emily MacKeogh opened up about the tragic death of her late fiance Killian Roche.

Appearing on the Late Late Show to promote funding for the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), Emily opened up about the devastating death of the former rugby player.

The newly-engaged couple had just arrived in the United Arab Emirates where they were planning on starting a new life together when the tragedy occurred.

Speaking to Ryan Tubridy, Emily said the couple had only been in Dubai for five hours when Killian collapsed in the lobby of their hotel.

Its Sudden Adult Death Syndrome which takes the lives of around 80 young people in Ireland every year which is a massive number, she said.

The Irish model described the devastating moment she was told Killian had passed away.

I just held his hand and talked to him and told him how much I loved him and I put my head in his chest and just cried.

I just remember trying not to go into too much shock because I wanted to remember everything that was happening so I could tell his family, she said.

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Emily said the couple were the happiest they had ever been when the tragedy happened.

Killian had just gotten his dream job, he was going to be the head of digital for Wavemaker media for the Middle East and I have a jewellery company so I was going to work between Dublin and Dubai.

So it was really exciting and we had friends there and we had only decided to move at Christmas so it was a bit of a whirlwind. We had just gotten engaged seven weeks before we left, she said.

Emily revealed Killians mother Christine had an instinct that something was going to happen as she waved them off at the airport.

His mum said to me this just feels really final and I said dont be silly, were going to be back in a few weeks, she said.

Emily said the charity CRY has been a massive support during such a challenging time.

From the get go, they have been incredible.

They do full health checks, theyve tested both his sisters hearts.

"They just have been a huge source of comfort and just the understanding that they have for something like this happening, she added.
It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
A New York grandmother hadnt received a hug in a full year, and two weeks following both her Covid-19 vaccine shots, she was still fearful of human contact.

However, according to New York Post, when Evelyn Shaw remained fearful of getting within 6 feet of her family, her doctor took action. He wrote her a prescription for human contact.

You are allowed to hug your granddaughter, the family doctor wrote on an official prescription note, which her daughter, SiriusXM radio host Jessica Shaw, posted to Twitter.

So, Shaw received and gave her first hug, in a long time.

Jessica explained that her mother had strictly followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention distancing advisories, adding that this was the first hug shes had in a year.

Thank you to all the scientists and doctors who made this happen! she wrote.

The New York Post reported that the now-viral tweet also included an emotional video of the 81-year-old Bronx resident hugging her grandbaby. The clip has accumulated more than 50,000 likes since being posted on Tuesday, with many commenters acknowledging that it made them cry while giving them hope for post-vaccination life.

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After two years implementing Resolution No. 17/NQ-CP on e-government, Vietnam has made great progress, adopting a new approach to solving bottlenecks and problems that have existed for a long time.

The resolution dated March 7, 2019 concerns the key tasks and solutions for e-government in 2019 - 2020, with a vision to 2025. It has achieved many important results, creating a premise for the development of digital government.

The core components of e-government and the basic legal environment for it have been created. Technical infrastructure has improved greatly, while applications have been prioritized for effective implementation.

According to a report from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) at a meeting of the National Committee for E-Government on March 10, so far most of the tasks and projects under Resolution No. 17 have been implemented and completed by ministries, agencies and provinces, making an important contribution to promoting the development of e-government.

The meeting of the National Committee for E-government on March 10. Photo: Duc Huy

The Government Office has been a pioneer in advising and building e-government to serve the Governments operation.

"With the view of improving service quality, taking people and businesses at the center, the Government Office has developed and submitted to the Government for promulgation Decree No. 61/2018 on the implementation of the one-stop mechanism in solving administrative procedures as a legal basis for the implementation of the National Public Service Portal and re-planning of IT systems to provide online public services, ensuring that each ministry and province has only one public service portal," said Head of Government Office Mai Tien Dung.

According to the Government Office, as of March 8, 2021, more than 2,800 out of nearly 6,800 public services are included on the portal at four administrative levels. The portal has received over 116 million visits and more than 468,000 registered accounts. More than 940,000 administrative documents have been processed online through the portal, while 67,000 e-payment transactions have been made, with the total amount of VND26.7 billion.

The portal also received more than 10,000 feedback responses. The portal has helped save more than VND8.1 trillion ($351.53 million) each year, along with over VND1.2 trillion each year in paper and delivery costs.

So far, the national reporting information system has connected the systems of 14 ministries and agencies as well as 37 localities, helping save about VND9.9 trillion each year in accordance with the calculation by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The rate of providing online public services of level 4 has increased over the years. Source: egov.mic.gov.vn

Solving bottlenecks

"Under the leadership and direction of the Prime Minister and the National Committee for e-Government, Vietnam has made great progress, with a new approach to solving bottlenecks, resolving many problems existing for many years, laying a foundation for faster, stronger and more efficient development in the next 5 years, said Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung.

According to Dung, some ministries, agencies and provinces have implemented effective ways to remove bottlenecks to develop e-government. Da Nang City is a bright example. The city has used a synchronous network infrastructure, based on virtualization technology and cloud computing, shared by all local government agencies.

The model of a common technical infrastructure for all agencies in the local political system has clearly demonstrated its superiority. This approach saves time and costs in construction, management and operation, and ensures information security as well as enhances connection and data sharing. It also avoids duplication and waste.

In the case of the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, it has used the cloud computing services of Quang Trung Software Park. This has solved the problem that has existed for many years that data centers are invested with high costs, but are not fully used and operate inefficiently due to lack of technical personnel.

Another bottleneck for the development of e-government which has existed for many years is the connection and sharing of data. But recently, especially in 2019-2020, great strides have been made in solving this problem thanks to the implementation of the National Government Service Platform (NGSP) and Local Government Service Platform (LGSP).

The number of online public services on the National Public Service Portal increased greatly in 2019-2020. Source: egov.mic.gov.vn

In 2018, only 3%, and in 2019 only 27% of ministries, agencies and provinces had an integrated data and sharing platform. In 2020, the figure was 100%.

In 2018, there was no local information system connected to and sharing data, but in 2019 there were 51 systems, and more than 200 systems connected through the National Data Sharing and Integration Platform in 2020.

In 2019, there were more than 2 million transactions and it rose to nearly 9 million transactions made through the National Government Service Platform in 2020.

On average, there are 18 sharing data transactions per minute between the information systems of central and local state agencies through this platform.

Developing e-government

2021 is the year to start and shape the development strategy of e-government in a new stage. Digital government will become the platform to lead the digital transformation of countries based on all three pillars of development: digital government, digital economy, digital society.

In order to facilitate the development of e-government towards a digital government, the Ministry of Information and Communications proposes that the Government and the Prime Minister soon consider and issue important decrees to complete the development of e-government institutions such as the Decree on protection of personal data and Decree on electronic identification and authentication; and promulgate the e-government development strategy towards a digital government in the period of 2021 - 2025 with a vision to 2030.

Pham Duc Long, chairman of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, said that Vietnamese firms were capable of solving problems in national digital transformation, resources and technologies. Long said tech firms should not only provide what they have but must also pay attention to solving problems that localities are facing.

Nguyen Dinh Chien, deputy director of the military-run telecommunications group Viettel, said it was important to hasten the development of the legal framework for digital Government, digital economy and digital society and develop mechanisms for capable firms to deploy the digital database in order to create new values.

Binh Minh
Cast your mind back to 1982 for a moment. Lt. Gov. Mario Cuomo was contesting for the Democratic nomination for governor against New York City mayor Edward Koch, a colorful figure with many sensible views acquired from experience. (He wrote an article for The Public Interest in 1980 explaining that having become mayor, he wished hed voted against a number of laws that he supported in the U.S. House because he now saw their difficulties from the perspective of a responsible executive.)

There had long been rumors about Mayor Kochs sexual preference, and there was a whispering campaign that went beyond whispering to the broadside reproduced hereVote for Cuomo, not the Homo. Although produced by someone not affiliated with any campaign, it was widely thought then and now that the Cuomo campaign, and Andrew Cuomo in particular, was behind this ugly inneundo.

Now fast forward to today. New York magazine is out today with a long feature about what a nasty human being Andrew Cuomo is, containing, if my scorecard is up to date, a new allegation of sexual harassment from a 7th woman. Strange that the media is just now reporting what all the stories say has long been widely knownthat Cuomo is a pig and a bully and all-around horrible human being. Actually not strange at allwith Trump gone his usefulness is a rapidly depreciating asset, and might even drag down the entire Democratic ticket in New York next year if he stands for re-election.

This got me to thinking about something I havent read almost since Mario Cuomo was governorF.A. Hayeks chapter Why the Worst Get on Top in The Road to Serfdom. Ive sometimes been impatient with a certain type of libertarian who cites this chapter title as a summary way of expressing his distaste for all elected officials, and then preens about how above it all he is by not voting or getting his hands grubby with practical politics of any kind. Of course, this is a total misreading of Hayeks chapter, which was that a totalitarian socialist system will eventually devolve into a rule by the worst sort of human beinga proposition that seems empirically true. This was much less true of a classically liberal (constitutional) regime. I mean seriouslywas Ronald Reagan the worst? In the solipsistic dream world of the dogmatic libertarian, youll often get a Yes answer.

Heres a key passage from Hayek on the point:

Just as the democratic statesman who sets out to plan economic life will soon be confronted with the alternative of either assuming dictatorial powers or abandoning his plans, so the totalitarian dictator would soon have to choose between disregard of ordinary morals and failure. It is for this reason that the unscrupulous and uninhibited are likely to be more successful in a society tending toward totalitarianism. Who does not see this has not yet grasped the full width fo the gulf which separates totalitarianism from a liberal regime, the utter difference between the whole moral atmosphere under collectivism and the essentially individualist Western civilization.

To be sure, insofar as the powers Cuomo and other governors like him assumed under emergency circumstances of COVID have brought out their inner dictator, they fit Hayeks description of the worst. But it is worth keeping on with Hayek, as his next chapter in The Road to Serfdom is The End of Truth. And here is a perfect description of the kind of post-modern Progressivism we see everywhere today. He quotes the great Marxist historian E.H. Carr that It is significant that the nationalization of thought has proceeded everywhere pari passu with the nationalization of industry. There follows a discussion from Hayek on why socialists have to corrupt the idea of truth itself in order for them to pursue their designs. In this respect, Cuomos piggishness is notyetthe worst offender, though he may yet complete the cycle. Watch for him to straddle the issue of his harassment by talking about not wishing to contest their truth when discussing specific allegations of harassment. For a leftist, all truth today is not just relative or subjective, but also proprietary.
The surge of coronavirus-driven imports at U.S. seaports is putting a strain on truckers who move cargo through the Port of Charleston, with a domino effect of late containerships playing havoc with supply chains and drivers' schedules.

"The imports arent arriving as scheduled," said Rick Todd, president and CEO of the S.C. Trucking Association, which represents hundreds of trucking and logistics firms around the state. "This causes hardships for the importers, motor carriers, ultimately the customer and drives up transportation pricing."

Todd said vessels also are arriving late in bunches, "causing scheduling difficulties for the motor carriers already facing a driver shortage."

He said some trucking firms are losing customers who've become fed up with delays and are looking for alternative shipping methods.

The problem isn't the State Ports Authority's fault, but largely stems from ships docking late because of to weather-related delays, fog and congestion at larger ports where vessels  often dozens at a time  are anchored offshore for days in a floating traffic jam.

"The best way South Carolina ports supports motor carriers is by ensuring efficient operations, well-run terminals and fluidity at our gates so truck drivers can move in and out of our terminals with ease," said SPA spokeswoman Liz Crumley.

Jim Newsome, the maritime agency's president and CEO, said the SPA is "focused on providing congestion-free terminals and available berths to keep the supply chain fluid."

But even the most efficient terminal is of little help when a scheduled ship is still out to sea instead of tied up at the dock.

Only 10.5 percent of containerships arrived on time in Charleston last month, down from a 13.3 percent on-time figure in January. Even in better times, vessels arrive as scheduled only about one-fourth of the time.

The situation isn't likely to improve soon, with the National Retail Federation projecting on March 8 that imports will grow "dramatically during the first half of 2021" as more people are vaccinated and able to get back into brick-and-mortar stores. Online sales, which have propped up the retail sector so far during the year-old pandemic, also are expected to remain strong.

"Retailers are importing huge amounts of merchandise to meet the demand," said Jonathan Gold, the federation's vice president for supply chain and customs policy.

The global shipping boom is "almost unsustainable," according to Federal Maritime Commission members, who are urging every player in the supply chain  not just shipping lines and port operators  to find solutions.

"I've never seen anything like this," Lars Mikael Jensen, told The New York Times. He's the head of Global Ocean Network for A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world's largest shipping line and the Charleston port's biggest customer.

"All the links in the supply chain are stretched," Jensen told the newspaper. "The ships, the trucks, the warehouses."

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The SPA moved the equivalent of 81,899 20-foot cargo containers through its terminals in February. While that is a 7.1 percent drop from last year's record-setting February, it's still above-average for what's typically a slow month following the Chinese New Year holiday, when Asian manufacturing plants usually shut down for extended periods. The demand for goods has been so strong during the pandemic that many of those factories remained open this year.

Still, logjams at other ports led to fewer ships making their way to Charleston, accounting for much of February's decline.

Exports are another problem, according to Todd of the Columbia-based truckers group, as drivers often take a customer's container to the port only to find the ship it's to be loaded on hasn't arrived. The driver then has to return the container to the customer or a trucking firm's yard. That can lead to numerous truckers trying to turn in three days of work at the same time, he said.

"It also disrupts the balance of containers (they) turn in and turn out, not to mention making sure there are enough quality chassis," Todd said, referring to the trailers that the boxes sit on.

Some shipping lines, overwhelmed by the number of export containers they're having to take on to make up for the delays, are starting to leave some of the metal boxes behind for succeeding vessels to load. And some are opting to take empty containers rather than loaded ones back to China because that country has a shortage of boxes needed for the goods it sends overseas.

"Often the export containers are bumped once or twice," Todd said.

Mickey Baldwin, general manager of coffee warehouse Continental Terminals of SC, said he's seen firsthand the impact on truckers when big container ships consistently arrive late.

"The large ships have created issues for truckers as they are hardly ever on time, causing major planning issues," Baldwin said. "Imagine planning Friday for (a) Monday ship arrival with, say, 40 containers (for) your customer ... You have the drivers set up to handle, then the vessel slips. This happens all the time, and the trucker has no recourse when the vessel is late or the port has issues. They just lose."

The SPA is looking to its rail network to help ease some of the inland cargo movements. The maritime agency's rail-served inland port in Greer set a cargo record in February, handling 14,418 containers. The other inland port in Dillon handled 2,823 containers in February.

"As retail imports continue to boom during the pandemic, the ability to quickly move goods from ships to the hinterland via rail is paramount," Newsome said.

But only about 25 percent of the port's cargo travels by rail, and every container moves at least some distance on the back of a truck  whether it's to a rail yard in North Charleston or a distribution center in the Midlands or Upstate.

Compounding the trucking issue is a shortage of drivers, with many reaching retirement age without a waiting pipeline of younger drivers available to replace them.

"Driver recruitment and retention are likely the biggest challenge that we have as an industry, both today and into the immediate future," Phil Byrd, head of North Charleston-based Bulldog Hiway Express, told Logistics Management magazine. "If you are running a trucking company, you should be concerned. We need a better way to attract good people into this industry ..."

Daniel Maffei and Louis Sola, two members of the Federal Maritime Commission, said in a recent statement that the current congestion crisis at U.S. ports likely won't get better until "the various parties with their diverse interests (work) toward the common goal of a fluid and efficient supply chain."

"The word 'unprecedented' has almost lost its meaning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," the commissioners said. "But yet, it is still the best way to describe conditions in the ocean container shipping industry."
India is often referred to as the pharmacy of the world, thanks to the generic drug manufacturing in the country, that is exported to around the world.

During the initial days of the COVID-19 outbreak, when Hydroxychloroquine was dubbed as the magical remedy against the virus, the world quite literally queued to buy it from India.

Representational Image

India is estimated to produce 70% of the worlds hydroxychloroquine, with Ipca Labs and Zydus Cadila the two largest producers of the drug in the country. Ipca Labs accounts for more than 80% of Indias hydroxychloroquine supply.

After the initial ban on its export, India allowed Hydroxychloroquine mad in the country to be dispatched across the world.

Even when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, a large portion of the vaccines that will be administered around the world will be made in India.

Reuters

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that India was not dependent on anybody during the pandemic period, rather it extended support to the world in the battle against the virus.

He claimed that PM Modi has supported the supply of medicines to over 150 countries besides the COVID-19 vaccine supply to over 75 nations from India.

AP

As far as COVID-19 vaccines are concerned, it is estimated that India could become the worlds second-largest maker, after the US.

This includes both domestically developed ones and the likes of Serm Institute of India which is manufacturing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine currently and will soon start producing the one developed by Novavax.

On Friday, under the Quad initiative, it was agreed that India will also manufacture the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in the country.
Micromax IN 1 India Launch Date Revealed: What We Expect News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu

The homegrown smartphone brand Micromax made a comeback with the launch of the IN 1b and IN Note 1 last year. Now, it looks like the company is gearing up to launch another smartphone in the In series with the launch of the Micromax IN 1. The launch of this upcoming smartphone is slated for March 19, 2021.

Notably, it will be launched via an online event as the other brands during the pandemic crisis. The launch is slated to debut at 12 PM on March 19. Interested users can follow the launch as it unfolds via the official Micromax website. Also, it is believed that Micromax is all set to launch several new products such as smart TVs, ACs and more in addition to a new smartphone.

Micromax IN 1: What We Expect

As of now, nothing much is known about this new Micromax smartphone but it is expected to be a 5G smartphone as Rahul Sharma, the company's co-founder teased the arrival of one such device. In February, in a YouTube Q&A session of 'Let's Talk INdia Ke Liye', he teased a 5G smartphone likely on cards.

From the existing reports, it looks like the Micromax IN 1 might arrive with an entry-level MediaTek Dimensity SoC or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 SoC. Given that the launch is a week away from now, we can expect further details regarding the upcoming Micromax smartphone will be revealed in the coming days.

Previously, Micromax confirmed that it is working on a smartphone with 6GB RAM, liquid cooling tech for better heat dissipation and a fast screen refresh rate. Furthermore, it will arrive with the Widevine L1 certifications to support HD video playback on specific apps such as Prime Video, Netflix and more.

Micromax IN Note 1, IN 1b Specs

Talking about the Micromax 1N Note, the smartphone bestows a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD display with an aspect ratio of 21:9 and a punch-hole cutout to house the selfie camera sensor. Under its hood, the smartphone makes use of an octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 SoC coupled with HyperEngine gaming, 4GB RAM, and up to 128GB storage space.

The device runs on Android 10 OS and is upgradeable to Android 11 and Android 12. It flaunts a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a quad-cameras at the back with a 48MP primary camera sensor, a 5MP wide-angle secondary lens, and two 2MP cameras. The smartphone adorns a 16MP wide-angle on the front with 78-degree FoV for selfies and video chats. The Micromax IN Note 1 gets the power from a 5000mAh battery with 18W fast-charging support.

Micromax IN 1b has been launched with a 6.52-inch HD+ LCD display with an aspect ratio of 20:9 and a waterdrop notch. The phone equips a MediaTek Helio G35 SoC teamed up with Mali-G52 GPU, up to 4GB RAM, and up to 64GB storage along with a microSD card slot. It runs on Android 10 OS and can be upgradeable to Android 11 and Android 12 updates.

For imaging, the Micromax IN 1b features dual-cameras at the back with a 13MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary lens. There is an 8MP snapper on the front as well. A 5000mAh battery with support for 10W charging support fuels the phone from within and there is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Best Mobiles in India
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Mobile Money on a trial basis will create a precedent for applying the sandbox mechanism to other services and new professions to appear in digital society.

Sandbox mechanism refers to new technologies, products, services and business models. It is done in an environment in which technology firms carry out experiments under certain limitations. The trial will provide information to management agencies to decide whether to continue or stop the models and create official legal frameworks.

Using laws to define rules to deal with new issues arising from the application of new technologies in the 4.0 industry revolution is a challenge. The applications can have a strong impact and the current management mechanism may not be able to catch up with it.

In many business fields, new technologies have been applied to make production and business more effective. In this case, current management methods cannot work because policies emerge more slowly than practice and sandbox is a good solution.

It is not feasible to require state management agencies to design policies for the future. In other countries, the sandbox mechanism is applied, under which businesses are allowed to deploy new models, but within restricted areas, said Nguyen Trung Chinh, chair of CMC.

Mobile Money: sandbox testing agent

The Prime Minister has decided to permit Mobile Money, or payments made for less valuable goods and services via telecom accounts on a trial basis for two years.

This is the first kind of service to apply the sandbox mechanism.

Mobile Money is expected to help develop non-cash payments and strengthen access and use of financial services, especially in rural, mountainous, remote areas, and border areas and islands.

Businesses can only provide Mobile Money services to transfer money and make payment for legal goods and services in Vietnam in accordance with current regulations. Mobile Money services are used only for domestic transactions. The maximum transaction value is VND10 million a month.

Vietnam is not among the first countries accepting new platforms created by technologies. However, as the newcomer, it has great advantages of learning from predecessors.

In order to make a certain service universally popular, payment platforms need to reach 100 percent of people. And there is no means which can implement this better than mobility, or Mobile Money.

In Vietnam, the percentage of credit card users remains low, but the mobile subscriber density has been at around 100 percent for many years. A report found that 99 percent of transactions valued at below VND100,000 are carried out in cash. Mobile Money will serve as the solution to stimulate non-cash payments.

Technology can help settle a lot of problems of the country. However, the problem is that Vietnam needs to change and accept new models.

Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Manh Hung said that Mobile Money shows that telecom carriers can become the platforms for many things, not just telecom infrastructure, as seen in the last hundreds of years.

In Vietnam, the percentage of credit card users remains low, but the mobile subscriber density has been at around 100 percent for many years. A report found that 99 percent of transactions valued at below VND100,000 are carried out in cash. Mobile Money will serve as the solution to stimulate non-cash payments.

There are reasons to put higher expectations on mobile network operators to become platforms for data, computing, digital content, authentication, IT services and IoT (Internet of Things).

Nguyen Son Hai from VNPT Media said people still find it difficult to access e-payment methods via e-wallets or bank accounts, but Mobile Money will bring benefits to the economy, while people will have more e-payment tools. This will serve as a foundation for Vietnamese to move towards digital society.

Pham Trung Kien, CEO of Viettel Digital, said when the government allows Mobile Money to make payments for goods and services, the number of people using e-payment will increase rapidly because of the large coverage of telecom carriers.

Meanwhile, Bui Son Nam, deputy CEO of MobiFone, said that Mobile Money is the opportunity for mobile network operators to build ecosystems to accelerate adigital transformation, this is exactly a big revolution to step up the national digital transformation.

Phung Anh Tuan, deputy chair of VAFI, believes that sandbox mechanism can encourage new services to come out, and help develop the market by encouraging young businesses to do things not prohibited by law.

President and CEO of Got It Tran Viet Hung believes that if the sandbox mechanism is applied to encourage companies to try new technologies and business models, this will help the development of Vietnams technology startups.

Thai Khang

Prime Minister approves Mobile Money pilot programme for two years The prime minister has approved the pilot application of Mobile Money, which allows the use of mobile phone accounts to pay for small-value goods and services. The decision takes effect from March 9, 2021.
Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

Armenian Republican Party: It's possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Georgia Internal Affairs Ministry reveals international narco crime, narcotic drugs were sent from Armenia

Advisor to Armenia Ombudsman: Azerbaijan brought up generation of Armenophobic Azerbaijanis and is proud of this

Armenian advocate: Azerbaijan is creepily expanding towards Armenia

Armenian acting minister: Armenia has potential to introduce major changes in high technology sector

Armenia 2nd President: Authorities put country's future in jeopardy with their actions

Man killed in downtown Yerevan is bodyguard of "criminal authority"

Construction of Eternity Square launched by Tovmasyan Foundation begins in Armenia

Armenia deputy police chief refuses to comment on murder in Yerevan at daytime

Acting finance minister: Armenia state employees were paid AMD 22bn in bonuses in 2020

Missing soldiers relatives stage picket outside Russia embassy in Armenia

Acting minister: Armenia high-tech ministry for first time received military development budget in 2020

Armenia President to pay working visit to Kazakhstan

Several Artsakh roads to be improved this year

Judicial farce against Armenian POWs kicks off in Baku

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We will give such pace in terms of jobs that we will look for good professionals

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Let railway be opened but using the word "corridor" is outright crime

Armenia legislature, government reduce expenses for bonus pays, business trips

Netherlands acting FM: Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan must be released immediately

BSTDB Provides EUR 23 million Loan to Ameriabank to Boost SME Financing in Armenia

EU envoy to Armenia visits Meghri

Murder takes place in downtown Yerevan

92 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

World oil prices continue to be on the rise

Paris mayor to visit Yerevan in October

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Gyumri: I said 'If nothing changed second time I come, they will beat me here

Acting premier meets with Armenian community in France

Armenia parliament committees continue discussion on 2020 state budget report

Iran navy ship catches fire in Persian Gulf

US man commits suicide live on Instagram after police chase

Newspaper: What is situation at Sev Lake area of Armenia?

Newspaper: What instructions did Armenia acting defense minister get in Moscow?

Israel removes many coronavirus restrictions

Armenia acting PM arrives in Belgium

Emmanuel Macron: The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenias sovereign territory

Armenia 3rd President on authorities and the upcoming elections

Armenia 3rd President reacts to photos of bodies of soldiers in freezer: It felt like the blood froze in my veins

Armenia Ombudsman addresses OSCE officials in regard to Ilham Aliyev's Armenophobic statements

Turkey's Erdogan expresses willingness to support Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral cooperation

Armenia acting MOD visits Border Guards Department of Russia Federal Security Service

French-Armenians hold protest against Armenia acting PM's visit to France

Karabakh ex-Ombudsman appointed State Minister

Rapid reaction service set up ahead of snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia has new ambassador to Ukraine

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are ready to visit the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia President appoints judges

Wargonzo: Russian MOD is dealing with settlement of conflict in Armenia's Syunik Province on a daily basis

Armenia police encircle stage placed at Republic Square (PHOTO)

Yerkir.am: ARF-D Bureau member: Armenia acting PM ignored Macron's phone calls on November 9, 2020

7 EU countries start issuing vaccination certificates

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"
Portland police detained a crowd of over 100 protesters during a Friday night demonstration, stemming a march only minutes after it began.

The mass detainment was an apparent use of kettling, a police tactic of surrounding a crowd and containing people within a perimeter. Police told the crowd they were detaining everyone within the boundary for the investigation of a crime but did not specify the nature of the alleged crime.

Demonstrators initially gathered in the Pearl District about 8:30 p.m. and started marching roughly a half-hour later. Police threatened to arrest protesters minutes after the march started, saying those walking in the street were blocking traffic and would be subject to arrest, citation or crowd control munitions if they didnt move.

Police announced about 9:20 p.m. they were setting up a perimeter around the group and detaining everyone. Police said the detention was temporary and that they would remove demonstrators one at a time.

Meanwhile, a crowd gathered outside the perimeter, chanting let them go and slogans decrying police.

In once incident at roughly 10 p.m., videographer CarissaDez captured livestream footage of Portland police pepper spraying two people outside the perimeter who were confronting police about the detentions.

About 10:15 p.m., police began releasing legal observers and members of the press one by one. Lawyers also posted social media reminders of protesters rights and resources.

Several live-streamers and independent journalists said they were released, police made them give their name and birthdate, wrote the information on a piece of duct tape and gave it to each person to place on their chest. Police then photographed each person as they were leaving, requiring them to remove their masks.

I left the kettle because a protester started yelling at me.

Police demanded my name and birthdate, wrote it on a piece of duct tape and gave it to me to put on my chest. Then they photographed me without my mask on. Heres a photo of the officer taking my photo. pic.twitter.com/zTM8QOb6Ae  Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) March 13, 2021

Around 11:10 p.m., police appeared to arrest at least one person. It was not clear why the person was arrested.

According to people posting on social media from the scene, at about 11:30 p.m., a group of four police officers grabbed and pepper sprayed a protester who was carrying a boom box, and took away the speakers. It was not immediately clear why they pepper sprayed the person.

As of midnight, there were still dozens of protesters inside the perimeter.

Independent journalist Laura Jedeed reported that one person who was standing on the sidewalk was arrested shortly before midnight.

The cops approach a protester and inform them they can leave voluntarily or be arrested



Protester informs them they have a legal right to be on the sidewalk



They are arrested pic.twitter.com/27C7AKSZSb  Laura Jedeed, Professional Stocker (@LauraJedeed) March 13, 2021

Videographers documenting the protest said police followed demonstrators from the beginning of the march, which lasted less than 15 minutes.

Adam Costello, a livestream videographer, said two windows were broken during the early stages of the protest. Costello suspected that may have prompted police to set up the perimeter.

A police spokesperson declined to describe the nature of the alleged crime under investigation.

The kettling of Portland protesters most recently garnered attention in January after two federal judges either dismissed or recommended throwing out civil suits, including one filed by the ACLU of Oregon, that challenged the police practice.

The cases, which stemmed from June 2017 demonstrations in downtown Portland, were thrown out despite heavy objection from community members to the tactic  and a critical report from Portlands police review office.

Mayor Ted Wheeler, who serves as police commissioner, said in January he doesnt like how police have used the tactic during his tenure, but he didnt say the practice should be banned.

If kettling is to be used as a technique it has to be well-planned and well-trained for, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

What I think we should do is have an open conversation with all of our law enforcement partners and legislative leaders about which tools are appropriate and how to best use them, he said. Im not saying kettling should be off the table, but I think we should have a conversation about how we should use it as a tool and use it appropriately should we decide to use it.

The mass detentions marked the second night in a row that police responded forcefully to protesters in Portland.

On Thursday night, federal officers deployed tear gas at a group of a few dozen protesters who had gathered at the Hatfield U.S. Courthouse. Some protesters were continuing efforts from earlier in the day, when they protested against an oil pipeline

Police detained at least one person during that protest.

Juniper Simonis, an environmental biologist who studies the effects of chemical agents on protesters, went to the scene of the protest Friday morning, and reported that they found spent canisters of HC gas.

Can confirm.

Feds Used 2 HC grenades last night.

Residues still downtown in street and cross walk. https://t.co/HbjUPifm5O  Dr. Juniper L Simonis; The Professor (@JuniperLSimonis) March 12, 2021

HC gas is a toxic and potentially deadly smoke grenade that Portland police deployed more than two dozen times over the summer as they tried to disperse protesters.

HC stands for hexaclorotethane, a common ingredient in smoke devices that the Environmental Protection Agency has classified as a likely carcinogen.

This report will be updated.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Maxine Bernstein and Kale Williams of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.
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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.
Russian police have detained around 200 people, mostly opposition figures and municipal deputies, at an event in Moscow, in the latest crackdown on Kremlin critics ahead of elections later this year.



Police stormed a forum dedicated to discussing parliamentary and local elections in September shortly after it began at Moscow's Izmailovo Hotel on March 13.



Video footage showed police entering the building and taking attendees to police vans waiting outside.



The Interior Ministry said around 200 people were detained. Attendees and observers suggested everyone present at the event had been detained, including several journalists.



Police said those detained were not following coronavirus-related health measures and that the forum had links to an "undesirable organization."



"A significant portion of participants lacked personal protective equipment," the police said in a statement. "Members of an organization whose activities are considered undesirable on Russian territory were among the participants."



Participants from more than 50 regions of Russia had gathered to discuss election strategy at the forum organized by the United Democrats project, which is not on a list of "undesirable" organizations kept by prosecutors.



United Democrats is backed by exiled former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, whose Open Russia movement has been designated an "undesirable organization since 2017.



"In Moscow, the ENTIRE forum of municipal deputies of Russia was detained!" Khodorkovsky wrote on Twitter. "The dictatorship is discarding the last fig leaves," he wrote, in an apparent suggestion that the Russian government was dropping attempts to present even a facade of democracy.

Later, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sweeping detentions were made on "dubious grounds."



"We call for an end to the persecution of independent voices," he wrote on Twitter.

Among the detainees were prominent critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin, including senior Open Russia leaders Andrei Pivovarov and Anastasia Burakova, former Yekaterinburg Mayor Yevgeny Roizman, city deputies Ilya Yashin and Yulia Galyamina, and opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza.



OVD-Info, which monitors the detention of political protesters and activists, said that by late evening most detainees had been released but ordered to appear in court at a later date on charges of participating in activities of an "undesirable organization."



Russia's "undesirable organization" law was adopted in May 2015 amid a flurry of legislative, executive, and other restrictive efforts to further curb dissent in the country. One of the effects has been to squeeze many nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that receive funding from foreign sources and provide grounds to persecute their members.



The detentions were the latest crackdown on Russia's opposition since Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny was arrested, put on trial, and imprisoned in the wake of his January return from Germany, where he had been recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning he blames on Putin and his agents.



Navalny's team accused the authorities of seeking to further intimidate critics ahead of the September elections.



"It is clear why the forum has been broken up -- authorities are afraid of any competition during elections," the team said on the Telegram messaging app.



The ruling United Russia party is becoming unpopular, it claimed, adding' "Winning even rigged elections is becoming ever more difficult."



Navalny and his supporters have developed a "smart voting" system that is aimed at undoing United Russias stranglehold on political power through better coordination of voters at the local level.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
The Monarchy needs rescuing. How are they going to heal the wounds, repair the damage, stop further attacks? And who are they, anyway? The depleted Royal Family, the besieged courtiers, the Government, the Church... the BBC?

And what is next for Harry and Meghan?

All urgent questions. But first, some background. When I arrived at Buckingham Palace to be interviewed as a new equerry to Princess Diana some 30 years ago (initially on a two-year secondment from the Royal Navy), I imagined I was entering a world of perfection. One in which happy and glorious Royal people devoted their lives to the service of loyal subjects in realms and territories all over the world, served in turn by effortlessly sophisticated courtiers who kept the machinery of constitutional monarchy purring along like a Rolls-Royce.

Princess Diana with private secretary Patrick Jephson Burghley Horse Trials, Lincolnshire, September 1989

As we now know, that world was about to enter a prolonged period of self-harm, including the failure of three Royal marriages, the Windsor Castle fire, and countless calamities from Its A Royal Knockout to the Camilla-gate tape, Panorama and Epstein.

Today, the self-destructive cycle is back in full force, with the daily escalation of Sussex lacerations now tearing into the heart of the Monarchy, with accusations of negligence, callousness, deceit and  most grievous of all  entrenched racism. This time its going to take more than just Keep Calm And Carry On, more than Brian Mays Jubilee guitar solo on the roof of Buckingham Palace, or 007 and the Queen skydiving into the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

With the Windsors tender parts now trapped in the mangle of American domestic politics, transatlantic and Commonwealth relations under strain, and cancel culture spreading like wildfire through British public life, this Royal crisis more than any other really feels like a deadly threat to our most precious institution.

Of course, with every crisis comes opportunity. In this case, the rescue and the opportunity may come from an unexpected direction. As so often with the Windsors, theres a clue in the past.

Let me share an incident that happened soon after I joined the Royal Household. As I said, I thought this was an organisation that didnt make mistakes; it certainly didnt admit to any, as far as I could see.

Yet, inevitably, I definitely did slip up one day. Nothing very major but I sensed my all-hearing boss would get to know about it eventually and then I could expect to be in serious trouble  not for the original offence but for having tried to conceal it.

So, screwing up my courage, I went to see her. She was busy at her desk, working on papers.

Yes, Patrick, she said, without raising her eyes.

Maam, I have to tell you Ive made a mistake. Her eyes now flashed icy blue in my direction. Youve what?

I struggled on. Its a small mistake and Ive fixed it. But I wanted you to hear about it from me.

I explained the details and then braced for execution, or at least a painful rebuke. But instead, I saw her eyes soften.

Dyou know Patrick, thats the first time Ive heard anybody in this place admit making a mistake.

The novelty (and her good nature) quickly led to forgiveness. My gamble had paid off. Diana showed me compassion and seemed to quite enjoy the experience.

More importantly, she would now trust me to confess my sins and I could expect her to absolve me (usually). After all, to forgive is a sign of divinity  never a bad quality in a princess.

This little incident formed the bedrock of a trust that sustained our working relationship, past my initial equerry appointment and through the next six years as her private secretary  a trust only eventually broken by the bad faith of Martin Bashirs Panorama interview.

Speaking to Oprah Winfrey in last weeks TV interview, Prince Harry identified the underlying cause of the problem he and Meghan had felt compelled to bring to the worlds attention. It was, he said, a lack of support and a lack of understanding.

Pretty basic human needs, you might think, especially for a couple exposed to relentless media scrutiny almost since the day they met.

Yet we are assured that the establishment deployed its finest and most sympathetic courtiers to ease the Sussexes through their difficult early years on the Royal stage.

Now the case for the protection of endangered courtiers is getting much air-play and thats before the investigation into alleged bullying by Meghan gets down to business.

I wonder if any of Harry and Meghans staff ever went to them and confessed to a mistake  and if they did, what reaction they got. Did the Sussexes run a happy ship  a safe space where misjudgments and oversights could be freely admitted and constructive action taken to improve overall performance, to everybodys benefit?

Or was Team Sussex a place where the old myth of Royal perfection had to be observed 24/7, whatever the cost in staff unhappiness and, ultimately, turnover?

It seems only reasonable that if you want to receive understanding and support you have to be ready to give it, too.

Its in that collaborative atmosphere that Royal employer and humble employee can practise the small daily acts of forgiveness that keep things ticking along even in times of stress.

The warm, fuzzy theory of compassion becomes practical reality in little habits of reconciliation, all without leaving the office.

This little incident formed the bedrock of a trust that sustained our working relationship, past my initial equerry appointment and through the next six years as her private secretary  a trust only eventually broken by the bad faith of Martin Bashirs Panorama interview (Pictured, Martin Bashir, November 2019)

But who deserves compassion most, who should give and who receive? Think of Meghans account of lonely days in Frogmore Cottage, gripped by depression, even to the point of wishing for death.

Searching desperately for help in the bewildering landscape of Royal life, driven, eventually, to call on the Palace staff human resources office for some kind of recognition of her plight.

Where was the rescue for Meghan when she needed it?

Its a story that would melt the hardest heart. Who, behind those high Palace walls, did she tell it to? Her brother-in-law or father-in-law, from whom Harry says he is now estranged? Her sister-in-law? Or perhaps that elite team of hand-picked courtiers assigned to make her life smooth and happy?

Perhaps to her obstetrician, or even to the smiley priest who officiated at her wedding, the Archbishop of Canterbury no less?

What about the battalion of household clerics whose duties, one might expect, prioritise the pastoral care of their unusually privileged but often troubled Royal flock?

We dont know. But we do know  because Harry has told us  that support and understanding were in such short supply that the new parents and their baby had no option but to flee for the sake of their sanity, if not for their very lives.

Now, a short year later, theyre to be found in the California sunshine doing what looks like their damnedest to lay waste the institution that is Harrys (and Archies) birth right, and skewer the not-such good and faithful servants they deem to have failed them.

Harrys parents gave Oprah-style interviews in which they spilled their guts in hopes of wheedling sympathy out of a goggling TV audience. So did Aunt Fergie and so, most recently, did Uncle Andrew. A moments research would have revealed that all those exercises in self-serving, selective truth-telling caused far more harm than good.

They failed mainly because they left out any gesture of conciliation and recognised precious little share of blame.

Its sad, really. I suspect Harry and Meghan may live to regret the missed opportunity publicly to reconcile with relatives, especially those so advanced in years, in both families. Even the thoroughly othered Wallis Simpson, to whom Meghan is often compared, was eventually welcomed back to Buckingham Palace after years of exile, but then only to attend her husbands funeral.

Harry cites a lack of understanding as half the reason why he and Meghan left, so he might welcome one definition of compassion as being the understanding of lack of understanding.

The Sussexes have committed themselves to one act of compassion at a time. So here perhaps we find the answer to both questions  how to rescue the Monarchy and whats next for Harry and Meghan. With compassion comes forgiveness and reconciliation  get that right, and the all-important understanding and support will take care of themselves. Or, as baby Archies old friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu put it: Without forgiveness there is no future.'
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The Federal College of Education, FCE (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, says the reported installation of Closed-circuit television (CCTV) Camera in the female hostel of the institution, published March 6, 2021, by a daily newspaper, is not true.

The Provost of the institution, Wahab Azeez, told a press conference on Friday that the report was a damaging publication and unprofessional in all its ramification.

He said the reportage was not true, but acknowledged that some students protested on Friday, March 5, over the ejection of illegal female occupants from the Independent Hall.

So we are using this forum to correct this impression and other misrepresentation of our College circulated around by Thursday which some News media copied from them and published.

To clear the air, it is true that some students demonstrated on Friday, March 5, 2021, basically to protest against the ejection of illegal female occupants and not because of what was reported.

According to him, the purported installation of cameras is still ongoing in public places of the College and not in the female hostel to deny our cherished female students their privacy.

The Provost emphasised that the College would not allow any criminal and indecent behaviour among the management staff, academic and non-academic staff and students.

He noted that the CCTV came about as a result of attacks of students in the night, especially female students, adding that the publication was not only damaging to the image of the College but malicious.

The Provost pointed out that contrary to the publication and misleading information that the College have 7,000 students cramped in the hostels beyond its capacity of 3,646.

The students are comfortably accommodated in the College hostel, besides we have rules, regulations guiding the hostels and do not support, encourage illegal occupants or squatters, he added.

Mr Azeez disclosed out that due to the security challenges, the College processed and obtained TETFund sponsorship to install CCTV cameras on the perimeter fences, buildings including male and female hostels.

The CCTV cameras are not in the rooms, bathrooms or even toilet areas, meanwhile the installation is underway, yet to be completed and not activated yet, therefore no student privacy can be breached by the system, rather its an installation done purely for security reasons, he expressed.

The President Degree Students Union, Adewale Yusuf, applauded the initiative led by Mr Azeez and his team, saying the management has been living up to expectations in making the College environment conducive for learning.

(NAN)
Matt Hancock is pushing to increase statutory sick pay from 98.85 a week in a bid to create a healthier nation, it has emerged.

The Health Secretary wants to help workers take time off if they are ill after previously admitting he could not live on the current rate of sick pay, The Times reports.

He argued increasing pay would help boost the economy by keeping people healthy while speaking at a meeting of the governments Covid-operations committee this week

But the move is thought to be opposed by the Treasury, who are concerned about the cost to employers.

This time last year the Government enacted legislation allowing people to claim statutory sick pay from the first day of illness  rather than the previous fourth day  in order to stop people coming into work when unwell at the start of the pandemic.

But the UK continues to have one of the lowest levels statutory sick pay in the world, covering a quarter of average weekly earnings.

Matt Hancock (pictured at the vaccination centre in Westminster Abbey on Thursday) is pushing to increase statutory sick pay from 98.85 a week in a bid to create a healthier nation

Mr Hancock has previously expressed the need for change sick pay, telling the health and science select committee earlier this year people should not 'soldier on' through symptoms at work.

He said: 'Why in Britain do we think its acceptable to soldier on and go into work if you have flu symptoms or a runny nose, thus making your colleagues ill?

'I think thats something that is going to have to change.'

People are currently able to claim 500 from the Government's Test and Trace scheme if they are forced not to work while in isolation.

But there are concerns surround the eligibility of the scheme, with Test and Trace boss Dido Harding repeatedly calling for better financial reward to encourage people to isolate properly.

One in six people may be coming forward for tests because of fear they may be told to isolate.

Mike Brewer, chief economist at the Resolution Foundation think tank, told The Times: 'The UK went into the pandemic with [an] inadequate system of sick pay, and it is astounding that it has barely improved.

Pictured: Members of the United Voices of the World picket outside the SAGE care home in Brent demanding better sick pay

'The failure to fix our sick pay system has put the burden of self-isolation on to families, and undermined efforts to contain the virus.

'It is essential that the Government both reforms sick pay and increases its generosity, not least as Covid-19 is going to be with us for some time to come.'

Last month witnesses told the Treasury Select Committee that workers need help to not go back to their workplaces when they are infectious.

Resolution Foundation chief executive Torsten Bell said: 'If we're asking people to stay at home to protect all of our lives, we have to protect their livelihoods.'

Mr Bell added that this was doubly vital as it would slow the spread of the virus, and keep the so-called reproduction (R) number down.

He said: 'As we move to reopen the economy, maybe we think the time has passed, but we're going to need a functioning sick pay system over the coming months to increase the size of economic activity and social activity that we can have without going back over (an R number of) one.'

His sentiment was backed by other witnesses who were speaking to MPs on the influential committee.

Mr Hancock has previously expressed the need for change sick pay, telling the health and science select committee earlier this year people should not 'soldier on' through symptoms at work. Pictured: Protesters have also called for improvements to sick pay

'It is way below where it is in other civilised countries, and therefore it needs to be looked at again,' said Vicky Pryce, a board member at the Centre for Economic and Business Research.

The Government has pumped tens of billions of pounds into schemes to prop up employment during the pandemic, helping businesses and paying employee salaries directly. But statutory sick pay has remained problematic, the experts said.

Mr Bell said that those who have been forced to stay home because they are sick during the pandemic have only been given 95 a week, while the typical furloughed earners is getting 330 per week.

Many people are also not covered by statutory sick pay policies as they earn too little money, so are not incentivised to stay at home if they get diagnosed, or even take a test in the first place when they show symptoms.

'The need for a functioning statutory sick pay during an epidemic is one of the more blindingly obvious issues, and the fact that we have not solved this adequately over the course of the year is a serious problem,' Mr Bell said.

He added that only one in eight workers is eligible for a 500 one-off payment from the Government if they get sick, which was introduced during the pandemic.

Paul Johnson, a director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies said: 'In the circumstances we are in, it seems to be just a fairly basic bit of change that should have been made early on.'
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High 66F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low near 55F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
India as a democracy has guaranteed the right to protest throughout and the farmers protests over agricultural reforms is an issue that is absolutely and totally a matter for the government of India, UK minister Lord Tariq Ahmad said on Friday ahead of his visit to New Delhi.

A debate in a UK parliamentary committee room earlier this week over the issue was condemned by India as gross interference in the politics of another democratic country and even led to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla calling in British High Commissioner Alex Ellis for a meeting.

Lord Ahmad, the minister of state responsible for Indian affairs in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), will begin his five-day visit to India on Monday.

It was a very cordial meeting. It was the first time they were formally meeting and whilst the issue of the protests was discussed and India made clear their position, we have also reiterated the point that the parliamentary scheduling of debates and the nature of our parliamentary democracy is such (but) the government's position can be made very clear too, he said during a virtual pre-visit interaction with reporters here.

The protests have been taking place for several months now and India as a democracy has totally guaranteed and secured the right to protest, which we fully acknowledge. I equally fully want to endorse, and regularly articulate, that the principle of the farmers' protest in terms of the actual nature of it is absolutely and totally a matter for the government of India. That position has been longstanding and has not changed, he said.

The minister categorically ruled out any scope of the matter overshadowing his extensive schedule in India, which covers ministerial meetings in New Delhi, followed by interactions with regional and community leaders in Chandigarh, Chennai and Hyderabad before concluding with trade talks in Mumbai.

Read | Shashi Tharoor justifies British Parliament's move to discuss farm laws

The visit is seen as further finalising the groundwork for the forthcoming tour of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is scheduled to visit India in the coming weeks ahead of the G7 summit in Cornwall in June.

The intense programme underlines the importance of our strong relationship with India. It follows on from our ongoing senior-level engagement at ministerial level. We look forward to the Prime Minister's (Johnson) visit in advance of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi visiting as part of the G7, the minister said.

Our relationship with India is not just one of bilateral importance, it's also about how these two countries are working together and there's no better illustration than the current Covid-19 pandemic which grips us The role that India has played as the pharmacy of the world has been phenomenal.

We've been extremely collaborative in our approach to this and publicly acknowledged the role India played in unlocking certain other pharmaceuticals, including the delivery of paracetamol, Ahmad said.

With reference to planned supplies of a batch of Covishield vaccines from the Serum Institute of India to the UK, the minister reiterated that it symbolised the wide range of bilateral ties and would not impact both countries commitment to ensuring supplies to more vulnerable regions through the UN-led COVAX facility.

We work together with India on securing domestic supplies but that hasn't taken away from our commitment through Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) to the COVAX facility. India, through the likes of the Serum Institute of India, are absolutely integrated to ensure the supply of that, he said.

Ahmads visit to India will coincide with the UKs release of the governments Integrated Review into its post-Brexit foreign policy priorities next week, which is widely expected to confirm a so-called Indo-Pacific tilt in favour of countries like India.

Also Read | India summons UK envoy over 'unwarranted' discussion on farm laws

While not wanting to be drawn into the specifics of the review, the minister said: It can be taken as read in as much as government policy is concerned, there is a very strong belief and focus on the Indo-Pacific tilt and its right we do so. When you look at the countries within that part of the region, India is foremost in our minds.

This will be the latest in a series of high-profile UK visits to India in preparation for Prime Ministers Johnson and Modi signing off on a highly-anticipated UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership, which is seen a precursor to a wider free trade agreement (FTA) in the future.

Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several Delhi border points, including Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, since November 28, demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for their crops.

The Indian government has denied allegations that it was trying to put an end to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the mandi system.

Multiple rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions have not been able to resolve the deadlock.

India has emphasised that the protests by farmers must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity and the Ministry of External Affairs said that some vested interest groups have tried to mobilise international support against the country.

"Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken," it said last month.
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Mayor Sylvester Turner on Friday said he plans to use Houstons federal stimulus windfall to further increase the size of the police department and give firefighters a long-awaited pay raise, after first using the funds to replace revenue lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turner, who prepares and administers the city budget, said the aid package signed into law Thursday by President Biden will prevent major service cuts and, at the very minimum, furloughs of city employees. Houston is expected to receive $615 million through the measure, nearly a quarter of the citys $2.5 billion general fund budget that covers most core services, such as public safety, trash pickup, libraries and parks.

But for these dollars, it would have been very, very difficult to balance this upcoming budget, Turner said, referring to the citys spending plan for the next fiscal year, which begins in July.

The sudden cash influx creates an unusual situation for Turner and city finance officials, who typically spend the first half of the calendar year scrambling to balance what they say is a highly cash-strapped budget.

Its not clear the mayor is allowed to directly spend the federal aid on more police or raising firefighters pay. But the citys expected stimulus share  more than $300 million this year, with the rest coming a year later  far exceeds the upcoming budget shortfall of around $200 million projected by City Controller Chris Brown, meaning the relief money appears to free up enough revenue for Turners priorities. He said Friday the pandemic has cost the city $156 million in sales tax, parking fees and other revenue the city would have collected under normal circumstances.

The mayor has long called for the city to add more police, pledging in early 2018 to grow HPDs ranks by 500 officers within five years. His $5.1 billion budget for the current fiscal year, which includes a slight spending increase for the Houston Police Department, generated almost no opposition from city council last June, despite calls from activists to divert police funding to other city services.

Turner also used a prior round of coronavirus relief money to avoid cutting police cadet classes. He said Friday he would propose funding six cadet classes in next years budget, one more than the five classes this year that are costing the city roughly $14 million. Each cadet class usually includes more than 60 new officers, including the most recent class of 64 that was sworn in Thursday.

Turner said the new cadet classes are especially needed to address the significant uptick in violence throughout our city that began last year and saw the city reach its highest murder total in more than a decade.

The mayor also convened a task force last year to recommend police reform measures, but he has not yet implemented any of the major proposals despite saying last year he agreed with almost all of them. Critics of the mayor say he has developed a habit of appointing groups whose policy recommendations he later ignores.

Turner provided few details Friday about the firefighter pay raises, a politically turbulent topic since he took office in 2016. The firefighters most recent labor agreement lapsed in 2017, shortly after contract talks stalled between Turners administration and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association. The fire union collected enough signatures to trigger a 2018 referendum vote to give Houston firefighters equal pay to police officers of similar rank and tenure, which voters approved but a judge later ruled unconstitutional.

Houston firefighters have received a pay raise of just 3 percent since 2011, in the meantime rejecting raises that they say included too many concessions or were never officially offered. Their base salaries remain much lower than those of firefighters in Texas other large cities.

Turner has repeatedly said he believes firefighters deserve to be paid more, which he asserted again Friday. The mayor said he and Fire Chief Sam Pena have discussed increasing firefighters salaries without negotiating with the union or otherwise involving them in the process.

Quite frankly, what I will tell you is, with or without the union, it is my intent to provide firefighters with a pay raise, Turner said.

The mayor has previously declined the unions request to settle their contract dispute through a third-party arbitrator, instead calling for the two sides to return to collective bargaining. Fire union officials say those calls are undermined by the citys legal attempts to gut a key provision of Texas collective bargaining law.

Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Marty Lancton questioned why Turner would choose not to involve the union when, Lancton said, the mayor could simply resolve the issue by sending the firefighters a settlement offer.

The mayor is a seasoned attorney and politician. If he wanted to resolve the problem, the door has been open for four years, Lancton said. To say things to the media instead of doing the one thing he needs to do to resolve these lawsuits  why would you go around the legal process if you truly were trying to get a resolution?

Its not immediately clear if Turner can grant pay raises to firefighters outside the typical process, though Richard Carlson, an employment law professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston, said he is unaware of anything under state law that would prohibit it.

In the private sector, which is governed mainly by federal law, it would generally be illegal for the employer to say I dont care about collective bargaining, I will simply decide to give you a raise, here it is. Because that would undermine the collective bargaining process, Carlson said. But these are firefighters who are not governed by federal law. They are governed by state law, which has many fewer regulations of the bargaining process.

Aside from the public safety spending, Turner said he intends to use the stimulus funds to cover direct COVID-19 expenses, though he did not add any details. The city has spent its first round of aid on testing, contact tracing, relief to renters and small businesses, and other areas.

The stimulus funds also will allow city officials to clear some of the roughly 1,800 illegal dumping sites around Houston. Turner said he has instructed officials in the Solid Waste Management Department to take a look at how can we eliminate a lot of this illegal dumping, or at least remove a lot of these illegal dumping sites.

The crime has plagued the city for years, disproportionately affecting some of its poorest neighborhoods.

Illegal dumping in these communities has been holding them down for a long time, Turner said.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
When the authorities fail to act, says Susan Lohan, often its left to the arts community to highlight egregious human rights abuses.

The Abbey Theatres latest project is a case in point, the co-founder of the Adoption Rights Alliance believes. This St Patricks Day it will stream a new production entitled Home: Part One. Devised as a response to Januarys long-awaited report on mother and baby institutions, it features 46 women  Lohan among them  including survivors, public figures and performers reading survivor testimonies and excerpts from reports on the homes system from our national stage.

It comes after the recent dissolution of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes against calls from survivor groups for it to be extended. It also follows an RTE investigation into illegal adoptions and the announcement of findings from an independent review into adoption practices. This review estimated there may be as many as 20,000 suspicious records in the adoption archives but advised against holding a full-scale inquiry because it would be unlikely to yield clear information.

Many survivors feel they are still not being heard, and are frustrated with a bureaucratic silence that has denied them information about their identity.

For Lohan  who is also a member of the Mother and Baby Home Collaborative Forum, established in 2018 to facilitate dialogue and action between survivors of these institutions and the government  taking part in Home: Part One is an opportunity to provide testimony about the wider mother and baby system, which was not confined to homes.

My mother never set foot in a mother and baby home, neither did I, she tells Review.

Instead, before her adoption, Lohan was taken to Temple Hill infant and childrens hospital in Blackrock, Co Dublin. It is one of many similar institutions not investigated by the commission. Temple Hill was run by St Patricks Guild, one of the organisations at the centre of RTEs investigation into illegal adoptions.

I was born in 1964 and I was adopted in 1965, Lohan says. My mother was not a 16-year-old unfortunate girl. She was a 30-year-old civil servant, but she was the sole breadwinner in her family. Her mother had recently died so she was left maintaining the family home. She had a younger brother and I suppose she felt, well, she would have been homeless had she endeavoured to keep me because she would have been fired from the civil service. She had no choice.

Lohan had a loving adoptive family but, like most adoptees, she wondered about her origins. I feel like Ive come late to my own identity, she says, describing what it was like to see so much of herself in her biological mother when they finally met.

Years later I would realise that we had so much in common. My mother was the first female president of the Public Service Executive Union. She had a real sense of social justice and campaigned for workers rights. I obviously have that. Theres a campaigner in me. I wish to see injustices put right.

Of the estimated 57,000 children or more who passed through the mother and baby system, Lohan says: We thought it was better that children live in isolation from their mothers in an anonymous institution to save the blushes of Irish society because we wanted to pretend nobody was having premarital sex in Ireland.

She describes the Abbeys work with survivors as groundbreaking. It follows other cultural engagement with adoption issues including films such as Philomena and plays like Patricia Burke Brogans Eclipsed, and Postscript, co-written by director, performer and adoption activist Noelle Brown, who serves as curator and lead artist for the Home project.

Lohan describes getting to share her experience on the Abbey stage as absolutely humbling: I felt adopted people were being listened to. Irish adoptees are still, she says, denied the space to discuss what happened to us as a trauma, referring to a saying by adoption scholar Reverend Keith C Griffith that is well-known within the adoptee community: Adoption loss is the only trauma in the world where the victims are expected by the whole of society to be grateful.

Read More

The Abbeys unique position in Irelands struggle for self-determination also resonated with another aspect of Lohans identity: The fact that its the Abbey, which has so much to do with Irish nationalism  ironically, on both sides of my natural family, I have well-recognised patriots.

For those affected by the mother and baby system, what St Patricks Day represents  a shared sense of belonging and heritage  is bittersweet, for these are the very things still denied to survivors.

As Ireland continues to grapple with a past that is still very much present, Home: Part One invites us to at last bear witness for those who have fought so long to be heard.

Home: Part One will be streamed at 7pm on the Abbey Theatres YouTube channel on March 17. Any donations received during the premiere will go to Barnardos Post-Adoption Service
Seemingly bending time and space to his will on the gridiron, Saints running back Alvin Kamara is a master of the juke. Now, New Orleans can see how he does with juice.

Kamara is co-owner of a Louisiana-based juice and smoothie brand the Big Squeezy, and on March 12, he opened its latest location in downtown New Orleans, at 303 St. Charles Ave.

The counter-service shop mixes fresh juices, whips up acai bowls and smoothies and has "grab and geaux" cases for healthy snacks and bottled juice blends with names like "skinny greens," "root awakenings" and "24 karrots."

Kamara said he wanted to bring another healthy option to New Orleans with nutritious juices and bowls, and the name behind the brand brings some local flair and a sense of fun.

It gives you that New Orleans feel. Big Easy, Big Squeezy; it just flows, Kamara said while chatting with fans who turned out for the opening.

Kamara is a co-owner of the overall brand, which has locations in Baton Rouge, Hammond and Mandeville. The downtown shop is a special one for Kamara because he owns the franchise here himself.

He said the concept is poised for growth through more franchising.

In fact, Big Squeezy has already made a splash nationally thanks to the Kamaras growing presence in NASCAR circles.

Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Alvin Kamara will be there at Saturday's NASCAR race  and so will the car he sponsored A member of Ryan Vargas team had to stop the young NASCAR driver in his tracks this week to make sure he understood exactly what words just c

In February, the Big Squeezy became a sponsor of NASCAR driver Ryan Vargas' No. 6 car at the Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway. The companys logo, a fruit-themed play on the old-fashioned New Orleans water meter covers, adorned the race car.

Other pro athletes have gotten into the juice and smoothie game, including others from the Saints. Thomas Morstead, the punter who was released last week from the team after 12 seasons, is a partner in another Louisiana-based juice brand, the Main Squeeze Juice Co., along with former Saints wide receiver Marques Colston.

The Big Squeezy

303 St. Charles Ave., 504-766-8711

+21 Red beans and Saints: Reliving a historic season game by game, plate by plate This Saints season brought more uncertainty than most, starting with whether we would even get one during the coronavirus crisis. But when it 

+18 At new Kenner restaurant Big EZ Seafood, Viet-Cajun seafood and Mardi Gras float art From a small seafood market in Gretna, Big EZ Seafood made a name with garlic butter-coated crawfish. In Kenner, its latest location is out to
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Andhra Pradesh Municipal Election Results 2021: Counting of votes to be held on March 14

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Amaravati, Mar 13: Counting of votes for the 11 municipal corporations and 70 municipalities/Nagar Panchayats in Andhra Pradesh will take place on March 14. It is said that all arrangements including a tight security cover are in place to tackle any untoward incident. The counting of votes will commence at 8 am.

According to reports, a total of 4,026 tables, including 2204 tables for corporations and 1,822 tables for municipalities have been arranged for the counting of votes on March 14. The State Election Commission has deployed 5,195 staff, 2,376 counting supervisors, 7,412 staff in corporations and 1,941 supervisors in municipalities for the counting.

West Bengal elections 2021: ISF releases first list of 26 seats

Reports further said that Section 144 has been imposed at the counting centres by the police. It has deployed 20,419 police personnel including 172 DSPs, 476 CIs, 1,345 SIs, 17,292 constables among other personnel for ensuring safety and security.

The voting for these municipal corporations and Nagar Panchayats in Andhra Pradesh was concluded on Wednesday with Ongole recording the highest voter turnout of 75.52 per cent and Kurnool the lowest at 49.26 per cent. Average polling of 63.89 per cent was recorded in the state.

According to the SEC, voting was held for 580 wards as candidates were elected unanimously in as many as 91 wards of 12 municipal corporations of Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor, Eluru, Guntur, Machilipatnam, Ongole, Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 18:07 [IST]
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.
Sgt Niall O'Connor guides the helicopter to land as vaccines are sent to Arranmore Island in Donegal. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne

There have been 85 Covid-19 outbreaks in schools but 2,292 in private homes since the beginning of the year, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The new CSO data has highlighted the vast majority of cases are emerging in either workplaces or private homes.





There were 761 outbreaks in childcare facilities since January until March 5, 178 clusters in third-level institutions and 85 in schools.

Read More

A further 2,559 clusters were in workplaces and just 38 travel-related outbreaks.

The majority of cases had been in nursing homes, but this figure has been rapidly decreasing since the introduction of the vaccine.

Dr Abigail Collins, HSE public health consultant and public health schools lead, told the Irish Independent data in relation to schools was reassuring but it was early days.

My most important message to every parent is to be a hero by not sending your child to school, if they have any symptoms of Covid-19, Dr Collins said.

If theres a new cough, high temperature, or loss of taste and smell, your child and the family must stay at home.

Dont take a chance and think Im grand. Get the test and stay at home. Thats the only way to stop the spread.

Encourage all children to follow all the public health advice, washing hands, face coverings, social distancing. Be reassured if you do this, youre doing everything you can.

Dr Collins said 1.4pc of the school population had tested positive for Covid-19 in the first week back to school.

While HPSC statistics earlier this week showed zero outbreaks in Irish schools up to Saturday, March 6, the week prior, there had been three outbreaks in schools.

Special educational needs schools had reopened in mid-February.

The Irish Independent asked the Department of Health about two reported clusters at schools in Buncrana, Co Donegal. However, a department spokeswoman said it was not in a position to specify cases in a specific school.

GP Angela Parvu, who works in a practice in Coolock, north Dublin, said she was surprised that shed not been seeing any children presenting with Covid-19 symptoms in the first week back to school.

I was surprised how quiet it was but its gone quieter across the board in the last week, Dr Parvu said.

Last month, we had quite a lot of Covid cases, but that was children who were in creches. Last month there were two to three cases a week of children of creche-going ages.

But this week theres also been no new creche cases."

Dr Parvu said parents needed to watch out for symptoms.

Always measure a childs temperature before going to school, look inside their throat, she said.

Some children might not be able to describe a shortage of breath."

GP Knut Moe, who is based at a practice in Churchtown, south Dublin, said he also hadnt had any referrals to test children for Covid-19 in the last week.

The staged reopening has worked so well, Dr Moe said. The parents are very clued-in in terms of what they should be doing if a child has a runny nose, cough, temperature etc.

I do, however, fully expect there to be a small increase in cases within the next couple of weeks. But its about making sure things happen very gradually, that we monitor response to the change of environment.
Though these hospitals are already running Covid-19 wards, health authorities want them to be fully prepared for meeting any sudden rise in number of cases. (Photo: PTI)

VIJAYAWADA: Given the steady rise in number of Coronavirus cases in several districts of Andhra Pradesh, state health authorities have advised government teaching and district hospitals to be prepared with adequate number of beds, ventilators, medical oxygen and medicines to meet the challenge.

Though these hospitals are already running Covid-19 wards, health authorities want them to be fully prepared for meeting any sudden rise in number of cases. They want five to 10 beds kept ready exclusively for Coronavirus-infected patients in each health centre, especially in districts, where the number of Covid-19 cases are rising.

Reasons attributed for rise in number of Covid-19 cases are spread of infection from infected states like Maharashtra, people failing to comply with Covid-19 protocol by wearing face masks, maintaining social distance and sanitising hands frequently, especially the young generation visiting public places like shopping malls, film theatres and religious places, apart from conducting Coronavirus tests at the rate of 4,000 per district on an average.

One of the worst-hit districts in the state is Chittoor, where there are 85 virus-positive cases and 431 total active cases. The district already accounts for 856 of total deaths.

Chittoor district medical and health officer Dr. M. Penchulaiah said, We are conducting 5,000 to 6,000 Covid-19 tests per day unlike other districts, where the number of tests is relatively lesser. The district has a sizeable floating population from neighbouring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. We also have Tirupati, a popular pilgrim centre. This is resulting in a steady rise in number of cases. However, we are prepared to meet any eventuality.

State health authorities maintain that to tackle the virus effectively, they are allowing people to walk in for both Covid-19 tests and Coronavirus vaccination, unlike the earlier practice of insisting on prior registration.

Medical education director Dr. M. Raghavendra Rao said, Our teaching hospitals are running Covid-19 wards for treating infected patients. However, given the rise in number of infections, we have issued directions to them for organising additional beds and other requisites to treat infected patients.

Health director Dr. T. Geeta Prasadini said, It is highly deplorable that younger generation is ignoring Covid-19 protocol while moving in public places, resulting in spread of the virus. We urge them to maintain self-restraint. Our health sector has been under high pressure for long. If the virus spreads further, I am afraid the situation will turn challenging.

Trevor Phillips said the Royal Family seem 'no more or less prejudiced' than any other British family

Trevor Phillips said the Royal Family seem 'no more or less prejudiced' than any other British family after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's racism claims.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed in their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey that there were 'concerns and conversations' about how dark their unborn son Archie's skin might be.

Meghan also appeared to suggest in the interview that Archie may not have received the royal title of prince because of alleged prejudice related to his skin colour.

Mr Phillips, the former head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said it was 'almost certain' that members of the Royal Family 'speculated' over whether Archie would look more like his mother or father.

But the campaigner and writer said that any family which did not have such conversations would be 'heartless'.

He then added that, on the evidence provided by Harry and Meghan, the Royals appear 'no more or less prejudiced than any other family in multiracial Britain.'

Mr Phillips also claimed that, in choosing to step down as working royals, the couple 'blew the chance' to 'normalise diversity' in the institution.

His comments, made in an article for The Times, came after he told the Daily Mail that Miss Winfrey should have asked Harry about his past behaviour, including when he was recorded calling an Asian army colleague a 'P**i'.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed in their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey that an unnamed member of the family raised 'concerns and conversations' about how dark their unborn son Archie's skin might be

Mr Phillips, the former head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said it was 'almost certain' that members of the Royal Family 'speculated' over whether Archie would look more like his mother or father. But the campaigner and writer added that, on the evidence provided by Harry and Meghan, the Royals appear no more or less prejudiced than any other family in multiracial Britain'

Recalling their words to Miss Winfrey, Mr Phillips said the interviewer 'crucially' failed to ask what Harry's response was when a family member allegedly made the comment about his and Meghan's unborn child.

He pointed out that Harry and Meghan's accounts of the alleged incident differed.

Meghan had claimed there were 'several conversations' about Archie's skin colour when she was pregnant.

Harry meanwhile said there was just one conversation 'right at the beginning . . . before we even got married'.

But Mr Phillips wrote: 'I believe what she says. It is almost certain that members of the family speculated about whether the child would look more like his mother or father.'

However, he added that any family which does not have such a conversation would be 'heartless'.

He then said that the evidence presented does not portray the Royals in a worse light than any other British family.

The campaigner then drew a negative comparison between former US President Barack Obama and Harry and Meghan.

Oprah Winfrey discusses her interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

He said that while Mr Obama had used his 'eloquence' and 'intelligence' to 'neuter' the question of race in high office in America, Meghan and Harry 'blew the chance to normalise diversity within the royal family.'

Mr Phillips branded this an 'epic fail' in a nation which has people of colour such as Home Secretary Priti Patel, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Chancellor Rishi Sunak in 'high office'.

His comments come after Mr Phillips questioned why Miss Winfrey did not ask about Harry's own past racist remarks and behaviour.

Former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore revealed in his dairy for The Spectator earlier this month that Mr Phillips contacted him via email to say: 'A genuinely interesting question about race would have been to ask the couple whether they had discussed Harry's own past behaviour and remark.

'It would've been a big positive for them to talk candidly about how they got past that history, and possibly an injunction for people to be generous.'

Mr Moore then gave his own opinion: 'Yes, Harry could have helped young white men trying to tiptoe through this minefield.'

Mr Phillips added: 'That's assuming that Meghan actually knows about his past life  she seems remarkably ill-informed about the family she married into, even though it is the most famous and widely reported clan in history.'

In 2005, a young Harry had caused a stir himself when, at just 20 years old, he dressed up for a party in a Nazi uniform, complete with swastika armband, sparking condemnation from politicians and Jewish human rights organisations.

After pictures of the outfit were published, an apology was issued on behalf of Harry for his 'poor choice of costume'.

Meghan Markle's bombshell claim that her son Archie was banned from being a prince because of concerns over how 'dark' he would be appear to be refuted by rules laid down by King George V

In 2006 Prince Harry was recorded calling an Asian army colleague a 'P**i' - and the footage was published three years later. The prince apologised for any offence caused by the incident.

Meghan had suggested there was a racial motivation behind the reason why Archie was not made a prince when she was asked by Miss Winfrey if it was 'important' that Arche be given the title.

She said she was upset by the 'idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be.'

However, in 1917, King George V - the Queen's grandfather - issued a written order ruling that only royal offspring who are in the direct line of succession could be made a prince or princess and receive titles of His or Her Royal Highness (HRH).

The Letters Patent read: '...the grandchildren of the sons of any such sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of dukes of these our realms.'

Under the rules, only Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's eldest son Prince George - as a great-grandson of the monarch down the direct line of succession to the throne - was originally entitled to be a prince.

The Queen stepped in ahead of George's birth in 2013 to issue a Letters Patent to ensure all George's siblings - as the children of future monarch William - would have fitting titles.

Under the George V rules, Archie would still be entitled to be an HRH or a prince when his grandfather Charles, the Prince of Wales, accedes to the throne.
(Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) Microsoft Explores Inside Job Possibility: Security Partners Could Have Made Private Disclosures Leading to the Attack

Microsoft is now investigating the possibility as to whether the hackers behind a now world-wide cyberattack could have been able to gain access to some sensitive information from private disclosures along with security partners. The sensitive information was allegedly used to launch the attack according to a few sources reportedly familiar with the matter.

Was the Microsoft Exchange hack an inside job?

The investigation reportedly centers on the question of just how a stealthy attack that started in early January was able to happen just a week before the company was able to send out a software fix to its customers. During that time, a number of China-linked hacking groups were reportedly able to obtain the tools needed to launch an array of cyberattacks that could have infected different computers worldwide that are launching the Microsoft Exchange email software.

According to an article by The Wall Street Journal on Friday, March 12, investigators have now focused on whether or not a Microsoft partner with whom it had shared certain information regarding the bug hackers were exploiting leaked directly to other groups or either done on purpose. A number of the tools that were used in the second attack wave on Feb 28 were found to bear similarities to "proof of concept" attack code that the company had distributed to other antivirus companies as well as other security partners back in Feb 23.

The situation gets even more curious as Microsoft had planned another set of security fixes just two weeks later scheduled on March 9. However, after the second wave started, it then pushed the patches out a week earlier on March 2, according to researchers. Microsoft as well as a few others have reportedly been reviewing a certain information-sharing program that was called MAPP or Microsoft Active Protections Program. This was created back in 2008 in order to give security companies a head start when it comes to detecting emerging threats.

Read Also: Microsoft Hacked UPDATE: Researcher Reveals 'China Owns the World,' Thousand Servers Get Compromised Per Hour

MAPP proof of concept code

MAPP also includes about 80 different security companies coming from all around the world. Around 10 of them were reportedly based in China. Another subset of MAPP partners were reportedly sent the previous Feb 23 notification which also included the said "proof-of-concept code," according to certain sources that were familiar with the said program. This was also reported by siliconANGLE. A Microsoft spokesperson reportedly declined to say whether there are any Chinese companies that were reportedly included in this particular release.

How certain hackers obtained the particular tools is also very important to Microsoft and the others that are scrambling to access the damage of this notably historically large cyberattack.

This has allowed some other hacking groups to be able to capitalize on certain vulnerabilities for their very own endeavors. Microsoft then said that it had spotted ransomware on unpatched servers locking out the users' computer until they agreed to pay the hackers. However, it is a good thing for those that have reportedly patched up their Microsoft Exchange since there have been no reports as of the moment of hackers being able to access the user once they have patched up.

Related Article: Microsoft Big Email China Hacked: How to Know if You're Affected, What to Do Next

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former US President Donald Trump claimed there had been 'cheating' in the Georgia vote. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty

Donald Trump encouraged Georgias chief elections investigator in a December phone call to uncover dishonesty in her probe of absentee ballot signatures in a bid to overturn his defeat against Joe Biden, according to a recording of the call released this week by the Georgia secretary of states office.

The people of Georgia are so angry at what happened to me, Mr Trump told Frances Watson, the chief investigator for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

They know I won, won by hundreds of thousands of votes. It wasnt close.

He added, When the right answer comes out, youll be praised. Later in the call, he said: You have the most important job in the country right now.

Mr Trump urged the investigator to scrutinise Fulton County, where she would find dishonesty.

Whatever you can do, Frances, it would be  its a great thing, he added.

"Its an important thing for the country. So important. Youve no idea. So important. And I very much appreciate it.

When the Washington Post first reported on the call, state officials said they did not believe a recording existed.

Officials located the recording on a trash folder on Ms Watsons device while responding to a public records request, according to a person familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the internal process.

Read More

At the time Mr Trump called her, Ms Watson was leading an audit of mail ballot signatures in Cobb County in Atlanta. Legal experts have said the presidents call  and another call he placed directly to Mr Raffensperger on January 2  may have amounted to obstruction of a criminal investigation.

The Fulton County district attorneys office has launched a probe into the efforts by the former president and his allies to subvert the results in Georgia.

On the call, Mr Watson sounds surprised and flattered to find herself on the telephone with the president but also careful to reveal little about the investigation she was conducting in partnership with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Well, Mr President, I appreciate your comments, she said. "And I can assure you that our team and the GBI, that were only interested in the truth and finding, you know, finding the information thats based on the facts.

She added: I know that youre a very, very busy, very important man. And Im very honoured that you called.

"Quite, quite frankly, Im shocked that you that you would take time to do that. But I am very appreciative.

The president said he called on the suggestion of his chief of staff Mark Meadows who had returned from Georgia the previous day.

Mr Trump had claimed without evidence that thousands of postal ballots with forged signatures had been improperly accepted.

( The Washington Post)

 Washington Post
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Detectives are appealing for information following a burglary at a shop in Newry.

Police in in Fermanagh have warned anyone who comes across any suspicious objects in the border area not to touch them.

The warning comes just weeks after reports of a Continuity IRA machine gun attack on a police helicopter in Newtownbutler which was later discovered to be a hoax.

Police said they had received reports yesterday about a device left in the border area and urged the public to be vigilant.

Chief Inspector Rory Hoy said: We received a report that some type of device has been left in the Fermanagh border area, specifically in the areas of Cavan Road and Clones Road, Newtownbutler. We are investigating this report, working to establish an exact location of any such device.

In the meantime, I am appealing to members of the public living in, or travelling through these areas, to be vigilant and not to touch any suspicious objects but to contact us immediately by calling 999.
A Madison man argues hes immune from prosecution in a 2017 double murder.

The attorney for Jacob Copeland filed a motion that the fatal shootings were justified under Alabamas Stand Your Ground law.

Copeland is accused of murdering Damian Blake Ricketts, 21, of Hazel Green, and Devin Edward Richard, 22, of Huntsville in Limestone County.

He remains in custody in the Limestone County Jail.
78-y-o Michigan grandmother deadlifts nearly 400 pounds with help of Holy Spirit

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At 78, Michigan grandmother Nora Langdon is a powerlifting champion who can deadlift almost 400 pounds and bench presses more than 200 pounds, thanks, she says, to the power of the Holy Spirit, eating right, and training consistently.

"When I squat this is what I say, I say, 'Holy Spirit fall on me,' and I just do it and I come right on up," said Langdon, who attends the Word of Faith church in Southfield in a recent interview with Fox 2.

The spirit-filled grandmother who started powerlifting just 13 years ago holds 19 world records across two weight classes, according to Open Powerlifting and she doesnt appear ready to stop setting records any time soon.

The retired realtor explained in an interview with The Christian Post Thursday that she started working out at the Royal Oak Gym after she noticed she became winded going up and down stairs and she was also a little overweight.

I was 65 years old and I used to be a realtor. I got tired going up and down the stairs and so I said, let me get some training, she recalled.

She said the husband of a friend offered to train her along with another friend at a birthday party for a good price, so they began training together. The friend ended up quitting the training, but Langdon said she pressed on with prompting from the Holy Spirit.

When I first started now, I [trained]  came home, took my shower and everything. The next morning I got up and I said, Im not going back. I was hurting all over. And I heard this voice say, go back, and I decided to go back. And that was the Holy Spirit telling me this is for you. Thats the way I felt, she said.

After about a month or two, he [trainer] asked me did I want to go to a tournament and I said yes. So I went and I got a certificate that first time I went. And I fell in love with it, she said.

Langdon said getting the certificate boosted her confidence and as she continued training, she also noticed added benefits.

My health was not really good before I started. I was a little overweight, she said. I didnt have any physical ailments [but] I had real high blood pressure. [Now] my blood pressure is down to normal now, she said, and its been that way for at least the last 10 years.

Art Little, who trains Langdon, told Fox 2 that he was apprehensive about training her at first because of her age, but she was determined.

"She's really been an asset to the gym, and to me, and to the whole powerlifting field," Little said. "To see somebody at that age doing what she's doing, it's a blessing."

Langdon told CP she works out three days each week and said she has inspired at least three other congregants from her church to join the gym with her.

One guy, he told me the other day that his blood pressure is going down. I appreciated that. They just keep encouraging me, she said.

Along with her faith in God, Langdon gives a lot of credit to her faith community for her healthy habit, particularly her pastor.

My minister encourages all of us to read the Bible and take it literally and apply it to your own life and thats what Ive been doing all my life, ever since I started with the church in 1986. I was a heathen before then, she laughed. 1986 is when I started with the church and Ive been consistent with the church and he [minister] always teaches you to be consistent and change your way of life, and thats what I did.

For older adults who might be scared of doing something new to improve their life, Langdon said she wants to inspire them to be brave.

Dont be afraid. God did not bring us here just to sit down and do nothing. He brought us here to encourage one another and to live a Christian life. A lot of older people, when they retire from their job they want to sit down and watch TV. Thats the wrong thing to do, she said.

God has never said retire. There is nowhere in the Bible that says retire. So you have to keep going, and thats one of the main things to keep your body going and to keep your health going. Its to keep moving, she said.
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Italy is among the nations to have banned the use of batches of the AstraZeneca vaccine

The European Union is facing further shortfalls in its coronavirus inoculation programme after pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said production problems and export restrictions would reduce planned deliveries of its vaccine.

The Anglo/Swedish firm's image has already taken a hit with several countries suspending the rollout of its vaccine over blood clot fears, even as the World Health Organization said there was no reason to stop using it.

It is just the latest blow for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the cheapest vaccine aimed at fighting back against a pandemic that has claimed more than 2.6 million lives worldwide.

Germany has already reported adverse effects due to the delay, the state of Thuringia cancelling appointments and suspending a pilot project for general practitioners to administer the vaccine.

The head of the country's disease control agency Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, meanwhile warned that "the third wave has already started in Germany".

Despite the worrying signs, thousands joined protests in German cities on Saturday against anti-Covid measures.

'Razor's edge'

French Prime Minister Jean Castex said his government still expected to exceed its target of 10 million vaccinated by April 15, though he said some labs were not respecting delivery deadlines.

Tunisia was among the latest countries to have started its vaccine rollout

Castex defended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine despite precautions taken by other nations.

"I would not allow myself to send poison to my fellow citizens," he said during a visit to a vaccination centre.

He also did not rule out a new lockdown in the Ile-de-France region, which is home to the capital Paris, saying he was ready to take "additional measures" if necessary.

"We are on a razor's edge," he told Le Monde newspaper, as the first three intensive care patients were moved from Ile-de-France to nearby regions on Saturday to relieve the pressure on overwhelmed hospitals in the capital.

Oxygen shortage

The United States, the country hit hardest by the pandemic, has ramped up its vaccination programme after a shaky start.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 100 million doses had been administered so far, just less than a third of the total given worldwide so far.

Coronavirus trends over the last 7 days

Tunisia and Ethiopia both launched vaccination campaigns on Saturday, with Ethiopian officials flagging an alarming rise in cases.

There was outrage in Jordan after at least seven Covid-19 patients died on Saturday when a hospital ran out of oxygen.

"I have submitted my resignation to the prime minister," said health minister Nazir Obeidat, adding that he took "full moral responsibility" for what happened.

'Blood clot fears'

Several countries suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine this week, with Norway reporting an "unexpected death from a brain haemorrhage" after receiving the shot.

Norwegian officials added on Saturday that the country had "received several adverse event reports about younger vaccinated people with bleeding under the skin" after getting the shot.

It also said it had received "three more reports of severe cases of blood clots or brain haemorrhages in younger people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine".

Health workers in the United States have administered more than 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses

The World Health Organization, which said its vaccines advisory committee was examining the safety data coming in, has stressed that no causal link has been established between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clotting.

"Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said Friday, stressing that any concerns over safety must be investigated.

AstraZeneca insisted its jab was safe, adding there was "no evidence" of higher blood clot risks.

Italy and Austria have banned the use of jabs from separate batches of AstraZeneca and Thailand and Bulgaria said this week they would delay their rollout.

Performers participate in 'We Will Be Back', a live pop-up event and commemoration of Broadway's 'lost year'

Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Latvia meanwhile called for EU talks to discuss "huge disparities" in vaccine distribution, according to a letter published on Saturday.

"If this system were to carry on, it would continue creating and exacerbating huge disparities among member states by this summer, whereby some would be able to reach herd immunity in a few weeks while others would lag far behind," the letter said.

Italy on Friday announced tough new restrictions, with schools, restaurants, shops and museums were ordered to close across most regions of Italy, including Rome and Milan from next week.

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

 2021 AFP
The role that India has played during the course of the pandemic as the pharmacy of the world has been phenomenal, UK minister Lord Tariq Ahmad said as he prepared for a five-day, five-city tour of India starting on Monday.

Lord Ahmad, the minister for South Asia in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), highlighted the close collaboration between the two countries on ensuring supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, which benefits countries across the globe through the United Nations-led COVAX facility.

The role that India has played as the pharmacy of the world has been phenomenal, said Lord Ahmad, during a pre-visit virtual interview on Friday.

Our relationship with India is not just one of bilateral importance, it's also about how these two countries are working together and there's no better illustration than the current COVID-19 pandemic which grips us. The strong collaboration we have seen between the UK and India in responding across the world, including through the COVAX facility which is helping the more vulnerable countries in the world, he said.

Equally, we are looking forward to further cooperation with India in its tenure as a Security Council member. Environment and climate change, healthcare, technology the relationship between the UK and India is an important one across all these sectors and more, he added.

Lord Ahmad's visit kicks off with ministerial meetings in Delhi and then covers Chandigarh, Chennai and Hyderabad before he flies back to the UK following trade and investment talks in Mumbai.

The minister said the tour would very much be touching upon the important matters of the planning for the visit of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which is expected in the coming weeks to finalise the much-anticipated UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership.

Johnson's visit to India is set to be followed up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK in June for the G7 Summit in Cornwall, where India is one of the guest countries invited by host-nation Britain.

My very intensive and full programme reflects the incredible diversity that is India, and all its fantastic and incredible states and reflects the wide nature of the relationship and the bilateral engagement we have with one of our close partners, said the minister, whose father's roots trace back to Punjab and mother's to Rajasthan.

The visit will also coincide with the release of the UK's major foreign policy statement in the form of an Integrated Review next week, which is widely expected to confirm Britain's decisive Indo-Pacific tilt in a post-Brexit era.

It can be taken as read in as much as government policy is concerned, there is a very strong belief and focus on the Indo-Pacific tilt and it's right we do so. When you look at the countries within that part of the region, India is foremost in our minds, Ahmad said.

Though the visit comes against the backdrop of a UK parliamentary committee room debate on the issue of farmers' protests against India's agricultural reforms earlier this week, the minister ruled out the issue in any way overshadowing his itinerary because the British government's longstanding stance on the matter has been clear.

We've always been consistently clear on matters such as these protests, it's an internal matter, he said.

India had strongly reacted to the debate as gross interference in the politics of another democratic country, after which foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had even summoned British High Commissioner to the UK Alex Ellis, a meeting Lord Ahmad described as very cordial.

Our position as a government is that the protests have been taking place for several months now and India as a democracy has totally guaranteed and secured the right to protest, which we fully acknowledge There have been occasions where people have sought to disrupt those protests and that should be dealt with in accordance with the rule of law, he said.

Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several Delhi border points, including Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, since November 28, demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for their crops.

The Indian government has denied allegations that it was trying to put an end to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the 'mandi' system. Multiple rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions have been held in order to try and resolve the deadlock.

India has maintained that the protests by farmers must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity.

(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, March 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools applauds the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act and the support it will provide for public education. The new law will provide $122.7 billion for PreK-12 education through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) fundincluding at least $28 billion for afterschool and summer learning programs and other evidence-based strategies for addressing learning loss. Emergency relief dollars will go to State Education Agencies and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) for distribution to schools. For charter schools that operate as their own LEAs, funds will go directly to those schools. Based on the proportion of students enrolled in public charter schools, an estimated $7 billion will be available to meet their needs.

Nina Rees, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, offered the following remarks:

"This is the first major law enacted by the Biden Administration, and it demonstrates the President's commitment to families and people who were hit hard by COVID-19. This funding for PreK-12 education will be a tremendous help as educators work to support students and families who bore the brunt of disruption, learning loss, and insufficient resources to facilitate distance learning.

"The American Rescue Act allocates a historic amount of funding for public education, including charter schools which serve nearly 3.3 million students. The National Alliance looks forward to working with states and LEAs to ensure charter schools are treated equitably in the allocation of these vital resources. Charter school students are public school students and deserve to receive all the support intended for them.

"Every school in every community in America suffered during the pandemic. And that's why every type of public school needs help. More than a year since the official start of the pandemic, there is still much to do. Our most vulnerable communities suffered the biggest losses, and they remain in great need. This support for schools is a strong step towards restoring our country's physical and economic health. Our schools now have the resources to serve students even better than when the pandemic hit and exposed shameful inequities that were unseen by many."

In addition to the funding for ESSER, the National Alliance applauds the inclusion of the following provisions:

$800 million to identify and assist homeless children and youth to attend school and receive wrap-around services.

to identify and assist homeless children and youth to attend school and receive wrap-around services. Specific funding for students with disabilities through $2.5 billion for part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

for part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. An Emergency Connectivity Fund, funded at $7.2 billion , to support schools and libraries in providing telecommunications and information services, connected devices, and other eligible equipment to students, teachers, and library patrons for internet use at home or at other locations outside of the school and library.

, to support schools and libraries in providing telecommunications and information services, connected devices, and other eligible equipment to students, teachers, and library patrons for internet use at home or at other locations outside of the school and library. Federal support through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to pay for 100% of the costs of eligible telecommunications equipment and services, subject to any caps based on what the FCC determines is reasonable, for costs during the designated COVID emergency time period.

SOURCE National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

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MAR LIN  The vaccination clinic at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 began Friday, offering single-dose shots to teachers and school staff in Schuylkill County.

The IU is administering Johnson & Johnson vaccines to staff within the countys 12 school districts and the Schuylkill Technology Center, as well as nonpublic schools.

Weve had a very positive response from our education staff and contractors, said Gregory Koons, Ed.D., IU executive director. We are very fortunate to have great working relationships with our local EMA and our school districts.

Intermediate units statewide are distributing vaccines as part of a special initiative to vaccinate teachers, separate from Phase 1A of the states rollout plan.

Im very proud of my administrative team at IU 29, Koons said. Everyone has stepped up to help with the vaccination rollout, including volunteering their time in the evenings and weekend.

Following guidance from the Department of Education, the IU cannot release the number of educators receiving the vaccine or how many doses are available.

According to the Department of Education, a second phase of the educator vaccine initiative will begin in a few weeks when more doses are available. The first phase prioritizes staff who have regular in-person contact with students during the school day.

Ed Andrescavage, an 11th- and 12th-grade teacher at Schuylkill Haven Area High School, received his vaccine Friday afternoon and said the clinic was running smoothly.

Im relieved, Andrescavage said. It feels like the beginning of the end.

Andrescavage said he has been happy with how the Schuylkill Haven Area School District has operated since the beginning of the school year, but he is looking forward to returning to normal soon.

The masks and all the requirements are getting old, for us and the students, Andrescavage said.

Morgan Williard, a kindergarten teacher at Williams Valley Elementary School, said having the vaccine available to educators was emotional for her, especially after seeing a co-worker experience the loss of a family member due to COVID-19.

Its a relief to know that everybody in education will be able to get it, Williard said. Teaching kindergarten, you can imagine how many germs there are, so its nice not to have that threat anymore.

Stacie Green, a kindergarten teacher at North Schuylkill Elementary School, said she will be happy when schools can end the strict safety measures.

Its been constant social distancing and wearing masks, Green said. Its hard for the kids.

As of Friday, 11,689 people in the county have been partially vaccinated, and 15,077 have been fully vaccinated.

Schuylkill County has had 12,284 COVID-19 cases and 372 deaths. On Thursday, the county had 19 new reported cases.

The countys current positivity rate is 6.4%, with a moderate level of community transmission. Up until the week ending Feb. 26, Schuylkill County had a substantial level of community transmission every week since the week ending Oct. 16.

Of Pennsylvanias 67 counties, 29 have a low level of community transmission, 36 have a moderate level and two have a substantial level. During the week of Feb. 19, there were four counties in the low level, 37 counties in the moderate level and 26 counties in the substantial level. The statewide positivity rate decreased in the last three weeks from 6.4% to 5.7%.
Tauranga social gerontologist Carole Gordon says New Zealand needs to restore social connectedness for our elders, who are anxiously limiting their lives because they fear Covid-19.

All 26 people who have died in New Zealand from Covid-19 were older people.

Carole undertook research into the impact of Covid-19 on elders from October to November 2020, finding that while elders felt safe and well-informed during the 2020 lockdowns, they are still afraid to go out, are limiting their lives, and are experiencing high levels of social disconnectedness and hardship.

Elders did so well managing that long period of social isolation and now there is a challenge to reconnect, she says.

Caroles report: Safe? The Impact of Covid-19 on Elders, calls for urgent investment in restoring elder social connectedness and is expected to be presented to the Covid-19 Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and cabinet.

The report also makes local recommendations for achieving elder social connection and wellbeing to the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation and Tauranga City Council, which collaborated on the research.

Around 30,000 people over 65 live in Tauranga city  about 20 per cent of the population compared to 15 per cent nationwide - with projections this will increase by nine percent in the next 10 years.

Tauranga people aged between 70 and 98 years were interviewed by Carole, including Maori and Pasifika participants.

The report includes several recommendations for government, while recommendations for Western Bay of Plenty authorities include a project to develop an elder wellbeing centre for community-based services, and that SmartGrowth and Tauranga City Council commit to Covid-19 recovery policies that include the wellbeing of ageing and growing communities.

CEO of the Western Bay of Plenty PHO, Lindsey Webber, says the PHO welcomes the opportunity to share insights from this research internally and across its network of general practices.

In a time of significant health system reform, the importance of active listening, authentic co-design approaches to health service configuration, and a greater understanding of the real issues for elders will be hugely valuable, says Lindsey.

General manager of community services at Tauranga City Council, Gareth Wallis, says the research provides a unique snapshot into the effects of Covid-19 on elders in Tauranga.

The insights and learning from this piece of work provide us with a platform to ensure that we continue to strive towards reaching our Age Friendly Cities strategic goals, says Gareth. This enables us to progress with confidence the development of a new action plan, which is being supported by the Office for Seniors.

Executive director of Allied Health at the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Dr Sarah Mitchell, says the stories that have come out from this piece of work are powerful and lessons need to be learned.

It is really important to recognise the value that elders have in the community. This work clearly aligns to the work we are undertaking in the DHB around supporting people to age well in our communities.
The findings formed part of a study on the efficacy of video surveillance, commissioned in 2019 by the General Police Inspectorate (IGP) in Luxembourg.

The results were presented in a briefing on Friday morning in the Chamber of Deputies. According to the IGP, crime rates have dropped locally due to the installation of cameras, although it depends on the area. The study looked at the function of security cameras at the Glacis and the Kinnekswiss, as well as the Gare district.

The number of reported thefts at the Kinnekswiss has reduced since CCTV was installed.

However, cameras alone are not sufficient. The General Police Inspectorate said the police needed to develop a more consistent security strategy.

Minister Henri Kox has not yet confirmed whether video surveillance and the development thereof should fall under his jurisdiction.

The majority of the residents in the affected districts in Luxembourg City support the installation of video cameras, although they have questioned the efficacy of CCTV, according to a survey conducted by TNS-Illres in tandem with the police study.

Residents in the Gare and Bonnevoie areas have said they do not feel safe on the streets at night. The results of the survey depended on the respondent's place of residence and the length of time spent living in the area.

The full IGP study can be found (in French) on the police inspectorate website.
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A man and a woman have been convicted in relation to the assault of a three-month-old child.

The child suffered fractured ribs and bruising to the face in the horrific incident.

A 33-year-old man and a 27 year old woman were yesterday found guilty of causing or allowing serious injury to the child in 2017.

The injuries to the child happened in the Dunmurry area on the outskirts of Belfast.

The man was sentenced to 21 months in prison, with half to be served on licence, whilst the woman was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, with half also to be served on licence.

Read More

Detective Sergeant Nigel Sterritt said: PSNI are committed to tackling all forms of child abuse to ensure we can protect children and bring offenders before the courts.

The child in this case was just three months old when it suffered these injuries and we welcome the sentencing handed out by the judge in this matter. This shows that the PSNI are determined to bring offenders in crimes of this nature before the courts.
The Peoples Court in southern An Giang Province on Friday sentenced a 51-year-old Cambodian woman to life imprisonment for illegally transporting two kilograms of narcotics into Vietnam for US$3,000.

An Giang border guards and police officers spotted Leang Davy, 51, hailing from Prek Prosop District in the eastern Cambodian province of Kratie, carrying a suspicious carton box in An Hoa Hamlet in Khanh An Commune in An Giangs An Phu District at around 6:00 pm on September 5, 2020.

Summoning Davy to the police station in Khanh An Commune, police officers discovered two plastic bags containing two kilograms of white crystals, which was later determined to be methamphetamine by the provincial Criminal Technical Division.

Results from the investigation into the case showed that an acquaintance named Ut, dwelling in Phnom Penh, suggested Davy go to Vietnam to treat her illness in August 2020.

At the same time, Ut sweet-talked Davy into transporting some goods to Chau Doc City with a promised wage of $3,000 to cover her treatment fees.

Then, Davy gave Ut her photo for forging an identity card named Phan Thi Lan to facilitate her entry into Vietnam.

On September 4, Davy received from a strange man a black plastic bag sealed with tape containing two kilograms of methamphetamine and one cell phone for contacting with Ut.

On the afternoon of September 5, Davy, covering the two kilograms of drugs in a carton box, illegally entered Vietnam and was arrested by the Vietnamese competent forces.

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White farmers have voiced their frustration after President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief package this week awarded $5billion to minority farmers while not offering them the same aid.

The Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act was introduced to the relief package by Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock in early February to provide immediate financial relief to black, indigenous, and Hispanic farmers.

The bill provides $4billion in direct payments to farmers of color and has allocated $1 billion to address systemic racism at the U.S. Agriculture Department (USAD), providing legal assistance to farmers of color and grants and loans to improve land access for minorities.

The $4billion will provide direct payments of up to 120 percent of a 'socially disadvantaged' farmer or rancher's outstanding debt as of January 1, 2021.

Yet white farmers believe the add-on to the relief package is discriminatory as South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham blasts the money as 'reparations'.

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Senator Lindsey Graham has claimed the money is a form of 'reparations'

Angered white farmers and social media users have also blasted the bill

The bill was introdcued to the relief package by Senator Raphael Warnock in February

The American Rescue Plan will provide $10.4 billion in total for farmers of all races and farm-related programs, according to CBS, but most of the money is earmarked for debt foregiveness for minority farmers.

Half of the fund is going to them, despite white farmers in the US vastly outnumbering their minority counterparts.

According to the USAD, which last issued figures in 2017, there are 3.2million white farmers in America.

However, there are only 45,500 black farmers, 112,500 Hispanic or Latino farmers, 58,200 American Indian or Alaska Native farmers and 22,000 Asian farmers.

This totals only 238,200 minority farmers who will be in recent of 50 percent of the offered aide.

White farmers outnumber them more than 13 times.

Half of the American Rescue Plan fund for famers is going to minority farmers, despite white farmers in the US vastly outnumbering their minority counterparts (as pictured)

Sen. Graham appeared on Fox News this week to blast the bill as an example of 'out of control liberals' and claimed that it had nothing to do with the coronavirus and so should not be included in the COVID-19 relief package.

'Let me give an example of something that really bothers me. In this bill, if you are a farmer, your loan will be forgiven up to 120% of your loan, not 100%, but 120%, if you're socially disadvantaged, if you're African American, some other minority,' he said.

John Boyd, Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association (pictured in 2020), claimed the money is 'a big deal for us'

'But if you're White person, if you are a White woman, no forgiveness. That's reparations. What does that got to do with Covid?'

It was also criticized by Betsy McCaughey, a former lieutenant governor of New York, who claimed that the Empire State's majority white farmers were being discriminated against.

'The bill looks more like reparations than COVID relief,' she wrote in an op-ed for the New York Post.

'It says farm aid is 'for the purposes of addressing the longstanding and widespread discrimination against socially disadvantaged farmers.' Truth is, farmers have been struggling for a decade, and more than half lose money year after year.

'Minority-owned farms are generally less indebted than those owned by whites, though diminished access to credit may be part of the reason. White and minority farmers alike need debt relief,' she added.

Angered white farmers also took to social media to hit out at the bill after the packages was passed, as they claim that they are being discriminated against by not being offered the same loan forgiveness.

'Farmers of color' get $4 billion bailout to pay off their debt. White farmers get nothing. They say it's reparations, but it's not. It's racism. Pay your bills, America,' wrote podcast hist Toss Starnes.

Angered white farmers posted about their frustration on social media

'Reverse racism is rampant... ask the white American farmers... simply amazing eh??' wrote another social media user.

'Sorry for your luck if you're a WHITE FARMER,' added a user named Mitzi. 'Dems are demonstrating RACISM this time against WHITES. Only $ for Farmers of color.'

'Why not help all small struggling farmers instead of just a few!' asked @PatriciaColeman.

'Democrats' COVID Relief Bill discriminates against white farmers. The sowing of such a discriminatory seed in our fields, assures us of reaping a harvest of racial injustices,' added another farmer.

Black farmers, however, have welcomed the money as they speak out about facing discrimination from the USDA in previous decades.

Discriminatory lending practices, often at local USDA offices, have denied black farmers access to funds needed to operate, maintain, and purchase farmland, resulting in a loss of $120 billion in farmland value, according to a 2018 analysis by Melissa Gordon of Tufts University.

'This is a big deal for us,' John Boyd, Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, told CBS MoneyWatch. 'We see this as a great opportunity to help thousands.'

Boyd claims that by allowing minority farmers to shed their debt, it will led to further expansion of their farms and allow them to address other social issues.

Yet he argues that the USDA needs to repair its relationship with these farmers beforehand.

The number of black growers has been on the decline for decades. Pictured, Rod Bradshaw, , who claims to be the last Black farmer in Hodgeman County, Kansas

USDA figures show that 14 percent of all U.S. farms in 1920 were black-owned. This had fallen to two percent in 2017. Pictured, Lateef Dowdell stands on land once belonging to his uncle Gil Alexander, who was the last active black farmer in his Kansas community

Black farmers have long viewed the USDA suspiciously, and Biden's administration has pledged to address past injustices.

A 1982 report from the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights found that the agency's lending arm 'has not given adequate emphasis or priority to the crisis facing black farmers'.

Another 2019 report said farmers of color believe lenders discrimate against them as they view them as 'more likely to operate smaller, lower-revenue farms, have weaker credit histories, or lack clear title to their agricultural land'.

The USDA expressed support for Warnock's bill when it was first introduced.

'It's a bill crafted to address the immediate need for debt relief among those who have been marginalized and are hurting while also advancing long-term issues,' USDA Chief of Staff Katharine Ferguson said in a statement.

Warnock claims that the bill will aid growers who have struggled during the pandemic and correct the decades of discrimination.

'Now that this critical relief is over the finish line, we have to get it out quickly and efficiently to the farmers most in need and for whom this hand-up is long over due,' he said in a statement.

The number of black growers has been on the decline for decades, according to Boyd.

USDA figures show that 14 percent of all U.S. farms in 1920 were black-owned. This had fallen to two percent in 2017.

Black farmers also lost 80 percent of their land between 2010 and 2017.

Boyd said he hoped increased funding would encourage more black people to be farmers.
An Arklow man has gotten involved in a new barn owl conservation project.

Stephen Walsh, from Knockmore, has started to make nesting boxes for the owls. Following a call on social media, several local landowners have given permission for the nesting boxes to be installed on their property.

Speaking to this paper, Stephen said he was inspired after reading about the Barn Owl Project, which aims to build nesting boxes for the birds to help their numbers grow in Ireland. The project started in the Midlands, but has expanded to Co Galway and Co Cork. The population of barn owls in Ireland is starting to rise after decades of decline due to a fall in the breeding population. The installation of nesting boxes and conservation projects by organisations, including Birdwatch Ireland, appear to be reversing the decline in the number of barn owls.

'I saw on Facebook that John Carrig in Galway was trying to build the boxes. I'm into wildlife so I decided to make some and put them up in Arklow.'

Stephen put out a call on Facebook about his idea to install barn owl nesting boxes around Arklow and received a 'great response' from people interested in having the boxes on their properties. The boxes are made of plywood and contain a 'step' to minimise the risk of chicks falling. The nesting boxes can also be placed in certain locations with the permission of land or property owners.

'I thought it would be good for the environment and I enjoy wildlife photography,' Stephen said.

So far, he has made around four nesting boxes but Stephen said he hopes to make more in the coming weeks.

'I think it's a way to promote Wicklow and it's something good to do,' he added.
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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, of sponsoring militants against governors in the Niger Delta State.

Mr Wike, who spoke on Friday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the Trade Union Congress secretariat building, said Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, was unfairly taking on the governors of the region just because they did not attend the inauguration NDDC headquarters building.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) headquarters was inaugurated by Mr Akpabio, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Apart from Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, no governor from the NDDC operational states participated in the ceremony.

Mr Akpabio, in his speech, said some governors who could not account for what they were doing with the 13 per cent derivation funds were frequently making demeaning remarks against Mr Buhari, for the region to move forward.

There is no need for people to have the paraphernalia of security  you have the police, you have SSS, you have all. And those are the ones that help you to sleep in the night and then you come out to say that the presidency is deceiving people.

Without even the president, you cant sleep (at night) even if you are a governor. Some of them have not asked themselves what have we done with the 13 per cent derivation, but yet they will open their mouth(s) and talk about the presidency in very demeaning terms, Mr Akpabio said, while appealing to the Niger Delta people to cooperate with Mr Buharis administration

I want Mr President to ignore those things, he added.

Governor Wikes reaction

Mr Wike, in response to Mr Akpabios remark, said the former Akwa Ibom governor did not have the moral right to question what the governors were doing with the 13 per cent derivation fund.

We knew when Akpabio was governor what he was doing, Mr Wike said.

In fact, he saw himself as god then. Now, he has the temerity to insult South-south governors. We will meet one day. If he did well, why did he fail the Senate election? If his people love him, why did he fail the Senate election? Ordinary Senate? And you will come and talk to us!

The transcript of Mr Wikes remark is contained in a statement from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The statement was issued on Friday by Mr Wikes media aide, Kelvin Ebiri.

You (Akpabio) went and started sponsoring so-called militants that we (governors) should render account of N55 billion. Where did we get the N55 billion? If we got N55 billion, then he (Akpabio) got N200 trillion. You cannot insult people.

I have told him (Akpabio) to take less. Now, he is taking on South-south governors, we will tell him that when he was governor, he was acting as a king. There was money as at that time. What was the exchange rate? N150 to a dollar. Today we are almost having N500 to a dollar.

Akpabio had money and he had the temerity to say ask South-south governors what they are doing with 13 percent of their money, Mr Wike said.

I am not a sycophant. I am not an inconsistent person, I dont give a damn. He cannot say he has been seeing me in his villa. So if he wants to talk, let him concentrate in his state, not to venture again and talk about Rivers State.

If he does it again, he will regret meeting Rivers State. People should say what they practice. I will show a video where Akpabio said the President should come and learn from me what I am doing here. I will show a video soon.

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Governor Wike said the reason the minister defected to the All Progressives Congress was because he was afraid the government might unleash the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on him.

That is why Nigeria cannot move forward. Everybody is running away, because when they send EFCC, you run to the other party, then they protect you. That is the party! That is the government that is fighting corruption! Akpabio is now moving around happy. He no longer takes his blood pressure medicine.
The retired WWE star "Stone Cold" Steve Austin wants to pin down a sale of his Marina del Rey home. Built in 1953, the single-story residence is available for $3,595,000, Variety reports.

The WWE legend purchased the property in 2007 for $1.97 million. The midcentury residence in the desirable L.A. community has since undergone a remodel, and is described as designer perfect.

The interior designer Janice Francois and the master craftsman contractor Randy Ward of R.L. Ward Construction artfully transformed the space into its current, pristine state, the listing notes.

1/8

Steve Austin's Marina Del Rey home (realtor.com)

2/8

Entrance (realtor.com)

3/8

Living room (realtor.com)

4/8

Dining space with chandelier (realtor.com)

5/8

Kitchen (realtor.com)

6/8

Master bedroom (realtor.com)

7/8

Bath with soaking tub (realtor.com)

8/8

Pool and patio (realtor.com)

Walled and gated for privacy, the home features four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms and measures 2,724 square feet. Custom touches include wide-plank floors, linen window shades and drapery, and barn doors that open to the fourth bedroom or office off the homes entry. The spacious master bedroom features glass doors that open out to the patio.

The redone bathrooms feature linear shower drains, high-tech lighting, and a soaking tub in the master.

The open floor plan features custom iron and glass doors, and a double-sided fireplace found at the entry. Recessed lighting is found throughout the main space, and the dining area includes a stylish chandelier.

The eye-catching kitchen comes with Viking appliances, Waterstone fixtures, Caesarstone and quartzite counters, and pendant lighting. A large island has plenty of space for seating. The kitchen adjoins a living and dining area, which opens outside, providing easy indoor-outdoor entertaining spaces.

Outside, the 8,000-square-foot lot includes a pool, spa, and patios, as well as a grassy lawn. A two-car garage completes the property. The recent remodel also means that most of the home's infrastructure has been upgraded.

Austins choice of location is impeccablethe home sits close to shopping and dining in Venice, the beach, and quick access to LAX.

Now retired from professional wrestling, Austin, 56, is billed as an actor, producer, television host, and podcast host, and is signed as a legend contract with the WWE. A bad-ass icon, he held the WWE title belt six different times and was known for his signature finishing move: the "Stone Cold Stunner." Hes recently released his own beer, Broken Skull IPA.

Denise Fast with Re/Max Estate Properties holds the listing.

___

Watch: Boxing Champ Lennox Lewis Knocks Out a Sale of His Miami Condo

The post 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin Selling Stunner of a Home in Marina del Rey appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.

There are also bipartisan calls to dismiss the National Guard troops who have remained at the Capitol since first being deployed there on the day of the attack.

The top Democrat and Republican on the House Armed Services Committee issued a joint statement this week saying they were deeply troubled by the security posture at the Capitol, arguing that it was excessive, costly and could cause readiness problems for the National Guard.

As the U.S. Capitol Police continues to build its personnel capacity, there is no doubt that some level of support from the National Guard should remain in the National Capital Region to respond to credible threats against the Capitol, wrote Representatives Adam Smith, Democrat of Washington and the committees chairman, and Mike D. Rogers of Alabama, the top Republican. However, the present security posture is not warranted at this time.

The issue has laid bare a divide between many lawmakers who want the Capitol to return to a sense of normalcy and the police and law enforcement officials who are tasked with protecting them. No lawmakers were injured during the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, though some had close calls. But nearly 140 officers suffered injuries during the assault, which left five people dead.

The tension is a familiar phenomenon in Washington, where past attacks and security incidents at the nations most iconic national buildings  the Capitol and the White House  have led to increasingly robust fortifications around both, often prompting controversy. In the case of the Capitol, the recent security measures have been particularly jarring, closing off roads, walkways and nearly 60 acres of picturesque, parklike grounds that surround the building where Congress meets.
Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan has commended the Justices of the Supreme Court (SC) who superintended over Mahama's election petition.



It may be recalled that the SC by a unanimous decision on March 4, 2021, dismissed the 2020 election petition for lack of merit.



Kwamena Duncan reacting to the ruling during a panel discussion on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo' said former President John Mahama knew from the onset that his "case was a bad one" but "just wanted to disturb" the "peace of mind" of Ghanaians.



"It was a wild goose chase; one that was mischievous...they knew they had been defeated and they took all of us; the entire country through a disturbance of our peace of mind" he added.



Mahama Yet to Congratulate Akufo-Addo



Kwamena Duncan has also criticized the former President for not calling President Akufo-Addo to congratulate him after "his defeat"



Kwamena Duncan said: "the shameful aspect is that unlike Akufo-Addo who had a solid case as soon as he left the court, and congratulated the then-president...as we speak...so you see the difference?"



Meanwhile, he has "applaud the judges for their sense of timeliness" and the fact that "they refused to be provoked because it got to a time when this whole facade was only to portray the judges that these are persons who are prejudiced against us...they took all of that in their stride. They refused to be provoked; amazing! So I commend them highly"







Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dr. Fatima Munaza is a Data Usage and Risk Assessment Officer in Pakistans National Stop Transmission of Polio (N-STOP) program based in Karachi. In 2019, she graduated from the Pakistan Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP). We asked Dr. Munaza how her FELTP training has added value to her career as an epidemiologist.

Im a dentist. I have a bachelors degree from Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences and a masters degree in Public Health Dentistry from Isra University, a public sector medical university in Hyderabad.

Putting My FELTP Training to Use in Pakistan

Dr. Munaza accepting the award for best oral presentation from an FETP resident. EIS International Nights, April 2019, Atlanta. (From left to right: Kashef Ijaz, Former DGHP Principal Deputy Director; Kip Baggett, WIDB Branch Chief; Fatima Munaza, Pakistan-FELTP graduate; Patrick OCarroll, Director of Health Systems Strengthening at the Task Force for Global Health; Stephen Redd, Deputy Director for Public Health Service and Implementation Science.

I knew early in my training that I wanted to serve in public health. The Pakistan FELTP is well-known, so when they asked for new recruits, I was eager to apply. I knew the program would offer excellent training in applied epidemiology and would be great for my career. In 2017, I entered the FELTP. I was excited to become one of the more than 200 epidemiologists trained through the program since 2006. I was really proud to be part of an organization whose residents and graduates add so much value, particularly in field work.

Overcoming Challenges During the Outbreak Response

As a resident, I investigated several outbreaks, including measles (March 2018), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid (October 2017 to October 2018), and HIV (April 2019). While the work was very rewarding and taught me a lot, it also included a few challenges. For example, when people did not want to be interviewed, it was at times quite difficult to get the data I needed. I was able to resolve this issue by assuring those involved that their replies would remain confidential. Many people were reluctant to get vaccinated during the typhoid outbreak. However, I was able to help people overcome their fears and gain their trust by being open, honest, and straightforward about the benefits of vaccinating the community. In addition, there were environmental challenges that made our work enormously difficult, including working in extreme heat (125F) and traveling to very hard-to-reach places. Finally, some of the response areas were unsafe, requiring a security detail. Fortunately, I felt well-prepared to deal with all these challenges. The FELTP trained me, not only in the science of conducting outbreak investigations, but also in the art of delivering messages to communities. This training helped me meet many of the challenges we faced.

FELTP Impact in Pakistan: Enhanced Surveillance and Laboratory Services

I conducted meaningful work with FELTP. The typhoid outbreak investigation resulted in:

A public health awareness campaign for timely case reporting

Enhanced laboratory services guiding antibiotic use

Improved water and sanitation

A vaccination campaign

With the support and guidance of my FETP mentors, I created a presentation about the outbreak called Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Typhoid Fever among Hospitalized Patients, District Hyderabad, Pakistan, 2017-2018. In April, 2019, I was awarded best oral presentation during the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) International Nights.

Last July, I became a Data Usage and Risk Assessment Officer in Pakistans National Stop Transmission of Polio (N-STOP) program in Karachi. Here, I apply all the skills I learned in FELTP. This includes developing plans with evidence-based decision-making strategies, as well as conducting data analyses, quality assessments, and appropriate validation. This work has led to improved surveillance reporting. FETLP has had a direct impact on my career. Through education and mentorship, I learned the skills needed to move into my professional roles. As a resident, the most exciting part of FETP is being a disease detective, quickly conducting investigations, and applying evidence-based actions and responses. The results are fulfilling and make all the hard work and effort worthwhile. I also feel proud to be able to serve these communities.

My advice to someone considering joining any Field Epidemiology Training Program is to apply! Its a very unique public health training program that builds the necessary skills for action-oriented policy recommendations grounded in scientific evidence. It also provides many career opportunities in field epidemiology.
CWD identified in a Montcalm County farmed deer

For immediate release: March 12, 2021

Media contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-331-1151

LANSING, MI - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed a case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a four-year-old white-tailed deer from a Montcalm County deer farm. The case was found through samples that were submitted for routine testing as part of the state's CWD surveillance program for farmed deer.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. CWD can be transmitted directly from one animal to another, as well as indirectly through the environment. While an infected deer may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the latter stages of the disease.

The discovery of CWD in farmed and free-ranging deer is not new to the state of Michigan. Since 2008, and including this new case, CWD has been detected at six Michigan deer farms in the following counties: Kent, Mecosta (2), Montcalm (2), and Newaygo.

With free-ranging deer, CWD was first discovered in May 2015, and cases have been found across nine counties in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To date, CWD has been detected in 123 free-ranging deer in Montcalm County.

"As chronic wasting disease affects both farmed and free-ranging deer, MDARD works in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the state's deer farmers to detect and manage this serious disease," said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM. "Due to the nature of the disease, it is imperative that farmers, hunters, DNR, and MDARD continue to work in collaboration to protect all of Michigan's deer."

As part of MDARD's disease response, an investigation will be conducted to rule out exposure of any other farmed deer.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.

###

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Amid an ongoing tussle with



alliance partner over the seat-sharing agreement, the Abbas Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front on Friday released the first list of 26 constituencies it will contest in the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

The party, however, is yet to name the candidates who will contest from these seats.

Seats in the list include Mahisadal, Canning Purba, Bhangar, Metiabruz, Panchla, Uluberia Purba, Basirhat Uttar, Ashoknagar, Amdanga, Asansol Uttar, Entally, Madhyamgram and Khanakul.

Party sources said that the ISF has an alliance with the Left Front in these 26 seats.

"The 26 seats are out of the 30 constituencies that we got from the Left Front. Our alliance partners will contest the remaining four seats. We decided to announce the names of the seats so that there is no confusion among our supporters," ISF leader Simul Soren told PTI.

Also, by announcing the names of the seats, we have sent a message to our alliance partner Congress, with whom the seat-sharing talks have not been smooth, that we would be contesting from those constituencies so that there is no duplication of alliance candidates, he said.

The and the ISF had last week managed to break the ice between them over seat-sharing but talks are still underway for some constituencies.

Newly floated ISF had initially demanded 15 seats from the Congress, but the grand old party has agreed to give it only eight.

The Left Front has given 30 seats to the ISF from its kitty.

(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 13 : A meeting of West Bengal BJP core committee is underway on Saturday at the party's national president J.P. Nadda's residence to shortlist candidates for the remaining seats for the upcoming Assembly polls.

The BJP has already announced candidates for first two phases of polls in West Bengal that will vote in eight-phases.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also present in the meeting. Core committee members of West Bengal BJP, including state unit chief Dilip Ghosh, state in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, senior leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Rajib Banerjee are all at the meeting.

A party leader said that the West Bengal BJP has shortlisted the names of probable candidates recommend by the district units.

"In the core committee meeting going at Naddaji's residence, list of probable names will be futhered streamlined ahead of being placed before the Central Election Committee that will select party candidates from remaining assembly seats of West Bengal," he said.

The BJP's CEC meeting is scheduled later in the day which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.

Sources said that in the CEC meeting candidates for Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, will also be finalized along with remaining seats of Assam and West Bengal.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Stella Maxwell was every inch the intergalactic beauty after transforming into an astronaut for a glamorous Moschino shoot.

The model, 30, posed for the snaps as part of a campaign to launch the designer's Toy 2 Bubble Gum perfume.

Along with an eye-catching pink lip, Stella channelled the fun vibe of the shoot by chewing some gum of her own as she posed for the snaps.

Gorgeous: Stella Maxwell, 30, was every inch the intergalactic beauty after transforming into an astronaut for a glamorous Moschino shoot

Stella donned a full silver astronaut's suit complete with a helmet to pose for the images.

The blonde beauty sported her glossy tresses in a vintage-style quiff and finished her look with a statement pink lip.

Stella recently gave an update on her quarantine to Advocate for her September/October cover: 'Before the pandemic I would think that working from home would be an amazing idea, just get up and get ready and shoot.

'But at this point, though, I have done so many shoots at home I can't wait to be back on location. I can't wait to travel and eat at restaurants and shoot with teams and hang out.'

Sensational: The model posed for the snaps as part of a campaign to launch the designer's Toy 2 Bubble Gum perfume

Amazing: Stella donned a full silver astronaut's suit complete with a helmet to pose for the images

She added: 'Honestly, it was good to just pause and be calm for a bit. But at the same time, it's been both terrifying and sometimes just a lot to digest. You worry about your loved ones.

'You worry about yourself, your friends. And on top of that you have to keep managing your career and also your own expectations and dreams. I have been so lucky to have been quarantining with an amazing group of people.'

The Victoria's Secret Angel also commented on some of her high-profile relationships, like Kristen Stewart, 30, with whom she was in an on-again, off-again relationship from 2018 to 2019, and Miley Cyrus, 28, whom she dated briefly in 2015.

She said: 'I've always been fairly private about who I love and my personal life. I feel like everyone has enough in their own personal life to have to deal with knowing about mine too.'

Maxwell added: 'I believe when you are with someone, when you date someone, they are forever woven into the fabric of who you are. Sometimes relationships last for years, sometimes for days, sometimes for months. This is the nature of love between humans.'
Tata Power on Friday called a news report about the company being in talks with electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla for setting up charging infrastructure for such vehicles in the country as "factually incorrect".

Earlier on Friday, CNBC-TV18 had reported that the company is in talks with Tesla for setting up EV charging stations. The talks, it said, are in initial stages and no agreements have been signed.

"Our EV charging business are constantly examining and exploring various growth opportunities of the business. No arrangement or agreements have been finalised as reported in the media. As required, we confirm that the news item published in "CNBC TV 18" dated March 12, 2021, is factually incorrect," Tata Power Co Ltd said in reply to clarification sought by exchanges about the news.

Tesla has set up a firm with three directors and a paid-up capital of Rs 1 lakh in India, and reportedly plans to open showrooms in the country. The company is also scouting for land possibly for manufacturing and R&D set up, and is reportedly in talks with multiple states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier this month, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran had denied speculations on talks between Tesla and Tata Motors for a possible tie-up in India.
The rise in cases across different states has made it important for the government machinery to be re-activated. (AFP file photo)

Hyderabad: A resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic in neighbouring Maharashtra has put the Telangana state government on a special alert. Health minister Etala Rajendar has ordered an immediate stepping up of the testing process in the state.

Increased surveillance has been ordered for Nizamabad, Jayashankar-Bhupalapally, Jagtial and other districts bordering Maharashtra. Ground-level health care staff such as Asha workers and village officials have been asked to monitor the arrivals from outside and test them for Covid-19 before they mixed with the local population.

The minister, during a teleconference with district medical and health officers and superintendents of government hospitals, said the number of tests every day must be raised to 50,000. The daily testing count on March 11 was 21,340.

The testing of samples had been reduced as it was believed that the number of cases was coming down. Private diagnostic centres say the sample collections remain high. An official of a diagnostic chain here said, We have 10 centers and each of them get more than 200 samples a day. The main centre gets 500 samples a day.

The rise in cases across different states has made it important for the government machinery to be re-activated. Aspects like the wards earmarked for Covid-19 treatment, safety protocols of healthcare workers and the preparedness to deal with serious cases were reviewed by the minister and health officials.

A government doctor said, "Gandhi Hospital is the nodal centre. In Osmania General Hospital, the isolation ward has been kept ready and those who are positive are sent to Gandhi for treatment. The protocols are the same as was followed the last time.

Doctors in government hospitals say they are isolating suspected cases early. Apart from fever, cough, cold, loss of smell and taste, people are also complaining of symptoms of diarrhoea, muscle pain, body ache and fatigue.

A government doctor explained, There no longer are clusters but single cases are either mild or serious. There are changes in the pattern and it is important to understand which strain is prevalent.

Health minister Rajendar said, We are urging people to be alert and not relax. Health officials in Medchal Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy and Hyderabad are also vigilant as preventing the spread in densely populated areas is important. Vaccination process would continue and people must do it.
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Texas shelter housing migrants sees spike in COVID-19 infections

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Migrant families coming across the border into Texas amid a new illegal immigration wave are testing positive for COVID-19 at a much higher rate  up to 10 times higher in some quarters  than the positive test rate among the U.S. population.

The Washington Times reports that its survey of jurisdictions that are doing the testing has found that Brownsville, Texas, has reported a 12% positive rate for the novel coronavirus among incoming migrant families. And a homeless shelter in Harlingen has seen a 25% positive rate among the migrants it has helped.

The current positivity test rate for the U.S. public is at 3.5%, per Johns Hopkins Universitys tracker.

The Washington Times quotes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as saying the families they've processed are between 5% and 10% positive for COVID-19, and they can only process 100 people a day among the 500 to 800 people who are coming across the border daily.

Pastor Bill Reagan, who runs the shelter in Harlingen, called Loaves and Fishes, said they're doing their best to help the massive influx of migrants. It would be best if Customs and Border Protection decides to release certain individuals into the United States that they thoroughly quarantine ... for the 14 days and test them and only release those that test negative, he said. But I also understand theyre overwhelmed.

The pastor said that among two groups that arrived at the shelter on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19, the first group had a COVID-19 positivity rate of 25%, while the second group was never tested before they were transported to the shelter.

Reagan believes many are not being tested despite having been in close contact with those who have tested positive, yet they are being released.

I think this is probably true for all the places people have been released from Border Patrol custody. All of them have been in close quarters for a long period of time. They all come together on the bus, theyve all been detained together, and I would suppose on their trip from Central America they have been mixing with all kinds of people, he told The Washington Times.

Say they come to us on a particular day  they may just have been exposed that day or a day earlier and not test positive because of that, he added.

The number of those whove been released without any testing is in thousands, Sheriff A.J. Louderback in Jackson County, Texas, told The Washington Times.

More than 100,000 people, including nearly 9,500 unaccompanied minors, crossed the southern border illegally in February, according to The Epoch Times.

As President Joe Biden vowed during the 2020 campaign to reverse many of former President Trumps policies, the Trump administration sought to ensure that migrant asylum-seekers would remain in Mexico while their cases were processed in the U.S.

However, The Washington Post recently reported that the Biden administration was planning to convert immigrant family detention centers in South Texas into rapid-processing hubs to screen migrant adults and children and release them within 72 hours.

The Biden administration has dismissed calls to describe the influx of migrants at the southern border as a "crisis," with White House Press Secretary Jen Paski rejecting the term "border crisis" outright.

"I dont think we need to sit here and put new labels on what weve already conveyed is challenging," Psaki said Tuesday at a press briefing.

Customs and Border Protection released figures this week showing that 100,441 people were apprehended in February while crossing the border illegally.

During the White House press briefing on Wednesday, Bidens Southern Border Coordinator Roberta Jacobson, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, acknowledged that illegal border crossings have spiked under this administration.

"We've seen surges before," Jacobson said. "Surges tend to respond to hope, and there was significant hope for a more humane policy after four years of pent-up demand.

"So I don't know whether I would call that a coincidence, but I certainly think that the idea that a more humane policy would be in place may have driven people to make that decision," Jacobson added. "But perhaps, more importantly, it definitely drove smugglers to express disinformation  to spread disinformation about what was now possible."

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who recently criticized the Biden administration over its stand on illegal immigration, told CNN on Thursday, There are three messages  One message from the White House  dont come now, come later. Message number two from the family members and neighbors  Hey, Pedro, ya pasamos. Were able to come. Come over right now.

Cuellar continued, Message number three is from the criminal organizations  Hey, I can get you across. Pay me a little bit of money. And they are going to listen to message number two and three. Quite honestly, that is whats happening until we have a solid message that we can send down to Central America.

A large number of migrants are listening to smugglers or family members messages, he added.

Speaking to The Houston Chronicle recently, Cuellar also warned that we are weeks, maybe even days away from a crisis on the southern border.

Inaction is simply not an option, Cuellar said. Our country is currently unprepared to handle a surge in migrants in the middle of the pandemic.

This week, John Modlin, interim chief in charge of the Border Patrols Tucson sector in Arizona, also warned that illegal immigration was likely to overtake the past three years combined. So right now, were about a hundred percent over where we were this time this last fiscal year, independent journalist Sharyl Attkisson quoted him as saying, according to The Epoch Times.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the states Department of Public Safety announced last week that they will deploy the Texas National Guard to the Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star to prevent Mexican cartels and traffickers from smuggling people and drugs into the state.

Describing the situation as a border crisis, the Republican governor made the announcement on Twitter. He said the operation involves the deployment of the Texas National Guard as well as air, ground, Marine and tactical border security assets to deny Mexican Cartels & smugglers the ability to move drugs & people into Texas.
The owner of MailOnline and the Daily Mail has complained to CBS for doctoring headlines and taking them out of context during the Oprah interview.

Associated Newspapers said a section of the programme designed to illustrate racist coverage of Meghan by the British press was 'seriously inaccurate and misleading'.

CBS invited viewers to believe that a montage of cuttings were all headlines that had appeared in British newspapers - but some had been edited or even manufactured using sentences selectively plucked from the article.

Many were not even articles from the UK media but from foreign newspapers, including US tabloids.

In a letter sent to Viacom CBS yesterday, Associated Newspapers' legal director Elizabeth Hartley demanded the montage be removed from the broadcast.

WHAT THEY SHOWED: The mocked-up headline purported to be from this website is reduced to a single quote and appeared as a commentator discussed 'undeniable racist overtones' in media coverage

IN REAL LIFE: The story - which was on the front of that day's Mail On Sunday - was a story exposing the suspension of the girlfriend of the UKIP leader for using the racist phrase that appeared in the headline. Producers removed all that context

Many were not even articles from the UK media but from foreign newspapers, including US tabloids such as Star magazine

She said one of the most 'egregious' examples was an article that appeared in the programme with the headline: 'Meghan's seed will taint our Royal Family'.

The actual headline that appeared on MailOnline made clear the article was about the suspension of a UKIP party member for making racist comments about Meghan.

But it was so drastically trimmed back for the Oprah interview that this was not obvious.

Ms Hartley said: 'It is a thoroughly dishonest misrepresentation of a newspaper headline and article which was the opposite of racist. No one viewing the programme would have understood this from the montage.'

She also pointed to another supposed headline that appeared in the montage that was not a genuine headline at all.

The broadcast had mocked-up a MailOnline headline to read: 'Rich and exotic DNA, Miss Markle's mother is a dread-locked African American lady from the wrong side of the tracks...'

This was not the headline that appeared on Rachel Johnson's comment piece in 2016, but was instead a sentence lifted from the article and paraded as a headline.

WHAT THEY SHOWED: The producers plucked a line from the article about 'rich and exotic DNA' and wrote it in a large typeface where the headline would normally be

IN REAL LIFE: The text the show featured appeared in a column by the Prime Minister's sister Rachel Johnson. This is how it actually appeared online. The line of text that the show made appear to be the headline was in fact taken from the middle of paragraph three of the 11-paragraph piece

Ms Hartley said that, in context, 'it is clear that Rachel Johnsons intention was not to racially abuse the duchess' but rather to 'praise the duchesss genetics, looks, social conscience and humanitarian efforts'.

She added: 'While Ms Johnson has since accepted that the phrasing was regrettable, it is plainly misleading to present this sentence out of context, disguised as a headline, and as an example of racist online abuse.'

It was exposed earlier this week how the CBS broadcast, watched by 17million in the US and 11million in the UK via ITV, also doctored UK media websites.

One even altered the words on the Daily Telegraph's website into American English.

The same newspaper later reported that 11 of the 30 headlines shown during the montage were from US or Australian outlets.

WHAT THEY SHOWED: The headline read 'BBC comedy portrays Meghan Markle as ''trailer trash'' American who threatens to knife Kate Middleton'. But the character was actually meant to be the opposite of what Meghan was really like

IN REAL LIFE: The article as it appeared on the Telegraph's website - with Defence spelled the English way, not how the Americans mocked it up - makes it clear that the comedienne portraying Meghan as 'trailer trash' was doing so as it was 'finding humour' in a 'ridiculous' idea

Ms Hartley stressed that Associated Newspapers 'unquestionably supports freedom of speech and the First Amendment' but said the montage section of the programme went against CBS' own commitment to journalistic integrity.

She said: 'In conclusion, the programme in its current form, does not comply with the ViacomCBS editorial policies or align with its stated values. In terms of both accuracy and integrity, the programme is clearly compromised by the inclusion of this misleading montage.

'Accordingly, I should be grateful for your urgent confirmation that the offending content will be removed from the programme currently being made available to the public.

'We also understand that a further broadcast is being planned tonight. The montage should therefore be deleted prior to that broadcast.'

CBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Harpo productions, Oprah Winfrey's company, said: 'Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, shared in the interview their personal story. We stand by the broadcast in its entirety.'

WHAT THEY SHOWED: Oprah's team reduced this Telegraph article to a headline suggesting the Duchess 'doesn't speak our language'. As they mocked up the Telegraph's website, they spelled

IN REAL LIFE: The piece - an opinion column - has the subdeck that explains it is critiquing the Duchess's 'earnest gushing' which the writer finds to be 'like nails down a blackboard'

WHAT THEY SHOWED: The interview flashed up a Guardian headline apparently referring neutrally to Danny Baker talking about comparing Archie to 'a chimp'
World Relief demands Pres. Biden raise refugee ceiling as promised

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An evangelical aid organization has urged President Joe Biden to fulfill his promise to raise the refugee ceiling more than a month after his administration announced 62,500 refugees would be allowed to enter the United States this year.

The Biden administration sent the report to Congress on Feb. 12 announcing the entry of 62,500 refugees. A month later, over 700 refugees are still waiting and had to cancel their flights to the U.S. due to delayed action by the administration.

On Friday, Christian humanitarian aid organization World Reliefs Senior Vice President Jenny Yang moderated the "Justice Delayed" panel with other aid organizations to discuss why they're urging the Biden administration to raise the refugee cap.

The panelists included: John Slocum, interim executive director of Refugee Council USA; Melanie Nezer, senior vice president of public affairs at Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society; Basuze Magodo, resettlement specialist at World Relief Memphis and former refugee; Todd Turner, community sponsorship lead for Grace Immanuel UCC; and Jennifer Sime, senior vice president of U.S. Programs at International Rescue Committee.

World Relief and other refugee resettlement groups receive funding from federal taxpayers and are paid on a per refugee basis.

Slocum of Refugee Council USA noted that, as a senator, Biden co-sponsored the Refugee Act in 1980. This legislation created the current system of refugee resettlement and has allowed in an average of 95,000 refugees yearly since then.

[This] is who we are as a country, Slocum said. Its what we do. It reflects our values, our religious traditions, our foreign policy commitments, and its written into our laws. The United States has been the worlds leader in refugee resettlement.

Raising the refugee cap from a record low during the Trump administration was one of Bidens campaign priorities, and in November, the then-Democratic presidential candidate promised a Jesuit group that he would raise the refugee settlement ceiling to 125,000 annually.

In the Feb. 12 report to Congress, the Biden administration stated: A robust refugee admissions program is critical to U.S. foreign policy interests and national security objectives. Refugee protection is a concrete demonstration of the United States commitment to human rights, including freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression, and is necessary to mobilize other countries to meet their humanitarian obligations. It is a demonstration of solidarity with refugees and the countries hosting them, and furthers the United States international commitments.

A month after Biden sent the report to Congress stating that 62,500 refugees would be resettled in the U.S. this year, the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions has yet to be signed.

This is more than quadruple the Trump administrations refugee cap from last year that only allowed 15,000 refugees, which was a historic low criticized by these aid organizations. At the time, the Trump administration said the refugee cap was justified because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sime, of the International Rescue Committee, said raising the ceiling would provide the U.S. with an opportunity to make up for lost time after four years of lower refugee numbers.

We are calling on the Biden administration to immediately sign the Presidential Determination and restore American leadership in refugee resettlement. , Sime said.

The United States has a unique opportunity to once again become the leader for refugee resettlement and set the example for others to follow," she continued. "We learned during the past four years that when the U.S. settled fewer refugees, other countries did the same thing. There are now 80 million refugees and internally displaced persons around the world. There are approximately 1-and-a-half million who need immediate resettlement."

Magodo, a specialist at World Relief Memphis and former refugee, said his family had to cancel their flights due to Bidens delay in signing the determination. He added that their medical clearance will soon expire if action is not taken quickly.

Right now, they are praying very hard; they are hoping that the president and those people advising him  that they will come to a decision and formalize that number.  Right now, they are going through a very tough moment, Magodo said.

The proposed FY 2021 allocation includes 22,000 refugees from Africa, 6,000 from East Asia, 4,000 from Europe and Central Asia, 5,000 from Latin/South America and the Caribbean, 13,000 from Near East/South Asia, and another 12,500 from an unallocated reserve.

Nezer of Hebrew Aid Society said signing the determination to allow more refugees to resettle will help the U.S. return to normalcy.

It is normal for the U.S. to admit refugees through the U.S. refugee admission program, offering safety and the chance at a decent life to people who are persecuted. Its time to get back to it , Nezer asserted. For that reason  on behalf of refugees around the world, we urge the president to sign the Presidential Determination.

Slocum concurred, adding, Its now time to put pen to paper. We urge the president to sign the revised admissions goal without delay.  Further delay only harms the most vulnerable future Americans.
THE lowering the voting age would be another step in strengthening Irish society. "If you can drive, leave school, and be employed full-time at sixteen years of age, you deserve a say in those who represent you."

The main rationale underpinning any campaign is due to a group of people feeling as though their voices are not being heard.

Although there are numerous stances across Irish society on lowering the voting age, it is important to note this campaign is due to young people feeling as though they have not been heard by those that dictate the decisions that affect their lives.

The common rhetoric in Irish society that young people should stay away from politics is simply out-dated, impudent an steeped in political cynicism. Given current trends, the younger generation of our society are the most politically engaged on record.

Since 2011, there has been a decline in overall voter turnout. It has been proven, by international counterparts, that by providing the opportunity to vote at a younger age, not only does it increase civic participation but also increases the likelihood of said demographic voting in future processes as they progress through their lives. Hence, improving voter turnout and bettering the standard of representation at a local, national, and international level.

The topic of democracy arises in this debate and I have read numerous opinions from individuals opposed to lowering the voting age state that it would diminish the power of democracy. The definition of democracy states, a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members, typically through elected representatives. Lowering the voting age would broaden the representation of our electorate, hence strengthening democracy in our country.

The Constitutional Convention recommended to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 in 2013 and the Government accepted the recommendation, committing that the matter would be put to referendum during the lifetime of the administration.

Unfortunately, that did not occur, but it is important to note that this is not a fresh item on the agenda. Within the more recent political sphere, debate on lowering the voting age has transitioned to concrete legislative proposals within the Oireachtas.

Current Senators, Fintan Warfield and Lynn Ruane, alongside past Senator and current TD, Padraig Mac Lochlainn, proposed the Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016 in July of 2016. Unfortunately, this bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dail and Seanad but a recent proposal by Senator Malcolm Byrne at a Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting could see similar legislative debate returning.

Alas, a sixteen-year olds knowledge and awareness on political matters has been the fundamental argument opposing this legislative change. I turn to education as the key factor to contravene this argument. At both junior and senior cycles in post-primary education, students have the opportunity to engage in subjects that support them to develop values and an understanding of societal issues.

The piloted introduction of Politics and Society as a Leaving Certificate subject is just one example of the support that can be implemented to ensure young people have the opportunity to engage, learn and develop an understanding of the world they live in.

There are a multitude of issues that interest young people at present, from climate change to the Leaving Certificate, unemployment to rent prices, the list goes on. One point that may be met with surprise is the profound interest in Oireachtas debates, especially on issues directly affecting us.

Through youth organisations and community groups, young people are active citizens by making positive contributions to those around them. Outside of the formal setting of school, non-formal methods of learning such as sport and local groups provide the experience for young people to develop their values and beliefs.

On social media, it is now trendy to be an activist. This is backed by committed young people continuously working on these issues to keep others informed, followed by the support of thousands through likes, shares, and retweets. The influence of the digital world is immeasurable and if used in a positive manner, can provide a platform for important messages to be shared and politicians to engage with people, especially those of the younger generation.

Balanced representation is not simply just introducing a gender quota within public office, it is that everyone in our society feels represented and that their voices have been heard. Young people have gathered around politicians who are challenging the social norm of youth involvement not due to their ideologies but because they have finally listened to us, acted upon concerns, and amplified our voices.

Elected representatives, of all parties and ages, who have meaningfully engaged with young people have reported the maturity shown and positive impacts as a result.

In a post-Covid Ireland, in a recovery like no other, we need a collective response. To ensure that Irelands future, a future we will inherit, is inclusive of our voice and representative of our values, young people must be trusted in our democratic system.

The more inclusivity in our elections and referendums now, will reduce future dissatisfaction and disillusionment of my generation towards government, as we recover through economic recession and tackle further crises.

A seanfhocail comes to mind. Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh si - Praise the young and they will flourish. If we are to develop as the prosperous, ambitious, and diverse society we hope to be, lowering the voting age is a singular step in creating fundamental societal change in moving towards that.

There is no doubt that broader issues, regarding the education and support young people receive to aid them in the development of their individual values and views is needed, but this would enshrine a commitment to listen and serve the younger generation of our country.

If you can drive, leave school, and be employed full-time at sixteen years of age, you deserve a say in

those who represent you.

If really you want to listen to us, why not let us vote. I dream of the day elected representatives must, constitutionally, listen to the young people of Ireland.

I dont believe that it is too far away.

*Caillum Hedderman is a sixth year student in John the Baptist Community School in Hospital
With St Patrick's Day cancelled for a second time due to Covid-19, Wexford County Council are looking at creative ways to mark our national festival and perhaps send out a little message of hope.

Labour councillor George Lawlor last week got in touch with Brian Cantwell of Event Lighting Solutions and County Secretary David Minogue to get the ball rolling on 'greening-up' some iconic Wexford locations for St Patrick's Day.

'Basically, I'd reached out to Brian Cantwell with the idea and last week I met with the County Secretary to discuss it,' he said. 'The idea would be to light up iconic buildings and locations around Wexford such as Curracloe, Vinegar Hill, Hook Head and a number of sites in town.

The idea is that this wouldn't just be for St Patrick's Day. If we were to create promotional footage with some of these iconic locations bathed in green light at night time, it would be great footage to use in a video promoting Wexford as the ideal tourist venue when restrictions allow.'

Cllr Lawlor was to continue liaising with Mr Cantwell and the County Secretary on the matter before compiling a finalised list for 'greening' ahead of the subdued St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The TikTok logo is pictured outside the company's U.S. head office in Culver City, Calif., on Sept. 15, 2020. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

Pakistan Blocks Social Media App TikTok Over Indecency Complaint

ISLAMABADPakistan on Thursday blocked the popular social media app TikTok after a court order over a complaint that it ran indecent content, a spokesman for the countrys telecoms regulator said.

The court has asked PTA to block access to TikTok, Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) spokesman Khurram Mehran told Reuters, adding that the authority would comply with the order.

A high court in the northwestern city of Peshawar said it ordered the ban after a private complainant said the social media app was spreading indecent content, said Jehanzeb Mehsud, a lawyer who represented the PTA.

The service providers have been directed to immediately block access to TikTok, the regulator said in a statement.

The app stopped working within an hour of the direction.

A TikTok representative in Pakistan said strong safeguards were in place to keep inappropriate content off the platform.

In Pakistan, we have grown our local-language moderation team, and have mechanisms to report and remove content in violation of our community guidelines, the representative said in a statement. We look forward to continuing to serve the millions of TikTok users and creators in Pakistan who have found a home for creativity and fun.

Pakistan had banned the app in October, but restored it within 10 days after the company vowed to block all accounts involved in spreading obscenity and immorality.

The telecom regulator said the social media company had agreed to moderate accounts in accordance with local laws.

TikTok has been one of the most-downloaded apps in the South Asian nation behind WhatsApp and Facebook.

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has become hugely popular in a short period of time, by encouraging young users to post brief videos.

But the app has been mired in controversy in a number of countries, with authorities raising privacy concerns and security fears due to its links with the Chinese regime.

TikTok has denied that its ties to the Chinese regime pose a security concern in other countries.

By Asif Shahzad and Jibran Ahmad


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The chief fire officer of Wicklow Fire Service, Aidan Dempsey, believes that a gorse fire near Lough Dan was started maliciously.

Gardai were at the scene of the fire on Scarr mountain on Sunday evening, he said, and they are looking into it.

'While all the agencies present believe the fire was started deliberately, it's very difficult to prove who did it, given that nobody was scene in the vicinity,' he said.

The call came in at 6.30 p.m. and Greystones fire service was mobilised.

When the arrived and saw the extent of the blaze they sought further support from Rathdrum.

Later on a specialist Jeep that can get into tight areas with fire fighting equipment was brought up from Tinahely.

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'At the height of the fire there were 18 fire fighters there from three stations, with seven vehicles on the scene,' said Mr Dempsey.

Also there were gardai and personnel from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, as well as the Civil Defence, who used a drone to help monitor the fire itself and fire fighters.

The main fire fighting finished at 10.30 p.m.

Members of Tinahely Fire Service stayed on to monitor the area in case the fire would flare up again, which it didn't

'That was the end of the fire fighting for the day,' said Mr Dempsey, who agreed that it probably wasn't the end of it for the summer.

'The weather in the coming week would be in our favour in terms of a reduction of fires,' he said, with rain forecast.

'We would be concerned that other fires could be set in the meantime. It is an annual issue.'

He said that it's part of the ebb and flow of the duties of the fire service.

'It is work we would prefer not to have to do but we're glad to be able to at least limit any risk to property.'

There was a risk to property in the Lough Dan area on Sunday night, he said. '

The risk was low but it was there. Our presence ensured it never increased or became more serious.'

Local people anxiously observed the fire and the operation to fight it.

'They were afraid it could spread to commercial forestry and on to private land,' said Mr Dempsey.

'They were ready to get involved if they felt it was necessary,' he said. 'Locals are always willing to help but we would prefer they didn't put themselves in any risk.'

The National Parks and Wildlife Service said that the fire covered a wide area and that there will be a loss of wildlife.


Well be sorry when the Monarchy is gone, which it will pretty soon be if we all go on behaving like this. If you want a Monarchy, you need grown-ups, not just to sit on the throne, but to support it.

Sentimental slop wont keep it going, and nor will cheap temporary popularity or glamour. It doesnt matter to me if the King or Queen are ugly or unfashionable.

Personally, I have no wish to know my sovereigns private thoughts or tastes. What would save it would be the realisation that what will come after it will be worse.

Well be sorry when the Monarchy is gone, which it will pretty soon be if we all go on behaving like this

For the republicans are waiting, filled with glee and hunger, for that moment. They know that the present Queen is beyond their reach. They cannot pull her down and they will not try.

But afterwards they will do all they can to destroy the Crown.

More than three centuries ago, this nation had an amazing stroke of luck. It invented constitutional monarchy.

Based on that marvellous and forgotten charter of liberty, the 1689 Bill of Rights, we created a new type of state that was the wonder and envy of Europe.

We had a monarch who was the object of loyalty and pride, but who could not be an autocrat because the law and Parliament together prevented it. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 had sent our last despot, James II, scurrying off to France.

But what nobody then realised was the other side of the bargain. Politicians, who grew in power as the King grew weaker, were also limited. They could not install themselves in grand robes or glittering uniforms, or be inaugurated amid military parades and the roar of artillery salutes.

They could not review or directly command the troops. They did not have the power of pardon.

Nobody was required to be loyal to them personally. In fact, civil servants, police and the military, who serve the law and the Crown rather than the government of the day, were actually required to refuse an unlawful order from them. All the glorious, shiny baubles of state were reserved to a powerless King or Queen.

More than three centuries ago, this nation had an amazing stroke of luck. It invented constitutional monarchy. Based on that marvellous and forgotten charter of liberty, the 1689 Bill of Rights, we created a new type of state that was the wonder and envy of Europe

Well, not quite powerless. Like the King on the chessboard, a Monarch has one great negative power. Nobody else can occupy his space. It was quite plain during the Blair government, stuffed with undercover republicans who claimed to be the political arm of the British people as a whole, that Blair himself would have liked to muscle in on the glamour of Monarchy.

What on earth was he doing, reading the lesson at Princess Dianas funeral? What was the point of his drivel about the Peoples Princess? Why did he pose so often with soldiers? Why was he given standing ovations lasting minutes for his ghastly, saccharine speeches? Guess.

Some Tory premiers have not been immune to this either. It is a disease of all politicians.

To me, the single most striking thing about the Meghan Markle opera last week was when the White House press spokeswoman intervened in it, saying: For anyone to come forward and speak about their own struggles with mental health and tell their own personal story, that takes courage and thats certainly something the President believes.

Well now, look, lets not be unkind here, but President Biden has had his own problems with one of his sons. I dont recall Buckingham Palace issuing any kind of statement about that, and quite right too. It wouldnt be grown-up to do so.

But one of the things that is wrong with the US is that it has an overmighty President, who has to buy and keep his office by making promises to billionaire donors and pandering to fashions in thought and opinion.

He mixes power and grandeur, and he demands a respect we arent required to give our premiers.

During the mad Iraq war, criticism of President George W. Bush was less savage in the USA than criticism of the Blair creature here. This is because the President is the commander in chief, head of state, the personal figurehead of the nation.

To me, the single most striking thing about the Meghan Markle opera last week was when the White House press spokeswoman (above) intervened in it, saying: For anyone to come forward and speak about their own struggles with mental health and tell their own personal story, that takes courage and thats certainly something the President believes'

Those who now moan about the rather small cost of our Monarchy never seem to notice the vast price of Air Force One, the ludicrous presidential jet  a planned replacement is expected to cost more than 2.5 billion.

Is the tacky celebrity culture in the USA, even worse and more idiotic than ours, perhaps something to do with the absence of the sobriety and restraint which Monarchy provides?

Canadas very different society seems to suggest that the two are connected. We may complain about some members of the Royal Family, but do they even begin to compare with shameful, embarrassing figures such as Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton who  remember  actually possessed solid and enormous political power? And let us not even start on the French presidency.

In general, if republics are so good, why are so many of them, from North Korea and China to Apartheid South Africa (whose racialist rulers could not wait to kick out the Queen in a whites-only referendum in 1960) dismal places of tyranny and torture? Why are most of the longest-surviving free nations in the world constitutional monarchies?

It is so much easier to join in the teenage yelling about our Monarchys alleged privileges and luxuries, about its supposed snobbery and bigotry, and its stuffiness and slowness to adapt to the times, than it is to say, as I do, that we should learn to respect and hang on to our good fortune.

Why spit on your luck?

The enemies within

The accelerating takeover of our Government by Utopians in pursuit of a New Jerusalem has rotted the whole structure of the state.

As I reveal on Page 41 of todays Mail on Sunday, the Foreign Office, once a stately, thoughtful and reserved department, has now adopted crude propaganda techniques and finds itself insulting Admiral Lord West, a man who has captained a warship under enemy bombardment (he was the last to leave her) and has done the nation much service.

I tried to warn them, but they would do it. Lord West has faced worse things, but usually from the other side.

Terrors scary enough without the monsters

Perhaps I spent too much of my childhood hiding from chores, or from activities that I had been assured would be fun (a word I came to dread, especially at boarding school).

I loved finding a secret corner where I could forget the cares of the day, lost in the pages of Arthur Mees obsolete Childrens Encyclopaedias. These described a thrilling world of courage and adventure, now largely abolished by modernity.

I was enthralled by the mysterious tragedy of Sir John Franklins 1840s expedition in search of the North-West Passage, in the two grimly named ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.

After 60 years, I have now found the intensely moving account: For the rest there were tales told by Eskimos of gaunt men dragging boats from foundered ships, wearily, like grey ghosts across the starving land the men dropped dead as they walked.

So I could not resist the new BBC series, The Terror, which tries to imagine the still mysterious disaster.

It is in some ways very good  the frightening beauty of the ships trapped and lost amid the ice is wonderfully done. But the tragedy would surely be exciting enough without a supernatural monster and large dollops (literally) of blood and guts.

And yet again, despite tremendous efforts to get clothes and hair right, the dialogue is full of modern expressions, and why doesnt anyone know that in the Navy of those times you were never on a ship, always in her? It could be so much better.

If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here
CLARKE LAKE, BC, March 12, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada has world-leading clean power resources, and the Government of Canada understands that one of the most important ways to fight climate change is to harness these resources to power our homes, businesses and lives. Investing in clean energy projects, including geothermal energy, will invigorate local economies, drive job creation and curb pollution.

Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., today announced nearly $40.5 million in federal investments for the Clarke Lake Geothermal Development Project, a wholly owned and Indigenous-led project that will develop one of the first commercially viable geothermal electricity production facilities in Canada.

Being developed in the existing Clarke Lake gas field in British Columbia, the Clarke Lake Geothermal Development Project will use the mid-grade geothermal heat resources in its reservoir to reduce emissions by displacing fossil fuels, while also demonstrating the value of geothermal energy as a viable clean energy technology for rural, Indigenous and northern communities.

Along with creating jobs and other economic opportunities for local community members, this project will provide capacity building and training to workers from other industries to help them transition into the renewable energy sector.

Although electricity generation will be the primary source of revenue, additional revenue opportunities could include the sale of waste heat generated by the plant. Excess heat from the facility could also power other activities in the local industries such as timber drying in the forestry sector and greenhouse food production in the agriculture sector.

As outlined in Canada's strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, making Canada a world leader in clean power is a top priority. The government will continue to advance renewable energy projects, like the Clarke Lake Development Project, that increase the supply of lower-emitting power generation from coast to coast to coast.

Quick facts

The Clarke Lake geothermal facility is expected to produce between seven and 15 megawatts of clean electricity from a consistently available resource, which is equivalent to powering up to 14,000 households. By displacing fossil-fuel generation in northeast B.C., it is also expected to reduce 25,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to taking more than 5,000 cars off the road.





Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the Earth's crust and transforms it into electricity to power homes and businesses year-round.





Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) previously contributed $1 million for the resource assessment of this project and contributed an additional $38.5 million from the Emerging Renewables Power Program  a $200-million program to expand the portfolio of commercially viable renewable energy sources available to provinces and territories as they work to reduce emissions from their electricity sectors. It is also part of Canada's more than $180-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes and Canada's rural and northern communities.





for the resource assessment of this project and contributed an additional from the Emerging Renewables Power Program  a program to expand the portfolio of commercially viable renewable energy sources available to provinces and territories as they work to reduce emissions from their electricity sectors. It is also part of more than for public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes and rural and northern communities. Western Economic Diversification Canada contributed $2 million to fully assess the geothermal resource's ability to produce power, as well as develop an Indigenous Employment and Training Strategy. Future electricity revenues from the project will support new economic programs for the region and increase employment opportunities for Indigenous communities, including both short- and long-term jobs for workers with transferrable skills from the oil and gas sector.





to fully assess the geothermal resource's ability to produce power, as well as develop an Indigenous Employment and Training Strategy. Future electricity revenues from the project will support new economic programs for the region and increase employment opportunities for Indigenous communities, including both short- and long-term jobs for workers with transferrable skills from the oil and gas sector. Indigenous Services Canada contributed $250,000 toward the project through their Community Opportunity Readiness Program  a program that provides project-based funding for First Nation and Inuit Communities for a range of activities to support communities' pursuit of economic opportunities.





toward the project through their Community Opportunity Readiness Program  a program that provides project-based funding for First Nation and Inuit Communities for a range of activities to support communities' pursuit of economic opportunities. The Government of British Columbia has contributed almost $1 million to the project, including $430,000 through the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund, which supports Indigenous-led participation in the clean energy sector by providing capacity funding for energy planning and feasibility studies, along with equity investment in projects. There was also $500,000 invested through the B.C. Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership with Western Economic Diversification Canada and the New Relationship Trust, which provides early support to develop Indigenous communities' capacity and readiness to advance local or regional clean energy projects.

Quotes

"The Clarke Lake Geothermal Project is Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-led, showcasing Indigenous communities' leadership in building a low-emissions future. Geothermal will help northern and remote communities use less diesel and more of this new clean energy technology. This is how we get to net-zero."

Seamus O'Regan Jr.

Canada's Minister of Natural Resources



"The Clarke Lake Geothermal Project represents Fort Nelson First Nation's drive toward creating a sustainable economy for our People; one that strikes a balance between the environment and the economy. Our work to get this historic project off the ground demonstrates what Indigenous leadership toward net-zero project development looks like."

Chief Sharleen Gale

Fort Nelson First Nation

"FNMPC is pleased to be providing capacity support and assistance to Fort Nelson First Nation for the Clarke Lake Geothermal Project. Today's announcement highlights what can happen when First Nations have access to the capacity and resources they need to implement their vision and be the proponents of major projects."

Chief Corrina Leween

Vice Chair of FNMPC

"Our government is proud to invest in the Clarke Lake Geothermal Limited Partnership. Clean energy sources and connecting Indigenous communities with valuable development opportunities will help strengthen and diversify the B.C. economy, ensuring we are well positioned to bounce back post-pandemic, while also addressing climate change."

Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

"This project by the Fort Nelson First Nation and the Saulteau First Nation is an impressive clean energy initiative that supports future community growth and economic development opportunities. Our government is happy to support this First Nation-owned and -led innovative project that will create good jobs and support a greener future."

Marc Miller

Minister of Indigenous Services

"This is an exciting new development in clean energy for B.C.'s northern communities. Our government supports and encourages First Nations' participation in the clean energy economy through early investment in projects such as Clarke Lake, where they can build vibrant, clean economies and promote energy efficiency in their communities, which is an important part of our CleanBC plan and will help support post-pandemic economic recovery."

Murray Rankin

B.C.'s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

Related Information



Canada Supports Clean, Renewable Energy Technologies in British Columbia

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

For further information: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [email protected]; Ian Cameron, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-447-3488, [email protected]

Related Links

www.nrcan.gc.ca


MOSCOW (AP)  Russian police on Saturday detained about 200 participants at a forum of independent members of municipal councils, an action that comes amid the authorities multi-pronged crackdown on dissent.

Police showed up at the gathering in Moscow shortly after it opened, saying that all those present would be detained for taking part in an event organized by an undesirable organization. A police officer leading the raid said the detainees would be taken to police precincts and charged with administrative violations.

Moscow police said in a statement that they moved to stop the meeting because it violated coronavirus restrictions with many participants failing to wear masks. Police said they detained about 200 participants, some of whom were members of an unspecified undesirable organization.

OVD-Info, an independent group monitoring arrests and political repression, posted a list of more than 170 people who were detained. They included Ilya Yashin, an opposition politician who leads one of Moscow's municipal districts; former mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman; and Moscow's municipal council member Yulia Galyamina.

Their goal was to scare people away from engaging in politics, Andrei Pivovarov, a politician who helped organize the forum, said in a video from a police van.

Pivovarov has played a leading role in Open Russia, a group funded by self-exiled Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Khodorkovsky moved to London after spending 10 years in prison in Russia on charges widely seen as political revenge for challenging President Vladimir Putins rule.

A 2015 law introduced criminal punishment for membership in undesirable organizations. The government has used the law to ban about 30 groups, including Open Russia.

An earlier law obliged non-governmental organizations that receive foreign funding and engage in activities loosely described as political to register as foreign agents.

The laws have been widely criticized as part of the Kremlins efforts to stifle dissent, but the Russian authorities have described them as a fit response to alleged Western efforts to undermine the country.

Story continues

The police crackdown on Saturday's forum follows the arrest and imprisonment of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.

Russian President Vladimir Putins most determined political foe was arrested on Jan. 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have rejected the accusation.

Last month, Navalny was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany  charges he dismissed as a Kremlin vendetta. His arrest and imprisonment triggered a wave of protests across Russia, to which the authorities responded with a massive crackdown.

The government has intensified its crackdown on the opposition ahead of parliamentary elections set for September as the popularity of the main Kremlin-backed party, United Russia, has dwindled.
President Joe Biden speaks before signing the American Rescue Plan Act. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion stimulus package Thursday.

By Friday, $1,400 stimulus checks had already landed in people's bank accounts.

More direct deposits, physical checks, and prepaid debit cards will be sent out in the coming weeks.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Related: What coronavirus stress is doing to your brain and body

The latest round of stimulus checks has already landed in thousands of people's bank accounts as of Friday, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The $1,400 checks are the latest round of direct payments delivered to Americans since the coronavirus began about one year ago.

Treasury Department officials said earlier Friday that people should expect checks to start arriving this weekend after President Joe Biden signed the Democrats' $1.9 trillion stimulus package on Thursday.

Officials said the payments would be delivered over the coming weeks, with most through direct deposit, Politico reported.

The banking app Current told The Journal it had already processed thousands of stimulus deposits. Chime, another banking app, said on Twitter it had already delivered $600 million in stimulus payments to 250,000 accounts.

More rounds of direct deposits are expected to go out in the coming weeks, with the government saying the official payment date is March 17.

The IRS told Politico paper checks and prepaid debit cards will also be sent out by the end of the month to people whose banking information it does not have on file.

The latest round of checks is larger than the two previous rounds, and is worth a total of $411 billion, The Journal reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
 Flash

At least 30 students were yet to be accounted for after Nigerian troops rescued 180 persons following gunmen attack on a college in Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria, according to a internal security official in the state on Friday.

Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner of internal security and home affairs, told media in Kaduna city, the state capital, that the gunmen in large numbers attacked the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization located at Afaka, Igabi local government area of Kaduna state at around 11:30 p.m. local time on Thursday.

"The armed bandits broke into the institution by breaching a perimeter fence. They then encroached about 600 meters to attack the first facility," Aruwan said.

He said troops of the Nigerian army immediately moved to the school on receiving a distress call, and engaged the gunmen.

"The troops successfully rescued 180 citizens; 42 female students, eight staff and 130 male students. However, about 30 students, a mix of males and females, are yet to be accounted for," he said.

Aruwan assured that the security operatives, including the police and military, were working round the clock to rescue them.

"Some of the rescued students were injured and presently receiving medical attention at a military facility," Aruwan said.
What colour do you think his skin will be  lighter or darker?

I cannot tell you how many times I was asked that question while I was pregnant with my son last year.

It came from not only my sisters, who are fully black and darker than I am, but also from my husband and from me as we day-dreamed about what our beautiful boy would look like. What colour do think his eyes will be? wed enquire aloud. Will his hair be darker or lighter?

If it needs spelling out, no, I am not a racist black American, nor is the man who happened to marry me a racist Englishman.

Instead, we are parents, as my sisters were future-aunts, beyond excited to imagine who our bi-racial, multicultural child would look like.

Pictured above: Candace Owens with her son

So hearing Meghan Markle frame the questions about her sons skin colour  however innocently intended  as racist concern rather than harmless imagination made my skin crawl.

If you have seen a picture of Archie and you believe that he was ever the victim of anti-black racism, then I am a stranded Nigerian prince who needs you to send him your bank account details straight away.

At one point during the interview, Meghan, in comparing her experience to Kate Middletons, stated quite correctly that being racist and being rude are not the same.

The British press has been rude to Meghan Markle, of that there is no doubt, but they have not been racist.

Meghans race, which is not to my eyes even immediately discernible, was never at the centre of any piece criticising her.

That race would become a tool to deflect criticism of Harry and Meghan was, in my view, inevitable. In fact, I predicted just as much in these pages BEFORE the interview.

I also predicted that Meghan would explicitly present herself as a black woman just finding her voice.

Admittedly, never in a million in years could I have foreseen her likening herself to Disneys Little Mermaid, who lost her voice after falling in love with a prince.

I was also correct in my forewarning that American viewers would end up distracted from some rather unusual aspects of the relationship  in particular, Harrys sudden isolation from his friends, family and countrymen.

That race would become a tool to deflect criticism of Harry and Meghan was, in my view, inevitable

Remove Harry and Meghan from the equation and insert any individual into this plot.

Imagine if any person close to you confided that, after meeting his wife, he stopped speaking to most of his family and friends, including his father and brother, and that he now recognised his entire country was fundamentally racist. Would you at all be concerned?

But in announcing to Oprah Winfrey and the world that a member of the Royal Family was racist, the effect has been to further isolate Harry from his previous life.

Family is sacred. Rifts, which we all have, should never be exposed for public consumption. By way of comparison, it is worth noting that Meghan is half black. I am fully black  like both of my parents.

How is it, then, that I have not experienced the racism that Meghan so effortlessly speaks of during my many trips to the United Kingdom?

How is it that despite the British press having spent years covering my political commentary, and with at times deeply critical and mean-spirited attacks against my character, I have never interpreted such criticism as evidence of Britains inherent racism?

Maybe its because, through the school of hard knocks, Ive come to accept that not every person is going to like me. Im also perceptive enough to conclude that branding every person who dislikes me a racist might be the quickest way to ensure that I really am disliked.

Meghan does not seem to have worked through this equation just yet. Nor does she seem to have worked through the more obvious fact that the United Kingdom is not America. The near-obsession that the American media has with race and slavery is lost in translation over the pond.

Of most important note  the United Kingdom was among the first countries to abolish the trade across its many colonies.

Attempts to export Americas racial issues overseas have been flatly and rightfully resisted by the British people. Meghan is guilty of many things throughout her sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, but chief among them is intellectual laziness. Perhaps she does not wish to consider the many reasons why the British people do not hold her in high favour. Is that why she diagnoses them all as racist?

Meghan is guilty of many things throughout her sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, but chief among them is intellectual laziness

She is correct that American and British cultures show marked differences. When I met my husbands parents  a Lord and a Lady  I was terrified. I didnt know what the titles meant and feared Id never quite fit in.

My apprehensions proved deeply unfounded.

Like Meghan, I fell in love with an Englishman, but unlike Meghan, I also fell in love with a country, its people, and its traditions. England is a wonderfully diverse nation with traditions that make it unique to any other place in the world.

I pity anyone who views Los Angeles, a purgatory of empty souls on a perpetual quest for fame, as some sort of reprieve from the United Kingdom.

Im taking a shot in the dark here, but maybe what the United Kingdom dislikes about Meghan is her character.

Maybe its the inconsistency of a woman who once posed for tourist snaps outside Buckingham Palace but now claims to have had no idea who Prince Harry was when she fell in love with him.

Maybe its the disrespect shown to a family who, despite their flaws, have served their country in various ways and throughout the course of many decades.

Maybe its the cheap Hollywood spin of an innocent little mermaid who fell in love with a handsome prince  but wanted even more.

Its certainly worked, obscuring an attempt by Oprah  the only winner in this train wreck  to help her friends be better received across the Atlantic than they were in the UK. And, of course, in America, race sells.

Its just that Im not buying it.
The Kar-Jenner family has built an enormous business empire. But along the way, theyve also made some significant missteps. Recently, Kendall Jenner launched a new brand of tequila, and critics say that its another example of the familys insensitivity. Jenner is able to afford all the consultants she needs to point out problematic choices, but that doesnt seem to be a priority. Her older sister Kim Kardashian West has already experienced problems because of this, but the lesson doesnt seem to have been passed on. People are starting to wonder if the Kar-Jenner family will ever understand the issue of cultural appropriation.

Kendall Jenner | Don Arnold/Getty Images

Kendall Jenners tequila brand

RELATED: The Surprising Way Kendall Jenner Makes Most of Her Money

According to Insider, Jenner was excited to make a big announcement on Instagram in February. She was following in the footsteps of her business savvy family and launching a new brand. This time she had made a tequila that she called 818, and it sounded as though shed been working pretty hard on it. After dozens of blind taste tests, trips to our distillery, entering into world tasting competitions anonymously, and WINNING  3.5 years later I think weve done it! Jenner posted.

This is all weve been drinking for the last year and I cant wait for everyone else to get their hands on this to enjoy it as much as we do! The tequila has won a number of prestigious awards, including the honor of being named the best reposado at the World Tequila Awards. Its been met with enthusiasm in the liquor industry and Jenner is clearly delighted to present it to the world. But there are lots of people who are not impressed.

Tequila is tied to Mexican culture

RELATED: Why Are Fans So Angry At Kendall Jenner?

Tequila is more than just a margarita ingredient. According to Garza Blanca Real Estate, the history of tequila runs deep in Mexico, going back as far as 1000 BC, when the Aztecs made a milky alcoholic drink from the sap of the agave plant. Over the centuries, this drink evolved, becoming the liquor we know as tequila in the 1700s. Its been officially declared to be the intellectual property of Mexico, so it cant be labeled tequila unless its made and aged in specific areas of Mexico.

Tequila is an important part of Mexican culture, and many people felt that Jenner was exploiting something she has no known connection to. Although the 818 tequila is made and aged in Mexico, people werent convinced that she had anything to do with the process. Critics felt that she was taking credit for something that Mexican artisans have made for millennia. The name of her brand, 818, is thought to be a reference to her hometown of Calabasas, making it seem as though shes taking a product with deep Mexican roots and pasting her image on it.

Kim Kardashians Kimono controversy

Japan sending patent officials to U.S. over Kim Kardashian "Kimono" flap https://t.co/CPqOJvEban pic.twitter.com/lHaf9cOGv0  Reuters (@Reuters) July 2, 2019

RELATED: Kim Kardashian West Just Launched Her New Kimono Underwear and Its Already Getting Major Backlash

This isnt the first time a Kar-Jenner has been accused of cultural appropriation. According to CNN, in 2019, Kardashian announced that she was creating an underwear line that she named Kimono. Although she thought it was a cute nod to her own name, the Japanese trade minister Hiroshige Seko didnt see it the same way. And he made sure that she knew about it. The kimono is regarded around the world as a distinct part of our culture, he explained. Even in America, kimono is well known to be Japanese.

Seko even sent officials to meet with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to make it clear that it was unacceptable for them to grant trademarks for something that has a long history as an important part of Japanese culture. After much outcry over Kardashians insensitive choice, she changed the name to Skims. According to Popbuzz, she nearly lost $10 million rebranding the line.

On Keeping Up with the Kardashians, she complained about how the mistake happened, saying that the people around her had let her down. Who would ever think that I would want to do something that would be disrespectful? Theyre saying that Im culturally appropriating. My intention was never to offend anybody, she said.

We brought the name to retailers. There were a lot of people who could have chimed in and said that they felt like this was not an appropriate brand name and nobody did. Foolishly and ignorantly, we never thought that it would be a problem. It doesnt seem that her little sister has learned from her troubles and didnt hire a team that would take cultural appropriation into consideration. Considering how many products the family creates, they may want to learn some cultural sensitivity before they get in any more hot water.
War games in a galaxy not so far away

France on Friday prepared to simulate an attack by a hostile power on one of its satellites in a war game scenario the government said is less outlandishly futuristic than it may seem.

President Emmanuel Macron was to watch onsite as his military chiefs started to play out a four-day sequence in which an unnamed space-capable power attacks a nation allied to France, and tries to take out a French communications satellite.

Germany, Italy and the US are participating in the AsterX space war game at France's national space agency CNES in Toulouse, the first such exercise in France or in Europe.

It is an opportunity to simulate modifying the flight path of satellites, sending backup satellites to fix a breakdown, monitoring the transmission of sensitive data and scrambling transmissions by hostile satellites temporarily or even shutting them down completely.

The scenario of the exercise may be fictional, Macron's office said, but is far from implausible.

The French government accuses Russia of having brought its intelligence-gathering satellite Olymp-K, also known as Louch, into close proximity of the French-Italian military satellite Athena-Fidus in 2017 in what Defence Minister Florence Parly called "an act of espionage".

Last year, the US claimed that Russia had conducted a non-destructive anti-satellite weapons test from space.

Macron's office said there had been other similar incidents since, but gave no details.

Before the exercise kicked off, Macron headed a meeting of the space command, a body created in 2017 to run France's military strategy in space.

"We need to have the means for action if we detect dangers that weigh on our capabilities or those of our allies," Macron's office said, adding that an attack on a satellite could, for example, disrupt the military's communications network.

leb/jh/sjw/kjl
Seven companies from the GET H2 initiative in Europe want to build a cross-border pipeline for green hydrogen. From Lingen (Emsland) to Gelsenkirchen and from the Dutch border to Salzgitter, production, transport, storage and industrial acceptance of green hydrogen are to be connected in several steps between 2024 and 2030 under the umbrella of the overall project.

For this project, the companies bp, Evonik, Nowega, OGE, RWE, Salzgitter Flachstahl and Thyssengas, all partners in the GET H2 hydrogen initiative, have now submitted an expression of interest for funding under the IPCEI program (Important Project of Common European Interest) to the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

By using green hydrogen in refineries, in steel production and for other industrial uses, the overall project should be able to avoid CO 2 emissions of up to 16 million tonnes by 2030.





Get H2. In Lingen (Emsland) RWE produces green hydrogen via an electrolysis plant. From 2024 this will be used to supply the bp refinery in Gelsenkirchen. Most of the transport will take place via existing gas grid lines (shown in orange), which will be converted to hydrogen transport. In 2025, it is planned to extend the network to the Dutch border, and in 2026 RWE will integrate a cavern storage facility in Gronau-Epe. By 2030, the network is to be extended to the Salzgitter steelworks and, if necessary, connected to other networks (shown in light blue).

Collectively, the overall project can map the essential building blocks of the green hydrogen value chain and form the basis for an efficient European gas infrastructure for hydrogen. With the integration of a cavern storage facility by RWE in Gronau-Epe, the system, which is based on electricity generation from wind energy, can also make a contribution to supply security.

The link to the Dutch gas market lays the foundation for a trans-European hydrogen market. The expansion of the project by partners from the transport sector and for the distribution of green hydrogen in the area is also already in preparation. Other partners from the GET H2 initiative have also submitted expressions of interest for IPCEI funding for projects aimed at building a hydrogen infrastructure.

The companies want to push ahead with the development of a hydrogen economy. However, these plans can only be implemented with the necessary regulatory framework. The current focus is on the amendment of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG). The companies are convinced that the draft passed by the Federal Cabinet at the beginning of February does not go far enough. It does not provide for an overarching regulation of gas and hydrogen networks with a uniform gas and hydrogen network fee. However, this would be the best solution to enable a uniform and non-discriminatory use of the hydrogen infrastructure at sustainable conditions. The IPCEI program can finance the network construction in part. However, the financing of network operation requires a long-term solution to the charging issue in the EnWG.

Further political steps are also necessary to create incentives for the use of green hydrogen in industry, the partners said. The national implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive 2 (RED 2), which was approved by the federal cabinet at the end of December, is an important step towards making the rapid use of green hydrogen economically viable for refineries through corresponding demand in the transport sector. The definition of the electricity purchase criteria is still outstanding here.
A Virginia veteran who was accused of being a member of the Oath Keepers and charged over the Capitol riot was released on bail on Friday, as the judge in his case questioned the strength of the charges against him.

Thomas Caldwell, 65, was in poor health, Judge Amit Mehta noted, presiding over a Washington DC court.

Federal prosecutors accused him of plotting for months in advance with fellow associates of the anti-government Oath Keepers militia.

Caldwell, a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander who has held a security clearance and once worked for the FBI, was charged along with Jessica Watkins and Donovan Crowl with conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, destroying government property and entering a restricted building.

Thomas Caldwell, seen posing at CPAC in February 2019, was released from jail on Friday

Prosecutors showed the members of the Oath Keepers during the January 6 insurrection

Caldwell is shown at a pro-Trump rally in a handout provided by prosecutors

Caldwell, Watkins and Crowl are accused of concocting a plot to stage an armed 'quick reaction force' outside of Washington that would be ready to swoop in and fight 'hand to hand' if ordered by Donald Trump.

They planned to cross the Potomac river with 'heavy weapons'.

Watkins and Crowl remain in detention.

Prosecutors said the FBI had found a document entitled 'Death List' during a search of Caldwell's home, with the hand-written name of an election official in another state.

Mehta criticized Caldwell's 'fanciful' beliefs that the 2020 election should be overturned, and strongly criticized the Oath Keepers for preparing for possible violence.

But he noted that Caldwell did not enter the Capitol itself.

Jessica Watkins (2nd from L) and Donovan Crowl (center) at the Capitol riot on January 6

'There is an absence of direct evidence of planning by Mr Caldwell to enter the Capitol building,' Mehta said.

'There are no text messages, communications by him, that speak to entering a building or trying to enter the building. And ultimately, he did not enter the building.'

More than 300 people have been charged in connection with the riot, and the Justice Department say that figure could easily pass 400.

Charges are also likely coming against additional members of the Oath Keepers, building on the existing conspiracy case that already has nine defendants, prosecutors said on Thursday in court.

Mehta put Caldwell on house arrest with GPS monitoring, banned him from using electronics, and warned him against communicating with anyone associated with the Oath Keepers.

Rioters are seen inside the Capitol on January 6. Caldwell never entered the building

Mehta's decision reversed a previous ruling he made last month to keep Caldwell in jail pending trial.

Caldwell has pleaded not guilty and his lawyer said Friday he is 'innocent' of the charges.

'Don't take this as a reflection of the seriousness of what you've been charged with, or your conduct,' Mehta said.

'But I've got standards to follow under the law and I think they justify your release. Make no mistake - if you violate my conditions, you will be back in jail very quickly.'

Caldwell's lawyer, David Fischer, said his client was afraid of Antifa attacking Trump supporters.

Fischer said this was why Caldwell and other co-conspirators had discussed having an armed 'quick reaction force' across the river in Virginia, ready to come into Washington if there were trouble.
City Editor

Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has cover statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids.
The latest industry survey from the Irish Hotels Federation reveals a collapse in new hotel bookings following the Governments update on Covid restrictions on 23rd February. The sector is effectively at a standstill with no net new bookings as cancellations wipe out any new business. Hotels and guesthouses in Sligo, Leitrim and across the country are now facing enormous uncertainty without much-needed clarity and additional supports from the Government.

The Irish Hotels Federation has urged the Government to provide a significant increase in sector specific supports for tourism businesses as a matter of urgency with hotels and guesthouses nationally reporting booking levels of just 22% for July and 20% August which are usually the key summer months that act as a lifebuoy for many other months of the year.

In the border region of Border region: Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan the occupancy rate in September was just 18 percent.

Speaking following the latest meeting of the Governments Hospitality and Tourism Forum, Michael Yates, Chair of the Sligo/Leitrim/Roscommon branch of the Irish Hotels Federation stated: The domestic market was very important to the Irish hotel sector last year and we expect that booking levels will improve. However, in the meantime, businesses have to plan. The Government may not be able to provide assurances as to when society will reopen, but they can give much needed certainty and reassurance around business and employee supports. With Sligo and Leitrim hotels facing a prolonged period of closure and related cash burn, this piecemeal approach is hugely frustrating and detrimental for hotels and their teams who, along with the rest of the tourism and hospitality sector, have been disproportionately impacted by Covid restrictions.

Specifically, we are seeking increases in payments under the Covid Restrictions Supports Scheme (CRSS) with a doubling of payment amounts irrespective of the level of Covid restrictions as well as removal of the current 5,000 weekly cap. We estimate that 44% of hotel bedroom stock nationally is excluded from CRSS entirely, and this must be resolved as a matter of urgency.

Enhanced employment subsidies are also necessary. We also ask the Government to intervene with the banks to ensure they have appropriate supports and engagement processes in place for hotels and their team members until the pandemic has passed. Hotels also require a clear commitment from the Government to retain the 9% tourism VAT rate. Many hotels are already contracting for international business up to two years out. Tourism is highly competitive, yet they have no pricing certainty in relation to the retention of this critically important VAT measure and this could hamper their recovery.

Hotels are focussed on restoring employment levels as quickly as possible and the best way to ensure that is to support the businesses. It is critical that we get certainty around supports for business recovery. We cannot afford any delay if businesses are to have a fighting chance of survival. Prior to the pandemic, some 4,900 livelihoods were supported by tourism and hospitality across Sligo and Leitrim, with the sector contributing 178 million to the local economy. A severely devastated hotels sector would be a major loss to the Sligo and Leitrim economies and society for many years to come. This can and must be avoided, Mr Yates added.

The IHF survey was carried out on 8-10th March, and the results are based on the response of 303 properties with 31,150 guest rooms spread across the country.

Breakdown of occupancy results for July / August/ September 2021

National room occupancy: 22 % July/ 20% Aug / 18% Sept

Dublin City and County: 13 % July/ 12% Aug / 16% Sept

Other Cities: 16 % July/ 15% Aug / 11% Sept

Border region: 28% July/ 25% Aug / 18% Sept

Mid-West: 20 % July/ 15% Aug / 17% Sept

Midlands / Mid East: 17 % July/ 18% Aug / 17% Sept

South East: 39 % July/ 32% Aug / 24% Sept

South West: 30 % July/ 29% Aug / 21% Sept

West: 27 % July/ 22% Aug / 18% Sept
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While the ongoing lockdown restrictions have put pressure on people in all walks of life throughout the community those of an artistic persuasion have used the time at home to get creative and indulge their passion for art.

Larry Dunne, who is the visual arts and marketing associate in the Presentation Centre in Enniscorthy, highlighted to this newspaper how the unexpected downtime at home led to him embracing his creative side.

In doing so he also hit upon an idea that enabled other artists to also explore their creative side.

'This time last year things were looking so good for The Presentation Arts Centre,' said Larry.

'Our plays, gigs and exhibitions were more popular than ever before, and the year was set to be our best yet,' he added.

However, the best laid plans and promising outlook were cast aside in extraordinary fashion when Covid-19 hit.

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'Then came that March afternoon when we got the call saying we had to close for two weeks, which then turned into two months, which has turned into almost an entire year,' said Larry.

While everyone was left to deal with the crisis it wasn't the same for all sectors and as the lockdowns progressed the challenges they presented were different dependent on the particular circumstances people found themselves in.

'People liked to say 'we're all in the same boat' but that wasn't true,' said Larry.

'We were all in the same storm in different boats, and the entire arts industry was left a single mouldy lifebuoy to cling on to,' he added.

One of the ways Larry passed the time was to sketch and he admitted it kept his mind off growing senses of anxiety and depression - both of which he already lives with.

He said sketching also stopped him from spending hours 'doom-scrolling on social media'.

'I started using Google Maps to find new places to draw, and to just enjoy looking at a world outside the lockdown confines of Enniscorthy,' said Larry.

He had a chat with the Presentation Centre's Visual Arts Manager, Lisa Byrne, and the two of them realised there was potential in making it a weekly group activity and so began an online sketching group.

Drawing on the many wonderful locations around County Wexford and celebrating the beauty of the Model County the Keep Sketch group was born.

Larry said it was also a way of disrupting the gloom of people's social media feeds with what turned out to be gorgeous, colourful artwork.

'Keep Sketch was only meant to last a few weeks until the lockdown was lifted, but it's popularity kept growing and a steady group of dedicated sketchers were taking part every week,' said Larry.

Such was the popularity of the group and with most of Wexford covered the members started drawing and painting locations throughout Ireland.

'People started joining in from all over the country, from mainland Europe, even from America,' said Larry.

'I've learned that some families are even sketching together with their kids, and I love that such a simple premise is after creating such a supportive and vibrant network of connections,' he added.

Wexford Arts Centre premiered a video exhibition showcasing the first eight weeks of Keep Sketch and the annual Culture Night festival included presentation of an animation of artwork the group created celebrating the beauty of Enniscorthy town.

Some of the sketchers have gone on to sell the artwork they created after it was spotted on social media.

'All this from the simple premise of sitting down, switching off, and drawing,' said Larry.

Such is the amazing success of the idea that the Keep Sketch gallery on the Presentation Centre website currently has around 350 sketches, paintings, illustrations and collages from locations all around the country and Larry has no intention of ending the initiative any time soon.

'Many of the participants have reached out to say how grateful they are to have this group as a little escape from the pandemic,' he said.

'Keep Sketch has helped immensely with my own mental health too, by having something this reliable, supportive and collaboratively creative to look forward to every week in such uncertain times,' he added.

Anyone interested in taking part in the weekly, online sketching group and find out how to get involved by logging onto www.presentationcentre.ie and clicking on the keep sketch link.

A very significant aspect of the initiative is that everybody is welcome to get involve and no artistic experience if necessary.
Former President of Ukraine, head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas Leonid Kravchuk said today that the United States should join the negotiations as mediator.

Kravchuk added that there is a possibility of a "large-scale conflict" in Donbas. I am convinced that the United States should be involved in the process because the conflict in Donbas is not only a Ukrainian or European issue. This is a question of a possible large-scale conflict, he said on the Ukraine 24 channel.
Everyday choices of middle managers are crucial in helping immigrant professionals reach their full potential, according to a new report.

Immigrant-inclusive workplaces are the responsibility of middle managers, report finds Everyday choices of middle managers are crucial in helping immigrant professionals reach their full potential, according to a new report.

Immigrant-inclusive workplaces are the responsibility of middle managers, report finds Everyday choices of middle managers are crucial in helping immigrant professionals reach their full potential, according to a new report.

Immigrant-inclusive workplaces are the responsibility of middle managers, report finds Everyday choices of middle managers are crucial in helping immigrant professionals reach their full potential, according to a new report. Mohanad Moetaz Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Middle managers, those who are above front-line managers and below the executive suite, have the most influence on immigrant integration in the workplace. This is according to a new report published by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.

The report is titled Make or Break: How middle managers and executives can build immigrant-inclusive teams. This original research is largely based on interviews with diversity and inclusion leaders, and middle managers who were largely immigrants themselves.

These managers play a huge role in making the hired immigrant feel that they are part of the team, providing them the feedback they need to grow in the post and progress within the company.

Immigrants are undoubtedly a huge asset to Canadas growing economy and will be influential in the countrys post-pandemic economic recovery. Throughout the pandemic, immigrants have shown that their contribution is invaluable, particularly those working on the front-line.

Contact an immigration lawyer for work permit assistance

Canada, however, still needs to find new ways to maximize the potential of newcomer talent. It is one thing to come to Canada and find employment. That alone does not guarantee an immigrants success. Immigrants come to Canada from all over the world with different workplace cultures, and they must feel welcomed in the workplace. They must have a chance, like anyone else, to grow in their careers.

It is through the support of key executives that middle managers are able to properly incorporate immigrant inclusion into the company culture.

There may be some mentality shifts required for Canadian employers to really benefit from newcomer talent. For example, dismantling the perception that immigrants first need to gain Canadian experience to get a deserving job.

How can executives and managers make immigrants feel welcome?

Executives need to fully understand the challenges that immigrants face when they start a new job. They must prioritize immigrant inclusion in their organizations and make it clear that the responsibility lies with middle managers. It should also be clear that the success of middle managers should coincide with their efforts to promote inclusive behaviour.

This should not be all. Executives themselves should set an example to others when it comes to inclusion.

Middle managers have the most influence on whether immigrant employees feel welcomed and how much they progress in the organization they work for. According to the report, these managers should be responsible for establishing team dynamics that works for everyone including those who might be new to Canada and are used to different workplace cultures and practices.

In addition, middle managers perhaps need to redefine the success of an employee. One interviewee suggested that the value system of middle managers is typically consistent with the North American, male and heteronormative perspectives.

Middle managers should also be reviewing the way their organization hires new employees. The way recruiting and hiring occurs should also advance inclusion. This includes how the job description is written, and clearly disclosing the skills required to carry out the duties of the job. For example, in a job posting, it should be clear which skills and qualifications are required, and which are an additional asset.

This not only helps with immigrant inclusion. Research shows that women are less likely to apply for a job they think they are unqualified for. Making job postings clear can encourage more people to apply particularly those who would not have otherwise applied.

It wont happen overnight

With the support of executives, middle managers may be able to create a workplace that is inclusive and welcoming, where their international experience is celebrated, and where they can be successful because of it.

It is a reminder that inclusion is not something that can be achieved overnight. It is a long-term goal that executives, middle managers, and everyone in the Canadian workplace should be constantly working towards.

Contact an immigration lawyer for work permit assistance

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
Harry and Meghan made it clear from the outset that they did not make a single cent out of their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Well, theyd be the only ones who werent cashing in.

Oprah Winfrey interviews Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Winfreys production company Harpo, which shot the interview in her good mate Gayle Kings garden next door to the royal couples Californian mansion, looks set to pocket millions once global television fees - nudging the $20 million mark - are fully accounted for.

The biggest fee came from the US where CBS coughed up a reported $11.6 million (and charged advertisers $421,000 per 30 second slot), while ITV in the United Kingdom stumped up a further $2 million.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - More than one in five health care workers across the world have experienced anxiety, depression, or PTSD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thats according to new research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Research.

Providing help to those who have dedicated the past year to helping othersthis was and is the top priority for Union Hospital in Terre Haute. News 10 spoke with one woman who is a centerpiece in that mission.

Reverend Deb Moore-Hardin is a chaplain for patients, families, and staff at Union Hospital. Her main role is to relieve any stress that those individuals are feeling. Its safe to say that her office has been busier than normal over the past year.

She says the Union Hospital administration was excellent in supporting health care workers. She, herself, ramped up staff outreach during the heart of the pandemic with weekly emails meant to reflect and inspire.

I was here to talk to them about what dealing with COVID-19 was like. Here to process particularly busy days or days when perhaps they faced a difficult situation, Moore-Hardin explained, It was important to keep morale up for everybody and to let them know that what they do is very important every day.

Moore-Hardin says workers approached her for various reasons. Perhaps they were stressed because of the increased workload, or they worried that they may bring COVID-19 home to their loved ones. However, Moore-Hardin says above all, workers were most concerned with providing the best possible health care for their patients. Throughout the past year, she says Union Hospital staff went above and beyond to do just that.

It required them to become surrogate families when families could not visit, Moore-Hardin said, They were ready and willing to do that and they did that so that the public knows that their loved one, indeed, was cared forbody, mind, and spirit.

Moore-Hardin says she takes great pride in helping frontline workers through this stressful time. She believes that its made Union Hospital stronger and even better at what they do.

I think we have grown in just how we do health care because, like every hospital, we had to adapt and we had to do it quickly, and they did, Moore-Hardin concluded, People have lived into their call in ways that they would not have imagined a year ago, and I hope that they feel good about that.

Moore-Hardin says its okay to be honest that, yes, staff members surely are fatigued. Thats why she says its important to continue working with staff and keep moving forward.
The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality PartySGP) applauds the militancy of the workers in Germanys metal and electric industries shown in the warning strikes carried out over the past two weeks.

Dietmar Gaisenkersting is the SGPs candidate for the 2021 federal election

But it is necessary at this stage to make a serious warning. The IG Metall trade union, which called the strikes, is pursuing goals that are totally opposed to those of its members. The union stands firmly on the side of the corporations and is jointly plotting attacks on jobs, wages, workplace benefits, and working conditions.

Workers must mobilize independently of IG Metall, take control of the struggle against job cuts and for wage increases, and put the protection of their health and working conditions into their own hands.

IG Metall is only calling on its members to participate en masse in the warning strikes because they want to tamp down on the tremendous anger that has built up in the factories and other workplaces. Through its tens of thousands of shop floor representatives, the union has cast a large net that responds to the mood in the factories like a seismograph. This early warning system has informed the IG Metall leadership that after a year of the coronavirus pandemicand after years of job and wage cuts, which are now being intensifiedanger is reaching the boiling point.

The trade unions fully supported the return to work following the brief lockdown last year, although nothing had changed with regard to the threat posed by the coronavirus. In the largest factory in the world, the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, IG Metall and its works council organised a massive show to welcome the restart of production.

Ever since, the workers have been subjected to ever more stressful working conditions due to the constant threat of infection that has multiplied with the evolution of more infectious variants. No statistics are collected on how many thousands of workers have been infected, and how many have died. Workers often only learn by accident if colleagues have tested positive or even died from COVID.

The corporations have exploited the disruption and confusion created by the virus to impose attacks on workers the likes of which have not been seen in Germany since the end of the Second World War. During the lockdown early last year, IG Metall imposed a wage freeze by means of an emergency agreement, and wages were cut still further by the widespread use of the short-term work programme.

By contrast, the companies have cashed in with billions in the form of short-term work payments, loans and other subsidies from taxpayers. At the same time, tens of thousands of jobs were destroyed last year, wages cut, and company pensions gutted and eliminated. All of the agreements and social plans used to impose this were signed off by works council representatives and IG Metall bureaucrats. The end result was multi-billion euro profits for big business during the first year of the pandemic.

But the destruction of jobs is continuing apace. In the auto industry alone, hundreds of thousands of jobs are being sacrificed to boost profits, including at auto and truck makers Daimler, VW, BMW, Ford, MAN, and Opel, and suppliers Continental, Bosch, ZF, and Mahle.

Works council chairs like Bernd Osterloh (VW), Michael Brecht (Daimler), Manfred Schoch (BMW) and Athanasios Stimoniaris (MAN) earn more in a month than many workers do in a year. They are now sitting down with corporate decision-makers to impose further attacks to enrich shareholders at the expense of the working class.

The job actions now being carried out are cynically being used by IG Metall to compel workers to accept wage cuts once again in this years round of bargaining. This is the true meaning of the claims by IG Metall heads that the focus in this years talks is on job security.

During the last bargaining round three years ago, IG Metall began the negotiations by demanding a six percent wage increase and ended up imposing real-terms wage cuts. This time around, it started with a four percent demand and will impose an even greater sellout. The shameless collusion by the unions with management and their subservience to the interests of the shareholders and big capital is encouraging the corporations to make ever more outrageous demands.

The president of the central metal employers association, Stefan Wolf, demanded prior to the beginning of bargaining at the end of last year, a wage freeze and wide-ranging exit clauses for specific companies so that they can agree to terms that deviate from the central agreement with their respective works councillors.

The companies have not even tabled an offer yet due to the fact that they can be absolutely sure of IG Metalls subservience.

The anger towards IG Metall, its policies and its right-wing works councillors and their close collaboration with management is immense.

But political conclusions must be drawn from this anger. Do not trust IG Metall and its defenders! Nothing will be achieved by replacing one corrupt leadership for another in the unions or works councils. The trade unions in the 21st century do not deserve to be called workers organisations. They stand on the other side of the barricades. They have dedicated themselves lock, stock and barrel to the interests of the financial markets.

Workers in the metal and electric industries, reject the put-up job organised by the trade unions and corporations in the current bargaining round, and seize the mandate for negotiations from IG Metall! Form rank-and-file action committees in every plant to organise and expand strikes. You are 4 million strong in Germanys largest industrial sector. You can be sure of the fact that millions more will follow your example. Anger is at the boiling point everywhere.

The coronavirus pandemic has shown that capitalism is incompatible with the interests of the working class and society as a whole. The current warning strikes must be made the starting point for a Europe-wide general strike that not only challenges job cuts and wage reductions, but also demands the shutdown of all nonessential production and secure working conditions to bring the pandemic under control and save tens of thousands of lives. Affected workers must be paid their wages in full. The record profits of big business and the major shareholders, which you have paid for with your jobs, wages, and health, must be confiscated and made available to workers and their families.

Contact us in preparation for this struggle. Support the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei in its campaign for the 2021 federal election and help to build it as the German section of the International Committee of the Fourth International.
At an intense pace, lawmakers in Republican-governed states are considering an array of tough anti-abortion restrictions they hope might reach the Supreme Court and win approval from its conservative majority, overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a nationwide right to abortion.

A sweeping ban already has been signed into law in South Carolina, only to be swiftly blocked by a lawsuit from abortion-rights groups. Arkansas' governor signed another ban this past week.

A batch of other near-total bans also were blocked in the courts after their passage in 2019.

It's not clear if or when the Supreme Court might consider any of them, or take some other path. The court could weaken Roe with approval of less drastic restrictions or even leave the core of the 1973 ruling in place.

Anyone who tells you what the Supreme Court is going to do is pulling your leg, said Jennifer Popik, federal legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee.

Whats clear is that the federal judiciary changed dramatically during Donald Trumps presidency. In addition to three appointments to the Supreme Court, giving it a 6-3 conservative majority, Trump made scores of appointments to federal district and appellate courts. That raises the possibility that previously rejected anti-abortion measures might now be upheld.

State Rep. John McCravy, a Republican who sponsored the South Carolina ban, said Roe v. Wade was on his mind in crafting the bill.

This is a decision that the Supreme Court is going to need to make, he said. Certainly its encouraging to see the court changing and to see hope at the end of the tunnel.

The South Carolina law, like several passed by other states in 2019, would ban most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically about six weeks after conception.

In Arkansas, the bill Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Tuesday goes further, banning all abortions except when performed to save the life of the mother. It has no exceptions for rape or incest.

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Hutchinson had favored including those exemptions but signed the bill anyway as an explicit challenge to Roe.

It is the intent of the legislation to set the stage for the Supreme Court overturning current case law, he said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas plans to challenge the ban in court.

Arkansas and South Carolina are among more than 15 states where lawmakers have proposed near-total abortion bans this year, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which advocates for abortion access.

Guttmachers director for state issues, Elizabeth Nash, said the total number of anti-abortion measures this year is nearly 400  on par with other recent years. Whats different, she said, is the fast pace at which some bills are moving.

State legislatures are putting abortion restrictions and bans on the front burner, at the top of their agenda, Nash said.

In addition to sweeping bans, states are considering an array of other restrictions. They include limiting access to medication abortions, banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, banning it in cases of fetal anomalies such as Down syndrome, and outlawing a common second trimester abortion procedure known as dilation and evacuation.

Some anti-abortion activists suggest the Supreme Court may take an incremental approach, upholding measures that fall short of a near-total ban but still would weaken Roe. That ruling held that abortions should be legal up to the point of a fetus viability  roughly 24 weeks.

Its been our job as activists to keep passing these state bills and challenging the status of Roe, said Mallory Quigley, vice president of communications at Susan B. Anthony List, a national anti-abortion group.

Theres always been a concerted effort to give the court a menu of different options they can choose from, she said.

Jennifer Dalven, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Reproductive Freedom Project, suggests the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice John Roberts, may prefer to weaken Roe by curtailing abortion access rather than take up a case that could lead to Roes outright reversal.

Even if Roe stays on the books, it will be harder and harder for people in the South and Midwest and Great Plains to get abortions, Dalven said, referring to regions where Republicans generally dominate state politics. Roberts can allow the wall to get higher and higher and yet not provoke that headline that the Supreme Court overturns Roe."

One pending case could provide a strong hint about the high courts intentions. It may announce soon whether it will consider Mississippis bid to enforce a 15-week abortion ban. If accepted, the case would provide an opportunity for the reconfigured court to dramatically change the way Roe is applied.

Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said it would be shocking if the Supreme Court agreed to consider the Mississippi case.

The only reason would be to do fundamental damage to Roe, she said. Weve never had a court like this, with so many justices clearly opposed to the constitutional protection of abortion rights.

Northup also is wary of another possible scenario, in which one of the increasingly conservative federal appellate courts upholds a state restriction that undercuts Roe. She said the Supreme Court could decline to hear appeals, letting the restriction take effect in the states belonging to that judicial circuit. That could embolden abortion foes to seek similar outcomes in other regions.

Michael New, an abortion opponent who teaches social research at Catholic University of America, predicts the Supreme Court will move slowly.

Over time, I think states will be allowed to do more to protect the preborn, he said. But court decisions will likely only allow for gradual changes in public policy.

At the state level, recent elections have made a difference in abortion politics.

Montana's first Republican governor in 16 years, Greg Gianforte, has promised to sign at least two of four measures restricting abortion that have already passed the Legislature. Three  including one to ban all abortions after 20 weeks of gestation  were vetoed by Gianfortes Democratic predecessor.

In New Hampshire, where Republicans re-gained majorities in the House and Senate in November, the House has passed two abortion-related bills, including one allowing doctors to be prosecuted for withholding medical care for any baby born alive.

Meanwhile, some states where Democrats have taken control are acting to protect or expand abortion access. Virginias General Assembly is repealing a ban on abortion coverage in some health insurance plans. New Mexico's Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, signed legislation repealing an abortion ban enacted before the 1973 Roe ruling.

"With uncertainty at the federal level, New Mexico needs to be clear about womens rights, womens health care, womens reproductive choices, abortion and abortion care, Lujan Grisham said.
Mar. 12GREENVILLE  The Greenville Police Department is mourning the loss of a K-9 officer known for his hard work in the community and affectionate personality.

K-9 Officer Rony, a 9-year-old German Shepherd, died Saturday, and the police department is planning to honor his service with a procession and final call service on Sunday, March 14.

Greenville Police Chief Justin Craig, who has been Rony's handler since October 2019, said the dog was a "pillar" of the department's K-9 program, which launched when Rony came to the Greenville Police Department in 2019.

"His passing has rocked this whole department," Craig said.

Rony served the community for eight years, and he started his career in 2014 with the Clark County Sheriff's Department. During that time, he served with Clark County Metro SWAT, and he was the first K-9 officer for the Southeast Regional SWAT team.

Greenville Police Officer Ron Knox was Rony's owner and original handler for the Clark County Sheriff's Department, and they worked together until 2018. Knox has been working with Greenville Police Department since early 2019.

Knox and his wife drove up to Pennsylvania in 2014 to get Rony, who then went through training to become certified in narcotics and SWAT.

Rony was the best dog Knox ever trained, he said, and although he was a police dog instead of a family dog, he was also beloved by family members and others in the community.

He and Rony often went horseback riding together, and the K-9 was popular with kids when he visited local schools.

In 2015, Rony received national attention when he comforted a terminally ill child by laying in the hospital bed with the child, Knox said.

"He was a gentle dog  he loved kids, but he also loved his job," he said. "He knew what to do and would do it."

Rony was always excited to get to work, Craig said.

"I've never personally seen a dog with that drive and just the will to want to work," Craig said. "When we would load up and get ready to go on patrol, he'd literally run up to the police car and stand by the door waiting  you'd see him pacing, looking at you. He was like, 'let me in.'"

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Craig describes Rony as "caring, loving" dog.

"You would see him jump half up in someone's lap licking their face  he just loved showing affection," he said. "He was a very affectionate dog who loved being petted."

He "can't even put into words" how much it means to honor Rony with Sunday's procession and final call, he said.

"He wasn't just the police dog  he was part of all our families," Craig said. "He will be deeply missed."

Greenville Police Officer Levi Berry was involved with the creation of the K-9 division at the Greenville Police Department. The community loved Rony for his lovable nature, he said.

"For a dog that's capable of clearing a house to also be capable of rolling over to let a little kid rub his belly is a really special thing that you don't always see very often,' he said.

Cliff Lindsey, master trainer with the International Police Work Dog Association, was involved with the training of Rony, who was known "all over Southern Indiana," he said.

"He was a SWAT dog, a police dog and a family dog," he said. "He was a really good dog, and I can't say enough about him."

More Information

FINAL ESCORT AND FINAL CALL

The police escort and final call for K-9 Rony is taking place Sunday, March 14.

The escort will be coming from Louisville into Indiana via the East End Bridge on I-265 before continuing westbound on I-265.

Participating units are asked to begin staging around 1 p.m., and K-9 Rony will enter Indiana around 2 p.m. Staging should be complete at 1:45 p.m.

The procession will then proceed to Highland Hills Middle School at 3429 Edwardsville-Galena Road in Georgetown for a short service and final call.

After the final call at approximately 3:30 p.m., the procession will leave Highland Hills and ride back to Greenville. The route will go from Edwardsville-Galena to Old Vincennes, then to U.S. 150 in Greenville. The procession will be complete at U.S. 150 at Georgetown-Galena Road.

The public is invited to attend the service at Highland Hill and/or observe the procession from the middle school to Greenville.

K-9 Rony died after a spontaneous medical emergency, and Knox, Craig and Berry were with him in the veterinary hospital as he passed.

Knox said he appreciates the Greenville police officers organizing the procession and final call for Rony, and he predicts that many people will show up to honor the beloved K-9.

"He was an officer, so it's kind of hard to ignore that fact," Knox said. "A lot of people say, 'why don't you just bury the dog and get it over with,' but he was an officer, and it's an honorable thing."

ANN ARBOR, MI  The University of Michigan received $4.6 million in donations on its seventh Giving Blueday, a 24-hour event on March 10.

More than 10,000 donors participated in the event, according to a university news release, and more than 100 student organizations raised funds for their causes. The number of student organizations fundraising on Giving Blueday rose for the sixth straight year, officials said.

UMs College of Literature, Science and the Arts and the Student Life organization received the most donors through the Giving Blueday website, according to the release.

The Michigan community is strongest when we come together, said Tom Baird, vice president for development. On Giving Blueday, thousands of donors from across the globe united to support the causes they care most about at Michigan, and their generosity will help enhance UMs public mission to serve the world through education, research and patient care.

There was no Giving Blue Day in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said. In 2019, Giving Blueday on Giving Tuesday, attracted 12,000 donors who gave $4.2 million.

UM-Flint also raised more than $800,000 this year, nearly 10 times more than in previous years, officials said.

READ MORE:

Construction on $920M Michigan Medicine hospital to resume in coming months

University of Michigan ramps up efforts in Detroit during COVID-19 pandemic

University of Michigan students, parents rally for in-person graduation ceremony
The morning of September 8, 2016 is one Ella McMahon will never forget.

She bravely recalled the start of that fateful day last month as the long-awaited inquest into the death of her eldest son Gerard finally got under way.

Ella awoke to find that Gerard (36), a well-known Belfast DJ who worked under the name Macko, was not in his bed at their home in the Short Strand.

Moments earlier she heard a news bulletin report a man had been taken to hospital after what police described as a violent incident in the city centre.

Alarm bells rang. No matter what, Gerard always came home.

Hours later Ella found herself at Gerards beside in the Royal Victoria Hospital saying goodbye to her rock.

His death came hours after he was detained by police officers, called to Great Victoria Street after reports that Gerard was behaving erratically.

He was placed in handcuffs and moved to the steps of the Grand Opera House.

While initially calm and joking with officers, moments later Gerard became agitated and appeared to attempt to escape.

A struggle on the ground ensued with the officers, who used CS spray, placing limb restraints on his legs and putting him in the prone position, during which he became unresponsive.

Police officers performed CPR and called for an ambulance, but despite their efforts Gerard did not regain consciousness.

He had earlier been engaged in a physical altercation with security staff at a nightclub, having been accused of exposing himself on the dancefloor.

The Police Ombudsmans Office launched an investigation into the actions of officers on the night.

A file was sent to the Public Prosecution Service in October 2019 and a full inquest into Gerards death was scheduled to take place in February 2020, but was postponed.

The PPS later wrote to the McMahon family confirming a decision was made not to prosecute any of the three officers involved in the restraint.

The inquest before Coroner Joe McCrisken began on February 15 this year and heard from police officers involved in the restraint, alongside various civilian and expert witnesses.

The hearing was told Gerard suffered from acute behavioural disturbance (ABD), a condition that sparks bizarre and erratic behaviour and is recognised as a medical emergency.

It also emerged the three officers who detained him should have called for an ambulance instead of placing him in handcuffs, moving him onto the footpath and restraining him in the prone position  a move that can be fatal for people with ABD.

The PSNIs legal representative told the inquest since that night there had been an increased awareness of ABD within the force and developments and improvements were specifically linked to Gerards death.

In her evidence Ella said Gerard had led a very productive life until a year prior to his passing, when he developed a cocaine addiction.

His family had tried to get him to recognise his problem and sought help with an addiction service six months before his death.

Yesterday Mr McCrisken delivered his findings in which he criticised aspects of the police restraint operation but concluded the force used by officers was not excessive.

He also used his verdict to warn of an escalating cocaine abuse problem here, saying deaths had soared from three in 2016 to 37 in 2019.

Mr McCrisken added: I can be certain on one thing: if Mr McMahon had not ingested cocaine on September 8 he would in all likelihood have come home from his night out.

Clutching a photograph of Gerard outside court, Ella said she still missed her son terribly.

She said: To think that this could have been avoided is heartbreaking and I would like people out there to recognise that to say if you have problems and are in trouble.

Our only quest was for justice and accountability for Gerards death. It should never have happened.

Ella also said she had learned a lot more about how her son had died during the inquest.

She added: I dearly hope that police are listening to this today and listening to me  a mother that has lost a son.

Lessons have to be learned or there is going to be another family left like ourselves.

Gerard had nephews and nieces born after his death who will never know him and he would have loved them.

The pieces are in place now but my heart is not in place.

My heart is broken.




Bestselling Canadian mystery writer Louise Penny is teaming up with Hillary Clinton to write a political thriller, scheduled for publication in October.

Bestselling Canadian mystery writer Louise Penny is teaming up with Hillary Clinton to write a political thriller, scheduled for publication in October.

Clinton has written several books on politics and co-written two childrens books with her daughter Chelsea Clinton. Shes also a fan of Pennys Armand Gamache mystery series, set in a small town in Quebecs Eastern Townships.

The co-written novel, State of Terror, will be about a newly appointed secretary of state (Clintons job in the Obama years) investigating a terror attack.

  

Manitobans love to read Canadian.

Thats the conclusion being drawn by Great Plains Publications from the fact that, according to Google Trends data, last year Manitobans made the most internet searches per capita for the term "Canadian books."

The data indicate that New Brunswickers were a close second, followed by readers from Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.

The more populous provinces were well below Manitoba. Alberta and British Columbia both made about two-thirds as many such searches per capita, and Ontario was lower still.

Quebecs rate was about one seventh Manitobas, though the data didnt consider French-language searches.

  

Following the success of memoirs by Keith Richards and Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney is a guaranteed bestseller with a forthcoming 900-plus-page book referred to as a "self-portrait in 154 songs."

The Lyrics, to be published in November, wont exactly be an autobiography. But the book, based on conversations the left-handed bassist had with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon, will cover McCartneys childhood, Beatles and Wings years and current life by discussing the inspirations for the songs hes written.

  

Winnipeg author Patricia Robertson launches her new short fiction collection Thursday in an online discussion that will focus on climate change in literature.

Robertsons new book, Hour of the Crab (Goose Lane Editions) covers a range of settings, from an 11th-century French monastery to a near-future, forest-fire-ravaged British Columbia. Robertson, who moved to Winnipeg from Whitehorse to be the Winnipeg Public Librarys 2015 writer in residence, is the author of three previous collections of short stories.

In the online discussion, shell be joined by Catherine Bush, whose latest novel, Blaze Island, is set in a post-climate-change future and borrows elements from William Shakespeares The Tempest, and Christiane Vadnais, whose recent collection of short stories, Fauna, combines climate change and a mysterious epidemic.

To register for the event, see wfp.to/robertson.

  

Actor/director Sarah Polley has based much of her career on adaptations of books. Now shes signed a deal to write two of them herself.

According to Quill & Quire, the first book will be a collection of personal essays entitled Run Towards the Danger, to be published by Hamish Hamilton next year. Details on the second book havent been announced.

Polley starred as a child in The Road to Avonlea, based on the books of Lucy Maud Montgomery, and as a teen in The Sweet Hereafter, based on the novel by Russell Banks. She switched to directing with Away From Her, based on an Alice Munro short story, and will direct the upcoming Women Talking, based on the novel by Miriam Toews.

  

Its taken seven years, but the magnum opus of the winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature is finally out in English.

Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk was best known in English for her 2009 novel Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, but her 2014 novel The Books of Jacob is considered her greatest achievement. At more than 1,100 pages, its certainly her biggest achievement.

Tokarczuk has come under fire from Polands nationalist right for The Books of Jacob, which focuses on an 18th-century Jewish leader who seeks safety in eastern and central Europe. The book was published in November in the U.K., but an American edition wont hit stores until next February.

booknewsbob@gmail.com
According to the presidents press office, during their meeting Sarkissian and Pashinian discussed the situation in the country, ways of resolving it and overcoming the internal political crisis.

In this context, they discussed holding early parliamentary elections as a solution, the report disseminated by the presidents press office said.

The Pashinian government has been under pressure to resign after Armenia suffered a defeat in a six-week war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh last fall.

Opposition parties and groups demanding Pashinians resignation renewed their street protests in late February.

Earlier this week President Sarkissian offered to host talks between Pashinian and opposition leaders aimed at ending the political crisis in Armenia.

The leaders of the pro-government My Step parliamentary faction and one of the two opposition factions, Bright Armenia, accepted the invitation to the talks set for March 13 and their meetings with President Sarkissian were held later today.

In a statement disseminated late on Friday, the presidents office said that the two other sides invited to the talks  the parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) and the Homeland Salvation Movement, an alliance of about a dozen political parties and groups, including the BHK, demanding Prime Minister Pashinians resignation in the street  had proposed their own agendas and set conditions for the meeting, which made the format of talks in which all invited parties would meet at one table unfeasible.

As Pashinian visited the presidential compound in a heavily guarded motorcade, supporters of the Homeland Salvation Movement staged more protests in the adjacent boulevard that they have been blocking since late February.

The opposition movement continues to insist that Pashinian must step down and a provisional government led by its leader Vazgen Manukian should be formed before snap parliamentary elections can be held in a year.

Ishkhan Saghatelian, one of the leaders of the movement, said that in order to be able to discuss their possible participation in snap elections, first Pashinian must step down and then the parliament must be dissolved.

The prime ministers resignation and dissolution of parliament should take place before snap elections can be held. If these two processes are completed and we will have snap elections ahead, we will express our position on whether we take part in these elections, and if we do, then in what format. But [Pashinians] resignation should come first, he said, talking to media.

Talking to several media on Friday, the leader of the BHK, Gagik Tsarukian, announced his upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Pashinian. He said that Pashinian must resign and snap parliamentary elections must be held in the country as early as possible to end the current political crisis.

Unlike it was before, Tsarukian did not appear to insist on electing a new prime minister in parliament and forming any provisional government before holding preterm elections at some point in the future.

Earlier, Edmon Marukian, the leader of the other opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament, said his faction was ready not to field any candidate if Pashinian resigned to clear the way for snap elections.

Pashinian enjoys a comfortable majority in the Armenian parliament and practically does not need any assurance on the part of the opposition to resign and ensure that the parliament twice fails to elect a new prime minister for snap elections to be appointed. He and his political team, however, have sought such assurances from the two opposition factions to exclude any risks of political upheavals in the country.
President Joe Biden has officially signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, the largest one to date.

He also did it with zero Republican support, with Texas' Republican senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz among those who voted against the bill, per the Texas Tribune's Abby Livingston.

FOR THE CULTURE: Black Twitter takes Black resilience and humor online

The relief plan will provide $350 billion to cities and states that saw a drop in tax revenue but increase in expenses, more than $25 billion in emergency rental assistance, nearly $10 billion in emergency mortgage aid for homeowners, extensions of unemployment payments through early September  and a third round of stimulus checks, starting at $1,400.

"Moneybagg Joe," a play on the moniker given to Megan Thee Stallion's rapper ex-boyfriend Moneybagg Yo, began to trend shortly after. And as of Friday morning, Twitter still had memes rolling in.

The money could begin being distributed to Americans as soon as this weekend, the president said.

It took more than just COVID-19 vaccine supply to transform Worcester State University property into an immunization site.

Setting up university space to become a vaccination site required some costly purchases. Thousands were spent on items like freezer/refrigerator units, laptops, security cameras, cords and power strips, according to documents obtained by MassLive through a public records request.

It costs $8,000 a day to run the vaccine site at Worcester State, according to a university spokeswoman. The site is open Tuesdays through Saturdays. That means in the 19 days it has been open for vaccinations, operation costs have reached $152,000.

Saint Vincent Hospital operates the site along with Worcester State and Commonwealth Medicine. When in full operation, the facility has the capacity to give up 2,000 vaccinations per day.

Because vaccine supply has been limited thus far, the site has not yet reached the full extent of its operational capabilities, which means there could be more costs. Worcester State believes it can recover all costs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and those discussions are ongoing.

Worcester State said equipment can be repurposed after the vaccination site is no longer in use. For example, laptops can go toward a student laptop loan program and a freezer/refrigerator can go to the biology department.

A deposit sheet showed $15,556.80 for COVID freezers. Another document showed more than $13,000 for a freezer unit that was ordered on Feb. 5.

More than $8,300 in security cameras and door alarms were installed at the site, according to documents.

One purchase order showed 20 Dell laptops totaling $20,200. Another purchase order listed 15 Dell laptops for $15,150.

Technology wasnt the only thing needed to make the university a vaccination site. The Springfield-based Valet Park of America is providing greeter services, which documents indicate costs $248.47 per greeter per day.

There was also a $6,323 rental from Creedon and Co. for marquees and tent materials.

Protective equipment like gloves and Purell hand sanitizer cost more than $8,000, according to an order form.

Among the smaller orders made were 25 traffic cones for $716.75, according to the records.

Costs are higher to operate the states mass vaccination sites. Massachusetts is paying more than $1.1 million per week to CIC Health, the company operating the super vaccination sites at Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium, records show.

With opening day approaching for Fenway Park, the vaccine site will move to Hynes Convention Center. Fenway will take patients until March 27, a Saturday, before shutting down.

The Reggie Lewis Center in Bostons Roxbury neighborhood had a city-run vaccination site that recently became a super vaccination site overseen by the state. The center, also operated by CIC Health, is charging an estimated $200,948 this week for expenses, according to the contract. By March 28, the vendor will charge $407,641 in expenses each week.

Curative operates mass vaccination sites in Springfield and Danvers. Records show the state is paying $45 per shot in addition to covering expenses for security and traffic control which maxed out at about $20,000 per week at each site.

Vaccine demand continues to be higher than supply in Massachusetts. So far, the state has administered a total of 2,288,933 vaccine doses. As of Thursday night, 784,789 Massachusetts residents have been fully vaccinated, which is 172,494 more people since last week.

On Thursday, K-12 employees and child care workers became eligible for inoculation, adding some 400,000 workers to the states list of residents looking for appointments.

The state last week estimated that it would take a month for all eligible K-12 workers to secure a first appointment based on the current vaccine supply. Massachusetts only gets 150,000 first doses of vaccine every week, officials have said.

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Google introduced swipeable Tiles for Wear OS back in 2019 as a way to offer information, such as the weather or a user's fitness info, on a quick-access interface. The Tiles users can add to their smartwatches are pretty limited, though, and all of them are first-party offerings from Google or from their device's manufacturer. That's bound to change in the near future, because the tech giant has announced that the Jetpack Tiles library, which third-party developers can use to create custom Wear OS Tiles, is in alpha.

The fate of Google's Wear OS has been hanging in the balance for a while now. It hasn't gotten a new version in years, and some believe that the tech giant's Fitbit acquisition could spell death for the platform. Regardless, Wear OS is still around, and Google has been rolling out small updates for it. Back in November, for instance, it added three new Tile options for those who want a shortcut to recent workouts, to weather information and to guided breathing sessions. The company says it will also roll out an update this spring that would give users access to any third-party Tiles that gets developed for the OS.
The boyfriend of a British woman who went missing in the US Virgin Islands has been pictured for the first time.

Ryan Bane, 44, told officers his girlfriend Sarm Heslop, 41, might have fallen overboard from their catamaran after he woke up at 'around 2am' on Monday and 'realised that she was not on board.'

Mr Bane, who owns and skippers the 47ft Siren Song, said he was awoken by the sound of the boat's anchor alarm, which sounds when a vessel has moved too far from its mooring, before discovering his girlfriend was missing.

The US Coast Guard told local media it was alerted to Ms Heslop's disappearance at 11.46am.

It comes as police searching for the missing 41-year-old from Southampton continue to scour land and water off the island of St John, where the yacht was moored.

Ryan Bane, 44, who owns and skippers the 47ft Siren Song, said he was awoken by the sound of the boat's anchor alarm before realising his girlfriend was no longer onboard

Sarm Heslop (pictured) was last seen on a catamaran in the US Virgin Islands on Sunday

A friend of Mr Bane's said he was 'beside himself with grief' and 'totally distraught'.

They said: 'He is beside himself with grief and worry. He is heartbroken. I know from what he's said that Ryan and Sarm were very much in love.'

The friend added that Mr Bane was awoken at 'around 2am' by the sound of his anchor alarm.

They added: 'Ryan said his anchor alarm went off. He woke and found Sarm wasn't in bed. He got up and went around the boat but there was no sign of her.'

Following Ms Heslop's disappearance, the 41-year-old's friends have been left 'devastated' and have urged the authorities to make the search for her 'a critical priority'.

'Her friends here at home are devastated and just need her disappearance to be made a critical priority,' a friend in the UK said.

The friend said they were told that Heslop's phone, passport and belongings had all been left behind on the yacht.

'She would not just disappear, leaving no trace,' they said.

The friend added: 'We would like to thank all the local community for their support in searching for Sarm both on water and land.

'They have been so amazing but we urge them not to give up until she is found or we have more information.'

Ms Heslop is described as a slim 41-year-old woman with a southern English accent and a tattoo on her left shoulder.

She was last seen on board on Sunday before her boyfriend called the Coast Guard's San Juan station reporting that 'his girlfriend may have fallen' from the yacht.

The Leopard 4700 luxury catamaran was moored off the coast of St John, the third-largest of the US Virgin Islands.

Police and volunteers searching for the missing 41-year-old from Southampton (left) are scouring the waters (right) off the island of St John where the yacht was moored

'Heslop was last seen on March 7 aboard the vessel Siren Song, that was moored off the coast of St John,' Virgin Islands police spokesman Toby Derima said.

Divers from various law enforcement agencies have searched hundreds of square feet of water for Heslop.

Volunteers from the Virgin Islands have also scoured the area around Cruz Bay during daylight hours, police said.

'Unfortunately, this effort proved unsuccessful,' said Derima who added that the search will continue.

An island source in St John where the boat was last seen said that they are very concerned about her welfare.

'An Englishwoman has gone missing on our island and we are appealing for help in trying to locate her, 'they said.

'Every day that goes by and we don't have any news about her is a major concern for us. We need to locate her as soon as possible.'




The Treasury Department said on Friday that stimulus payments would begin arriving in bank accounts by direct deposit this weekend as the Biden administration tries to get much-needed money to struggling families.

Treasury and Internal Revenue Service Officials said the payments would be released in batches over the next several weeks, with some coming in the mail in the form of checks or debit cards. The payments are the first big logistical test for Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, as millions of Americans are anxiously awaiting the economic aid.

The payments will provide up to $1,400 per individual, including dependents. The amounts will be reduced for people making more than $75,000 and for married couples who earn more than $150,000. Individuals earning more than $80,000 or couples making more than $160,000 will not get payments.

This is the third round of direct payments since the pandemic started last year. The amount of money each person qualifies for is based on tax information filed with the Internal Revenue Service for 2019 or 2020.
Mark Miller Photos/Getty Images

Last Friday, Hawaii governor David Ige approved Kauais return to Hawaiis Safe Travels program, which means the island will re-open to Trans-Pacific travelers next month.

The Garden Isle has attempted to balance the needs of its economy against those of its residents to survive in the pandemic, but not without some devastating effects.
Lockdown may restrict where we go, but it has not stopped Barnstorm Theatre Company and Barn Owl Players from producing their latest collaboration.

Following the success of last Septembers virtual production, Zoom BOP: Confinement, Love in Lockdown takes virtual theatre to a new level.

The producers called on local writers to write short plays on the multifaceted theme of love in lockdown. The results far exceeded expectations and the producers received 20 submissions.

The submissions were selected by a team of panellists, Philip Hardy artistic director of Barnstorm Theatre Company, renowned playwright Maeve Ingoldsby, and professional critic and Barn Owl Player committee member Cara ODoherty.

With so many excellent plays in the pot, Barnstorm and Barn Owls are delighted to present two productions, the first of which will debut online on March 18 at 730pm. The first outing, Love in Lockdown I will showcase work by the first five writers.

Rehearsed online but filmed live following Covid-19 protocols, the five plays are diverse, exciting and innovative - the five writers are as diverse as their work.

The writers



Rosey Hayes has written her second play, Legacy. She began her professional actor training in 2012, earning her BA Hons degree in 2016, before going on to study with David Scott and graduating from his Applied Art of Acting course in 2017.

Since then, Rosey has worked with various companies, including Barnstorm, Barn Owl Players, Devious, Dreamstuff and KATS. Following some encouragement from her peers in the Barn Owl Players, she recently discovered a love for writing. She had her first work produced as part of their Confinement Monologues programme in September 2020.

Legacy is directed by Ger Cody, who is synonymous with theatre in Kilkenny. Legacy stars Barn Owl Players stalwarts Jim Carroll and Mags Whitely.

Legacy is an allegory of betrayal, shame and loss, said Hayes. It proposes the question; even if we can conceal our past from those around us, can we ever truly bury it from ourselves?



Niall ORiordan brings Flat White to Love in Lockdown. The play revolves around two young men who meet in a cafe.

Matthew is still coming to terms with the breakup, ORiordan explains. Peader wants to move on and leave their relationship where he believes it belongs, in the past.

Of course, a breakup is never straightforward, and this former couple has a lot to discuss.

ORiordan has acted in numerous productions in Kilkenny such as The Playboy of the Western World with Barnstorm and Dracula, A Clockwork Orange and The Elephant Man with Kats Theatre Group.

While studying at Maynooth University, he was active in both the Drama and Musical societies. He directed several productions, including his original play The Rarest Thing in the World and the 2017 full-scale musical Spring Awakening. He currently teaches English in Colaiste Pobail Osrai.

The play is directed by James Power, founder and Artistic Director of Stagemad Theatre Company, Waterford. Flat White stars Sean Hackett, a familiar face to Kilkenny audiences and Robert Holmes, a Kilkenny actor trained in London.



Former Kilkenny Youth Theatre member Anna Doyle has written To Be Adored. Doyle is a student of drama and English at NUI Galway. She enjoys absurdist and post-modern theatre and likes to write expressionistic pieces. Her plays have premiered around the world, from Galway to Manchester to New York City.

To Be Adored sees two young women reunited, she said, proving that the time apart has changed them irrevocably.

Directed by Rosey Hayes, To Be Adored stars Adrienne Walsh and Aisling McDonagh.



Denise Dowling is excited to present her first play, Undying. The Kilkenny native, who spent some time living in Barcelona before returning in 2018, is now studying for a MA in Creative Writing at DCU.

When Alfie reunites with an old flame, he is forced to face some harsh truths, she said of Undying. His heart is being pulled in two directions, but will he be able to bury past hurts or will his obsession to find meaning in the madness continue to consume him?

The play is directed by well-known actor John Prendergast and stars Kilkenny-based actors Paul McManus, president of Carlow Little Theatre Society, and Niamh Hennessy.



Eithne Reilly has been performing and writing for as long as she can remember. Eithne holds a Degree in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin and has also studied at Central School of Speech and Drama London and Maynooth University. She worked in Youth and Community Arts for many years and is also a qualified Adult Career Guidance Counsellor. She is primarily interested in writing about women and disability.

Reilly brings us Self-Improvement, a play that has more to it than meets the eye.

Katie and Audrey reunite nearly 20 years after leaving school, said Reilly. Katie is preparing to get married. Has the wild child grown-up or in Covid times has she been restricted?

Delia Lowrey wears many hats when it comes to theatre. She takes this directors role for Self-Improvement, which stars Kilkenny native Caitriona Bambrick and Corkwoman Emer Peet who now lives in Kilkenny.

Love In Lockdown premieres at 7.30pm on March 18 - the producers, writers, cast and crew cannot wait for people to join them on the night. For updates and viewing details, check the Barn Owl Players and Barnstorm Theatre Company Facebook pages.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their interview with Oprah Winfrey; Prince William and Kate Middleton visiting a school in London on March 11. Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images; Justin Tallis - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The royal family is carrying on with normal duties after Harry and Meghan's bombshell interview.

Prince William and Kate Middleton promoted mental health in schools on Thursday.

The Queen celebrated British Science Week with students and scholars on Friday.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's no-subjects-off-limits interview with Oprah Winfrey, the British royal family has seemingly carried on as usual.

Speaking with Winfrey, Markle and Harry said that unnamed senior royals (who Winfrey later said, per Harry, were neither the Queen nor Prince Philip) expressed "concerns" about Archie's skin tone before he was born.

Markle also said she was "silenced" by the palace and that she expressed as a royal that she didn't want to be alive anymore but was denied mental health support.

The Queen acknowledged Harry and Markle's interview in a statement from Buckingham Palace on Tuesday and said their allegations of racism would be addressed "privately." Throughout the week, the royal family continued with community appearances and promoting their patronages.

While it's possible that many of these engagements may have long been scheduled, they also show what the royal family is prioritizing - and it doesn't include giving much more acknowledgment of Harry and Markle's interview.

Prince William and Kate Middleton promoted mental health in schools

Prince William and Kate Middleton on March 11 at School21 for a discussion related to mental health in schools. JUSTIN TALLIS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

On Thursday, Prince William and Kate Middleton made their first public appearance after Harry and Markle's interview aired in the UK on Monday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited School 21 in Stratford, London to speak with teachers and mental health professionals about Mentally Healthy Schools, the UK's first mental health information and resource hub for secondary schools and colleges, according to Kensington Palace.

At the school, Prince William broke his silence about his relationship with his brother.

Story continues

Prince William told Sky News correspondent Inzamam Rashid that he hadn't talked to Harry since the interview but that he "will do." The Duke of Cambridge also said the royal family is "very much not a racist family."

Prince William and Middleton have long championed mental-health initiatives. They even previously worked with Harry and Markle (when they were working royals) to launch Shout 85258, the UK's first free, confidential, 24/7 texting support service.

Despite the family's support of mental-health organizations, neither Prince William nor Middleton has addressed Markle telling Winfrey that as a senior royal, she wasn't able to get the help she needed.

The Queen celebrated science education in a lighthearted call

The 94-year-old monarch attended an event on Friday to celebrate British Science Week.

The Queen, who tuned in from Windsor Castle, showed her sense of humor while speaking about her 1961 meeting with Russian pilot and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first person to travel to space.

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"What was he like?" Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a British space scientist, asked the Queen.

"Russian," the Queen responded. "He didn't speak English."

She continued: "He was fascinating, and I suppose being the first one was particularly fascinating."

The Queen also reacted to pictures taken by NASA's Perseverance rover and congratulated science students and scholars.

Prior to the premiere of Harry and Markle's interview with Winfrey, the royal family hinted at how they would seemingly carry on after the tell-all conversation.

Hours before the Sussexes' interview aired in the US on Sunday, members of the family spoke in a previously scheduled Commonwealth Day broadcast.

At the time, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told Harper's Bazaar that the broadcast was a way of showing "where the royal family's priorities lie."

Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment for this story.

Read the original article on Insider
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced today she will introduce legislation to make the citys Shared Spaces Program permanent.

The program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing businesses and cultural organizations to operate in outdoor spaces like sidewalks, streets and open lots. Breed said these spaces have revitalized San Francisco and acted as a lifeline for business during the past year.

While parklets existed pre-pandemic, she said the program, which debuted in 2010, was difficult and slow to grow because of bureaucracy. She detailed her new proposal and reasoning in a Medium post.

And this legislation is not going to be bureaucracy as usual, Breed wrote. I refuse to let the City just revert to its old ways, because the way the City operated before wasnt effective for our residents or businesses. Why would we ever go back to months and years of permit processing and endless appeals?

The legislation would require that all applications for a Shared Space receive a response within 30 days.

Breed acknowledged the current Shared Spaces program is not perfect, pointing out an issue with making these spaces navigable for people with disabilities. The city would craft new guidelines for the program that would address these issues and ensure enforcement by businesses.

Restaurants, bars and other small businesses across the city have put big money into these shared spaces  one Sunset restaurant built a patio that cost $70,000  and many were relieved when the program was extended through June 30, 2021. A recent Shared Spaces survey found that 80% of businesses said the program allowed them to avoid permanent closure and 94% of operators said they would continue to operate an outdoor Shared Space even once allowed to operate indoors.

More than 2,100 individual operators have utilized the Shared Spaces Program.
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Today

Cloudy this morning followed by isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
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Watertown, N.Y. -- A man who was training to become a firefighter in Watertown has died after suffering a medical emergency while training.

Peyton Morse, 21, died Friday afternoon, according to a statement from the Shaker Road-Loudonville Fire Department. Morse had previously been an associate member of that department before training to become a firefighter in Watertown.

Morse suffered the medical emergency at the New York State Academy of Fire Science on March 3 and was flown to Guthrie Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania, according to the statement. The academy is located in Montour Falls, near Watkins Glen.

The Watertown Fire Department gave Morse his badge and swore him in as a Watertown firefighter while he was hospitalized, according to a report from the Watertown Daily Times.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
In this April 9, 2015, file photo, divers emerge from the water as debris believed to be from a car floats to the surface where a car went off a pier and into the water in Los Angeles' San Pedro harbor district. A man accused of drowning two of his sons and trying to kill his ex-wife by driving them off a Los Angeles wharf to collect an insurance payout was sentenced Thursday, March 11, 2021, to 212 years in prison for fraud. Steve McCrank/AP

A California man was sentenced to 212 years in prison for the death of his sons.

Ali F. Elmezayen, 45, drove a car with his ex-wife and two youngest children off a wharf in Los Angeles, California.

Elmezayen was also ordered to pay $261,751 in restitution to the insurance companies he scammed.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A California man was sentenced to 212 years in federal prison for intentionally driving his ex-wife and two disabled sons off an L.A. wharf, DOJ officials say.

Ali F. Elmezayen, 45, was sentenced by US District Judge John F. Walter on March 11, who called the crime an"evil and diabolical scheme." Elmezayen was also ordered to pay $261,751 in restitution to the insurance companies that he defrauded, according to a release from prosecutors.

"He is the ultimate phony and a skillful liarand is nothing more than a greedy and brutal killer," Judge Walter said. "The only regret that the defendant has is that he got caught."

On April 9, 2015, Elmezayen drove a car with his ex-wife and two youngest children off a wharf at the Port of Los Angeles. Investigators say he swam out the open driver's side window of the car while his ex-wife, who did not know how to swim, escaped the vehicle and survived after a nearby fisherman threw her a flotation device.

Two of the couple's three sons, an 8- and 13-year-old and who were both severely autistic, were strapped in the car and drowned. The couple's third son was away at camp at the time and was not in the car at the time his father drove it into the water.

Before the incident, Elmezayen bought from eight different insurance companies more than $3 million of life and accidental death insurance policies on himself and his family between July 2012 and March 2013.

After purchasing the policies, Elmezayen repeatedly called the insurance companies - sometimes pretending to be his ex-wife in - to verify that the policies were active and that they would pay benefits if his ex-wife died in an accident.

Story continues

He also called at least two of the insurance companies to confirm they would not investigate claims made two years after the policies were purchased. These telephone calls were recorded and were played for the jury.

After the incident, Elmezayen collected more than $260,000 in insurance proceeds from Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance and American General Life Insurance on the accidental death insurance policies he had taken out on the children's lives. He used part of the insurance payout to purchase real estate in Egypt as well as a boat.

According to the Department of Justice, Elmezayen repeatedly lied to law enforcement officers and insurance companies, and in subsequent civil litigation he filed concerning the crash - including the extent of the insurance he had purchased on his family and whether he had insured his disabled children's lives. He also attempted to persuade witnesses to lie to law enforcement and say he had given the insurance proceeds to charity.

"Today Ali Elmezayen was held accountable for his actions, which directly led to the tragic death of his two sons. It is unthinkable that any father would jeopardize the lives of his family for his own financial gain," said Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner of IRS Criminal Investigation in the press release. "IRS-CI is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to help bring some closure to this horrifying scheme."

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Atitiriw Magazine team together with actress Nana Ama McBrown paid a visit to Despite Medias Managing Director, Dr. Fadda Dickson Narh to give him first glance of the magazines latest edition.



The magazine's executives visited Fadda who is on the cover of the latest edition, to present him with exclusive copies before it is officially released on the market.



The affable media magnate received Atitiriw Magazine CEO and her team and expressed his gratitude to them for choosing him to cover the magazines latest edition.



Maud Acheampong, CEO of Atitiriw Magazine on her part, stated that Fadda Dicksons achievements and contribution in the media landscape is incomparable, and cited the highest honour bestowed on him during the 2020 Radio & Television Personality Awards, adding that is what motivated the team to settle on him for the cover.



"....this is to celebrate him and project his personality and achievements," she added.



Fadda Dickson, was honoured with Super Hero of the year Award at 2020 RTP Awards for his amazing managerial skills and input into the media works in Ghana. His company Despite Media, won over 13 awards on the same night.



Fadda Dickson has successfully managed the Despite Media empire for over two decades and sill counting. The Despite Media platforms includes; Peace FM, Hello FM, Okay FM, UTV, Neat FM and Peacefmonline.com among others.



Watch the video below:





Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The second-known person to naturally cure their HIV infection has been discovered by scientists in Argentina.

Apart from other novel findings, the discovery brings the possibility of a cure closer for the 38 million people living with HIV globally.

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According to Mail Online, a group of Harvard-based scientists announced the discovery at a major international meeting of HIV experts.

Known only as the 'Esperanza patient', she is the second person to be found to have no intact virus. The first  Loreen Willenberg, 67, from San Francisco  was found in August.

Also Read: World AIDS Day: Like COVID-19, The World Needs To Come Together In Battle Against AIDS

Loreen Willenberg was part of a group of elite controllers whose HIV appears to be locked away where it cant produce a new virus.

'Finding one patient with this natural ability for functional cure [no virus that can reproduce] is good, but finding two means so much more,' said Dr Natalia Laufer, the patient's doctor and an HIV researcher in Buenos Aires, according to The Times.

'It means there must be more people like this out there,' she said. 'This is a significant leap forward in the world of HIV cure research. Upon diagnosis, her tests surprised us all.'

Reuters

Reports state that  the Esperanza Patient and Willenberg  are extreme examples of a rare group of people known as elite controllers, who have never taken antiretroviral therapy to fight the virus, and who show no signs of the virus in their blood.

Antiretroviral therapy can keep HIV replication suppressed, the virus inserts its genetic material into the chromosomes of human cells, making it very difficult to eradicate. HIV can lie dormant in a reservoir of resting immune cells indefinitely, but when antiretrovirals are stopped and the cells become activated, they can start churning out new virus.

aidsmap

The finding of the Argentinian woman, Professor Yu said, and the understanding of how the bodies of elite patients deal with the virus 'opens a door to a potential cure', she said.

Also Read: When A 7-Year-Old Kid Saw The Stigma HIV Patients Face, Even Before He Knew What AIDS Was

The work announced at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections provides the most convincing evidence to date that scientists are making significant progress towards a cure for HIV.
ESB and Norwegian energy giant Equinor are exploring five sites off the Irish coast, which they say could generate enough wind energy to power four million homes.

Over the last four months, the companies have submitted foreshore licence applications to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to study sites off the coasts of Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Clare.

The move, a first step to submitting planning applications, includes plans for two floating wind farms in waters that are too deep for fixed-bottom turbines.

The coast of Ireland has strong wind conditions, making it an interesting market for offshore wind, an Equinor spokesman said. Together with our Irish partner, ESB, we are looking into several potential offshore wind projects, both bottom-fixed and floating.

The Government has committed to generating 70pc of its electricity from renewables by 2030  from around 40pc last year  which would require a further five gigawatts (GW) of capacity.

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When you get into the offshore projects, youre in the gigawatt scale, so theres factor of 10 in terms of the amount of electricity produced from one offshore wind farm, compared to onshore wind farms, just because theyre so much bigger, said Paul Doherty, managing director at Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions, which has been working on offshore wind projects outside of Ireland for the last decade.

In terms of our 2030 targets, its the only way were going to be able to deliver on those promises.

The ESB-Equinor plans include a floating turbine 35km off the coast of Kerry and Clare, near the decommissioned Moneypoint coal-fired station, Irelands largest electricity plant.

That turbine, alongside a fixed-bottom project 20km closer to shore, could generate a combined 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of energy, enough to power around 1.5m homes.

The baseline cost of building 1GW of offshore wind capacity ranges from 1bn to 2.5bn.

Presenting ESBs annual results yesterday, chief financial officer Pat Fenlon said it would set aside at least 1.1bn in capital expenditure (its 2020 spend) from now on.

Ireland has only one offshore wind farm, SSE Airtricitys 25 megawatt (MW) Arklow Bank, off the coast of Co. Wicklow.

The Government has fast-tracked seven other offshore projects through the initial planning stage, including the 1GW Codling Wind Park off the Wicklow coast and ESBs Oriel venture with Belgiums Parkwind off the Louth coast.

Wind energy wholesale prices are between 20pc and 50pc higher in Ireland than they are in more developed markets such as the UK, Spain or Sweden.

Were paying too much for wind energy in Ireland. We should be a lot cheaper, said Justin Moran, head of communications for Wind Energy Ireland. Ireland could be the Saudi Arabia of wind energy. For our size, we probably have the best wind energy sources in the world.

Developers have high hopes for new planning rules currently winding their way through the Oireachtas and Irelands first offshore wind auction later this year.

In anticipation of that, there is widespread interest, said Mr Doherty. "There is more interest in the market than will ever be built out.
By Kang Joo-myung





International Gas Union (IGU) President Kang Joo-myung / Courtesy of IGU
Associated Press/Paul Sakuma

As we make our way into the 2020s, a serious deadline follows us. By the year 2030, several of the impacts created by climate change will be irreversible. The UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes (IPCC) states that we need to cut our carbon emissions by half to avoid a climate disaster. Gov. Gavin Newsoms deadline of 2045 for 100% clean energy will be much too late. As a California resident, the destructive consequences of severe wildfires became apparent in 2014, when I single-handedly watched a wildfire engulf the area around my school.

If we dont start enacting change now, the effects will only worsen, and California as we know it will become unlivable. We can prevent a crisis by utilizing green technology and calling on Newsom to move up the renewable energy deadline to 2030. Moving away from dirty oil practices that increase the Earths temperature through greenhouse gas emissions will greatly help us fight against climate change. Solving the climate change crisis may seem daunting, but if we start fighting for a greener planet now, we can ensure that there will be a safe and sustainable planet for our generation, and for many generations to come.
A grand jury has indicted a man in the toppling of a Theodore Roosevelt statue by protesters in October.

Brandon Bartells, 38, of Washington was charged with one count each of riot and first-degree criminal mischief.

The statue was pulled down along with Abraham Lincolns statue on the South Park Blocks by a group of about 200 protesters in an Oct. 11 event promoted as an Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage. The crowd threw chains or ropes on the Roosevelt statue, a bronze sculpture officially titled Theodore Roosevelt, Rough Rider, as others took a blowtorch to its base and splattered it with red paint.

The group also threw at least three flares inside the Oregon Historical Society lobby, fired shots into a closed cafe and smashed windows of the Portland State University campus public safety office.

During the event, Bartells was arrested on accusations of damaging the Roosevelt statue and later released on his own recognizance. He was found driving a white van suspected of pulling down the statue with chains and straps, police and prosecutors said.

A Homeland Security agent provided a Portland police detective with a photo of the van a few hours after the incident. Officers stopped the van at Southwest Second Avenue and Ash Street. In addition to Bartells, five other people were inside, authorities said.

The grand jury found more than $10,000 in damages to Portland city property. The state will seek a greater sentence than normal due to harm or loss greater than usual and Bartells failure to appear to a previous hearing, according to court documents.

Bartells confirmed by phone he also was detained with other protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in late August, accused of violating curfew. Bartells was one of more than 60 people cited and accused of violating a curfew that was in effect after protests erupted following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man.

The Multnomah County District Attorneys Office said it continues to prosecute past riot cases based on referred police reports.

-- Jaimie Ding

jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding
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.
If you owe money for certain kinds of debts, you may not get the third stimulus payment.

The new stimulus legislation, signed by President Joe Biden on Thursday, doesnt stop stimulus payments from being garnished, 19 consumer and financial industry groups said in a joint letter sent to Congress earlier this week.

The second stimulus package had a specific provision to protect payments from garnishment, while the first stimulus bill allowed the garnishment of stimulus money only for back child support. The third stimulus bill does not similarly protect debtors.

While the $1,400 payments cant be garnished for back taxes or child support, for example, according to the Tax Foundation, the payments can be garnished for private debts, such as judgments from a credit card company or other creditor.

We believe it is imperative that Congress ensure that these next stimulus payments are treated as benefits subject to the federal exemption from garnishment, the letter said. Otherwise, the families that most need this money  those struggling with debt and whose entire bank accounts may be frozen by garnishment orders  will be not be able to access their funds. This group includes very low-income families with children, people who have been disconnected from work opportunities for a long period, and many low-income adults now raising children in their homes.

Congress would need to pass new legislation to protect the funds from garnishment, the groups said, noting that without it, financial institutions will have no choice but to comply with court orders and hand stimulus funds over creditors who have won judgments.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) said Tuesday he would offer up separate legislation to protect the payments from garnishment.

The letter was signed by groups including the National Consumer Law Center, the American Bankers Association, Public Citizen and the Consumer Bankers Association.

People who havent received their first or second stimulus payments could also face possible garnishment when they claim the stimulus on their tax return based on tax law.

The estimated 8 million people who didnt get the payments can still get the money by filing a 2020 tax return, taking whats known as the Recovery Rebate Credit and getting the stimulus money as a tax refund. But because the IRS can garnish tax refunds, the money loses the protections that were part of the legislation, said Erin Collins, the National Taxpayer Advocate, an IRS watchdog, even though the stimulus funds are mostly off-limits.

The rug is being pulled out from under eligible individuals with outstanding debts, she said.

Collins called it unfair to treat taxpayers differently.

Financially struggling taxpayers who were entitled to receive the full amount of the Economic Impact Payment last year but did not have effectively been harmed once, she said. It is unfair to harm some of these taxpayers a second time by seizing some, or all, of their stimulus payments.

Collins said the IRS is permitted to use discretion and can choose to leave the stimulus funds untouched.

Given the pandemic and the millions of individuals struggling with financial issues, I believe the IRS should use its discretion to issue Recovery Rebate Credits without offset against federal tax debts, she said. The reality is that many of the taxpayers who are most likely to be subject to offset  because they cannot afford to pay their bills and have unpaid debts  are the ones who need relief the most.

The IRS has not yet addressed how it will treat the issue with the third stimulus payment.

Use our updated stimulus calculator to see how much you may receive.
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.
There's a lot of money at stake  close to $1 billion  from just one federal law alone to help the government of Guam and the public it serve Read more
RAY BROOK - The Adirondack Park Agency has approved a controversial subdivision near Great Sacandaga Lake, after agency staffers and attorneys said they can balance property rights and the environment without the mandates in a conservation bill that state lawmakers are debating for such developments.

Fridays approval is the first under the APAs new large-scale subdivision permit rule, which it created in 2018. The only board member who did not vote in favor of the permit application was John Ernst, who abstained because he disliked the project layout but did not feel he had a legal reason to vote against it. Ernst was not the only board member concerned about approving the project, though.

The plan with 32 homes partially surrounding a wooded lake near Northville has long served as an example among conservationists for why Albany should prescribe smarter designs that concentrate homes and their ecological impacts. Such legislation has failed in previous sessions.

Chris Cooper, an APA attorney, said the boards role is not to design projects. The boards role is to review projects that come to it.

Sarah Reynolds, another APA attorney, said if the board were to vote no based on more of a subjective spin  the agency would run the risk of potentially a lawsuit from a developer.

Other board members praised the subdivisions design, calling it a successful development plan that still protects natural resources.

Andrea Hogan, a board member and supervisor for the town of Johnsburg, congratulated APA staff and the developer after the board approved it.

We all know landowners have rights, but these folks demonstrated that with those rights come responsibilities, Hogan said. I look forward to a neighborhood we can point to as a best practice.

The project was proposed by New York Land and Lakes Development. It will consist of 32 building lots aligned in a horseshoe pattern around the 100-acre Woodward Lake in Fulton County. The homes will have their own wells be on individual septic systems. The lake is manmade, near the northwest corner of Great Sacandaga Lake and adjacent to the states Shaker Mountain Wild Forest. The developer could build more lots, based on the park land classification that the property is in, but New York Land and Lakes is giving up the additional building rights. That means the property cannot be further subdivided.

The project will also include a new 2,000-foot road.

Advocacy groups in the Adirondacks have spoken against the subdivision plan, with some calling it a death warrant to Woodward Lake.

Dave Gibson, managing partner of Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve, said APAs approval only shows more need than ever for legislation that would follow conservation-friendly design. Gibson said in a news release that the APA should have been able to reduce the number of building lots and eliminate the new road.

By their own actions today APA demonstrated how their voluntary system is toothless and why new legal mandates for conservation design are required, Gibson said.

The proposed law is sponsored by state Sen. Todd Kaminsky, D-Long Island, and state Assemblyman Steve Englebright, D-Setauket. It would require large-scale subdivision projects in the park to concentrate building lots, which would allow for more open space and forestland to remain undisturbed.

state Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, has said he does not believe the legislation is needed. The APAs stance, following the lengthy discussion on this project, seems in agreement.

APA Executive Director Terry Martino said in a news release that the new permit application protected open space, wildlife and habitat resources while also meeting the marketability goals of the applicant.

APAs staff, including the lead on the project, Ariel Lynch, recommended the project be approved and determined that it would have no undue adverse impacts to resources.

The Woodward Lake project has been more than two years in the making, going through several iterations of where building lots would be located. There were also two public comment periods on the project during that time. Those resulted in 37 written comments, 32 of which were opposed to the project.

This story was first appeared on the Adirondack Explorer's website.
For the past century Midland Kiwanis Club has impacted the lives of countless youth and seniors in the region. The organization may not be able to meet in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, but members are taking the time to reflect on the clubs past, current projects and how it has evolved over the decades.

Kiwanis began in 1915 in Detroit as a fraternal organization. The clubs name comes from a phrase in the Otchipew language, Nunc Kee-wanis which has been translated to signify a few different phrases; Donna Jo Aiken of Midland said it means I make noise.

The Midland club was chartered by the Saginaw club and on July 14, 1921, it became the 18th chapter in Michigan. Midland Kiwanis began with 15 members with Clarence E. Rice serving as its first president. Over the years the club welcomed women as members and at one point was pushing toward 100 members. In 1967, Midland Kiwanis sponsored the creation of a sister branch, Kiwassee Kiwanis.

We all work under the same mission statement: Dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of our community with an emphasis on young children. Kiwassee is focused on the same areas, but they service different schools, Aiken said.

Aiken explained that members should have a desire to be involved in the community, have a love of children and an interest in getting involved in the club. Aiken was aware of Midland Kiwanis for many years but was busy with other community organizations. In 2007, she joined at the behest of her friends and has been involved in its programs ever since, attending weekly meetings and learning more about needs in the region.

Its a way to find out whats going on in the community through our programs, Aiken said.

Midland Kiwanis first recorded service project was erecting welcome signs at the entrances of Midland in 1921. In 1959, the club established the Midland Kiwanis Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants to local organizations. The club has expanded to focus on sponsoring student programs in high schools and Northwood University, building handicap accessible playgrounds and volunteering with preschool classes and at Cleveland Manor, just to name a few activities.

Earl Soules joined Midland Kiwanis in 1995 after hearing a co-worker talk about the club. Soules was attracted by the organizations participation in Midland County 4-Hs Tall in the Saddle, a therapeutic horse-riding program. Eventually he became involved with other community-based projects including building handicap accessible playgrounds.

Weve had the opportunity to create playgrounds and learning experiences for children in Midland County. I think were working on the right end of the spectrum, working with young kids, because thats where well have the greatest impact, Soules said.

Its fun to work with a group of men and women to accomplish something that we know children will enjoy, said Donal Hammond, who has been a Midland Kiwanis member since the mid-1980s.

Hammond believes the clubs biggest accomplishment was acquiring Camp Neyati in 1938. Midland Kiwanis sends a team to the camp twice a year  once in the spring to prepare it for the camping season, once in the autumn to close operations  provides funding and works on projects onsite.

Through the years, its become a pretty neat place, Hammond said.

Midland Kiwanis has evolved over the years, welcoming new faces and engaging people with programs and service projects. One of the challenges the organization has faced recently is its small percentage of newer members. Midland Kiwanis members are eager to bring in younger generations and benefit from their perspectives, but its not always feasible.

When were fortunate enough to enroll a young person in our organization, maybe someone who just got out of college, our problem is they dont stick around, Hammond said, adding that they either move or transfer to a different chapter.

They either go out and do their own thing or theyre busier than we were with their families and kids, Aiken said.

The camaraderie between Midland Kiwanis members is rewarding for Soules. He has seen how the different committees within the organization have driven the activities as well as the positive impact of engaging with the Greater Midland Family Centers to learn about needs in the community. With members from across the Midland area, the clubs reach has broadened, Aiken said.

Over the life of the club, we feel weve had a significant impact on the lives of others and the quality of life of youth in Midland County, Soules said.

Kiwanis is active and its a good organization to be a part of because you can make a difference in the greater Midland community, Aiken said.

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the Midland Kiwanis Club will be submitting a monthly column highlighting the clubs history, programs and impact on the community. For more information about the club and to check meeting times, visit midlandkiwanis.org.
One of the vandalised headstones at the old Clonattin graveyard on the outskirts of Gorey

One of the vandalised headstones at the old Clonattin graveyard on the outskirts of Gorey

One of the vandalised headstones at the old Clonattin graveyard on the outskirts of Gorey

Gorey gardai are investigating after headstones at the old Clonattin graveyard on the outskirts of Gorey were damaged by spray paint.

The blue paint, commonly used to mark roads, was sprayed across a number of headstones, some of which are very significant to Gorey's history.

The incident was reported to gardai during the last weekend of February with a clean up due to take place as soon as possible.

Genealogist John Nangle, who is part of a Graveyard Committee in the North Wexford Historical Society, visited the graveyard last week and was appalled by what he saw.

The graveyard had become very overgrown in recent years until a team of volunteers, including members of North Wexford Historical Society and Gorey Tidy Towns, cleared it three years ago. Wexford County Council now helps maintain it.

'It was a ridiculous sort of thing to do, and the culprits are clearly opportunistic vandals,' said Mr Nangle. 'This could cause colossal damage to several headstones as they could be permanently damaged even after they are cleaned, particularly around the lettering as the paint will probably still be visible.

Expand Close Although there are plans to clean the headstones, it's not known if the road marker paint can be removed / Facebook

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Whatsapp Although there are plans to clean the headstones, it's not known if the road marker paint can be removed

Sadly, this is not the first incidence of vandalism at the graveyard.

'In 2017, damage was done when someone went at the three sides of the large Ram family tomb slab tablet trying to remove it, and some other headstones were smashed off their plinth, and other items were damaged then,' said Mr Nangle. 'We think that these people were under the impression that there was wealth put into the grave, but at that stage in history, there were never any valuables put into graves - it's not the pyramids.

'It's a mixed graveyard that's a long way from the road, and we believe that people from a famine workhouse were buried there as the workhouse graveyard had overflow, and there's a monument there erected by the Bishop Comiskey to mark that. There's raised ground all around the area so you can generally take it that people have been buried there over 1,000 years now,' he said.

'The wall of the church that's there is still standing from before the Normans arrived in Ireland, before 1169, so that's how long the area has been used as a place of worship and as a burial ground'.

Mr Nangle said that members of the society were trying to figure out if the spray spelled out a message or meant anything, but they are still uncertain.

'The council has a contractor that goes in to the graveyard, it's not overgrown but when the Gorey Show was in that field, I used to do a walk and talk tour and bring people around it but I wasn't there this year because the show wasn't on. Volunteers would be around different graveyards checking them but there's be no set pattern to it. The vandals used this can of road marker (paint) and left it there, and to us it seemed like a spray that wouldn't be used for ordinary spray painting'.

Sergeant Stephen Ennis said that the site, located about a mile outside of Gorey would be monitored over the coming weeks.

'We are investigating this, looking at anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Whether it washes off or not, it'll still be investigated,' said Sgt Ennis.

'We'll be keeping an eye on the area over the coming weeks but we'd be appealing to parents to be conscious of where their children are when they're outside the house'.

District Manager of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Liz Stanley described what happened as 'completely unacceptable'.

'I am appalled by the disrespect shown by these individuals and arrangements have been made to collect the litter and clean up the graffiti. It's completely unacceptable to desecrate the headstones of people's loved ones like this and unfortunately these situations are becoming all too common. It's sad that there are people who don't appreciate the importance of these areas and the pain they cause to the people who do,' she said.

Councillor Joe Sullivan condemned the actions.

'It's not the first time this has happened and it won't be the last but it doesn't make it right. I would have thought that the location of the graveyard would make it safe enough from this carry on, but this is collateral damage from Covid. Some people with the persuasion for criminal damage find themselves with a considerable amount of time on their hands'.

He asked anyone knew who the perpetrators, to make themselves known to gardai.

In the 1980s, a big clean-up of the graveyard was organised by the Old Graveyard Restoration Committee, and later, a Mass was held and a memorial was unveiled bearing the inscription: 'Clonattin Cemetery 550-1962. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them'.

A ruined church of Kilmakilloge lies within the boundaries of the site and te oldest surviving headstone at the site, the oldest in the area, dates back to 1709, while the most recent burial was in 1963.
The new Democratic stance is a long cry from the days of big government is over, said Margaret Weir, a political scientist at Brown University.

In the eyes of its backers, the law is not just one of the most far-reaching packages of economic and social policy in a generation. It is also, they say, the beginning of an opportunity for Democrats to unite a new majority in a deeply polarized country, built around a renewed belief in government.

Next to civil rights, voting rights and open housing in the 60s, and maybe next to the Affordable Care Act  maybe  this is the biggest thing Congress has done since the New Deal, said Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio and a longtime champion of the antipoverty efforts included in Mr. Bidens plan.

People more and more realize that government can be on their side, he said, and now it is.

Conservatives are hardly giving up the battle over what some call a giant welfare expansion. Democrats face high hurdles to any further ambitious legislation, starting with the Senate filibuster, which requires most legislation to get 60 votes, and the precarious nature of the partys Senate majority. Moderate Democrats are already resisting further growth of the budget deficit.

But emboldened by the crisis, many Democrats see a new opportunity to use government to address big problems.

In addition to the new legislation being broadly popular with voters, an intensified focus on worker struggles on both the left and the right, including Republicans increasing efforts to define themselves as a party of the working class, has scrambled the politics of economic policy across the ideological spectrum.
Pro-life group slams COVID relief bill for failing to include Hyde protections

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A pro-life group is slamming the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package for failing to include a guarantee that taxpayer dollars will not fund abortions.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List, released a statement Thursday slamming President Joe Biden for signing into law the so-called "American Rescue Plan," the most recent legislative package passed purportedly to address the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, but largely funds other projects.

Dannenfelser slammed congressional Democrats for failing to include Hyde Amendment protections for funds distributed in the massive spending bill. The Hyde Amendment prevents the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.

"How far the Democratic Party now led by Joe Biden has fallen. Once an ardent supporter of the Hyde Amendment, today Biden's transformation is complete," she lamented. "He has fully caved to the extremists in his party, signing a massive expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion."

Dannenfelser had previously released a statement following the bill's passage in the House on Wednesday: "Shame on pro-abortion Democrats who exploited the COVID-19 relief to expand taxpayer-funded abortion on demand, breaking with more than four decades of bipartisan consensus. Most Americans, including millions of rank-and-file Democrats, oppose forcing taxpayers to fund abortions.

"Keeping taxpayers out of the abortion business should not be a partisan issue. Joe Biden himself was once an ardent supporter of the Hyde Amendment. He has caved to pro-abortion radicals within his party who chose to ignore this reality to their own political peril. Susan B. Anthony List will work tirelessly to educate voters so their elected officials are held accountable," she vowed.

Dannenfelser sounded the alarm about the relief package last week after the House passed it for the first time. She noted that "While previous bipartisan COVID relief packages have included Hyde protections on funding streams that fall outside of existing limits on abortion funding, this bill departs from the status quo by leaving funds open to use for abortion."

"This bill appropriates large sums of money for health activities and for community health centers outside of the Labor, Health, and Human Services appropriations, purposefully exempting the funds from the protection of the Hyde Amendment. This would allow the funding to be used for elective abortion, destroying rather than saving life," Dannenfelser warned.

In a press release published over the weekend, Dannenfelser thanked Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and James Lankford, R-Okla., for introducing an amendment to the bill that would insert Hyde protections. While three Democrats joined all Republicans in supporting the amendment, it failed to pass because the amendment required the support of three-fifths of the senators as opposed to a simple majority.

As Dannenfelser mentioned, the previous coronavirus relief packages received bipartisan support. However, the American Rescue Plan passed both houses of Congress without attracting any support from congressional Republicans. Democrats had to rely on the reconciliation process to pass the measure.

The reconciliation process enables legislation to pass the United States Senate with a simple majority, in contrast to most other legislation, which requires 60 votes to pass the upper chamber. Under the reconciliation process, the legislation passes the House and then moves to the Senate, which then passes its own bill, and then the House signs off on the Senate-approved legislation before it goes to the president's desk.

Because Democrats have a 50-50 majority in the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote, the bill passed without any support from Republicans. After the Senate passed the bill on a party-line basis, the House approved the bill by a 220-211 vote, with Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, joining all Republicans in opposing the measure.

Although the effort to include Hyde protections in the stimulus package failed, Republicans did succeed in addressing another one of Dannenfelser's concerns about the stimulus package. The pro-life activist had highlighted how the bill, as passed by the House, "changes the rules for small business funding so that the abortion giant can tap into that money as well."

An intervention from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., prevented that provision of the bill from making it into the final legislative package approved by the Senate. According to a press release from Paul's office, "Democrats had planned to waive affiliation rules for nonprofits to provide paycheck protection loans to Planned Parenthood in the House version of the COVID-19 relief package.

"The Paul team strenuously argued to the Senate Parliamentarian that this waiver would only benefit Planned Parenthood and thus violated the so-called Byrd Rule. Before the parliamentarian was able to rule on the arguments presented, the Democrats filed an updated version of the bill that did not include the offending provision."

A New York woman has pleaded guilty to hiring a hitman in Ecuador to kill her ex-husband's mother and his five-year-old daughter, in the hope that he would then spend more time with her.

Elsy Rodriguez-Garcia, 27, from Huntington Station on Long Island, admitted arranging the hit on Thursday.

As part of the deal, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the second degree, a class B felony, and will be sentenced to between two and six years in prison on April 15.

Elsy Rodriguez-Garcia, 27, plead guilty on Thursday to arranging the murder of her ex-inlaws

She was arrested in July 2019 (pictured) after police were tipped off about her scheme

Timothy Sini, the Suffolk County district attorney, is seen discussing the case on Thursday

Rodriguez-Garcia, who worked in a pediatrician's office, separated from her unnamed husband, and the father of one of her children, in January 2019.

He was spending time in Ecuador and so that summer Rodriguez-Garcia concocted a plan to try and win him back.

She contacted a hit man in Ecuador, asking that he kill her ex-mother in law, and her ex-husband's daughter from a previous relationship.

Timothy Sini, the Suffolk County district attorney, said that it was part of a warped plan to enable Rodriguez-Garcia to spend more time with him, without the distractions of his family.

Rodriguez-Garcia, he said, arranged the hits in Ecuador because she calculated she had less chance of being found out.

'This is a shocking and disturbing case,' Sini said.

'The defendant's intentions were very clear that she wanted this person murdered, and she was ready and willing to pay for it. Thankfully law enforcement was notified and able to intervene before anyone got hurt, and today's guilty plea ensures she is held accountable.'

Rodriguez-Garcia will be sentenced to between two and six years as part of a plea deal

Sini said that in July 2019, Rodriguez-Garcia contacted a co-conspirator via WhatsApp to carry out the murders, and provided photographs of one of the targets.

Rodriguez-Garcia gave them the address and agreed to pay $6,000 for their murder.

Her former husband learned of Rodriguez-Garcia's scheme, and tipped off police.

The police then faked a photo of what appeared to be the ex-mother-in-law and little girl dead, and sent it to Rodriguez-Garcia as proof that the murders had been carried out.

Rodriguez-Garcia was arrested on July 13.

'This plea brings closure to a tragic case for all involved, including my client,' said her lawyer, William Ferro, in a statement.

'The plea and the resultant time she has served for it should be sufficient to satisfy the interests of justice.'
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Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill's decision to snub a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday - and unionists' choleric reaction to it - was as depressing as it was predictable.

Given Mr Johnson's legacy of broken promises on previous visits, it was difficult to see his trip as much more than a glorified photo-opportunity by a premier desperate to rebuild fractured relations with unionism here.

Sinn Fein was quick to denounce his visit as a publicity stunt and said Mrs O'Neill was "otherwise engaged".

But a cynic might easily conclude Mr Johnson was not the only one pulling stunts yesterday.

Sinn Fein had initially asked if party president Mary Lou McDonald could join his meeting, in the confident assessment the request would be refused as a breach of protocol.

This would then give Mrs O'Neill a reason to pull out, thus avoiding being photographed playing second fiddle to the Prime Minister (and in the First Minister's Fermanagh heartland to boot).

Unionist condemnation was as swift as it was foreseen.

However, in reality, yesterday shouldn't have been about a day out for either unionism or republicanism, much less an occasion for more prime ministerial dissembling.

Abstentionism is still a tried and trusted tactic in Sinn Fein's playbook, but the need for both it and the DUP constantly to appeal to their respective bases is dispiriting.

Between the contrasting fortunes of the vaccination schemes north and south and the political instability caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol, there would have been more than enough to discuss at a three-way meeting - if the participants could resist the temptation to score points.

Even the most indolent student of Irish history could tell you, when the real hard graft starts to bear political fruit - the Good Friday Agreement, St Andrews Agreement, the New Decade, New Approach deal - all the parties are in the tent, not loitering moodily outside.
Tom Reel, Staff / Staff photographer

With former San Antonio councilman Greg Brockhouse filing to run for mayor in the 2021 city elections, the stage has been set for a rematch between Brockhouse and Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Nirenberg won by a 2.2-point margin when the two last met in the 2019 mayoral election, with Nirenberg receiving strong support from San Antonios urban core, while Brockhouse carried the suburban North Side.
8 Charged in Carlisle Drug Bust with Stolen Car

By West Kentucky Star Staff





CARLISLE COUNTY - A call about a reckless driver in Carlisle County led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle and drug charges for eight people.On Friday, the Carlisle County Sheriff's Office received a complaint of a reckless driver in the Kirbyton area. A check of the license plated showed the vehicle had been reported stolen from McCracken County on Thursday.Deputies located the vehicle on State Route 80 in Milburn. Authorities said the car was occupied by 54-year-old Kevin Shane Crawford and 29-year-old Cristina Crawford.A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered methamphetamine. Both were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, possession of meth, and drug paraphernalia possession.Law enforcement agencies attempted to find the suspect that had initially stolen the vehicle at a home on County Road 1141 near Beulah.A vehicle matching the description of the suspect's vehicle arrived at the home while deputies were present. Deputies said there was a strong smell of marijuana as they approached the car.A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered marijuana and Xanax pills.The vehicle's occupants, 52-year-old Donald Jones of Mayfield and 51-year-old Denita Ramage of Benton, were both arrested. Two other occupants, 55-year-old Steven West of Benton and 54-year-old Freddie Jones of Fancy Farm, were cited to appear in court.Jones and Ramage were both charged with possession of a controlled substance third-degree.West and Jones were both charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.Deputies said 60-year-old Mickey Baker and 59-year-old Chris Pillow of Milburn were in a camper behind the home. A search yielded 20 grams of methamphetamine packaged in 7 separate bags, meth pipes, a firearm, body armor, digital scales, and cash.Pillow allegedly consented to a search of his home, where deputies found 2 grams of methamphetamine, meth pipes, and marijuana.Pillow was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia possession.Baker was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance first-degree (methamphetamine), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia possession.All except for West and Jones were lodged in the McCracken County Jail.
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When a federal judge released Dominick Pugliese from custody in February, the former Fort Dix inmate was nearly dead.

It was the exact dire situation Pugliese feared could happen when he applied for compassionate release last April as the coronavirus pandemic began devastating the region.

Pugliese told prosecutors and a federal judge that the virus could place him in greater danger of having a serious illness due to his underlying health conditions, like asthma and hypertension, according to court documents.

Prosecutors, according to court documents, opposed the release of the man sentenced to nearly 20 years in 2016 on drug trafficking and firearms charges, saying he had not served sufficient time, while also questioning the seriousness of his medical issues.

Puglieses petitions to be released were dismissed multiple times by a judge, according to court documents.

Then it happened. Pugliese became one of nearly 2,000 inmates at the federal prison in Burlington County to contract the virus  the highest number of cases of any federal correctional facility, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

It is unclear when exactly he tested positive, but his family claims it happened sometime after he was moved from a two-man prison cell to a room with 11 other inmates, as outbreaks infected every corner of the prison. On Jan. 7, according to court documents, a chaplain had reached out to Puglieses daughter to let her know her father had contracted COVID-19 and was being treated at a local hospital.

The family says it was told nothing else.

Over the next month, prison officials declined to alert Puglieses family or his public defender to how he was doing or where the Pennsylvania native was being treated out of security concerns.

They would later learn that Pugliese was suffering from severe COVID pneumonia, according to a court document filed by his attorney in February, and that Pugliese had been in the intensive care unit for more than a month and was now on a ventilator.

By mid-February, Pugilese could no longer respond to verbal or tactile stimuli, and medical staff described his condition as extremely grave, with a 78% likelihood of mortality, wrote Quin Sorenson, the attorney.

The defendant, Dominick Pugliese, is dying, Sorenson wrote to a judge on Feb. 12 as he sought to have Pugliese released from custody. A federal judge agreed to the release that day.

The Court does not find the ends of justice would be served by keeping Defendant in custody and denying his family access to his whereabouts while he undergoes serious illness, U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane wrote. The severity of his condition suggests that at best he may be facing prolonged hospitalization and rehabilitation.

Pugliese was not that lucky.

He died from complications of the virus last week, his family said. The father of six was 61 years old.

Dominick Pugliese pictured with one of his 11 grandchildren. He died from complications of COVID-19 on March 6.

I am extremely hurt, said Yvette Moore, Puglieses niece. It could have been avoided if they had some compassion of the situation. It is not like they didnt know (about his health conditions). Maybe he would still be here.

I cry every day, added Michael Stewart, his nephew.

Puglieses death is the latest COVID-19 horror story to come out of the Fort Dix correctional institution, where more than two-thirds of the inmate population has contracted the virus during the pandemic, despite officials routinely downplaying the threat of infection in the prison.

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has taken swift and effective action in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has emerged as a correctional leader in the pandemic, a BOP spokesman said this week in a statement. The BOP, including FCI Fort Dix, has instituted a comprehensive management approach that includes screening, testing, appropriate treatment, prevention, education, and infection control measures.

But inmates have painted a different, much grimmer picture of life at Fort Dix during the pandemic. Dozens of Fort Dix inmates have sought to be released due to the threat of the coronavirus, though the majority have been denied, a fate inmates across the country are also overwhelmingly facing.

Puglieses death has eerily similar characteristics to the only Fort Dix inmate to die from the virus while in custody at the federal prison.

Myron Crosby, 58, had a documented history of a number of health issues including diabetes, a prior heart attack while in custody, obesity, high blood pressure and kidney failure, but like Pugliese, his request to be released on home confinement was denied. He was in the midst of a 14-year sentence for drug distribution.

Instead, Crosby was moved to Fort Dixs prison camp in the fall, a low-security section of the prison where more than 150 inmates live closely in a dormitory setting.

There, he contracted COVID-19 and soon suffered the worst of the virus, though his family was unaware.

After talking to her father by phone while she was at the hair salon on Jan. 6, Shamelia Crosby never heard from him again.

She and her other siblings constantly called the prison, hoping to get an update on their father. She described it as a game of telephone tag.

Wheres my dad? Shamelia Crosby wondered.

It was hard, she said about being left in the dark. It was frightening. I was nervous. We didnt know what was going on. I was sick to my stomach.

No one told them where their father was until Jan. 21 when a chaplain called around 9 p.m. to say Crosby was in the hospital, she said. The next day around 10 a.m., a call came in that her fathers health was rapidly declining. At 12:14 p.m., she was told he went into cardiac arrest. Shamelia Crosby begged them to save her father.

He was dead within the hour.

It spiraled out of control so fast, she said. No one was able to say goodbye.

However, it was only after his death that the Crosby family learned through a Bureau of Prisons press release announcing his death that Crosby had been in the hospital since Jan. 7.

Her family didnt know he was there until two weeks later, Shamelia Crosby said.

Instead of being able to comfort our Myron while he was alone in the hospital, on a ventilator, and painfully declining, our family spent weeks trying to learn anything that we could about his status, the family said in a statement after his death. We did not hear anything from Fort Dix or the BOP until 12 hours before he died. Myron suffered for weeks by himself in the hospital and then died in the presence of strangers, unable to say goodbye to the family he had talked to every day.

After his death, Crosbys family urged the BOP and the courts to release more inmates who are at high-risk, and to treat the inmates and their families with more compassion.

No one should have to go through what we have been through, the family said.

A BOP spokesman said it is agency policy that if an inmate becomes seriously ill, the institution will notify the next of kin promptly, though families in both these instances claim that did not happen.

They shouldnt keep people in fear of what is going on with their loved ones, especially when they see us constantly calling, Shamelia Crosby said. They were aware.

As Crosby was dying from the virus, Puglieses family was scrambling to locate their loved one and find out how he was doing. By the time they found him, Pugliese was debilitated.

His children visited him at a New Jersey hospital on Saturday before he was taken off the ventilator. It was the first time any family saw him since they first learned he was positive with COVID-19. None of them heard him speak in his final weeks alive.

Puglieses children declined to comment as they continue to grieve their fathers death.

Everyone is going through a grieving point and their main focus is to put him to rest at this point, Stewart said.

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Kolkata, March 13 : The wrath of Myanmarese protesters seeking a return to parliamentary democracy have turned against China and its multiple projects.

Myanmar protest leaders told IANS they have decided to initiate a nationwide boycott of Chinese goods.

One of them, on the condition of anonymity, said that neighbourhood protest committees have been asked to spread by word of mouth the appeal to boycott Chinese goods.

"Indian businesses should open marts here. Our people will switch over to Indian products even if they are slightly more expensive," the protest leader in commercial hub Yangon said over the phone.

But he appealed to India not to turn back those fleeing into the country, specially the eight policemen who fled into Mizoram from Myanmar's Chin state.

Chin state authorities have formally sought their early repatriation as a "goodwill gesture".

"These policemen will be executed by the military because they refused to shoot on peaceful protesters," the protest leader said.

Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga has pitched for sheltering those who have fled into his state.

A local group, Zoram Reunification Organisation which seeks integration of the Mizo-Kuki-Chin ethnic groups, has petitioned Indian President Ramnath Kovind and the Centre not to deny refuge to those fleeing into Myanmar from Myanmar.

This after the Centre asked northeastern states bordering Myanmar and the Assam Rifles, which guards the 1643 India-Myanmar border, to stop a large scale influx from the neighbouring country.

Delhi is yet to take a call on the Myanmar request to hand back the eight policemen.

Protesters in Yangon are carrying placards "Myanmar coup, Made in China" during the demonstrations.

Some of them during the rallies this week also raised slogans like "Burn the Chinese gas pipeline".

Hailed by China as a symbol of "mutually beneficial cooperation", the 770-km pipeline connecting the Burmese port of Kyaukphyu to China's Yunnan province was the focal point of public rage due to local perception that Beijing was backing the military that seized power on February 1.

On Friday, protesters shouted "Chinese business, Out! Out!", in Mandalay city, a staging point on pipelines across Myanmar from the Indian Ocean to China.

Burmese social media carried many more such threats.

Mandalay's iconic jade market is now largely controlled by the Chinese traders who are unpopular because they often manipulate prices owing to their bulk buying clout.

The Kyaukphyu-Yunnan gas pipeline, which carries gas from Myanmar's offshore fields, opened in 2013, as Myanmar's military allowed the nation moved towards democracy.

The $1.5 billion oil pipelinenbrings crude mainly from the Middle East for Chinese market.

A PetroChina official who declined identification said there had been no problems with the operation of the oil pipeline so far .

It is the only source of crude for the state energy giant's refinery in Kunming, Yunnan.

Protests over the pipeline flared after a Myanmar government document leaked from a February 24 meeting showed Chinese officials had asked Myanmar's junta to provide better security - and intelligence on ethnic minority armed groups on the pipeline route.

"Safeguarding the security of bilateral cooperation projects is the common responsibility of both China and Myanmar," China's Foreign Ministry said in response to questions on the document.

It reiterated its call for "all sides in Myanmar to exercise calm and restraint" and to resolve their differences.

"This would also benefit the secure operations of bilateral cooperation projects," it said.

China has earmarked billions of dollars for such projects, including an economic corridor ending at a $1.3 billion deepwater port, industrial zones, a new city next to the commercial hub of Yangon and a railway to the border.

"Hostile public opinion will inflict long-term threats and damage to China's plan," said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Washington-based Stimson Center.

Beijing's reputation was hit over the failed $6 billion Myitsone Dam project in Kachin state.

The project was shelved in 2011 over stiff Kachin tribal unrest because the entire 6,000MW output was marked for export to China from a state where less than 2 per cent of the household have electricity.

Myammarese environmentalists and political parties also opposed the project fearing sharp downstream drop in water volume on Irrawaddy river which could threaten the country's agriculture and food security.

Sustained Chinese lobbying failed to revive the project during the last decade.

Kachin leaders have told mediapersons any Chinese effort to revive the Myitsone dam project will be "furiously resisted".

Chinese projects like the Lepetdaung copper mine also face local resistance over forced landgrabs with military backing.
A generous donation of fleece blankets, fuel and care packs has been made to Arklow Meals on Wheels to support older members of the community.

Local businesses have shown their support for the voluntary group, which is providing meals two days a week to 60 older people in the Arklow area.

The Bridgewater Shopping Centre recently made a donation of fuel to the group. The shopping centre provided 16 bags of coals and 32 bags of blocks. The centre's food appeal for Arklow Meals on Wheels is also continuing, with donation boxes located near Dunnes Stores.

Meanwhile, James Dunne Textile Manager at Dunnes Stores, recently donated 20 fleece blankets to Arklow Meals on Wheels on behalf of the Arklow store, following the group's online appeal for blankets and fleeces. Local pharmacies including Adrian Dunne and Careplus also generously provided care packs to the group for distribution to the older people supported by the Meals on Wheels service.

The generosity of local businesses and the wider community meant that Arklow Meals on Wheels delivered fuel, a blanket, a care pack and a bag of fuel to users of their service last week. Deliveries were made with the support of the local community gardai.

Hilary Sharpe of Arklow Meals on Wheels said a sincere thank you to everyone who had supported Arklow Meals on Wheels.

'The community is unbelievable for giving,' she added, thanking the volunteers, sponsors and all those who help the Arklow Meals on Wheels.

The service provides double meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This will continue until Easter, when it will be reviewed.

Currently based at the Pipeband Hall, Arklow Meals on Wheels is actively looking for a bigger premises, which would allow it to extend its services to meet demand from the community.
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Con Lynch is taking on a new challenge after his debut novel. Photo by Con Kelleher

Fresh from his successful fiction debut, Macroom author and former school principal Con Lynch has embarked on a new writing project.

Masseytown-based Con raised a considerable amount of money for local charities from the proceeds of his first novel, 'Along The Right Path', which he self-published and launched last March, just before the pandemic took hold.

Now Con has embarked on the research for a new series of books which focus on the priests, brothers and nuns from Macroom and surrounding areas.

An initial survey has unearthed seventy seven names of clergy in the parish of Baile Mhuirne alone. These include several fascinating characters who served in many different roles all over Ireland and across the globe.

"One of the most notable of these was Sister Eileen Healy from Milleens in Cuil Aodha who worked as a doctor in Nigeria for ten years, at a time of a civil war," he said.

Sr Eileen was a member of the Our Lady of the Apostles congregation and died in 2017.

According to her obituary, Sr. Eileen worked in Scotland for a number of years where she qualified as a consultant psychiatrist before returning again to Nigeria where she worked for a further five years.

According to Con, the sheer number of people from the parishes surrounding Macroom and their fascinating stories will mean what started out as a one- book project is now going to be a series of volumes.

"I put out an appeal recently on the Inne agus Inniu(Yesterday and Today) Facebook page and I got 18 more names to add to the list. What I'm very determined to do is ensure that no one is left out of the book," he said. If you know of anybody that should be on Con's radar for inclusion in these books, email corneiluslynchauthor@gmail.com

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday met the family members of a civic hospital's lab technician who died due to COVID-19, and offered them a compensation of Rs 1 crore, officials said.

He met the mother, wife and children of Rakesh Jain, who was working at the Hindu Rao Hospital in north Delhi.

"While working on COVID duty, Jain got contracted the COVID-19 infection. He was shifted to the Metro Hospital, but later he lost his life due to COVID. He was martyred but till his last breath, he served the citizens of Delhi. The Delhi government salutes such frontline workers who have served relentlessly the citizens of Delhi," Kejriwal was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the chief minister's office.

"Today, on behalf of the Delhi government, I have handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore to the family members of Rakesh Jain," he said.

He continued to serve the people till his last breath, the chief minister said.

"There is no compensation for anyone's life, but I am hopeful that this financial assistance will provide some ease to his family," he added.

A large number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers and frontline workers, have contacted the infection in the past one year, and some of them have also died to the COVID-19.

"His (Jain's) elder son is looking for a job. The Delhi government will also provide a job to his son. I want to ensure the family of Rakesh Jain that the Delhi government will stand beside them in the future also, whenever they need any help," Kejriwal said.

Jain got infected by COVID-19 while serving coronavirus patients and was admitted to the Metro Hospital at Preet Vihar on June 17, where he died the next day. A resident of Delhi, he had joined the service in 1988, and was due to retire in 2022, officials said.

He is survived by his mother, wife and two children. His wife is a homemaker, while the elder son is preparing for jobs, the younger son is pursuing a bachelor's course, the statement said.

Also Read: COVID-19 vaccination: At current rate, India will take 12.6 years to vaccinate 70% population

Also Read: Expecting protests to continue for long, farmers construct brick houses at Tikri border

Also Read: Passengers not wearing masks properly to be de-boarded, treated as 'unruly passengers', says DGCA
Tirupati, March 13 : The BJP will be contesting the forthcoming Parliamentary bypoll from the Tirupati seat in Andhra Pradesh, with support of the Janasena party.

"In a joint meeting of Janasena party president Pawan Kalyan and Andhra BJP president Somu Veerraju, it has been unanimously decided that the alliance candidate for Tirupati Lok Sabha bypoll would be from BJP," said Sunil Deodhar, BJP national secretary and party's AP co-in charge, in a statement on Friday.

Deodhar, Kalyan, Veerraju and Nadendla Manohar went into a huddle on Friday to decide on which party candidate should contest the by-poll.

Following the meeting, Kalyan, the actor - politician who founded Janasena in 2014 issued a statement, confirming that a decision has been taken by the party to support the BJP candidate.

"This decision has been taken after several consultations with the BJP central leadership. Several rounds of talks have been held with BJP top leaders Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda and national general secretary BL Santosh," said Kalyan.

The actor claimed that right from the beginning, Janasena leaders have been afirm' that the seat would be left for the BJP if it fields a strong and eligible candidate.

"This decision was taken after clearly understanding that the BJP candidate is eligible to contest the seat successfully. Moreover, the fact that the BJP won the seat in the 1999 elections was also taken into consideration," he added.

Kalyan said that BJP would take strong action against the alleged temple attacks with preventive steps and claimed that the saffron party's national leadership is getting ready to take the lead in ending the "role of anti-social elements" in Tirupati just as it had "done in the Hyderabad civic body polls", which Janasena had failed to contest.

He claimed that the BJP assured of Tirupati's development, already a globally renowned town housing one of the richest temples, not only as an important holy shrine but strive for its allround development.

The actor-politician claimed that they were witness to the atrocities committed by YSRCP activists in the recent panchayat polls and municipal polls.

"The effort of the Janasena is to join hands with the BJP in the Tirupati by-election to check the atrocities being committed by the YSRCP. It is felt that the Janasena activists accept the decision and work for the victory of the BJP," Kalyan claimed.

In his statement, Kalyan strived to address his party cadres and convince them to work for BJP's victory. However, many Janasena supporters wanted their party candidate to fight the election.

Though the BJP is taking this election very prestigiously, it remains to be seen what's store for the party as denying special category status, railway zone and the recent Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) privatization announcement may not be great advantages to the party.

In the 2009 Assembly elections, Kalyan's brother and Prajay Rajyam Party (PRP) founder Chiranjeevi won from Tirupati and lost from Palakollu. It is believed that Tirupati holds some advantage to Janasesna.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the principal opposition party in the southern state was the first party to declare its candidate for the by-poll, Panabaka Lakshmi.

While the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) is yet to announce the candidate, there is some gossip that Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has already zeroed in on the candidate.

Tirupati Parliamentary constituency is an SC reserved seat, which fell vacant after YSRCP MP Balli Durga Prasad succumbed to Coronavirus some months ago.

Prasada's son Balli Kalyan Chakravarthy was recently unanimously elected as an MLC under the MLA quota.

The Election Commission (EC) is yet to declare the polling date for this high stakes election.
The envoy stressed that Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine is not, as Russia claims, an "internal Ukrainian conflict."

U.S. Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has said the United States welcomes Ukraine's new initiative on the Crimean Platform.

"The United States welcomes Ukraine's new initiative, the Crimean Platform, as the next step and venue for international partners committed to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It's time to end Russia's occupation of Crimea and its ongoing aggression in eastern Ukraine. We look forward to continuing our work with Ukraine, our allies, our partners to do just that," she said at a UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on the Situation in Crimea on March 12, 2021.

The envoy stressed seven years after Russia's invasion of Crimea  the international community still supports the bedrock principle in the UN Charter: no country can change the borders of another one by force.

Read alsoUN tells of human rights violations in occupied Crimea"Russia wants us to believe that its invasion of Crimea was justified and provoked. But we will not be fooled. Here's the truth: after protests brought an end to the corrupt Yanukovych regime, Moscow took revenge against Ukraine for its decision to chart a path toward democratic reform," the diplomat said.

She reiterated in February 2014, Russia's "little green men," armed with Russian weaponry, took over the Crimean Peninsula.

"In March, Russian agitators seized buildings and fueled the bloody Donbas conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives to date. This is how Russia's campaign to undermine and destabilize Ukraine began," Thomas-Greenfield said.

At the same time, she added that Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine is not, as Russia claims, an "internal Ukrainian conflict."

"Russia funds, arms, trains, leads, and fights alongside its proxy forces and armed groups in eastern Ukraine. Its invasion of Crimea was followed by a series of killings and the disappearances of at least a dozen opponents of the occupation. These actions remain unresolved, and they need to be investigated. And we urge Russia to release the more than 100 Ukrainian political prisoners it is holding," the envoy said.

Russian occupation of Crimea

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula. An illegal referendum was held amid the aggressive takeover on the issue of the peninsula's accession to Russia. De-facto Crimean authorities claimed that 96.77% of the Crimean population had allegedly supported the move.

On March 18, 2014, the so-called agreement on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation was signed off in the Kremlin.

Western powers never recognized the Crimea annexation attempt and imposed sanctions on Russia over aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine's parliament voted to designate February 20, 2014, as the official date for the start of the temporary occupation of Crimea.

Reporting by UNIAN
The FBI arrested 24-year-old Landon Grier of Canon City after the flight landed March 9

A Colorado man accused of disrupting an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Denver by refusing to wear a mask and then standing up and urinating in the cabin faces a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew and attendants that carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

The FBI arrested 24-year-old Landon Grier of Canon City after the flight landed March 9, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver.

The affidavit by FBI Special Agent Martin Daniell III, who interviewed Grier and crew members, says Grier appeared to be trying to sleep but swatted at an attendant when she asked him repeatedly to put on his mask, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.

A passenger later summoned attendants because Grier was urinating in his seat area, Daniell wrote.

Landon Grier accused of disrupting an Alaska Airlines (stock image) flight from Seattle to Denver

The agent said Grier told him he had several beers and 'a couple of shots' before boarding the flight, fell asleep on the plane and 'awoke to being yelled at by the flight attendants who told him he was peeing.'

'He stated he had no recollection of hitting the flight attendant and didn't know if he was peeing,' Daniell said.

Grier made an initial court appearance on Thursday. A federal public defender was appointed to represent him. He was released on $10,000 bond pending his next court appearance set for March 26.

Public defenders do not comment on pending cases, and a call to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver for comment wasn't immediately returned late Friday.

In a statement, Alaska Airlines said: 'We will not tolerate any disturbance onboard our aircraft or at any of the airports we serve.'
Sinn Fein is to bring a proposal to the Stormont Executive next week to commission abortion services in Northern Ireland (Niall Carson/PA).

Sinn Fein will next week formally ask Stormont ministers to commission abortion services in Northern Ireland.

Party president Mary Lou McDonald accused the DUP and Ulster Unionists of blocking the change  two years after legislation was passed at Westminster.

The issue sharply divides political and community opinion and is set to be raised at an Executive meeting.

Ms McDonald said: Legislation was passed in March 2019, following a widespread public campaign where we heard the real experiences and real lives of women and their families.

Women in the north are legally entitled to modern and compassionate healthcare and it is totally unacceptable that two years on the Health Minister has not commissioned services.

The refusal to act has been particularly difficult for women during the pandemic and has put womens health at risk.

Individual health trusts have set up temporary early medical abortion pathways but Northern Ireland-wide services have not yet been commissioned by the Department of Health.

Expand Close Deirdre Hargey will bring the proposal to the Executive (Rebecca Black/PA). PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Deirdre Hargey will bring the proposal to the Executive (Rebecca Black/PA).

Minister Robin Swann has argued that, as a controversial issue, it is for the Executive to agree to set up the services.

The DUP is opposed to abortion and has proposed a new law to prevent them being carried out in cases of non-fatal disabilities.

Ms McDonald added: Sinn Fein (Communities) Minister Deirdre Hargey is bringing forward a proposal to the Executive next week to ensure services are delivered to allow women access to proper healthcare in the north.

Northern Irelands previously restrictive laws were changed by MPs at Westminster in 2019 at a time when the Stormont administration was collapsed.

The laws allow abortion in all circumstances up to 12 weeks. Terminations are permitted up to 24 weeks when there is a risk to the womans physical or mental health.

There is no time limit in cases of fatal foetal abnormality or when there has been a diagnosis of a serious physical or mental impairment that would cause a serious disability.

Abortions post 24 weeks in those circumstances are extremely rare.
According to county-level data collected by a legal disclosure website, Tesla's Bay Area production plant reported hundreds of positive COVID-19 cases following CEO Elon Musk's defiant reopening of the plant last May. Tesla received about 10 reports of COVID-19 cases in May, when the plant reopened, and saw a steady increase in cases all the way up to 125 in December, as the disease caused by the novel coronavirus peaked across the world, according to the document obtained by the website PlainSite following a court ruling this year.

Tesla recorded more than a hundred COVID-19 cases

Tesla was forced to submit positive cases to the health department as part of an arrangement signed in mid-May that allowed it to reopen. Despite about ten cases in May, the health department informed The Washington Post in early June that there were no reported cases of workplace COVID-19 infections impacting county residents, according to the data.

An appeal for comment from Tesla and the Alameda County Public Health Department and its officials was not returned. Musk fought back hard against the county's imposed suspension, insisting that Tesla should be allowed to keep making cars despite the stay-at-home orders. He railed against government mandates in late April, hurling expletives and declaring them "fascist" during an earnings call. By May 11, he had announced that Tesla would reopen, gaining praise from anti-shutdown activists.

Read also: Russia Says Google Outage Due To Fire in Data Center

Tesla investor sues Elon Musk

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, and its board have been sued by a businessman who says Musk violated his 2018 deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over his Twitter conduct. Musk's "erratic" tweets, including one last May 1 saying Tesla's stock price was "extremely high," and Tesla's board's refusal to track his compliance with the SEC settlement, as per a lawsuit filed late Thursday in Delaware Chancery Court, have subjected shareholders to billions of dollars in losses.

A call for comment from Tesla was not immediately answered, as per NY Post. Musk's August 2018 tweet that he was considering taking Tesla private and had "funding protected" for a potential $72 billion deal prompted the SEC settlement.

He and Tesla agreed to pay $20 million in civil penalties to the regulator the next month, and Musk agreed to have Tesla lawyers vet any of his tweets ahead of time. Musk has continued to issue tweets without receiving the necessary advance approval, the shareholder lawsuit said. It wants Elon Musk and the other Tesla executives to pay the company penalties for violating their fiduciary duties.

Read also: Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, to Spend $10B on Climate Change

A fire broke out at Tesla factory in California

Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon, firefighters responded to a "working fire" at the Tesla plant in Fremont, California. The Fremont Fire Department stated that no staff or firefighters were harmed, CNBC on MSN reported.

The fire was said to have started in a construction area of the Tesla plant. This is Tesla's primary vehicle assembly plant in the United States. In Austin, Texas, the company is currently constructing a second one. Model 3 sedans, Model Y crossover SUVs, and higher-end Model S and X hybrid cars are all assembled in Fremont by Elon Musk's electric car company.

Read also: Alibaba's Jack Ma Loses Title as China's Richest Man After Being Under Beijing's Scrutiny

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- At the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, local green-blogger Ariana Palmieri told the Advance/SILive.com about ways to continue to be environmentally friendly during the pandemic.

A year later, Palmieri is hosting a webinar to share the tips and tricks on how to continue a low-waste lifestyle during a pandemic that she has perfected.

The webinar, titled Staying Zero Waste During a Pandemic, will take place at 5:00 p.m. on March 21. Tickets to the event can be purchased online.

The Bay Terrace resident, who is the founder of Greenify Me, regularly highlights how to implement zero waste habits into your lifestyle on her blog.

The timing is perfect for a webinar helping people bring back environmentally friendly habits that may have been discarded during the pandemic, Palmieri told the Advance/SILive.com.

Ive noticed a lot of people in the zero waste community are finding it very hard to avoid single-use plastics right now, she explained. Theres this notion that reusables are unsafe to use during COVID-19 but thats the farthest thing from the truth.

Palmieri, who spoke to the Advance/SILive.com a year explained that, with the pandemic, people have to get a little creative on how they can continue to be environmentally friendly.

Sometimes [being environmentally friendly] goes beyond ditching single-use plastic - there are many other ways we can reduce waste in our lives, too, she said. From composting to growing your own food, there are so many ways to keep waste to a minimum right now.

The webinar, Palmieri hopes, will help community members find hope after a year of drowning in single-use plastic.

The zero waste movement is far from dead, she told the Advance/SILive.com. [T]he zero waste movement isnt just about plastic. Its about reducing all kinds of waste and thinking about sustainability through a bigger lens. I hope [attendees] will learn something new, feel empowered and ready to kick waste to the curb.

Read more about #SISustainability:

Want to share how you foster sustainability on Staten Island?

Email me: rhumbrecht@siadvance.com
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Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition.

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With the one-year anniversary since the start of the economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic fast approaching, new claims for unemployment benefits continued for yet another week at the historically unprecedented level of over 700,000.

Meanwhile, new infections and deaths remain at alarming levels while uncoordinated and incompetent vaccine rollouts leave the vast majority of populations unprotected even as governments absurdly talk of a return to normalcy.

People wait in line for help with unemployment benefits at the One-Stop Career Center in Las Vegas in May 2020. (AP)

The US economy has recovered only a little over one-half of the 22 million jobs lost during the pandemic. The official unemployment rate is 6.2 percent, but the real rate is closer to 10 percent when the 4 million people who have dropped out of the labor force, so-called discouraged workers, are counted. There are still over 20 million workers receiving jobless relief of some kind, including 4 million receiving traditional state unemployment benefits and others on emergency pandemic aid authorized by Congress.

New claims for unemployment benefits fell to 712,000 for the week ending March 6, a drop of 42,000 from the previous week, but still a very high number compared to a typical week in 2019 when between 200,000 and 300,000 would apply.

For the past year new weekly unemployment claims have exceeded the high point of the Great Recession of 20082009. In addition, there were also 478,000 new claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for the week, a increase of 42,000 over the previous week. PUA was an emergency program enacted by Congress to help the self-employed and others not covered by regular state unemployment benefits.

While 379,000 new jobs were added in February, most of these were in the low-wage leisure and hospitality sector, reflecting the reckless reopening policy of the ruling class. Other sectors such as education and construction showed continued declines.

The weekly unemployment claims report came just as President Biden signed into law the coronavirus relief bill, which calls for an additional $300 per person weekly supplement to unemployment benefits and a one-time $1,400 payment to most US residents.

The weekly supplement is only one-half the amount enacted under the Trump administration in March of last year and $100 less than the $400 initially proposed by the Democrats. The much-heralded gradual rise of the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour got stripped out of the relief bill when Democrats capitulated to a procedural challenge.

Even when one figures in the exemption Congress gave to tax payments on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits and an expanded child tax credit, the COVID relief provided by Congress is far from adequate to make good the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the stimulus is being presented as a social reform of grand and unprecedented scope, most provisions are limited to less than one year. The pandemic relief package is aimed primarily at preventing a complete collapse in consumer spending and bankruptcy of state and local governments while the Biden administration pursues its deadly reopening agenda. This involves forcing workers back into unsafe factories with the help of the unions while forcing the reopening of schools, a measure that will facilitate the spread of the virus under conditions where new, more deadly variants are emerging.

Eventually the stimulus money will have to be repaid to Wall Street through an assault on the working class of unprecedented savagery, of which the Trump administration was only a foretaste. Indeed there are clear indications that the pandemic is already being used by corporations to restructure, continuing the elimination of relatively well-paid jobs and their replacement with low-wage and contingent employment.

The inadequacy of the stimulus package becomes evident when it is seen in the context of the raging social crisis that has been intensified by the pandemic.

In Nevada, one of the states hit hardest by the economic collapse, which devastated the states casino gambling industry, 45 percent of residents are behind on basic bills. The statewide unemployment rate hit 30.1 percent last April, the highest for any state on record for at least the last 44 years. It still stands at 9.2 percent.

A 32-year-old waitress from Las Vegas quoted by the New York Times reported, I feel pretty scared every day, right now, whenever I think about my bills, adding, Basically every morning I wake up thinking about where my help is going to come fromis it here? Is it the government? I dont really know who is looking out for people like me.

Another woman told the Times, Every morning I wake up thinking about where my help is going to come from.

Larry Scott, the chief operating officer for Three Square Food Bank, the largest in Southern Nevada, told the Times, Stimulus money shortens the line for food from a food pantry and when it evaporates, the lines get longer again.

Were going to have a protracted, long, long recovery here. What the politicians should be concentrating on is more than a short-term solution. Rather than a lot of money at a short time, we should have more money over a longer period of time.

On March 9, hunger relief organization Feeding America released its initial projections for food insecurity in 2021. Despite various inadequate federal relief programs, the situation for tens of millions of US citizens, including children, remains dire. The organization projects that 42 million people, including 13 million children, that is one out of every six, will experience food insecurity in 2021. Included in that number are 15 million people and 4 million children who could experience reduced food intake and the disruption of eating patterns.

Pointing to the extended nature of the economic crisis, the report noted, After the Great Recession of 2007, it took 10 years for food insecurity levels to recover to pre-Recession levels. It is likely to take time for food insecurity levels to recover from this recession as well.

According to US Census Bureau data some 10 million people in the US were behind in their rent and at risk of eviction in the middle of January. An estimated 16 million renters had little to no confidence they could pay rent in February. According to Moodys Analytics, nearly 12 million renters would have owed an average of $5,850 in back rent as of this past January, over 4 times the $1,400 one-time stimulus payment being issued by the government.

Approximately 1 in 5 renters said they were behind in their rent in January, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget Policies and Priorities, and some 36 percent of black renters say they are behind. However, the recently signed stimulus bill does not extend the federal ban on evictions, which is set to expire at the end of March.

While the stimulus package contained another $25 billion in rental assistance, it is not enough. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, renters owed as much as $70 billion in back rent through the end of December.

The recklessness, criminality and incompetence displayed by the ruling classes of all the major capitalist countries in response to the pandemic underscore the need for the working class to intervene based on its own program, prioritizing social need, not private profit. The giant industries, including health care and pharmaceuticals, must be placed under the democratic public ownership and control of the working class based on a scientific plan to confront the crisis. This requires the development of a socialist political program and leadership in the working class. Workers who agree with this fight should contact the Socialist Equality Party.
An eighty-year-old couple has been sentenced to a ten-year jail term by a special court for sexually assaulting a four-year-old child in their neighbourhood.

Judge Rekha Pandhare from the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO) Court delivered the sentence to the couple. The judge observed that the accused being of her grandparent's age was actually supposed to take care of the victim. The innocent four-year-old girl from the neighbourhood used to refer to them as "Dada-Dadi".

The case dates back to 2013. The statement registered with the police mentions that the girl came from the school on September 4, 2013, and was eating her food while watching the television. She went to play with her friend on the fourth floor by noon. The girl said as her friend was sleeping and thus she came back home. This is the time when the old couple called on her.

The girl said that when she moved towards the man as she fondly referred to as Dada, grabbed ger and took her inside his house. The 87-year-old man made her seat on a swing. When the girl tried to leave that place, he slapped her. The girl has alleged that the woman as she referred to as Dadi, grabbed her, and the man undressed her prior to sexually assaulting her. The woman who is 81 years old too sexually assaulted the four-year-old girl.

The girl said that she was extremely scared and she was trying to run away from their house while doing so, the man spat on her face. The girl managed to dress up and somehow reached her home.

Her mother had said that she came home and finished the daily chores and by 10 pm she went to put the girl to sleep. It was that very moment when the girl explained to her mother about the entire incident.

Mother without wasting any more time examined her genitals and found inflammation around it. The mother informed her husband about the matter and they instantly lodged a case against the old couple. The elderly couple was arrested by the police on the very next day.

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There are more than six million privately owned businesses in Britain, ranging from restaurants to independent financial advisers and from fashion brands to pet groomers.

While many will sell similar products or services, others may have a more unique offering and these types of businesses have been launching aplenty over the past 12 months to cater for new pandemic-induced trends.

We have showcased a raft of new brands born recently from a platform selling DIY meal kits to a gift box especially for furloughed workers and a wine bottle designed for socially distanced drinking in the park.

But what if you have a great idea for a business or product, and somebody else has the same idea? What if their offering is suspiciously similar to yours? What if you think your idea has been copied?

As a general rule, if you have spent time and money in developing a new business or product you should be thinking about protecting it from competitors. Stock image.

There's an old adage that states imitation is the most sincerest form of flattery. But chances are if your business offering has been copied, you're going to be more annoyed than flattered.

As a general rule, if you have spent time and money in developing a new business or product you should be thinking about protecting it from competitors.

This is Money spoke to a number of intellectual property experts about how to do this.

What is intellectual property?

Thompson said copyright doesn't protect an idea, but a 'physical expression' of it

Intellectual property is something that you create using your mind - for example, a story, an invention, an artistic work or a symbol.

Having the right type of intellectual property protection helps you to stop people taking or copying the names of your products or brands, your inventions, the design or look of your products and the things you write, make or produce.

Carys Thompson, a partner at law firm Keebles, said: 'Copyright protects the physical expression of an idea, not the idea itself and does not prevent someone else independently developing the same one.

'This means that copyright may be able to protect a recipe within a published book, for example, or the name, graphics or description used on packaging, but it is unlikely to be able to protect an unpublished recipe or the taste of a dish itself.'

How do you protect your ideas?

When discussing ideas with potential competitors it is advisable to do so under a non-disclosure agreement.

This is essentially an agreement that the company you are talking to will not use any confidential information it receives for its own purposes or to benefit anyone else.

Steve Farmer, a partner at law firm Pillsbury, said: 'It is also advisable for the company sharing information to seek to register any intellectual property rights it may have in its product or idea, where possible.

'This should be done before going to market. The company should also limit the amount of information it discloses in commercial discussions to the minimum necessary to strike a deal.'

A confidentiality agreement can, however, fail if the information is already in the public domain or obvious, which a competitor may try to argue in a bid to get past the agreement.

For that reason you should also look to include a clause saying the company will not for a defined period of time release any products which are similar to the one that is to be discussed.

Richard Riley, of Slater Heelis Solicitors, said: 'It is a frustrating minefield for small business owners who have invested significant sums of money in research and development of new products only to have their ideas duplicated.

'That is why it is so important to consider what steps you can take effectively prior to negotiations and meetings.'

What to do if someone has copied your idea

Under English law, whether copyright has been infringed depends on whether a substantial part of the original has been copied, which is decided individually in each case.

Steve Farmer of Pillsbury said a small business should register any intellectual property rights before going to market

If someone copies the whole of a copyright work, clearly there will be infringement. Often, however, the position is not so clear-cut.

Farmer said: 'When establishing whether any potential copying is of a 'substantial part', the test is qualitative not quantitative.

'In some cases, only a small part of the earlier work in terms of quantity needs to be copied for a copyright claim to succeed if, for example, significant skill and labour went into creating the part that was copied.'

Where an intellectual property right is infringed, the claimant can typically seek a range of 'civil remedies' against the infringer, such as an injunction that they stop copying and using the property, or that any copied items be seized or forfeited.

Farmer added: 'A claimant who succeeds in proving an infringement can also choose to pursue either an account of profits or an inquiry into damages.

'Damages are intended to put the claimant in the position it would have been in if the infringing act had not occurred, in terms of any lost profits or costs, while an account of profits is intended to make the defendant give up the profits it has made as a result of copying someone else's protected work.'

What if the 'copycat' is a big corporate?

Unfortunately, larger corporations copying the ideas of smaller businesses is a common occurrence, but it can be extremely difficult to prove and even if this can be done, it is often within the law.

Discount store Aldi is well-known for its 'lookalike' own label products, that play on customers' familiarity with the real thing. The company does, however, comply with UK copyright infringement law.

Giovanni Visintini, intellectual property consultant at LawBite, said: 'Once a new product is presented and the relevant information is disclosed, another company has pretty much freedom to copy the idea.

'This puts small businesses in a very weak bargaining position, should they want to sign a contract with a supermarket for example, but at the same time they cannot reveal their secrets.

'Fighting a big company is worth it if you have a strong case, so get a specialist lawyer on board to review the case.

'The big secret about big companies is that they do not have unlimited budgets to fight every fight, so a settlement is always on the table.'

Top tips for protecting your IP Some products are more 'protectable' than others, such as those that are complex or have a unique inventive feature. It all depends on how easy it is to replicate the product and whether there are already similar products on the market. However, there are ways for small businesses to have some protection. LawBite's Giovanni Visintini shares his tips. 1. If pitching for a contract, make sure that the information disclosed is covered by confidentiality. Small businesses could use a standard non disclosure agreement (NDA). 2. If signing a contract, make sure you don't sign their life/livelihood away. Check any intellectual property and/or confidentiality clauses. 3. If the product is new and has eye catching or functional qualities, it might be protected by design rights. Small businesses should seek protection before any disclosure of the design to the public. 4. Always protect the brand and logo by filing a trade marks (the more imaginative the mark the better). 5. Make sure you own the copyright in the logo. 6. Keep a record of any correspondence or conversations with other companies. 7. Get information about other companies and whether they have been accused of copying before.

We saw a meal similar to our dishes

Pollen + Grace's owners are accusing M&S of copying one of their signature dishes

Plant-based food company Pollen + Grace's owners were disappointed when popular retailer Marks and Spencer didn't follow up on their interest in their brand.

But they were then frustrated when the high street giant launched a new meal, they believed was remarkably similar to its one of its signature dishes.

Co-founders Kristina Komlosiova and Stephanie Johnson said they met the M&S food trends and product development teams at an event in October 2019, who then emailed them asking to keep in touch and with a suggestion that there may be opportunities to work together in the future.

'We obviously pursued the relationship as we believed this was a dream opportunity for our products to be stocked in M&S stores so we arranged for a batch of our product samples to be sent to the product and buying teams,' said Kristina.

'The samples we sent included the Super Kale + Black Rice Immunity Box as this is one of our oldest and best selling recipes.

'We had been trying to establish a relationship and get a listing at M&S ever since but have largely been ignored.

'I am sure you can imagine our shock and disappointment when we saw M&S launching a replica of one of our signature products one year later.'

M&S launched its Eat Well range last month, with one of the meals, called the 'Buddha Bowl'. Kristina claims this dish looks exactly like Pollen + Grace's signature offering and its description is also similar.

Pollen + Grace Super Kale + Black Rice Immunity Box - Launched in Autumn 2016

'Hearty Portobello mushroom and spicy roasted sweet potato with nutrient-dense black rice, lemony kale, pine nuts and tasty coconut + turmeric dressing' (description on packaging)

M&S Buddha Bowl - Launched in 2021

'Hearty portobello mushrooms with black rice, squash and kale and a vibrant turmeric and yoghurt dressing' (description on website)

Pollen + Grace's signature dish, Super Kale + Black Rice Immunity Box, launched in 2016

M&S launched its Eat Well range in January 2021, which includes the 'Buddha Bowl', which Pollen + Grace claims is a replica of their Super Kale + Black Rice Immunity Box

Kristina said she has also tried the M&S product and that it is 'absolutely undeniable they have tried to reproduce our Super Kale + Black Rice Immunity Box'.

She added: 'This kind of copycat behaviour is not OK and it needs to be called out. As a small, independent, female-run company, we need to highlight this kind of behaviour from the giants.'

This is Money contacted M&S for a response. A spokesperson said: 'All of our recipes are created by our team of chefs, culinary experts and nutritionists.

'For our Eat Well range we use on-trend, healthy ingredients and have our fingers on the pulse - but we always lead in terms of innovation, we don't follow.

'We are also big supporters of smaller producers and work closely with many artisanal suppliers.'

It's not that simple: what the experts say

Richard Riley of Slater Heelis Solicitors said is it 'notoriously difficult' to protect recipes

Richard Riley, of Slater Heelis Solicitors, said: 'Unfortunately, in the food sector recipes or dishes are notoriously difficult to protect and the traditional legal options do not generally fit well with them.

'While copyright law may protect the expression of the written recipe (i.e. the step by step guidance to create a dish) it will not protect the idea or concept of the recipe or dish itself or its taste.

'In theory a recipe could be protected by a patent but this is an expensive form of protection and you would essentially need to show that no one else has ever used the recipe or dish and that it would not be an obvious one for chefs or food product developers to create.

'This is quite a high threshold to meet so people generally do not apply for patents for recipes but if you developed a new food item, for example, a new type of meat substitute suitable for vegans, or a new method of manufacture then that might be patentable and worth the initial investment for a patent.'

Keeble's Carys Thompson added: 'A passing off action may be possible if the small business can establish all of the following:

 Goodwill attached to their products by reason of some identifying 'get up' (often, but not necessarily, a brand name)

 A misrepresentation to the public (whether or not intentional) leading, or likely to lead, the public to believe that the goods or services are those of the small business (or are associated with the small business)

 That they have suffered damage as a result.

She said: 'An action in passing off may be brought by anyone who has generated goodwill by trade with consumers in the UK, but this can be a difficult hurdle for new businesses and/or new products to overcome.
The European Parliament has lifted the immunity of three Catalan parliamentarians, including former Catalan regional premier Carles Puigdemont. This is the first step to secure their extradition to Madrid, where they could face over a decade in jail for calling peaceful protests and a referendum on Catalan independence in October 2017.

Carles Puigdemont (Credit: govern.cat)

In a vote Tuesday, 404 European Members of Parliament (MEP) of the liberal, conservative and social-democratic blocs supported a resolution sponsored by the fascist Vox partys European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group. It lifted the immunity of Puigdemont and former MEPs Antoni Comin (former Catalan regional health minister) and Clara Ponsati (former regional education minister). Against the resolution, there were 247 votes, and 42 MEPs abstained. The ruling Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and the right-wing Popular Party, Citizens and Vox parties voted in favour.

This unprecedented decision is a warning to the European working class. Europes principal parties of rule have joined forces to pass a resolution originating from Spains leading fascist party to persecute Catalan lawmakers, lobbied for by the PSOE, with the active complicity of the pseudo-left Podemos party. The EU thus gave its political seal of approval to Madrids fascistic anti-Catalan campaign, the main means through which the Spanish ruling class has intervened to shift politics far to the right.

Amid mass death resulting from its herd immunity policy on the COVID-19 pandemicthat is, the premise that profits must take precedence over human life as over 800,000 people died in Europethe European ruling class is backing the anti-Catalan campaign. Underlying this is the Spanish bourgeoisies view that, in the final analysis, it agrees with Madrid on the need to build a police-state regime across Europe. The central target, is not the bankrupt bourgeois and secessionist perspective of the Catalan nationalists, but the rising militancy and strikes among workers and youth.

The report was approved last month by the EU parliaments Committee on Legal Affairs submitted by Bulgarian MEP Angel Dzhambazki, infamous in Bulgaria for his anti-LGBT, anti-Roma agitation. Fifteen MEPs of the committee voted in favour, with eight opposing and two abstaining.

After Voxs report was passed, the PSOE government took it up. Iratxe Garcia, leader of the social-democratic bloc in the EU parliament, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, said soon after the vote: I want to thank the work that the Spanish Socialist delegation has done in recent months to guarantee the success that we have had in this vote today.

Hours after the vote, Spanish Supreme Court Judge Pablo Llarenathe judge who has led the persecution the Catalan nationalists since 2017asked the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) for a preliminary ruling on how to interpret an extradition order for the MEPs under EU law.

This aims to prevent the Belgian judiciary from rejecting European arrest warrants against the three Catalan MEPs. In January, the Belgian courts refused to extradite another former member of Puigdemonts regional Catalan government, Lluis Puig. The Belgian judge rejected the Madrids Supreme Court requests, stating it lacked authority to request the extradition and try Puig. Moreover, it claimed, there were no guarantees that Spains Supreme Court would respect Puigs fundamental rights, such as the presumption of innocence.

Spains judiciary, backed by the whole state apparatus, hopes that the EU Court of Justice will back its anti-Catalan campaign, overturning the Belgian courts rulings. Llarena could issue a new European arrest warrant if the CJEU ruling supports his case. Minutes after the EU parliaments decision, moreover, a Spanish court revoked the open prison regime granted to seven Catalan political prisoners fraudulently convicted for their involvement in the 2017 referendum and peaceful protests.

The EUs backing of the anti-Catalan campaign also exposes the Catalan nationalists. After the EU parliaments vote, Puigdemont said: European democracy has lost. We have lost our immunity but the European parliament has lost much more. Its clearly political persecution.

In fact, the EU has continuously backed Madrids police-state policies since the mass crackdown on the Catalan referendum in 2017, which left over 1,000 peaceful voters injured. This has not prevented the Catalan nationalists from continuing to promote illusions that the democratic EU would intervene to halt the Spanish bourgeoisies police-state measures in Catalonia. In fact, the EU is escalating its support for Madrids police-state campaign.

Within Spain, the main Catalan separatist party, the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), continues to be a critical prop of the minority PSOE-Podemos governmentvoting for Spanish state budgetseven as the government continues to incarcerate several of its top officials, including ERC leader Oriol Junqueras.

The Catalan nationalists are pro-austerity, pro-NATO forces, fearing the working class far more than they do persecution by Madrid.

They have joined hysterical denunciations of youth protests against the PSOE-Podemos governments incarceration of rapper Pablo Hasel. The law-and-order campaign, spearheaded by Vox, has received full backing by the Catalan nationalists. Miquel Samper, regional Minister of the Interior in the Catalan regional government for Puigdemonts Together for Catalonia (JxCat) party hysterically declared that combative communism and a large number of common criminals lead these protests.

After hundreds of thousands demonstrated in Barcelona against the jailing of Catalan nationalists in 2019, the Catalan nationalist parties and associations are not calling significant demonstrations against the EUs decision. Clearly, they fear that the youth protests will intersect with and radicalize the widespread opposition to the Spanish bourgeoisies police-state measures.

Above all, the lifting of the Catalan leaders immunity exposes yet again the bankruptcy of Podemos. While they tried to cover themselves by voting against the resolution at the EU parliament, they are partners in the PSOE-Podemos government which backed Voxs resolution in the EU. Podemos is itself part of the rapidly-emerging police-state regime in Spain.

In July 2019, Iglesias pledged full loyalty to the PSOE on all state questions, including foreign policy, and thus including state repression in Catalonia. Months later, when a dozen Catalan leaders were fraudulently found guilty of sedition, Iglesias said: Everyone must abide by the law and accept the verdict. At the time, streets of cities across Catalonia were filled with tens or hundreds of thousands of demonstrators.

Similar pseudo-left parties are accelerating the drive to police state forms of rule across Europe. The French allies of Podemos, Jean-Luc Melenchons Unsubmissive France party, voted several provisions of the reactionary, anti-Muslim anti-separatist law in parliament. The German Left Party has for its part joined in the anti-migrant campaign waged by the German state and police apparatus.

While the pandemic initially produced a lull of the anti-Catalan campaign, it has suddenly been whipped in the past months amid growing opposition to the PSOE-Podemos governments herd immunity policy on the pandemic, which has left over 100,000 dead and 3.2 million infected in Spain.

In October, Spanish police ludicrously claimed that Russia planned to invade Catalonia in 2017 to support the secessionists, advancing wild and unsubstantiated allegations that the Kremlin offered Puigdemont 10,000 soldiers to deploy across the region. That same month, Spains Supreme Court upheld an 18-month ban from public office on Catalan regional premier Quim Torra on fraudulent disobedience charges, removing him from power.

Over the past months, Podemos has become the main instrument through which Spains increasingly fascistic ruling establishment implements policy. The Podemos government is increasingly adopting Voxs programme, relentlessly persecuting migrants, incarcerating Catalan leaders and rappers, and denouncing youth protests. At the same time, it is showering corporations and banks with 140 billion thanks to Voxs support in parliament and downplaying coup threats from sections of the military which are discussing their support for the murder of 26 million leftists.

The role of Podemos in the anti-Catalan campaign confirms warnings made by the WSWS: Podemos claims to represent a progressive faction of the Spanish political establishment are political lies. The working class cannot pressure the left populists in Podemos to obtain social concessions, a less callous and repressive policy, or a scientifically-based approach to combat the virus. They are themselves closely associated to the bourgeoisies drive toward police-state forms of rule.
Women have been urged not to allow unnecessary pressures from society to prevent them from quitting abusive and bad marriages.



Describing domestic violence in marriage as barbaric, unfortunate and unacceptable in the Ghanaian society, Nana Anima Ahwenepa, the Queen-mother of Dwenase indicated divorce remained the best option for victims of abusive marriages.



In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Dwenase near Bomaa in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region, the Queen-mother said domestic violence was the worst form of human rights abuse and women must not be allowed to go through such physical and mental torture in marriage.



Instead of helping spouses to solve marital problems, Nana Ahwenepa, also the Founder and Executive Director of Naky Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, expressed regret that many families and churches impressed on women to stay and go through several forms of human rights abuses in their marriages.



Naky Foundation works to seek the general well-being of vulnerable women and girls in society.



Nana Ahwenepa noted many women in the country were left in a traumatic condition, which affected them psychologically because of domestic violence and abusive marriages, saying victims sometimes had no other option than to stay in such bad marriages because of religion, faith and family pressures.



"You could easily see some married women and know they are not happy in their marriage. Some are going through serious mental and physical tortures but they cannot divorce because of religion and faith issues. This is extremely unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue in the Ghanaian society," she stated.



"Only victims know exactly what they are going through and it would be unfortunate for their families and churches to insist on them to stay without helping them to restore peace back to the marriage," the Queen-mother added.



Marriage in the Ghanaian traditional perspective, Nana Ahwenepa explained, was an agreement between the husband and the wife, noting if such union failed to work, then there was no need for families to allow both of them to continue, because most often, the women suffer the consequences.



"For marriages to work, men should regard their wives as helpers and younger sisters. If men see they cannot co-exist with wives any longer, then the best option was to send them back to their families instead of abusing them physically and emotionally".



"Marriage is not a mutual union between boys and girls, but rather reserved for the matured in mind," she said adding that, the youth must not rush into it. They need to prepare themselves well both financially and emotionally for their marriages to work in the interest of society and their unborn children.

Source: GNA









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DOHA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th March, 2021) The Shia Houthi rebels have described the US ceasefire plan for Yemen as dangerous adventurism that may deteriorate the situation in the Arab nation.

On Friday, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said that his recent talks with Yemen and Gulf leaders had achieved a "sound plan" for a ceasefire in the war-torn country, but the proposal awaited approval of the rebel Houthi movement's leaders.

"The proposal of the US special envoy is adventurism that may leave Yemen in a more dangerous situation than the current one. The US proposal has nothing new, only Saudi Arabia's conditions for a ceasefire. If Washington's proposals were acceptable, we would have agreed on them during the talks with Saudi Arabia," a spokesman for the Houthis, Mohammed Abdessalam, told the Almasirah broadcaster on late Friday.

From his point of view, the US initiative includes neither ceasing fire nor lifting the siege from northern Yemen.

At the same, a Yemeni source told Al Jazeera broadcaster that the US initiative proposed the full-fledged cessation of hostilities.

"The plan of the US special envoy envisages the full-fledged cessation of hostilities by both parties: the Saudi-led Arab coalition puts an end to airstrikes, the Houthis stop launches of drones to strike the kingdom's territory," the source said.

The plan also seeks to reopen the international airport of Sanaa, which has been closed since 2015, allow fuel deliveries to Yemen via the port of Hudaydah, and resume the peace process.

Yemen has been engulfed in an armed conflict between the government forces led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi rebels since 2014.

The Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched an operation to support the internationally recognized government of Hadi in 2015. The Houthis continue to maintain control over the vast part of the north of the country, including the capital of Sanaa.
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Cooperation between Shinhan Bank Vietnam and Khoi Nguyen Education offers parents of students enrolled in the Canadian International School System (CISS) tuition fee loans at zero interest rate.

Under the partnership agreement, Shinhan Bank and Khoi Nguyen Educational Investment and Development JSC (KNE) will jointly provide parents with low-interest credit, increasing financial ownership in education investment for their children by advancing tuition fees.

The bank will issue credit cards with 0 percent instalment payments and payment terms from 6 to 9 months, supported by KNE. This enables parents of students enrolled in The Canadian International School System (CISS) to make annual tuition fee payments.

KNE is currently the owner of CISS, including Canadian International School (CIS), Bilingual Canadian International School (BCIS), Canadian-Vietnam Kindergarten (CVK), Albert Einstein School (AES) and E-Study Online Teaching School.

Trinh Quang Dong (L) and Kang Gew Gon (R) sign the Agreement of Strategic Partnership. Photo by KNE.
Sir Anthony Hopkins has recounted what it was like working with a young Russell Crowe before he was famous - revealing that he knew he was in the presence of a star the moment the Australian actor walked on set.

The actors co-starred in the Australia drama, Spotswood, which was filmed between 1990 and 1991 and released in 1993.

The film, known as The Efficiency Expert in the USA, was one of Russell's first, and he was by no means a household name.

Looking back: Sir Anthony Hopkins (pictured) has revealed what it was like working with a young Russell Crowe before he was famous

But Anthony, 83, saw a spark in the now 56-year-old actor, who he pegged as a future superstar at first sight.

Speaking to Stellar Magazine this week, the Silence of the Lambs actor said: 'I could [it] see as soon as he walked on set.

'I thought, "There's a winner. I'm sure I'll see you in Hollywood one day." He had 'it'  and Russell knew it.'

Back then: The actors co-starred in the Australia drama, Spotswood, which was filmed between 1990 and 1991. The film was one of Russell's first. Anthony, 83, says he saw a spark in the now 56-year-old actor immediately. Russell is pictured in Spotswood

Knew it: 'I could [it] see as soon as he walked on set,' Anthony said. 'I thought, "There's a winner. I'm sure I'll see you in Hollywood one day." Russell knew it. You could tell that he knew it; he could smell it. You knew what he was going to be'. Anthony is pictured in Spotswood

He added: 'You could tell that he knew it; he could smell it. You knew what he was going to be.'

Although Russell has over the years developed a reputation of being difficult to work with, Anthony didn't find him to be so at the time.

The Hannibal actor told the magazine: 'He wasn't difficult, but he just had a quiet aggression. You didn't mess with Russell. He had his eye on the target.'

Focus: Although Russell has over the years developed a reputation of being difficult to work with, Anthony didn't find him to be so. 'He wasn't difficult, but he just had a quiet aggression. You didn't mess with Russell. He had his eye on the target' he said. Russell is pictured in 2018

Anthony's instincts proved correct, as by the end of the decade Russell had left Australia and cemented himself in Hollywood's A-list.

Russell's breakout role would come six years later in the 1996 American noir drama L.A. Confidential, with the Australian star attracting the attention of tinseltown for his role as police officer Bud White.

In 2000 he shot to global super-stardom for his role of Maximus in Gladiator, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Star: In 2000 Rusell shot to global super-stardom for his role of Maximus in Gladiator (pictured) for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
She's currently living in Dubai, away from the UK's current restrictions amid the ongoing pandemic.

And Georgia Harrison made the most of the sunshine on Saturday as she put on a sizzling display while enjoying a fun at the beach.

The Love Island star, 27, showcased her incredibly toned physique as she slipped into a bright blue tie-front bikini which featured a pretty butterfly pattern.

Water babe: Georgia Harrison made the most of the sunshine on Saturday as she put on a sizzling display while enjoying a fun at the beach

Georgia oozed confidence as she sauntered along the shore in the skimpy two-piece, which allowed her perfectly display her taut midriff and toned legs.

The TV personality kept her accessories to a minimum, adding a simple silver necklace and matching hooped earrings to her look.

She swept her wavy looks into a half up, half down style using a blue scrunchie, while she highlighted her features with a sleek palette of make-up.

Looking good: The Love Island star, 27, showcased her incredibly toned physique as she slipped into a bright blue tie-front bikini which featured a pretty butterfly pattern

Georgia appeared in her element as she swung in an egg chair before gracefully wading into the refreshing water.

She looked incredible as she struck a pose in the sea while soaking up the sun in the UAE country.

Just days previously, Georgia sizzled in another bikini as she slammed school bullies who had criticised her for having skin condition psoriasis.

Stunner: Georgia oozed confidence as she sauntered along the shore in the skimpy two-piece, which allowed her perfectly display her taut midriff and toned legs

Beach style: The TV personality kept her accessories to a minimum, adding a simple silver necklace and matching hooped earrings to her look

By the sea shore: Georgia looked incredible as she emerged from the sea in her sizzling blue swimwear

The stunner exuded confidence on Wednesday as she posed up next to a 4x4 in a tiny slate grey string bikini and cowboy boots while sunning herself in the desert.

The star captioned the Instagram snap: 'Shout out to all the boys and girls who bullied me in school for having psoriasis , hope your enjoying yourself in my unseen messages.'

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales - with Georgia speaking openly in the past about her experiences with the condition.

Work it: She swept her wavy looks into a half up, half down style, while she highlighted her features with a sleek palette of make-up

Don't mind me: She looked incredible as she struck a pose in the sea while soaking up the sun in the UAE country

Life's a beach: The reality star checked herself out as she stood in the sea

Egg-citing times: Georgia appeared in her element as she swung in an egg chair before gracefully wading into the refreshing water

The reality star had recently taken a short break from social media after dealing with past traumatic relationship drama.

In a tearful video, she vowed to remain silent until she could 'speak her truth' after her ex-boyfriend Stephen Bear was arrested.

The reality star, 31, was arrested for allegedly filming them having sex without Georgia's consent and posting the video online.

While Georgia didn't name her ex in the video, she appeared to issue a stark warning by saying she would 'scream every second of her story from the rooftop' after keeping silent since her ex Stephen was arrested.

Strike a pose: Just days previously, Georgia sizzled in another bikini as she slammed school bullies who had criticised her for having skin condition psoriasis

Traumatic: The reality star had recently taken a short break from social media where she vowed to remain silent until she could 'speak her truth' after her ex-boyfriend Stephen Bear was arrested

She wrote: 'Cannot wait until the time I can speak my truth about everything I'm going through the lies, the heartbreak, the deception, the manipulation.

'Being stripped of my privacy and laughed at. Imagine having young daughters and supporting that sort of abuse on a social platform. How embarrassing.'

She said: 'At the end of the day anything that happens in the dark eventually gets shed light on, you might be able to get away with things for a little bit, but karma always gets you. Always.'

After taking a brief social media break in February, Georgia has returned to social media where she has been posted updates from her life in Dubai.
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Deputy economy minister: There are signs of rapid tourism recovery in Armenia

Azerbaijan grossly violating 2 Armenian POWs rights, says international law expert

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijani defense ministry disseminated disinformation about 40 Armenian soldiers crossing border

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Dr Jean-Claude Schmit from the Health Directorate said there is no reason why Luxembourg should stop vaccinating with AstraZeneca, despite there having been a few cases of people reporting side effects.

These side effects would be perfectly normal, however, according to Schmit. Out of all the AstraZeneca vaccinations carried out in Luxembourg, 13 people reported side effects similar to those of a flu jab. He also stated that three cases of cardiovascular problems had been reported, including variations in blood pressure.

A number of countries suspended the AstraZeneca jab this week after news emerged from Austria of potential issues with a specific batch (ABV5300). Luxembourg received 4,800 doses from the suspended batch, and had already administered 86% of it. The remaining 690 doses have been isolated and will not be used, Schmit did say.

Other vaccines have side effects, too, according to the doctor. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which has a very good reputation, is no exception, where some patients have felt headaches, a sore throat, or joint pain.

Le docteur Jean-Claude Schmit au journal de RTL vendredi soir. /  RTL

The European Medicines Agency assured that the risk of blood clots was not higher in vaccinated people and considered that the vaccine could continue to be used. To Schmit, therefore, there is no reason to stop vaccinating with AstraZeneca. The World Health Organization made a similar statement.

Furthermore, according to the Health Directorate, the first deliveries of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are expected by mid-April in Luxembourg. Schmit also announced that vaccinations could be carried out at a GP's surgery, but that this will only be possible at a later stage once Luxembourg has given priority to all vulnerable individuals.
The founder of Confused.com, Sara Murray, has hired former KPMG UK chairman Simon Collins

The founder of Confused.com has hired a City heavyweight to chair her tracking business as it considers a 500million London float.

Buddi, the brainchild of the price comparison site's founder, Sara Murray, has hired former KPMG UK chairman Simon Collins.

Murray said Collins, who is also a non-executive director of the Royal Air Force, was 'measured, thoughtful and bright', adding: 'His appointment is a building block to being a bigger company.'

Murray will soon host a beauty parade of bankers, though it is understood a final decision on whether to float has not been made.

She founded Buddi 16 years ago as a tracking device for lost children but branched into work for police and healthcare services, such as alerting carers when vulnerable people have had a fall.

Murray said she was in discussions with 'several' countries over quarantine contracts. The device would be worn at home by people asked to quarantine.

Murray, who flies helicopters in her spare time, said: 'The concern has been that people can still visit them. But we've developed a device which can detect whether someone visits your home.'
Russian police have detained 150 people at meeting of opposition politicians in Moscow, accusing them of having links to an 'undesirable organisation'.

The detentions come amid a crackdown on anti-Kremlin sentiment, following the arrest and imprisonment of opposition politician Alexei Navalny who returned to Russia in January after recovering from a nerve agent poisoning in Siberia.

The forum, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, was a gathering of municipal deputies from all over the country, Andrei Pivovarov, the event's organiser and executive director of Open Russia, told radio station Echo Moskvy.

Open Russia is a British-based group founded by exiled former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Khodorkovsky moved to London after spending 10 years in prison in Russia on charges widely seen as political revenge for challenging Vladimir Putin's rule.

Russian police have detained 150 people at meeting of opposition politicians in Moscow, accusing them of having links to 'undesirable organisation' Open Russia, founded by exiled former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky (left). Khodorkovsky spent 10 years in prison in Russia on charges widely seen as political revenge for challenging Vladimir Putin's (right) rule

As the forum got underway, police entered the building and began detaining attendees and taking them to police vans waiting outside, video footage from TV Rain and Russian news agencies showed.

A police officer leading the raid said the detainees will be taken down to police precincts and charged with administrative violations.

OVD-Info, which monitors the detention of political protesters and activists, published a list of more than 150 people it said had been detained.

Opposition politician Ilea Yasmin wrote on Twitter: 'The police came to the forum of municipal deputies in Moscow.

'There are 150 people here from all over the country. Everyone is being detained. I mean, everyone.'

A Russian court last month handed a suspended sentence to activist Anastasia Shevchenko (pictured with her son Mikhail) accused of membership of an 'undesirable' organisation

Vladimir Kara-Murza, vice-president of the Free Russia Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organisation, shared a picture from the inside of a police van after he was detained.

The police said all participants were being detained because of the 'activities of an undesirable organisation', TV Rain reported.

Open Russia is one of more than 30 groups that Moscow has labelled as undesirable and banned under a law adopted in 2015.

Rights advocates say the laws on 'undesirable' organisations and 'foreign agents' can be used to pressure and target civil society members.

Russia denies that and says the laws are needed to protect its national security from outside meddling.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, vice-president of the Free Russia Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organisation, was also detained

It comes after a Russian court last month handed a suspended sentence to an activist accused of membership of an 'undesirable' organisation.

Anastasia Shevchenko, 41, was accused of engaging in political activities under the aegis of Open Russia.

Prosecutors had asked the court in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia to sentence Shevchenko to five years in prison, but the court handed her a four-year suspended term.

Shevchenko, a mother of two who has been under house arrest for two years, has denied the accusations as political punishment for her opposition views.

When she was put under house arrest in January 2019, the authorities waited for several days before letting Shevchenko visit her elder teenage daughter who was in critical condition at a hospital and died a day after she finally was allowed to see her.

Shevchenko's case has attracted broad nationwide attention, marking the first attempt by authorities to prosecute under the 2015 law introducing criminal punishment for membership in 'undesirable' organisations.

Alexei Navalny (pictured in court last month) has been moved from a jail to an unknown location, his lawyers have claimed

The police crackdown on Saturday's forum follows the arrest and imprisonment of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's most determined political foe was arrested on January 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin.

Russian authorities have rejected the accusation.

Last month, Navalny was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany - charges he dismissed as a Kremlin vendetta.

His arrest and imprisonment triggered a wave of protests across Russia, to which the authorities responded with a massive crackdown.

The government has intensified its crackdown on the opposition ahead of parliamentary elections set for September as the popularity of the main Kremlin-backed party, United Russia, has dwindled.
New Delhi: Indian Army's Infantry battalions across the country have started getting the deadly US made advance assault rifles Sig Sauer in a big boost to their capability. According to sources, the Infantry soldiers who were deployed at the LAC and LoC first started getting Sig Sauer rifles.

Now soldiers in other Infantry commands are also getting the rifles. "Atleast two companies in each Infantry battalion are getting Sig Sauer rifles," said sources. Many units are conducting firing practices with the gun.

Till now INSAS (Indian small arms system) rifles manufactured locally by the Ordnance Factories Board was the main weapon of the Indian Army. However, there were many glitches in INSAS rifles. It used to get jammed. The 5.56 mm bullet in many cases didn't kill the terrorist in one shot which was another major drawback.

Sig Sauer bullet is 7.26 mm which is bigger than INSAS. "Sig Sauer is shoot to kill weapon. One bullet for one enemy," said an official. Sig Sauer has an effective killing range of 600 meters against around 400 meters for INSAS. Another advantage is that Sig Sauer can be used by both left and right-handed soldier. It has sights to aim fire. "SiG Sauer fire is very precise and the metal is also very good," said the official.

Earlier, India had signed a contract with a US firm Sig Sauer for 72,400 assault rifles at a cost of around Rs 700 crore. The assault rifle was bought through the fast-track procurement (FTP) route.

In September 2020, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved purchase of second batch of 72,000 SiG Sauer assault rifles from US for frontline for Rs 780 crore. These rifles are used by US forces as well as several other European countries.
We talked with several people on Friday at one of North Alabamas biggest vaccination sites.

Theyre excited to see more people getting protection.

"I'm feeling wonderful, and I'm thankful that I'm able to get it today," said Betty Lanier, vaccine recipient.

Lanier got her first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at John Hunt Park on Friday. She is happy that the state is expanding eligibility so more people can get vaccinated.

"I want them to sign up and get the vaccine so we all can be healthy and have an active life maybe by end of summer," said Lanier.

Even though more people will be eligible for the vaccine, they might not be able to get it right away.

"I'm 78, so I was eligible quite awhile ago," said Larry Tapp, vaccine recipient.

Tapp waited a month before getting a vaccine appointment at John Hunt Park. He says the people who will be eligible on March 22 probably feel the same way he did a month ago.

"You know, when is this gonna happen?" said Tapp.

Tapp says he feels great, though, to finally be getting the vaccine.

"We're just glad to be here. Been looking forward to it all week. We got the call on last Friday, I guess, and we're scheduled for a second shot April 2, so you know we're tickled," he said.

We reached out to Huntsville Hospital about their plans for the expanded vaccinations in 10 days. A representative from the hospital says they're still working out the details.
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LONDONBritish police have charged an officer with the kidnap and murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, whose disappearance last week has sparked anger and fears among women about their safety.

Constable Wayne Couzens, 48, who guarded diplomatic buildings, will appear in court on Saturday. Everard disappeared while walking home from a friends house in south London on March 3.

The Metropolitan police had confirmed that a body found in a wood outside London was that of the missing woman.

Her case has led to an outpouring of personal accounts by women of their own experiences and fears of walking streets alone at night, and a campaign for action to address this.

The investigation continues of course, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave told reporters. I would like to use this opportunity to encourage anyone that thinks they might have useful information to give, to get in contact with us.

He had said earlier in the day that he understood the hurt and anger sparked by the case. Those are sentiments that I share personally, Ephgrave said. I also recognise the wider concerns that are being raised quite rightly about the safety of women in public spaces in London and also elsewhere in the country.

Home Secretary (interior minister) Priti Patel said she would do all she could to protect women and girls following the outcry that has followed Everards disappearance.

Every woman & girl should be free to walk our streets without the slightest fear of harassment, abuse or violence, she said on Twitter.

However, police have been criticised by organisers of a planned Reclaim These Streets vigil on Saturday near to where Everard was last seen, after officers said it could not take place due to COVID-19 restrictions.

A woman in her 30s, who media said was the partner of Couzens, was released on police bail after having been detained on suspicion of assisting an offender.
In 1991 during the Gulf War, an SAS unit of eight men led by Andy McNab was dropped into Iraq on a dangerous covert mission.

Within days the men were compromised and pursued across the desert  three of their number died and one escaped. The remaining four were captured.

Bravo Two Zero, McNab's book about their ordeal, which gripped readers around the world, has sold six million copies and has never been out of print.

Here, to mark the 30th anniversary of its publication, we present the first of four extracts from his compelling story of immense courage, mental strength and superhuman endurance which was, for these men, all in a day's work...

The guards flung me into the prison cell and forced me down on the floor, into a stress position  legs crossed, my knees right up, shoulders straight and my hands cuffed behind my back. I didn't say or do anything, I just went with the flow. They slapped and kicked me and then left, slamming the metal door behind them.

I looked around me. The concrete floor was damp and uneven. The once-cream walls were covered with muck and splashed with two enormous bloodstains  two or three pints of blood at least I reckoned.

I looked up and my eyes fixed on a large hook in the middle of the ceiling.

My heart started pumping hard. Would I be hanging up there soon?

Back at SAS headquarters in Hereford, I'd heard all the horror stories from the IranIraq war. I knew all about electrodes and meat hooks. These Iraqi boys had been doing this professionally for years. I was filled with dread.

When I was brought to this terrible place, one of the guards whispered to me in an almost sympathetic way: 'Whoever is your God, you will very soon be needing him.'

I'd heard all the horror stories from the IranIraq war. I was filled with dread

The sincerity in his voice alarmed me. Here we go, I thought. It's time for the old chop-your-balls-off routine, followed by ears, fingers and toes, all nice and slow.

Or am I going to be stripped, spread-eagled and gang-raped? That thought worried me much more than getting killed.

How had I got myself into this hellhole? And would I have the strength and will power to survive?

My name is Andy McNab and I was a sergeant and patrol commander in 22 SAS Regiment when, in August 1990, Saddam Hussein's troops rolled into the independent state of Kuwait and the West prepared for war. We went into intense training for desert operations, and in January 1991 were on our way to the Gulf.

The atmosphere at our base in Saudi Arabia was jovial and lively. The Regiment hadn't been massed like this since World War II. Usually, we work in small, covert groups, but here was a rare chance to be out in the open in large numbers.

The war was going to provide an excellent chance for everyone to get down to some classic, behind-the-lines SAS soldiering, the sort the SAS had been set up for nearly 50 years earlier.

I felt like a bricklayer who'd spent his entire life knocking up bungalows and now had the opportunity to build a skyscraper.

I was chuffed when my eight-man team was briefed for a special secret mission to destroy communication lines deep inside Iraq. The comms lines were designed to relay the orders to launch Scud missiles, Iraq's most dangerous weapon.

Our task was to find and destroy those lines along a 150 mile highway, and then take out as many Scuds as possible. We were given 14 days to do it.

We meticulously prepared for the mission, arming ourselves with machine guns, rifles and grenade-launchers, plus explosives and detonators to do the job, as well as rations, water  209 lb (just under 15 st stone) of equipment each, to be carried in Bergen packs on our backs.

It was one hell of a load, but the lads all agreed we were looking forward to getting on the ground. The excitement was tempered, though, by the thought of how isolated we would be out there in the desert deep inside Iraq.

It was dangerous all right, but this was what we had signed up for and were paid for. Just before we set off for the helicopter that would ferry us behind enemy lines, the signals chief allocated us our call sign.

It was Bravo Two Zero.

The grind of the blades told me that the Chinook was manoeuvring close to the ground. The tailgate started to lower. The ramp came down. Clouds of dust flew up and half the team moved on to the tailgate, weapons at the ready, and then jumped.

I was chuffed when my eight-man team was briefed for a special secret mission to destroy communication lines deep inside Iraq

They set up protective positions while the rest of us hurled off the kit and then jumped after it.

I hit the ground and looked up. The helicopter was climbing fast with the ramp still closing. Within seconds it was gone. We were on our own. The ground was featureless  hard bedrock with shale over the top and flat as far as the horizon. This worried me. It would be hard to hide in.

The first thing was to get near to the highway well before first light and find somewhere to lie up.

We fanned out into patrol mode, marched for 12 miles, and reached it just before 5am, then found a cave high up in the rocks with an overhang.

It was a perfect lying-up place  dead ground, out of sight and with cover from enemy fire.

We moved all the equipment in. With stags (sentries) out, the rest of us prepared to sleep, but with our rifles close by so, if it came to it, we'd just have to roll over and start firing. Then came a huge setback  the disaster that, as it turned out, would wreck the whole mission.

It was time to transmit our first Sit Rep (situation report) back to SAS base camp in Saudi, telling them where we were and what state we were in.

On the patrol radio, Legs, our signaller, sent the encoded message in a single, very short burst that bounces off the ionosphere and is virtually undetectable by the enemy. We waited for an acknowledgement, but none came.

For the rest of that day we tried different antennas, but still no contact. It was very annoying but not desperate, because there was a procedure set up in the event of lost comms.

If the SAS base didn't hear from you, the rule was that you trekked back to the landing site and rendezvoused at a set time with a helicopter to pick up new radios.

That night, Stan, Dinger, Mark and I left the high ground and went forward to confirm the position of the highway and locate the landlines we were there to blow up.

The silence was broken by a dog barking, then another.

We pulled our fighting knives from their sheaths. If the dogs came to investigate, we'd kill them and then have to take the bodies with us on our backs to avoid leaving remains that might alert anyone to our presence.

We listened, waiting for lights to show, but nothing happened. So we pressed on.

Suddenly I spotted something ahead, and again we froze. Four tents and vehicles were parked next to two Iraqi S60 anti-aircraft guns. We heard men coughing, but no one was moving, so we crept away.

The men of Bravo Two Zero Sgt Andy McNab Sgt Vince Phillips Corp Chris Ryan Lance-Corp 'Dinger' Pring Trooper Bob Consiglio Trooper 'Legs' Lane Trooper Stan MacGowan Trooper Mark 'Kiwi' Coburn Some of these names are pseudonyms Advertisement

But we were clearly in the right place for our mission. This was definitely the highway we'd been looking for, which was good to know.

It was worrying, though, that there were so many people around, so much activity going on.

As we headed back to our lying-up place, we saw a Scud missile burst into the sky about three miles away.

We must be in the middle of a mega-launch area. We were going to have a fluffy old time of it.

This was confirmed when next morning I looked out over the plain and saw two more S60 anti-aircraft units with tents, blokes stretching  all just 300 yards from our position. I couldn't believe it. Scary stuff.

And it got worse when, that afternoon, as we sat inside the cave, we heard a young voice shout nearby, followed by the clatter of goats and the tinkle of bells. They were above us and my thumb crept towards the safety-catch of my M16 rifle.

I looked up just as the head of a goat appeared. Then the top of a young human head bobbed into view. Our eyes met.

The options raced through my mind. Do we top the goatherd? Too much noise. Anyway, I wouldn't want that on my conscience for the rest of my life. I had a kid of my own back home.

The boy ran, hollering like a lunatic. We went after him, but he had too much of a head start. He was gone and we had to face the fact that, with the mission barely under way, we had been compromised.

We had to move now, even though there was more than an hour of daylight left and out in the open we'd easily be spotted.

We were in trouble if we stayed and in trouble if we ran. It was out of the frying pan into the fire, but I reckoned that in the fire at least we had a slim chance.

Legs had got straight on to the radio, running out all the antennas, trying different combinations he hadn't been able to try while we were concealed. If the message got through to base camp, they could send some fast jets over to give us covering fire. But, once again, there was no response.

I told everyone: 'We're going west to avoid the S60 sites, and then head south and go for the RV with the helicopter at 0400 tomorrow.'

We pulled our scarves over our faces and set out, making good progress with the sun in our eyes until suddenly we heard the sound of more tracked vehicles.

Adrenaline rushed, blood pumped. We stopped. We couldn't go forward, we couldn't go back  and we were probably no more than seconds away from contact.

'Let's do it!' Chris screamed.

We were all in this together, no thought of dying, just let's get through this. I could see each bloke bobbing and moving around within his own 10 yards square, trying to get a better vantage point.

There were shouts all along the line. 'See anything your end yet?' 'No, can't see jack sh*t.'

Whoof! One of the boys had fired off a rocket. Even if the Iraqis hadn't known we were there, they did now. But he wouldn't have fired without good reason.

I strained my neck and saw an APC (armoured personnel carrier) with a 7.62 machine-gun coming toward us.

'Let's do it!' I yelled, as a second APC opened fire.

It's not nice to know you're up against armour and vehicles with infantry on board.

All you are is a foot patrol, and these anonymous monsters are crushing relentlessly towards you. It's you against them.

Rounds thumped into the ground, getting closer and closer to where I lay. A truck stopped 100 yards away and infantry were spilling out shouting and firing.

They weren't entirely sure where we were. But even so, there was enough incoming from their direction to keep our heads down.

We were now all furiously getting rounds off. One of our rockets hit a truck and there was a massive shudder of high-explosive.

It was first hit to us all right but I knew their firepower was far superior to ours. They'd take casualties, we'd take casualties, but we would come off worse simply because there were more of them.

Better not to wait for them to close in. I decided to take the fight to the enemy.

I took deep breaths and then up I got and ran forward. At times like this, you're immersed in your own little world. Me and Chris running, Stan and Mark backing us up with machine guns. Fire and manoeuvre, then get down, jump up again and press forward.

The Iraqis must have thought we were crazy. The closer we got to them the more they were flapping.

It was the last thing they expected us to do. We were within 50 yards of them when they started to retreat. It was a splendid sight. All the boys were on the move, now with their Sebastian Coe legs on. We'd fire a couple of rounds, then dash and get out of the way, then start again. You pick on one body and fire until he drops. Sometimes it can take as many as ten rounds.

Mark and Dinger reached one of the Iraqi APCs, found the rear doors carelessly left open and lobbed in a grenade. The occupants were killed instantly.

But not all the enemy were on the run from us. The surviving APC was 800 yards away and still firing. Infantry were moving towards us, too, and it was a certainty that reinforcements were on the way. This was not the time to hang around.

We just had to put as much distance as we could between the Iraqis and us. We moved as fast as we physically could with our Bergens on, in an infantry manoeuvre known as getting the f*** out, moving backwards, firing like maniacs.

There was no point now going south for the RV with the helicopter, so we headed west, though that meant the risk of running into the S60 units.

And, sure enough, as we hit the brow of a slope, we were spotted and Iraqi anti-aircraft guns started firing. Shells thundered into the ground around us.

Chris was hit and went down. I ran over, ready to jab a syrette of morphine into what was left of him. He was wriggling, and for a split second I thought it was death throes. But he was very much alive.

His Bergen had taken the impact and was smoking. He pulled it off, began to run, then stopped and went back and rummaged in the bag.

He came back with a silver hip flask in his hand.

'Christmas present from the wife,' he grinned. 'Couldn't leave it behind  she'd kill me.'

The Iraqis were now coming at us in numbers, firing sustained and accurate bursts. We kept moving back and back.

However, it was getting to last light, and they finally lost contact with us in the gloom.

But we were well spread out, all fighting our own little dramas, and as darkness fell there was a danger of the patrol getting split. Eventually, we found a dip in the ground for everyone to rally and, one by one, Bravo Two Zero reassembled.

Suddenly we were all laughing like drains, just so relieved to be unscathed and back together after such a major drama. It was great to be all in one piece.

But this was only a lull in the fighting  not an end. The headlights of tracked vehicles were frantically criss-crossing in front of us, no more than 300 yards away.

In the distance, we could hear bursts of gunfire and shouting.

We quickly sorted ourselves out, preparing for what was certain to be a fearsome amount of tabbing [fast walking with heavy loads] ahead to have any chance of getting home.

The radio had gone when Dinger's Bergen was hit, but it was useless anyway. What we did have was four tactical distress beacons (TACBE), with which we could signal our position to AWACS, the Airborne Warning And Control System, and transmit a request for help.

I pressed the transmit button on mine and talked: 'Hello AWACS, this is Bravo Two Zero. We're in the s**t. Over.'

There was no reply. I repeated the message. Nothing.

We were on our own. No help was coming.

Extracted from Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab, (Corgi, 8.99).  Andy McNab 1993. To order a copy for 7.91 (offer valid until March 20, 2021; UK P&P free on orders over 20), visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193. The movie of Andy McNab's novel SAS: Red Notice is out today on Sky Cinema.
Donald Trump has used a surprise appearance at a Mar-a-Largo dog rescue fundraiser to proclaim that his daughter-in-law Lara Trump will run for senate.

The former president delighted attendees at the event - held Friday night for Big Dog Ranch Rescue - as he took to the stage for an impromptu speech, which was shared to Twitter by journalist T.A. Walker.

'I didn't exactly prepare for this, but I was walking by, and I heard everyone screaming,' Trump was seen telling the crowd as they broke into rapturous applause.

He then acknowledged the presence of his daughter-in-law, who helped put together the event.

'I want to thank Lara, who's been so incredible,' he stated before addressing long-swirling rumors that she was considering a run for a North Carolina Senate seat in 2022.

'I don't know, you're running for the Senate. I hear she's going to run for the Senate!' Trump stated as the crowd again erupted into cheers.

Lara Trump has not officially announced any plans to run for the seat, which is being vacated by Republican Richard Burr next year.

However, she has similarly not ruled out the run.

Donald Trump has used a surprise appearance at a Mar-a-Largo dog rescue fundraiser to proclaim that his daughter-in-law Lara Trump will run for senate

Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at a dog rescue fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night

Elsewhere in his short address, the ex-commander-in-chief claimed he was compelled to speak to the crowd because he believed that the fundraiser was 'so great and so important'.

'I'm with you 100 percent. We had many meetings in the White House and the Oval Office having to do with saving and helping dogs!' Trump exclaimed.

Attendees were heard cheering loudly, with one screaming out 'I love you!'

Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, hosted the event in the hopes of raising $500,000 to help bring 500 dogs from China to the United States.

Trump's unexpected appearance on Friday night came after he spent the afternoon playing golf at the nearby Trump International in West Palm Beach.

Lara Trump has not officially announced any plans to run for the seat, which is being vacated by Republican Richard Burr next year.

Trump was seen chatting with attendees of the fundraiser outside. Few of the patrons were pictured wearing masks

Trump's unexpected appearance on Friday night came after he spent the afternoon playing golf at the nearby Trump International in West Palm Beach

The businessman kept things casual in a tight-fitting t-shirt as he took to the links.

He covered up his famous locks with a bright red MAGA cap and was seen steering his own buggy.

The ex-POTUS looked delighted to be back in the Florida sunshine following his visit to New York earlier in the week.

Trump was pictured arriving at Trump Tower in the Big Apple late Sunday night. He spent less than 48 hours in the city before leaving again on Tuesday afternoon.

According to source, the former President made the trip to 'look under the hood' of his family firm as New York prosecutors probe into the business.

Back in the swing of things! The ex-POTUS looked delighted to be back in the Florida sunshine following his visit to New York

The businessman kept things casual in a tight-fitting t-shirt as he took to the links

New York Daily News reported that Trump returned to NYC as he wanted to get up to speed on the ins and outs of his company.

The source also told Daily News that Trump wishes to reengage with the Trump Organization.

'He's quite curious about his businesses and his employees, his organization, and is eager to look under the hood,' the source told the Daily News.

'He's not entirely sure of the role he will play, but he misses it, for sure.'

Back in 2019, Trump officially changed his primary residence from New York to Florida.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Organizers of Santa Fes trio of summer art markets say they are hoping to return to some form of live event this summer.

Last years live Santa Fe Indian Market, Spanish Market and the International Folk Art Market were canceled due to the pandemic.

Officials at the Santa Fe Indian Market hope to launch a hybrid version for this years annual shopping frenzy on the Plaza in August.

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Southwestern Association for Indian Arts executive director Kim Peone said the umbrella organization may host an event that is part live and part virtual, depending on state mandates. Last years market was virtual.

Peone said board members hope to make a decision by April 1.

IFAM CEO Stuart Ashman said plans are underway for a reduced market featuring about 50 artists and 200 visitors from July 7-18. The market will potentially be divided between Museum Hills Milner Plaza and IFAM headquarters at 620 Cerrillos Road. Unlike the Spanish and Indian markets, the Folk Art Market is a ticketed event; organizers can control the number of visitors.

Spanish Market will return to the Plaza in some form in July, director of finance and administration Yvonne Gillespie said.

Were waiting for the city to decide; it looks like theyre leaning toward a broader event, she said. Were very much hopeful.

Some artists are nervous about being exposed in crowds because of the pandemic, she added.

At SWAIA, board members have discussed slashing the number of artists and confining the event to the Plazas perimeters without allowing the crowds to spill beyond the downtown streets. Peone said the market would need a minimum of artists to make it financially viable. In 2019, Indian Market drew between 700 and 800 artists swarming with 120,000 visitors.

I dont know what that break even number is yet, she said. The state of New Mexico has made a commitment to have a decision on outdoor events by the end of March. Also, what is the city going to expect as far as barriers and testing?

If the state opens outdoor events, there will be a live market, she said.

How do we respond if the rules keep changing? Peone asked, adding, Were doing a virtual (market) for sure. Were not abandoning Indian Market. The vaccination is something that has given us that pivot.

The 2019 Indian Market drew 250 volunteers who worked 7,000 hours.

This isnt just about artists, its about collectors, its about volunteers, Peone said.
SAN DIEGO  A federal grand jury in San Diego has indicted two men linked to a Canadian company on racketeering and drug charges over allegations they helped import and distribute narcotics around the world through the sale of encrypted communications devices.

The U.S. Justice Department says the indictment alleges that devices from Canada-based Sky Global are designed to prevent law enforcement from monitoring the communications between members of transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.

The indictment alleges that Sky Global installs sophisticated encryption software in cellphones that allow users to communicate with each other in a closed network through encrypted servers in Canada and France.

It alleges that Sky Global used the system to facilitate the importation, exportation, and distribution of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine into Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America, including the United States and Canada.

The indictment also alleges the system was used to help launder the proceeds of drug trafficking and obstruct investigations.

The U.S. Justice Department says Jean-Francois Eap, Sky Globals chief executive officer, and Thomas Herdman, a former distributor of the devices, are charged with conspiracy to violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Warrants were issued for their arrests Friday following an investigation that included the RCMP.

"The indictment alleges that Sky Global generated hundreds of millions of dollars providing a service that allowed criminal networks around the world to hide their international drug trafficking activity from law enforcement," Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in the release.

"Companies who do this are perpetuating the deadliest drug epidemic in our nation's history."

The U.S. Justice Department says on March 10, Europol announced that judicial and law enforcement authorities in Belgium, France and the Netherlands had wiretapped Sky Globals servers and monitored hundreds of millions of messages by Sky Globals users.

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It says the investigation in Europe resulted in hundreds of arrests, the seizure of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine, hundreds of firearms, and millions of euros.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said in the release that technological advancements can lead to increased levels of criminal sophistication, but also new tools for police to combat crime.

"The RCMP will continue to adopt new technologies and strategies to keep our communities safe," he said.

"Collaboration with our international policing partners, such as in this case with the FBI and DEA, has become an integral part in the ever-evolving fight against organized crime."

Sky Global Inc. has corporate offices in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2021

The Canadian Press
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Gov. Tim Walz announced a loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, beginning Monday.

Bars and restaurants are increasing allowable occupancy to 75 percent up from 50 percent, with a limit of 250 people.

Local Rochester restaurants are looking forward to this next step toward fully reopening.

Nick Powers with Canadian Honker says he has noticed clientele confidence coming back.

The restaurant has been operating with only half its staff since the shutdown - and is now bringing staff back.

"You made changes - some of them you were forced to, some of them you did because it was better for the business and some of those will stay in place," Powers explains.

Saints on 2nd also tells KIMT it has been bringing back laid-off employees in preparation.

Food and Beverage Manager, Patricia Reddings, says the restaurant is anticipating more guests now that they won't have to wait long to dine-in.

"Our guests wanna get out, wanna feel normal, they wanna get out of the house - look it's a nice sunny day - let's go somewhere."

Reddings adds, I really hope we're in full operation by May 1st - June 1st at the latest. Hoping we can keep going, little bit at a time. It's better than being closed."

Both restaurants tell KIMT they don't see takeout service going away - and it has helped businesses stay consistent.

Being located right near St. Mary's Hospital has also brought in business.

Restaurants are hopeful for the coming months, seeing this lift in restrictions as the light at the end of the tunnel.

Powers says, "What I believe is that this is really going to push through and we're going to be back to normal hopefully before we were really originally thinking."

While these new measures are set to take place Monday, Governor Walz urges Minnesotans to continue to wear masks and social distance.

Restaurants are still maintaining 6 feet of distance between guests to reduce the spread of the virus.

The limits apply separately indoors and outdoors. Bar seating increases to parties of 4.
The young Dublin woman who was arrested after leading gardai on a high speed car chase on the M50, has boasted about reaching millions of accounts on social media.

Gemma Greene has taunted the gardai by changing her Instagram bio to show a sequence of emojis of a small car being chased by a number of police cars.

And she posted a screengrab which showed her Instagram account has had over 6.3m impressions in the last month.

The 24-year-old, who faces a court date later this month after her motorway antics, is currently in Spain where she has shared a series of clips and videos on social media of herself and a friend on holiday.

Multiple pictures and videos appear to show her in Dublin Airport, and later cruising down a motorway in the direction of Barcelona.

She also posted footage of herself driving through the streets of Barcelona while playing music.

Under a recent picture of herself and her friend, Greene wrote: Ballymuns [sic] very own Bonnie & Clyde.

In one clip showing off a rooftop pool area, she can also be heard saying: Not a bad life, darling. This is me for the day.

In a recent interview, Ms Greene said the high-speed M50 chase started after she was driving out of her estate and spotted a garda and thought he was going to pull her over so she sped off.

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I said Im not f**king listening to this today. He didnt even put the blue lights on. He didnt even pull me to stop. I put the foot down and went for it," she told the Irish Star.

Dozens of garda vehicles joined in the chase along with the Garda helicopter and Greene drove to the Kilmacanogue exit of the N11 before turning around and heading back north towards Ballymun.

During the Instagram livestream, she can be heard singing along to music and boasting about how shes outrunning gardai in her car.

The chase eventually stopped when Greenes car stopped at Hampton Wood in Ballymun shortly before 7pm on the evening of March 1.

A video of the incident shows Greene exiting the vehicle before numerous gardai tackled her to the ground.

She later said the only reason she stopped was because she was running out of fuel.

After her release from custody, she posted laughing emojis at the amount of hits her Instagram page was getting.

That is mad. Two million impressions, she said.

We recently revealed how the Mercedes C220 car that she was driving during the dramatic car chase is being held by gardai as part of a major money laundering investigation

The car was originally seized from her due to the alleged road traffic offences that she committed but gardai are now holding onto it because it could be important evidence in an ongoing money laundering investigation, a senior source said.

Some of Ms Greenes close associates are suspected of being heavily involved in criminality in Ballymun, the source added.

The young woman has been officially warned by gardai of an active threat against her life and because of this it is unclear whether she will be fined for breaching coronavirus regulations by going on holiday to Spain.

Level 5 restrictions currently ban international travel for non-essential reasons.
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MEXICO CITY (AP)  Gunmen opened fire on a patrol of four state police officers in the north-central Mexican state of Zacatecas, then poured gasoline on their patrol vehicle and burned the officers.

The state police department said late Thursday that other police patrols pursued the attackers, killing two and arresting seven of them. They found the dead officers bulletproof vests and ammunition magazines in the suspects possession.

Hours later on Friday, police uncovered a drug cartel camp nearby where two kidnap victims had been held in captivity since January. No arrests were made at the camp.

The department did not say which gang the attackers belonged to, but remnants of the old Zetas cartel have been active there.

The largely agricultural state of Zacatecas has increasingly become the focus of turf battles between rival cartels, including the Zetas remnants, the Gulf and Sinaloa cartels, and the rival Jalisco New Generation cartel.

The state saw murders rise from just 44 in January 2020, to 161 in January 2021.

The two dominant cartels, Sinaloa and Jalisco, have been fighting it out in other states in Mexico, and both have now reportedly moved their battle into Zacatecas, allying themselves with local groups.
Dr. Seuss has taught millions of children  and adults  a wonderful thing: The most powerful vehicle of all is imagination.

Cars and planes can take you to other places, other countries. But imagination can take you to other worlds  worlds no car or plane can access. Worlds that seem no less real for existing only in our minds.

Since Seuss first book appeared in 1937, parents have taken those journeys with their kids, journeys to strange and wondrous lands filled with strange and wondrous creatures. These beings  cats and elephants and fish  spoke in a weird, bouncy rhythm, a cadence that rolled with the turbulence of minds in motion. No wonder children loved these stories  they satisfied their hunger for the odd and outlandish, the quirky and bizarre.

And, yet, memory is a strange thing, a gauze that softens the landscape of the past. How many older parents remember the racist stereotypes in some of these books? And how many younger parents recognize those same stereotypes today?

They are there, the offensive representations of Blacks, Asians and other minorities  and they have always been there, since Seuss first book for children was published more than 80 years ago. But this is a different time, more sensitive and attuned to the hurt of others, or so we tell ourselves. And, so, publishers have banned six of the books from being sold in bookstores, a move endorsed by the Dr. Seuss estate.

These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong, Dr. Seuss Enterprises told the Associated Press in a statement.

One of the banned books is his first, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, a story about the power of imagination. It depicts a boy who experiences a cavalcade of adventure without leaving his home. Dr. Seuss is telling us that boredom and complacency are impossible when your mode of travel is your mind.

It is a valuable lesson, especially for children who are taking their first steps into socialization. But look at some of the drawings  ugly caricatures that exaggerate the garb and facial features of minority characters. They soil an otherwise wise and charming tale, an attitude that would be amplified by his offensive depictions of Japanese in World War II cartoons.

It may be hard, even painful, for some of us to accept that Dr. Seuss could be guilty of racism. He condemned discrimination in some of his books, after all, including The Sneetches and Other Stories. These were powerful tales that showed bigotry and nativism for what it is  stupid, irrational and harmful to both victim and perpetrator.

How can such a man be guilty of the very ugliness he condemns? It may be difficult to reconcile this contradiction, but the dynamic reflects the complex nature of racism. A man can be a civil rights champion without recognizing the bigotry in his own heart, an attitude born of insensitivity, not hatred.

Whether produced by insensitivity or hatred, however, racism is racism. The two motives represent different levels of brutality, but both beat the victim down, making him feel less than what he is  a human being. A person devalued, a soul crushed. Such is the evil of racism.

The insensitivity is more insidious than outright bigotry, because it is like a virus that lies unseen, mutating without our knowledge, ready to strike when we least expect it. Was there a virus within Dr. Seuss? And, if so, was it so hidden that even he was unaware of it? The answer seems to be yes, and to say that it was a different time is an easy, facile response that diminishes the transgression.

The real question is, was Dr. Seuss racist because he was guilty of racist acts? And, if so, does it taint his books, including those that condemn bigotry? There are no easy answers. Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Roald Dahl  all were accused of racism, and all created works that will enrich humanity for as long as there are books and people who read them.

The heart is a network of jumbled motives and intentions, some of them in conflict with each other. We should consider all of them, positive and negative, before we condemn. Not an easy task, but one worth pursuing.

In My Brother Moochie: Regaining Dignity in the Face of Crime, Poverty and Racism in the American South  a powerful memoir about the violence afflicting a Black family in South Carolina  Isaac J. Bailey describes a Ku Klux Klan rally he witnessed in 1982. He spots a boy in the crowd, about 10, leaning against a pole next to the stage where his family is yelling through bullhorns and microphones. The boys seems confused, frightened, as if he were trying to dissociate himself from the hatred and madness around him.

Bailey sees good in the crucible of hostility. The boy teaches him a powerful lesson: Do not condemn too harshly or praise too lavishly, because you never know what lies within the heart of the person you judge. Not everyone who does a monstrous thing, he writes, is a monster.

Not engaging (with problematic texts) at all runs too great a risk of not learning or understanding where the problems lie, Larissa Pahomov, a high school English teacher in Philadelphia, told NPR. I believe there is a way to look at material that is stereotypical (and) racist and identify it for what it is, and then hopefully, in doing so, neutralize its effect.

We speak of races as if they were scientific constructs. They are not; they are human fabrications that serve only one purpose  to build walls among us. Skin color is a flimsy, even irrelevant, distinction, but the barrier it creates, in its most extreme form, separates the powerful from the inferior, the worthy from the worthless.

For all its noble intentions, the Civil War did not change America. Racism did not disappear with the Emancipation Proclamation. It assumed a different form, one set of shackles replaced by another. Jim Crow laws kept the former slaves in bondage legalized slavery. They were so oppressive that Hitler used them as the paradigm for the Nuremberg Laws of 1935, according to Hitlers American Model, a chilling portrait of racism in two countries by James Q. Whitman.

The Jim Crow South is the legal caste system that grew out of enslavement, Isabel Wilkerson writes in her brilliant examination of discrimination, Caste.

Today, more than 50 years after the landmark civil rights legislation, racism remains. Critics blame former President Donald Trump, his bigotry and nativism provoking progressives to lament, This is not who we are. But this is precisely who we are, and the sooner we recognize it, the easier it will be to change.

No problem has been solved by ignorance, and it is ignorant to suggest Trump created the racism that afflicts our nation. He did not produce it; he unearthed it, for it was there all along, a virus that lurked in the shadows, alive but unseen. When it struck, it should have been no surprise.

One of the results was the horrific siege of the Capitol on Jan. 6. The rioters brandished Confederate flags and U.S. flags, as if the two banners symbolized the same ideals. They do not, but this country was built, in part, on the backs of slaves, and the racism that placed innocent men, women and children in bondage survives 400 years later.

Although his racism never took the brutal form of slavery, Dr. Seuss is part of that ugly tradition. The publishers acted in good faith when they banned the six books, but a better approach might be to preface each volume targeted by the ban with an essay. The commentaries would be simple but cogent, aimed at the comprehension level of a young and impressionable audience.

The essays would not be disclaimers so much as explanations of the bigotry contained between the covers. They would help youngsters realize the complex nature of racism  how even good people must guard against the evil they condemn. This would educate the children while preserving the wonder of the tales to follow.

A perfect solution? No. But, as Dr. Seuss showed in his books, the world is far from perfect.

Robert Seltzer is a former member of the Express-News Editorial Board and author of Amado Muro and Me: A Tale of Honesty and Deception.
A roadmap to help promote peace, security and stability in the five regions of the north is in the offing under the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) in Northern Ghana Project.



The project was aimed to develop a roadmap for coordinated advocacy, increase stakeholders awareness and strengthen mechanisms for coordinated stakeholder actions around peace, security and stability in northern Ghana.



It is a two-month pilot project in partnership between SGF, the Northern Development Authority, the Northern Development Forum and the National Peace Council, with a grant from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK government.



Madam Eunice Agbenyadzi, the Programmes Manager of STAR Ghana Foundation (SGF), disclosed this at a regional stakeholder dialogue on conflict, security and stability in northern Ghana in Wa on Thursday.



The regional dialogue, formed part of a national conversation led by STAR Ghana Foundation and its partners to contribute to addressing the underlining causes of conflict, insecurity and underdevelopment in northern Ghana.

She stressed the need for local ownership of the peace campaign hence the need for the regional dialogue.



What we seek to do is to promote local ownership, and what I mean by this is that the development of a people can only be driven by the people and it is important for the people to identify their priorities and identify how they want to go about these priorities, Madam Agbenyadzi explained.



Madam Agbenyadzi, therefore, called for stronger stakeholder collaboration, including the private and public sector, religious and traditional institutions, and media, women and youth groups among others, towards ensuring the success of the campaign.



Madam Kim Bridger, a representative from the UK AID, noted that violent extremism and conflicts had led to increasing insecurity in many parts of the African continent.



She emphasized that the heightened threat of terrorism in neighbouring countries, calls for the need for Ghana to build capacity to prevent and protect itself against any such attacks.



She cited the activities of Al-Qaeda militant group in West Africa as a serious threat to Ghanas security, which ensured the need for the UK government to support the government of Ghana to build resilience against such extremisms.



Madam Bridger observed that the UK had had a long-standing cordial relationship, mutual respect and a strong commitment to peace and stability in the world.



That, she said, was why the UK government had taken that initiative in Ghana to help the country to maintain its reputation as the beacon of stability and peace in the sub-region.



The participants identified youth unemployment and poor chieftaincy succession as some of the drivers of conflicts, insecurity and instability in northern Ghana.



Personnel from the security agencies, Civil Society Organisations, youth and women groups and government agencies and departments from the Upper West and Savannah Regions attended the dialogue meeting.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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By Nie Hongjie, Deng Xiguang, Li Lin and Dong Sisi

BEIJING, Mar. 12 -- The border defense forces of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) vigorously carried out informatization construction and introduced various scientific and technological applications into border defense control during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), which have greatly promoted the border management and control capability and improved the work and living conditions of border defense troops.

During this years two sessions, military deputies to the National Peoples Congress (NPC) from the border and coastal defense forces put forward opinions and suggestions based on their own experience to further strengthen smart border and coastal defense construction.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), the military and local governments jointly launched the border defense power grid construction project, thanks to which more than 500 border defense posts are now connected to the national power grid. Microgrid system has been established for remote border defense outposts in plateau regions such as Xinjiang, Tibet, and islands and reefs that do not meet the conditions to connect the national power grid, helping the border and coastal defense troops gradually realize electrification.

Moreover, the improved construction of communication base stations in their stationed areas makes it easier for service members to contact the families. The enhanced infrastructures have laid a solid foundation to promote the development of border and coastal defense.

Deputy Hou Yun, commander of a border defense regiment under the PLA Tibet Military Command, has been stationed on the plateau for 22 years. He put forward his suggestions on further strengthening border defense infrastructure construction. In order to prepare for this proposal, he had led a patrol team to a 4,000-meters-high mountain to carry out a border patrol mission of more than 80 kilometers just before the two sessions. Reconnaissance and observation equipment, including drones, were brought with them to test the effectiveness for border management and control in a realistic manner.

Deputy Xu Zhongfa from a border defense regiment under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command shared the equipment development that he had seen in the logistics support for the border defense forces. New camouflage uniforms which are warm and light were issued last year. There are also individual tent, combat ration, compound cooked rice, dehydrated vegetables, energy bars, etc. The individual tent integrates functions of tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad and can withstand the low temperature of minus 30 degrees Celsius. After the probation last winter, it has been widely praised. "At present, the service members are satisfied with the quality of materials, the speed of distribution and the overall support constructions," said Xu.

Deputy Hou Shengliang, a professor from the PLA Army Academy of Border and Coastal Defense, said that China has been continuously increasing the border and coastal defense infrastructure investment during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). By now, China has formed a systematic and large-scale construction pattern, which is guided by combat readiness and law enforcement requirements and centered on improvements of the informatization capability. Professor Hou suggested that the smart border and coastal defense construction should be further advanced during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

He also stressed that it is the construction of a comprehensive system rather than just some simple information equipment."It is necessary to innovate the management mechanism, to establish an information platform of joint defense command and management with concerted efforts from party, government, military, police and civilian," said Hou.
Currently, many of BA's B787s and A350s along with other planes including B777s are remaining idle while international travel remains restricted, unless necessary. Photo: Robert Smith/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

British Airways is considering deploying some of its bigger planes to add capacity for an anticipated post-pandemic holiday rush as the UK eases out of lockdown.

The British flag carrier, part of International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG.L), could divert some of its jets used on long-haul routes to short-haul destinations as demand for European trips from the UK increases.

Popular holiday destinations such as Greece and Spain are gearing up to open for European holidaymakers from mid-May, according to Bloomberg. This could see a spike in bookings and make the usage of the bigger aircraft financially viable.

Currently, many of BA's B787s and A350s along with other planes including B777s are remaining idle while international travel remains restricted, unless necessary.

We keep our operation under constant review, a spokesman for British Airways said.

Airlines and travel firms have seen a bump in demand since prime minister Boris Johnson proposed a four-step roadmap out of lockdown, last month.

Johnson said that a government taskforce will produce a report by 12 April which will recommend how international trips can resume for people in England.

This could lead to foreign holidays being allowed by 17 May at the earliest.

It is understood that BA will decide on using its larger jets on short-haul routes based on booking volumes when Johnson restarts international travel. Long-haul travel is not expected to restart as soon as short-haul.

READ MORE: Heathrow records lowest passenger numbers since 1966

In the hours after the announcement, budget airline EasyJet (EZJ.L) said bookings by UK customers for the summer season were more than four times higher compared with the same period during the previous week.

According to the data, the most popular destinations for this summer are beach resorts including Malaga, Alicante and Palma in Spain, Faro in Portugal and the Greek island of Crete. August is the most booked month, followed by July and September.

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Online travel firm Thomas Cook also said traffic to its website was up 75% on Monday as people rushed to book holidays for this summer and 2022.

The roadmap to reopening has accelerated the recovery in travel and hospitality stocks with fresh rises since the market open," said Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown.

"Although international travel wont begin until at least 17th May, news that the governments global taskforce will reconvene in April to recommend how holidays can resume has been a boost for the industry which has been anxious for a sense of direction."

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the travel sector was laid bare earlier this week, after the UK's biggest airport Heathrow said its monthly passenger numbers for February fell below 500,000, the lowest since 1966, as a result of strict travel restrictions amid the pandemic.

It said in a statement the collapse in numbers was "due to the ban on all but essential travel, blanket quarantine, pre-departure and post-arrival testing."

WATCH: Should I book a holiday in 2021?
Chicagoans can celebrate St. Patricks Day with food and drink packages designed for breakfast or lunch. The brunch package includes one brunch dish, mimosas, bloody marys and green draft beer ($30 per person and available until noon Saturday). Lunch is available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a menu item, green draft beer and house liquor ($30 per person). Each package is available when reserving tables of four to six and come with St. Patricks Day swag. An Irish Pub Experience at Home is available for guests wanting to celebrate safely at home and includes corned beef platters with the works ($60). 4128 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-799-8881, theramblerchicago.com
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Partly cloudy early. Thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 83F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 66F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Nigerian security forces stepped up efforts Saturday to rescue dozens of abducted college students, police and officials said, as the media ran videos they said showed hostages pleading for help.

President Muhammadu Buhari meanwhile vowed an early end to the hostage crisis.

Gunmen abducted 39 students from their hostels in northwestern Kaduna state late Thursday, the latest in a series of such attacks.

The military managed to rescue 180 others after a fierce battle at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando at the outskirts of the state capital, Kaduna city.

"A combined team of police, army and other security forces are in a frantic search for the kidnapped students," state police spokesman Mohammadu Jalinge told AFP.

"We are combing the surrounding forests and bushes with a view to freeing the hostages. Very soon, it will be over for the bandits."

The gunmen had not made contacts with the authorities, he added.

State commissioner for internal security Samuel Aruwan told AFP: "An operation for the students' rescue is underway by security personnel from the army, air force, police and DSS (secret police)."

The Kaduna college targetted in the attack is reported to have some 300 male and female students -- mostly aged 17 or older.

Distraught parents, relatives and sympathisers have been arriving at the school for news.

- Buhari warns 'bandits' -

Local media meanwhile published several videos they said came from the abducted students Saturday. In one, a male student appealed to the Nigerian authorities to rescue them without violence.

The recording, purportedly sent through a Facebook account of one of the hostages, showed some of the other abducted students, male and female.

In another video, gunmen with whips were seen beating the hostages, with some wailing and pleading for mercy.

They appeared to be in a forest, surrounded by gunmen in military uniform. The video could not be independently confirmed.

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In a statement Saturday Buhari warned "terrorists and bandits targeting schools", saying his government would not allow the educational system to be destroyed by their criminal activities.

He commended the early response of the military to rescue 180 students, including eight staff members.

"Our military may be efficient and well-armed but it needs good efforts for the nation's defence, and the local population must rise to this challenge of the moment," he said.

Buhari vowed "an early end to the ordeal".

Heavily armed gangs in northwest and central Nigeria have stepped up attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging.

They have recently turned their focus to schools, where they kidnap students or schoolchildren for ransom -- Thursday's was at least the fourth such attack since December.

Mass kidnappings in the northwest are complicating the security challenges facing President Muhammadu Buhari's security forces, who are also battling a more than decade-long Islamist insurgency in the northeast.

abu-joa/jj
I pick up the China Daily, the English-language newspaper thats been pushed under our door, to read over my instant coffee. Scanning the headlines in hope of reading something familiar to me, Im decidedly deflated when I dont find any news stories I know anything about. I feel like I may as well be reading the local paper on Mars. While Im battling my dismay over the paper, Ava is happily playing with her Barbies. I choose some clothes for her from her suitcase, then dish her up a bowl of raisin bran cereal that James has ordered for us from the buffet restaurant: Kelloggs, China style. I dont like this, Mama. I want Weet-Bix. Of course, all three-year-olds want what isnt available! Im not sure we can get Weet-Bix, bubba  lets ask Daddy later. We get ourselves dressed and psyched to go outside, but just as were about to leave, a loud wailing siren rings out across the streets. It sounds like those war sirens you hear in movies, when bombs are raining down and you need to run for your life to a bunker.

My heart does a little somersault and I scan the streets outside for any signs of panic. No one seems to be running; in fact, everyone is just moseying around. Theres no sense of urgency, or not that I can tell anyway. Loading Whats that noise Mummy? asks Ava. Um, not sure, maybe Daddy knows. I frantically text James and, after what feels like forever, he texts me back to reassure me its to commemorate the end of World War II and Chinas battle with Japan. It rings out five times for three minutes each. Still, commemoration or not, Im rattled. Not deterred, though, and Im determined not to let my fear show to the small person beside me. We slip into our gumboots and pull our coats on, then head down in the lift for a glimpse of our new neighbourhood.

I feel all eyes are on us as we enter the lobby. James told me that, as I was the bosss wife, I should expect the staff to be wary and a little shy of me at first. I smile nervously at a few people and they cautiously smile back. The hotel doors slide open and we step outside into our new world. Its hard to miss the 1300-year-old, seven-tiered brick pagoda. It stands 64 metres high and is adorned with small arched windows on each tier. Located opposite the hotel, she is directly in front of us as we step out the door. In Chinese shes the Dayan Ta: the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Built in 652AD during the Tang Dynasty, this ancient structure is visited by tourists the world over. It once housed Chinas first Buddhist manuscripts, brought from India (most likely on the back of camels) along the famous Silk Road. Nicole Webb with daughter Ava in Xian. We stand there looking up; Im trying to appreciate the pagodas significance and Ava is trying to avoid the pushbikes that weave around us on the footpath. In stark contrast to her ancient veneer, the pagoda is surrounded by giant LED screens advertising local restaurants and real estate. Its a pop of 21st-century colour cutting through the grey haze, shining down on Qujiang New District  our new address. With a population of more than nine million (and growing), Xian is one of Chinas nearly 700 cities. Just a decade ago, the area around our hotel was completely bare, nothing but acres of green paddocks and  the pagoda. Now shes surrounded by new China in the shape of hotels, restaurants and a mass of disorderly cars, plus a gazillion colourful kites frolicking against a grey sky like hungry seagulls. Locals are busy selling them to the hundreds of tourists who come from all over China to look at that pagoda.

Next door, theres a large shopping centre. In fact, there seems to be one on every corner, with just as many under construction. A collection of mobile street-food stalls on the back of rickety, rusty carts, bikes and three-wheeler trucks are all selling foods I strain to recognise. Above us, a train is chugging around on a monorail. Its wet and slippery and a little cool, so we decide to venture inside one of the shopping centres and, much to my surprise, it feels like were the only ones there. I learn later that empty shops and apartment blocks punctuate this city (and many others in China). Theyre often referred to as ghost towns: cities built before the people come. Its almost like China is waiting for the future. Shop assistants are standing in front of their stores, waiting to lure in customers. They eye us suspiciously and shout something at us in Mandarin. All I can do is smile back. Why are they staring, Mummy? Hmm, because youre so cute, baby girl, I say, even though Im not actually sure thats why. Back on the street, we find ourselves under another giant LED screen. This one stretches right across the rooftop of the shopping centre, above crowds of tourists. Ava and I are standing under it, looking up in awe. The images floating across it keep changing, from spacecraft and planets to wartime aeroplanes, then to hot air balloons and an underwater world with ferocious sharks looming above.

Motorbikes of all shapes and sizes skid past us, their drivers hidden under colourful umbrellas that are somehow wedged into the bike so they sit over the top as makeshift shelters. We cross the road with a lot of ducking and diving. I realise very quickly that here, the little green man does not mean all clear. I clutch Ava to my side. Cars just keep coming through the crossing from every angle. Its all very impressive, but my head is swimming. Im struggling to come to terms with the fact we actually live here. I look over to the hotel, already our sanctuary. From the outside, its one of those new modern touches to this ancient neighbourhood. Holding centre stage, the hotel is king in this tourist hotspot alongside the pagoda. Taking up a gigantic amount of space, it stretches down to the end of the street, a mass of charcoal-grey rendered concrete with splashes of red paint around the alcoves of its rectangular windows. Loading The words The Grand Westin run underneath in large Chinese characters. (Adding grand apparently gives it more kudos in Chinese culture.) On one corner theres the hotels bar, opening onto a small patio that faces the pagoda; small, manicured hedges fence it off from the crowds of people strolling by. To the right is the hotel driveway, protected by a wall of wooden slats and a small water feature, and at the very end are the hotel residences under construction.
Google Earth

A 44-year-old man died after he was shot inside a San Antonio IHOP on the West Side in predawn hours Saturday.

Police say the man was eating at the restaurant in the 1500 block of SW Loop 410 with two women at about 2:30 a.m. when an argument began with another man who also was with two women at another table. The verbal exchange turned physical and one of the men pulled out a gun and began firing, police said, hitting the 44-year-old.
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) speaks during a hearing in the Rayburn House office Building on Capitol Hill, in Washington, U.S., (Photo : Mandel Ngan/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)

Lawmakers heard testimony on Friday over whether a bill aimed at helping news outlets negotiate with tech platforms was an appropriate way to help the struggling industry, including discussion of whether it should be restricted to smaller news organizations.



Representative David Cicilline, chair of the House Judiciary Committee antitrust panel, said his bill to allow a broad array of news organizations to collectively negotiate with Alphabet's Google and Facebook in hopes of recouping ad revenues would be a "temporary solution to an urgent problem."



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His bill and a Senate companion were introduced on Wednesday.



Republican Representative Jim Jordan has been critical of the big tech platforms, but also seemed skeptical of the bill. "Maybe that's the right course, but I got real questions about that," he said.



Representative Val Demings asked for reassurance that smaller publications would genuinely benefit from the legislation. Critics have expressed concern that joint negotiations with the platforms would strengthen the richest, most powerful media outlets and leave struggling smaller publications behind.



But David Chavern, president of the News Media Alliance, argued that removing the bigger organizations, like the Wall Street Journal or Washington Post from the legislation, would make it less likely that joint negotiations would succeed.



"The collective action primarily benefits those who don't have a way to assert their value," said Chavern. "Without the big publishers, the small ones have no hope."



If it becomes law, the legislation creates a four-year antitrust exemption that would benefit any print, broadcast, or digital news organization with a dedicated editorial staff that publishes at least weekly. At least 25% of their output should be original.



In addition to this measure, Cicilline has said he plans to introduce a series of bills aimed at toughening antitrust laws.


Agartala/Aizawl, March 13 : The chief of outlawed militant outfit National Liberation Front of Tripura (PD faction) has been arrested in Mizoram and will soon be brought back to Tripura for taking further course of legal action, officials said on Saturday.

Inspector General of Police (law and order), Arindam Nath, said that the self-styled chief of NLFT (PD faction), Parimal Debbarma (48) alias Phankrak, a resident of Khowai district in Tripura, was arrested by the Mizoram police on Friday night.

"Debbarma was wanted in at least 10 cases, including for murder and extortion. Six permanent warrants were pending against him at the Khowai police station," Nath told IANS.

The Director General of Police in Tripura, V.S. Yadav, had spoken to his Mizoram counterpart on Friday before the guerrilla leader was arrested from a hideout in Aizawl.

A Tripura police team has gone to Aizawl to bring back the extremist leader after taking transit remand from a Mizoram court.

According to the police, Debbarma had surrendered before the government in 2014. After two years of normal life, he again started indulging in violent activities and forcible collection of subscriptions. In 2017, he went to his hideout in Bangladesh after killing one Nitosh Debbarma at Takarjala in Tripura.

Many of Debbarma's cadres have also been arrested with arms and ammunition.

The police termed the arrest of Debbarma before the April 6 elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) as a big success.
The violence in New York City subways continues as police search for a man who pushed a woman onto the tracks.

Video Transcript

- More violence in the subway and New York police now searching for the man who pushed a woman onto the tracks. Police releasing these pictures of the man they want to talk to. The 25-year-old woman was shoved onto the northbound number 2 train tracks at the 96th Street Station on the Upper West Side.

Happened around 5:00 yesterday morning. The two exchanged some words before the woman was then pushed onto the tracks. She was able to pull herself back onto the platform and refused any medical attention.
Much has been made of the EU's failure to secure enough coronavirus vaccine for its member states, it's impact on the Republic of Ireland and potential knock-on effect for Northern Ireland.

As the UK went ahead with securing orders and approving its first vaccine for use in December, the EU adopted a more cautious approach.

Failure to secure an adequate supply has left the bloc engaging in public disputes, including blocking shipments of the vaccine from Italy to Australia and considering triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol in an attempt to stop vaccines leaving the EU to non-member states.

This week, Northern Ireland marked over 600,000 people having received their first dose of the vaccine, while the Republic of Ireland lags behind at around the 400,000 mark, despite a much larger population.

The Republic is actually ahead of Northern Ireland on vaccine second doses, due to the three-week gap in administering second doses, rather than 12 weeks in the UK.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week told Taoiseach Micheal Martin that the UK is not currently in a position to give surplus vaccines to the Republic, instead concentrating on getting everyone in the UK fully vaccinated.

Mr Martin admitted he was "disappointed" by vaccine supply issues, which have seen the Republic's first-quarter vaccination target reduced to 1.1 million from an initial 1.7 million.

It has created a headache for Stormont Executive, with Northern Ireland likely to be some way ahead of the Republic in easing the coronavirus restrictions.

Ministers are wary of a situation where businesses open in Derry and Newry, but remain closed in Donegal and Dundalk.

Speaking at an Executive Covid-19 briefing on Thursday, First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill indicated they would like to see the UK share vaccines with the Republic of Ireland.

So, how did it come to this?

Brexit and coronavirus were, in their own way, both seen as a boost to the cause of Irish unity.

It was trumpeted that Brexit would draw support for unity from moderates and unionists who wanted to remain part of the EU, while the pandemic would show the benefits of an all-island approach to healthcare.

However, unionists have argued issues in the vaccine roll-out have dashed the hopes of those claiming Northern Ireland would be better off within the EU and a united Ireland.

It has poured fuel on the claims of Brexiteers and unionists that EU red tape has been holding the UK back and allowed them to point to the benefits of remaining in the Union.

TUV leader Jim Allister this week highlighted that, under the terms of the Protocol, Northern Ireland will be aligned with the EU on medicine laws, including vaccination roll-outs, from January 2022.

He said the vaccine roll-out in Europe was a "classic case in point of how the EU and the Protocol is not good for your health".

"I don't hear the rigorous implementers having too much to say about it. It would mean that, in another pandemic, we wouldn't get the swift access to vaccines we want and need - we'd be left behind as the Republic is in comparison to us," the North Antrim MLA said.

"The EU wanted to cut our supply of vaccines and build a hard border on the island of Ireland over vaccines. The EU is nobody's friend."

Mr Allister said he believed the pandemic would have focused people's minds on the benefits of UK membership.

"Who would want to give up a free national health service having gone through Covid?" he said. "The vaccination roll-out is a demonstration of the benefits of being part of the UK, plus all the money we were provided with over Covid. More money than Stormont could spend."

The chairperson of the Shared Ireland group, Niall Keenan, acknowledged the "UK has done remarkably well with the roll-out of the vaccine".

"That's something that all of us living here in the north should be proud of," the Shared Ireland podcast host said.

However, Mr Keenan said the issue did not shake his belief the pandemic should have been dealt with on an all-island basis from the start.

"It's the only logical way forward. On one part of our island, we had lockdown measures introduced at certain times, on the other, it was different. There was no coherent message, no consistency and no transparency.

"People are crossing the border on a daily basis for work, school, to see family, they were going back and forward and having to adhere to two separate sets of rules.

"We all live on an island, regardless of what you want to identify as. We have more in common with each other here than those outside the island."

The Tyrone man said that, while "Europe has dropped the ball on the vaccine", it was just "one example" of an issue in a wider debate. Mr Keenan said the fact remained that the majority of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU. "If the EU says 'come on back in you are welcome', to me, that's a logical thing and the majority of people seem to agree."

DUP MP Gavin Robinson said the recent actions of the EU should "only confirm we should rejoice our system is firmly under UK control".

"The story of vaccine roll-out in Northern Ireland highlights the strong benefits of the Union. While the EU has suffered through their own bureaucracy and hubris, the UK has shown itself to be agile, benefitting each part of our country," the East Belfast MP said.

"The NHS, their heroes and the principle of free healthcare delivery stands in stark contrast to our near neighbours."

UUP leader Steve Aiken UUP leader said he believed the EU's vaccine roll-out could have a negative impact on those undecided over Irish unity. "I think anyone can see what's happening in France, Germany, all across Europe. The questions that people are asking now, particularly of the European Commission and its president's high-handed approach towards the vaccination process, will be some really serious questions about the direction of travel within the EU," the former Royal Navy submarine commander said.

"That should raise significant concerns for most people. Take aside those people who would never change their minds for any reason, anybody who could even describe themselves as 'on the fence' needs to have a very long, hard look at the implications of what would have happened."

Mr Aiken said he had serious concerns that Northern Ireland would be aligned with EU medicine rules from the beginning of next year.

"Are we really saying we would want to, for the sake of our own health of our own people, really want to stick to something that is undermining what is one of the greatest benefits of the Union that we have?" he said.

"Obviously, the Republic's not of great priority to Europe and Northern Ireland would probably be an even lesser priority than that. As we've seen with European vaccine nationalism and triggering Article 16, Northern Ireland doesn't figure in at all."

Public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally said that, while the UK was performing much better than the Republic of Ireland on vaccines, the Republic's overall approach to the pandemic had been more successful.

"The EU has not covered itself in glory, but the vaccine roll-out is about the only bit of the UK's handling of the pandemic which deserves to be praised," he said.

"I wouldn't give any endorsement to a country that has one of the worst records of deaths from Covid-19 in the entire world. This is very much closing the stable door after the horse has bolted."

Belfast-born Dr Scally said the Republic has had to deal with "a whole series of delays and schedule changes and reduced order volumes".

"To co-ordinate the vaccine ordering between 27 countries was a big task and it didn't go very well," he said. On vaccinations, Northern Ireland is doing better than the Republic, but that doesn't make up for the deaths.

"When you compare, in terms of deaths, Northern Ireland has had a substantially worse record than the Republic."
Neutralizing antibodies induced by the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines were significantly less effective against the SARS-CoV-2 variants first described in Brazil/Japan and South Africa, say researchers.

The team used their experience measuring HIV neutralizing antibodies to create similar assays for Covid-19, comparing how well the antibodies worked against the original strain versus the new variants.

"We were able to leverage the unique high-throughput capacity that was already in place and apply it to SARS-CoV-2," said researcher Alejandro Balazs from Massachusetts General Hospital in the US.

"When we tested these new strains against vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies, we found that the three new strains first described in South Africa were 20-40 times more resistant to neutralization, and the two strains first described in Brazil and Japan were five to seven times more resistant, compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 virus," Balazs added.

According to the study, published in the journal Cells, neutralizing antibodies work by binding tightly to the virus and blocking it from entering cells, thus preventing infection.

Like a key in a lock, this binding only happens when the antibody's shape and the virus's shape are perfectly matched to each other, the researcher said.

If the shape of the virus changes where the antibody attaches to it -- in this case, in SARS-CoV-2's spike protein -- then the antibody may no longer be able to recognize and neutralize the virus as well. The virus would then be described as resistant to neutralization, they added.

Currently, all approved Covid-19 vaccines work by teaching the body to produce an immune response, including antibodies, against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. While the ability of these variants to resist neutralizing antibodies is concerning, it doesn't mean the vaccines won't be effective.

"The body has other methods of immune protection besides antibodies," said Balazs.

"Our findings don't necessarily mean that vaccines won't prevent Covid, only that the antibody portion of the immune response may have trouble recognizing some of these new variants," Balazs added.

--IANS

vc/sdr/

(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.)
NY senators, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are calling for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resignation.

According to the two Democratic U.S. senators from New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign after claims of sexual assault by six women.

NY Senators urged Governor Cuomo to resign

In a joint statement, Schumer and Gillibrand said Cuomo "should resign." The senators praised the women for coming forward with their "strong accusations of abuse and misconduct," saying that confronting and addressing the COVID crisis takes sure and consistent leadership.

The senators said it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governance partners and the people of New York, calling their accusations "credible." The argument is the clearest indication that Cuomo has lost the support of New York's influential Democratic officials. A majority of the state's congressional delegation had called for him to resign earlier in the day, finding the accusations against him "alarming," Business Insider via MSN reported.

Cuomo has denied the accusations and reiterated that he would not resign on Friday. Meanwhile, New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced on Thursday that he had authorized an impeachment process. The state's attorney general is also conducting an official investigation.

Read also: New York AG Denies Any Independent Probe by Cuomo For Sexual Harassment on Women

Cuomo's top aide tried to discredit sexual harassment accuser

According to recent news, Governor Cuomo's top aide reportedly coordinated an attempt to dig up dirt on his first victim after she made sexual harassment accusations against him in December.

Wall Street Journal reported that the governor's office contacted at least six former employees to see if they had contact with the accuser, Lindsay Boylan, and sought to find evidence to dismiss her in an intimidating way.

According to The Journal, the research was ordered by Melissa DeRosa, the governor's top aide who is currently investigating the COVID nursing home deaths scandal.

Boylan, a former Cuomo aide, first claimed on Twitter in December that he had sexually assaulted her and then detailed her accusations and encounter with the governor in a Medium post in late February.

Between 2015 and 2018, Boylan worked as an economic advisor for the Cuomo government. Cuomo reportedly attempted to kiss her on the lips in his office and suggested they play strip poker during a 2017 flight. Boylan spoke out this week about the online abuse she's endured since coming forward with her allegations, Daily Mail reported.

Read also: Billboard Urges NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo to Resign 'Now' amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

Cuomo Questions Accusers' Motives

Governor Cuomo has no intention to resign in the wake of mounting sexual assault charges, and while he acknowledged that people have the right to speak out, he still believes the truth must be said. After six women accused Cuomo of sexual harassment, more than a dozen Congress members from New York demanded that he resign, as per Newsweek via MSN.

Cuomo denied engaging in the actions he is accused of or even purposely making others feel embarrassed. Accusations vary from uncomfortable poses in pictures to groping.

On Thursday, Governor Cuomo said in a press conference that he would not speculate on people's motives, but he can tell that there are many based on the allegations. It is the reason why facts should prevail before making a decision.

He went on to say that what is being said "simply did not happen" and advised people to wait for the results of two separate investigations before forming an opinion. State officials are considering impeachment hearings against the governor, and influential federal lawmakers, including Senators Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have welcomed calls for him to resign.

Nadler said it is "impossible for him to try to rule at this stage" given the allegations against Cuomo and his response. Cuomo did not mention any lawmakers by name, but he described politicians concluding without understanding "a single detail" as "reckless and risky."

Read also: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Responds to Sexual Harassment Allegations, Offers Apology

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We have decided to deepen cooperation to combat terrorism: PM Modi after talks with Rajapaksa

Rajapaksa siblings united; will take Sri Lanka forward: Gotabaya Rajpaksa

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oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Colombo, Mar 13: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has praised his brothers, saying that all three of them are firmly united and anyone trying to drive a wedge between them will not succeed.

In a comment made by the president at a political gathering on Friday, Gotabaya Rajapaksa praised the maturity of his elder brother Mahinda, the prime minister, and the younger brother Basil, the key presidential adviser.

PM Modi speaks to Sri Lankas President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, discusses issue of cooperation

"Mahinda Rajapaksa is currently one of the greatest leaders not only here but also in Asia. His political experience, maturity and knowledge cannot be matched by anyone," he said during the programme.

"His mature leadership is a great relief to me in taking the country forward," he was quoted as saying by an official statement released on Saturday.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, praised Basil as the man who created the Rajapaksa political party, the Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) and the force behind the political environment for them to return to power after the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015.

In the recent months some of the ruling coalition seniors were mooting the idea that Gotabaya Rajapaksa be allowed to take over the reins of the ruling SLPP from Mahinda Rajapaksa. This move has met with stiff resistance from the senior Rajapaksa loyalists who have demanded disciplinary action against those who sought Mahinda's replacement as the party leader.

The President's comments are a reference to such moves, "if anyone is trying to create problems between us (among the Rajapaksa brothers) let me tell them that they won't succeed. We are no such family".

It's great to see you: US President Biden to PM Modi at Quad summit

Gotabaya, who is four years younger to Mahinda, 75, regained the full powers of the presidency when he was elected president in November 2019. He abolished the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that made the prime minister's position more powerful.

He said both Mahinda and Basil, senior to him in politics, had never interfered in matters of governance. This is not the only time the powerful Rajapaksa brothers have been running the country.

The Rajapaksa family -- including Basil Rajapaksa, 69, has dominated Sri Lankan politics for two decades. The two brothers -- Rajapaksa and Gotabaya -- led a decisive campaign that helped end the island nation's three decade long civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 17:45 [IST]
Patna, March 13 : The Bihar Assembly on Saturday witnessed uproarious scenes over the allegation against Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ram Surat Rai for framing charges against the Principal of a school in Muzaffarpur district for his involvement in illicit liquor trade.

Opposition leaders including Tejashwi Yadav demanded the resignation of Rai. They have also questioned the Speaker's intention behind favouring the ruling party leaders and not listening to the Opposition.

After the allegation, RJD MLA Rekha Devi requested the Speaker for an adjournment motion to submit the evidence to support Rai's claims.

When Tejashwi pointed out the allegation against Rai, Deputy Chief Minister Tar Kishore Prasad objected, saying that the member who brings an adjournment motion has the right to point out things first and not the other members.

Tejashwi requested for two minutes to put the evidence in perspective of the House so that it comes on record but speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha did not allow him.

It led to a heated argument between Tar Kishore Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav in the House.

On the direction of Tejashwi, all the RJD members entered the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the NDA government and Speaker Vijay Sinha.

Tejashwi and the RJD MLAs walked out of the Assembly and sat on a dharna outside the Chamber of the Speaker inside the Vidhan Sabha.

After spending half-an-hour outside the Speaker's chamber, they marched towards Raj Bhavan to register their protest before Governor Phagu Chauhan.

"The Nitish Kumar government is saving the Minister and the Speaker is not giving us a chance to present proofs in the House. Hence, we are marching towards Raj Bhavan to register our protest before the Governor and will request him to intervene in the matter," Tejashwi said.

Ram Surat Rai, the BJP MLA from Aurai in Muzaffarpur and Land Reforms and Revenue Minister in the Nitish Kumar government, is facing the charge of illegal liquor trade.

Nikhil Anand, the chief spokesperson of the BJP Bihar unit said: "Tejashwi Yadav's allegations against Cabinet Minister Rai amounts to a defamation case."
Feel Good. Find Great.

Zenoti, the leading enterprise cloud platform for the beauty and wellness industry, announced today a strategic partnership with Sutherland Global, a digital transformation services company, enabling its more than 12,000 global customers to resolve support needs within minutes.

The pandemic has impacted nearly every business this past year, especially salons and spas. In response, Zenoti has worked hard to accelerate the pace of technology innovation enabling the beauty and wellness industry to address heightened consumer expectations for health and safety, to reopen effectively. These efforts yielded tremendous growth, fueling further investment into enhanced customer support.

Zenoti is committed to providing an exceptional customer experience for its fast growing, global customer base. The partnership with Sutherland enables Zenoti to elevate the customer experience via expansions in real-time support across both chat and phone-based channels, with the goal of resolving a significant portion of customer support needs within minutes. The partnership will also efficiently scale customer support staff levels by upwards of 75 percent over a six-month period.

As we scale, it is imperative for us to continue to deliver an outstanding experience for our customers across every aspect of their journey with Zenoti, said Srinivasan Chandrasekar, Chief Operating Officer at Zenoti. Sutherlands global footprint, experience, agility and innovative approach to delivering delightful customer experience makes them the ideal fit to deliver an unparalleled experience.

As Zenoti grows, its focus on enhanced customer support remains constant. This, coupled with deep investments in onboarding processes and customer success optimizations, underscores the companys core commitment to elevating their customers businesses. This is increasingly important when nothing about how businesses operate is normal, and Zenoti is dedicated to their customers experiencing 99 percent uptime.

Were excited to partner with Zenoti to bring an elevated customer experience to their beauty and wellness brands, said Bharat Chadda, Senior Vice President and Global Head, Technology Vertical, Sutherland. A cloud-based approach to customer experience that leverages real-time analytics, AI, cognitive technology and automation is the only one that meets the needs of todays businesses.

Zenoti is proud to serve the growing needs of the industry and support a successful portfolio of global brands including European Wax Center, Hand & Stone, Massage Heights, Rush Hair & Beauty, Sono Bello, Hair Cuttery, Profile by Sanford and, most recently, Toni&Guy.

To learn more about Zenoti visit https://www.zenoti.com

# # #

ABOUT SUTHERLAND

We make digital, human.

We are a global products and platforms powerhouse inside a trusted digital transformation services company. Our mission is to deliver exceptionally engineered experiences for both customers and employees today, that continue to delight tomorrow. For over 30 years, we have delighted and cared for our customers customers across all industries building integrated cloud-based solutions to accelerate growth. We are a team of global professionals, operationally effective, culturally meshed, and committed to our clients and to one another. We call it One Sutherland.

http://www.sutherlandglobal.com

ABOUT ZENOTI

Zenoti provides an all-in-one, cloud-based software solution for the beauty and wellness industry. The Zenoti platform is engineered for reliability and scale, harnessing the power of enterprise-level technology for businesses of all sizes.

Zenoti powers thousands of spas and salons in more than 50 countries. Zenoti allows users to seamlessly manage every aspect of the business in a comprehensive mobile solution: online appointment bookings, POS, CRM, employee management, inventory management, built-in marketing programs and more. Zenoti helps clients streamline their systems and reduce costs, while simultaneously improving customer retention and spending. To learn more about Zenoti visit us online and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the latest news and updates.

Website: https://www.zenoti.com

Media Contacts:

Janine Worthington

Zenoti

+1 206 354 9093

janinew@zenoti.com

Sheridan Smalley, LEWIS PR for Sutherland

415-432-2477

Sutherland@teamlewis.com
Rouge Vif and Saint Calvados will be the two heading for the Festival

TRAINER Harry Whittington believes his yard is hitting form at the right time as they put the finishing touches to their Cheltenham Festival preparation.

Whittington will have two runners at the Festival  which begins on Tuesday  with both Rouge Vif and Saint Calvados.

Rouge Vif, who finished third in the Arkle Chase last year, has been entered into the Champion Chase, while Saint Calvados is due to line up in the Ryanair Chase  a race in which he finished second to Min at last years Festival.

Whittington said: I am very happy with them both, our horses are hitting form at the right time and I couldnt be happier with them at home.

I feel that theyre in as good a place as they were 12 months ago, they look magnificent and the last bit of work last week went really well.

All the hard work is done, we just have to school them this week and were good to go.

Simply The Betts, who provided Whittington and the team with a maiden Festival winner last year, has unfortunately picked up an injury and wont be able to run again this season.

Whittington said: Its a real shame, but we would have done really well to get all three of them to two Festivals in a row.

He has picked up an injury, similar to his old one when he was younger and he had to have a year off, but luckily its not as bad and hell be back for next season.

He is ruled out, which is a real shame, but he gave us our first winner and it was a memorable day, but hell be back which the main thing is.

It was a difficult winter for the Sparsholt handler as he went 91 days without a winner, but Sheila Nash ended that unfortunate run last month.

However since then, its been a return to form and Whittington feels that its perfect timing.

They couldnt be coming into form at a better time, Whittington admitted. We have had six winners in the last three weeks and its really great.

Its hard work paying off for the whole team because its absolutely soul destroying for everyone when youre going through that spell.

Every single member of my staff care just as much as I do and its rotten when it was happening throughout the winter.

But we were patient, we stuck to our guns and we didnt run any of the real nice young horses during it, but we went steady with them all and weve got through it and bounced back.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Mostly sunny skies this morning will give way to mostly cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 76F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Geddes, N.Y. -- New Yorks Covid-19 vaccine appointment website is back online -- and there are hundreds more open spots per day, starting next week.

That includes hundreds of appointments at the New York State Fairgrounds starting next week. Use this link to make an appointment.

These appointments are for anyone who is eligible, including people who are 60 or older.

Starting Wednesday, March 17, more government and non-for-profit workers can get the vaccine in New York.

Onondaga County also has appointments available for a clinic Monday at the OnCenter.

The state has administered more than 1 million doses in the past seven days, Gov. Andrew Cuomos office announced today.

So far, 11% of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, according to Cuomos office. About 22% of New York residents have had at least one shot.

All appointments currently available from these two providers are Pfizer, which is a two-shot dose three weeks apart.

Earlier this morning, the states Am I Eligible website was down.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share with a Syracuse-area reporter? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
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Like many of us, I have lots of relations in America. Theyre good people and, as a kid, I always looked forward to them coming back to Ireland for a holiday.

They brought me cool American comics that you couldnt get in this country back then. Id usually be thrown a few bucks as well, so, I was always extremely fond of the US branch of our family tree. But I would never allow them anywhere a voting booth in this country.

One of them, who is sadly no longer with us, was a tough-talking Noo Yoik cop who liked to regale me with war stories from his time on the mean streets. He was a hard-drinking, hard-living, hard-edged sort of guy  who was also, back in the day, a keen supporter of Noraid.

He and my dad had a rather fraught relationship because neither of them believed in the old adage that you should never discuss politics or religion with family members. Frankly, that was all the pair of them ever spoke about. Uncle Sean was convinced my old man was a rotten hippy. My father, on the other hand, could never understand why a New York cop would support an organisation that was infamous for funding weapons that would then be used to kill other cops.

That was when the shouting would start. Sean would accuse my father of being a traitor. Dad would accuse him of being a Plastic Paddy who didnt know what he was talking about. On and on they would go, a pointless circular argument with no winners.

I was reminded of all those rows from my childhood when I saw the news the other day that the US lobby group Friends Of Sinn Fein had taken out numerous newspaper ads in the likes of the New York Times and The Washington Post, calling on the Americans and their government to put pressure on the Irish and British authorities to hold a referendum on a united Ireland.

One of them read: We appeal to the Irish Government to promote and plan for Unity. This is the time for the people of Ireland to have their say. With your support, we can be the first generation of Americans to visit a free and united Ireland.

Ive spent enough times in the bars of New York to know how well such a call will be received but there is a giveaway in their words  they refer to themselves as Americans.

As much as Americans dont appreciate other people getting involved in their domestic politics, they must surely be aware that many actual Irish dont take kindly to foreigners sticking their beak into our affairs.

But the timing of the ads is fiendishly clever, following Simon Coveneys recent announcement that he would like to open up voting rights to the Irish diaspora. According to Coveney: This Government is committed to holding a referendum to extend the rights of our citizens outside the State to vote in future presidential elections... Giving our citizens around the world a voice to the highest office in State will strengthen the bond between all citizens irrespective of distance or location.

The primary goal is to give a vote to the thousands of people in Northern Ireland who hold an Irish passport. Thats an interesting but tricky point, and one which provides decent arguments both for and against.

But allowing Americans to vote in any of our elections, even a presidential one, is pure madness. For instance, my Noraid-supporting US relations have never had a clue about the country of their ancestry yet they would be eligible, under this plan to cast a ballot. And if that were to happen?

Well, wed simply have a Sinn Fein president in perpetuity.

I dont want to be rude to our American cousins, but they have a rose-tinted view of the old country that owes far more to movies than the truth. For instance, Ive had relations from the States express amazement that there werent British soldiers patrolling the streets of Crumlin, where we lived. They didnt know the difference between Derry and Dublin and many of them didnt really care  as far as they were concerned, the myths were far more comforting than the reality.

The average Irish-American has a ridiculously simplistic view of this country, and from the way we are portrayed as a nation of Aran-sweater-wearing yokels who spend most of our time drinking, fighting and singing sad songs, you cant blame them.

Lets put it this way, the recently much-mocked Oirish drama Wild Mountain Thyme may have caused a mixture of hilarity, bemusement and frustration at the hackneyed, cliched version of rural Ireland that is portrayed, but as the writer admitted, we can think what we like, this John Hinde postcard version of the auld sod is aimed squarely at the American market where it will be seen as a documentary as much as a piece of cinematic fluff.

But as much as I love my American cousins, and as much as I love America itself, they should never be allowed anywhere near our democratic institutions.

It would completely skew the voting patterns and leave us hostage to the misty-eyed romanticism of people who have no understanding of life on the ground.

As I said, the idea is madness.

So, in other words, it will probably happen  and the fun and games will really begin.

President Gerry Adams, anyone?

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Reaction to Harry and Meghan shows the scale of the generation gap

Ah, Harry and Meghan, they really are the gifts that keep on giving.

Along with 750,000 other Irish people, I tuned into their two-hour sob-a-thon with Oprah on Monday night. I didnt really want to but it was the biggest story in town and so, reluctantly, I sat down to watch.

To say it was a bizarre spectacle of bad taste, bad judgment and nauseating self-pity is an understatement. It was also the sight of a pair of vengeful brats doing their best to undermine the British monarchy.

Now, I have no problem with that, in theory. Im hardly a monarchist, and while I do have a soft spot for the queen and the heroically rude Prince Phillip, the rest of them seem like a waste of space.

But even so, there was something rather unsightly about a man who has enjoyed a life of wealth and privilege sticking the boot into his Nana and the rest of his family with such eagerness.

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They certainly confirm Tolstoys dictum that all happy families are alike. every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

But while I find the couple quite banal and tedious and, yes, utterly insufferable, the reaction to Mondays interview has provided us with yet another reminder that the biggest social divide at the moment isnt the gender gap, but the generation gap.

To many of us over the age of 40, their simpering and complaining simply prompted the response of: Oh, put a sock in it, you two.

To a younger generation, however, the idea of Meghan speaking her truth and sharing her lived experience was empowering and, bizarrely, brave.

Is there a phrase more annoying than speaking your truth? After all, whenever someone speaks their truth all theyre doing is expressing an opinion, but in the elevated hyperbole that passes for modern phraseology, anyone can say anything they like, no matter how wrong or mad it may be, as long as they say that theyre speaking their truth.

But it was certainly interesting to see the Woke Prince of Bel Air lecturing everyone else on racism.

Despite the fact Winfrey promised that nothing was off-limits she didnt ask him about his previous delight in dressing up as a Nazi. Nor did she ask about the time Clarence House had to apologise on his behalf when it emerged that he called one of his fellow soldiers a Paki and referred to another one as a raghead.

I guess some truths are best left unsaid.
The Reverend (and now Senator) Raphael Warnock at a souls to the polls event in suburban Atlanta in December of 2020. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Of all the varied attacks on voting rights being undertaken by Georgia

Republicans in the wake of their bad performance in the 2020 elections, theres one that smells so strongly of hypocrisy that its as though a giant deer-rendering plant had opened up in the parking lot of the State Capitol in Atlanta. That would be the effort (included in one major bill already passed by the House) to limit (or in an earlier version that could still be in play, even shut down) early in-person voting on Sundays. The legislation to that effect is very clearly aimed at Black churches in metropolitan counties that often conduct souls to the polls events encouraging worshipers to go vote after hearing the Word of God. As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explains, restrictions on Sunday voting would most definitely have a disproportionate effect on Black Georgians:

The legislation targets Sunday voting, though theres no suspicion of fraud or irregularities. The only disparity is that Sunday voting is offered primarily in heavily Democratic counties, where local governments were more willing to spend tax money to staff polling places on weekends.

Among many proposed voting measures in Georgia, restrictions on Sunday voting stand out for their racial and partisan impact. About 37% of voters on two Sundays in October were Black, higher than their 30% share of Georgias registered voters, according to state election data.

The attempted crackdown on Sunday voting is allegedly a matter of creating uniformity in voting opportunities, though only in a negative sense: All those less-metropolitan counties that dont offer Sunday voting could do so if they wished. But what makes the gambit egregious is that it is the project of a political party that is otherwise devoted to turning churches into political dynamos so long as the GOP is the beneficiary.

One of Donald Trumps top gestures of solidarity with the white conservative Evangelical churches that are his electorate base is his proposal to repeal the so-called Johnson Amendment, a law that threatens the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations (including religious organizations) that engage in electioneering activities, including endorsement of candidates. And as the Journal-Constitution reported in 2017, the Georgia GOP is a hotbed of support for getting rid of restrictions on politicized church activities:

Frustration with [the Johnson Amendment] has bubbled almost since it was adopted, particularly among some conservative Christian organizations. House Republicans, in a nod to their base, are making their most serious push in years to overturn it, tucking repeal language into the tax bill they passed last week.

This is a simply free speech issue, one in which we can protect churches, temples and other places of worship from IRS intrusion as they exercise their right of religious freedom, said U.S. Rep. Karen Handel, R-Roswell.

Handel was emphatically joined by the two ordained Southern Baptist ministers in the Georgia congressional delegation at the time: Jody Hice (a Trumpy conservative who is still in Congress) and Doug Collins (an unsuccessful right-wing Senate candidate in 2020 who may run for governor or the Senate in 2022). Another big proponent of the politicized pulpit has been Georgia-based Faith and Freedom Coalition president and sometimes GOP candidate Ralph Reed.

For the most part, Christian right leaders are more interested in telling their flocks how to vote than in ensuring they do vote; the latter is the emphasis of souls to the polls drives. But however you slice and dice it, selective support for separation of church and state (or church and politics) based on the partisan inclinations of the faithful is a very bad look, particularly when it has heavy racial undertones. One North Carolina GOP effort to proscribe Sunday early voting was struck down by a Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals panel in 2016 as overtly discriminatory, as the Washington Post reported at the time:

[T]he judges point to a smoking gun in North Carolinas justification for the law, proving discriminatory intent. The state argued in court that counties with Sunday voting in 2014 were disproportionately black and disproportionately Democratic, and said it did away with Sunday voting as a result.

The ruling was later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, albeit on procedural grounds (the law in question also had other questionable features).

We probably wont know until the end of March which combination of voter-suppression laws the Republican-controlled Georgia legislature will send to Republican Governor Brian Kemp to sign. If restrictions on Sunday voting are involved, it is to be profoundly hoped the pols involved dont repair to the nearest conservative Evangelical church to brag about it, even as they claim Black voters should leave the Democratic Party to more properly reflect Gospels teachings.


China began a ban on the import of pineapples from Taiwan on March 1. The move led the Taiwanese government to begin a campaign urging its citizens to start eating more of the homegrown fruit.

Taiwans President, Tsai Ing-wen, even launched a social media challenge that called on people to eat the nations pineapples until you burst.

The calls are aimed at supporting the islands pineapple growers. Politicians from Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition Nationalist Party visited farms and took pictures with pineapples and farmers to show their support.

Taiwanese restaurant owners reacted to the ban by quickly trying to create new food offerings that contain pineapples. Some of the examples are pineapple shrimp balls and a nut and pineapple salad. Some existing dishes, like fried rice with pineapple, are also being offered more by restaurants and hotels on the island.

Taipei cook Hung Ching Lung has created a pineapple beef noodle soup at his restaurant, Chef Hung. He says he and his team spent three days testing out ways to combine pineapple and beef noodles. It took about 10 attempts.

The first time we tested it when we cooked it in the soup, it was very sweet, it was inedible and tasted completely of pineapple, Hung told The Associated Press. But after many tries, the team learned it was best to separate the pineapple liquid during cooking, which removed an overpowering sweetness.

China has said its pineapple ban was related to a pest issue and denies that it had anything to do with politics. A spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said the decision was a necessary and normal biosafety measure.

Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the move a violation of free and fair trade.

Even with all the excitement in Taiwan, the pineapple ban may not hurt the countrys farmers all that much. A day after the ban went into effect, Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang told local media the amount of pineapples that local businesses and citizens had bought was greater than the amount that would have been sold to China.

Taiwans government also promised assistance worth $35 million to help out farmers. And the government says it has received pineapple orders from Japan, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and some countries in the Middle East.

Taiwan produces about 420,000 metric tons of pineapples each year. About 90 percent of these are sold on the island itself, the Council of Agriculture says. A large majority of Taiwans remaining pineapples is sold to China.

It is unclear whether the increase in local orders and those from other nations will make up for Chinas ban in the long run. But for now, the move is causing some Taiwanese to feel patriotic.

We are all trying to find a way to help the farmers, said Alice Tsai. She recently visited Hungs restaurant to try the noodle dish, which she said was surprisingly tasty.

The other day I went to the supermarket and found that all the pineapples were sold out, and I felt very touched, Tsai said. Everyone has this feeling of solidarity.

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.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

challenge  n. a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do

inedible  adj. not fit to eat

pest  n. an animal that causes damage to plants, food, etc.

patriotic  adj. showing love and pride in ones country

dish  n. food prepared in a particular way as part of a meal

(in the) long run  idiomatic expression. at a time that is far away or near in the future

solidarity  n. a feeling of unity between people who have the same interests, goals, etc.
Senate Democrats successfully rejected numerous Republican efforts to reshape the $1.9-trillion pandemic stimulus package so that more of the money goes to Americans most directly affected by the coronavirus. The bill passed as originally crafted by Democrats, with the vast majority of the aid going to their loyal constituents and sycophants, including hundreds of billions for K12 education, colleges and universities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and "nonprofit" organizations such as Planned Parenthood. And there is a little something in the bill for convicted felons and illegal aliens as well: the same $1,400 stimulus checks that law-abiding American citizens might get. Several Republican senators introduced amendments that would have prevented criminals from being rewarded with taxpayers' money, but their efforts were shot down. The bill was ultimately passed, 50-49, without support from a single Republican senator. Remember Georgia?

This is a breathtakingly bold scam in an age of scams. Only 9% of the money pledged in a "COVID relief bill" is being specifically directed toward COVID relief. The other 91% is essentially being spent on a wide-ranging campaign to re-elect Democrats.

Think of this from the perspective of hardworking American taxpayers. They are getting $1,400 of their own money back, while subsidizing felons and those in the country illegally. And this in return for getting socked with  at minimum  an additional $5,750 in (per capita) debt! Won't that be fun for their kids and grandchildren? Planned Parenthood may need those extra dollars.

This is mind-boggling. It should be a lead story on every news show and in every newspaper. But it isn't, and won't be, because the press is 100% in the tank for Democrats and the rising tide of Marxism rolling over the United States. The media are so besotted with themselves and the coming Rule of Elites that they don't realize that they have literally become the enemy of the people  or at least ordinary people from "flyover country." You know, the ones who feed them and produce the energy they use to travel, heat and cool their homes, and power the machinery necessary to continuously mock and savage the deplorables who dare to disagree with them.

And this isn't even the most sordid bill Democrats have passed recently. H.R. 1 would effectively abolish the notion of states rights, banning states from requiring identification of any kind to vote and otherwise restricting states' ability to manage their voting rules. This unprecedented federal power-grab would also mandate universal voting rights for felons, place further restrictions on free speech, and permanently protect election fraud. This bill, which the Democrats have been working on for some time now, was originally termed the "For the People Act of 2019" and is an attack on the fundamental principles of our republic. This is a preposterously biased  and dangerous  piece of legislation, one that never would have had a chance to metastasize if we had a free press and a consequently informed populace. Ironically, there is more information available to more people today than ever before, but an inordinately high percentage of people appear to be dumber or less knowledgeable about important issues than at any time in our history. And more timid.

The COVID relief bill, H.R. 1, the unprecedented number of executive orders signed by President Biden, the fences and troops around the White House, and the unending attacks on conservative thought and traditional values are stunning in their totality. This is the stuff of tin-pot dictators and medieval monarchies. Labeling conservatives as "deplorables," or saying of them "the enemy is within," is not substantively different from saying, "Off with their heads" or "Let them eat cake." Has any previous group of would-be totalitarians ever acted so quickly and boldly? Chairman Mao? Pol Pot?

Yesterday, House Democrats gave felons $1,400 stimulus checks. Today, they're making it harder for law-abiding citizens to purchase a firearm. And at the same time, they are trying to defund the police. Yet, incredibly, House Democrats just rejected an amendment that would have required ICE to be notified if an illegal alien tries to buy a gun.

"Crime of the century" doesn't adequately describe what Democrats have done to this country in the few short weeks since Trump was deposed. In plain sight  and with a sneering contempt for non-elitists  they have set about erasing the Western canon. They have dumped on everyone from Plato and Socrates through Montesquieu, Locke, Franklin, Washington, and Jefferson. And all of those who fought and died for the freedoms we are now so cavalierly letting our rulers strip from us.

Democrats have set about replacing the Declaration of Independence with the Declaration of Dependence, the Bill of Rights with a Bill of Goods.

They have canceled Trump, Dr. Seuss, Aunt Jemima, Mr. Potato Head, and countless others. Their mindless robotic followers practice the most extreme forms of intolerance...and methodically try to hollow out the careers, hearts, minds, and souls of others. They wage relentless and unconditional war on traditional wisdom and families.

This is not your father's or grandfather's Democratic Party. Today's Democrats are tyrants in tyrant's clothing. They are intent on robbing us of our past and stealing our future. They want to replace America with its opposite.

They are shockingly good at being evil.

Image via Pexels.
Tehran, March 13 : An Iranian commercial ship was attacked in the Mediterranean Sea, according to local media reports.

"After an explosive object hit the Iran Shahrekord container ship in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, a part of the ship's hull was damaged," Xinhua news agency quoted Ali Ghiasian, spokesman of Iran Shipping Company, as saying on Friday.

The fire caused by the explosive object was immediately contained by the crew of the ship, he added.

Meanwhile, the Hamshahrionline news website reported that the attack occurred on Wednesday when the ship was on its way to Europe from Iran.

None of the crew was injured in the "terrorist" attack, Ghiasian noted.

Iran Shahrekord will continue its route after repairing and assessing the damage, he said.

Such terrorist acts are examples of piracy and against the international law, the official said, adding Iran will launch investigations to identify the perpetrators.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy this morning followed by isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Thrombosis Canada guidance is that current evidence does not support a direct link between the vaccine and development of blood clots

There have been recent reports from Europe that the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine made by AstraZeneca, which was recently approved for use in Canada, may be associated with thrombotic complications (blood clots).

It is the view of Thrombosis Canada that, based on the available evidence, there is no link between receiving this vaccine and the development of blood clots. In general, vaccines of any type are not associated with the development of blood clots.

Thrombosis is a common medical problem, especially in older people. It is therefore likely that some people who receive a vaccine will, at some point, in the future develop a blood clot for reasons that are not related to the vaccine.

Thrombosis Canada strongly recommends the administration of the COVID-19 vaccines, including in people who have had a previous blood clot, in people with a family member who has had a blood clot, and in people who are receiving a blood thinning treatment (Previous Statement Link).

Disclaimer:

Please note that the recommendations contained herein must be viewed as general guidelines based on current knowledge. Their application must be adapted to individual patients. Thrombosis Canada assumes no responsibility or liability arising from any error or omission or from the use of any information contained herein. You must not rely on the information in this document as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.

@ThrombosisCan (www.ThrombosisCanada.ca)

Thrombosis Canada comprises a membership that includes the most eminent and internationally recognized thrombosis experts globally. Members have made many significant contributions to the body of knowledge in vascular medicine and disseminated that knowledge through hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, as well leading the development of international clinical practice guidelines.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210312005433/en/

Contacts

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS WITH DOCTORS, CALL:

David Airdrie

Executive Director

Thrombosis Canada

647-528-8586

info@thrombosiscanada.ca
New Delhi:

Petrol price has been hiked by Rs 6 per litre since the beginning of July and is now priced at its highest rate in three years with rates being revised in small dosages daily.

Diesel price has increased by Rs 3.67 a litre and now costs Rs 57.03 a litre in Delhi, the highest in four months, according to data from state-owned oil companies.

A litre of petrol costs Rs 69.04 a litre in Delhi, the highest since second-half of August 2014 when it was priced at Rs 70.33.

State-owned oil companies in June dumped the 15-year old practice of revising rates on 1st and 16th of every month and instead adopted a dynamic daily price revision to instantaneously reflect changes in cost.

Prices of petrol and diesel have been revised at 0600 hrs everyday since June 16.

Rates during the first fortnight dropped but have since July 3 been on the rise.

Petrol price was at Rs 65.48 a litre on June 16 in Delhi and it dropped to Rs 63.06 by July 2. However, rates have since gone up every day except on four occasions when prices were cut by 2-9 paise per litre.

Similarly, a litre of diesel was priced at Rs 54.49 on June 16 and it dropped to Rs 53.36 on July 2, thanks to the softening international oil prices. Since then, it has been on an upswing though the reduction in diesel rates have been on a larger number of occasions than petrol.

Previously, everybody felt the pinch when rates would go up by Rs 2 or 3 per litre in one go. Now they are being increased by 1 paisa to 15 paise a litre everyday, hikes that have largely gone unnoticed, a senior oil company executive said.

Also Read: Cabinet gives approval to ONGC to buy govt's 51% stake in HPCL

The daily price revision means an instantaneous transfer of a rise or decline in international oil price to the consumer instead of the previous practice of passing it on only after a fortnight.

The previous practice of revision in the rate on 1st and 16th of every month, which began with deregulation of auto fuel on April 1, 2002, was based on average international oil price and foreign exchange rate in the preceding fortnight.

Many a time, international rates would fall for one week and then rise in the following. So, the net effect of this in the previous price revision policy was status quo or a marginal change in rate, he said.

Petrol and diesel prices were deregulated or freed from government control from April 1, 2002, and the fortnightly revision in rates kicked in.

The deregulation derailed a bit when international oil prices started to climb after 2004. Fortnightly revision continued but the revision was not completely in sync with the required price increase.

Petrol price was finally freed in June 2010 and diesel in October 2014 after small fortnightly increases over the past several months brought rates at par with the cost.

The daily price revision was implemented after a successful pilot in five cities.

Also Read: ONGC to acquire 80% stake of GSPCs Krishna Godavari basin

The official said daily price change will remove the big leaps in rates that need to be effected at the end of the fortnight, making the consumer more aligned to market dynamics.

The three state-owned fuel retailers had implemented a daily revision of retail selling price (RSP) of petrol and diesel on a pilot basis in Udaipur in Rajasthan, Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, Puducherry, Chandigarh, and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh from May 1.

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Haryana-based actress-politician Sonali Phogat shot to fame after entering Bigg Boss 14 house as a wild card contestant. Her sweet yet strong personality left everyone surprised inside the house. During her journey, the BJP leader developed a strong bond with the lovebirds - Jasmin Bhasin and Aly Goni aka JasLy. Notably, Sonali Phogat had also expressed her likings towards the Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor.

After Bigg Boss 14, Jasmin Bhasin and Aly Goni featured in a music video 'Tera Suit' by Tony Kakkar. The song has become popular amongst the masses, as JasLy fans are recreating it on social media and Sonali Phogat too joined the league.

The actress took to Instagram and shared the video with a caption, "@alygoni @jasminbhasin2806 congratulations for new song best wishes for beautiful couple."

In the above video, Sonali Phogat is looking stunning in a leopard print top and black trousers. Her killer dance moves have indeed left fans speechless. Like fans, Aly Goni too praised the actress for her moves by commenting on the video. The Bigg Boss 14 finalist wrote, "Killing It" with a fire emoji.

For the unversed, Sonali had earlier shown her dancing talent in Bigg Boss house too. In Salman Khan's birthday special episode, she did belly dance on Ek Tha Tiger's famous song 'Mashallah'. Apart from that, the actress also flaunted her dance moves at the grand finale of Bigg Boss 14.

Talking about her career, after featuring in several Haryanvi and Punjabi films, Sonali Phogat wants to pursue her career in the Hindi industry. She is also planning to shift her base to Mumbai to explore more opportunities here.

Also Read : Rakhi Sawant Hosts A Bigg Boss 14 Party: Nikki Tamboli, Jaan Kumar Sanu, Sonali Phogat & Others Attend

Also Read : Bigg Boss 14: Sonali Phogat's Haryana House Robbed; Rs 10 Lakh Cash, Jewellery & Gun Stolen

DGTL Holdings (CVE: DGTL) Founder John David Belfontaine joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the companys wholly-owned subsidiary Hashoff LLC has won a contract with an American food conglomerate based in Chicago and is owned and operated as a subsidiary of .

Belfontaine talks about landing this type of deal and also about the recent announcement that Hashoff is working on a 2.0 version to really scale performance.
Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk are making sure that their daughter can speak her mother's native language.

On Saturday, Page Six reported that the 46-year-old actor and the 35-year-old supermodel have been taking their daughter Lea de Seine, aged three, to Russian lessons once a week.

The child's language lessons are reportedly part of the former couple's custody agreement, which they worked out after their separation in 2019.

Education: Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk have been sending their daughter Lea de Seine to Russian classes; the former couple are pictured at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2019

The specialist school, located in the Financial District promises 'complete immersion into the Russian language and culture from an early age by creating fun learning experiences' to 'anyone who is interested in preserving their heritage [or] adding a new cultural experience.'

Shayk grew up in the small southwestern town of Yemanzhelinsk in the USSR - now Western Russia. And she moved to the states in 2007 when her modeling career took off.

The duo's co-parenting plan includes that both of them have to reside in New York City; Cooper's former residence was in Los Angeles.

The two have also agreed to split legal and physical custody of their daughter 50/50, although they both understand that their busy work schedules may not mean that one of them will have exactly as much time as the other.

According to TMZ, Shayk and Cooper do not have a formal written agreement, as they remain on good terms and support each other as individuals.

The couple were first romantically linked in 2015 and welcomed their daughter two years after they first met.

Working well: The child's education is part of the couple's custody agreement, which they hammered out after their separation in 2019; Shayk is seen taking Lea for a walk in February

It's all good: Although the two are no longer in a relationship, Shayk and Cooper remain friends and co-parent their child; the actor was seen taking Lea out for a stroll earlier this month

Before he began dating the Russian supermodel, Cooper was briefly married to fellow actress Jennifer Esposito from 2006 until 2007.

After his divorce, he was romantically connected to actresses Zoe Saldana and Renee Zellweger, as well as model Suki Waterhouse; the A Star Is Born director began seeing Shayk roughly a month after splitting from the model.

The Alias actor was also briefly involved with Jennifer Lopez after her 2011 split from her former husband, Marc Anthony, although it is unclear how long the two were dating.

Shayk was previously in a high-profile relationship with star athlete Cristiano Ronaldo from 2009 until 2015.

Staying close: Although the A Star Is Born director previously lived in Los Angeles, he moved to New York City to be closer to his daughter and former partner; he is seen stepping out with Lea in February

Shortly after she separated from Cooper, the supermodel spoke to Harper's Bazaar and noted that she was not worried about the prospect of raising her daughter as a single mother.

'There is no real challenge...I really believe if you love something, you can prioritize your time. [Motherhood] is just an addition to your life,' she said.

The fashion industry icon also expressed that her career would not have to slow down due to her newfound role in life and that she was adamant about setting a hardworking example for her daughter.

Shayk asked, 'Why should you have to change who you are and how you feel just because you become a mother?' She added, 'I'm like, tell me why...I don't believe in that.'
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People all across the political spectrum relished in poking fun at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo after the embattled politician was spotted with a cover draped over him as he moped in Albany.

As more Democrats joined onto the call for Cuomo to resign in the wake of sexual harassment allegations, folks on Twitter felt the blanket was just another opportunity for the controversial governor to try to garner sympathy points.

'Whats with Cuomo and the blanket? He looks like the crime victim sitting at the back of an ambulance from some crime procedural show,' said one user. 'Might as well be holding a styrofoam cup.'

As more Democrats joined onto the call for Cuomo to resign in the wake of sexual harassment allegations, folks on Twitter felt the blanket was just another opportunity for the controversial governor to try to garner sympathy points

'Cuomo going undercover as one of the grandmas he killed,' said TV writer Jess Dweck

Several people wondered whether the blanket had been nabbed from a nursing home, referring to the investigation that found his administration hid data about nursing homes.

'Cuomo going undercover as one of the grandmas he killed,' said TV writer Jess Dweck.

Another user asked: 'Which nursing home individual did you steal that blanket from?'

A different user asserted: 'Cuomo's political career, if it wasn't over before, it has to be now after this granny photo w blanket and bottle!'

Another user asked: 'Which nursing home individual did you steal that blanket from?

A different user asserted: 'Cuomo's political career, if it wasn't over before, it has to be now after this granny photo w blanket and bottle!'

#CuomoCoverup soon took on a new meaning besides being about the nursing homes as the blanket took on a life of its own.

Others just poked fun at the governor, with people noting that Cuomo resembled Steve Martin from the 1979 film The Jerk.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are demanding New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resign - becoming the most powerful Democratic voices to call for him to leave office in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.

Others just poked fun at the governor, with people noting that Cuomo resembled Steve Martin from the 1979 film The Jerk.

Schumer and Gillibrand, who serve as New York's two sitting senators, released a joint statement Friday afternoon, which read: 'Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership. We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct.

'Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign.'

Both had previously said an independent investigation into the allegations against Cuomo was essential.

Shortly after the Senators' joint statement was released, House Intelligence Chairman and California Rep. Adam Schiff also urged Cuomo to resign.

'I don't think he can carry on,' Schiff told Wolf Blitzer on CNN.

One woman made her cat look like the now iconic photo of Cuomo

Meanwhile, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapooli tweeted: 'These allegations are extremely disturbing and are impairing Governor Cuomos ability to lead, as our state struggles through a crisis and must make critical budget decisions. It is time for him to step down.'

Earlier on Friday, New York representatives Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined 12 of the 17 other New York Congressional Democrats also demanding that the Governor step aside.

Pressure is growing on Cuomo as a seventh woman alleged sexual harassment in a first-person essay published in New York magazine on Friday.

Additionally, 30 women spoke to the same publication claiming they experienced bullying while working for the Governor.

But a defiant Cuomo told reporters in a conference call Friday that he will not bow to 'cancel culture' by tending his resignation. He then hit out at colleagues who are calling for him to go.

'Politicians take positions for all sorts of reasons including political expediency and bowing to pressure,' he stated.

'People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth... let the review proceed.

'I am not going to resign. I was not elected by the politicians. I was elected by the people - part of this is that I am not part of the political club and you know what, I'm proud of it.'

On Friday evening, Cuomo was seen looking strained as he paced up and down outside the Governor's Mansion in Albany with his daughter, Mariah.

At one point, the Governor draped a blanket over his shoulders as he spoke into the phone while sipping from a bottle of Saratoga Springs water.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are demanding New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resign - becoming the most powerful Democratic voices yet to call for him to leave office in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo is pictured outside the Governor's Mansion in Albany with his daughter on Friday

The Governor draped a blanket around his shoulders and appeared to be in a downcast mood as he was spotted outside his residence

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called Friday on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign, adding the most powerful Democratic voices yet to calls for the governor to leave office in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment and groping

Cuomo was pictured pacing with his daughter, Mariah, as he took a phone call on Friday evening

Cuomo was seen clutching a bottle of Saratoga Springs water as he spoke on the phone. His dog, Captain, was also seen

In the same conference call with the reporters on Friday, Cuomo stated: 'Women have a right to come forward and be heard and I encourage that but I also want to be clear - there is still a question of the truth.

'I did not do what has been alleged. Period. I won't speculate about people's possible motives, but I can tell you as a former Attorney General, who's gone through this situation many times, there are often many motivations for making an allegation.

'That is why you need to know the facts before you make a decision.'

He went on to make his case for why he should stay in office, insisting he was the man for the job because he'd been in the public eye 'his entire life' as the son of former NY Governor Mario Cuomo.

'The people have known me for 40 years; elected me AG, governor 3 times, I've been in the public eye my entire life.

'My entire life, I have been under public scrutiny since I was 23. New Yorkers know me.. I am going to focus on my job because we have real challenges. People say avoid distractions. I am going to avoid distractions and focus on my job - I have to rebuild the state.'

On Friday, Cuomo also seemed to suggest that he'd had consensual sexual relationships with some of the women after emphatically denying that he had 'abused, harassed or assaulted' any of them

On Friday, Cuomo insisted again - as he did last week - that he never touched anyone inappropriately but accepted that he may have felt people feel 'uncomfortable' while taking photographs with them

New York representatives Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday issued statements demanding governor Andrew Cuomo to resign amid sexual harassment claims

AOC also released a statement to Twitter after calling for his resignation. 14 of the 17 New York Democrats in Congress are now demanding Cuomo stand down

During questions, Cuomo insisted again - as he did last week - that he never touched anyone inappropriately but accepted that he may have felt people feel 'uncomfortable' while taking photographs with them.

Cuomo also seemed to suggest that he'd had consensual sexual relationships with some of the women after emphatically denying that he had 'abused, harassed or assaulted' any of them.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez released a statement on Friday which read: 'After two accounts of sexual assault, four accounts of harassment, the Attorney General's investigation finding the Governor's admin hid nursing home data from the legislature & public, we agree with the 55+ members of the New York State legislature that the Governor must resign.'

On Friday, Cuomo's seventh accuser, Jessia Bakeman, claimed she endured unwanted touching and humiliating comments while covering his administration as a journalist.

The other group of women also spoke to New York Magazine in a detailed account of the allegedly abusive environment that the governor's aides are subjected to.

It included multiple women who claim that they were led to take anti-depressants and go to therapy for the first time in their lives after the atmosphere created by Cuomo and some of his senior aides took a drastic toll on their mental health.

One accuser revealed she had even called a suicide hotline.

A current New York state senator also spoke about the alleged intimidation tactics and power plays used by the governor, including an incident in which Cuomo kissed her on the head in front on her fiance and asked if he was jealous.

The claims made on Friday added to the allegations made by six women  most of whom were former aides  against the governor since December.

Jessica Bakeman claimed in a first-person article for New York Magazine that she was sexually harassed by Cuomo on several occassions since the start of her journalism career in 2012

MEMBERS OF THE NY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CALLING FOR CUOMO'S RESIGNATION Issuing statements Friday: Rep. Jerry Nadler Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Rep. Jamaal Bowman Rep. Mondaire Jones Rep. Yvette Clarke Rep. Adriano Espaillat Rep. Carolyn Maloney Rep. Grace Meng Rep. Nydia M. Velazques Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney Rep. Antonio Delgado Rep. Brian Higgins Rep. Paul Tonko Issued statement last week: 14. Rep. Kathleen Rice Advertisement

Bakeman - Cuomo's seventh accuser - detailed inappropiate touching by the governor in an essay penned for New York magazine.

'He took my hand, as if to shake it, then refused to let go,' Bakeman wrote of an interaction with Cuomo as she said goodnight at a holiday party in 2014 when she was only 25 years old.

'He put his other arm around my back, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place while indicating to a photographer he wanted us to pose for a picture.'

At the time Bakeman had been working for what is now Politico New York and claimed that red flags went up as it is her 'job was to analyze and scrutinize him'.

'I didn't want a photo of him with his hands on my body and a smile on my face,' she wrote.

'But I made the reflexive assessment that most women and marginalized people know instinctively, the calculation about risk and power and self-preservation. I knew it would be far easier to smile for the brief moment it takes to snap a picture than to challenge one of the most powerful men in the country.'

The reporter, who now works in Florida, claimed that Cuomo 'never let me forget I was a woman' as she also alleged that he made frequent attempts to humiliated her, including calling our her purple phone instead of answering her question during a press gaggle.

'Cuomo seemed to think the fact that I had the audacity to speak over a man was hilarious. With him, these exchanges were always meant to be a public humiliation,' she said.

Yet, Bakeman also claimed that she did not believe Cuomo ever wanted to have sex with her, and that it was instead about 'power'.

'He wanted me to know that he could take my dignity away at any moment with an inappropriate comment or a hand on my waist,' she states.

'He wanted me to know that I was powerless, that I was small and weak, that I did not deserve what relative power I had: a platform to hold him accountable for his words and actions.

'He wanted me to know that he could take my dignity away at any moment with an inappropriate comment or a hand on my waist.' 'The way he bullies and demeans women is different. He uses touching and sexual innuendo to stoke fear in us. That is the textbook definition of sexual harassment,' she added.

Governor Cuomo (pictured) continued to resist calls for him to resign on Friday

What happens if Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns from office? If Cuomo resigns Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured) would take over As of Friday afternoon, 14 out of 19 of New York's congressional Democrats have called for Governor Andrew Cuomo's resignation. They are joined by all Democrats in the NY State Senate and by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Cuomo on Friday refused to accept that he should resign despite the mounting pressure. If he resigns Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul would take over. She would finish Cuomo's term until the next scheduled gubernatorial election in 2022. Hochul is a Democrat who has served since 2015 and was a NY representative for New York's 26th congressional district from 2011 to 2013. She backed an investigation into allegations against Cuomo last month. 'Everyone deserves to have their voice heard and to be taken seriously. I support an independent review,' she said. The last time a governor resigned was in early 2008. Gov. Eliot Spitzer left office after he admitted to having extramarital affairs with sex workers. When Spitzer stepped down, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson took over until 2010. Cuomo, then Attorney General, won that election to take over from Paterson. To date, a lieutenant governor has stepped in to carry out a gubernatorial term in New York on eight occassions, the first one taking place in 1817. LG Hochul would also take over if Cuomo is impeached. New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie authorized its Judiciary Committee to start an impeachment investigation into Cuomo Thursday. The last time a NY governor was impeached was in 1913. The process in New York is very similar to the impeachment procedure in Congress. A simple majority in the state Assembly is required to impeach a governor. It then goes to the state impeachment court. A two-thirds majority of the state Senate and the justices of the New York Court of Appeals would be required to convict Cuomo and remove him from office. The lieutenant governor takes over as acting governor while the trial plays out. Advertisement

Meanwhile, Cuomo's fourth accuser, Ana Liss, 35, also spoke to New York Magazine as she revealed how her treatment in the office led her to believe 'I was going crazy'.

Liss said that she 'started pursuing mental-health services when I was there because I thought I was going crazy. My parents thought I was going nuts'.

'I was angry and crying all the time, and I went on Lexapro,' she added. 'I did call in to a suicide hotline because I felt like such a friggin' nobody.'

She had previously told the Wall Street Journal that she had started drinking heavily while working with Cuomo's administration before asking to be moved to another office.

And she revealed on Thursday that she was among the former aides to receive an allegedly intimidating phone call from top Cuomo aides in December after first accuser Lindsey Boylan came forward.

In her first claims earlier this month she said that the governor asked her if she had a boyfriend, touched her on the lower back during an event reception and kissed her on the hand before she asked to move from his office.

'I felt gross, like I was just an ornament,' Liss said of requests for her to dress up while in the office.

She added that had 'never felt more depleted by the male gaze'.

'Melissa DeRosa [Cuomo's top aide] had Louboutins, and there were legs everywhere, and I just felt stupid,' Liss said.

'I was living in a place that was full of people who were mean and predatory. It ground me down to the lowest point of my life, like I was a piece of nothing and my career was going nowhere.'

Cuomo's fourth accuser, Ana Liss, 35, (pictured above) also spoke to New York Magazine as she revealed how her treatment in the office led her to believe 'I was going crazy'

The current New York Attorney General Letitia James is currently investigating Cuomo over the women's complaints and over his handling of th data regarding nursing home deaths from COVID-19.

The new calls for his resignation come a day after New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said he had authorized its Judiciary Committee to start an impeachment investigation into sexual misconduct allegations that six women have made against Cuomo.

The panel's investigation will run parallel to one being led by AG Letitia James.

The mounting scandals have also left Cuomo in a weakened position during negotiations over the state budget, which is due on April 1.

Cuomo has asked the public to await the results of that investigation before making judgment.

The third-term governor, who took office in 2011, has pointed to his reelections as indication of strong statewide support, which was bolstered last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also touted his administration's passage of liberal goals such as same-sex marriage as evidence that his hard-nosed approach to politics works.

protestor sits outside the New York State Capitol on Friday, following allegations that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had sexually harassed young women
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait emerged top winners at the 2020-2021 World Branding Awards, the ultimate global brand recognition accolade being constituted by the World Branding Forum (WBF), a registered global non-profit organisation.

Now in its 12th edition, the World Branding Awards saw over 400 brands from more than 45 countries named 'Brand of the Year' in the 2020-2021, nominated by over 250,000 consumers across the globe.

National Tier winners from Kuwait include Al Salam International Hospital (Healthcare  Hospitals), Aqua Gulf (Water), and Gulf Insurance Group  GIG (Insurance), amongst others.

National Tier winners from Saudi Arabia include, Almarai (Dairy Products  Milk), Nahdi (Healthcare  Pharmacies), Rubaiyat (Luxury Retailer), and Suntop (Beverages  Juices), amongst many others.

Amongst the top tier brands listed as Global Tier winners are Beijing Tong Ren Tang, CoCo, Faber Castell, Fender, Heinz, Ikea, Lego, Lurpak, McCain, Netflix, Pilot, Spotify, Yakult, and Yamaha, amongst others.

Regional Tier winners include Anchor (New Zealand), Cotton On (Australia), Elkjp (Norway), LuLu (UAE), Isetan and Uniqlo (Japan), amongst others.

Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum said: "This is a celebration of the best marketers from across the globe. The Awards are an acknowledgment of the tireless effort of the teams that build and maintain their brand presence in an ever-changing market."

Winners are uniquely judged through three streams: brand valuation, consumer market research, and public online voting. Seventy percent of the scoring process comes from consumer votes.

"To be a winner at the Awards, a brand has shown that they have built themselves up to such a degree that they are placed amongst the best brands in the world," said Danny Pek, Chief Executive of the World Branding Forum.

The voting and nomination had taken place amidst the global Covid-19 pandemic whilst many countries were faced with restriction measures that had greatly disrupted the economic landscape.

The awards celebrates the innovative and creative ways these successful brands have managed to remain distinct and relevant to their consumers over the past year, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Ghana Police Service on Friday announced changes to its top hierarchy, especially at its regional commands, an official statement announced.



In all, there are five reassignments, the Ghana Police Service said in a Facebook post.



According to the announcement, DCOP Frederick Adu-Anim becomes the new director-general for the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD).



DCOP K. Boapea Otchere is now the director-general for Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Department, with DCOP Owusu Donyinah taking up a new role as the director-general for Finance.



DCOP Charles Domanban will now head to the Oti Region as regional commander.



The former director in charge of operations at the headquarters of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Dr Sayibu Gariba has taken over as the new Upper East Regional police commander. He assumed office as head of the regional police command on Thursday 11 March 11 2021.



DCOP Dr Gariba took over from his predecessor DCOP Osei Kwaku Ampofo-Duku who went on retirement on 5 March 2021.



Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police James Oppong-Boanuh has congratulated the new commanders for their appointments.















Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Kitty Flanagan is spot-on when she says her debut ABC sitcom, Fisk  which she co-wrote with her sister, musician and author Penny Flanagan  is not another glamorous legal show. Both the location (a dusty probate practice next to a busy Melbourne tram route) and Flanagans eponymous protagonist, Helen Tudor-Fisk (a recently divorced, unemployed lawyer who prefers to wear only brown chain-store pantsuits and whose outlook is one of meekly cynical irritation), are the epitome of drab. Indeed, the dictionary definition of fisk  to make an argument seem wrong or stupid by showing the mistakes in each of its points  is an apt description for Helens new job at Gruber & Gruber. Instead of courtroom theatrics, there is bickering over inheritances in an airless office. Yet in the boring side of death, as senior partner, Ray Gruber (Marty Sheargold) describes the business, there is infinite scope for Flanagans dry humour.

Everyones got a wills and inheritance story, says the Utopia actor. Everyone feels wronged or hard done by. It can be a lifetime of grievances or small petty things that will all come to the fore. All of the stories we used over the series we took from anecdotes or from headlines, so theyre all things that have happened.

Even, she insists, the strange clause stipulated by the deceased mother of Helens first client (Alison Whyte), that results in an amusingly risque cameo by Glenn Robbins. Her absolute comedy hero is part of a stellar guest cast that includes Marg Downey, Colette Mann, Rhys Nicholson and Denise Scott. Regulars include Debra Lawrence (Helens doting aunt), Aaron Chen (the probate clerk), and Flanagans long-time friend and muse, Julia Zemiro (Roz Gruber, the suspended senior partner and elder sister of Ray).

I have wanted to write something for myself and Julia to do forever, says Flanagan. I put her in a sketch I did on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, but thats probably one of the few things weve been able to do together. I always said, whatever Fisk turns out to be, it will be two women. One will be me and the other one will be Julia. Most people know her as a host and interviewer but Ive always known that shes this incredible actor  particularly a comedic actor  as well.

An officious, entitled boss that doesnt like change, Roz clashes with the newly hired Helen, who mutters complaints under breath. But things never get nasty.

I didnt want some stereotypical, Oooh, bitches be hating on each other! Two women at the top of their game, theyre gonna duke it out! I wanted two women who are both very different. Theres a nice side of Roz and she and Helen can get on for a minute but theyre not going to go out for a drink together.
* EU approval paves way for first shots to be delivered in a month

* Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine is 4th endorsed by EU

* Norway, Denmark temporarily suspend use of AstraZeneca's shot

* (Adding details)

By Muvija M and Pushkala Aripaka

March 11 (Reuters) - Europe approved Johnson & Johnson's single dose COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, paving the way for the first shots to be delivered in a month as the bloc seeks to speed up a stuttering inoculation campaign and boost its supplies.

The COVID-19 shot is the fourth to be endorsed for use in the European Union after vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech , AstraZeneca-Oxford University and Moderna , and is recommended for those over 18 years of age, the European Medicines agency (EMA) said. It's the first single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

The United States, Canada and Bahrain have also approved the shot. South Africa is carrying out an expedited review.

"With this latest positive opinion, authorities across the European Union will have another option to combat the pandemic and protect the lives and health of their citizens," EMA's Executive Director Emer Cooke said after the agency gave its conditional approval.

The official nod came from the European Commission shortly after, the final step to allowing its use across the bloc.

The region is having difficulty taming a spike in cases driven by a more contagious variant of the coronavirus, with countries including Italy and France imposing fresh lockdowns.

J&J Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels described it as a "landmark moment" for the U.S. drugmaker and the world as governments struggle to control the pandemic which has crushed economies and killed more than 2.7 million.

The shot, called COVID Vaccine Janssen after the J&J unit that developed it, will help bulk up EU vaccine supplies after a faltering rollout due to delivery delays from Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

The first shipments will start in the second half of April, the company said, adding it is committed to delivering at least 200 million doses to the EU this year.

Story continues

Exact volumes are not clear though and the U.S. drugmaker has told the European Union it is facing supply issues that may complicate plans to deliver the 55 million doses due in the second quarter in full.

J&J's factory in Leiden in the Netherlands and a plant in Baltimore in the United States run by Emergent BioSolutions have both been authorised by the drugs' regulator as a manufacturer of ingredients for the vaccines.

Earlier this year, some EU countries raised questions about J&J's production network and contract with the EU, which would require it to send vaccines made at the Dutch factory to the United States for bottling before being shipped back to the EU.

News that the EU had approved Johnson & Johnson's vaccine came as Norway and Denmark temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine after reports of the formation of blood clots in some who have been vaccinated.

TRIAL DATA

In J&J's 44,000-person global trial, the vaccine was found to be 66% effective at preventing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 four weeks after inoculation. It was 100% effective in preventing hospitalization and death due to the virus. In its statement on Thursday, the EMA said the vaccine was found to be 67% effective two weeks after inoculation.

The side effects were usually mild or moderate and cleared within a couple of days after vaccination, it said. The most common ones were pain at the injection site, headache, tiredness, muscle pain and nausea.

Though many rival shots have reported a higher protection rate, J&J's vaccine could help boost thin EU supplies and simplify inoculation campaigns because it does not require a second dose or need to be shipped frozen.

Direct comparison between headline numbers reported by different drugmakers is difficult because their trials had different goals, and J&J's study was conducted while new, more contagious variants of the virus were circulating.

Its vaccine delivers instructions for human cells to manufacture immunity-building proteins, using a weakened version of a common-cold virus to carry them in, similar to AstraZeneca's shot, which uses a chimpanzee cold virus. J&J has also used the technology in its EU-approved Ebola vaccine.

EU conditional marketing authorisation allows a treatment to be sold for a year without full data on its efficacy and side-effects being available.

(Reporting by Muvija M and Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Francesco Guarascio in Brussels and Bart Meijer in Amsterdam; Editing by Josephine Mason, Mark Potter, Kevin Liffey and Susan Fenton)
The bridges of Macroom and its surrounding hinterland are to be featured in an upcoming TV Programme.

Chloe O'Neill who works for a production company called New Departures Media is researching the show and seeking information on famous bridges in Cork.

"I am currently working on a TV programme about beautiful bridges in Ireland and we are really eager to feature some of Cork's most interesting bridges, such as the Carrigadrohid bridge, and the Macroom bridge over the river Sullane on the programme," said Chloe.

"We are looking for interesting and quirky characters to participate. In particular, we are looking for architect enthusiasts, train enthusiasts, local historians, people who participate in various water-sports, locals who like to fish, musicians, writers or people/locals who might just have an interesting sting these bridges and the areas or who have some connection to the bridges/areas. We are open to suggestions on different bridges to include in the program if there is a good story to go with it."

If this is something you'd like to get involved with or have some interesting stories to tell, contact Chloe at her company's website, https://www.newdeparturesmedia.ie/contact
Tens of thousands of BT staff are set to vote on strike action in a fresh blow to beleaguered chief executive Philip Jansen.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Communication Workers Union  representing 45,000 BT staff  will tomorrow kick off the formal legal process to ballot members for the telecom giant's first national strike since 1987.

The union is furious at Jansen's attempts to rapidly modernise the former state monopoly, with plans including the closure of about 270 offices and compulsory redundancies that could run into thousands.

The Mail on Sunday understands the CWU expects a large majority of workers at BT, EE and infrastructure division Openreach to vote in favour of industrial action with walkouts likely from May.

The union is furious at Jansen's attempts to rapidly modernise the former state monopoly

A spring strike would raise the prospect of internet outages before the Covid lockdown is fully lifted, and while millions of people are still being asked by the Government to work from home.

The decision to launch a strike ballot tomorrow will deliver an untimely blow to Jansen after several weeks of damaging stories about boardroom unrest.

City veteran Jan du Plessis earlier this month announced plans to retire as BT chairman after just four years.

It has since been claimed that Jansen prompted him to jump by threatening to resign unless a new chairman was appointed.

Jansen, who was brought in as chief executive in February 2019 to modernise BT, is said to want a chairman who will support a much faster pace of change.

BT has downplayed the unrest, denying any 'misalignment' between board and management and praising du Plessis.

But it did not refute claims that Jansen had issued an ultimatum before du Plessis revealed plans to step down.

The threat of strikes comes as regulator Ofcom this week publishes its long-awaited Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review, which will determine the pace  and financial returns  on BT's 12billion upgrade of Britain's broadband network.

Jansen is also under pressure from a court case over an accounting scandal in Italy, which resumes next month, while a review of BT's pension fund in May is expected to show a 9billion deficit.

The CWU's threats are a response to BT's plan to slim down its operations from 300 to 30 UK sites. The plans have angered workers. Unions say staff face 'postcode redundancy' if they live too far away.

CWU deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said BT is in 'denial' at the prospect of strike action.

'People are at risk of redundancy, not because they're not good at their job, not because their role is going, only because they live somewhere that it doesn't suit BT for them to live,' he said.

The Communication Workers Union is furious at Philip Jansen's attempts to rapidly modernise the former state monopoly

'Our argument is you could have these people working remotely. You're a technology company that's selling this technology to everybody else to allow them to work remotely, but you're not using it as much as you should be in your own company.'

Kerr claimed BT is refusing to share the details of its plans, which meant negotiations could not begin. He also said staff had been refused pay rises.

Kerr said du Plessis was 'more accommodating and more cautious' than Jansen, 'who is used to moving quickly, at a private equity pace'.

Before BT, Jansen was hired by payments giant Worldpay's private equity backers and floated it, before later making an estimated 34million from its 2017 sale.

The CWU is a formidable opponent. Last year, Royal Mail chief executive Rico Back was ousted after a long-running dispute with the union.

Kerr added: 'Philip Jansen is underestimating the power of the union.'

He pointed out that the CWU had not considered significant industrial action since 2010. 'We're still willing to work with the company, but we need to be listened to,' he added.

In a consultative survey before Christmas  involving 74 per cent of the union's BT members  98 per cent voted for action.

BT's share price has collapsed from 4.47 five years ago to 1.37 today.

A BT spokesman said: 'BT needs to go through a period of immense change and investment to modernise itself. Once complete we will have a much simpler operating model with fewer people and we'll be better able to serve our customers.'

Michael Hewson, chief markets analyst at CMC, said: 'Industrial action doesn't help anybody. If you go down that route, then both sides have lost.'
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahraini and Arab lawmakers came down heavily yesterday on their counterpart in the European Parliament for adopting a resolution degrading the rights situation in the Kingdom without conducting due diligence.

The Arab Parliament, reiterating its categorical rejection of the EU resolution, said the statement reflects absolute ignorance of the realities of the situation in Bahrain.

Continuing to move ahead with such resolutions might impair the Arab-European relations and put it to the test, Arab parliamentarians warned.

Arab lawmakers viewed the statements as systematic and intentional targeting to distort the enormous reforms and developments witnessed in Bahrain.

The lawmakers also requested the European lawmakers to take care of the minorities and refugees exposed to continuous violations in European societies.

Arab lawmakers also urged the European Parliament to refrain from politicising human rights issues and use it a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of Bahrain.

Arab MPs further called on the Arab states to ignore such suspicious resolutions while expressing their strong rejection of the unacceptable vocabulary and lordly manner adopted in the statement.

Blatant interference Reflecting the views of their Arab counterparts, Bahraini lawmakers also expressed their strong condemnation of the European Parliaments decision against the Kingdom of Bahrain.

EU lawmakers, Bahraini MPs said, are using human rights as a tool to achieve the goals of countries hostile to the Kingdom.

What they are trying to do is to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom and reduce convicted terrorists, the parliamentarians said.

This is contrary to the international efforts to combat Terrorism and the drying up of its sources.

The parliamentarians also called the EU resolution a blatant interference on the Bahraini judiciary, which is fair and impartial. The judiciary in the Kingdom, the lawmakers said, guarantees the rights and ensures impartial trial to all.

The parliamentarians also viewed that the EU lawmakers for adopting the resolution had turned a blind eye to achievements in human rights and the reform process of the Kingdom.

In this regard, the parliamentarians renewed the official invitation by the speaker of the parliament to the European Parliament members to visit the Kingdom and closely examine the rights situation, the progress and development online.

Double-standard approach Deputy Chairman of the Legislative and Legal Committee, Deputy Bassem Al-Maliki, expressed his rejection of the EU resolution calling it an unacceptable and blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom.

Al Maliki also called the resolution a continuation of the hostile and double-standard approach followed by the parties seeking to destabilise Bahrain and tarnish its reputation.

The report contradicts the facts and the higher standards Bahrain maintain in the rights situation.

In this regard, Al-Maliki pointed out the modern penal system and the current approach to the open prison system.

Subversive agendas Chairman of the services committee, Ahmed Al Ansari, denounced the European Parliament resolution stating that the report contradicts and ignores the advance rights situation in the Kingdom.

Bahrain, he said, is one of the first countries in the world to implement the alternative punishment system to modernise its judicial system.

He also highlighted the achievements of the Kingdom in battling the pandemic without discriminating against citizens and residents.

The resolution does not reflect the continued efforts of Bahrain to promote human rights, Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee Deputy Chairman Al Dosari said.

Such reports rely mainly on falsifying facts to serve foreign subversive agendas targeting national security.

The EU resolution is unilateral and ignored human rights strides, he said, urging the European Parliament to reconsider its reports and observe transparency.

Unacceptable interference Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Abdulrahman Al Asoomi described the resolutions as a flagrant and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs, in breach of international laws and conventions and parliamentary norms.

Al Asoomi also questioned, What authority does the EU Parliament had over non-European countries and societies to assess their rights situation that too by relying on suspicious sources.

He said that such resolutions have no legal or political values, adding that they unjustifiably defame human rights achievements and guaranteed liberties of Bahrain, which won international recognition.

No to guardianship The head of the Foreign Affairs, Defense and National Security Committee, Muhammad Al- Sisi Al-Buainain, called the relationship between the EU and Bahrain as deep-rooted and friendly.

But, we will not allow any attempt to impose a guardianship on the people of Bahrain, represented by an elected council.

The Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee of the House of Representatives said, Issuing such a statement without consulting the Bahraini parliament or its people constitutes a blatant violation.

The Committee expressed its deep regret at the European Parliament on this matter, which contradicts the principles and foundations of parliamentary work.

Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed news that the military is to support the rollout of the local Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Northern Ireland received its largest delivery of jabs this week ahead of the planned opening of a mass vaccination centre at Belfasts SSE Arena within weeks. Officials hope to be able to administer 40,000 shots a week.

It is unclear what role the military will play and whether personnel will be involved in logistics, providing a supporting role at vaccination centres, or if they will administer the vaccine.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: I authorised the deployment of 100 defence medics to support the vaccine rollout in Northern Ireland from the end of this month.

Our Armed Forces are once again stepping up to support the UKs response to the pandemic, working around the clock to protect our people in all four corners of the nation.

Mr Swann said it will help accelerate the vaccination programme in Northern Ireland.

He added: It is very welcome that our vaccinator numbers are being boosted, as we move into an expansion of the programme.

The military support confirmed today is being provided following my formal request.

DUP MLA Pam Cameron, the vice-chair of the Stormont health committee, said it was a boost to the vaccine drive.

This is fantastic news and once again demonstrates the strength and depth of the national commitment to supporting the fight against Covid-19 in every region of our United Kingdom, she said.

The addition of 100 medically trained military personnel will provide a welcome boost to the health and social care staff who have thus far spearheaded a highly successful rollout of the vaccine across our province.

Their arrival will coincide with the launch of the mass vaccination centre at the SSE Arena and will help to ensure the next phase of the programme targeted at the general population runs as smoothly and effectively as possible.

Official figures released yesterday suggested the Kent variant of the virus  now the dominant strain in Northern Ireland  was hindering attempts to bring the pandemic under control.

The number of people diagnosed with Covid-19 over the past seven days rose by 6% compared to the previous week.

According to the Department of Healths daily dashboard, 1,311 new cases were diagnosed over the past seven days, compared to 1,238 over the previous seven-day period.

A department spokesman said: Data suggests that the B-117 (Kent) variant now accounts for 80% of infections

That means in circumstances where people are having more contacts, the epidemic will grow even more quickly than it has done previously.

This is something that we all need to be cognitive of as we gradually begin to ease out of restrictions in the weeks and months ahead.

The Office for National Statistics weekly Covid bulletin, also released yesterday, showed more people in Northern Ireland were infected with the virus than in Scotland and Wales at the end of last week.

But there were fewer people here infected than in England, where one in 270 was infected.

The report said: In Northern Ireland, the percentage of people testing positive appears to have levelled off in the week ending March 6. We estimate that 5,900 people in Northern Ireland had Covid-19, equating to around one in 310 people.

The latest bulletin from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) showed another decline in the number of people losing their lives as a result of Covid-19.

There were 22 local Covid deaths recorded between February 23 and March 5  down from 44 the previous week.

It was the sixth week in a row in which there was a drop in the number of death certificates citing coronavirus.

According to Nisra, there have been 2,845 Covid-related deaths in Northern Ireland since the start of the pandemic.

A further 208 new cases and one death were recorded in the past 24 hours. However, the number of Covid-19 inpatients is falling  down to 156 from two months ago, when there were 751.

The seven-day case rate has also dropped considerably since then, falling to 1,311 from 8,802 on January 12.
County library to unveil story walk project in Vanderbilt

The Otsego County Library is hosting a ceremony Saturday to formally open the latest story walk project.
Founder of the Southern California-based nonprofit Hope B-Lit, Ruhi, aka Rohini Hak, has written and directed E-Rickshawali, a film that tells the story of Kiran Wati, a 21-year-old e-rickshaw driver who transforms into a boy during the day to rough it out on the streets of Delhi. (photo provided)
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Partly cloudy skies this morning. Thunderstorms likely during the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 82F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Variable clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly late. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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New Delhi:

The need of the hour for people is to stay united, shun violence and work towards equality in all aspects to enable Indias progress, said Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu while inaugurating an exhibition New India  resolve to achieve on Sunday at Anna University in Chennai.

The exhibition is being organised to mark the platinum jubilee of the Quit India Movement.

We must all resolve to fight these evils and work towards the countrys progress, said Naidu.

He further added, Seven decades after the country achieved independence, issues like poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality and caste discrimination were still prevalent.

He asked the people to resolve to eliminate casteism, communalism, corruption, gender bias, illiteracy and poverty from the society.

The vice president also urged the political leadership at the central and state levels to work to fight these evils.

We have to stand united against it. There is no place for violence in a democratic system. People are losers if violence takes place, added Naidu.

He also asked the people to stand against any form of terrorist.

The vice president also termed the recent verdict of triple talaq as historic and said, It was imperative to preserve the freedom won after long struggle.

Earlier in the day Tamil Nadu governor presented a copy of the Telugu version of Tirukkural (Tamil treatise) to Naidu.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
On May 1, 2003, then-President George W. Bush delivered a televised speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln just two months into the bloody invasion of Iraq. Under a banner that read Mission Accomplished, Bush proclaimed that major combat operations in Iraq have ended. His proclamation was followed by an imperialist occupation that resulted in the deaths of one million Iraqis and nearly 4,500 American soldiers.

US President Joe Bidens prime time speech Thursday evening, on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic, had a similar character. Striking the pose of kindly old grandfather, Biden presented the pandemic as if it were now under control with the Democratic Party at the helm. He reassured Americans that they were on track to defeat COVID-19, encouraging Americans to mark our independence from this virus by gathering with their friends, families and neighbors on July 4.

President Joe Biden speaks about the American Rescue Plan, a coronavirus relief package, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, March 12, 2021, in Washington [Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Biden made these remarks as scientists in the US and around the world were raising the alarm about the need to take action to halt a deadly new wave of the pandemic, as more infectious and lethal variants spread and limited global vaccination efforts threaten a hurricane surge. However, governments all over the world, including the Biden administration, are removing whatever restrictions are still in place to stop the spread of the virus.

Look, Biden declared, we know what we need to do to beat this virus: Tell the truth. However, his entire speech was based on a series of misleading, distorted and outright lying claims.

First, Biden said almost nothing about what produced this catastrophe. In his only hint that anything or anyone might have been responsible, he said, A year ago, we were hit with a virus that was met with silence and spread unchecked, denials for days, weeks, then months.

Who did the denying and in whose interests? Of this, Biden said nothing. He did not once even refer to the policies of his predecessor, Donald Trump. The devastating toll is the outcome of a conscious policy pursued by governments around the world, conservative and liberal alike, which allowed the virus to spread. No measures were allowedsuch as full lockdowns with compensation for workers and small businessesthat would interfere with the piling up of profits by the superrich.

In the United States, both the Democrats and Republicans participated in the implementation of this homicidal policy. Early on, the Democrats and Republicans in Congress were briefed on the dangers posed by the highly contagious novel coronavirus, but both parties kept silent and made no serious warnings to the public.

Second, Biden claimed that the pandemic had a devastating impact on all layers of society. While it was different for everyone, we all lost somethinga collective suffering, a collective sacrifice.

In fact, some people have not only lost nothing, but have gained a great deal. Since the beginning of the pandemic one year ago, US billionaires have increased their wealth by $1.4 trillion. When the market did crash in March, Congress quickly passed the CARES Act to distribute trillions of dollars to Wall Street.

Finding light in the darkness is a very American thing to do, Biden declared, perhaps saying more than he intended. The ruling class lives by the motto, Never let a good crisis go to waste, and this is certainly true of the pandemic.

Third, Biden claimed that his own administration was doing everything it could to stop the further spread of the virus. Im using every power I have as the president of the United States, Biden claimed, to put us on a war footing to get the job done. He boasted that he would make all adults eligible to be vaccinated by May 1, before admitting that this doesnt mean everyones going to have that shot immediately, but it means youll be able to get in line. Tens of millions will be left waiting months before getting inoculated.

Far from taking measures to stop the viruss spread and protect workers and their families while the population gets vaccinated, Biden is spearheading the reopening of schools for in-person learning, which is already resulting in major outbreaks across the country. He boasted Thursday that reopening the majority of K-8 schools by April was the number one priority of his education secretary.

Fourth, as part of Bidens generally rosy picture of the state of the pandemic, he presented the crisis in entirely national terms. Listening to his remarks, one would hardly know that there were other countries in the world, outside of his threat to foreign leaders never to bet against the United States.

The truth is that the pandemic is a global crisis that does not have a national solution. Developments around the world will come back to hit the US. Globally, the daily case rate is once again rising rapidly, hitting a seven-day average of more than 413,000 new cases per day. Nearly 8,500 deaths are being recorded every day.

The surge is currently being led by Brazil, which is now in the middle of its worst stage of the pandemic so far, with more than 78,000 new confirmed cases and 2,207 deaths on Thursday. Cases are once again surging in Europe, pushing hospitals to the brink in Poland and the Czech Republic. Germany is now well into its third wave of infections after the reopening of schools without any restrictions. Throughout the continent the distribution of vaccines has been a debacle, as governments compete for access to a limited supply of doses. Vaccination rates in most countries remain in the single digits.

As for the United States itself, approximately 1,500 people are still succumbing to COVID-19 every day, a rate that is significantly higher than the second wave of deaths in the summer, and the decline in new cases has dramatically slowed. Even as the national vaccination effort has ramped up to more than two million doses per dayhitting Bidens goal of 100 million shots in arms by the end of his first 100 days in office several weeks earlyonly 10 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

Finally, toward the end of his remarks Biden made the clearest and most direct falsification of all. Over a year ago, he said, no one could have imagined what we were about to go through.

In fact, scientists and epidemiologists have long warned precisely about the danger of a pandemic of this character. It was only a matter of time before it erupted in the way that it did. Moreover, one year ago, it was already clear that without emergency action the coronavirus pandemic would have devastating consequences for the population of the entire world. This was documented in the statement of the World Health Organization when it declared a pandemic and in countless statements on the World Socialist Web Site.

Over a year ago, on March 6, 2020, the Socialist Equality Party (US) published a statement indicting the negligent and incompetent response of the worlds governments, above all, the United States, to the pandemic. The deaths of millions of people could be avoided, it declared, if aggressive action was taken in line with the recommendations of epidemiologists:

In responding to this dangerous disease, one principle must guide us: that human need is primary. Combating an epidemic that threatens millions of lives cannot be subordinated to considerations of private profit.

The response of the institutions of capitalist society was to sacrifice life for profit, condemning millions of people to die in the interests of Wall Street.

What has been exposed by the pandemic over the last year is the fundamental contradiction between the interests of society as a whole and those of the ruling elite and the capitalist system. As with all other threats to humanity, there is no progressive solution to the pandemic under capitalism and the nation-state system. It is only the international working class, fighting on the basis of a socialist program to overthrow capitalism and reorganize society in its own interests, which can take humanity forward. That is the ultimate truth that Biden, of course, will not speak.
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The bandits who abducted 39 students from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State have released a video, demanding N500 million or USD 1,288,659
A 42-year-old man has been identified as a suspect in the nonfatal shooting of a motorist who was standing beside his car in the middle of the Bay Bridge.

The California Highway Patrol said it is looking for Luis Candelaria, whom it described as an armed and dangerous felon.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Batavia, NY (14020)

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Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 75F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 59F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Border closures have isolated people who are already subject to patterns of serious human rights abuses, says Tomas Ojea Quintana.

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, Tomas Ojea Quintana attends a press conference after delivering his report before the Human Right Council, on March 9, 2020 in Geneva.

North Koreans are starving to death, with children and elderly resorting to begging in the streets or risking execution by breaking laws to obtain food from China, a new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights says, calling for the country to face international justice for mistreating its population.

Prolonged COVID-19 prevention measures have resulted in a drastic decline in trade and commercial activities and severe economic hardship to the general population, causing increased food insecurity, said the report, presented by Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by teleconference this week.

Deaths by starvation have been reported, as has an increase in the number of children and elderly people who have resorted to begging as families are unable to support them, said the report.

To stave off widespread hunger, people are more willing to engage in illegal activities like smuggling when punishments are at their most severe, with penalties as severe as shooting those who go close to the border. Those who are caught in violation of quarantine suffer severe punishment, according to the report.

In December 2020, a man in his 50s who was allegedly involved in illicit trade with China was reportedly publicly executed. In November 2020, two border guard officers and two rank-and-file soldiers allegedly involved in smuggling were reportedly executed. The same month, a high-profile moneychanger was allegedly executed in Pyongyang, the report said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made an already dire human rights situation worse. In January 2020, Beijing and Pyongyang closed the entirety of the 880-mile Sino-Korean border and suspended all trade.

The closure was devastating for the North Korean economy, already pinched by U.S. and UN nuclear sanctions. Much of North Korean commerce depends on the purchase and sale of imported Chinese goods to the point that the border closure killed off economic activity in entire towns, leaving people with no way to support themselves.

Quintana warned that the closure of the border with China and restrictions on the movement of people could bring on a serious food crisis. Additionally, the pandemic has disrupted the flow of aid sent by the international community.

"While the sanctions committee has expedited exemptions for humanitarian assistance, humanitarian goods bound for the DPR Korea have remained at the border with China for months due to import restrictions causing delays in the distribution of lifesaving goods," said Quintana.

The report also expressed concern over the construction of a new prison facility to hold quarantine violators, citing rights violations in North Korean prisons as documented in other UN reports.

The time has come for the Security Council to decide on the referral of the situation of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea to the International Criminal Court, as it has been repeatedly encouraged by this Honorable Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, Quintana said.

Failing to take action may be legal, but its not justifiable under the UN charter, Quintana said, adding that the UN Security Council was also to blame for its inaction against the abuses.

The report was not clear who in North Korea would be referred to the Netherlands-based ICC, which tries individuals as opposed to nations. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the U.N.s top court, settles disputes between nations.

The isolation of (North Korea) during the COVID-19 pandemic means the isolation of ordinary people who are already subject to patterns of serious human rights abuses, he added.

The report urged the Security Council to adopt targeted sanctions against those who are most responsible for crimes against humanity, and should consider lifting sanctions that negatively affect peoples human rights.

The Rural Development Administration under South Koreas Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced its estimates in a report in December, which said North Korea likely produced 4.4 million tons of food grains and potatoes in 2020, down 240,000 tons from 2019.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations released reports in November, expressing concerns about food shortages in North Korea due to COVID-19 and damage from severe floods and typhoons over the summer. The FAO report said that North Korea was one of 45 countries requiring external assistance for food.

Though the projections look dire for Pyongyang, they pale in comparison to the famine that struck North Korea in the 1990s.

The 1994-1998 famine -- the result of economic mismanagement and the collapse of North Korea's patron the Soviet Union  killed millions, almost 10 percent of the population by some estimates.

According to a 1998 nutritional survey conducted by UNICEF and the World Food Program, which surveyed children in 3,600 North Korean households, 62.3 percent were stunted, and 60.6 percent were considered moderately or severely underweight at that time.
A nurse who was stopped from accidentally giving potentially fatal overdoses of medication to two care home residents has been allowed to remain on the nursing register.

A fitness to practise hearing has found Marioara Filimon lacked the ability to carry out some of the most basic nursing tasks and nearly left two people fighting for their lives as a result.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel found Filimon did not know how to take a pulse or how to administer insulin. The panel also found that Filimon, who worked as a nurse at Camphill Care Home in Ballymena between May 23, 2016, and July 1, 2016, did not know how to use oxygen or inhalers, or that it was necessary to clean a patient's finger before testing blood sugar.

She also didn't wash her hands between patients, she had "never seen or heard" of an oximeter machine and had "only a vague understanding" of what an emergency trolley was, the panel found. The NMC panel also found that Filimon "had difficulty both reading English and interpreting" a medication record document.

During the hearing, the panel heard from a nurse who said she had to stop Filimon from giving a double dose of insulin to a resident, explaining: "This could have had severe medical repercussions as the patient could possibly have went into a coma."

On a separate occasion, a different colleague had to stop her from giving eight times the correct amount of a medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure to a resident: "I had to step in before this was administered as a dose of this size could quite possibly have resulted in death."

On another occasion, the practice support nurse had to stop Filimon from giving heart medication to a resident who had already received the drug, after she "read the wrong time" on the chart, while a member of staff had to stop her giving heart medication to a resident who had already received the drug.

The NMC panel found Filimon's actions amounted to misconduct. It said that "had she not been under supervision, then her lack of competence could have caused serious harm" and found her fitness to practise impaired.

The panel was told Filimon has not worked as a nurse since 2016 and has no intention of returning to the profession.

Suspending her registration, the panel said "a striking off order cannot be used where a nurse's fitness to practise is impaired due to a lack of competence or not having the necessary knowledge of English".

North Antrim MLA Jim Allister and Stormont health committee member Jonathan Buckley have both raised concerns over how Filimon was allowed to register with the NMC given the fact she was unable to carry out basic tasks. A spokesman from the home said Filimon was kept under "close supervision" during her time working there and as soon as it became clear that she did not have the "necessary skills and experience to work as a nurse", she was referred to the NMC.

Linda Everet from the NMC said: "Prior to January 2016, we did not have the power to test English language skills for professionals joining our register from the EU. Since then, changes to legislation mean all those applying to join our register from outside the UK must be able to demonstrate their English language skills."
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 Flash

China is committed to making COVID-19 vaccines global public goods and building a global community of health for all, and is ready to provide as much support and assistance as possible for the Jordanian side in its fight against the pandemic, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

In a phone conversation with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Wang congratulated Safadi on the centenary of the founding of Jordan. Noting that China and Jordan enjoy a profound traditional friendship, Wang said the bilateral strategic partnership has kept progressing in the past years, mutual political trust has been continuously enhanced, and the two sides have made solid progress in practical cooperation.

This year, Wang said, also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and as China enters a new stage of development and forges a new development pattern, it will bring more opportunities for the friendly cooperation between the two sides.

Wang also said that China appreciates Jordan's firm adherence to the one-China principle, and supports Jordan's efforts to maintain national security and stability and promote economic and social development.

China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Jordan to jointly promote the resolution of regional hot-spot issues, he added.
Friends of Governor Andrew Cuomo's ex-wife Kerry Kennedy spoke of 'instances of physical abuse' in their marriage before they divorced in 2005, according to an author who published a book on the New York lawmaker.

Michael Shnayerson, a journalist and contributing editor with Vanity Fair, looked back on his time covering Cuomo for the publication, revealing the hushed allegation of physical abuse, as well as reports of bullying in the governor's past.

He claims that 61-year-old Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, slept in a locked bathroom on several nights after Cuomo, 63, refused to leave the house when she told him she wanted a divorce.

'I've been a human rights activist, and for women who have abusive husbands,' Kennedy, a prominent human and women's rights activist, allegedly told a friend, 'and here I am enduring this abuse.'

He also claims that Cuomo tried to punish Kennedy after the divorce was announced by leaking stories to the press about how she had an affair with a 'Republican polo player' so that the public would blame her, and the split would not harm his political career.

Friends of Governor Andrew Cuomo's ex-wife Kerry Kennedy spoke of 'instances of physical abuse' in their 15-year marriage. They are pictured above in the early 90s

Kennedy and the couple's three daughters Mariah, Cara and Michaela (pictured above left to right) have not commented on the allegations of sexual harassment made against Cuomo

Shnayerson looked back on the stories he had unearthed while writing his 2015 Cuomo biography 'The Contender' this week after a seventh woman came forward accusing the governor of sexual harassment.

It also came after 30 other women spoke out about the abusive treatment they had endured while working for his office.

The journalist claims that Cuomo's alleged aggressive and toxic behavior goes back decades, first emerging as he worked as an aide and campaign manager for his father, former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, while in his 20s.

Shnayerson alleges that there was also evidence of his abuse and harassment of women from his time with Kennedy, whom he married in 1990.

Journalist Michael Shnayerson uncovered further claims of Cuomo's abuse while researching his 2015 biography 'The Contender' (pictured above with the book)

The couple, who have three daughters together, were seen as the merging of two of the U.S.'s great political dynasty but Cuomo never fully fit in with the Kennedy clan.

Shnayerson claimed that by 2001, as Cuomo finished his tenure at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Kennedy already wanted out of the relationship, after he failed to accomplish even the smallest parenting tasks she had set him.

Cuomo had been asked to visit their daughters' schools and to read a book on parenting but even those tasks proved too much, the author claims.

'Kerry was done being ridiculed and belittled,' a person close to the couple told him. 'Either Andrew would work on the marriage or he wouldn't, and the two would divorce.'

Cuomo had an unsuccessful run for governor the following year and once he dropped out of the primary, Kennedy swooped in to demand a divorce.

Shnayerson reports that the couple lived separately but for six months Cuomo refused to leave the house or speak to her lawyers.

It was during this point that Kennedy would spend nights in the locked bathroom and when a source told him of the physical abuse.

In June 2002, Kennedy announced the divorce and Cuomo reacted by leaking the less than favorable rumors about her to the media, according to reports.

'He [was] constantly sticking it to her,' Shnayerson's source said, 'telling her he can't make Christmas plans until December, so she can't make hers. There's a million ways for a single parent to make the other parent's life miserable, and he played that game.'

In 1990, Gov. Cuomo married Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy (pictured)

Cuomo and Kennedy (pictured above in 1994 and 2001) tied the knot in 1990, but they finalized their divorce 15 years later in 2005, with Kennedy accusing him of not spending enough time with their family, while she allegedly had an affair with a close friend.

A spokesperson to the governor has denied the allegations laid out by Shnayerson and claimed that the 'rumors' around their divorce have all been proven 'untrue'.

'The divorce was over 15 years ago and was tabloid fodder for weeks with all sorts of untrue rumors circulating. Time has proven them all false,' the spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

'Andrew is a great father and his daughters will be the first to say that Kerry and Andrew have been great co-parents - and time showed those who spread the rumors were actually the problem.'

The Kennedy family are said to have had reservations about Cuomo, yet the wedding went ahead, and the couple had three daughters together: twins Mariah and Cara in 1995, followed by Michaela who was born in 1997.

Just two months after Michaela's birth, discussions of divorce between the pair had reportedly turned from not 'if' but 'when'.

Kennedy suggested the couple seek marriage counseling, but Cuomo was said to be too consumed with work.

By the point of their divorce, the extended Kennedy family had already decided that Cuomo was never going to fit in.

Shnayerson says that the family would often crack jokes around him at his expense, but he refused to be a part of the fun.

'Andrew refused to do anything fun,' said one Kennedy sibling, 'anything without a clear benefit to his career.'

The eight siblings said that after giving Cuomo a chance, they eventually wrote him off as a 'bully'.

'We tried to be gracious, butit turned on his lack of humanity. That's where I started to think, this is a bad guy. He's just a bully,' the sibling allegedly stated.

Leading up to their divorce, Kennedy is said to have believed Cuomo didn't spend enough time with the family and was horrified when she heard the Rolling Stones song 'Sympathy for the Devil' play during a campaign event  an insensitive score selection, considering its line: 'I shouted out, 'Who killed the Kennedys?' / When after all, it was you and me.'

Kennedy also allegedly had an affair with a close friend, Bruce Colley, according to reports from the time.

Andrew Cuomo, right, announces his candidacy for NY Governor in 2002 - his first attempt at the office in which he was not elected. The marriage was allegedly already on the rocks

Kerry Kennedy decided she could be with Cuomo no longer following his failed governor bid in 2002. The couple are pictured together in 1990, the year they got married

The divorce was finalized in 2005, but more than a decade later they were reported to be still battling in court over child support for their daughters' education and healthcare costs, the New York Post reported.

In response, the couple issued a joint statement, denying any financial disputes, but a source told the outlet Kennedy only signed the statements because Cuomo had finally agreed to make certain payments and she hoped to shield her daughters from any drama.

Within months of legally separating from Kennedy, Cuomo began dating Food Network host Sandra Lee.

Kennedy and the couple's three daughters have not yet commented on the allegations against Cuomo even as more and more top-seated Democrats call for him to quit.

Mariah was seen walking with her father outside of the governor's residence on Friday night just hours after he refused to quit and branded politicians calling for him to step aside 'dangerous'.

Cuomo is pictured outside the Governor's Mansion in Albany with his daughter on Friday

The Governor draped a blanket around his shoulders and appeared to be in a downcast mood as he was spotted outside his residence just hours after refusing to resign on Friday

Yet on Friday night, New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement stating Cuomo had lost the confidence of New Yorkers, siding with the majority of the state's congressional delegation who had already issued statements earlier in the day.

It came after further troubling details emerged of Cuomo's treatment of the women in his office, which led to at least one of his former aides calling a suicide hotline and multiple others taking anti-depressants and beginning therapy for the first time.

Shnayerson also revealed further information on the governor's alleged bullying antics in previous years, including how he would give offensive nicknames to other high-powered New York lawmakers.

He reportedly called New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli 'Chipmunk Balls' and joked that then-attorney general Eric Schneiderman looked like he was wearing makeup when in fact, Schneiderman had a condition that forced him to use eye drops.

Cuomo's abuse as assistant secretary at the HUD allegedly included calling older colleague 'white heads', 'f--kheads' or 'dumb fks'.

'I've dealt with a lot of macho guys in my family,' one staffer told Shnayerson. 'I can spot them a million miles away. I was just surprised that someone like that had gotten to be secretary.'

Shnayerson revealed how he himself had fallen foul of Cuomo's power plays after he was asked by the governor to push back the publication of his biography on him.

Cuomo had allegedly told Shnayerson that if the author would hold off until the governor's own book was published, he would grant him on the record interview time.

Yet he claims the governor 'pulled a fast one' and never gave the interview.
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YEREVAN, Armenia (AP)  Hundreds of opposition supporters surrounded government buildings in Armenias capital on Saturday to push for the resignation of the countrys prime minister.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has faced demands to step down since Armenia suffered a humiliating defeat last year in an armed conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory within Azerbaijan that Armenia-backed separatists controlled for more than 25 years.

Demonstrators shouting Nikol you traitor! and Nikol go away! surrounded the Foreign Ministrys headquarters where Pashinyan had a meeting on Saturday. Later in the day, they ringed the residence of the countrys mostly ceremonial president, Armen Sarkissian, when Pashinyan went there for talks on ending the political crisis.

Some of the demonstrators engaged in brief scuffles with police.

Pashinyan has defended a November peace deal that ended the six weeks of fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh as the only way to prevent Azerbaijan from overrunning the entire region.

Tensions spiked last month when the militarys General Staff demanded Pashinyans resignation. The prime minister responded by firing the countrys highest military officer, who appealed his dismissal in court.

Pashinyan has offered to hold an early parliamentary election later this year but staunchly rejected the oppositions demand for him to step down before the vote. The 45-year-old former journalist has retained significant public backing despite the defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh, with thousands rallying in his support to counter the opposition-led pressure for his resignation.

President Sarkissian sought to play mediator by offering to host a meeting between Pashinyan and his political foes, but he had to call it off after the opposition said it would only accept a meeting to discuss the prime ministers resignation.

More than 6,000 people were killed in the fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, which lies within Azerbaijan but was under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

The Russia-brokered peace deal let Azerbaijan reclaim control over large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

____

Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

By AVET DEMOURIAN

Associated Press
New Delhi: The central election committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is holding a meet at the party headquarters in the national capital to finalise candidates for the upcoming election to four states and 1 Union Territory.

The meeting is being held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National President JP Nadda, General Secretory BL Santhosh, members of the parliamentary board, state leaders, state in-charges.

Voting for elections to West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry will take place from March 27.

The party is likely to clear candidates for the southern States, including Tamil Nadu, where in an NDA alliance of AIADMK and a few others they will contest on 26 seats next month.

While the party has already declared candidates for two phases in Bengal and Assam, the CEC could clear tickets for the third and last phase of Assam and for at least two more phases for Bengal where polling will take place in eight phases.

Elections in West Bengal will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29.

Voting for the 126-seat Assam Assembly will take place in three phases from March 27 to April 6.

While assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be held in a single phase on April 6. Counting of votes for all four states and one Union Territory will take place on May 2.
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President Trump Holds Campaign Rally In Pensacola, Florida

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Florida governor and US senatorial candidate Rick Scott at a campaign rally at the Pensacola International Airport in Pensacola, Florida, on November 3, 2018. Credit - Mark WallheiserGetty Images

Former President Donald Trump wants to play a role in leading the Republican Party to victory in future elections, but its becoming clear that he means to provide his help only to those whove never crossed him.

This month, that meant sending a warning shot to three national Republican campaign entities devoted to defending incumbents  the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee  including those who voted to impeach or convict Trump. Trumps legal team demanded in letters, first reported by Politico, that the bodies must stop using the Trump name and likeness in fundraising.

Not only is President Trump the biggest name and the biggest draw in Republican politics, hes the biggest name and the biggest draw in politics overall, says Jason Miller, senior advisor to Trump. He says Trump is willing to help, but he wants to be asked first. President Trump will continue to be the kingmaker in the Republican party.

Trump is famously protective of his name brand, but having the symbolic figurehead of the GOP undermine party efforts puts his fellow Republicans in a difficult spot. One Republican lawmaker, who spoke on background because they dont do hallway interviews, noted the situation was obviously not ideal.

The 2022 midterm elections are more than a year and a half away, but Trumps apparent ambivalence over helping GOP lawmakers is raising the question now of what his role will be as the party tries to win back the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Republican lawmakers largely stood by Trump through two impeachments and countless scandals. But after some distanced themselves after Trump sought to overturn the 2020 election results and incited a violent mob that stormed the Capitol, he has lashed out at the GOP establishment.

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On Thursday, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, returned home to Florida, where he met Trump for dinner at Mar-a-Lago to discuss how the former President can help Republicans regain control of the Senate. He said he wants to help make sure we get a majority, so were going to work hard and make sure it happens, Scott told TIME earlier that afternoon, saying he had plans to meet with the former President soon.

According to Miller, part of the meeting was spent discussing how Trump can help recruit America First conservative candidates, and going through areas where they saw overlapping interests.

The cease-and-desist letters werent the only sign of resistance from Trump world over helping fellow Republicans. Days after they were sent, the Trump-aligned Save America PAC issued a fundraising email to his supporters, asking them to send donations directly to that political action committee. No more money for RINOS, Trump said in the included March 8 statement, using the acronym for Republican in Name Only. They do nothing but hurt the Republican Party and our great voting basethey will never lead us to Greatness.

The next day, Trump appeared to reverse course and put out a statement vouching for the party entities. I fully support the Republican Party and important GOP Committees, but I do not support RINOs and fools, and it is not their right to use my likeness or image to raise funds. So much money is being raised and completely wasted by people that do not have the GOPs best interests in mind, Trump said. The statement went on once again to encourage his supporters to donate directly to political efforts that hes guiding, rather than the broader Republican Party.

The Republican campaign bodies have shown no signs of heeding Trumps legal teams request. On March 8, Justin Riemer, chief counsel to the RNC, sent a letter to Trumps lawyer Alex Cannon in response to the cease-and-desist letter. Riemer noted the close relationship between Trump and RNC chair Ronna McDaniel. We understand that President Trump reaffirmed to her over the weekend that he approves of the RNCs current use of his name in fundraising and other materials, including for our upcoming donor retreat event at Palm Beach at which we look forward to him participating.

Riemer went on to say that the RNC of course has the right to refer to public figures and will continue to do so, highlighting Trump and the RNCs common goals.

Publicly, the bodies have taken a more conciliatory tone. The RNC, NRSC and NRCC are grateful for President Trumps support, both past and future, said Scott, McDaniel, and NRCC chair Rep. Tom Emmer in a joint statement on March 9. Together, we look forward to working with President Trump to retake our Congressional majorities and deliver results for the American people.

Around Capitol Hill, Republicans were careful not to express any sort of frustration around the former Presidents reservations in sharing the wealth with his colleagues. Some of Trumps most ardent allies in Congress, like Rep. Matt Gaetz, told TIME that Trump was being reasonable in his request.

Ultimately President Trump is going to decide what kind of role he wants to play in elections in the future, said Republican Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, when asked about the letters at a March 9 press conference. I know were focused on winning the House back.

Scott, when asked if he was worried whether Trump might leave Republican Senators out to dry in terms of campaigning the next couple of years, suggested it wasnt a concern. Everybodys working hard  were going to end up with good candidates, and so well be fine.

In the last six years, Trump single handedly reshaped GOP politics, creating a bitterly divided party that appears to be heading in two different directions: those who would prefer to distance themselves from the 45th President, and those who want to continue embracing his politics. Though most of the party remains loyal to him, Trump has never fully embraced them back, observers say. Its always been about him, says a Republican operative, who spoke on background due to current employment, noting the letters he sent did not come as a surprise. Hes not interested in the party, never has been.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, Trump insisted that he didnt want to start a new party, saying that the current Republican party would unite and be stronger than ever before.

Exactly how helpful he plans to be in those efforts remains an open question. Miller insists helping win back the chambers of Congress is a priority for Trump, and many rank-and-file Republicans want that backing. As U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a fierce Trump loyalist, put it: Its impossible for us to succeed without President Trump.
BREMERTON, Wash.  The USS Connecticut, one of the most elite submarines in the Navy, is beset with a bed bug infestation. Efforts to quell the infestation on board the vessel, moored at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, are ongoing, a Navy spokeswoman confirmed.

Navy entomologists found the insects in the perforated bulkheads between bunks on board the Seawolf-class submarine, which carries a crew of more than 100 men.

The Navy said the bed bugs were only discovered recently. But several family members of sailors told the Kitsap Sun they believe the infestation has been a problem for a year.

Cmdr. Cindy Fields, spokeswoman of the Navy Pacific Fleets submarine force, said bed bugs were first reported in December and only on Feb. 19 did Navy entomologists find them on board. Inspections for bed bugs on the boat have continued daily since then, Fields said.

When the bed bugs were reported in December, Fields said that the entomologists from Naval Hospital Bremerton found no indication of bed bugs on more than one occasion.

Navy criteria for treating submarines or ships requires physical presence of bed bugs to establish existence, she said.

But sailors families told the Kitsap Sun that efforts to rid the boat of bud bugs have yet to be successful. When treatments for the bed bugs began, crewmembers at times slept in vehicles outside the submarine until a temporary structure was opened near Connecticuts mooring area, one family said. They also feared sailors required to sleep on board could be bringing home bed bugs to their families.

The Japanese government will revoke the license given to a channel of a satellite broadcaster after finding the company, which was at the heart of a wining-and-dining scandal, had applied for the approval based on false information, the communications minister said Friday.

The license is for the Cinema 4K channel managed by a unit of Tohokushinsha Film Corp, for whom the eldest son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga works, minister Ryota Takeda said.

A number of senior government officials have been reprimanded for violating an ethics code by being treated to lavish dinners by officials of Tohokushinsha, a company in the sector they regulated.

The broadcaster applied for the license in October 2016, saying its foreign investment ratio was below 20 percent -- the upper limit stipulated under the Japanese broadcasting law.

Tohokushinsha was given the approval in January 2017 and in August that year, verbally informed a communications ministry official of the possibility that it had violated the rules on foreign investment ratio, a senior ministry bureaucrat told parliament.

The company recently submitted a correction, saying the ratio had actually stood at 20.75 percent, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
China is no longer compliant with Hong Kong's joint declaration after Beijing announced sweeping changes to the region's electoral system, Britain said Saturday.

"The UK now considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The treaty was signed before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 and was designed to allay fears about its future under Beijing's rule.

It guarantees the financial hub special status including a high degree of autonomy to manage its own affairs and the right to freedom of speech.

But British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that Beijing's decision "to impose radical changes to restrict participation in Hong Kong's electoral system" was a "further clear breach" of the agreement.

"This is part of a pattern designed to harass and stifle all voices critical of China's policies and is the third breach of the Joint Declaration in less than nine months," he said.

"I must now report that the UK considers Beijing to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Joint Declaration," he added, further ramping up tensions between the two nations.

Britain has been a strong critic of China's crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong, and angered Beijing by announcing a new visa scheme offering millions of its residents a pathway to British citizenship.

The system went live in January as the city's former colonial master opened its doors to those wanting to escape China's crackdown on dissent.

- 'Growing gulf' -

Beijing has acted decisively to dismantle Hong Kong's democratic pillars after massive protests there in 2019.

China's rubber-stamp parliament on Thursday voted to give Beijing the power to veto candidates as it moves to ensure that only "patriots" run the city.

Raab said the latest move was a "demonstration of the growing gulf between Beijing's promises and its actions.

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"The UK will continue to stand up for the people of Hong Kong," he added.

"China must act in accordance with its legal obligations and respect fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong."

The new election rules sparked international condemnation.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken called it "a direct attack on autonomy promised to people in Hong Kong under the Sino-British Joint Declaration".

"These actions deny Hong Kongers a voice in their own governance by limiting political participation, reducing democratic representation and stifling political debate," Blinken said.

The European Union warned China it could take "additional steps" as it condemned the vote.

"The National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China adopted today a decision that will have a significant impact on democratic accountability and political pluralism in Hong Kong," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on behalf of the 27-nation bloc.

Brussels has previously decided to limit exports of equipment that could be used for surveillance in Hong Kong and EU foreign ministers have discussed the possibility of broader sanctions if the situation worsens.

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New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks at a remembrance service (Mark Tantrum/Department of Internal Affairs via AP)

New Zealand on Saturday marked the second anniversary of one of its most traumatic days, when 51 worshippers were killed at two Christchurch mosques by a white supremacist gunman.

Several hundred people gathered at the Christchurch Arena for the remembrance service, which was also live-streamed.

A similar service planned for last year was cancelled at short notice due to the sudden spread of the coronavirus.

Kiran Munir, whose husband Haroon Mahmood was killed in the attacks, told the crowd she had lost the love of her life and her soulmate.

She said her husband was a loving father of their two children. He had just finished a doctoral degree and was looking forward to his graduation ceremony when she last saw his smiling face.

They were attacks on all of humanity Temel Atacocugu

Little did I know that the next time I would see him the body and soul would not be together, she said.

Little did I know that the darkest day in New Zealands history had dawned. That day my heart broke into a thousand pieces, just like the hearts of the 50 other families.

Temel Atacocugu, who survived being shot nine times during the attack on the Al Noor mosque, said the slaughter was caused by racism and ignorance.

They were attacks on all of humanity, he said.

He said the survivors would never be able to erase the pain in their hearts and would never be the same.

However, the future is in our hands, he said. We will go on and we will be positive together.

In the March 15, 2019, attacks, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed 44 people at the Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers before driving to the Linwood mosque, where he killed seven more.

Last year Tarrant, 30, pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism, He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

After the attacks, New Zealand quickly passed new laws banning the deadliest types of semiautomatic weapons.

Expand Close Temel Atacocugu, right, who survived being shot nine times during the attack on the Al Noor mosque, cries as he speaks at a remembrance service (Kai Schwoerer/Pool via AP) / Facebook

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During the service, the names of each of the 51 people who were killed were read out. The efforts of first responders, including police and medics, were also acknowledged.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the crowd that when preparing her speech, she had been at a loss for what to say because words would never change what happened.

But while words cannot perform miracles, they do have the power to heal, she said.

The Muslim community had experienced hatred and racism even before the attacks, she said, and words should be used for change.

There will be an unquestionable legacy from March 15, Ms Ardern said.

Much of it will be heartbreaking. But it is never too early or too late for the legacy to be a more inclusive nation.
(CNN)  COVID-19 numbers may be on the decline in the United States after a year of collective grief. But with tens of thousands of deaths expected over the next few months, experts are warning Americans not to drop their guard just yet.

"I think we are going to get fooled," Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said Thursday. "I think what's going to happen is you're going to see that as we enter the summer months, numbers are going to go down, people will think great, we're good."

He added: "And then, if we don't get to what I think is going to be at least 80% population immunity from natural infection or immunization, when the winter comes, you're going to see a surge again."

Over the last seven days, the US has averaged 56,240 new cases per day -- the lowest it has been since mid-October -- and 1,437 deaths per day, which is the lowest the country has seen since November 19.

And vaccinations are picking up pace. As of Friday, more than 101 million doses have been administered in the US, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. More than 10% of the US population has been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC, and almost 20% have had at least one dose.

But if policies stay in place as they are now, about 23,000 more people could die of the virus by April, according to a projection from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Yet many states have begun to relax measures, including mask mandates. And because of fewer masks and more people moving around with more transmissible variants, IHME increased its prediction of COVID-19 deaths by July 1 by an additional 22,000 people.

Overall, the IHME predicts nearly 600,000 COVID-19 deaths by July 1, up from the current number of around 530,000 recorded fatalities.

What the US does next could impact the trajectory of the pandemic, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said in an NBC Nightly News interview.

"I think March and April are just such important, critical times," she said. "On the one hand, you have this hyper-transmissible virus that could result in another surge after spring break.

"On the other hand, we are scaling up vaccinations so very fast, and what we really want to do is just give those vaccines a fighting chance to overcome and not let this virus surge again."

'We have to be humble with this virus'

For those who are vaccinated, CDC released new guidelines Monday, maintaining recommendations against travel for those who have been inoculated.

Some have questioned whether the guidelines are too strict.

"We have to be humble with this virus," Walensky said in the interview with NBC Nightly News. "Every time we felt like we had it under control, we had an enormous surge."

Once more people are vaccinated and case numbers come down, the CDC may revise its guidance, Walensky said.

A year after much of the country was shut down by the virus, more than 98 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the United States, according to CDC data published Thursday.

About 1 in 10 people in the US -- about 33.9 million people -- are fully vaccinated, and close to 1 in 5 people -- more than 64 million -- have received one dose.

In an address Thursday, President Joe Biden promised vaccine appointments would open to all US adults by May 1, and by July 4 the US could be celebrating its independence from the pandemic.

"If July 4th comes around and your family has been vaccinated and your neighbors down the street have been vaccinated, yeah you can absolutely get together for a barbecue," Dr. Jonathan Reiner told CNN's Don Lemon on Thursday.

"Getting shots in the arm is not just the ticket to vaccination, it's the ticket to getting people back in offices, to getting movie theaters open, to getting ballparks filled, to getting people back in airplanes," he said.

A fourth vaccine may be available in the coming month or so. AstraZenea expects data from a Phase 3 study in the US of its vaccine will be available "soon, in the coming weeks," the company said in a statement to CNN. "And we plan to file for emergency use authorization shortly thereafter."

That vaccine is already available in the European Union, the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

Turning attention to 'long Covid'

But even if the spread of the virus is managed within the US in the coming months, the nation will still be contending with Covid-19 survivors who suffer the effects of the disease long after they were infected, said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

"We know that 525,000 of our fellow Americans have died, but we also know that tens of millions have been infected, didn't die, thankfully, and recovered. But I want to know what the long-term effects are for those individuals," Jha told CNN's Erin Burnett.

"I worry that we are really just seeing the tip of the iceberg when we think about long Covid, that there's going to be a lot of disability, a lot of suffering that is going to be with us for a long time," Jha said. "I hope that that is not true. But that's what I worry about, and I'd like to understand that better."

One recent study found that 30% of those with COVID-19 continue to have symptoms up to nine months after initial infection, and the National Institutes of Health has launched a $1 billion research effort into studying the long-term health effects.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Here's why experts say the US may be fooled by improving COVID-19 numbers and what that means for the summer."
Cameron Andrew Coker, a computer expert who later became involved in his family's collector car business, has died from an auto accident that happened last Tuesday afternoon.

The wreck happened at the foot of Lookout Mountain in the 2500 block of Cummings Highway near the Mountain View Inn. At the time, sheriff deputies said they were working a "critical" accident. He apparently lost control of his vehicle on a sharp curve.

Mr. Coker, 36, was the son of Corky and Theresa Coker.

He was a graduate of the McCallie School class of 2003, and Carson Newman University class of 2007, where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. Soon after college, he was employed servicing computer technology for U.S. Congressmen in Washington, D.C. He became a "Genius Level" Apple computer advisor while working at Apple Computer in Knoxville.

Mr. Coker later decided to return to Chattanooga and join his familys businesses, Coker Tire Company, Honest Charley Speed Shop, and Chestnut Properties LLC. In 2018, he became the director of Honest Charley Speed Shop and the Coker Museum.

He was also an excellent photographer - a skill he used at his business and at Calvary Chapel church.



He was very active at Calvary Chapel, including serving for a year at the Calvary Chapel Renew Ministry at Farm 58 in Dunlap. He took mission trips to Israel, France, and the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Coker met his future wife, Hilary Twomey, in 2012 while serving with her at Calvary Chapel ministering in the youth department. They were married in 2018 and have a three-month-old son, Thomas Elliott Coker.

He was an Eagle Scout and active outdoorsman, including working as a raft guide on the Ocoee River.

Mr. Coker collected antique vehicles and took part in the coast to coast Great Race car rally with his father from age 12 to age 19 as navigator for Team Coker.



One of his grandfathers was County Commissioner Harold Coker.

The family will have a private graveside service. The public is invited to a Celebration of Life service on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Calvary Chapel Chattanooga, 3415 Broad St. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that the community and friends please consider a gift to The Cameron Coker Memorial Fund, supporting Christian missions. Checks are payable to The Coker Foundation, a 501(c)(3) may be sent c/o Pendleton Square, 832 Georgia Avenue Suite 210, Chattanooga, TN 37402.

Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
The latest round of funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) has again sidestepped the Northern Cross Route, a much awaited road development on Drogheda's northside.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, announced 35.1 million in funding for three regeneration projects in the North-East region on Monday. The Louth one was the St. Nicholas Quarter and Backlands Regeneration in Dundalk which received 7.49 million.

'I understand there will be some disappointment in terms of projects which were unsuccessful and my Department will engage with Local Authorities and provide feedback in respect of unsuccessful proposals,' he said.

The projects were chosen after a rigorous assessment process, overseen by a project advisory board consisting of Government departments, State agencies and national and international experts in areas such as building, architecture and planning. In total, the department received 76 project proposals. Each local authority submitted at least one application..

Mayor Kevin Callan said the decision was 'absolute madness' and that the Nothern Cross Route is the most essential piece of infrastructure that Drogheda needs to develop and grow and has been well flagged to government in terms of being a game changer for the town.

'The Minister never honoured his commitment to visit with myself as Mayor and all of the Drogheda Councillors and that was an obvious sign that we were in trouble on this one. This was despite his office confirming a date and then travelling past Drogheda to County Hall to instead meet officials. I will be convening a meeting of all of the Drogheda Councillors to discuss our next move in relation to continuing to push for this funding.

'In our joint submission to the County Development Plan we have already flagged this as the most important project for Drogheda. Sometimes in politics there are reasons for decisions not going your way but this decision makes absolutely no sense, in my opinion it smacks of parish pump and funding going to locations not based on merit but for reasons that are more political. There is no other project so badly needed in the Country and on the scale of the Nothern Cross Route for Drogheda. To put it plainly we have been let down badly by government and we need to let this bad news settle and see where we go from here.'

The failure by the government to fund the Northern Port Access Route is a 'monumental slap in the face for Drogheda,' Labour TD Ged Nash said.

'Responsibility for this latest snub falls firmly at the feet of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party who are in power. With government comes responsibility and attempts to explain this away by representatives of governing parties will not wash with the people of Drogheda. This road is essential to unlock Drogheda's potential. It is urgently needed to develop the new housing and communities we need on the north side, to service the port, provide access to a new stadium project and to get cars and trucks out of our centre and allow our town to breath and to grow into the city it will become.

'Louth County Council worked very hard to get the application right and learned lessons from the last unsuccessful application. I have asked Minister Darragh O'Brien of Fianna Fail for the matrix that was used to assess the project and I will question the government on this slap in the face for Drogheda in the Dail this week. This latest snub for Drogheda is an insult to our town and is completely and utterly unacceptable.'

Fergus O'Dowd TD was bitterly disappointed with the news and made immediate contact with the minister.

I have expressed my strong views to Minister Darragh O'Brien ,' he said. 'The Minister has also indicated that a significant amount of funding has been held back for key projects that have not been successful in this round of the URDF. The PANCR must be one of these projects.'

Sinn Fein TD for Louth and East Meath Imelda Munster has hit out at Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien, saying the decision not to fund the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) is "disgraceful" and that he has turned his back on Drogheda.

Cathaoirleach of Louth CC, Dolores Minogue said the port route was vital, but it would need many more millions than the 7.9m handed out on Monday.

'This was funding in Category B and the port route will need a lot more than that. It will need triple that amount. I see this as a setback, but the port route will happen because it has to happen otherwise Drogheda will be stiffled. When the appropriate level of funding is given to the project, it will make Drogheda the most superior town in the country.'
Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Energy Minister, has unveiled Governments plans to make the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) one of the premium refineries in the West Africa sub-region.



Dr Prempeh indicated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led government would offer support to TOR in the form of a strategic partnership with the aim of making the refinery operate at its fullest potentials.



Dr Prempeh stated during his first familiarization visit and interaction with staff and management of the refinery at Tema.



TOR, established in 1963 is Ghanas only refinery, which refines crude oil into various petroleum products including Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), gasoline (petrol), kerosene, gas oil (diesel), aviation turban kerosene, and premix among others.



Dr Prempeh emphasized that TOR would not be disintegrated or go through divestiture under the current government as it remained a very important asset on the list of the Energy Ministry.



He noted that to achieve its aims, workers and management of TOR must work together in unity to turn the fortunes of the refinery around.



He assured the workers that the Ministry would ensure that regulations by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) did not adversely affect the refinery but rather assisted it to achieve its set goals and objectives.



Mr Francis A. T. Boateng, TOR Managing Director, expressed gratitude to the Minister for choosing the refinery as the first institution to visit after assumption of office as the sector minister.



He described it as an honour and privilege as it emphasized the Ministers commitment to help bring TOR back to life, a promise he gave during his vetting.



Mr Boateng said the completion and commission of the second furnace of the refinery which exploded in January 2017 would return TOR to its original capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day which will double its revenue generation potential.



He thanked the Minister for the immeasurable role he played when he was a minister-designate when he ensured that funds were made available to TOR for the purpose of completion and commissioning the furnace to replace the exploded one.

Source: GNA









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Olive and Feargal Wilson in front of their renovated Blackrock home with daughters Iseult and Oonagh

Looking at Olive and Feargal Wilson's light-filled spacious home on Home of the Year last Tuesday (2nd) it was hard to believe that it started life as a 1970s bungalow.

'That's why we went on the programme- we wanted to show people what can be done,' Olive said.

Their house on the Rock Road was a big hit with viewers but unfortunately the judges weren't so impressed and they failed to make it through to the finals, losing out to an extremely colourful semi-detached house in Limerick.

'We knew that we hadn't made it through to the final before we watched the show, so we just sat back with a glass of wine and enjoyed it. It was interesting to see our home on television and to hear the judges comments.'

Olive isn't at all perturbed that Hugh Wallace didn't like her lampshades or that Amanda Bone thought that she should have walls of glass.

'While I'd be lying to say that we weren't a bit disappointed with the judge's reactions and with the score, they are looking for something 'different' in a house.'

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It's her family home and she loves it.

'This is the house I grew up in as a child. My parents have both passed away and we had been living in town. We thought it would be lovely to come back to the old house as we knew the area and had friends here.'

It's something of an understatement when she says they 'did a bit of a change to it' as what was a typical '70s bungalow with dark corridors has been transformed into a bright and airy contemporary home.

'One of the reasons we wanted to go on the show was to show that you can do something different and make a different kind of space. You don't have to stick with an extension at the back or go up into the attic - you can completely redesign your home.'

While Olive and Feargal knew what they wanted from the house, they worked with architect Bernard Dowdall on getting the design right.

They only kept the front and two side walls of the original bungalow. The rest was demolished, and all internal walls knocked down.

'Bernard had some great ideas like the little courtyard in the middle of the space which lets the light in and our builder John Kerr was brilliant.'

The project took about two years from when they started planning, with the construction taking over a year. 'We moved in on February 1 2019.'

An interior designer with Niamh Carter Interiors, Olive has added personal touches to make it their dream home.

They are delighted with all the space their home has given them, particularly during lockdown, when daughters Iseult (14) and Oonagh (12) were being home schooled. They converted a spare bedroom into a home office for Feargal so that everyone has their own space.

Olive says they are 'delighted and touched' with people's reactions to their home and all the lovely comments they have received on social media.
A harried woman has approached the Delhi High Court seeking to get back the mortal remains of her husband whose body was buried in Saudi Arabia after an official translator at the Indian Consulate wrongly declared that the deceased was Muslim.

Anju Sharma contended neither she nor any of her family members had given consent for the burial of her husband Sanjeev Kumar.

In a writ petition filed through advocate Subhash Chandran K R, Sharma, a resident of Una district in Himachal Pradesh, said that her husband, an Indian migrant who had worked in Saudi Arabia for 23 years died on January 24, due to diabetes, hypertension and cardiac arrest. His mortal remains were kept at the Baesh General Hospital in Jizan, Saudi Arabia.

"Shockingly, on February 18, 2021, the petitioner was informed that the dead body of her husband has been buried. The officials in the Indian Consulate explained that it was due to a mistake committed by the official translator of the Indian Consulate, Jeddah who wrongly mentioned his religion as Muslim in the death certificate," her plea stated.

They also shared a letter of apology tendered by the official translating agency of the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, it pointed out.

Her subsequent request to bring back mortal remains has been pending for seven weeks as the authorities failed to complete the necessary formalities in violation of her fundamental rights to repatriate the mortal remains of Sanjeev Kumar to India to perform the last rites. The petitioner and family members had completed all formalities by January 28 for repatriation of the mortal remains.

In her plea, the woman sought a direction to the Indian Consulate, through the Union government, to do necessary formalities for exhuming the mortal remains of the husband and repatriate it to India on an urgent and time-bound basis to perform the last rites as per their custom and belief.

She also sought appropriate departmental actions against concerned Indian officials for their willful negligence.
New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination for admission in undergraduate medical courses to be held on August 1.

The NTA notification was released on Friday (March 12). "NEET (UG) - 2021 will be conducted in 11 languages, including Hindi and English through Pen and Paper mode on 01 August (Sunday)," said NTA notification.

NEET (UG) - 2021 pic.twitter.com/vetC5ozo6n  National Testing Agency (@DG_NTA) March 12, 2021

NEET UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS/BDS courses and other undergraduate medical courses in approved/ recognized medical/dental and other institutions in India.

NTA in the notification said that the information regarding the test, syllabus, eligibility criteria for age, reservation, categorisation of seats, examination fee, cities of examination, State Code, among other things will be available shortly on its website when the submission of the application form for NEET (UG) 2021 starts.

The national-level entrance was conducted on September 13. NEET is an entrance test for medical and allied programmes, being held by the NTA. The NTA had declared the NEET 2020 results on October 16.

Following the four attempts of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main) for admissions to architecture, engineering and technical undergraduate programmers, students had appealed that there should be multiple attempts for NEET 2021.

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Belfast is the most sleep-deprived city in the UK according to a new report.

It's finally been proven that those walking around complaining about being "knackered", "wrecked" and "busted" may be justified in their "gurning".

UK mattress firm OTTY came to the findings using data from Google which analysed people in several cities around the UK, counting the number of times they searched for phrases such as "insomnia", "can't sleep", and presumably, "I'm bate, mucker".

The firm looked at over 400 key terms during the study.

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But of all UK cities, Belfast was the most restless, with 1,931 search results per 100,000 people looking for advice on how to catch a few winks.

In second place was Newcastle Upon Tyne with 1,855 searches.

Next came Plymouth with 1,794, Kingston with 1,680 and Stoke-on-Trent with 1,677.

In last place was London, with 693 searches.

The report also suggested that since the coronavirus epidemic started, searches for sleep deprived terminology have rocketed by 30%, with the cities seeing the biggest rise in searches for sleep-related terms being Birmingham, Leicester, London, Glasgow and Bristol.

The pandemic phenomenon which has seen people struggle sleeping is referred to as "coronasomnia".

Around two thirds of UK adults suffer from poor sleep, while around a third say they suffer from what they believe to be insomnia.
" " An 1840 portrait of Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, by painter Alfred Edward Chalon. Science & Society Picture Library/Wikimedia Commons

If you're surprised that the first computer programmer in the world was a woman, just wait; her story gets even more interesting. Ada Lovelace was also the daughter of famous poet Lord Byron and accomplished her work during a time when women rarely studied mathematics and science. How Lovelace became an accomplished mathematician and computer programmer is the subject of "The Ada Lovelace Episode: Who was the Enchantress of Numbers?" from the podcast Stuff You Missed in History Class.

Lovelace was born Augusta Ada Byron in 1815, the daughter of Lord Byron and the wealthy Isabella Milbanke. The two had a stormy marriage, and her father left the family almost immediately after her birth, never to see her again. Milbanke was furious with her ex and insisted her daughter steer clear of poetry, which she blamed for Byron's wanton and unstable behavior. Instead, Lovelace was forced to study science and mathematics, the latter being Milbanke's own area of expertise. This was unusual for wealthy young ladies at the time, who typically only pursued artistic subjects such as music and painting.

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Fortunately for Lovelace, she had an aptitude for math. When she was in her late teens, she met Charles Babbage, an accomplished mathematician and inventor. Babbage, today known as the father of the computer, had invented the difference engine, a machine that performed simple mathematical calculations. Now he was working on an analytical engine that would be able to perform more complex computations. He showed Lovelace a small, working section during their initial meeting, and she was fascinated.

Soon Lovelace became Babbage's protege; it was Babbage who would eventually nickname her the Enchantress of Numbers. But in 1835, shortly after the two began working together, Lovelace met and married a baron named William King. The couple had three children in quick succession, causing Lovelace to temporarily halt her studies. (During this time her husband became Earl of Lovelace and she the Countess, hence her surname.)

Not too long after their third child was born, Lovelace returned to work with Babbage. One of the first things she did was translate an article on his analytical engine from French into English. The translation was published in an English science journal in 1843. But the work also included Lovelace's own extensive thoughts and ideas on the machine  material that was three times longer than the original article.

Because her notes discussed how the machine could be programmed to calculate Bernoulli numbers (considered by some to be the first algorithm carried out by machine), Lovelace is viewed as the world's first programmer. More impressively, her notes contained visionary references to the fact that the machine could also be used to create music, text, pictures and sounds  essentially today's modern computer  while Babbage thought it could only perform numerical calculations.

Lovelace died of cancer at age 36. Her computing ideas were so advanced they weren't recognized until the 1940s, nearly a century later. In 1979, the U.S. Department of Defense named its new computer programming language "Ada" in her honor.

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Charles Babbage was executor of Ada Lovelace's will. Lovelace requested to be interred next to her father, Lord Byron, even though he hadn't seen her since she was an infant. Both died at age 36.
Saturday marks 12 months since Australia closed its borders to the rest of the world in response to an exponential rise in cases of COVID-19 and warnings that our intensive care units would be overwhelmed by Anzac Day.

It was the right call. The decision stopped many cases of COVID-19 getting into the local community and Australia is now in an enviable position, with a growing economy and very little COVID-19 outside of hotel quarantine.

Singapore is a good candidate to include in a travel bubble. Credit:Bianca De Marchi

Now that vaccines are being rolled out, reducing the danger of COVID-19, it is prudent for the government to consider how it might start to cautiously reopen those borders to allow Australians out and other people in. The proposal to create a travel bubble with Singapore that could also include New Zealand, allowing people to travel between the countries without having to quarantine, is a good first step  for social and economic reasons.

The border closure not only stopped us taking international holidays, it also separated families, often at times of need, and made it incredibly difficult for Australians stranded overseas to come home. There are still 40,000 Australians waiting for a seat on a plane and a place in hotel quarantine.
An eight-foot-tall steel fence topped with concertina razor wire circles the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 29, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Fencing on Capitol Hill May Be Placeholders for Permanent Barricades, Top GOP Legislators Suggest

Five top GOP senators are demanding an explanation from the acting Capitol Police chief about the fencing and security on Capitol Hill that have been there since the Jan. 6 Capitol building breach. They criticized the continued measures and urged an immediate review, suggesting that the current fencing could be a placeholder for something more permanent.

In a letter to Yogananda Pittman, acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, the lawmakers questioned the necessity of the security surrounding Capitol grounds, and asked Pittman to respond to their questions by March 19, including what intelligence the Capitol Police had ahead of Jan. 6, and what justification there was for the current fencing.

The senators said that Capitol Police has since Jan. 6, repeatedly failed to provide specific, credible threat intelligence to adequately justify the current Capitol security posture, which remains disproportionate to the available intelligence.

Members of the National Guard patrol the National Mall in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

The letter was signed by Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).



The senators said that it is entirely unclear to us why the fencing around the complex remains, given the absence of any current specific threat to the Capitol and given the ability to rapidly re-deploy fencing should that threat posture change.

Strangely, though, recent indications are that the physical barriers currently surrounding the Capitol are mere placeholders pending the permanent installation of similar barricades across the complex, they added.

The Capitol Police did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment over the assertion.

The idea of permanent fencing on Capitol Hill has been long resisted by residents, city officials, as well as members of Congress in Washington, D.C., the lawmakers said. Furthermore, the fencing thats currently installed sends a terrible message to Americans as well as U.S. allies and enemies, and is not a long-term security solution, they said.

The senators also criticized the Pentagon-approved extension of guardsmen deployment, saying that the decision was made with little apparent questioning of the justification. They asserted that there was no specific underlying threat intelligence and no mission task analysis.

The Pentagon recently extended the National Guard deployment at the Capitol so that a reduced number of 2,280 personnel will stay through May 23.

This request will cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars and further strain the Guard and its brave men and women, the five senators said.

The letter came just one day after the House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Republican ranking member Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) released a joint statement calling for a further reduction of troops on Capitol Hill.

We are deeply troubled by the current level of security around the United States Capitol. More than two months after the January 6 attack, the seat of our nations democracy remains heavily protected by guardsmen and surrounded by a perimeter fence, Smith and Rogers said.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
People are ignoring signs of cancer and hiding broken bones because they are afraid to go to hospitals, a Tipperary GP has warned.

Dr Margaret O Riordan, a GP in Ballingarry and past president of the Irish College of General Practitioners said she was extremely worried about the impact of the pandemic on general health.

In the last year, she has seen more and more people waiting until lockdowns are lifted before coming for treatment.

People, particularly older people, could have had symptoms for two or three months before they appear. People come in with a skin lesion theyve had for a couple of months, or with a fracture.

They fell and broke bones and didnt appear for three months. They are afraid, its heart-breaking but its true. Ive seen that.

This is not anxiety about any particular hospital, she said, but a general fear due to the high case numbers.

Dr Margaret O Riordan: 'People, particularly older people, could have had symptoms for two or three months before they appear. People come in with a skin lesion theyve had for a couple of months, or with a fracture.' Picture: Brian Arthur

In January, we had it again. People with severe abdominal pain normally would have rang you the same day but now they try to stick it out for a few days. They say the reason they havent rung you is they are afraid to go to hospital, she said.

Theyre afraid they will get Covid and bring it home with them or worse.

Some people are aware now that hospitals have separate Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 pathways she said, but they are still reluctant to come for treatment in her experience.

I do suspect there is a build-up out there of people with symptoms still," Dr O'Riordan said.

The other concern is people on the waiting lists, there are people on those lists referred by a GP and they are not getting seen. Then there is a worry something is being missed. She has concerns about skin and bowel cancer diagnosis in particular.

A spokeswoman for South Tipperary Hospital said: During the third wave, the hospital maintained non-Covid-19 services as much as possible. Outpatient clinics, access to diagnostics, time-critical surgeries and urgent endoscopies all continued.

It should be noted that week-on-week the hospital is increasing its routine activity.

Focused on vaccines

In the meantime, Dr ORiordan is focused on vaccines. The team  Dr John Curtin and nurses Kay Horan, Christine Hourihan  started with their oldest patients.

That was a wonderful day, people were almost skipping down the corridor, she said.

Unfortunately, they were then hit by the vaccine shortages.

A shortage of the Moderna vaccine had the knock-on effect of increasing demand for Pfizer/BioNTech jabs. This meant all orders were reduced by 15%, a notice from the HSE informed GPs last weekend.

We had to cancel six patients, Dr O'Riordan said, noting larger practices cancelled dozens of patients.

This was very upsetting for her elderly patients, who must wait for the next delivery in two weeks.

Its a bit of a logistical nightmare, but its beyond our control, she said.
It appears drug dogs aren't as needed as they used to be
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 19:05:48|Editor: huaxia

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-- According to the outline of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan, China will promote the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in an active and prudent manner.

-- With strong growth prospects, the promise of further opening-up and improvement of the business environment, the Greater Bay Area is attracting global investors to ramp up investment there.

by Xinhua writers Lu Hao, Xu Ruiqing, Li Xiaoling

GUANGZHOU, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Fortune 500 company P&G has planned to launch an intelligent technology innovation center this year in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, another move of expanding the investment in the country after setting up a digital innovation center in 2017.

"The digital innovation center was established just within four months in Guangzhou. Since then, the center has invested 100 million U.S. dollars in strengthening innovation in big data, artificial intelligence and other areas," said Matthew Price, president of P&G Greater China in an interview with Xinhua.

"Our business achievements over the years have fully proved that P&G's choice of long-term investment and development in Guangzhou is a very correct decision," Price noted.

P&G is just the epitome of global leading companies ramping up investment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond in recent years.



As China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) kicks off, investors from all over the world reckon that China's strong growth prospects, the promise of further opening-up and improvement of the business environment are attracting them to increase investment in the world's most populous market.

EXPANDING INVESTMENT

P&G, one of the first Fortune 500 companies to invest in Guangzhou, established its first joint venture and production base in 1988, which was put into production two years later.

Aerial photo taken on Sept. 27, 2020 shows the science and technology park along the bank of the Dasha River in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

Following more than three decades of development, China has become P&G's second-largest market in the world after the United States and P&G's largest e-commerce market.

"About 10 percent of our business in the United States is done through e-commerce, while the number in China is 45 percent," said Price. "The innovation in big data and artificial intelligence will help us better serve the consumers in the Internet era."

Like P&G, a growing number of foreign companies are now beginning to set up R&D and innovation centers in the Greater Bay Area.

In January, NCS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fortune 500 company SingTel Group, launched NEXT Shenzhen Innovation Centre (SIC), its first innovation center in China. Siemens Energy also launched an innovation center for advanced energy technologies in Shenzhen in January.

"The new innovation center in Shenzhen is another lighthouse project to promote the China-EU green partnership and digital partnership," said Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy AG, adding that "this will bring us closer to the most dynamic energy market and, together with Chinese partners, create technologies and innovations that have an industrial and social impact."

Meanwhile, since the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was released in February 2019, more and more multinationals have moved their headquarters or regional centers to this more inter-connected area.

In January, New World Development Co., Ltd., one of the largest real estate developers in Hong Kong, signed a cooperation agreement with the Guangzhou municipal government to settle the headquarters of New World China, its flagship property arm, in the city, marking the company's new stage of layout in the Greater Bay Area.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 24, 2020 shows the Haizhu wetland and the Canton Tower in the distance in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo by Xie Huiqiang/Xinhua)

AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical company, will also establish its south China headquarters in Guangzhou this year, with a focus on R&D, operation management and innovation incubation in the Area.

IMPROVING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Guangzhou and Shenzhen, two major cities in the Greater Bay Area, are lauded by foreign firms for their efforts to foster an enabling business environment.

Huang Shaomei, executive director of New World Development Co., Ltd., said that the company decides to invest in Guangzhou due to its continuous improvement of the business environment.

"If you invest in the city back in 2013, approval of a real estate investment project involved 100 procedures and at least 799 working days. However, the time has been reduced to 50 days in 2018 and 35 days in 2019. And now, it only takes 11 days to get approved for low-risk industrial projects," Huang said.

According to a report on China's business environment in 2020 issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, Guangzhou was rated as a "benchmark city" in all the 18 assessment indicators and won the title of "best practice" in four indicators.

Growing foreign investment is the attestation of a city's notable business environment. With the first business license for foreign-invested enterprises issued in 1981, Shenzhen has approved 96,000 foreign direct investment projects in total, and its accumulated use of foreign capital has reached 120.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Aerial panoramic photo taken on Sept. 12, 2020 shows the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in south China. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Early this year, two workstations were established in Shenzhen, aiming to provide foreign enterprises with services including business guidance, policy interpretation, investment consulting and complaint acceptance.

In addition, a plan for helping overseas professionals better work and live in Shenzhen was formally issued in January. According to the plan, foreign nationals engaged in finance, construction, cultural tourism, medical and health care and other 11 fields will enjoy more facilitations in the city.

"Shenzhen is on the way to build itself into a city with a more fair and internationalized business environment," said Guo Xiaohui, executive chairman of the Shenzhen Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment.

PROMISING GREATER BAY AREA

According to the outline of the new five-year plan, China will promote the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in an active and prudent manner.

While applauding the adoption of the plan, leaders of foreign enterprises said that the Chinese market remains appealing to global investors and the investment layout in the Greater Bay Area is just in line with their development prospects.

Leon Wang, executive vice president, international and China president with AstraZeneca, said the Guangzhou International Bio Island, where its south China headquarters is located at the core of the Area, is a highly innovative area. The setup of the headquarters is of great strategic significance in further expanding its market in the southern part of China.

Photo taken on Dec. 8, 2020 shows a scene of the 2020 Shenzhen Global Investment Promotion Conference in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

Frances Yu, president of Amway China, also said that Amway will firmly seize the strategic opportunity of building a healthy China and leverage Amway's advantages to help develop the health industry in the Greater Bay Area and enhance the international competitiveness of the entire industrial cluster.

The southern region of China, especially the Greater Bay Area, is where most of the EU companies set foot in China. It is renowned for its highly developed and fully competitive business environment and transparency of government policies, according to George Lau, vice chairman of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China.

"As outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan, China pledges to reduce the intensity of carbon emissions, and achieve the peaking of carbon emissions by 2030, which will unleash opportunities for the EU companies with an advantage in the field of renewable energy," said Lau.

Also, a report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China said that about 70 percent of surveyed American companies considered the Three-Year-Plan (2018-2020) for the development of the Greater Bay Area helpful.

"The Greater Bay Area is going to be a massive growth dynamic for the development in the southern region of China," said Harley Seyedin, president of the chamber.

(Video reporters: Huo Siying, Li Jiale, Ma Ruxuan; Video editor: Zhu Cong)
New Delhi, March 13 : The BJPs Central Election Committee (CEC) will meet on Saturday later to finalise party candidates for assembly polls in four states and one union territory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the CEC meeting.

A BJP source said that the party CEC would like to finalise candidates for seats going for polls in third phases in West Bengal and Assam. "Names for all the seats for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will be also be finalized in the meeting, where polling will be held in the third phase on April 6," he said.

Prime Minister Modi, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, National General Secretary (Orgnaisation) B. L. Santosh and other members of the CEC will attend the meeting to be held at the party's national headquarters in the evening.

Voting for Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be held in one phase on April 6, which would be the last phase of the assembly polls in Assam and third phase in West Bengal.

Voting will take place in all the 140 seats of Kerala, 234 seats of Tamil Nadu, 30 seats of Puducherry on April 6.

In Assam, in the third and final phase of elections in the state, polling will be held in 40 seats. Of 294 seats in West Bengal, 31 will go for polls in the third phase.

On Friday, the BJP leaderships from West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu arrived in the national capital. Leaders of Kerala and Tamil Nadu held initial discussion on names of probable short-listed by state unit with Nadda. These names would be placed at the CEC to finalise the party nominees.

The BJP has already announced the names for seats going for polls in first two phases.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
In this Jan. 15, 2021, file photo, a medical worker gives a coronavirus vaccine shot to a patient at a vaccination facility in Beijing. China is aiming to vaccinate 70-80% of its population by mid-2022, the head of the country's Center for Disease Control said Saturday.(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

China is aiming to vaccinate 70-80% of its population by mid-2022, the head of the country's Center for Disease Control said Saturday.

With four approved vaccines, China will vaccinate 900 million to 1 billion people, Gao Fu, the CDC head, said in an interview with Chinese state media broadcaster CGTN. "We hope that China can take the lead in achieving herd immunity in the world," he said.

Herd immunity occurs when enough of the population has immunity, either from vaccination or past infection, to stop the uncontrolled spread of an infectious disease like COVID-19.

China had administered 52.5 million vaccine doses through the end of February. It has been slower in its vaccination campaign than many other countries, including the U.S., government health experts have acknowledged. China has committed roughly 10 times more doses abroad than it has distributed at home.

Although emergency vaccinations have been underway in China since at least last summer, the country has been slow to announce whether it had any plans to achieve herd immunity.

China currently has 17 COVID-19 vaccine candidates for clinical trials.

It has approved four domestically made vaccines: two from state-owned Sinopharm, one from Sinovac, and another from CanSino. None of the four vaccines have publicly released their final stage trial data.

China announced on Friday that it would waive a COVID-19 test and health form requirement for foreigners applying for visas to the mainland from Hong Kong if they have been vaccinated with a Chinese-made vaccine.

Aside from a vaccination certificate, non-Chinese nationals just have to provide the same amount of paperwork as they would before the pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' office in Hong Kong said. It also expanded the group of people who were eligible to apply for an emergency humanitarian visit, so that those who want to visit relatives may also apply.

All other applicants had to follow existing visa procedures. It did not say that the loosened restrictions applied to those who had taken non-Chinese made vaccines.

This past week, China's Foreign Ministry launched an international travel health certificate that includes a COVID-19 test and serum antibody results, as well as vaccination and other health information. It is unclear how it will be implemented.

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.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks at a vaccination site on March 8, 2021, in New York. State Assemblyman is one of over 50 legislators demanding the resignation of the governor over sexual harassment allegations and the nursing home death scandal. (Seth Wenig/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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Hawaii Meetings, Conventions, Incentives (MCI) Tourism Market is likely to reach nearly USD 1.3 Billion by the year end of 2022.

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Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson has claimed that he did not feel at all threatened by the mob of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol in Washington D.C. in January but said that had it been Black Lives Matter or Antifa, he would have been 'a little concerned'.

Johnson was speaking on conservative Joe Pags show, a portion of which is also simulcast on Newsmax TV.

During the interview he stated that he did not believe what was happening to be an armed insurrection.

Senator Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, has described the pro-Trump rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6 as people who 'truly respect law enforcement'

Johnson claimed not to have been worried but said things would have been different had they been Black Lives Matter protesters or members or Antifa

Johnson was speaking on conservative Joe Pags radio show, a portion of which is also simulcast on Newsmax TV

Investigators for the District of Columbia says they have identified over 540 suspects and arrested 316 to date in connection with the Capitol siege

WATCH: Ron Johnson says he never "felt threatened" on 1/6 because "I knew those were people that love this country" but if "those were tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and antifa protesters, I might have been a little concerned." pic.twitter.com/PZcs89bl1T  America's Worst Senator (@TheWorstSenator) March 13, 2021

Johnson has been criticized for saying he didn't feel threatened during the time of the storming of the Capitol and Congress but during the radio interview, he doubled down on his comments.

'Because I didn't. Mainly because I knew, even though those thousands of people that were marching to the Capitol were trying to pressure people like me to vote the way they wanted me to vote, I knew those were people that love this country, that truly respect law enforcement, would never do anything to break a law, and so I wasn't concerned,' Johnson claimed.

'Now, had the tables been turned and President Trump won the election, and those were tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters, I might have been a little concerned.'

His comments were met with fury by CNN host Don Lemon who accused the senator of 'spewing blatant racism.'

Johnson's comments angered CNN host Don Lemon on Friday night

GOP Sen. Ron Johnson invoked race in explaining his sense of safety during the January 6 Capitol riot, saying that he might have been concerned for his well-being had the protesters been affiliated with Black Lives Matter instead of being a largely White pro-Trump crowd. pic.twitter.com/CeKnZX1GM4  CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) March 13, 2021

'Did you hear him? He wasn't afraid of those people. Maybe 'cause they're white? Not maybe. That's the reason. Because if they were black, he would be afraid of them. He said they support law enforcement. Even though they beat up officers, one officer died, one suffered a heart attack, and they were beating them with blue lives matter flags,' Lemon countered.

Lemon said that Johnson 'knows exactly what he's doing' and thought it 'too exciting to keep to himself.'

Lemon then went on to play an audio clip of protesters chanting 'Hang Mike Pence!' and repeated his thoughts on the senators comments.

'He wasn't concerned about them. But he would have been if they had been Black Lives Matter or antifa. Just keep digging deeper, senator,' Lemon said.

The Wisconsin Republican was criticized in February after he read a statement at a hearing on Capitol security that suggested 'agents provocateur' kick-started the MAGA riot.

In February Johnson, a Trump loyalist, read an article that claimed Trump supporters were not to blame for the violence that left five dead, but instead 'groups of agitators'

Johnson read from a piece by J. Michael Waller, an analyst for the Center for Security Policy who produced his own eyewitness account of the event claiming there were 'agents provocateur' behind the January 6 riot

Johnson read directly from a Federalist article. The account concluded that a small group of armed attackers 'probably' planned the event and led other rioters to take part.

It claimed there were 'fake Trump protesters,' described as 'a few young men wearing Trump or MAGA hats backwards and who did not fit in with the rest of the crowd in terms of their actions and demeanor, whom I presumed to be Antifa or other leftist agitators.'

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who co-chaired the February hearing, blasted the claim afterwards as 'disinformation.'

'As our hearing concludes, I want to make one thing clear: 'provocateurs' did not storm the Capitol. They were not 'fake Trump protestors.' The mood on January 6th was not 'festive.' That is disinformation.'

Thousands of rioters broke through barricades and forced Congress to evacuate

Law enforcement officials said in court filings last month that guns, bombs and other weapons were found on people and in the vehicles of those who stormed the Capitol.

The insurrectionists also used flag poles, stolen police shields, crutches, fire extinguishers, sticks and other everyday objects to attack police officers and force entry into the Capitol.

Among the five who died during the chaos was Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who lost his life a day after the storming due to injuries sustained during the siege.

Investigators for the District of Columbia says they have identified over 540 suspects and arrested 316 to date in connection with the Capitol siege according to Insider.
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All the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada, who in 2010 were involved in the vote on the ratification of the Kharkiv agreements will be interrogated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the framework of criminal proceedings on behalf of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), said NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov.

"The Security Service of Ukraine will work in a calm mode [on checking the deputies involved in the 2010 vote on the ratification of the Kharkiv agreements]. Each deputy will be interrogated in the framework of criminal proceedings, and if violations are identified, then there will certainly be appropriate decisions," Danilov said in the Freedom of Speech program on the Ukraina TV channel on the evening of Friday, March 12.

The NSDC secretary added that "the deputies will be interrogated to determine whether they received bribes for voting, whether they were coerced or threatened."

"If someone has nothing to worry about, then they cannot worry, but if after that vote someone acquired houses in Koncha-Zaspa, accounts or other things have appeared at their disposal, they will simply be interrogated: where you, guys, took all this at that time. And everything is quite easy. There is nothing complicated here," Danilov explained.

As Danilov noted, "I do not agree, and the situation when someone thinks that the deputies are not responsible for anything cannot fit into any logic. We cannot leave without clarifying why and how the vote for the ratification of the Kharkiv agreements took place, the consequences of which are felt in Ukraine now."
It was a move that took the Taoiseach by surprise. On Tuesday, Irish Catholic bishops issued a statement calling on the Government to allow Mass at Easter and to increase the number of mourners permitted at funerals.

We strongly believe that peoples freedom to worship publicly should be restored as soon as the current Level 5 restrictions begin to be eased, the statement read. It is particularly painful for Christians to be deprived, for the second year running, of the public expression of our faith during the most sacred time of Holy Week and Easter.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach was quick to respond. He carried out a virtual meeting with the four archbishops on February 19 in good faith, when he explained the impact of the new variant and the importance of suppressing the virus while the most vulnerable in society are vaccinated.

For Michael Kelly, editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper, the bishops were right to push back against restrictions. Ireland and Slovenia are the only countries in the EU where public worship is banned, he says. The bishops are not looking for a free-for-all, but a sensible and safe reopening. Churches are among the safest buildings and with social distancing and mask-wearing measures in place, it can be done correctly.

For people of faith, being denied the opportunity to worship in church has been very painful and the restrictions on funerals are especially tough. In the North, the number is restricted to 25; its just 10 here.

Read More

The bishops intervention marks one of the first times this year that there has been any high-profile lobbying against the Level 5 Covid restrictions, which have been in place since Christmas.

After the horrors of January  when Irelands daily new case rate per million was the highest in the world and when hospital admissions pushed the system towards breaking point  there has been a reluctance from business and hospitality groups to question the lockdown publicly.

Things have changed. Our 14-day case rate per hundred thousand (164.4) is lower than that of France (444.2) and Italy (433.0), albeit higher than Germanys (137.4). There were 366 patients with Covid in hospital here on Thursday morning, down from a peak of 2,020 on January 18. Questions are beginning to be asked about why Irelands restrictions are not being eased. That pressure is intensifying now that frontline healthcare workers as well as residents and staff of nursing homes have been vaccinated.

Expand Close Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the Meath Primary Care Centre in Dublin as patients over 85 received their vaccinations, including Maura Burke, seen here getting her jab from Dr Safia Sayed. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the Meath Primary Care Centre in Dublin as patients over 85 received their vaccinations, including Maura Burke, seen here getting her jab from Dr Safia Sayed.

A study by Oxford University last month showed that this country has had some of the longest-running restrictions of anywhere in the world since the first lockdown was announced a year ago yesterday. For all intents and purposes, most limits are likely to continue until at least the third week of May. Only the 5km limit and restrictions on outdoor sport and construction work are likely to be eased from April 5  the date the Government has earmarked for any change.

On Wednesday night, leaked reports from parliamentary party meetings led some media to speculate that the ban on non-essential retail and personal services such as hairdressing would continue for another 10 weeks, until May 23. But in an interview with Newstalk on Thursday, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar appeared to say something different. Reopening of shops, personal services, hospitality, he told its breakfast programme, the earliest would be the end of April or beginning of May.

For Duncan Graham, managing director of Retail Ireland, the body representing independent shops, such mixed messages have added to the strain experienced by retailers, who he says, remain in the dark.

When the announcement was made [to extend lockdown] two or three weeks ago, nothing at all was said about retail. What we were told was that the number of daily cases, the occupancy in hospitals and the vaccine rollout would be the deciding factors in determining the speed at which the economy would be reopened. But what they havent said at any time was an indication about what figures we need to get to, whether its, say, 50 daily cases, or 100 cases, or once we get Xpc of the population vaccinated. Weve been left with no certainty whatsoever and this [retail] is an industry that thrives on certainty.

Graham says there is an inherent unfairness in determining that certain retailers are essential and can remain open, while others are not and have to stay shut. He says that retail environments are safe  that has been shown time and again  and says our members go to great lengths to ensure safety. Retailers, he adds, are having to pay the price for other breaches in society, such as transmission happening when people meet in each others homes.

There is no reason why so-called non-essential retail cant open right now, he says, and thats something that we see happening elsewhere. Were talking about opening with strict safety measures continuing to be in place.

Expand Close Level 5 restrictions: A garda checkpoint on the Border, between Emyvale, Co Monaghan, and Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone / Facebook

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Whatsapp Level 5 restrictions: A garda checkpoint on the Border, between Emyvale, Co Monaghan, and Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone

80pc vaccinated

In several German federal states and in Austria, for instance, it has been possible to buy clothes and books and get a haircut since March 1. It has also been possible to visit museums and zoos.

The reopening is progressing faster in Israel, a country that has led the world in its vaccination drive, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoping to reap the benefits in this months general election. With an estimated 80pc of its adult population vaccinated  and doses being trialled on children  the country has almost fully returned to normal, albeit with mask-wearing still in place for the foreseeable future. On Wednesday, Israels number of Covid cases per million, on a rolling seven-day average, was 363, compared with Irelands 98.

Former government minister Lucinda Creighton, now a political and regulatory strategist, says that while there cant be complete certainty in a pandemic, there should be a clearer roadmap of when restrictions will ease.

The example of the UK has been a case in point, she believes. Already 40pc of adults there have received at least one vaccine dose and daily case numbers have fallen to between 5,000 and 6,000, having been at a high of 68,000 two months ago. All legal limits on social contact are due to be lifted on June 21. Shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality could reopen as early as April 12. The scheduled changes rest on four criteria: vaccine targets being met; evidence that vaccination is reducing deaths and hospital admissions; lower infection rates; and no increased threat from new variants.

What the British have done is set out a timeline and linked it to certain key indicators. A lot of the commentary here made a national sport out of dissing the Brits over the past five years, but the UK has linked its dates to its data, says Creighton. Here, we dont have any clue what the targets are. Do we fall to a certain level? What is that level before we start to reopen? What would trigger future restrictions or lockdowns? Which type of businesses can look forward to reopening? We have absolutely no information on that. To say that businesses are operating in the dark is an understatement  they literally have no light at the end of the tunnel.

Creighton is adamant that when the vulnerable  those over 65 (a group that accounts for more than 85pc of deaths from Covid) and those with underlining health conditions  are vaccinated, the country should reopen in a safe and sensible manner.

Vaccinations are a long way off the original target for the end of the month, with an estimated 850,000 doses set to have been administered by then, rather than the projected 1.7 million. Full vaccination of the vulnerable will take longer than expected. Despite this, Creighton feels restrictions should be eased, as she feels the current limits are not sustainable for business or the population at large.

Leos [Varadkar] so-called controversial interview on the Claire Byrne Show [in which he said members of the National Public Health Emergency Team did not have to worry about losing their jobs and subsisting on the pandemic unemployment payment] was the most sense Ive heard from any government minister all year, she says, but he faced the usual backlash and as a result the Government seemed to back off approaching this crisis like politicians should approach any public policy challenge, which is in a proportionate, reasoned and wide-ranging sense  looking at all the impacts, including economic, but also social implications.

The Government, she adds, needs to step back a bit and have the courage of conviction and listen not just to Nphet, which has a very narrow remit, but also to other public health experts, and to those who work to safeguard employment and our economy.

Independent TD Michael McNamara  a trenchant critic of the Governments handling of the pandemic  says there is still no clear definition about who is at most risk from Covid. How are we counting the vulnerable? he asks. We know that everybody isnt equally vulnerable, but weve spent the last 12 months with an increasing amount of fearmongering about whos vulnerable and whos not. Does it include people who are obese?

And we still havent been told what level our hospitals can operate at. Were told that that is one of the factors that determine when restrictions can be eased, but theres just no clarity.

But what we do have clarity on is that we now have the highest debt per capita in Europe and we have had the highest rise in debt per capita in the EU over the last 12 months. As that debt increases, the ability of a future government, which might take a more proportionate view and be less prone to hysterical responses, will be limited in what it can spend.

The Clare TD says he is dismayed by the lack of clarity for the tourist industry. He notes that Greece intends to open for tourism from the middle of May but says there appears to be no plan here.

We have one of the highest reliances on tourism in the EU, and several other countries  including Greece  are trying to come up with methods to allow tourism to take place as safely as possible, he says.

Jack Lambert, a consultant on infectious diseases, says that while the slow rollout of vaccines in Ireland and the EU is a source of frustration, the impact on the people who have already been vaccinated has been dramatic. You can see that in terms of healthcare workers  very few of them are getting infected now, says the associate professor at University College Dublins School of Medicine.

While Nphet has urged caution about significant easing until a critical mass of the population has been vaccinated, Lambert says society should reopen, making it as safe as possible. He argues that the narrow focus on Covid overlooks other diseases. Cancers, for example, are not being diagnosed because GP and hospitals have had to be so fixated on the pandemic, he says.

Theres a certain level of risk that we have to live with, he adds. We see that in flu epidemics, theres about two per 1,000 deaths  and its mostly in the elderly  and we have to accept that its a balancing act. We have to look at the fall-out  and the collateral damage.

That balancing act is something that Edgar Morgenroth, economics professor at Dublin City University, also believes is important.

Life is all about risk, he says. We dont ban cars because people die from them. We have to weigh everything up, and that includes peoples livelihoods, as well as public health  once the most vulnerable have been vaccinated  and accept that there is a chance that a small proportion of healthy people may contract Covid and die from it.

Antigen testing

Morgenroth says any reopening should be done under strict conditions and he would like to see antigen testing introduced to help detect asymptomatic cases, which would drive down Covid further. We have to learn from the mistakes that have been made over the past 12 months. We know a lot more now and the vaccines certainly bring hope, he says.

But public health doctor Gabriel Scally says it is important to remain cautious, despite many chomping at the bit for restrictions to ease. An advocate of zero-Covid  a strategy the Government and Nphet have dismissed as unworkable  he says we should be mindful of new strains of the virus, including the highly virulent P1 variant from Brazil, as well as the long-term impact of the disease on general health. If you took your foot off the brake and let the virus roam freely, wed be in for a great deal of trouble in terms of acute illness, he says. Its called the prevention paradox  you concentrate on people at high risk and you forget about the rest, and thats a huge number of people.

That is leaving aside the question of long Covid, he adds. We do know there is a very high prevalence of long Covid  higher than we expected  and we wont see the tail of it for some time.

Expand Close Dr Gabriel Scally says the question of long Covid should be considered before easing any restrictions. Photo by Frank McGrath / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dr Gabriel Scally says the question of long Covid should be considered before easing any restrictions. Photo by Frank McGrath

Quoting from data published by the UKs Office for National Statistics, he says: Of people between 25 and 50, over 25pc of those who get infected will have long Covid  and theyre using the definition of still having symptoms after five weeks. And thats a lot.

Despite such concerns, Scally says he understands how difficult it is for society to tolerate restrictions for a long period and he hopes that, come the summer  and with a greater proportion of people vaccinated here  there will be a greater emphasis on what can be safely done outdoors, including hospitality.

Its estimated that Covid transmission is reduced 20-fold outside compared with indoors. We should be giving as much support to that as possible  even putting up outdoor marquees. Its all about air ventilation. And if we have to do things in doors, we should be putting a lot of effort into air purification, he says.

Its all about being very careful with any reopening, Scally adds. I know its hard for people to hear, but we need to do it slowly and very cautiously. Its very easy to rush in and then pay the price.
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Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 81F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Cloudy skies early with isolated thunderstorms developing late. Low near 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
The federal health minister Greg Hunt is out of hospital following treatment for a bacterial skin infection on his leg.

Mr Hunt was hospitalised on Tuesday with cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that appears as red and swollen skin and can be very painful.

He has thanked the staff who took care of him at St Vincent's Public and Private Hospitals in Sydney.

Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt was hospitalised on Tuesday with an infection in his leg

'I particularly want to thank the nurses Paru, Neave, Sushma, Miru, Tracey and Bina, as well as my doctors David and Michael,' he said in a statement on Saturday.

Mr Hunt says he is taking a course of antibiotics and will return to parliament on Monday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been acting health minister while Mr Hunt recovers.

Along with Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy, Mr Hunt was among the first to receive the AstraZeneca vaccination at a Melbourne clinic on Sunday.

Officials have since confirmed the condition is not related to the Covid-19 vaccine.
Swedish Ambassador to Ukraine Tobias Tiberg claimed today that he considers the Nord Stream 2 project as a threat to European security.

We regret that the EU today does not have more influential levers to determine the coordination and implementation of such projects. We are all affected, Tyberg explained.

According to the Ukraina.ru news portal, the Swedish ambassador to Ukraine stated with regret that Copenhagen had failed to influence the implementation of Nord Stream 2, since the country had no legal opportunity to prevent the laying of pipes in the Swedish Exclusive Economic Zone.
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March 18, 2021

IMPORTANT UPDATE: it was recently announced that the tax filing deadline for federal, Pennsylvania state and Pittsburgh local tax returns has been extended to May 17, 2021.

March 5, 2021

All J scholars and their dependents who are nonresidents for tax purposes are required to file at least one tax form each year they are in the US. Tax forms for 2019 are due April 15, 2021.

Note: The information regarding federal taxes in this email is primarily for J-1 scholars who are nonresidents for tax purposes. Visitors in H-1B, TN, or O-1 status and J-1 scholars who are residents for tax purposes should specifically reference the sections 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8 below.

The following topics are covered herein:

Federal Tax: Who Must File? Forms Required to File Tax Returns (if applicable) Federal Forms/Obligations: Resident or Nonresident? State Tax Information Local (Pittsburgh) Tax Information Resources: GLACIER Tax Prep (free tax preparation software) Sprintax for state tax returns (tax preparation software for a fee) Other Important Information: Tax treaties W-2 forms from employers and 1042-S forms from CMU Social security and FICA withholding Where to file Visa Number for Federal Form 8843 Hiring a Tax Preparer/Accountant Completing Form 8843 International Persons Who Are "Residents for Tax Purposes" Stimulus Checks Received in Error Scams

1. Federal Tax: Who Must File?

All foreign scholars and their dependents who are nonresidents for tax purposes are required to file at least one form every year they are present in the US regardless of whether or not they earned any money. If you earned money or have US-source income, you must file additional forms. This does not necessarily mean you have to pay taxes; however, you do need to complete and submit the forms. Nonresident tax forms and instructions for 2019 may be downloaded from the federal, state and local websites. (See Sections 3, 4 and 5 for information about specific forms.) For federal tax form preparation, use the software mentioned below (GLACIER Tax Prep in Section 6). If you first arrived in the US in 2021, you do not need to do anything for the 2020 tax year.

2. Forms Required to File Tax Returns

In January and February, employers and financial institutions send out important tax forms in the mail. You will use these forms when you complete your tax forms. Common forms include: W-2 from your employer (if any), which summarizes your earnings in 2019 and taxes that were withheld from your pay If you were employed by CMU in 2020 and did not receive your W-2, you can obtain a copy from Workday. If you no longer have access to Workday, email hr-help@andrew.cmu.edu.

1099-INT form from your bank outlines earned interest (if any) 1099-DIV outlines dividend interest on investments (if any) 1042-S shows stipends or earnings that were excluded under a tax treaty benefit

3. Federal Forms/Obligations: Resident or Nonresident?

To know which federal tax forms to use, you must first determine whether you are a resident or nonresident for tax purposes. The information below can guide you, but also read the 1040NR instruction booklet and IRS Publication 519. (The tax definitions of "resident" and "nonresident" are not the same as the immigration definitions of these terms.) If you have been physically present in the US for fewer than 2 years in the last 6 years as a scholar (i.e.. you arrived on 1/1/2019 or after), then you are probably a "nonresident for tax purposes." In this case, you must file the 8843 form at the least (even if you have no earned income) and also form 1040NR-EZ or 1040NR (if you have US income). Note: Even one day spent in the US counts as a year for determining nonresident tax status. If 2020 was the 3rd calendar year out of the last 6 years you were in the US as a scholar (i.e., you arrived on 12/31/2018 or before), or you have been in the US for more than two tax years during 2015-2020, then you are probably a "resident for tax purposes." In this case, you will need to complete a 1040 or 1040EZ RESIDENT tax form. (The information in this email will not help you, in this case.) Note: Even one day spent in the US counts as a year for determining nonresident tax status. If you are a "nonresident for tax purposes," complete forms: 8843 (every nonresident for tax purposes completes this form, including dependents. Scholars who did not earn any US source income or those whose income was bank interest on a checking or savings account only need to file form 8843. All dependents must also file this form. 1040NR-EZ or 1040NR (for nonresident scholars with US income). Nonresidents cannot use the regular 1040 or 1040EZ form that residents use. Scholars with US source income (stipends, fellowships, salary, investments) must have W-2 or 1042-S forms from Carnegie Mellon, or a 1099-DIV or 1099-INT from the investment company before you can complete the tax forms. The following federal tax forms may be viewed and downloaded from www.irs.gov: Form 8843 Form 1040NR-EZ - US Income Tax Return for Nonresidents with no Dependents Instructions for form 1040NR-EZ Form 1040NR - US Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return Instructions for Form 1040NR Publication 901 - US Tax Treaties Publication 519 - US Tax Guide for Aliens

4. State Tax Information

To assist with state tax filing, GLACIER Tax Prep provides the option of using Sprintax, another tax preparation software which can help guide you through the state tax filing process. Sprintax is an easy-to-use, step-by-step tool that helps international students prepare taxes online. (Note: Sprintax is not a free service. You will be responsible for any charges associated with using the Sprintax software for state tax filing.) If you do not wish to use Sprintax for your state tax filing, and you lived in PA, you can visit the PA Department of Revenue website to file your PA tax forms: www.revenue.state.pa.us. Click on Forms and Publications, then Forms for Individuals, then Personal Income Tax." PA-40  2020 Pennsylvania Income Tax Return (pdf) PA-40  2020 Pennsylvania Income Tax Return Instructions (pdf) You may be able to file PA tax forms online. Information about PA taxes and online filing can be found on the PA Department of Revenues website. You may also call 888-728-2937 to order a form or listen to automated responses to common questions. For more information, read PA publications, such as REV-611 "Determining Residency for PA Personal Income Tax Purposes." If you have earned income, you may have to file local and/or state income tax returns for the location(s) where you resided/worked. If you use GLACIER Tax Prep, you can use the link to Sprintax to help you fill out forms for other states. Alternatively, you can find links to other states Department of Revenue to determine filing requirements/forms at: www.taxadmin.org/state-tax-forms. For local tax requirements, check the municipality where you lived/worked.

5. Local (Pittsburgh) Tax Information

If you lived or worked in Pittsburgh (or elsewhere in Pennsylvania) and have earned income in 2020, you must complete and submit the local tax form, 2020 Taxpayer Annual Local Earned Income Tax (EIT) Return. For local returns, go to www.jordantax.com/Act32/EmployerForms.html and use the form for Allegheny County Central (70) if you live in the city. Include a copy of your visa documents with the return and mail to the address at the top of the form. The PSD for nonresidents is 880000 and the nonresident tax rate is 1%. Note: If you have applied for permanent residence, you are considered a resident for tax purposes. Questions about the city/local form should be directed to Jordan Tax Services or the City Department of Finance. Generally, those with no US income do not need to file this form. If city (local) tax was withheld from your pay, you will file this form. If you have earned income (other than a stipend), you will probably need to file both local (city) and state tax forms. If you worked in another city in 2020, you may have to file a tax return for that city, as well. Check with the municipality where you worked.

6. Resources

1. Use GLACIER Tax Prep to prepare your federal tax forms. For federal tax forms, use GLACIER Tax Prep.

Carnegie Mellon University is providing this web-based tax preparation service to you for free, on a first-come, first-served basis. This is the easiest way to complete these forms. (Remember, nonresident as defined by the IRS is different than the immigration definition of nonresident.) To use this service, visit the website below and use a CMU-specific password. Do not share the password as access is limited to current CMU students and scholars and the number of licenses is limited. To learn the password, read the OIE email sent to all students and scholars in March, or email OIE at



Expect to spend at least 30 minutes, and have your information ready when you begin to use the software: current and prior US visit dates, entry and exit dates, I-20 forms (for F-1 students) or DS-2019 forms (for J-1 students), I-94 record (white card stapled into your passport or printed from

For state taxes, consider using the online tax preparation software tool Sprintax, which you can access via GLACIER Tax Prep, to guide you through the state tax filing process and avoid late filing and/or late payment penalties and fines. Contact the IRS Taxpayer assistance number with specific questions at 215-516-2000 or 800-829-1040. Let the representative know that you are a "nonresident for tax purposes. Or visit their website at www.irs.gov, References for Foreign Students and Scholars or Help with Tax Questions--International Taxpayers. Local IRS offices may also be able to provide assistance. Carnegie Mellon University is providing this web-based tax preparation service to you for free, on a first-come, first-served basis. This is the easiestway to complete these forms. (Remember, nonresident as defined by the IRS is different than the immigration definition of nonresident.) To use this service, visit the website below and use a CMU-specific password. Do not share the password as access is limited to current CMU students and scholars and the number of licenses is limited. To learn the password, read the OIE email sent to all students and scholars in March, or email OIE at oie@andrew.cmu.edu Expect to spend at least 30 minutes, and have your information ready when you begin to use the software: current and prior US visit dates, entry and exit dates, I-20 forms (for F-1 students) or DS-2019 forms (for J-1 students), I-94 record (white card stapled into your passport or printed from www.cbp.gov/i94 ), Passport, All pay documents (1042-S, W-2, 1099, etc.)

7. Other Important Information

Tax treaties. There are tax treaties between the US and some foreign countries. This may mean that you can earn a certain amount of money without having to pay tax if your country has a treaty with the US. For more information about these treaties, read IRS Publication 901 (www.irs.gov). If you are working for Carnegie Mellon, you can also contact the HR Service Center to complete a Foreign National Information form to help determine treaty eligibility. When you look at Publication 901, be SURE to go to the relevant section for Students and Apprentices. You need to complete an 8233 form at the HR Service Center in order to benefit from these treaties in advance (i.e., keep the money from being withheld from your pay), and you must complete a new form each year in order to continue to benefit. W-2 forms from employer(s) and 1042-S from CMU. If you earned money in the US each employer must send you a W-2 form (or in the case of scholarships or treaty-exempted income a 1042-S.) When you complete your tax returns/forms, you must attach the correct section of these original documents to your tax forms (for both federal and state tax returns). Maintain a copy for your records. Important: Do not send your tax returns without attaching these original documents.



If you worked for Carnegie Mellon University in 2020 and did not receive your W-2, you can access a copy through Workday. If you no longer have access to Workday, you will need to email hr-help@andrew.cmu.edu. Keep a copy of your tax return for future reference. The government can, and sometimes does, audit returns and contact taxpayers a year or more after the return was original filed. Social Security and FICA withholding. If you are a foreign student in F-1 or J-1 status and you are a nonresident for tax purposes, you are exempt from social security taxes (including Medicare tax.) If your employer has withheld social security taxes from you (check on your pay stub and the W-2 form), you should ask the employer to refund the taxes to you. If the employer can not, you can apply for a refund from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This process, which is separate from the annual tax filing requirement, can take up to 6 months through the IRS. Where to file? You will mail your federal, state and local tax returns to different US addresses. All tax forms (completed returns, W-2s and one or more 1042-S forms) are to be mailed together to the addresses listed in the instruction booklets. The correct address for each filing is listed under the section entitled "Where to File" in the instruction booklets. Visa Number Requested on Form 8843. The visa number requested in #1 of Form 8843 is found in your passport on the page with the entry visa stamp from the US Consulate abroad. Hiring a tax preparer/accountant. If you want to hire a tax accountant, you can contact one of the commercial tax accounting firms listed in the phone book, or look online. If you are a nonresident for tax purposes, make sure the person is familiar with nonresident tax issues.

8. Completing Form 8843

Nonresidents for tax purposes who have no US-source income only need to file IRS Form 8843. Scholars complete the biographic information at the top of the form, Parts I and II on page one, and sign and date the form on page 2. Dependents, regardless of age, must also file Form 8843 and should complete the same sections as the scholar. Detailed instructions for completing the 8843 can be found on the IRS website. Print and mail the form to: Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service Center

Austin, TX 73301-0215

9. International Persons Who Are "Residents for Tax Purposes"

Use FreeFile on the IRS website or purchase commercial tax preparation software (TurboTax, Tax Act, HR Block). Call the IRS Taxpayer assistance number with specific questions: 1-800-829-1040 or 215-516-2000. Or, visit their website at www.irs.gov. Seek out VITA volunteers. Help is also available from resident tax volunteers by appointment only at local libraries. Contact your local library for dates and times. Hire a tax preparer/accountant. If you want to hire a tax accountant, you can contact one of the commercial tax accounting firms listed in the phone book, or look online.

10. Stimulus Checks Received in Error

During 2020, the US government sent out economic stimulus checks to tax residents. If you mistakenly received a check, perhaps because you mistakenly filed a prior years tax return using TurboTax when you were a nonresident for tax purposes, you need to return the stimulus check. Follow instructions on the IRS website. You also need to amend your prior years return, if you havent already, by filing the 1040X form. Additional assistance for filing an amended return may be available from GTP or Sprintax and can be found on the IRS website.

11. Scams
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Chief Executive Officer of Government Hospitals, Dr Ahmed Al-Ansari, has paid an inspection visit to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), where he was informed about the readiness of the medical team approved by BIC.

The visit is within the ongoing medical preparations for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021, to be held at BIC on March 26-28.

Dr Al-Ansari inspected the workflow, as well as the readiness of the medical team and medical facilities inside and outside BIC.

He also visited the permanent medical centre and clinics at the Bahrain International Circuit, where he followed the work of medical teams in the clinics designated for BIC visitors. He also inspected the sites of rescue teams and ambulances designated for the racecourse.

Dr Al-Ansari praised the international appreciation for the medical services provided for F1 races in Bahrain, citing FIAs recognition of those services during the 2020 F1 races.

He lauded the advanced level of the preparedness of the medical teams, giving directives to them to spare no effort to contribute to the success of such an important sporting event.

He stressed the importance of constant cooperation and coordination between medical and organisational teams to ensure the implementation of the precautionary measures to combat the novel coronavirus to protect the health of the citizens, residents and BIC visitors.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2021) - Cherry Street Capital Inc. (TSXV: CHSC.P) (the "Company" or "Cherry Street") is pleased to announce that it has received conditional acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") for its proposed acquisition (the "Business Combination") of Tribe Property Technologies Inc. ("Tribe"). In accordance with the terms of the Business Combination, Tribe and the Company will combine their respective businesses by way of a "three-cornered" amalgamation in which a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company will amalgamate with Tribe, following which the resulting amalgamated entity will continue as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Following completion of the Business Combination, it is anticipated that the Company will change its name to "Tribe Property Technologies Inc." and it is the intention of the parties that the Company (the Company after the Business Combination being referred to herein as the "Resulting Issuer") will continue to carry on the business of Tribe.

In connection with completion of the Business Combination, Tribe has completed private placement financings (the "Financings") through the offering of 2,665,984 subscription receipts (each, a "Receipt") at a price of $5.00 per Receipt, for gross proceeds of $13,329,920. Proceeds of the Financings are being held in escrow pending completion of the Business Combination. Immediately prior to completion of the Business Combination, each Receipt will automatically be converted into one Tribe common share (each, a "Receipt Share").

Pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination, the holders of Tribe common shares (each, a "Tribe Share") (including the holders of Receipt Shares held by investors in the Financings) will receive one (1) Resulting Issuer common share in exchange for each outstanding Tribe Share. Prior to the closing of the Business Combination, it is expected that Tribe will have 15,529,257 Tribe Shares outstanding (including the Receipt Shares issuable on conversion of the Receipts). The Business Combination is anticipated to the close on March 15, 2021.

The Business Combination constitutes a "Qualifying Transaction" for the Company under Exchange Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies. The Company has filed a filing statement on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), dated March 12, 2021, relating to the Business Combination (the "Filing Statement"). Readers are encouraged to review the Filing Statement, which provides detailed information about the Business Combination and the business of Tribe. The Company will issue a further news release announcing the closing of the Business Combination and the date on which trading in the common shares of the Company will resume on the Exchange. Trading in the common shares of the Company will remain halted pending completion of the Business Combination and issuance of the final Exchange approval bulletin.

Following completion of the Business Combination, it is anticipated that the Company will be listed on the Exchange as a Tier 1 Technology Issuer under the name "Tribe Property Technologies Inc." and the ticker symbol "TRBE".

Closing of the Business Combination remains subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance that the Business Combination will be completed as proposed or at all. Issuance of the final Exchange approval bulletin, and the resumption of trading on the Exchange, remains subject to the completing of customary filings required by the policies of the Exchange.

ABOUT TRIBE

Tribe is a property technology company that is disrupting the traditional property management industry. As a rapidly growing tech-forward property management company, Tribe's integrated service-technology delivery model serves the needs of a much wider variety of stakeholders than traditional service providers. Tribe seeks to acquire highly accretive targets in the fragmented North American property management industry and transform these businesses through streamlining and digitization of operations. Tribe's platform decreases customer acquisition costs, increases retention and allows for the addition of value-added products and services through the platform.

For further information, contact Rudy Cheddie at rudy@soroc.com.

For further information from Tribe, contact Joseph Nakhla at joseph.nakhla@tribetech.com.

On behalf of the Board,

Cherry Street Capital Inc.

Rudy Cheddie, Chief Executive Officer

Completion of the Business Combination is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance. The Business Combination cannot close until the required approvals are obtained, and the outstanding conditions satisfied. There can be no assurance that the Business Combination will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Business Combination, any information released or received with respect to the Business Combination may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Business Combination and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws regarding the Company and Tribe and their respective businesses, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the filing of the filing statement, the completion of the Business Combination, the terms on which the Business Combination is intended to be completed, future acquisitions by Tribe, prospective benefits of Tribe's platform, the ability to obtain regulatory and shareholder approvals and other factors. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to proposed financing activity, proposed acquisitions, proposed success of Tribe's platform, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third-party information and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's and Tribe's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company and Tribe do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). The Company and Tribe have not registered and will not register the securities under the U.S. Securities Act. The Company and Tribe do not intend to engage in a public offering of their securities in the United States.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. OR TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77118
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a red flag warning across Southern New England and specifically for the Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties in Connecticut.

The warning  in place until 5 p.m. Saturday  indicates critical fire weather conditions are expected with a forecast of strong winds and low humidity. The high-powered winds can dry surface fuels causing fires to spread quickly and be tough to put out, according to the NOAA.

Government is working to complete the bailout of the asset management industry through the provision of a package for investors of the failed Asset Management Companies (AMCs).



I am happy to announce that, the resolution of the banking industry has been completed.



Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Caretaker Finance Minister, presenting the 2021 Budget in Parliament on Friday, said out of an estimated amount of GH8.5 billion to help pay investors of the failed AMCs, Parliament approved an amount of GH3.1 billion in the 2020 Mid-Year Budget.



At the end of December 2020, Government had provided an amount of GH3.4 billion for the payment of validated claims to investors of 30 AMCs for which liquidation orders were obtained.



This amount was in a combination of a 3-year marketable bond of GH2.5 billion and a 5-year zero coupon bond of GH915 million.



Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said for the Securities and Exchange Commission to fully settle investors of the remaining 17 AMCs, an amount of GH5.5 billion (1.3% of GDP) was required.



For this reason, we have come to this august House once again to seek for your approval to raise an amount of GH5.5 billion in 2021 to complete the asset management industry bailout, including Gold Coast Fund Management Ltd (now Blackshield Capital Management), First Banc Financial Services Limited, Liberty Asset Management, Beige Capital Asset Management Ltd, Ideal Capital Partners Ltd, and Frontline Capital Advisors Ltd.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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US Democratic senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand were the latest high profile politicians to step forward and call on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign, saying he had "lost the confidence" of New Yorkers due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

The latest calls come after Democratic Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jerry Nadler and several other New York political leaders earlier joined calls for Cuomo to resign after a series of sexual misconduct allegations against him in recent weeks.

Full screen Sin tituloUS Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) walks to the House floor on Capitol Hill March 10, 2021, in Washington, DC. OLIVIER DOULIERY (AFP)

The statements by leading Democratic U.S. representatives came a day after the New York state legislature announced it would review accusations made by six women against Cuomo. They cast an ominous shadow over the political future of the Democratic governor, who gained national prominence for his leadership during the peak of his state's covid-19 crisis.

Cuomo, 63, has denied all allegations by the women, most of whom are former aides. He has said he never touched anyone inappropriately and has apologized if his behaviour ever made people feel uncomfortable.

The most recent accuser is an unidentified aide who told The Times-Union newspaper on Tuesday that Cuomo had groped her after calling her to the executive mansion last year under the pretext of business.

"This week, the second sexual assault allegation and the sixth harassment allegation was leveled against Governor Cuomo," Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, a congressman from New York, said in a statement.

Full screen Sin titulo(FILES) In this file photo New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks at a vaccination site at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on March 8, 2021 in New York City. - Embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo found himself under increasing risk of impeachment over allegations of sexual harassment March 11, 2021, when the Democratic head of the state assembly -- until now a key ally -- greenlighted a formal investigation of the claims. (Photo by Seth WENIG / POOL / AFP) SETH WENIG (AFP)

Consistent allegations

"The fact that this latest report was so recent is alarming, and it raises concerns about the present safety and well-being of the administration's staff. These allegations have all been consistent and highly-detailed, and there are also credible media reports substantiating their accounts."

At least 14 of the 27 members of New York's U.S. congressional delegation have called on Cuomo to step down. A House aide told Reuters there was no formal, coordinated effort within the delegation, which includes 19 Democrats, to pressure Cuomo.

Cuomo has said he will not resign, and he has asked the public to await the results of an ongoing investigation led by the state Attorney General Letitia James' office before making judgment.

The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest calls for his resignation, and Cuomo did not have any public appearances scheduled for Friday.

On Thursday, more than 55 Democratic New York legislators signed a letter calling for Cuomo's resignation.

"Unfortunately what we're seeing here is a pattern of cover up, a pattern of lies. It is unacceptable, the governor must resign," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a longtime political rival, told reporters on Friday. "He can no longer do the job."
New Delhi [India], March 13 (ANI): Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs on Friday said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Nandigram is going to defeat West Bengal Chief Minister and the lotus will blossom in every nook and cranny of West Bengal in the upcoming state Assembly poll.

"Suvendu Adhikari Ji is going to win from Nandigram and Mamta is going to face defeat. Not only this, but lotus is going to bloom in every corner of West Bengal," Thakur told ANI.

On TMC's allegations of 'BJP conspiracy' behind attack on Mamata, Thakur said that it is natural for to fear her impending defeat and to see all leaders leave one after the other, adding that the politics of appeasement is also coming to an end.

Commenting on Rahul Gandhi's remarks about people losing faith in India's democracy, the Minister said, "The party which the people of the country gave chance to rule for years is questioning democracy because their own credibility is ending. Rahul Gandhi calls North Indians as fools. This is the reason why Congress is marginalised.

Earlier in the day, two days after Banerjee suffered an injury in Nandigram, Trinamool Congress delegation of six MPs in a formal complaint to the Election Commission alleged a "deep rooted BJP conspiracy" behind the attack and asked for an "immediate and unbiased" investigation into the same.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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DENVER  A Colorado man accused of disrupting an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Denver by refusing to wear a mask and then standing up and urinating in the cabin faces a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew and attendants that carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

The FBI arrested 24-year-old Landon Grier of Canon City after the flight landed March 9, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver.

The affidavit by FBI Special Agent Martin Daniell III, who interviewed Grier and crew members, says Grier appeared to be trying to sleep but swatted at an attendant when she asked him repeatedly to put on his mask, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.

A passenger later summoned attendants because Grier was urinating in his seat area, Daniell wrote.

The agent said Grier told him he had several beers and a couple of shots before boarding the flight, fell asleep on the plane and awoke to being yelled at by the flight attendants who told him he was peeing.

He stated he had no recollection of hitting the flight attendant and didnt know if he was peeing, Daniell said.

Grier made an initial court appearance on Thursday. A federal public defender was appointed to represent him. He was released on $10,000 bond pending his next court appearance set for March 26.

Public defenders do not comment on pending cases, and a call to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Denver for comment wasnt immediately returned late Friday.

In a statement, Alaska Airlines said: We will not tolerate any disturbance onboard our aircraft or at any of the airports we serve.

 The Associated Press
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Based on shifts in Tamil Nadus economy and polity, the prospects for emergence of political alternatives to the two dominant Dravidian parties are examined in the context of the upcoming assembly elections. Despite the emergence of cracks in the constituency forged by Dravidian mobilisation, the core elements of Dravidian ethos continue to hold electoral appeal.

A state that has been relatively immune to the Narendra Modi wave, Tamil Nadu (TN) awaits assembly elections this year. Having alternated in power for more than half a century, the two Dravidian parties1 seek to sustain their electoral dominance. But many observers hold that the recent death of key leaders of both parties opens up possibilities for alternate political formations. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), through its alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and intense campaign against the ethos that informs Dravidian politics, is seeking a foothold. Other state-level political parties like Seemans Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK) that invokes an ethnicised Tamil identity and the recently launched Kamal Haasans Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) too are hopeful. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been out of power for a decade, and this election is crucial for its political future as well as for the long-term sustenance of its ideological appeal. The upcoming election thus poses a series of questions for both immediate electoral prospects for the different political actors as well as for longer-term prospects of their competing political appeals.

What are the challenges faced by the two Dravidian parties, the DMK in particular, in articulating a political vision rooted in Dravidian-Tamil commonsense that can appeal to a transforming economy and society? To those committed to a Dravidian vision of social justice through socio-economic empowerment of subaltern castes, the question is if TN would continue to electorally resist the BJP. In other words, can the ethos of Dravidian politics continue to shape electoral outcomes despite attacks on it from other parties, the BJP in particular? A related question therefore is whether the strategies wielded by the BJP to make inroads into other states can actually work in TN. Third, what do state-level political parties like the NTK or the MNM mean for the two dominant parties? Finally, now that the AIADMK has decided to continue its alliance with the BJP, what does it mean for the party?
Decades since the first products of biotechnology associated with our food were introduced, weve all become more accustomed to the language around bioengineering, even if some still dont like it.

Opinion

Decades since the first products of biotechnology associated with our food were introduced, weve all become more accustomed to the language around bioengineering, even if some still dont like it.

Announcements earlier this month indicate were turning a new corner on innovation  and theres new lingo attached.

The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan has received $3.2 million in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to build a laboratory focused on "engineering biology."

Believe it or not, there is a difference between bioengineering and engineering biology. Whereas bioengineering is about engineering a single process in a plant, engineering biology is a suite of applications that apply tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation to biological applications.

Its transforming how researchers work.

"Thats the future of how work is going to be done in science. More importantly, it helps accelerate the translation from discovery to development to delivery of innovation solutions," says Steven Webb, GIFS chief executive officer.

He calls it the new ABCs  automation, biology and computation  of innovation. While it doesnt change the questions scientists are asking, it does speed how fast they get answers.

"Its not that I can throw a thousand darts at the board and Ill get a bulls-eye, its that I can be more deliberate about the hundred darts that I build to find out which darts are better and then improve the darts so that I do hit a bullseye," he says.

It allows scientists to focus more on the big questions and less on designing ways to answer them because, once in place, the machines will do the building.

"It allows researchers to be able to design those large incomplete multifactorial experiments that were beyond the reach of the individual. So that we can probe spaces faster and more complex spaces because we can build the parts to be able to do it."

As for how that applies to agriculture and food, it could lead to crops that can better withstand climate change, or microbes enhanced to store more carbon in the soil.

"From a food perspective  there are a lot of the ingredients that we consume today that we dont even realize are essentially derived from this platform," Webb said, noting rennet used in cheese is a derivative of this sort of process, as are some of the flavourings used to make plant-based meats taste like the real thing.

Building a lab focused on applying these methods opens the door to a wide range of applications and establishes the organization as a national centre for this kind of research, officials say.

Whats more, much of this work is focused on editing genes within a plant or extracting components, rather than transferring genes from other species.

Scientifically speaking, the ability to move genes from one species to another was a giant step forward for humankinds ability to build new capacity into the ongoing search for secure and stable food supplies.

However, one of the unintended offshoots was the development of a whole industry around the anti-GMO culture  individuals, organizations and businesses capitalizing on peoples fears.

Webb, a biochemist who has spent much of his career on the front lines of the debate over genetically modified organisms, is careful about how these new processes are perceived.He likes the term "biomanufacturing" to describe the process.

"Really all were doing is harnessing the machinery that nature has given us. Nature has given us microbes and plants and were either enhancing what it already does or repurposing it to make things that we cant make using conventional manufacturing processes that are based around chemistry," he said.

But Webb also sees evidence of society becoming more accepting of new technologies that address concerns around sustainability and food security.

"The first time I saw an Impossible Burger was in Berkeley, California, and Berkeley, California, is the home of organic. They were eating an Impossible Burger that was derived from GMO soy and it was one of the most popular items on the restaurant menu," he said.

Laura Rance is vice-president of Content for Glacier FarmMedia. She can be reached at lrance@farmmedia.com
Kumbh Mela 2021: Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat ensures maximum number of devotees amid COVID-19

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Dehradun, Mar 13: Uttarakhand's newly sworn-in Chief Minister, Tirath Singh Rawat on Saturday chaired a meeting and reviewed the preparedness for Kumbh Mela 2021. CM Rawat said the state government will ensure that the maximum number of devotees are able to attend the fair amid COVID-19 protocol.

Kumbh Mela, which is observed once every 12 years at each of India's four river-bank pilgrimage sites, will be held between April 1 and 30 in Haridwar this year. "Our aim is to ensure that the maximum number of devotees participate in the fair while maintaining Covid-related guidelines," the Chief Minister said.

Owing to the ongoing pandemic, the Uttarakhand government has decided to limit the Kumbh this year for 30 days, Chief Secretary Om Prakash had earlier said. "The fair to be held for 30 days only in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine: Amid concerns over Covishield, India studies post-vaccination adverse events

The devotees will have to abide by the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) issued by the Centre and the state government for Kumbh. As per the SOP, devotees will only be allowed to attend Kumbh if they produce a negative coronavirus report issued not more than 72 hours before their arrival.

To make the occasion even more special, the Uttarakhand administration showered flowers from a helicopter on the sadhus and the pilgrims assembled at Haridwar.

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Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 21:38 [IST]
Warren Countys top elected officials are asking the state to change its plans for a project in the Delaware River Water Gap.

The Warren County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to ask the New Jersey Department of Transportation to reevaluate and reengineer a proposed rockfall mitigation project between mile markers 1.0 and 1.5 on the westbound side of Interstate 80.

The county resolution joins several municipalities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that have passed their own resolutions stating opposition to the project.

The area on I-80 has the highest risk of rockfall of anywhere on New Jerseys highways, according to the Department of Transportation.

The plan calls for excavating and installing sections of wire mesh and fence on the cliffs that abut I-80 in Knowlton and Hardwick townships.

Commissioners noted the project was first estimated to cost $6 million. As a more complex mitigation system was developed, estimates rose to $65 million. The current estimate for the project is $47 million.

This is a ridiculous amount of money to be spending on one mile of road, Warren County Commissioner Lori Ciesla said.

The county resolution asks the state to scale the project back to the 2012 estimate of $6 million. The federal funding that would be used for the project is allocated specifically for rockfall mitigation projects. The commissioners also said DOT typically discusses and vets major projects with the local stakeholders in the region. The resolution asks DOT to meet and consult with local officials during concept development to address all the concerns raised by local, state, and federal officials and stakeholders.

Commissioner James Kern noted the project will take place in the Delaware Water Gap Recreational Area, which is part of the U.S. National Park Service and DOT should take caution before altering the natural landscape.

Youre going to destroy what is one of the most beautiful places in our country, Kern said.

Construction for the project is scheduled to begin in 2023.

John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
During last years election campaign, a Fine Gael candidate queried why she wasnt being mentioned in analyses of the constituency. The blunt answer was because she had no hope of winning a seat. An accomplished figure with a long track record of public service, she had been invited to run for the Dail. The impolite reality is she was a gender quota candidate, a woman added to the ticket to make up the required number of female candidates. Bar a landslide, her chances of winning were slim to none.

The necessity to elect more women is not tokenism. There is a severe underrepresentation of half the population in politics and it has an impact on policy, priorities and people. That most unlikely feminist, Phil Hogan, took a major step towards fairer representation by bringing in gender quotas as Environment Minister for the 2016 general election.

As a long-time grassroots organisational guru, Mr Hogan knew the big parties wouldnt run more women unless there was a penalty attached. The catch for failing to have 30pc of women on the ticket was a loss of half their State funding. The quotas were certainly a factor in a record number of 35 women TDs, 19 newcomers, being elected to the Dail five years ago.

After that first run, 22pc per cent of TDs were female, up from 15pc in 2011. However, progress has now stalled. In 2020, just one more woman was elected. In line with their loss of seats, the Civil War parties came back with less women TDs.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael barely hit the 30pc minimum last year. In the local elections and Seanad elections, where there are no quotas, they dont bother coming near. The Civil War parties adhere to the letter of the law on gender quotas, not the spirit of the goal.

Read More

In an International Womens Day conversation with Women for Election this week, Taoiseach Micheal Martin gave a quite frank account of the opposition within his party towards quotas or directives towards selecting women. Where he was less honest was setting a highly aspirational target to achieve 50/50 representation of women and men in national politics by 2030. He wont be around to make it happen anyway.

On their own, the quotas wont achieve equality. The five barriers that hold women back in political careers, known as the five Cs, still remain:

-Cash: women earn less and money is needed to start out;

-Childcare: women typically take on more childcare responsibilities, giving them less time for politics;

-Confidence: women can be less confident to put themselves forward in a public arena. The vitriol women politicians suffer on social media is also increasingly a factor;

-Culture: women are expected to operate in a political world where the rules were set by men;

-Candidate selection: women can often be at a disadvantage to a male counterpart, who have more contacts from organisations that traditionally feed into the political system.

The unconscious bias against women is blatantly highlighted with the special arrangements now being put in place for the first female Cabinet member to have a baby in office, Helen McEntee. The Justice Minister will step aside for six months, but remain a Cabinet member without portfolio, with a colleague, Heather Humphreys filling in her role.

That the prospect of Ms McEntee having to resign Cabinet for having a baby was even considered is quite the eye-opener. For 100 years, the issue hadnt arisen and men sitting around the Cabinet table never even dreamed of it being a problem. Suddenly there are promises to change the Constitution to put a proper process in place for female TDs and ministers to take maternity leave.

Without a truly radical overhaul of the old school traditional organisations in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, these parties will just continue to blunder along. Rather than parachuting in females candidates from outside politics on to general election tickets, the parties are going to have to change how they do business and develop women candidates from a local level. Neither party has a shortage of female members, but the will to ask more women to run and provide the necessary support for them is lacking. The first step in solving any problem is recognising there is one.

But theres no appetite for that reform and neither Micheal Martin nor Leo Varadkar has the capital within their parties to implement it either. A fresh-faced female candidate landing into Fianna Fail or Fine Gael could be forgiven for feeling like Meghan Markle arriving into the Royal family. Their outsider presence is barely tolerated and theyre not treated as equals.

The increase in the female candidates quota to 40pc at the next general election will present a major challenge to the two parties. The forthcoming publication of How Ireland voted 2020, edited by Michael Gallagher, Michael Marsh and Theresa Reidy, illustrates another problem. A third of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael candidates hail from family dynasties, making it harder for newer non-family candidates to get on the ticket.

Where Fianna Fail and Fine Gael fall down, Sinn Fein spots an opportunity. 13 of Mary Lou McDonalds 37 TDs are women, second only to the four out of six women TDs in the Social Democrats. Ms McDonald is already issuing female-only directives on some new candidate selections. Sinn Fein has the advantage of, shall we say, discipline in the ranks that makes instructions from headquarters easier to implement.

The party will have no shortage of female candidates next time. Nevertheless, Ms McDonalds party has also had its fair share of sexism and bulling allegations  not to mention the less than welcoming embrace of its paramilitary past and the handling of Mairia Cahills Provisional IRA sex abuse case shows a party with an often less than compassionate culture.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 77F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
In a major decision, the Supreme Court on Friday said the central and the state government should not appoint persons holding government office as Election Commissioners. It declared that only independent persons can be appointed as Election Commissioners.

A bench presided over by Justice R F Nariman said entrusting additional charge of State Election Commissioner to a government official is a mockery of the Constitution.

Maintaining that a compromise on the independence of the Election Commission is not acceptable, the Court said that it was not correct that a government official, while still employed by the government, be given charge of the Election Commission in Goa.

The top court's judgement came on an appeal by the Goa government against the Bombay High Court order, which cancelled elections to five municipalities in the state for not reserving the wards for women as per the law.

The Goa government appointed its law secretary as the state election commissioner for conducting municipal council elections in the state. The top court decision is aimed at safeguarding independence of the Election Commission.
Before President Biden spoke, I hoped he would take a second and recognize the Trump's administration's vaccine success and the work of thousands in dealing with a once in a century pandemic.

Well, so much for wishful thinking.

Biden is either an angry partisan or totally disconnected from reality.

Has no one told him that the U.S.-Senate is 50-50? or the House almost the same? or that several states are suing his administration over the executive orders? His overall approval numbers are 53% at the RCP average, not exactly an overwhelming standing.

Or that his COVID bill passed by the slightest margin?

As Conrad Black wrote:

He was incapable of giving the slightest credit to his predecessor, although President Donald Trump is almost solely responsible for advancing the vaccine timetable more than anyone could have hoped for. Trump was roundly condemned by the Democratic media last May for predicting a virus before year-end, but it was in fact distributed starting on December 11, and on Inauguration Day, one million vaccinations were effected in the United States for the first time.

Doesn't President Biden know that? Or his political advisers? Or speech writers?

We move on more divided than ever and a president who keeps adding gasoline to the fire when he tries to unite us.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

Image: JoshBerglund19.

A surge in coronavirus infections in Europe makes clear the stakes of the race in the U.S. between vaccines and new variants.

Why it matters: Europe and North America, two of the regions hit hardest by the pandemic, both saw sharp declines in cases and deaths beginning in January. Then, Europe's decline gave way to a new spike. America's already slowing decline could slip into reverse next.

Stephen Kissler, a researcher at Harvard who models the spread of COVID-19, says the U.S. is "lagging a couple of weeks behind many of the countries in Europe that are starting to see rises in cases right now."

"I think we should take that as a very serious warning that that can and very well might happen here as well," Kissler says.

The lesson from Europe is "it's possible for these variants to cause surges in Covid during a time of year when you might not expect it," he adds.

What's happening: Europe's latest wave has been particularly destructive in Central European countries like the Czech Republic and Poland, but cases are now rising sharply in Italy and beginning to tick up in France and elsewhere in Western Europe.

Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's regional director for Europe, cites two factors: variants, particularly the one discovered in the U.K., and premature reopenings.

The U.K. variant is now dominant in at least eight EU countries, per AP, including France, Germany and Italy. The variant is far more contagious and also appears to be more deadly.

The U.K. did manage to bring its variant-driven spike under control, but it took a strict lockdown that has dragged on since December.

What to watch: The increasing rate of vaccination in the U.S. and the arrival of warmer weather both work to America's advantage, Kissler says.

So while the U.S. should take heed of the "very clear warning," Kissler says, it's possible that the U.S. could avoid a similar outcome.

Worth noting: Vaccine rollouts are moving much more slowly in the EU than the U.S., making Europe's challenge of vaccinating its way out of the current surge that much more difficult.

Go deeper: Vaccines and stimulus pave the way for a big, uneven global recovery.
TORONTO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th March, 2021) Canada and the Netherlands are warning Syria with legal action under the UN Convention Against Torture unless the government of President Bashar Assad cooperates during negotiations on the matter, Canada's Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said.

The Netherlands deemed the Syrian government liable for human rights violations under the UN charter on September 18, 2020 and Canada followed suit on March 3.

"We are committed to making a genuine attempt to resolve our dispute with Syria through negotiations. However, should this not result in a timely resolution of the dispute, we will explore the possibility of joint legal action under the Convention against Torture," Garneau said in a statement on Friday.

The Syrian Civil War has been ongoing since 2011, with government forces fighting against a multitude of insurgent groups.

Damascus has been accused by Western governments of numerous atrocities, including the use of chemical weapons against civilian populations without offering tangible proof. The Syrian side has vehemently denied the allegations and pointed to independent journalistic investigations, which suggest widespread state-sponsored subversive activity against the nation.
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
LOS ANGELES  California has met its initial target for administering more COVID-19 vaccines in the hardest-hit and most disadvantaged areas. The milestone marks the state's effort to more equitably distribute the doses and also clears the way for significant economic reopenings.

With 2 million doses now having gone into the arms of residents living in targeted communities statewide, officials are set to loosen the criteria necessary for counties to exit the strictest category of California's four-tier reopening blueprint.

The change allows some large urban counties, such as Orange, to exit the proscriptive purple tier for the first time in months and others, including Los Angeles and San Bernardino, to do so for the first time since the color-coded system was unveiled in late August.

Moving into the less strict red tier means those three counties  along with nine others, according to a Los Angeles Times' data analysis  will be permitted to resume indoor dining at restaurants and movie theater showings at 25% capacity, welcome students in grades 7 through 12 back for in-person classes, reopen indoor gyms and dance and yoga studios at 10% capacity, and expand the maximum allowable capacity at nonessential stores and libraries within the next few days.

Museums, zoos and aquariums also can reopen indoor operations in the red tier, at 25% capacity.

Amusement parks can also reopen at 15% capacity with other modifications in red tier counties starting April 1. Long-closed attractions such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain are weeks away from again welcoming visitors  who must be California residents  after being closed for nearly a year.

How widely to reopen ultimately is up to local health officials, however, as they can adopt rules that are stricter than the state.

While some counties have clamored throughout the pandemic for wider latitude to more widely reopen their economies, others have adopted a slower approach.

Officials in L.A. County, the nation's most populous, confirmed they will widely align with the state's red-tier rules once the region officially advances. Wider reopenings will be possible starting Monday, they said.

"This milestone is the result of businesses and individuals working together and doing their part to prevent COVID-19 from spreading," county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. "It will be up to everyone  businesses and residents  to continue driving down transmission and to follow safety directives closely to keep everyone as safe as possible by preventing increases in cases. When even relatively small numbers of businesses and individuals fail to adhere to the safety precautions, many others experience tragic consequences."

County Supervisor Hilda Solis called the move "welcome news, especially as many of our small businesses have borne the brunt of the financial fallout from this pandemic, and as our students struggle to keep up with distance learning."

"We have achieved this milestone and moved down to the red tier because as a county, we worked hard, looked out for one another and came together to defeat the dark winter surge," she said in a statement. "Although we are taking steps to reopen some of the hardest-hit sectors of our economy, that in no way means we can drop our guard now. We owe it to our neighbors, our local businesses and our children to remain vigilant so that the reopenings are safe and long-lasting. Wearing masks and physical distancing remain critical."

The accelerated advancement in L.A. and elsewhere is made possible through a revision to California's reopening road map that was unveiled last week.

In a bid to address inequities in its vaccine rollout, the state is now earmarking 40% of available supplies to be administered to residents in the neediest areas, as identified by a socioeconomic measurement tool called the California Healthy Places index.

Specifically, those doses would go to communities in the lowest quartile of the index  which includes roughly 400 ZIP Codes throughout the state in places such as South Los Angeles, the Eastside, Koreatown, Chinatown, Compton, southeast L.A. County, the eastern San Fernando Valley, Santa Ana, and a number of heavily Latino communities along the 10 Freeway corridor between Pomona and San Bernardino.

As part of the new targeted strategy, the state set goals of administering first 2 million doses in those areas, then 4 million. After reaching each mark, California aims to redraft its reopening road map to make it easier for counties to more widely resume economic operations.

The state system categorizes counties into one of four color-coded tiers based on a few factors: testing positivity rates, a health equity metric intended to ensure that the positivity rate in poorer communities is not significantly worse than the county's overall figure, and, crucially in terms of wider reopenings, case rates.

Originally, counties had to record a rate  adjusted based on the number of tests performed  at or below 7.0 new coronavirus cases per day per 100,000 people to move from the purple to the red tier.

With the state having met its 2-million dose goal, counties with a case rate of up to 10 new cases per day per 100,000 people are now eligible to advance. Counties still need to log two consecutive weeks of sufficiently low case rates to move forward.

A dozen counties have met that criteria: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Placer, Mendocino, San Benito, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Colusa and Mono.

Eleven more  San Diego, Riverside, Sacramento, Ventura, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Sutter, Yuba, Lake and Tehama  have recorded one week's worth of red-level data and would need to hit the mark again next week to progress.

Should they do so, that would swell the number of nonpurple counties to 47, home to a combined 90% of the state's population.

When the state reaches its goal of administering 4 million doses in the hardest-hit areas, the threshold to move into the even-more-lenient orange tier would be relaxed from a requirement of under 4 daily new cases per 100,0000 residents to under 6. Entering the least restrictive yellow tier would necessitate an adjusted case rate below 2 daily new cases per 100,000 people, compared with the current requirement of less than 1.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that the state is also working on a new green tier "in anticipation of this bright light now at the end of this tunnel," though he didn't specify what that would look like.

"As we start to reopen, as we get to 10, 15, 20 million vaccinations, get closer and closer (to) herd immunity, then we will start to make it clear that these tiers were temporary," he said. "They're not permanent, and there's something beyond orange and yellow."

Over the last week, providers throughout California have administered an average of almost 188,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses per day  pushing the cumulative total to just under 11 million shots, according to data compiled by the Times.

Currently, Californians who are 65 and older, or work in the specified fields of food and agriculture, education and child care, and health care and emergency services, are eligible to be vaccinated.

Starting Monday, an estimated 4.4 million residents with certain disabilities or underlying health conditions will be able to join the line, too.

Officials say they expect that the supply of available doses will remain crunched over the next few weeks, though they're hopeful supplies will be more robust in the spring.

Amid optimism over the vaccine rollout, health officials continue to urge caution, saying California can ill afford to let its guard down and risk another resurgence of a disease that has already killed more than 55,000 people statewide.

Taking steps to stymie transmission of the virus  including wearing masks in public, regularly washing your hands and avoiding crowds, particularly indoors  remain vital, officials and experts say.

The state's metrics are heading in a promising direction, though. Over the last week, California has reported an average of 3,881 new coronavirus cases per day, a roughly 33% decrease from two weeks ago, Times' data show.

Hospitalizations also have fallen dramatically from the peak of the fall-and-winter surge. On Wednesday, 3,477 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized statewide, with 961 in intensive care. Both those figures are the lowest they've been since mid-November.

"This disease continues to be deadly. This disease continues to be ubiquitous," Newsom said. "It is not taking spring break off. This disease is not going to take the summer off. It will only be extinguished by each and every one of us doing what we must to mitigate the spread. That's why it's so important we don't run the 90-yard dash."
Northern Hai Duong Province, biggest hotspot in Vietnam's latest coronavirus outbreak, recorded two Covid-19 cases Saturday evening, raising its community transmission tally to 717 in over a month.

Both patients are employees of Taiwan-owned Vietnam Poyun Electronics Co., Ltd. in Chi Linh Town. They had close contact with previously confirmed patients and have already been quarantined following contact tracing.

Their test results Friday confirmed they were positive for the virus. Both are being treated at a local field hospital.

The Health Ministry also reported an imported case, a 48-year-old man hailing from north central Ha Tinh Province. On March 11, he landed at Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Son Nhat International Airport on a flight from Germany and was quarantined upon arrival.

The national tally has increased to 901 in 13 cities and provinces since Jan. 28 when community transmission reemerged in Vietnam after almost two months.

Authorities in Hai Duong on Friday increased home quarantine from 14 to 21 days for discharged Covid-19 patients to prevent the risk of further outbreaks as the province of 1.7 million people tries to curb the spread of the virus.

The discharged patients can only complete their 21-day home quarantine after they test negative thrice.

Vietnam has so far recorded 2,553 Covid-19 patients and 35 deaths.

The nation began its mass vaccination campaign Monday. Over the past six days, a total 10,041 medical staff and frontline workers in 12 localities have received the first dose of the vaccine developed by the British-Swedish company in collaboration with Oxford University.

On Saturday, the Health Ministry ordered an investigation into the reasons why 12 had suffered anaphylaxis after receiving their AstraZeneca Covid-19 shots.
Despite what Shannon Cox calls her white privilegeher beautiful, four-bedroom house in an upper-middle-class neighborhood full of educated professionals in Sandy, Utah; the COVID-19 vaccinations she and her husband have received; the adjustable platform bed and $4,000 Purple mattress they lie on each nightdespite all that, Cox said, she spends most of her nights sleepless in fear and grief over the mental status of her Black daughter.

Just weeks ago, her 14-year-old, who wore soft brown curls hanging to her shoulders, walked into the family kitchen of light oak cabinets and black marble countertops and announced, I am so depressed, but dont worry, Im not going to commit suicide, Cox, 49, said.

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Cox, a retired police officer, is a white woman from southeastern Virginia. Her husband, Steve Cox, is a Black man who supervises a state juvenile justice detention center and originally hails from Compton, California.

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Their daughter, Shannon Cox said, is struggling with isolation and with being a Black child in a white community that does not get the magnitude of racial injustice we have witnessed in this country.

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Around the nation, there have been recent and public homicides of Black people. There was the storming of the Capitol, with racist right-wing militias and conspiracy theorists calling for the overturning of Joe Bidens election. And there were as many as 200 QAnon supporters protesting in their own neighborhood, on State Street and State Route 114 South, with Blue Lives Matter signs.

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My daughter is suffering, Cox said, and that brings fear into my space and into my mind.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among American teens aged 1519, according to the CDC. That statistic became painfully personal when two young people Cox knew in Salt Lake City died by suicide in the past year, Cox said.

Among her own daughters troubling questions, voiced in anger and fear: Why is someone who hates me and hates my family and hates people of color in office? Then: Why are these people still standing with him? And: Why are they so afraid of the darkening of America?

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Cox is an advocate for marginalized women in her community; after retirement, she went on in 2014 to found Journey of Hope, a nonprofit that has helped thousands of harmed women start new lives. She has always responded to her daughters anxious questions with long discussions about this countrys historical and systematic racism, ignorance, and ensuing fear.

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This past fall, she and Steve put on their COVID-19 masks and took their daughter to some of the Black Lives Matter protests in Salt Lake City. It was important for us to show support and for our daughter to see us showing support that well stand up and fight, Cox said.

But when her daughter walked into their kitchen and uttered the words suicide and depression in the same sentence, Cox said her stomach dropped and her heart raced.

She said: I dont have a plan, but lots of people are hurting themselves,  Cox said. I immediately got on the internet and googled Black psychologist and Salt Lake City, Ut. I want her to have someone that isnt her parent that she doesnt have to Blacksplain every fucking thing to.

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In their upscale neighborhood, Steve Cox has been regularly asked by his neighbors about the Corvette he drives, Do you own that? And, inevitably: Do you live here?

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Shannon Cox was born in the small town of Waynesboro, Virginia. In that town, Cox said, the Confederate flag brazenly hangs on the sides of many homes and barns.

Most white people are defensive about racial issuesincluding my family, Cox said. Black people are suffering in this country and what does my family do? They go to the beach like nothing is happening. Nothing at all.

During the summer, when Coxs daughter was posting on Instagram to express outrage over topics such as mass incarceration and the killing of George Floyd, one of Coxs sisters called the teenager and told her, Cox says, that all of her posts were negative and that the Heavenly Father would want her to love her family and love one another. She told her that Jesus loved everybody and we need to love everybody and that my daughter wasnt being Christlikethat she was being disrespectful. 

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The high school freshmans response: If you dont care that Im suffering as a Black person in America, you dont need to be in my life. Because youre not trying to understand what is happening.

When her daughter was in middle school, a group of white boys walked behind her in the school hallway, calling her the N-word, Cox said. It was N, N, N, N, all the way down the hallway. She didnt let them see but she ducked into a room and started crying.

On Saturday, the 14-year-old is scheduled to meet with the Black therapist Cox tracked down.

Meanwhile, Cox has taken the Black Lives Matter sign from the familys front yard and put it in her office. It now leans against a wall featuring photos of the Cox family in a field of grass and white flowers.

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There were too many Trump flags, too many rallies, too many what we perceive to be dangerous people, Cox said. We felt nervous that we could be a target, that our house could be a targetthat our daughter could be a target.

When does she think she will sleep well?

When QAnon goes away, she said. When its safe for the National Guard to leave the Capitol and for the fence to come down. Thats when Ill breathe a sigh of relief.

The National Guard personnel deployed after the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt were expected to leave the Capitol on Friday. On March 3, though, following intelligence that showed a possible security threat from a militia group, the U.S. Capitol Police requested a 60-day extension.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 01:32:46|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that the decision to suspend parts of the Northern Irish Brexit protocol was lawful and right.

"What we're doing is taking some lawful, some technical measures to build up confidence in the east-west operation (of the protocol)," Johnson was quoted as saying by Reuters on a visit to Northern Ireland.

"We think it's lawful, and indeed, we think it's right, in view of the impact on the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement, and the need to have consent from both communities," Johnson said, referring to an agreement signed in April 1998 to help bring to an end a period of conflict in Northern Ireland called the Troubles.

The remarks came after Britain unilaterally extended grace periods for implementing post-Brexit checks on goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The first of these periods was to expire at the end of March but Britain said they will be extended until October.

Brussels said Britain's move breaches international law, signaling that it was considering legal action against London.

Britain's exports of goods to the European Union (EU) fell by 40.7 percent in January while imports from the regional bloc dropped by 28.8 percent, the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Friday.

In contrast to the falling exports to the EU, Britain's exports of medicines and pharmaceutical products to non-EU countries increased by 0.3 billion pounds (about 0.42 billion U.S. dollars) in January, and a large proportion is represented by increasing exports to China and Japan, according to the ONS. Enditem
With over 20 lakh (2 million) COVID-19 vaccine doses, India on Friday recorded the highest number of vaccinations administered in a single day, the Union Health Ministry informed on Saturday.

As many as 20,53,537 vaccine doses were administered on Day 56 of the vaccination drive ( March 12) through 30,561 sessions.

A total of 16,39,663 beneficiaries that included Health Care Workers (HCW) and Front Line Workers (FLW) were vaccinated the first dose and 4,13,874 HCWs and FLWs received the second dose of the vaccine.

So far, a cumulative total of 2,82,18,457 doses of the vaccine have been administered through 4,86,314 sessions.

Eight states constituted 74 per cent of the 20,53,537 doses administered in the last 24 hours. Uttar Pradesh has topped the list with more than 3.3 lakh doses.

Ten States account for 69 per cent of the second dose vaccinations in the country. Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for 9.71 per cent (4,99,242) of the total second dose vaccinations.

There are currently 2,02,022 active cases in the country, 1.78 per cent of the total positive cases, including 24,882 new cases in the last 24 hours.

Maharashtra, one of the worst affected states, accounts for 63.57 per cent of the total active cases. 15,817 new cases reported in the last 24 hours in the state.

As many as 20 States/UTs have less than 1,000 Active Cases.

Meanwhile, cumulative recoveries rose to 1,09,73,260 with the national Recovery Rate reaching 96.82 per cent.

A total of 140 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Five States account for 81.43 per cent of the new deaths.
By Waruna Karunatilake

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will ban the wearing of the burqa and shut more than a thousand Islamic schools, a government minister said on Saturday, the latest actions affecting the country's minority Muslim population.

Minister for public security Sarath Weerasekera told a news conference he had signed a paper on Friday for cabinet approval to ban the full face covering worn by some Muslim women on "national security" grounds.

"In our early days Muslim women and girls never wore the burqa," he said. "It is a sign of religious extremism that came about recently. We are definitely going to ban it."

The wearing of the burqa in the majority-Buddhist nation was temporarily banned in 2019 after the bombing of churches and hotels by Islamic militants that killed more than 250.

Later that year, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, best known for crushing a decades-long insurgency in the north of the country as defence secretary, was elected president after promising a crackdown on extremism.

Rajapaksa is accused of widespread rights abuses during the war, charges he denies.

Weerasekera said the government plans to ban more than a thousand madrassa Islamic schools that he said were flouting national education policy.

"Nobody can open a school and teach whatever you want to the children," he said.

The government's moves on burqas and schools follow an order last year mandating the cremation of COVID-19 victims - against the wishes of Muslims, who bury their dead.

This ban was lifted earlier this year after criticism from the United States and international rights groups.

(Reporting by Waruna Karunatilake in Colombo; Writing by Alasdair Pal; Editing by William Mallard)
Mar. 13A woman who survived a shooting that claimed the lives of five of her eight children remained cognizant of her surroundings during the nearly nine minutes it took emergency workers to arrive at her southeast Muskogee residence.

An audio recording of the 911 call police say was initiated by the man accused of killing six people during the early hours of Feb. 2 reveals a conversation between Brittany Anderson, 27, and a Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service dispatcher. Anderson, who survived life-threatening injuries, shared with the dispatcher concerns about dying and her children's safety.

Anderson, who sounded as if she was just awakened from a deep sleep, declined to identify her assailant or whether that person was still present. When the dispatcher asked again whether her attacker was nearby, a man calmly said, "Yeah, I'm here."

The man's voice can be heard only twice during the recording: once at the beginning when he requests an ambulance, and again when the dispatcher asks Anderson about her assailant's identity and whereabouts. The day after the Feb. 2 shooting, police said that Jarron Deajon Pridgeon, 25, initiated the 911 call, the recording of which authorities asked the court to seal.

Police said the call was initiated by Pridgeon, who faces first-degree murder charges in connection to the deaths of five children: Que'dynce Anderson, 9, Nevaeh Pridgeon, 6, Harmony Anderson, 5, Jaidus Pridgeon, 3, and Jalaiya Pridgeon, 2. Prosecutors also charged Pridgeon with first-degree murder for the death of his brother, Javarian Lee, 24, and shooting Anderson with the intent to kill her.

District Attorney Orvil Loge said the content of the 911 call and video images captured by body cameras worn by police who responded to the call "are graphic and disturbing." He asked Muskogee County District Judge Bret Smith to seal them, arguing the release of those recordings "would materially compromise an ongoing criminal investigation" and Pridgeon's right "to a fair trial that has yet to begin."

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The Muskogee Phoenix challenged efforts to keep those recordings  considered by state law to be public records available for inspection upon request  from being disclosed to the public. KatieBeth Gardner, who represented the Phoenix as part of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press' Local Legal Initiative in Oklahoma, secured the release of the recording of the 911 call. Smith is expected to rule on the body-cam video at a hearing scheduled in June.

"We are glad the judge agreed with our position in this matter  that the 911 call should be released," Gardner said Friday after police released the audio in accordance with the court order. "We are hopeful that the tape will provide the public with a greater understanding of what happened as the community continues to search for answers."

Loge declined to comment about the ruling or the contents of the 911 call recording.

The call, according to police reports, originated from the southeast Muskogee residence and was made at about 1:30 a.m. Feb. 2. The nearly nine-minute call consists mostly of dialogue between Anderson and the dispatcher.

Anderson told the dispatcher she believed she was dying and expressed concerns about her eight children.

"I'm dying, please ... I don't know," Anderson said between audible but sometimes unintelligible moans of pain. "I don't know ..., I'm hurting ... I hear 'em  I hear one baby, I can only see one baby, I don't hear my other kids ..."

While the unidentified dispatcher remained calm, there were indications of exasperation as the severity of the situation became more apparent. She continued to gather information and provide assurances to Anderson, who seemed to grew more despondent as time ticked by until first responders arrived.

When asked about her attacker's identity, Anderson said she could not say. When asked about the severity of her injuries, she moaned and said she was "hurting."

Pridgeon remains jailed without bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 4.
Round one of the Snowshoe Pacing Series took place Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, as three- and four-year-old male pacers sparred in a trio of $17,000 divisions.

Noch Ten drew first blood taking the opening division in gate-to-wire fashion for the tandem of driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Carmen Auciello.

Jamieson hustled the four-year-old son of Warrawee Needy-Astrmowin to the lead from Post 3 and together they led the group through fractions of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:27.1 before using a :29.1 final quarter into a fierce wind to win by a nose over race favourite Dragon Roars Again in 1:56.2. Taking home third prize in the seven-horse affair was Captain Ray.

James Downer, Auciello Stables and Jonathan Drury share ownership on the two-time winner who bumped his overall bankroll to $34,760 with the win.

Make It Come True turned in a strong rally in the lane for driver Ed Hensley en route to posting a sharp-looking triumph in 1:55.2.

Major Makover pushed his way to the lead from Post 1 and wound up slicing out fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.2 before being confronted by the backfield. Unique Beach was first over around the final turn and race favourite Lyons Liberty was working out the trip from second over. Hensley was third over with Make It Come True, who tipped wide and fired home in :28 to win by a neck over Lyons Liberty in 1:55.2. Major Makover faded late to settle for third.

Ashleigh Hensley trains the four-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Dream Of Treasure for owners Brad Maxwell, Dr. Fred Kruszelnicki and Kenneth Frieder. The three-time winner now boasts a bankroll that stands at $41,880.

Bettors Donttell stepped to a second consecutive victory thanks to his triumph in the third division for driver Doug McNair and trainer Jean Guy Belliveau.

The three-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Donttellruss got away third and watched Victory Move put up an opening quarter clocked in :28.1. Hes Swift popped the pocket in the backstretch and marched to the lead. He went on to post middle panels of :57.3 and 1:26.2 before being confronted by the first-over Bettors Donttell. The favourite kicked home in :28 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Hes Swift in 1:54.4. Bettor In Cash rounded out the Trifecta ticket.

Owned and bred by Troy Mark of Simcoe, ON, the gelding nabbed his third career victory while lifting his lifetime earnings to $37,500.

To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results  Woodbine Mohawk Park.
OnScene TV

A pedestrian reportedly walking on Interstate 45 early Saturday was hit by a vehicle and taken to the hospital, Houston police said.

Police did not release information about the pedestrians identity and medical condition. The crash occurred at about 12:40 a.m. near the I-610 interchange on the citys southeast side.
Guns, drugs, knuckle dusters and cash have been seized from a western Sydney home, with four men charged as part of a sweeping police operation into the citys cocaine supply.

NSW Police found more than 86 grams of cocaine, 300 rounds of ammunition and several weapons at a Bankstown unit on Friday evening.

A sawn-off shotgun was seized by police from a western Sydney unit on Friday. Credit:NSW Police

The police raid came after officers searched a car on Cambridge Avenue in Bankstown about 6pm on Friday afternoon, where they found eight grams of cocaine and five grams of cannabis.

Two men, aged 19 and 22, were arrested and taken to the local police station before a home on Weigand Avenue in Bankstown was searched under warrant.




And now, welcome to Words and Their Stories.

On March 17 in many places around the world, people celebrate Saint Patricks Day.

Encyclopedia Britannica says St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned to convert the Irish to Christianity.

Irish people and Irish-loving people everywhere celebrate St. Patricks Day with religious services, parades, big meals and even bigger parties.

Decorations usually include green four-leaf clovers. The small plants are said to bring good luck. Another decoration is the Leprechaun. A Leprechaun is a trouble making creature in old Irish stories. He looks like a very small man. And he knows where to find gold.

Some experts say that, in Irish folklore, it is believed that Leprechauns can reveal the hiding places of treasures.

The Encyclopedia Britannica explains that as far back as the 17th century the Irish would say a person was as likely to find a pot of gold as to find the end of a rainbow. A colorful rainbow appears in the sky when the sun shines through water droplets.

Keep in mind that there is no real end to a rainbow. And that brings us to our idiom: the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is something you really want to have or you really want to achieve. Finding your pot of gold at the end of a rainbow  or just pot of gold for short  feels like the realization of your hopes and dreams.

For example, lets say someone loves animals and hopes to live out in the country. They could describe their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as a owning a working farm with cows, horses, dogs and goats!

Finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow can also be used to talk about actual money. When we use it this way, we usually mean that wealth has come suddenly. It means you have come into a huge windfall  which means a lot of money! For example, I found my pot of gold after winning the lottery! But sadly, that is just an example.

However, finding your pot of gold may not be likely or even possible. Because of the unrealistic nature of the pot of gold, this expression is often used in the negative form.

For example, a friend of mine was always unhappy. She moved a lot looking for happiness. Her father told her that she was looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It doesnt exist, he warned. You must find a way to be happy wherever you are. But she ended up moving anyway. Some lessons we have to learn on our own.

And thats all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next timeIm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

patron saint  n. a saint who is believed to protect a particular place or type of person

decoration  n. something that is added to something else to make it more attractive

parade  n. a public celebration of a special day or event that usually includes many people and groups moving down a street by marching or riding in cars or on special vehicles (called floats)

folklore  n. traditional customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings

treasure  n. something valuable (such as money, jewels, gold, or silver) that is hidden or kept in a safe place

idiom  n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own

achieve  v. to get or reach (something) by working hard

lottery  n. a drawing of lots in which prizes are distributed to the winners among persons buying a chance

negative  adj. harmful or bad : not wanted


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The Tijjaniya Islamic sect has selected the former Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, as its leader in Nigeria.

This occurred on Friday at the annual gathering of the sect in Sokoto.

The Tijjaniyya sect has members across West, North and East Africa.

Mr Sanusis grandfather, who was also Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi I, was the first leader of the sect in Nigeria.

After his death, the sect broke into two factions following the selection of Isiyaka Rabiu as his successor. The other faction rallied behind Dahiru Bauchi and stuck to its different ways until Mr Rabius death.

On Friday, members and leaders of the two factions met in Sokoto and selected Mr Sanusi as the groups new leader.

Mr Bauchi was among top leaders of the sect in Nigeria at the event.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES from Sokoto, a member, Ahmed Almustapha, said members were happy with Mr Sanusis selection.

This is a welcome development, we all accept the selection of Sanusi as the new leader of Tijjaniya. With him, the sect will be united again.

Sanusi is well educated both in Islamic and western education. His leadership will make the sect stronger and with unity among us, Mr Almustapha said.

PREMIUM TIMES extensively reported how the outspoken ex-CBN governor was banished to Loko Local Government Area of Nasarawa State after he was deposed as Emir of Kano. He later relocated to Lagos, where he currently lives.

Mr Sanusis removal as emir followed his disagreement with the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who sought to curb his powers by creating additional emirates, a move rejected and resisted by the then emir.
NORTH CHARLESTON  Tricounty Family Ministries has long provided food, financial assistance and other basic necessities to struggling families.

Now under new leadership, the organization wants to expand its services and begin addressing another crisis in the Lowcountry: homelessness.

The North Charleston-based organization, on Cosgrove Avenue at the city's southern end, is in the early stages of a long-term plan to provide housing to those with no place to stay and those on the verge of losing their homes.

The first part of that plan includes $1 million worth of renovations at a building the ministry owns at 1914 Reynold Ave. so it can serve as a model of "supportive housing" that could shelter up to nine families. A program overseen by a social worker will teach residents job skills to obtain successful employment.

Tricounty Family hopes to have that up and running by the end of the year, said the Rev. Kara Stewart, executive director of the nonprofit.

"We really see the need to provide the safety net of housing," Stewart said.

Stewart, a Lutheran minister who joined the organization last year, said the homeless community in North Charleston has not been adequately served. She referenced the Charleston-based One80 Place, which provides housing for men; and Patriot Villas, a veterans housing complex off Rivers Avenue.

But there is need for a homeless shelter in North Charleston, Stewart said. The facility would be a "one-stop shop" where people can access other resources, such as mental-health support, alcohol and drug treatment and job training.

The center would be a space where parents could stay with their children, Stewart said.

The space will also be a center where faith leaders can serve as mentors to people in need of spiritual support.

The organization has continued through the pandemic providing food and financial assistance. The crisis highlighted the need for Tricounty Family to do more, Stewart said.

We want to really expand that and add housing to that so we can be the place where the community gathers to be empowered," she said. "Its really about walking together in this journey.

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The ministries recently hosted a meeting with dozens of local, state and federal elected officials to lay out a multiyear plan that involves addressing homelessness. There were representatives for U.S. Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham and U.S. Reps. Jim Clyburn and Nancy Mace.

"The nice thing was to see all of the powerhouse players that all showed up," said City Councilwoman Rhonda Jerome.

The city's southern end contains a handful of low-wealth communities in which people lack basic resources. Many people are also homeless, living in tents in wooded areas.

Particularly passionate about these issues is Mickey Bakst, president of Feed the Need, a group that works to raise funds for organizations helping the homeless.

Although Feed the Need has partnered with Tricounty Family for over a decade, Bakst recently became a board member because he said the organization's plan to incorporate housing in its services is important.

Bakst, who retired in September from his post as general manager of Charleston Grill, has observed the southern end's decline over the years and is disturbed by the poverty.

"I have been appalled as a community weve allowed that to happen," he said.

The goal of providing a center to house the homeless and provide education and medical treatment will be "transformative," Bakst said.

The area is also primed for new development and is seeing new investment. Bakst said he wants to see residents take part in the success.

Our dream is to prepare those who live there to be able to carry jobs that give them dignity," he said. "To be able to educate them to be able to care for themselves.

Tricounty Family Ministries' plans are still in the beginning stages and the group is in the process of building support for its long-term goal of building a multipurpose facility. The ministry wants the facility to be in North Charleston along the future Lowcountry Rapid Transit line, Stewart said.
As we all know, the last election was a tipping point election on many different levels. An election won with the use of illegal last-minute changes to state election laws has led to a rogue regime that threatens the very foundations of America. This is being achieved through highly questionable executive orders, the decimation of the concept of national sovereignty and an attack on fossil fuels, the lifeblood of our economy. Moreover, Biden is converting our military into a social justice agency and transforming our intelligence services into witch-hunters for conservatives who dared to protest a stolen election.

More alarming is the lefts goal to make its political power permanent by granting amnesty to 20-30 million illegal aliens, granting statehood to D.C. and Puerto Rico, expanding the Supreme Court, and normalizing the censorship of conservatives, not to mention the institutionalizing of election fraud, especially in key swing states.

There is little doubt, if history is our guide, that should the left achieve permanent political power, future elections will just become show elections, our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights will be diminished, if not gutted, and our economy will become permanently stagnant as with all other socialist economies in the world. It will be the beginning of the end of America as we know it.

A proposal to challenge this attack on our rights

Our Founders, however, were extremely wary of federal power and thus created a number of checks and balances to counter it. One of them was the ability by the states to nullify federal laws and even Supreme Court decisions. As most conservatives know, nullification is when a State decides to not abide by a federal law, regulation or even a Federal court ruling by simply refusing to enforce it. This concept is rooted in the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which plainly states that if the states, who are the creators of the federal government, have not specifically given them authority, that authority rests with the states and the people of the state:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Over the last 150 years or so, liberal legislators and judges have violated the Tenth Amendment by illegally expanding the scope and power of the federal government. We know that Federal power is limited because such powers were actually enumerated or listed in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution and include actions such as To lay and collect taxes, coin money, and raise and support Armies. The federal government was not given any role in education, health, welfare, transportation, energy, or even with maintaining secure borders. All those issues were left up to the states to decide. If our founders wanted to expand the federal government into every area of our life, they would not have specifically listed the very few powers they granted it.

Conservative constitutional scholars such as Thomas E. Woods, in his book, Nullification, How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century, documents that our Founders believed that if a law is unconstitutional and therefore void and of no effect, it is up to the states, the parties to the federal compact, to declare it so and thus refuse to enforce it.

The left will scream about such nullification efforts, but they have been engaged in nullifying federal laws for years. For example, all state laws legalizing marijuana are illegal since theyre in conflict with federal narcotic laws, but states have simply refused to enforce these federal laws and so have nullified them. Likewise, states controlled by the left have allowed various cities and counties to become sanctuaries in which they refused to abide by federal immigration laws. And no, the Marines were not sent in nor did any state or city even suffer the loss of federal funding.

It is time our side use this tactic as a way of protecting our constitutional rights. Here are some of the issues that could be affected by the concept of nullification:

Of course, states will be reluctant to invoke nullification but the alternative would be to watch our constitutional rights be trashed by leftists. The MAGA movement in the Red States needs to became active in urging legislators and governors to start reclaiming their constitutional powers and begin nullifying illegal Federal law.

Once states are engaged in nullifying federal laws, I believe we will witness what I call the great migration in which conservatives will leave blue states to live in red states and vice-versa. And yes, this could lead to a peaceful balkanization of America in which the Red states become redder and the Blue states become bluer, but this is not our fault. It is the left that is assaulting our constitutional rights and if conservatives desire to live in states that protect their rights, then so be it.

Already, we are seeing some movement in the states on the nullification front. The Arizona Senate passed a bill that declares it will not enforce federal gun control laws. Oklahoma, South Dakota and North Dakota legislators have all introduced legislation that nullifies Bidens executive orders.

Nullification is simply returning America to its original system of governance in which most governmental authority is decentralized to the states and counties. The federal government cant do much about it other than to cut federal funding for some state programs, but perhaps the time has come for states to do away with these federal handcuffs.

Image: AHC300
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 15:14:59|Editor: huaxia

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An elderly woman receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine during a drive-thru vaccination campaign for elderly people in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, March 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)

by Bambang Purwanto

JAKARTA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian Health Ministry has provided the elderly and workers in the tourism sector with drive-thru services to give them easier access to getting vaccinated against COVID-19 with shorter distance from their houses or work places.

For the time being, the drive-thru services take place only in the capital city of Jakarta and the tourist resort island of Bali.

"With the drive-thru services, the elderly will not queue and go far to health facilities to get vaccinated," the Indonesian COVID-19 mitigation task force's spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said.

According to Adisasmito, the Health Ministry carried out the drive-thru services in cooperation with Halodoc, an Indonesian company which provides online health consultation, and Gojek which is an Indonesian company dealing with ride hailing services.

The services started on March 3 and will be in the place till the end of 2021, he said, adding that senior citizens who want to participate in the services just register with Halodoc through its health service application which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time.

"The cooperation with Halodoc and Gojek is not a form of commercialization of the COVID-19 vaccine. This cooperation is an effort to increase vaccination coverage in Jakarta. In addition, the drive-thru vaccination program is free of charge," Wiku said.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry implements the COVID-19 vaccination for workers in the tourism sector in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, ride hailing company Grab and online health consultation firm Good Doctor.

The COVID-19 vaccination program is carried out also using a drive thru system located on the island of Bali.

The first phase of vaccination in Bali was from Feb. 27 to March 5, and the second phase will be from March 13-19. It is also free of charge and expected to accelerate herd immunity and restore the tourism sector on the island of Bali.

As Reported on the Health Ministry's website, related to the flow of drive thru vaccination, the organizers provided services such as verification posts, health checks, vaccination and final observation.

In principle, the stages carried out are the same as the current vaccination methods except that all participants do not need to get off the vehicles.

After being vaccinated, the participants are required to wait for 30 minutes. They can wait in the cars or in the tents that have been provided by the organizers.

During the observation, the car windows should be lowered to make it easier for health workers to monitor, and if there are complaints, the participants are asked to honk the horns as a signal to the workers.

If there are no complaints during the observation period, they are allowed to go home. Certificates of proof of getting vaccinated will be sent via short messages of mobile phones.

In Jakarta, the city health office provides mini intensive care units, mobile ambulances and motorcycles as fast reaction units in anticipation of possible complaints from the participants after vaccination.

This vaccination services involve a number of teams of health workers and vaccinators. In addition, to regulate the smooth running of the services, the organizers also deploy a team that is ready to help usher the participants starting from the registration process until they receive certificates of proof that they have been vaccinated.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin appreciated the drive-thru vaccination can help accelerate the national vaccination program.

The government targets to have 181.5 million Indonesians get vaccinated. The vaccination process began on January 13 and is planned to be completed within one year.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Sudharta, CEO and cofounder of Halodoc, said he was proud to be appointed as the first and only official partner for the Health Ministry in presenting COVID-19 vaccination service posts in the drive thru method.

"We believe that this cross-stakeholder collaboration can help achieve the government's COVID-19 vaccination program targets this year," Sudharta said.

Kevin Aluwi, the co-Founder and co-CEO at Gojek, also appreciated the government's policies and efforts to prioritize the elderly as vaccine recipients. Enditem
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Yosemite Main Entrance - Highway 120 View Photo

Sonora, CA  A man has been charged with the alleged sexual assault of another man in Yosemite almost a year ago.

Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert relayed that a fivecount indictment was unsealed Friday charging 30-year-old Charles Porter, formerly of Chino Hills, with the attack. Those charges include assault with intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse, assault with the intent to commit abusive sexual contact, attempted aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact, and assault by striking, beating, or wounding.

Court documents revealed the incident took place on April 14, 2020, when Porter assaulted the victim while making non-consensual sexual contact with him in an attempt to sexually assault the victim. according to Talbert. No additional details were released regarding the attack or the relationship between the two men.

The investigation was conducted by the National Park Service. Prosecutors disclose that Porter faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. In a written press release they added, Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Novavax Inc's COVID-19 vaccine was 96% effective in preventing cases caused by the original version of the coronavirus in a late-stage trial conducted in the United Kingdom, the company said on Thursday, moving it a step closer to regulatory approval.

There were no cases of severe illness or deaths among those who got the vaccine, the company said, in a sign that it could stop the worse effects of new variants that have cropped up.

The vaccine was 86% effective in protecting against the more contagious virus variant first discovered and now prevalent in the United Kingdom, for a combined 90% effectiveness rate overall based on data from infections of both versions of the coronavirus.

Novavax shares jumped 22% in after-hours trading to $229. They were trading below $10 on Jan. 21, 2020, when the company announced it was developing a coronavirus vaccine.

In a smaller trial conducted in South Africa - where volunteers were primarily exposed to another newer, more contagious variant widely circulating there and spreading around the world - the Novavax vaccine was 55% effective, based on people without HIV, but still fully prevented severe illness.

Novavax Chief Medical Officer Filip Dubovsky said the performance in South Africa suggests there may still be a case for using it in areas where the South African variant is dominant.

Novavax is also developing new formulations of its vaccine to protect against emerging variants and plans to initiate clinical testing of these shots in the second quarter of this year.

Results from the final analysis of the UK trial were largely in line with interim data released in January.

The company expects to use the data to submit for regulatory authorization in various countries. It is not clear when it will seek U.S. authorization or if regulators will require it to complete an ongoing trial in the United States.

Novavax expects data from a 30,000-person trial in the United States and Mexico by early April.

Dubovsky said that Novavax is still planning to file for authorization from UK regulators early in the second quarter of 2021.

The UK trial, which enrolled more than 15,000 people aged 18 to 84, assessed efficacy of the vaccine during a period with high transmission of the UK virus variant now circulating widely.

Also read: Blood clotting incidents raise alarm; Denmark, Norway, Iceland suspend AstraZeneca vaccine supply

The shot's effectiveness in the South Africa trial declined to around 49% when the analysis included data from HIV-positive participants.

The vaccine could be cleared for use in the United States as soon as May if U.S. regulators decide the UK data is enough to make a decision. It could take a couple months longer if they insist on first seeing data from the U.S. trial, its chief executive told Reuters earlier this month.

"Ultimately, they have to decide whether the data we can bring to the table is adequate or whether they would prefer to wait on data from our U.S. study," Dubovsky said on Thursday.

Novavax's vaccine production plants should all be fully functional by April, executives said on a March investor call. The drugmaker expects to have tens of millions of doses stockpiled and ready to ship in the United States when it receives authorization, CEO Stanley Erck told Reuters.

Novavax plans to produce its two-shot vaccine at eight manufacturing locations, including the Serum Institute of India.

If authorized, it would follow three COVID-19 vaccines previously approved for use in Britain from Pfizer and partner BioNTech, Moderna Inc and the AstraZeneca shot developed with Oxford University.

The Maryland-based company has received $1.6 billion from the U.S. government in funding for the vaccine trial and to secure 100 million doses.

Also read: US firm Novavax partners with Serum; offers 1.1 bn COVID-19 vaccine to COVAX
Tom Holland will be considered a major Hollywood star playing both "Spider-Man" and "James Bond."

In an interview with Mark Wright on Heart, the 24-year-old revealed he would immediately jump at the chance to take on the role of 007, feeling lucky "enough as it is" playing Peter Parker.

"It's a dream come true," when asked if he would be playing Bond.

"I've got to remind myself that I'm lucky enough as it is. 'Spider-Man' is an absolute delight and privilege to play, but you know, should they want to do a younger James Bond, you best believe I would be there."

He added, "It is what it is; we'll have to wait and see."

Kinda obsessed with the way @TomHolland1996 keeps calling @MarkWright_ 'MATE' to be honest!   



Oh, and there's an in-depth interview about Spider-Man, James Bond and Cherry here too.  pic.twitter.com/de6LpwEeZZ  Heart (@thisisheart) March 11, 2021

53-year-old Daniel Craig is currently the star of the James Bond franchise but confirmed in 2020 that his movie, "No Time to Die," will be his last appearance as the secret agent.

Despite being a massive franchise, there is still no news who the next James Bond will be. A wide range of actors has been touted as Craig's replacement.

These include Tom Hardy, Idris Alba, and even "Bridgerton" star Rege-Jean Page.

Tom Holland Movies Blowing Up on Netflix

According to FlixPatrol, two of Tom Holland's movies are blowing up on Netflix.

Netflix users can't seem to get enough of the British star's movies. As of Thursday, his "Spider-Man" sequel "Spider-Man: Far From Home" and his 2015 drama "In The Heart of the Sea" is just two of the most popular movies on the streaming platform.

The "Spider-Man" sequel is on the ninth spot, while the drama is the 12th most viewed movie on the streamer across the globe.

"In The Heart of the Sea" was based on a real-life sinking of a whaling ship in the 1800s, an event that also inspired "Moby Dick."

The Warner Bros. movie at the time wasn't a hit, earning mixed reviews. It even failed to recoup its $100 million budget.

However, maybe the appeal of Holland and Chris Hemsworth, who is the lead in the film, is making the movie popular to watch on Netflix right now.

Tom Holland's Latest Movie 'Cherry'

The Marvel star has been busy with interviews and press appearances in the last few weeks, promoting his latest movie "Cherry," which premieres on Mar. 12 on Apple TV Plus.

The film follows his title character, a former army medic suffering from PTSD, later turning to rob banks to fund his drug addiction.

"Cherry" is directed by the Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe, who also directed the previous movies Tom Holland worked on, such as "Captain America: Civil War," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Avengers: End Game."

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
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Materials used to build the new Greystones Community National School have passed fire safety tests, Western Building Systems has confirmed.

The next and potentially final meeting in the conciliation process is expected to take place next Tuesday, March 16.

WBS chief executive Martin McCloskey said the latest test, which was carried out this week by an independent expert nominated by the Department of Education and Skills, performed at almost double the required standard and proved conclusively there was no need to have denied pupils and teachers occupation of the new school premises.

Tests were conducted as part of a conciliation process between the Department of Education and developers WBS.

The process is still ongoing and handover of the building from the developer to the department has yet to take place.

The school building was due to open last September but the Department of Education did not accept handover, saying that the building had failed a fire safety test. WBS refuted that claim.

Up to 300 pupils are currently enrolled at the school, which is located in prefabs at Greystones Rugby Club.

Mr McCloskey said that the school was fit for occupation last July.

He said the building had been given a certificate of compliance on July 2 2020 and had been deemed suitable for occupation or use by the Department's Assigned Certifiers, RPS Group prior to the Department of Education and Skills' 'inexplicable' decision to withhold its consent for the buildings to be occupied on the basis of them being 'not yet fit' for handover on July 29, 2020.

At the time, Mr McCloskey said that he knew of no reason why pupils and staff could not move from the temporary accommodation to the new building.

'We were completely in the dark as to why the handover had been delayed at the very last minute as all the necessary certifications of completion had been agreed by all parties,' he said.

'While we are conscious we are still in a conciliation process and this information needs to be considered within that process, we trust we are now much closer to the stage where the children and teachers can now make plans move into their new school and a line can be drawn under this unfortunate affair which has left the Irish taxpayer with a significant bill to cover the temporary accommodation.'

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly welcomed reports that the Greystones Community National School has passed a crucial fire test.

The result now opens the way for the dispute that has kept the school closed since September to be resolved, he said.

A fire test took place in Watford in the UK last Thursday (4th) using materials used in the construction of the school which were at the centre of the dispute.

The test involves those materials being burned to see how fire resistant they are.

In the week before testing the department said they hoped the conciliation process would end on March 10 although it could be extended. The process is now expected to conclude on March 16.

Minister Donnelly said he hoped the breakthrough could now lead to a speedy resolution of the remaining outstanding issues. 'It's absolutely fantastic to see the school getting the green light after undergoing the fire safety test,' he said.

'It has taken years to get this school built but the past few months have been immensely stressful for the pupils, parents, and staff.

'We have had a state-of-the-art facility standing idle for too long while the children have been forced to remain in prefabs.

'This result I hope will also help clarify the situation for the Greystones Community College which has been left in limbo as a result of this dispute.

'I know the Department of Education has been working hard to get this issue resolved but a major hurdle is now out of the way.

'I will continue to work with both schools in until we get the various issues resolved and can give the parents and pupils the certainty they deserve.'
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County library to unveil story walk project in Vanderbilt

The Otsego County Library is hosting a ceremony Saturday to formally open the latest story walk project.
Tesla is in initial talks with the largest Indian integrated power company, Tata Power, about a possible agreement about electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in India, CNBC-TV18 reported on Friday, citing sources, as the U.S. EV maker prepares to set up foot in the country.

The talks are still in very early stages, and no agreement has been signed yet, the sources told CNBC-TV18.

According to the outlet, Tesla plans to initially have two or three sales outlets in India with the official launch this year, and will tie up with at least four or five of its local component suppliers.

Since the start of this year, various reports and comments from Indian officials have suggested that Tesla is preparing to set up an assembly, or possibly manufacturing, unit in India.

In January 2021, Tesla incorporated an Indian subsidiary, Tesla Motors India and Energy Private Limited, in the city of Bengaluru in Karnataka.

Last month, the chief minister of the state of Karnataka, B S Yediyurappa, said that Tesla would set up a car manufacturing unit in India.

American firm Tesla will set up the car-manufacturing unit in Karnataka, the Chief Minister of the state of Karnataka, B S Yediyurappa, said in February, as quoted by the Press Trust of India.

According to documents seen by Reuters, the announcement of Teslas future EV factory in India was part of a longer document with highlights of the Indian budget.

Setting foot in India has been a goal for Tesla for some time. Elon Musk has also entertained this idea with his Twitter followers. Musk has set sights on the potentially huge but largely undeveloped EV market in India, saying in 2019 that he would love Tesla to be there within 2021. Back in 2018, Musk said that challenging government regulations prevented Tesla from entering India.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A large popular vote in the lower house could still be devastating for the Liberals and Nationals with the former a chance to fall to single digit representation. Such a result will stretch cross-bench and opposition politicians to their limits in terms of filling out the panels of the numerous committees that work behind the scenes at parliament. The latest Newspoll for The Australian on the eve of the election had Labor up 66 to 34 per cent over the Liberals on a two-party preferred basis. The 10.5 per cent swing predicted by the poll, if replicated across the state, could see the Liberals only hold three seats  Cottesloe, Churchlands, and Vasse  and the Nationals between four and five, making the latter the new opposition. An unprecedented year leads to a golden opportunity for Labor

Mr McGowan went from unremarkable Mark to a cult figure and WA icon because of his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An initial reluctance to lock WA off from the rest of the country in the early stages of the outbreak fell away in March last year as Tasmania broke ranks from the national cabinet to impose restrictions on interstate arrivals. Loading WA followed suit and soon brought in even tougher measures on April 6, in a bid to stop coronavirus spread, which gave few exemptions for anyone to enter the big state as Mr McGowan and state authorities took the view of using the geographical distance from other population bases and a hard lockdown to save lives. The states rebound and bringing down of restrictions swifter than many other jurisdictions, besides the Northern Territory, has vindicated Mr McGowans conservative approach to the pandemic which has been vindicated by a recent assessment by global ratings agency Standard & Poors that said WA was the best economy in the world over the past 12 months.

Mr McGowans performance and his exposure to a WA public during lockdown as the most important man on the television and live social media videos has fostered a fervour for the Rockingham politician he had never experienced before. The Premier, who has reached approval ratings as high as 91 per cent, now has the opportunity to set up Labor for a potential third term and cement the party as the dominant force in WA at a state and federal level for the next decade. Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup. Credit:Peter de Kruijff The Liberal Party on the other hand are looking at a generational wipeout that will be difficult to rebuild from. Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup holds the smallest margin in his party of 0.7 points [343 votes] and it looks like his political career could be coming to an end after one term.

Mr Kirkup was thrust into the leadership role in November with the backing of backroom powerbrokers ahead of former Finance Minister Dean Nalder after Liza Harvey called it quits. Loading Mrs Harvey was the second Opposition Leader since 2017 after Mike Nahan, who took on the job when no one else wanted it, also stood down. A series of pandemic border policies from Mrs Harvey which were panned by the public have remained a millstone around Mr Kirkups neck which Mr McGowan still attacks the Liberals for. The situation for the Liberal Party got so dire that Mr Kirkup conceded the election last month saying Mr McGowan was going to win, a tactic often employed by parties facing political landslides.

Efforts by the opposition to make the election a hyper local campaign has done little to cut through the goodwill for Mr McGowan and Labor. Every seat saved by the Liberals will be seen as a win for the party at this point as state and federal politicians turn on Mr Kirkup both publicly and privately. The Nationals meanwhile have been running their own race and have openly clashed with the Liberals for the past four years. The regionally-focused party has geared its seat-by-seat re-election hopes on reversing changes to the Royalties for Regions program made by Labor even though their traditional government partners, the Liberals, have baulked at some of the Nationals policies. North West Central MP Vince Catania appears to be the only Nationals MP besides Geraldtons Ian Blayney in danger of losing their lower house seat, as their colleagues have much stronger buffers against a big swing, with an estimated 10.1 point margin following a redistribution to include Kalbarri in Mr Catanias electorate.

What has been promised? Labor has made close to $3 billion worth of pledges which will add about $2.4 billion to WAs net debt over the forward estimates of the budget. Mr McGowans party is promising things like $19.8 million to subsidise flights for regional residents, $60.6 million to cap public transport fares at $5 from January, $355 million to upgrade and build schools, $91.5 million to freeze TAFE fees, a $1.8 billion new womens and babies hospital, an extra 800 police officers, and a $361.6 million mental health plan. Labor is still building its massive Metronet projects and is also working towards constructing a multi-billion dollar outer harbour to replace Fremantle Port.

The Liberals, meanwhile, have promised more than $6 billion worth of state and federally funded projects but say their promises will only cost $2.7 billion all up over the forward estimates with a $1.4 billion impact on net debt in the budget with savings to be found elsewhere. Key promises include the $1.9 billion resurrected Roe 8 and 9 extension which requires a $700 million contribution from the state government but the Liberals say will only cost $125 million in the forward estimates period. A further $200 million has been promised to boost the number of apprentices and trainees by 20,000 in WA, a $316 million mental health package, an extra 1200 police officers, and a public-private partnership to replace publicly-owned coal-fired power stations with renewable energy generation by 2025. How many people have already voted? Early voting did not quite hit the 60 to 70 per cent levels the WA Electoral Commission had been hoping for.

There had been 755,075 votes cast as of Friday night which was 45 per cent of the states 1.7 million electors. One of the largest early turnouts has been in the seat of Mr Kirkup where 62 per cent of the Dawesville electors have already voted. Where can I vote? The WAEC has a great tool where you can search for your closest polling station by typing in your suburb or find a list of places to vote depending on your electorate. If youre wondering whether your nearest voting centre has a cake stall or sausage sizzle you can also jump on the Democracy Sausage website which has an interactive map.

Voting is open from 8am to 6pm and if you have a postal vote you can still mail it on Saturday and it will be counted. When will we know who wins? With Mr McGowan expected to romp home, the election could be called within an hour in the event of a Labor landslide. The 2012 Queensland election was declared by analysts just 48 minutes after the polls closed as the Liberal-National Party, which won 78 of 89 seats in the one-house parliament, went on to record 49 per cent of the primary vote and 62.8 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. Counting for the lower house starts at 6pm but for the upper house it may not get under way until late on Saturday night with a full result not likely to be known until towards the end of the week.

Loading Politics watchers will have a slight idea of whether Labor can get anywhere near 18 or 19 seats to achieve majority control in the Legislative Council comparing the partys primary vote to what it received in 2017. Getting about 57 per cent first preference vote across all electorates in the upper house for Labor would give it the balance of power. The vote is likely to be higher in the city than the bush, however, as Labor is a chance to win as many as four seats in both the south and east metropolitan regions. The Greens are hopeful of maintaining or improving on their first preference vote but will be in a fight with Labor on preferences for some upper house spots.

In any case, the Greens could find themselves in a balance of power situation but would also be in danger of being sidelined on some issues if Labor found more willing cross-bench allies elsewhere. The One Nation primary is expected to drop, with Labor the beneficiary, but the nature of preference flows means its representatives and other cross-bench parties could still be elected with only a handful of first preference votes. What can we expect from a pandemic election? There have been two state and territory elections during the COVID-19 pandemic with the NT going to the polls last August and Queensland in October. Both jurisdictions have sitting Labor governments which were returned.
Hinting at China, the leaders said they would support rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes

US President Joe Biden (L), with Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd L), meets virtually with members of the 'Quad' alliance of Australia, India, Japan and the US, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 12, 2021. - On screen (R) are Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. ( OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP)

New Delhi: With an eye on China, India along with the other three Quad countries  the US, Japan and Australia  committed to a free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion. They said they were committed to promoting a free, open rules-based order, rooted in international law to advance security and prosperity and counter threats to both in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Quad had come of age and that it had become an important pillar of stability in the region.

Modi with United States President Joe Biden, the Japanese and Australian Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga of Japan and Scott Morrison of Australia discussed the Covid Vaccine Initiative as per which Covid would be developed in the US, manufactured in India, financed by Japan and the US, and supported by Australia at the meeting.

After their meeting on Friday evening, Modi, Biden and the Australian and Japanese PMs said, To advance these goals and others, we will redouble our commitment to Quad engagement. We will combine our nations medical, scientific, financing, manufacturing and delivery, and development capabilities and establish a vaccine expert working group to implement our path-breaking commitment to safe and effective vaccine distribution.

They said the quad would launch a critical- and emerging-technology working group to facilitate cooperation on international standards and innovative technologies of the future. They said the quad would establish a climate working group to strengthen climate actions globally on mitigation, adaptation, resilience, technology, capacity-building, and climate finance.

They added, Our experts and senior officials will continue to meet regularly; our foreign ministers will converse often and meet at least once a year. At the leader level, we will hold an in-person summit by the end of 2021.

Hinting at China, the four leaders said, We support the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity. We commit to work together and with a range of partners. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEANs unity and centrality as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Full of potential, the Quad looks forward to the future; it seeks to uphold peace and prosperity and strengthen democratic resilience, based on universal values.

They further said, Our common goals require us to reckon with the most urgent of global challenges. Today, we pledge to respond to the economic and health impacts of Covid-19, combat climate change, and address shared challenges, including in cyber space, critical technologies, counterterrorism, quality infrastructure investment, and humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief as well as maritime domains.

They added, Building on the progress our countries have achieved on health security, we will join forces to expand safe, affordable, and effective vaccine production and equitable access, to speed economic recovery and benefit global health. With steadfast commitment to the health and safety of our own people, we also recognize that none of us can be safe as long as the pandemic continues to spread. We will, therefore, collaborate to strengthen equitable vaccine access for the Indo-Pacific, with close coordination with multilateral organizations including the World Health Organisation and Covax (a global initiative to ensure easy access to the Covid vaccine). We call for transparent and results-oriented reform at the World Health Organisation. We are united in recognizing that climate change is a global priority and will work to strengthen the climate actions of all nations, including to keep a Paris-aligned temperature limit within reach.

The four leader said, We look forward to a successful COP-26 in Glasgow. We will begin cooperation on the critical technologies of the future to ensure that innovation is consistent with a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. We will continue to prioritise the role of international law in the maritime domain, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and facilitate collaboration, including in maritime security, to meet challenges to the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas. We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, and also confirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese abductees.

The leaders said, As long-standing supporters of Myanmar and its people, we emphasize the urgent need to restore democracy and the priority of strengthening democratic resilience.
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Stephen Harper: Tech Integration With China Incompatible

Former Canadian PM warns defence conference of Beijings hegemonic nature

Chinas technology apparatus is geared to do the very things that alarm western democracies about big tech, former prime minister Stephen Harper told attendees at a defence and security conference on March 12.

The biggest single concern that Western citizens  have about big tech is about power. Its about privacy, its about surveillance, its about the use of personal data, Harper said, speaking at the Conference of Defence Associations Institutes Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence in a keynote discussion with his former national security adviser Richard Fadden.

The entire Chinese technology system is designed for that purpose.

Harper said hes not against Chinese consumer products, but that Beijing should not be allowed to have its technology at the core of the systems of Western democracies.

He spoke of the double edged sword that tech is: while it increases what humans can achieve in a number of ways, it can also be used as an instrument for authoritarianism.

Harper touted his efforts as prime minister to put in a national security review for foreign investment coming into Canada. He said Chinas resource demand has benefited Canada, but warns there are always risks from the hegemonic side.

Specifically, the Chinese regimes interest in data and technology is more problematic than its interest in the oilsands or rare earth minerals, he said.

The two Chinese telecommunications giants Huawei and ZTE had penetrated Canada long before they caught the attention of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, Harper noted.

These companies may be private companies in form, but in practice they are extensions of the Chinese state security apparatus. Its that simple, he said.

Canada is the only member of the Five Eyes to have not yet banned Huawei from its 5G infrastructure, or not have a plan to phase it out, in the case of the UK.

Tech integration with China is incompatible, Harper said.

Unfair Trade

Regarding Chinas perception of the West, Harper said the regime must be incredulous that it has been given almost unlimited access to Western markets while effectively constraining reciprocal accessand that this arrangement has been allowed to go on for so long.

Canadas trade deficit with China has grown consistently since China became a member of the World Trade Organization roughly 20 years ago.

Harper said former U.S. president Donald Trump was fundamentally right about losing economic activity to China, not being compensated for it, and that it took Western leaders too long to figure this out. But Beijing is also concerned about growing anti-Chinese rhetoric in the West, he added.

So-Called China Experts

Harper criticized China experts who suggest that the states belligerent nature has just emerged under the leadership of Xi Jinping.

I think the reading of China was completely wrong by so-called China experts for many years. China is not an insular and passive countryit is a large country with hegemonic ambition, he said, adding that the pillars of aggression were in place under Xis predecessor Hu Jintao, for example.

The difference with Xi is that he is more outspoken about Chinas ambitions, Harper added.

Under Xi, there has been more emphasis on state-owned enterprises, according to Harper, and he thinks this will prove problematic.

Big Picture

Harper said the United States still remains the worlds pre-eminent power, but that the world is best described as a G2++ with the United States and China the two dominant powers. The relationship is not unlike another Cold War, except that the blocs around the two countries are not as well defined this time and the China-U.S. rivalry also has mutual dependencies, he added.

Harper said the China-U.S. relationship is the biggest strategic concern for smaller Asian countries.

How do you continue to benefit from the Chinese economic relationship while not making yourself vulnerable to China in a security sense and keeping that security relationship with the United States? he said.

Screenshot of Richard Fadden and Stephen Harper at the Conference of Defence Associations Institute conference in Ottawa on March 12, 2021. (CDA Institute screenshot)

He said Russia is a hacker, a disruptor, a mercenary, and doesnt do anything to shape the world in a positive sense. Harper was in power when Russia was removed from the G8.

Harper said Canada needs the United States to be an effective multilateral global leader in the world and that U.S. President Joe Biden has two strengthshes engaging and easy to dialogue with, and is an expert in foreign and security policy.

However, Harper said he has not been able to discern Bidens foreign policy or what his strategic philosophy is, noting that Trump understood that a country has friends and foes.

Harper was Canadas 22nd prime minister and served from 2006 to 2015. He now leads a consulting firm focusing on financial services, technology, and the energy sector.

His 2018 book Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption was written to help leaders in the private and public sectors based on his decade of experience as a G7 leader, according to his website.
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Priti Patel has called for a 'full report' from Metropolitan Police after officers manhandled screaming women amid extraordinary clashes at a vigil to mourn the death of Sarah Everard.

Four arrests were made after hundreds of people defied lockdown to gather without social distancing, but scenes were peaceful until police moved to block the bandstand and shocking scenes of violence proceeded to break out in Clapham Common, south London.

The Home Secretary revealed she has asked the force for a 'full report' following 'upsetting' footage widely circulated online after an estimated 1,500 people gathered for an unofficial vigil to mourn the death of the 33-year-old marketing executive.

The force said it will conduct an inquiry into what happened and 'accepts the actions of our officers have been questioned' but added officers wanted to 'act to ensure public safety'.

Dozens of police officers moving in on the bandstand to block access to speakers sparked tensions in the crowd and mourners started chanting 'arrest your own' and 'shame on you' as scenes quickly turned violent.

Officers pinned women to the ground to handcuff them - and London Mayor Sadiq Khan later slammed the police's 'unacceptable' response as 'neither appropriate nor proportionate'.

He added that he was in contact with Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, led calls for Commissioner Dick's resignation, adding: 'Cressida Dick has lost the confidence of the millions of women in London and should resign.'

Earlier this afternoon, during more peaceful scenes, a maskless Duchess of Cambridge made a brief and unannounced visit to Clapham Common to lay daffodils in tribute to Miss Everard.

Kensington Palace said Kate Middleton 'remembers what it was like to walk around London at night before she was married' and 'wanted to pay her respects to the family and to Sarah'.

The visit came after a planned vigil was cancelled, with organisers citing the police's 'lack of constructive engagement' to help make it Covid secure. Instead, officers gathered in force to break up the growing crowds.

Hundreds of mourners, estimated at around 1,500, defied lockdown rules to gather to lay tributes at the bandstand in Clapham Common - near where Miss Everard was last seen alive before her disappearance.

Footage posted to social media this evening showed a tussle between Met Police officers and some of the crowd as some shouted 'you are scum' following the brief clash. One woman screamed 'you're supposed to protect us' as others chanted 'the sisters united will never be defeated'.

Politicians from across all three political parties tonight condemned the scenes which are expected to throw a spotlight on Commissioner Dick's handling of the force.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Liberal Democrats' Sir Ed and Conservative MP Steve Baker were among parliamentarians to condemn the heavy-handed approach, as Mr Baker called events in Clapham 'unspeakable scenes'.

Met Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh disputed the criticism as he said: 'Politicians of all parties should make themselves aware of all the facts before rushing to judgement and making statements.'

A woman was pinned to the ground in Clapham Common amid rising tensions on Saturday night

A woman was arrested by a police officer in Clapham Common this evening as police tried to break it up

Tense scenes on Clapham Common, south London on Saturday after hundreds of women gathered to pay tribute to Miss Everard

Emotions were high tonight as thousands gathered on Clapham Common to pay tribute to Sarah Everard

People gather to pay their respects at a vigil on Clapham Common, where floral tributes have been placed for Sarah Everard

Police detain a woman as people gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common bandstand on Saturday night

Police officers kept watch from the bandstand in Clapham Common on Saturday night as clashes continued

Hundreds of people held up the torches on their phones in memory of Ms Everard

Hundreds of mourners defied social distancing measures to gather at Clapham Common on Saturday night

An estimated 1,500 people gathered on Clapham Common on Saturday holding signs reading 'She was just walking home' and 'We are the 97 per cent'

Earlier on Saturday, mourners broke down in tears as they paid their respects to the 33-year-old marketing manager who disappeared on her way home from visiting a friend on March 3.

It comes a day after Scotland Yard confirmed human remains found in Kent belonged to Ms Everard. On Saturday, serving police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, was remanded in custody after appearing in Westminster Magistrates' court charged with kidnap and murder.

Duchess of Cambridge lays daffodils during unannounced visit to Sarah Everard vigil The Duchess of Cambridge yesterday paid a remarkable tribute to Sarah Everard by laying daffodils at a vigil to her memory. In a touching expression of unity, she mingled with hundreds of tearful women on Clapham Common in London, who were mostly unaware of Royalty in their midst. An aide said that Kate, 39, wished to 'pay her respects to the family and to Sarah' and could clearly remember 'what it was like to walk around London at night before she was married'. The powerful memorial event took place close to where the 33-year-old marketing executive went missing and served both as a tribute to Ms Everard and as a way of highlighting the wider issue of violence against women. The Duchess of Cambridge at the vigil yesterday Rianne Thompson, 26, who was at the vigil, said: 'Kate coming here today shows that this has affected all women, no matter who you are.' Dressed in a green wax Barbour jacket, jeans and boots, the Duchess arrived mid-afternoon, striding purposefully across the Common, trailed discreetly by a female Royal Protection Officer. Once at the bandstand, a focal point for the steady stream of visitors that had become circled by a carpet of flowers, she paused in reflection before bending down to add two bunches of daffodils picked that morning from the Kensington Palace gardens and tied with ribbons. She spent several minutes looking at the many written tributes beneath posters bearing slogans such as 'End Violence Against Women' and 'When Will Women Be Safe?' Onlookers said that the Duchess appeared upset as she left the Common. After graduating in 2005, Kate lived in a three-bedroom flat in Chelsea, less than two miles from the spot where marketing executive Ms Everard was kidnapped as she walked home on March 3. Advertisement

The court heard Miss Everard's body was found inside a builder's bag and identified through the use of dental records.

During the impromptu vigil, an unnamed anti-lockdown protester had to be escorted away by police officers after he stood on the bandstand to rant about not being able to see his friends. He was met with a chorus of shouts as one woman screamed 'this isn't about you' and another added 'this woman has died'.

As scenes turned violent after sunset, politicians joined forces to condemn the Met Police's approach. Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper tweeted that the scenes in Clapham were 'disgusting and completely avoidable'.

The Home Secretary Ms Patel tweeted: 'Some of the footage circulating online from the vigil in Clapham is upsetting. I have asked the Metropolitan Police for a full report on what happened. My thoughts remain with Sarah's family and friends at this terrible time.'

London Mayor Mr Khan tweeted: 'The scenes from Clapham Common are unacceptable. The police have a responsibility to enforce Covid laws but from images I've seen it's clear the response was at times neither appropriate nor proportionate. I'm contact with the Commissioner & urgently seeking an explanation.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'The scenes in Clapham this evening are deeply disturbing. Women came together to mourn Sarah Everard - they should have been able to do so peacefully. I share their anger and upset at how this has been handled. This was not the way to police this protest.'

Earlier in the day he tweeted: 'Tonight I will light a candle for Sarah Everard. The whole country's thoughts are with Sarah's friends and family at this awful time.

'Violence against women and girls is still far too common. I will do everything I can to help make our streets safe and to end this injustice.'

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn shared a picture of candles on his windowsill, tweeting: 'Women must be safe on our streets. Solidarity with Sarah. Women must be safe to walk peacefully everywhere.'

'The Met Police must answer for their actions at Clapham Common this evening,' he added.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Dame Cressida to 'consider' her leadership of the force.

In a letter to the Commissioner, he wrote: 'The scenes this evening of the policing of the Clapham Common vigil in memory of Sarah Everard are utterly disgraceful and shame the Metropolitan Police.

'The vigil this evening was a peaceful one brought together in the most horrific of circumstances.

'Across the country, countless women have told their own painful stories of harassment and abuse. Your officers should have been standing in solidarity with those on Clapham Common tonight not being ordered to disrupt this display of grief and peaceful protest.

'This was a complete abject tactical and moral failure on the part of the Police.

'We therefore call on you to consider your leadership of the service and whether you can continue to have the confidence of the millions of women in London that you have a duty to safeguard and protect.'

Conservative candidate for London mayor Shaun Bailey said: 'The scenes at Sarah Everard's vigil in Clapham tonight are horrifying.

'With ultimate responsibility for policing and public safety in London, the Mayor must immediately explain how these events were allowed to unfold.

'If Sadiq Khan wasn't involved in tonight's operational decision making, given the significance of tonight's vigil, he should have made sure he was.

'If he was involved - he has serious questions to answer.'

Fellow London Mayor hopeful Laurence Fox wrote: 'Appalling and heavy handed policing of a vigil to a murdered woman in London. The public cannot maintain trust in a police force that is seen to be applying different set of rules to different protests depending on the political motivation of the protest.'

Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy tweeted footage of the clashes at Clapham Common. 'This could have been the socially distanced vigil the community needed to remember Sarah and all the women who have lost their lives to violence. We knew what was going to happen if the event was shut down.'

She added: 'I know Lambeth Borough officers made efforts to compromise with the organisers but were overruled from high up.'They'll be left to deal with the fallout of this and the further burden it places on already strained community relationships. Very disappointing from Scotland Yard.'

Kensington Palace said Kate (pictured) 'wanted to pay her respects to the family and to Sarah', reported Sky. 'She remembers what is was like to walk around London at night before she was married,' the palace added

The unexpected visit came after a planned vigil was cancelled, with organisers citing the Met Police's 'lack of constructive engagement' to help make it Covid secure

People clash with police during a gathering at a memorial site in Clapham Common

Police clash with mourners at a vigil in Clapham Common, south London, on Saturday after the event was officially cancelled

Police surround a woman as people gathered at a memorial site in Clapham Common on Saturday in tribute to Miss Everard

Clashes broke out between protesters and police officers as the night wore on

Fights broke out as people battled against police officers on Saturday evening in Clapham Common

Women shouted at police as they gathered near the bandstand in Clapham Common this evening

A mourner lights a candle at a makeshift altar next to the Clapham Common bandstand during a vigil tonight

Police officers blocked people from accessing the bandstand as those in the crowd held up candles

Police attempt to break up a vigil for Ms Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common

Mourners stand opposite police officers as people gather at a memorial site at the Clapham Common Bandstand

People talk to police as they gather at the band stand in Clapham Common

A line of police officers blocked the flowers and tributes left in memory of Ms Everard

The bandstand was surrounded by flowers laid three-foot deep as people gathered for a vigil

Crowds gathered around the bandstand in Clapham Common on Saturday in a peaceful vigil ahead of the unrest

One video posted online showed Metropolitan Police officers grabbing women stood within the bandstand in Clapham Common before leading them away, to screaming and shouting from onlookers.

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey tweeted: 'The MET police have acted terribly and caused great harm and hurt. Millions of women are angry and in grief, Sarah Everard's horrific murder and the millions of acts of assault women face every day are why women created this vigil.'

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds light a candle on the doorstep of Downing Street Candles have been lit on doorsteps and in windows in tribute to Sarah Everard. From the doorstep of Number 10 Downing Street to the homes of celebrities and activists, the 33-year-old was remembered on Saturday evening. The simple act of lighting a candle had been promoted by the Reclaim These Streets group after in-person vigils in honour of Ms Everard and all women they described as 'lost to violence' were cancelled amid coronavirus restrictions. A candle lit by Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds was placed on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street. A candle was left on the doorstep of Number 10 yesterday The Prime Minister had earlier said he 'cannot imagine how unbearable' the pain and grief is for Ms Everard's family and friends. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were pictured holding a candle outside their home in north London during the doorstep vigil. Labour MP Jess Phillips said she is feeling 'sad and angry and determined'. She tweeted: 'I am on my doorstep. Sad and angry and determined that our lives and our liberty have got to matter more than they do today. Tonight is for Sarah, her family and all who feel the loss.' Actor Richard E Grant tweeted a video of himself with his eyes closed beside a candle, with a caption stating Ms Everard's name alongside several heartbreak emojis. It's A Sin actor Keeley Hawes tweeted: 'In memory of Sarah Everard Thinking of her and her loved ones.' Following controversial scenes in Clapham, where police officers clashed with some of those attending a gathering in memory of Ms Everard, television presenter Kirstie Allsopp said the act of lighting a candle 'still matters'. She tweeted: 'It still matters that we light a candle at 9.30. I know it feels like a small thing in the face of so much. But please go and find your candle now.' Advertisement

He added: 'I am an ally. #ReclaimTheseStreets.'

Conservative MP Steve Baker described events in Clapham as 'unspeakable scenes'.

'You need to change lockdown law now @BorisJohnson,' he tweeted.

Mr Baker has been a prominent campaigner from the backbenches for a faster loosening of coronavirus restrictions than planned by the Government.

Conservative MP Caroline Nokes wrote: 'Truly shocked at the scenes from Clapham Common - in this country we police by consent - not by trampling the tributes to a woman who was murdered and dragging other women to the ground. Badly misjudged by #metpolice'

Labour MP Harriet Harman wrote: 'Met mishandled vigil plan from the outset. They should have reached agreement. Terrible scenes in Clapham. I don't want to see any of these women in court.'

Another, MP Paula Barker, said: 'These scenes of Police manhandling women who had come to mourn the death of Sarah Everard are deeply disturbing. Serious questions need to be raised.'

And Labour MP David Lammy added: 'Women should have been able to mourn the death of Sarah Everard in peace. The images of male police officers manhandling women at this moment of national trauma are distressing. The way this was policed was wrong and lessons must be learned.'

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds described the scenes in Clapham as 'deeply distressing'.

'I share the anger there is about the policing of this and lessons need to be learned,' he tweeted. 'People should have been able to mark this moment peacefully and safely. This is a national moment for change.

'Women across the country have shared powerful testimonies of unacceptable abuse and the desperate, long overdue, need for change. We need to find a way for people to show solidarity safely, and in a Covid-safe way.

'At the heart of this we should also keep at the forefront of our minds the anguish that Sarah Everard's family must be going through and prioritise finding ways to support them.'

A Reclaim These Streets event was due to be held tonight at the bandstand on Clapham Common, near where Ms Everard went missing, but organisers yesterday failed to secure a High Court ruling that lockdown - which bans gatherings - should not stop their right to protest.

Despite urging people to conduct a vigil at their doorstep with a candle, hundreds of people arrived at Clapham Common this evening and similar gatherings have been held in Bournemouth, Leeds, Cambridge and Bristol.

Following violence at vigils, Reclaim These Streets said it was 'deeply saddened and angered by the scene of police officers physically manhandling women at a vigil against male violence'.

A spokesman added: 'From the start Reclaim These Streets set out to work closely with the Met to ensure this vigil could go ahead safely, so women could stand together peacefully and safely to remember Sarah Everard and all the women lost to male violence.

'The Metropolitan Police failed to work with us despite the High Court ruling yesterday that a vigil could potentially go ahead lawfully. In doing so they created a risky and unsafe situation. It is their responsibility to protect public order, public health and the right to protest - they failed tonight on all accounts.

'All the time they spent fighting us on a legal claim that the Judge agreed should not have been necessary and was caused by the Metropolitan Police's stance, they could've been working with us to ensure the vigil went ahead in a safe way. The Judge was clear and the Metropolitan Police conceded minutes before the hearing, that there was no blanket ban on protest under the current law. They then had an opportunity - and a responsibility to work with us safely and within the law.

'This week of all weeks the police should have understood that women would need a place to mourn, reflect and show solidarity. Now is the time for the police and the Government to recognise that the criminal justice system is failing women. Tonight, it has failed women again, in the most destructive way. We will keep fighting for women's voices to be heard and to matter.'

The vigil was planned for Saturday in memory of marketing executive Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home to Brixton on March 3

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'The scenes in Clapham this evening are deeply disturbing.' Pictured, Starmer with his wife Victoria outside their home

A large candle was placed outside 10 Downing Street in remembrance of Ms Everard as vigil's were held across the country

A well-wisher places a tribute on the growing pile from a gap in a police cordon at the band-stand

Crowds gathered around the band stand in Clapham Common, south London, on Saturday afternoon

Met Police faced with 'very difficult decision' before clashes with mourners at Sarah Everard's vigil Responding to backlash, the Met Police's assistant commissioner Helen Ball said officers were faced with a 'very difficult decision'. She added: 'May I start by extending my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sarah Everard. Across the Met we are still extremely saddened and shocked by the tragic circumstance of her disappearance and death. 'Earlier tonight, I joined the Commissioner in a candlelit vigil outside New Scotland Yard. I know many thousands of people up and down the nation also held similar vigils in Sarah's name. 'I recognise that the decision by the organisers to cancel the Reclaim These Streets vigil in Clapham Common was deeply unwelcome news. Even so, given the ever present threat of Coronavirus, this was the right decision to make. 'Today, for over six hours hundreds of people came to lay flowers and pay their respects to Sarah in Clapham Common in a safe and lawful way. 'Around 6pm, more people began to gather close to the bandstand within the Common. Some started to make speeches from the bandstand. These speeches then attracted more people to gather closer together. 'At this point, officers on the ground were faced with a very difficult decision. Hundreds of people were packed tightly together, posing a very real risk of easily transmitting Covid-19. 'Police must act for people's safety, this is the only responsible thing to do. The pandemic is not over and gatherings of people from right across London and beyond, are still not safe. 'Those who gathered were spoken to by officers on a number of occasions and over an extended period of time. We repeatedly encouraged those who were there to comply with the law and leave. Regrettably, a small minority of people began chanting at officers, pushing and throwing items. 'After speaking with officers, the vast majority of people quickly left. Four arrests have been made for public order offences and for breaches of the Health Protection Regulations. 'Part of the reason I am speaking to you tonight is because we accept that the actions of our officers have been questioned. 'We absolutely did not want to be in a position where enforcement action was necessary. But we were placed in this position because of the overriding need to protect people's safety. 'Let me end by saying that across the Met, we review every single event that we police to see if there are lessons that can be learnt. This one will be no different.' Advertisement

Campaign group Sisters Uncut, which had representatives attending the Clapham vigil, tweeted: 'As soon as the sun went down, police stormed the bandstand. We do NOT answer to violent men.'

The account posted: 'Stay safe. Know your rights: 'NO COMMENT' if cops talk to you. If police ask you to do anything, ask 'am I legally obliged to?'. if they say yes, ask 'under what power?''

Sisters Uncut tweeted claiming 'male police officers waited for the sun to set before they started grabbing and manhandling women in the crowd'.

After the clashes in Clapham, Charlotte Nichols, shadow minister for women and equalities, tweeted: 'If @metpoliceuk had put the resources into assisting @ReclaimTS to hold the covid-secure vigil originally planned that they put into stopping any collective show of grief and solidarity (both through the courts and a heavy-handed physical response), we'd all be in a better place.'

Female MPs have strongly criticised the Met's handling of the vigil.

Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse tweeted: 'Is this really 21st century Britain? What is our police doing? Whatever has happened to policing for the community on behalf of the community?'

And Labour's Sarah Owen posted: 'This is heartbreaking and maddening to watch. No one can see these scenes and think that this has been handled anything but badly by @metpoliceuk. It could and should have been so different.'

Gracie Bradley, interim director of human rights group Liberty, said: 'Police were given the choice on how to approach this protest. They could have worked with organisers to ensure people could collectively grieve and protest a lack of protection.

'But instead they chose aggressive interventions that put people's health at risk and led to chaos and distress.

'The true architect of this disaster is the Home Secretary, who has relentlessly demonised protesters and refused to support a protest exemption to the lockdown rules.

'She has undermined a vital pillar of democracy in the process, and pitched police against the public by encouraging aggressive enforcement against those who take to the streets to dissent.'

More than 100 people defied a police request to stay away from a Birmingham city centre vigil to remember Sarah Everard.

Event organisers had called off the gathering earlier in the day following discussions with West Midlands Police, but people still attended.

The force had warned those still intending to show up that 'current Covid-19 regulations do not permit large gatherings'.

However, the hour-long vigil, which was addressed by several speakers and included a minute's silence for Ms Everard, passed off without incident and with no obvious sign of uniformed police.

One woman, addressing the Birmingham vigil, said: 'The police have prevented this, but despite that we have still come out in a pretty decent number.

'I think we should all be really proud of the fact that we have stood our ground anyway.'

She added: 'One of the reasons I am here today is not just to acknowledge the tragic, awful thing that happened to Sarah, but also the countless women who are going to be dying because of the system.'

One woman held up a sign that read 'we live in fear. Not all survive. Police do not protect us' in Clapham

A man is pictured kneeling on the group next to a man in a balaclave on Clapham Common on Saturday

A mourner talks with police officers at a memorial site at Clapham Common

Responding to backlash, the Met Police's assistant commissioner Helen Ball said officers were faced with a 'very difficult decision'.

'This isn't about you': Anti-lockdown protester interrupts Sarah Everard vigil to complain about not being allowed to meet up with his friends An anti-lockdown protester interrupted a vigil for Sarah Everard in London this evening. The unknown man stood on a bandstand surrounded by hundreds of bouquets of flowers and other tributes left for the marketing executive. He shouted: 'We should be free to move, to visit friends, to be on the streets.' The rest of his words were drowned out by the crowd. The unknown man (pictured) stood on a bandstand surrounded by hundreds of bouquets of flowers and other tributes Photographs show the moment the man was escorted away from the vigil by a number of police officers He was met with a chorus of shouting as mourners told him: 'This isn't about you'. One woman screamed: 'A woman has died.' Others told him to shut up, with one man adding 'it's about women you idiot' before batting away another man's hand as they tried to calm him down. Photographs show the moment the man was escorted away from the vigil by a number of police officers. Advertisement

She added: 'May I start by extending my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sarah Everard. Across the Met we are still extremely saddened and shocked by the tragic circumstance of her disappearance and death.

'Earlier tonight, I joined the Commissioner in a candlelit vigil outside New Scotland Yard. I know many thousands of people up and down the nation also held similar vigils in Sarah's name.

'I recognise that the decision by the organisers to cancel the Reclaim These Streets vigil in Clapham Common was deeply unwelcome news. Even so, given the ever present threat of Coronavirus, this was the right decision to make.

'Today, for over six hours hundreds of people came to lay flowers and pay their respects to Sarah in Clapham Common in a safe and lawful way.

'Around 6pm, more people began to gather close to the bandstand within the Common. Some started to make speeches from the bandstand. These speeches then attracted more people to gather closer together.

'At this point, officers on the ground were faced with a very difficult decision. Hundreds of people were packed tightly together, posing a very real risk of easily transmitting Covid-19.

'Police must act for people's safety, this is the only responsible thing to do. The pandemic is not over and gatherings of people from right across London and beyond, are still not safe.

'Those who gathered were spoken to by officers on a number of occasions and over an extended period of time. We repeatedly encouraged those who were there to comply with the law and leave. Regrettably, a small minority of people began chanting at officers, pushing and throwing items.

'After speaking with officers, the vast majority of people quickly left. Four arrests have been made for public order offences and for breaches of the Health Protection Regulations.

'Part of the reason I am speaking to you tonight is because we accept that the actions of our officers have been questioned.

'We absolutely did not want to be in a position where enforcement action was necessary. But we were placed in this position because of the overriding need to protect people's safety.'Let me end by saying that across the Met, we review every single event that we police to see if there are lessons that can be learnt. This one will be no different.'

Earlier, attendees in Birmingham had lit candles and laid them at the foot of a tree in Victoria Square, to which signs had been fixed reading 'I am Sarah Everard' and 'Male violence is for men to fix'.

One woman, addressing those gathered at the Birmingham vigil, said: 'The fact 'not all men' was trending this week, higher than 'hashtag SarahEverard', says all we need to know about why these things perpetuate.

'The fact police released a statement telling women in south-east London to stay indoors and not to go out past a certain time, shows how ingrained victim-blaming is.

'Women are routinely attacked, abused and killed by all kinds of men; family members, colleagues, men they've never met or spoken to, men they've rejected, men in charge of supposedly keeping them safe, or positions of power - simply just for existing and being visible.'

She added: 'Yet there's so little retribution.

'Where do we go - to the police? Our criminal justice system is stacked against victims and makes it nigh on impossible to convict perpetrators.'

A woman started to cry as she knelt down to put a bouquet of flowers next to others in Clapham Common

Mourners seen in tears at the memorial site near Clapham Common bandstand this afternoon

People gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand, following the death of Sarah Everard

The atmosphere was peaceful in Clapham Common as tributes were laid. But tensions rose after nightfall

People mourn at a memorial site for Sarah Everard at the Clapham Common Bandstand

She said: 'After the court case yesterday, the High Court left the door open for the MET police to engage with the organisers to agree a peaceful, socially distant vigil. They refused and did this instead.'

Another speaker, who introduced herself to the Birmingham crowd as Elizabeth from Wolverhampton, said: 'I am fed up of hearing people - men and women - telling me that I need to have somebody to walk with me.

'If I go somewhere, they say 'oh, I'll walk you home' - it seems like almost it's something that I have to do, be walked home.

'I've been told this, like many of you, since I was a young girl, I'm not a child, I don't need to be told how I should behave, I should be able - and I do - to walk the streets anytime I want.

'Because I am a free human-being, I am equal to everybody else, not a child to be told what I have to do.'

She added: 'I just wish that everybody would be safe to walk, anytime, anywhere, without fear of violence - society needs to change.'

She added: 'I know Lambeth Borough officers made efforts to compromise with the organisers but were overruled from high up.

'They'll be left to deal with the fallout of this and the further burden it places on already strained community relationships. Very disappointing from Scotland Yard.'

Police said the gathering at Clapham Common was 'unsafe', and urged people to go home.

Women wore masks as they held up candles to remember Ms Everard in Clapham Common

Piers Corbyn arrived at Clapham Common earlier this afternoon to pay his respects

A tweet from the Lambeth police account said: 'The gathering at #ClaphamCommon is unsafe. Hundreds of people are tightly packed together in breach of the regulations and risking public health.

'We are urging people to go home and we thank those who have been engaging with officers and who are leaving.'

A small vigil was held in Brussels for Ms Everard. Entrepreneur Rozina Spinnoy, who moved to Belgium almost 20 years ago, attended the event with her son and a few others, holding posters proclaiming 'reclaim these streets'.

She said: 'Todays Brussels vigil was important for me. Showing all that regardless of our backgrounds, colour, race or religion, as women we unite - we share the grief together over Sarah Everard and all women who have experienced violence.

'Internationally and cross border to show solidarity in the fight to stop violence against women. We won't be silenced.'

She added: 'I feel positive to have contributed to this campaign for more safety / no violence against women in public spaces. Also to remember Sarah.'

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson lit a candle outside Downing Street for Ms Everard tonight with his fiancee Carrie Symonds. The Prime Minister said he 'cannot imagine how unbearable' the pain and grief is for Ms Everard's family and friends.

He wrote on Twitter: 'Tonight Carrie and I will be lighting a candle for Sarah Everard and thinking of her family and friends. I cannot imagine how unbearable their pain and grief is. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime.

'I will do everything I can to make sure the streets are safe and ensure women and girls do not face harassment or abuse.'

Bristol: People gather on College Green after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Ms Everard was officially cancelled

Bristol: Mounted police watched over a vigil on the College Green this evening

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among many to share an image of a candle alight in their homes.

She tweeted: 'For Sarah, and all the others #ReclaimTheStreets.'

Comedian Sandi Toksvig tonight said 'this must become a turning point' as she opened an online vigil to Ms Everard.

Speaking at Feminists of London's virtual event, the television presenter said it was not a 'small change' that was needed, but a 'cultural shift about how women are viewed and treated both in the public and private space'.

'This has to be a turning point where ending violence finally becomes a political priority,' she said.

Ms Toksvig expressed her 'profound sorrow and rage'.

She said: 'The truth is of course I don't want to be here at all, I do not want to attend a vigil for a bright young woman in her early 30s, a woman with her life before her.

'I do not want to be here talking about the memory of Sarah. I have two daughters about the same age as Sarah. Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Never have I felt more passionately concerned about my kids.

'It surely cannot be asking too much to want them simply to be free, to walk where they like, when they like.

'I am filled in equal measure with profound sorrow and rage, and I know there are many who share this rage and I think it is entirely justifiable. But I also know that it will harm rather than help us if we don't try and direct that anger to good purpose.'

She added: 'Tonight we reflect that when the vigil is over, the work begins.'

Police had previously warned that each vigil organiser faced a 10,000 fine if events went ahead, the group claimed, adding it did not want to be forced to give money to 'a system that consistently fails to keep women safe'.

This morning a statement said: 'We have been very disappointed that given the many opportunities to engage with the organisers constructively, the Metropolitan Police have been unable to commit to anything.'

Cambridge: On King's Parade street in Cambridge people attended a vigil for Sarah Everard

Cambridge: Dozens of people gathered with placards on Kind's Parade street after Ms Everard's death

Cambridge: A woman used white chalk to write 'Reclaim These Streets' on a pavement in King's Parade

Cambridge: Women held signs with the hashtag 'Reclaim These Streets' on King's Parade

Cambridge: People marched along the street in King's Parade after an official vigil was cancelled

Cambridge: Women lined a road in Cambridge and held up signs as they held a vigil for Ms Everard

Bournemouth: People gather in Bournemouth after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was cancelled

Bournemouth: Three women light candles in Bournemouth after the Reclaim These Streets vigil

Leeds: Candles and flowers were left on the steps of the Parkinson Building at the University of Leeds in West Yorkshire

Leeds: Mourners left their tributes including a sign reading 'we are all Sarah' at the University of Leeds

The organisation is now urging people to take part in a doorstep vigil tonight at 9.30pm.

The group has asked people to 'shine a light - a candle, a torch, a phone - to remember Sarah Everard and all the women affected by and lost to violence'.

Labour MP for Streatham Bell Ribeiro-Addy tweeted: 'On today's walk, I laid flowers at Clapham Common bandstand in memory of Sarah Everard and all the women lost to violence.

'Hundreds of people came to show their solidarity and I can see hundreds more on my way home. The Police's decision to cancel the vigil makes no sense.'

'This must become a turning point': Tributes are left for Sarah Everard in an online vigil Comedian Sandi Toksvig tonight said 'this must become a turning point' as she opened an online vigil to Sarah Everard. Speaking at Feminists of London's virtual event, the television presenter said it was not a 'small change' that was needed, but a 'cultural shift about how women are viewed and treated both in the public and private space'. 'This has to be a turning point where ending violence finally becomes a political priority,' she said. Ms Toksvig opened the online vigil, expressing her 'profound sorrow and rage'. She said: 'The truth is of course I don't want to be here at all, I do not want to attend a vigil for a bright young woman in her early 30s, a woman with her life before her. 'I do not want to be here talking about the memory of Sarah. I have two daughters about the same age as Sarah. Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Never have I felt more passionately concerned about my kids. 'It surely cannot be asking too much to want them simply to be free, to walk where they like, when they like. 'I am filled in equal measure with profound sorrow and rage, and I know there are many who share this rage and I think it is entirely justifiable. But I also know that it will harm rather than help us if we don't try and direct that anger to good purpose.' She added: 'Tonight we reflect that when the vigil is over, the work begins.' Advertisement

Commander Catherine Roper, the Met's lead for community engagement responded that officers had held a number of 'challenging talks' with the vigil organisers.

She added: 'While we understand their frustrations of this cancellation and share the nation's outrage at this crime, we must all continue to work together to fight Covid-19 and keep each other safe.'

Calling off the event, Reclaim These Streets said it would aim to fundraise 320,000 for women's causes, equal to 10,000 for every proposed fine for the 32 vigils.

More than 50,000 was raised in the first three hours of the Just Giving page going live and it has now reached half its target.

A virtual vigil is also being coordinated, while a decision on similar events outside of London, that fall under different police forces, will be made later.

Organisers said they had made 'every effort' to pull off the vigil to 'balance our right as women to freedom of expression' with the current Covid curbs.

The group brought an urgent action in a bid for a declaration that any ban on outdoor gatherings under coronavirus regulations is 'subject to the right to protest', and thus the vigil should be allowed to happen.

Mr Justice Holgate declined to grant the group's request and also refused to make a declaration that an alleged policy by the force of 'prohibiting all protests, irrespective of the specific circumstances' is unlawful.

Reclaim These Streets resolved to continue discussions with the Met, which ordered people not to gather but 'to find a safe alternative way to express their views'.

Groups of people stood in vigil for Sarah Everard at locations around the UK, including Glasgow, Bristol and Nottingham.

In Bristol, a female police officer asked one member of the crowd to leave the vigil, saying she risks her life to be out dispersing crowds in a pandemic.

A woman could be heard shouting back: 'You risk your life every night, love.'

Caitlin Prowle, one of the Reclaim These Streets organisers, said they did not want to end up in a situation where they were having to raise funds to pay fines.

She said: 'The police's lack of co-operation and unwillingness to engage with us to find a compromise means that we can't go forward in good faith.

'We can't put our supporters at risk, quite frankly we can't put ourselves at risk in that way, and so really they've left us with no other option.'

Flowers were first laid this morning and continued to be placed throughout the day, with some women saying they would be attending this evening despite the cancellation.

Reclaim These Streets added: 'We were told that pressing ahead could risk a 10,000 fine each for each woman organising.'

While confident they could raise the money to foot the cost of fines, the organisation said it would be a 'poor use' of funds.'We do not want to see hundreds of thousands of pounds contributed to a system that consistently fails to keep women safe,' they said.

MPs also expressed regret at the decision and called for laws on freedom of assembly during the pandemic to be clarified.

Mourners held candles as they paid tribute to Ms Everard in Clapham Common tonight

Hundreds of well-wishers make their way towards the bandstand in Clapham Common

A sketch of Wayne Couzens, 48, a firearms officer from Scotland Yard's elite Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, appearing in court this morning

Mandu Reid, the leader of the Women's Equality Party, has said violence against women and girls is 'akin to a form of domestic terrorism'.

Speaking at Feminists of London's virtual vigil, she said: 'The pain and poignancy of this moment lies in the devastating fact that all women and every girl lives under the perpetual threat that what happened to Sarah could happen to any one of us.

'The reality for women and girls is that the harassment we experience, which is as omnipresent as the air we breathe, could escalate at any time.'

She continued: 'I am done with empty platitudes from political leaders from across the spectrum who treat male violence like a tragic but inevitable force of nature, as if they haven't spent years slashing budgets to prevention programmes and support services.'

Ms Reid added: 'Piecemeal measures and individual actions do matter and do make a difference but let's be real, they won't turn the tide on this.

'The way to truly honour Sarah and every other woman we've lost is to demand that politicians of all stripes treat violence against women and girls as a political and policing priority.'

Home Secretary Priti Patel said that almost 20,000 people had responded in 24 hours to a consultation on how the Government could tackle violence against women and girls.

'That is completely unprecedented & we will carefully consider responses,' she tweeted.

Ms Patel added that she would be 'lighting a candle tonight in Sarah's memory'.

Labour MP Stella Creasy shared an image of women dressed in red cloaks and bonnets, inspired by Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale.

'Tonight women in Walthamstow made their feelings about the failure to tackle violence against women clear,' she tweeted.

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford tweeted: 'Sarah Everard was walking home. Her murder - and the stories from other women this week about their experiences - tell us why we have so much more to do to end violence and abuse against women. As candles are lit tonight, let us ignite a fire for change.'

Emotions were high at the bandstand as people paid tribute to Sarah Everard

Women across the UK have been devastated this week following Sarah Everard's death. Pictured, mourners in Clapham

A sign reading 'end violence against women' was left at the bandstand in Clapham Common among hundreds of flowers

Women wore face masks as they supported each other during a gathering in Clapham Common

Placards left at the memorial read 'text me when you're home' and 'when will women be safe'

Police officers spoke to those gathering in Clapham Common this afternoon

As the sun began to go down hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to Ms Everard

Flowers are left in between the railings at the bandstand in Clapham Common

Women comforted each other as they left tributes at the bandstand in south London earlier on Saturday

Hundreds of bouquets of flowers have been left around the bandstand as crowds mourned Sarah's death

Those paying tribute broke down into tears as they laid flowers (right). One person left a placard, left, saying 'I am Sarah'

Pictured: A photograph of Sarah Everard is left with floral tributes and messages in London

People kept their distance from each other amid coronavirus restrictions as they laid flowers

A steady stream of mourners headed to and from the bandstand in Clapham Common yesterday

Candles, flowers and a stuffed bear were left as people paid tribute to Sarah Everard

More and more people descended on the bandstand as the afternoon continued

A sign reads 'Men, do better. Protect all women' is among flowers at the memorial site

People mourn at a memorial site on Clapham Common, following the death of Miss Everard who vanished on March 3

There was a strong police presence at the event as dozens of people gathered to lay flowers

Reclaim These Streets is asking people to hold a 'doorstep vigil' at 9.30pm this evening and to shine a light in Sarah's memory

Police officers watch on as people continue to leave flowers and tributes for Sarah Everard at the Bandstand where planned and organised vigil tonight has been cancelled

Senior Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who had previously said she asked Home Secretary Priti Patel to 'step in' and allow the vigil to go ahead, said she hoped people would now take the advice of organisers to gather virtually instead.

She told BBC Breakfast: 'It is important that women come together. We can do that virtually and recognise the ongoing issue there is with violence against women and girls, perpetrated by men, but do it in a Covid-safe way.'

Labour's Harriet Harman, who chairs the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said the law on freedom of association amid the coronavirus pandemic should be clarified.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have said previously that the law on this should be made clearer.

'The relationship between the Human Rights Act and its protection of freedom of association and the new Covid regulations has not been clearly spelt out.'

Last night, home office minister Victoria Atkins urged people thinking of rallying to stay at home.

The Tory MP said: 'I would love to go marching in Clapham but we are in the middle of this pandemic and the law is as it is.'

She said she would mark the event at her front door, 'reclaiming an albeit very small piece of pavement'.

Commander Roper said: 'I would like to thank the organisers of tonight's vigil in Clapham Common for cancelling the gathering. Since Sarah's disappearance, we have shared Londoners anguish, shock and sadness at the truly awful circumstances of her disappearance and death.

'I know that yesterday's ruling would have been unwelcome news for the organisers and to those who were hoping to join others in tribute to Sarah and to make a stand on violence against women.

'While it is clear we cannot do this together on Clapham Common, I know there are various others ways to mourn Sarah in a safe way.

People gathered to bring flowers to Clapham Common after a planned organisation was cancelled

Women paid their respects to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common

Police officers bring floral tributes, left by the public, to the site as Met Police continue their search near Great Chart, Kent

People gathering earlier on Saturday to lay flowers and pay their respects on Clapham Common

Police had warned that each organiser faced a 10k fine if the vigil went ahead, the group claimed after it cancelled the event

One of the dozens of messages and cards left at the memorial site on Clapham Common in tribute to Sarah Everard

Mourners for the life of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, whose remains were found this week in woodland in Kent

Pictured: A message of condolence is seen as mourners for the life of 33-year-old Sarah Everard

Appearing in court on Saturday wearing a grey tracksuit and bearing a red mark on his head, Couzens stood as the charges were put to him before being remanded in custody before his case is sent to the Old Bailey on March 16.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: 'Mr Couzens, I am sending your case to the crown court sitting at the Central Criminal Court, what you might know as the Old Bailey. You will appear there for your first appearance on the 16th of March.

'I don't have the power to consider the question of bail. That will be considered should you wish to make an application to the court on the 16th of March.

'You are therefore remanded in custody until that date, both charges having been sent to the crown court.'

The father-of-two was yesterday rushed to St George's Hospital for the second time with fresh head injuries.

He was treated for the second injury he sustained while in custody in 48 hours before being discharged and returned to a police station, the Metropolitan Police said.

Scotland Yard added: 'The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment to a head injury sustained while in custody in a cell on Friday, March 12. He was being monitored by officers and received immediate first aid.'

In a statement last night, Rosemary Ainslie, head of special crime at the Crown Prosecution Service, added: 'Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police related to the death of Sarah Everard, the CPS has authorised the police to charge Wayne Couzens with murder and kidnapping.'

Commissioner Dick visited search sites in Kent on Saturday to thank teams involved in continued searches in relation to the investigation.

A High Court judge last night refused to intervene on behalf of the group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions

Passersby leave tributes and flowers around the Clapham Common bandstand, where the vigil was planned to take place

Flowers were laid at the bandstand this morning, with some women saying they would still be attending this evening

Police marine unit divers continued their search of ponds in Hoad Wood behind the grounds of the derelict activity centre in Great Chart on Saturday afternoon.

A lone police officer also stood guard outside the home of Couzens in the seaside town of Deal, Kent as forensics teams continued their search there.

Ms Everard was last seen on a doorbell camera at the junction of Poynders Road and Cavendish Road at 9.30pm on March 3 after crossing through Clapham Common.

On her way home, Miss Everard had spoken to her boyfriend Josh Lowth, 33, on the telephone and arranged to meet the next day. She was reported missing after friends and family were unable to reach her.

Earlier on Friday, Scotland Yard confirmed that human remains found in an area of woodland in Ashford, Kent, two days earlier had been identified as Miss Everard.

The heartbroken family of Miss Everard yesterday paid tribute to Ms Everard, describing her as a 'shining example to us all'.

Speaking outside Scotland Yard, Mr Ephgrave said Miss Everard's family had been told this 'most distressing news'.

He said: 'As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in woodland in Kent.

'The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken. I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah.'

He said his 'thoughts and prayers, and those of the entire organisation' remain with Miss Everard's family 'at this awful time'.

He added: 'Specialist officers remain in constant contact with Sarah's family, and will continue to support them throughout the investigation and beyond.

'That investigation continues at a pace and we have hundreds of officers working round the clock to establish the full circumstances of Sarah's disappearance, and her murder.'

Britain remembers Sarah Everard: Thousands of people gather in towns and cities across the UK to hold vigils despite police insisting they are breaching lockdown

Britons gathered in at least nine vigils held in towns and cities across Britain despite cancellations by Met

Mourners gathered in Clapham Common and later clashed with Scotland Yard, who had attended the vigil

Vigils were also held in Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, Bournemouth, Nottingham and Cambridge tonight

Thousands of Britons tonight gathered to remember Sarah Everard in at least nine vigils held in towns and cities across the UK - in defiance of calls for the events to be cancelled in the wake of Covid-19.

Mourners stood together in Clapham Common from 6pm on Saturday to lay flowers and pay tribute to the marketing executive, who was found dead in Kent a week after she disappeared while walking home in south London.

They were joined by hundreds of others who gathered to light candles in memory of Miss Everard in Bristol, Leeds, Cambridge, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Nottingham - where Britons held placards reading 'We are all Sarah' and 'Teach this in schools.'

Others remembered the marketing executive by lighting candles on their doorsteps and windowsills, with tributes paid by Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds, Labour Leader Keir Starmer and actor Richard E Grant.

The largest of the vigils took place in Clapham Common, close to where marketing executive Miss Everard, 33, vanished while walking towards her home in Brixton on March 3.

It began peacefully at around 6pm on Saturday, with Kate Middleton among those seen paying tribute.

But clashes broke out later in the night, with Scotland Yard seen arresting several women who had congregated without social distancing in a response dubbed 'neither appropriate nor proportionate' by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the scenes were 'upsetting', while confirming she has asked the Metropolitan Police for a 'full report on what happened' during the vigil on Saturday.

The planned event had been cancelled following a High Court battle on Friday, but an estimated 1,500 Londoners defied calls from the Metropolitan Police 'stay at home or find a lawful and safer way to express your views' to attend.

Around 150 people gathered in Valley Gardens, Brighton for another vigil tonight, with Sussex Police confirming a 20-year-old man was arrested and eight fines were handed out to those in attendance.

'We acknowledge many women have experienced violence, abuse or harassment and this is not acceptable,' a statement added. 'Protecting our communities is a top priority for Sussex Police, and we will do what it takes to ensure you feel safe in the county where you live.'

LONDON: Crowds gathered on Clapham Common tonight near to where Sarah Everard vanished on March 3, despite the Metropolitan Police urging mourners to stay home

CAMBRIDGE: Mourners hold candles and placards in support of the marketing executive on King's Parade tonight

BRISTOL: On College Green, Britons lit candles and laid flowers in remembrance of Miss Everard, who was found dead in Kent

BOURNEMOUTH: A gathering also took place in Bournemouth, where a handful of Britons stood socially distanced

NOTTINGHAM: Those in Nottingham stood in solidarity with the late Miss Everard, following her death on March 3

LEEDS: A placard reading 'We are all Sarah' was left on the steps of the Parkinson Building at the University of Leeds today

EDINBURGH: People light candles outside the Scottish Parliament after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Miss Everard in Edinburgh was cancelled

CARDIFF: Women hold up placards outside the Senedd in Cardiff during a Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard

BIRMINGHAM: A woman places a candle in Birmingham after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was officially cancelled

Scenes were calmer in Birmingham, where more than 100 people defied police requests not to gather due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The gathering in the city centre had been called off earlier in the day following discussions with West Midlands Police, but dozens of people still attended the hour-long vigil.

The event, which was addressed by several speakers and included a minute's silence for Ms Everard, passed off without incident and with no obvious sign of uniformed police.

One woman, addressing the crowd, said: 'The police have prevented this, but despite that we have still come out in a pretty decent number. I think we should all be really proud of the fact that we have stood our ground anyway.

'One of the reasons I am here today is not just to acknowledge the tragic, awful thing that happened to Sarah, but also the countless women who are going to be dying because of the system.'

Another speaker, who introduced herself as Elizabeth from Wolverhampton, said: 'I am fed up of hearing people - men and women - telling me that I need to have somebody to walk with me.

'If I go somewhere, they say 'oh, I'll walk you home' - it seems like almost it's something that I have to do, be walked home.

'I've been told this, like many of you, since I was a young girl, I'm not a child, I don't need to be told how I should behave, I should be able - and I do - to walk the streets anytime I want.

'Because I am a free human-being, I am equal to everybody else, not a child to be told what I have to do.'

She added: 'I just wish that everybody would be safe to walk, anytime, anywhere, without fear of violence - society needs to change.'

Earlier, attendees had lit candles and laid them at the foot of a tree in Victoria Square, to which signs had been fixed reading 'I am Sarah Everard' and 'Male violence is for men to fix'.

Virtual events were also held in Sarah's memory tonight, with QI presenter Sandi Toksvig opening an online vigil hosted by Feminists of London by saying her death 'should be a turning point.'

'Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Never have I felt more passionately concerned about my kids,' she said. 'It surely cannot be asking too much to want them simply to be free, to walk where they like, when they like.

'I am filled in equal measure with profound sorrow and rage, and I know there are many who share this rage and I think it is entirely justifiable. But I also know that it will harm rather than help us if we don't try and direct that anger to good purpose.'

She added that it was not a 'small change' that was needed, but a 'cultural shift about how women are viewed and treated both in the public and private space'.

'This has to be a turning point where ending violence finally becomes a political priority,' she said.

Mandu Reid, the leader of the Women's Equality Party, added violence against women and girls is 'akin to a form of domestic terrorism'.

Speaking at Feminists of London's virtual vigil, she said: 'The pain and poignancy of this moment lies in the devastating fact that all women and every girl lives under the perpetual threat that what happened to Sarah could happen to any one of us.

'The reality for women and girls is that the harassment we experience, which is as omnipresent as the air we breathe, could escalate at any time.'

LONDON: The bandstand was surrounded by flowers laid three-foot deep as people gathered for a vigil

LONDON: A well-wisher places a adds a tribute to the growing pile from a gap in a police cordon at the band-stand where a planned vigil in honour of Miss Everard

LONDON: People clash with police tonight during a gathering at a memorial site near the Clapham Common bandstand

LONDON: Police officers form a cordon as well-wishers turn on their phone torches as they gather at a bandstand where a planned vigil in honour of Miss Everard was cancelled

LONDON: Those paying tribute to Miss Everard place flowers and candles around a tree in Clapham Common tonight

LONDON: A woman was pinned to the ground in Clapham Common amid rising tensions on Saturday night

BRISTOL: People bring flowers and candles on College Green in Bristol after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was officially cancelled

EDINBURGH: A police liaison officer talks to people outside the Scottish Parliament after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard in Edinburgh was cancelled

LEEDS: Mourners left their tributes including a sign reading 'we are all Sarah' at the University of Leeds

EDINBURGH: People gather outside the Scottish Parliament after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard in Edinburgh was cancelled

BOURNEMOUTH: Three women light candles in Bournemouth after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was cancelled

Scotland Yard urged Britons to leave Clapham Common as the scenes quickly turned tense on Saturday night

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds light a candle on the doorstep of Downing Street Candles have been lit on doorsteps and in windows in tribute to Sarah Everard. From the doorstep of Number 10 Downing Street to the homes of celebrities and activists, the 33-year-old was remembered on Saturday evening. The simple act of lighting a candle had been promoted by the Reclaim These Streets group after in-person vigils in honour of Ms Everard and all women they described as 'lost to violence' were cancelled amid coronavirus restrictions. A candle lit by Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds was placed on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister had earlier said he 'cannot imagine how unbearable' the pain and grief is for Ms Everard's family and friends. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were pictured holding a candle outside their home in north London during the doorstep vigil. Labour MP Jess Phillips said she is feeling 'sad and angry and determined'. She tweeted: 'I am on my doorstep. Sad and angry and determined that our lives and our liberty have got to matter more than they do today. Tonight is for Sarah, her family and all who feel the loss.' Actor Richard E Grant tweeted a video of himself with his eyes closed beside a candle, with a caption stating Ms Everard's name alongside several heartbreak emojis. It's A Sin actor Keeley Hawes tweeted: 'In memory of Sarah Everard Thinking of her and her loved ones.' Following controversial scenes in Clapham, where police officers clashed with some of those attending a gathering in memory of Ms Everard, television presenter Kirstie Allsopp said the act of lighting a candle 'still matters'. She tweeted: 'It still matters that we light a candle at 9.30. I know it feels like a small thing in the face of so much. But please go and find your candle now.' Advertisement

She continued: 'I am done with empty platitudes from political leaders from across the spectrum who treat male violence like a tragic but inevitable force of nature, as if they haven't spent years slashing budgets to prevention programmes and support services.'

Planned gatherings across the UK were today cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, but an estimated 1,500 Londoners defied pleas from the Metropolitan Police to stay home and attended a vigil in Clapham Common.

A number of police officers moved in on the bandstand to block access for speakers as the crowd started chanting 'arrest your own' and 'shame on you' this evening. Scenes quickly turned violent as officers pinned women to the ground to handcuff them.

Footage posted to social media showed a tussle between Metropolitan Police officers and some of the crowd as dozens shouted 'you are scum' following the brief clash. One woman screamed 'you're supposed to protect us'.

Labour leader Keir Starmer and Liberal Democrats deputy Daisy Cooper were among the parliamentarians to condemn the use of force in Clapham this evening, with Mr Starmer dubbing the scenes 'deeply disturbing.'

He said: 'The scenes in Clapham this evening are deeply disturbing. Women came together to mourn Sarah Everard - they should have been able to do so peacefully.

'I share their anger and upset at how this has been handled. This was not the way to police this protest.'

Sadiq Khan furiously hit out at the 'unacceptable' scenes, adding: 'The police have a responsibility to enforce Covid laws but from images I've seen it's clear the response was at times neither appropriate nor proportionate.

'I'm contact with the Commissioner and urgently seeking an explanation.'

Priti Patel has called for a 'full report' from Metropolitan Police after officers manhandled screaming women during the extraordinary clashes on Saturday.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn shared a picture of candles on his windowsill, tweeting: 'Women must be safe on our streets. Solidarity with Sarah. Women must be safe to walk peacefully everywhere.'

'The Met Police must answer for their actions at Clapham Common this evening,' he added.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Dame Cressida to 'consider' her leadership of the force.

In a letter to the Commissioner, he wrote: 'The scenes this evening of the policing of the Clapham Common vigil in memory of Sarah Everard are utterly disgraceful and shame the Metropolitan Police.

'The vigil this evening was a peaceful one brought together in the most horrific of circumstances.

'Across the country, countless women have told their own painful stories of harassment and abuse. Your officers should have been standing in solidarity with those on Clapham Common tonight not being ordered to disrupt this display of grief and peaceful protest.

'This was a complete abject tactical and moral failure on the part of the Police.

'We therefore call on you to consider your leadership of the service and whether you can continue to have the confidence of the millions of women in London that you have a duty to safeguard and protect.'

A Reclaim These Streets event was due to be held tonight at the bandstand on Clapham Common, near where Ms Everard went missing, but organisers yesterday failed to secure a High Court ruling that lockdown - which bans gatherings - should not stop their right to protest.

Despite urging people to conduct a vigil at their doorstep with a candle, hundreds of people arrived at Clapham Common this evening and similar gatherings have been held in Bournemouth, Leeds, Cambridge and Bristol.

Following violence at vigils, Reclaim These Streets said it was 'deeply saddened and angered by the scene of police officers physically manhandling women at a vigil against male violence'.

A High Court judge last night refused to intervene on behalf of the group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions

LONDON: Police officers scuffle with people gathering at a bandstand in Clapham Common on Saturday night

EDINBURGH: Roses were laid close to the Scottish Parliament amid a vigil which took place on Saturday

BIRMINGHAM: A woman lights a candle in Birmingham after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Miss Everard was officially cancelled

CAMBRIDGE: Women lined a road in Cambridge and held up signs as they held a vigil for Ms Everard

BRISTOL: Mounted police watched over a vigil on the College Green this evening

BOURNEMOUTH: Three women light candles in Bournemouth after the Reclaim These Streets vigil

The vigil was planned for Saturday in memory of marketing executive Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home to Brixton on March 3

A spokesman added: 'From the start Reclaim These Streets set out to work closely with the Met to ensure this vigil could go ahead safely, so women could stand together peacefully and safely to remember Sarah Everard and all the women lost to male violence.

'The Metropolitan Police failed to work with us despite the High Court ruling yesterday that a vigil could potentially go ahead lawfully. In doing so they created a risky and unsafe situation. It is their responsibility to protect public order, public health and the right to protest - they failed tonight on all accounts.

'All the time they spent fighting us on a legal claim that the Judge agreed should not have been necessary and was caused by the Metropolitan Police's stance, they could've been working with us to ensure the vigil went ahead in a safe way. The Judge was clear and the Metropolitan Police conceded minutes before the hearing, that there was no blanket ban on protest under the current law. They then had an opportunity - and a responsibility to work with us safely and within the law.

'This week of all weeks the police should have understood that women would need a place to mourn, reflect and show solidarity. Now is the time for the police and the Government to recognise that the criminal justice system is failing women. Tonight, it has failed women again, in the most destructive way. We will keep fighting for women's voices to be heard and to matter.'

Campaign group Sisters Uncut, which had representatives attending the Clapham vigil, tweeted: 'As soon as the sun went down, police stormed the bandstand. We do NOT answer to violent men.'

The account posted: 'Stay safe. Know your rights: 'NO COMMENT' if cops talk to you. If police ask you to do anything, ask 'am I legally obliged to?'. if they say yes, ask 'under what power?''

Police last night said the gathering at Clapham Common is 'unsafe', and urged people to go home.

A tweet from the Lambeth police account said: 'The gathering at #ClaphamCommon is unsafe. Hundreds of people are tightly packed together in breach of the regulations and risking public health.

LONDON: Fights broke out as people battled against police officers on Saturday evening in Clapham Common

LONDON: Crowds gathered around the bandstand in Clapham Common on Saturday in a peaceful vigil ahead of the unrest

LONDON: A candle is seen as part of a memorial to mark the last time Sarah Everard was seen at Downing Street

'We are urging people to go home and we thank those who have been engaging with officers and who are leaving.'

A small vigil was held in Brussels for Ms Everard. Entrepreneur Rozina Spinnoy, who moved to Belgium almost 20 years ago, attended the event with her son and a few others, holding posters proclaiming 'reclaim these streets'.

She said: 'Todays Brussels vigil was important for me. Showing all that regardless of our backgrounds, colour, race or religion, as women we unite - we share the grief together over Sarah Everard and all women who have experienced violence.

'Internationally and cross border to show solidarity in the fight to stop violence against women. We won't be silenced.'

She added: 'I feel positive to have contributed to this campaign for more safety / no violence against women in public spaces. Also to remember Sarah.'

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson lit a candle for Ms Everard with his fiancee Carrie Symonds. The Prime Minister said he 'cannot imagine how unbearable' the pain and grief is for Ms Everard's family and friends.

He wrote on Twitter: 'Tonight Carrie and I will be lighting a candle for Sarah Everard and thinking of her family and friends. I cannot imagine how unbearable their pain and grief is. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime.

'I will do everything I can to make sure the streets are safe and ensure women and girls do not face harassment or abuse.'

LONDON: Police attempt to break up a vigil for Ms Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common

LONDON: Hundreds of mourners defied social distancing to gather at Clapham Common on Saturday night

Kensington Palace said Kate (pictured) 'wanted to pay her respects to the family and to Sarah', reported Sky . 'She remembers what is was like to walk around London at night before she was married,' the palace added

The unexpected visit came after a planned vigil was cancelled, with organisers citing the Met Police's 'lack of constructive engagement' to help make it Covid secure

It comes after a High Court judge refused on Friday to intervene on behalf of the group in a legal challenge over the right to gather for a protest during coronavirus restrictions.

The group said today that despite their attempts to work with police to ensure the Clapham vigil could proceed safely, they now felt it could not go ahead.

Organisers said they had made 'many suggestions' to police, including splitting the event into different time slots - but that they were told going ahead with a vigil could risk a 10,000 fine each for each woman organising.

A number of police forces across the country also issued statements urging people not to attend the in-person events, instead encouraging people to move online.

LONDON: Emotions were high at the bandstand in Clapham Common as people paid tribute to Sarah Everard

LONDON: Women across the UK have been devastated this week following Sarah Everard's death

LONDON: A sign reading 'end violence against women' was left at the bandstand in Clapham Common among hundreds of flowers

LONDON: Placards left at the memorial read 'text me when you're home' and 'when will women be safe'

Greater Manchester Police said: 'We along with the rest of the country are shocked and saddened about what happened to Sarah Everard - women should never have to live in fear. Gathering in large groups is still unlawful so if you plan on joining events this weekend, please do so in a covid-safe way.'

A vigil planned for Miss Everard's home city of York was cancelled and organisers urged people to post a photo of a candle in their window or doorway.

A fundraising target of 320,000 by Reclaim These Streets was set to mirror the fines which might have been issued had the vigils gone ahead, with the aim to raise 10,000 for each of the 32 vigils which organisers said had been scheduled.

Caitlin Prowle, from Reclaim These Streets, said the group had not wanted to end up in a situation they were having to raise funds to pay fines, rather than for charitable causes.

She said the money would 'just go straight back into a system' that 'continues to fail' women.
Geneva, March 13 : Following reports of Covid-19 vaccines being restricted for export, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have expressed their disapproval against the practice.

"The WHO is always very concerned about export bans on products that will help to end the acute phase of this pandemic," Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, said at a virtual press conference on Friday.

"So the WHO very much discourages the use of this type of measure," she continued.

In a newsletter on Tuesday, European Council President Charles Michel said: "The UK and the US have imposed an outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory." Both countries have denied the accusations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Asked about whether vaccines should be stockpiled at Friday's press conference, Bruce Aylward, Senior Advisor on Organizational Change to the WHO Director-General, also advised against the practice.

"We've been pushed very hard from the COVAX side to ensure that any vial that comes to us will be used and put to work immediately," he said, referencing the global WHO-led initiative to ensure vaccine equity.

"And that is really the mantra we're trying to drive right throughout the entire response, is that every vial of vaccine as it comes off, as it becomes available off the production lines, that is immediately put to work," he said.

Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Program, said at the press conference that success in protecting a country's population should not result in the lack of access of other countries, which will give more permanent protection to the former, because no one is safe until everyone is safe.
Asian American and Pacific Islander advocacy groups gathered near downtown L.A. calling for action to prevent hate crimes.

Video Transcript

- For the past year, coinciding with the pandemic, there has been a significant rise in hate crimes against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. In many cases, the elderly have been targeted, and [INAUDIBLE] reporter [? S ?] Garcia looks at what's being done about it.

JOE BIDEN: It's wrong. It's un-American, and it must stop.

CONNIE CHUNG JOE: The number of hate incidents in this country continues to grow, both in numbers, as well in severity.

- One of the ugly trends during the pandemic has been the increase in hate crimes against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. There have been cases caught on video of physical and verbal assaults. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, from 2019 of 2020, hate crimes against Asian-Americans in Los Angeles more than doubled from seven in 2019 to 15 in 2020. Overall, hate crime during the same period went up 9%. These advocacy groups gathered near Downtown LA, calling for action to prevent crimes. They point out, it's something all of us can do by watching out for one another.

NANCY YAP: I think it's about educating ourselves about each other, including each other in our community, and understanding that we are here. We've been here, and we're part of our neighborhoods.

- The people here say, they want the next state attorney general to be a member of the Asian-American, Pacific Islander community. They're also offering resources, such as mental health and legal help, to hate crime victims.

One of the things the group suggested we all do is simply reach out and get to know one another.
In new TN assembly DMK has most MLAs with pending criminal background, crorepatis

MK Stalin sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for first time

In Tamil Nadu, Gandhi will handle Khadi ministry, while Nehru gets Urban Development

BJP leader in TN files papers before party finalises list

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Chennai, Mar 13: Tamil Nadu BJP state vice president Nainar Nagendran created a flutter on Friday by filing his nomination papers from the Tirunelveli assembly constituency ahead of the official release of the candidates'' list by the party. Nagendran, who was a former minister in the AIADMK cabinet, had joined the BJP in 2017.

He represented the Tirunelveli constituency twice in 2001-06 and in 2011-16 and had unsuccessfully contested on two occasions. His sudden move came at a time when a delegation of BJP leaders under state chief L Murugan left for New Delhi today to confer with the party high command and finalise the candidates'' list for 20 constituencies from which the BJP agreed to contest in alliance with the AIADMK.

"I had filed the papers, as today is auspicious," Nagendran, seeking to contest for the fifth time from Tirunelveli, told reporters.

TN elections 2021: Deputy CM O Panneerselvam files nomination from Bodinayakkanur constituency

He submitted his papers, on the first day of filing of nominations, accompanied by one person as per the Election Commission of India''s COVID-19 protocol.

Some local BJP leaders are aware of his move to file the papers.

"The party''s leaders know that he would file the papers today.So it is not a secret or a surprise," BJP state secretary K T Raghavan told PTI.

He said Nagendran is among the potential candidates which the party has identified.

"The BJP will announce the candidates'' list soon," Raghavan added.

"Perhaps he didn''t want to miss the auspicious day on which AIADMK coordinator and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam too had filed from Bodinayakkanur," a senior BJP leader said.

"In my view, the candidate could furnish the Form B, authorising him to contest on party ticket, before the last date of withdrawal of nominations (March 19)," he said.

Asked why he didn''t wait for the official nomination, Nagendran replied that the BJP would make the announcement "anytime."

YASHWANT SINHA JOINS TMC and more news | Oneindia News

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda for the opportunity and exuded confidence that the NDA will get a decisive mandate in the April 6 election.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, March 13, 2021, 9:19 [IST]


Scientists from the National University of Singapore, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, have found a new kind of firefly from the last remains of freshwater swamp forest in the country.

This is the very first time since 1909 that a new kind of glowing firefly has been found in Singapore, pointing out the need for continued research in living things, most especially in small, well-studied, and highly civilized countries like Singapore.

Fireflies are one of the most fascinating insects on Earth, due to their ability to create breathtaking bioluminescent displays. Fireflies are extremely different group of beetles in the Lampyridae family, with over 2000 of their kind worldwide.

It carries on to attract many that in Singapore, a small, developed, and industrious country in Southeast Asia, these species have a disorganized distribution but they are not as rare as many people would think.

Read Also: Nature Teaches Drones How to Fly Right

A Familiar But Unknown Specie

A countrywide survey was done on fireflies by the National Parks Board (NParks) at fourteen sites throughout Singapore and they recorded 11 species of firefly, including an unknown species, named Luciola sp. 2. It was named after the firefly genus Luciola.

"When we first saw this species of firefly, we knew it was fascinating because the samples were gathered from a freshwater swamp forest in the Singapore central valley area. Fireflies are unusually announced from this type of habitat. More so, it did not correlate with the nature of any known species of firefly to-date."

This is according to the lead author and Research Fellow at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and Dr. Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh from the National University of Singapore.

"We believe the samples taken in 2009 were the only ones of the unknown species of firefly until I began to examine the collection of a firefly in Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and discovered three extra samples taken 20 years before. I quickly got in touch with my co-workers at NParks and we organize a series of night studies."

Ten Years After the Countrywide Study

Ten years after the countrywide study in 2009, the scientists from the National University of Singapore and NParks went back to the firefly habitat sited in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest, which is the last remains of freshwater swamp forest in the country, and successfully took extra samples of Luciola sp. 2.

Meanwhile, the research did not progress without posing its threats. The genus Luciola has not less than 280 species, many of these species cannot be readily separated from one another with the use of traditional external features.

So, in order to know the identity of genus Luciola, the scientists executed intricate dissections to investigate internal organs and used modern DNA techniques via an approach known as genome skimming.

After collecting and analyzing the data for two years, in conjunction with scientists from Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Charles Sturt University, Australia, and NUS Department of Biological Sciences, the outcome revealed that Luciola sp. 2 was both genetically and morphologically rare and was thus termed as a new species named Luciola Singapura.

Related Article: The Evolution of Glow-in-the-Dark Insects, Shows Study

For more news, updates about fireflies and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!


Tributes to well-loved Norfolk doctor and minister Tributes to well-loved Norfolk doctor and minister

The Church Times has paid tribute to Dr Herbert Karrach, who for 25 years was a minister at Snettisham, and died recently in Nepal aged 96.

Dr Karrach was ordained in 1989 and served as a non-stipendiary minister under Revs David and Judith Grundy, helping at Snettisham Church and leading services in the village of Fring, where he lived.



In the Snettisham Millennium Pageant of 2000 Dr Karrach dressed as a medieval priest in a play recalling the terrible Bubonic Plague of 1345. He also helped with Messy Church for many years and gave excellent weekly Bible studies.



He had been born in Vienna, but in 1938, as life became increasingly unsafe, his family escaped to southern Ireland. At the age of 18, he came to faith and immediately felt a calling to medicine.



After winning a scholarship to Trinity College, Dublin, he qualified and took medical jobs in both Ireland and England before joining the British Colonial Service. He was posted to Uganda, where he served from 1951 to 1962 in various districts, often being the only doctor in the district.



He met Mollie, a British missionary teacher, while he was convalescing from glandular fever at a tea farm. The address at their wedding in 1953 was given by Erica Sabiti, later to become the first Ugandan Archbishop. His whole ministry and faith was profoundly affected by the Church born out of the East African revival in the 1930s.

Returning to England in 1962, he joined a general practice in Bedford, where he served in until his retirement in 1988.



At the age of 80, after his wife Mollies death, and to escape from the long cold winter months, he started to visit the warmer climates of Nepal to stay with his daughter, Dr Rachel Karrach, Director of the large United Mission Hospital in Tansen. He enjoyed helping the medical team and taking occasional trips to villages in the Palpa District, treating families and sick children.



He thought that it was hilarious when, arriving in Nepal at the age of 92, he had a long delay at Kathmandu airport, as the official assumed that his was a fake passport, not believing that any right-minded man of 92 would fly from the UK to Nepal.



It was at United Mission Hospital at Tansen that Dr Karrach died on Sunday January 10. He had been unable to fly back to the UK during the 2020 lockdowns. He was loved by the hospital and church community and adopted as everyones father; he is buried in a simple forest grave, overlooking the Himalayas.



He leaves three daughters, Joy, Jennie, and Rachel, four granddaughters, and one grandson.



Article extracts from the obituary in the Church Times by Rev David Grundy. You can read the full Church Times obituary here.



Pictured above is Dr Herbert Karrach. Image from Dr Rachel Karrach





Eldred Willey, 12/03/2021
Who will be the next CM of Assam? Sarbananda Sonowal or Himanta Biswa Sarma?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on two-day campaign in poll-bound Assam, West Bengal

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Mar 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day visit to poll-bound Assam and West Bengal from Sunday during which he will address public meetings and attend other political programmes.

The BJP said Shah will address two public meetings at Margarita and Nazira in Assam on Sunday. He will then leave for Bengal where he will hold a road show in Kharagpur in the evening.

On Monday, Shah will address public meetings at Jhargram and Ranibandha in West Bengal before flying to Guwahati where he will address a Town Hall programme, the BJP said.

North-East got its respect only after advent of PM Modi's government in 2014: Smriti Irani

Senior party leaders said Shah and BJP president J P Nadda are also expected to meet the family members of 129 party workers in West Bengal who were allegedly killed in political violence in the sate in the last few years. The BJP has blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress for the violence.

Both leaders will be meeting the family members in small groups in the coming days and weeks in the state where the BJP has been running an intense campaign to end the TMC's 10-year long reign.

Shah will meet the family members of around 86 of the deceased party workers, and Nadda the rest, sources said.
Ankara, March 13 : Turkey and Egypt have launched diplomatic-level contacts years after former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was ousted in 2013, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

"We have contacts both at the level of intelligence and Foreign Ministries with Egypt. Diplomatic-level contacts have started," Xinhua Cavusoglu as saying on Friday.

Neither Turkey nor Egypt had put forward preconditions for starting these talks, the Minister said, noting the bilateral ties, which were strained for years, could not be restored at once and easily.

Turkey and Egypt downgraded their diplomatic relations since Morsi, a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was ousted following mass protests against his one-year rule in 2013.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province, once hardest-hit by COVID-19, invites medical workers and their relatives across China who had assisted with the fight against the epidemic in 2020 to enjoy its cherry blossom season this year.



All A-level tourist spots in the city will offer free entry to medical workers, and Wuhan University, one of the best places in the city to feast the eyes of cherry blossom admirers, announced it would provide free exclusive visits for them from Saturday to Sunday.

Exclusive activities including guided tours, shows and performances will be held in the following three years, said Wu Ping, vice president of the university.

Data shows over 21,000 medical workers have registered online to visit the campus during the weekend, including over 3,800 of those from outside the city.

A total of 1,500 students and teachers of the university have volunteered to provide services for them such as guided tours and taking photos.

According to official figures, the epidemic in Wuhan had been gradually brought under control with the assistance of more than 42,000 medical workers across China, and the city has reported no new local cases since May 18, 2020.
The government of southwestern Yunnan province is tracking 15 wild Asian elephants round-the-clock as the herd moves northward. The elephants, which started their journey from the southernmost prefecture in the province on April 16, were 10 kilometers away from the provincial capital Kunming on Tuesday. The local government has been tracking and escorting the animals to keep them away from residents. The elephants have damaged 561 square meters of cropland, according to media reports

Jun 02, 2021 05:22 PM
Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-13 04:09:48|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday met virtually with leaders of Japan, India, and Australia over COVID-19, climate change, and other regional issues.

The meeting focused primarily on pressing global crises including COVID-19 and the climate crisis, Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at a White House briefing.

A joint statement following the meeting said the four countries, known as "the Quad," would cooperate to expand vaccine production.

"The Quad" committed to delivering up to one billion doses to ASEAN, the Indo-Pacific, and beyond by the end of 2022, Sullivan said.

According to a fact sheet released by the White House, the four countries would launch working groups on climate change and critical and emerging technology.

Leaders also discussed the denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the situation in Myanmar, and maritime security, said Sullivan.

"The way that we look at this is that the Quad is not a military alliance. It's not a new NATO, despite some of the propaganda that's out there," he noted.

The virtual meeting on Friday was the first time that the four countries gathered at the leader level. The joint statement said that leaders of the group would hold an in-person summit by the end of this year. Enditem
New Delhi: Ex-BJP leader and former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha joined Mamata Banerjee's TMC on Saturday (March 13). The former BJP leader joined TMC at the Trinamool Bhawan in Kolkata in the presence of Derek O Brien, Sudip Bandopadhyay and Subrata Mukherjee.

After joining the TMC, 83-year-old political leader said, "You must be surprised why at this age when Id distanced myself from party politics. Why am I joining a party and turning active? Id like to say the country is going through an extraordinary situation."

The country is facing an unprecedented situation today. The strength of democracy lies in the strength of the institutions of democracy. All these institutions including the judiciary have become weak now, said Yashwant Sinha at TMC headquarters in Kolkata.

The veteran politician spoke on several issues while addressing the press, including the ongoing farmers' agitation on Delhi boarders and the stand-off situation with China. Sinha also sought to draw a comparison between the present Narendra Modi government and that of former PM Vajpayee.

"BJP during Atal Ji's time believed in consensus but today's government believes in crushing and conquering. Akalis, BJD have left the BJP. Today, who is standing with BJP?" Yashwant Sinha added.

"There is no one to stop the government's wrongdoing. Atalji believed in consensus, this government believes in coercing. Atalji believed in co-opting, this government believes in conquering. Atalji built a national alliance," Sinha said.

The former BJP leader, while talking about his reason to join TMC said, "The tipping point was the attack on Mamata Ji in Nandigram. It was the moment of decision to join TMC and support Mamata Ji."

The announcement comes a day after Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee was discharged from state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday (March 10) alleged that she was attacked by four-five men who pushed her during her campaign in Nandigram.

Meanwhile, the political environment in West Bengal is getting tensed as both the parties, BJP and TMC, have started their election campaigns in the state. The assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled to be held in eight phases. The voting for phase 1 for 30 constituencies will take place on March 27, voting for phase 2 for 30 constituencies will be held on April 1.

The polling for phase 3 for 31 seats will take place on April 6, for phase 4 for 44 constituencies on April 10, for phase 5 for 45 constituencies on April 17, for phase 6 for 43 constituencies on April 22, for phase 7 for 36 constituencies on April 26 and for phase 8 for 35 constituencies on April 29.
US Chambers of Commerce on Friday welcomed the decision of Quad leaders' summit on making COVID-19 vaccine affordable and available to the rest of the world.

"The first leaders' Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework, following closely on commitments made at the recent G-7 Summit, marks a critical milestone in global efforts to control the spread of

"The US Chamber of Commerce welcomes the Quad countries' decision to join hands in advancing access to high-quality, affordable vaccines for the world," US Chambers of Commerce said in a statement.

America's long-standing, bipartisan policy support for intellectual property, research and development, and public-private partnerships will be instrumental in achieving widespread global vaccination and an end to the pandemic, it said.

"The combined innovative capacity, manufacturing prowess, and logistical skills of the four countries are more than a match for the COVID-19 pandemic. The chamber will continue to assist in this effort and lay the foundation for a sustainable global economic recovery," the chambers said in a statement.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Spain's health minister, Carolina Darias, says that the government has not ruled out there being an extension to the state of alarm, which is due to end on May 9.

The immediate objective for the ministry is to achieve a nationwide 14-day cumulative incidence of below 50. The figure for March 12 was 130.51 cases per 100,000. Madrid, with 224.84 cases, has the highest incidence among the regions, although the north African city of Melilla is at 430.12.

"We will have to see about an extension, Darias said during a Friday interview with RNE radio. "What we are doing at present is lowering the incidence." Once fifty is reached, "we will then seek a normal scenario of 25".

Everything, she stressed, will depend on the "exemplary behaviour of the citizens". Leaders and the public must "learn from what they have experienced".

Asked about the AstraZeneca vaccine, Darias said that it is safe. "For us, it has maximum reliability." Spain is abiding by the recommendation of the European Medicines Agency, which has urged that the vaccine continues to be administered. The agency has indicated that "there is no causal relationship between thrombotic occurrences and the vaccine itself".
Patna, Mar 12 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minsiter Nitish Kumar today reviewed the progress of power project constructed near Kosi Barrage in Supaul district.

After seeing a presentation, Mr Kumar directed the concerned authorities to take care of the convenience of the people living near the embankment during construction of the project.

He also asked them to be careful about the strength of the main embankment to ensure the safety of the people.
Repairs are ongoing to a burst water main in Drumshanbo and surrounding areas.

Irish Water say the estimated completion time is 3pm today and they recommend customers allow 2-3 hours after that estimated restoration time for supply to fully return.

Local councillor, Brendan Barry posted that there was large water outage in the Drumshanbo and surrounding areas supplied from the reservoir in Drumshanbo.

He said several people in the area had been in contact with him.

Cllr Barry, who lives in the Hillcrest area of the town, said there had been a drop in pressure last night and there was no water coming into their own tank this morning.

Cllr Barry recommended to people to conserve water to maintain the level in attic tank for essential use.
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On March 12, Commander-in-Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ruslan Khomchak held a telephone conversation with Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, during which the current situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) and the further development of military cooperation between Ukraine and NATO were discussed, the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces informed Air Chief Marshal Peach about the current situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation.

"Russia's armed aggression in Donbas is the main threat not only to Ukraine and its national security, but to the security and stability of all countries of the Alliance," Khomchak said.

During the conversation, the parties paid special attention to the further development of military cooperation between Ukraine and NATO.

"During the telephone conversation, Colonel-General Khomchak thanked for NATO's support of our state and noted that the dialogue between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO maintains positive dynamics ... In addition, the interlocutors agreed to coordinate further joint efforts to deepen cooperation between NATO and Ukraine within the framework of the NATO Enhanced Opportunity Program, including during the next meeting of the NATO Military Committee with Ukraine in Brussels in the second half of March this year," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine summed up.
Sofia Vergara is returning to the judges panel for season 16 of America's Got Talent.

And the four-time Golden Globe nominee is enjoying her downtime before returning to the stage for the NBC competition series.

She put on a sunny display Friday in a bright yellow blazer, as she stepped out in a casual chic ensemble to take in some retail therapy in West Hollywood.

Sunny display: Sofia Vergara put on a sunny display Friday in a bright yellow blazer, as she stepped out in a casual chic ensemble to take in some retail therapy in West Hollywood

The 48-year-old layered the jacket over a white top with a pair of faded jeans, which were cuffed at the ankle.

She finished the ensemble with a gold chain necklace, matching bracelet and ring and a pair of gold-studded tan wedges.

Vergara toted an oversized tan quilted leather Chanel handbag, which featured a gold chain strap.

Blue jean baby: The 48-year-old layered the jacket over a white top with a pair of faded jeans, which were cuffed at the ankle

Stay gold: She finished the ensemble with a gold chain necklace, matching bracelet and ring and a pair of gold-studded tan wedges. Vergara toted an oversized tan quilted leather Chanel handbag, which featured a gold chain strap

Wear a mask: She took precautions against COVID-19 in a white face mask, as she stepped into the interior design office of Timothy Corrigan Inc

She took precautions against COVID-19 in a white face mask, as she stepped into the interior design office of Timothy Corrigan Inc.

The Modern Family star previously took to Instagram with a throwback from vacation in a red floral dress from her Sofia Jeans collection, writing: 'Take me back to paraiso'

She's preparing to return to AGT with fellow judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel, after making her debut last year with season 15.

Vacation vibes: The Modern Family star previously took to Instagram with a throwback from vacation in a red floral dress from her Sofia Jeans collection, writing: 'Take me back to paraiso'

She's baaack: She's preparing to return to AGT with fellow judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel, after making her debut last year with season 15

Vergara is also working on the animated comedy Koati, in which she executive produces and voices the villainous coral snake Zaina.

She told Deadline of the movie: 'Koati is a beautiful animated film full of fun and exotic characters that will make you laugh and also touch your heart.

'I couldn't dream of a better partner than Marc Anthony to bring this project to life with authentic and powerful Latin American music. Our team is very proud to finally share Koati with families around the world very soon!'
Companies have been told to install the latest Microsoft Exchange Server updates after earlier this week some 30,000 businesses in the US, and hundreds of thousands elsewhere, were attacked. Photo: Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Security officials in the UK have warned organisations to update their security after hackers used flaws in Microsofts (MSFT) software to gain access to computers around the world.

Companies have been told to install the latest Microsoft Exchange Server updates after earlier this week some 30,000 businesses in the US, and hundreds of thousands elsewhere, were attacked.

A Chinese-sponsored hacker group dubbed Hafnium exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange, leaving behind web shells that allowed cyber criminals to access victims systems remotely. The vulnerabilities go back 10 years, and have been exploited by hackers at least since January.

Officials believe that more than 3,000 UK email servers are still at risk. The National Cyber Security Centre, a part of intelligence agency GCHQ, estimated that 7,000 servers in Britain had been affected by the flaw, and only half of them had been secured.

The presence of a web shell on a server does not guarantee that hackers have managed to steal files. Businesses are able to remove malicious software without any data breach taking place.

However, the agency said it was "vital" that all affected businesses took action to secure their email servers.

READ MORE: Firms warned they 'wouldn't survive' data breach as a third fail to train staff

The NCSC added that it was particularly concerned about small and medium-sized businesses that may not have heard about the issue.

"We are working closely with industry and international partners to understand the scale and impact of UK exposure, but it is vital that all organisations take immediate steps to protect their networks," NCSC's director for operations Paul Chichester said.

"While this work is ongoing, the most important action is to install the latest Microsoft updates."

He added: "Organisations should also be alive to the threat of ransomware and familiarise themselves with our guidance. Any incidents affecting UK organisations should be reported to the NCSC.

WATCH: National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says cyber hack is 'significant'
Weeks after suspected fraudster Melissa Caddick's decomposed foot was found on a New South Wales beach, the mystery of what really happened to her is only deepening.

Now two forensic experts have raised a new theory that Ms Caddick may have died elsewhere before being moved closer to Bournda beach, where her foot and trainer were discovered.

The south coast beach is more than 400km from where Caddick was last seen at her lavish Dover Heights home in Sydney.

'That is remarkable but it can happen,' said Professor John Hilton, a forensic pathologist told The Daily Telegraph.

Melissa Caddick (pictured right, with her partner, Anthony Koletti) was last seen at her eastern suburbs home on November 12 after a raid by ASIC

The running show that washed up on Bournda Beach (pictured), on the NSW south coast, contained human remains that were a DNA match to Caddick's toothbrush

Mr Hilton said it was possible a foot could survive such a long journey through the ocean without being destroyed and without the shoe being covered in barnacles, as some have speculated.

But he added 'what astonishes me is they found it at all', given the size of the area involved.

Mr Hilton acknowledged it was possible she died closer to where the foot was found.

'There are all sorts of bizarre stories, including dismemberment with bits and piece thrown in the ocean much closer to where the foot washed up,' he said.

Another forensic expert Professor Johan Duflou expressed similar surprise to Mr Hilton and thought it was possible her body was moved.

'I would have thought it was relatively unlikely the entire body would go that far and remain intact, but whether a shoe can or not, I don't know.'

He suggested police may need to explore the area around where Caddick's foot was found.

The 400km-plus journey taken by the shoe that was found to contain Caddick's foot

Ulladulla SES workers scoured the NSW south coast for Caddick's remains

Other remains were also found at Mollymook Beach, Cunjurong Point and Tura Beach but later determined to not have matched Caddick's DNA, as the rotting foot found on February 21 did.

Police confirmed a chunk of stomach flesh found at Mollymook does not belong to Ms Caddick, but to an unnamed man last seen on February 1.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

Remains found at two other south coast beaches have also since been confirmed to be animals.

The random appearance of her foot sparked searches for more remains in the sea and coast near her home, but they were called off over a week ago.

Divers stopped looking for the remains of the 49-year-old financial adviser after searching over 6,000sq/m in the water off Dover Heights in Sydney's east.

'Nothing was found and at this stage police won't be conducting further searches in the area,' a NSW Police spokesperson said.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing has also said foul play against Ms Caddick was possible but suicide was more likely.

Modelling by NSW Police marine rescue teams, taking tides and drift patterns into account, has explored the possibility that Ms Caddick entered the water near Dover Heights, where she lived, around November 12.

The modelling deemed it possible that her foot could have drifted to Bournda Beach, where it was discovered by a group of campers.
HR 1 contains religious test for redistricting, FRC warns

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A prominent conservative think-tank warns that a provision in H.R. 1 passed by the U.S. House contains an unconstitutional religious test for those wanting to serve on independent redistricting commissions.

The Family Research Council, a socially conservative think-tank based in Washington, D.C., asserted in a piece on its website that the For the People Act, also known as H.R. 1, contains a religious test for redistricting.

The For the People Act, billed as a necessary reform to expand voting rights, passed the House on an almost party-line vote on March 3, with one Democrat joining all Republicans in voting against the measure.

The Act calls for the establishment of independent redistricting commissions in every state. The commissions would draw voting districts every 10 years to reflect the most recent census population figures. Currently, the method used to draw districts for the House of Representatives varies from state to state, with some states vesting that authority in the legislature and others relying on independent redistricting commissions to draw the districts.

Section 2412 of the For the People Act establishes guidelines for who is eligible to serve on the nonpartisan redistricting commissions the legislation calls for. Candidates for the commissions must fill out an application listing the reason or reasons the individual desires to serve on the independent redistricting commission, the individuals qualifications, and information relevant to the ability of the individual to be fair and impartial.

Applicants are asked to share personal information, including any involvement with, or financial support of, professional, social, political, religious, or community organizations or causes. The portion of the proposed application calling on people to disclose involvement with or financial support of religious organizations raised concerns for the Family Research Council.

While it may appear minor, this is incredibly problematic because it suggests that religious affiliations may affect an individuals ability to be impartial, and thereby may make them ineligible to serve on the commission, wrote Travis Weber, the vice president for policy and government affairs at Family Research Council and the author of the blog post. Article 6, Clause 3, of the U.S. Constitution states that no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

As cancel culture rages, it is easy to see how this provision will be utilized to target conservative Christians, whose biblical values are increasingly at odds with the cultures embrace of certain favored ideologies, he warned.

The Family Research Councils warning that H.R. 1 has a religious test hidden in the nearly 800-page bill is not the only part of the legislation causing conservatives and Republicans concern. Hans von Spakovsky, an election expert with the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, previously told The Christian Post that H.R. 1 will make it easier to cheat and easier to manipulate election results.

Von Spakovsky also expressed concern that the For the People Act will restrict and chill First Amendment-protected political activity by requiring nonprofit organizations to reveal who their donors are.

Like Weber, von Spakovsky and 20 state attorneys general believe that certain parts of the bill are unconstitutional, specifically because they vastly increase the federal governments role in managing elections despite the fact that the U.S. Constitution grants states broad discretion when it comes to setting election policies.

While the For the People Act passed the House, where legislation can pass with a simple majority, its future remains uncertain in the Senate, where legislation requires 60 votes to pass. Democrats have a narrow 50-50 majority in the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote.

In order for the For the People Act to overcome a filibuster, it would need to secure the support of 10 Republicans. Top Senate Democrats have threatened to invoke the so-called nuclear option to abolish the filibuster and enable legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority.

Because Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has reaffirmed his support for maintaining the filibuster, Democrats might find themselves unable to accumulate the votes required to abolish the filibuster and pass H.R. 1.
Gunmen raided a college in northwestern Nigeria and kidnapped 39 students, government officials and parents said Friday, in the latest mass abduction targeting a school.

The abductors stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization in Mando, Kaduna state, around 9:30 p.m. (2030 GMT) Thursday, shooting indiscriminately before taking students.

The Kaduna college was said to have some 300 male and female students, mostly aged 17 and older, at the time of the attack.

Kaduna state commissioner for internal security Samuel Aruwan said 39 of the students were missing while the army was able to rescue 180 people after a battle with the gunmen.

"Further checks in the wake of the attack by armed bandits  indicate that 39 students are currently unaccounted for," including 23 females and 16 males, Aruwan said in a statement late Friday.

He had initially said 30 students were unaccounted for.

Aruwan said the state government "is maintaining close communication with the management of the college as efforts are sustained by security agencies toward the tracking of the missing students."

The commissioner said some of the rescued students were injured during the operation and were being treated at a military hospital.

Appeal to the government

Police and military personnel stood guard around the college at the outskirts of Kaduna city on Friday afternoon as anxious parents and families waited for news. A fighter jet flew overhead.

Government officials said the students were found to be missing after a headcount at the college, and parents said they had been taken by the gunmen.

"We have confirmed from her colleagues our daughter Sera is with the abductors," Helen Sunday told reporters, tears rolling down her face. "I appeal to the government to help rescue our children."

"It is unacceptable for parents to send their children to school only to be kidnapped by criminal elements," said Denis John, who said his brother was among those taken.

Heavily armed gangs in northwest and central Nigeria have stepped up attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging.

The bandits have recently turned their focus to schools where they kidnap students or schoolchildren for ransom. Thursday's attack was at least the fourth since December.

Mass kidnappings in the northwest are complicating security challenges facing President Muhammadu Buhari's forces who are also battling a more than decade-long Islamist insurgency in the northeast.

Late night gunfire

Residents near the Kaduna college also heard repeated gunshots in the area late Thursday.

"We kept hearing gunshots that we ignored as shooting drills from the Nigeria Defense Academy, which is a stones throw from the forestry college," said Mustapha Aliyu, who lives in the area.

"It was only when we came out for the morning prayers in the mosque that we learned it was gunmen who took away students from the college," he said.

The area is notorious for banditry and armed robbery, especially along the highway linking the city with the airport.

The gangs are largely driven by financial motives and have no known ideological leanings. Victims are often released shortly after negotiations though officials always deny any ransom payments.

Last Saturday, criminal gangs known locally as bandits broke into the staff quarters of the nearby Kaduna airport, abducting 12 people, according to airport officials.

On February 27, gunmen abducted 279 schoolgirls in nearby Zamfara state.

And a week earlier, gunmen seized 42 people, including 27 students from an all-boys boarding school in central Niger state.

In December, hundreds of schoolboys were seized in Katsina, Buhari's home state, while he was on a visit.

The U.S. has condemned the recent attacks on schools.

"Frankly, we're disgusted by this pattern of mass abductions of school kids. I can think of nothing more abhorrent," said Michael Gonzales, deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. State Departments Bureau of African Affairs, at a press briefing.

He said the U.S. "is ready to provide appropriate support to the Nigerian government if requested to do so."
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2021) - PreveCeutical Medical Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H) (the "Company" or "PreveCeutical") announces that it has agreed to issue 19,554,201 common shares without par value in its capital (each, a "Share") to two non-arm's length creditors and an arm's length creditor of the Company at a deemed issuance price of $0.032 per Share.

The Company entered into shares for debt settlement agreements with a current director and a company controlled by a current director (each a "Creditor"), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue to each Creditor, and each Creditor agreed to accept 1,640,625 Shares (the "Settlement Shares") at a price of $0.032 per Share in full and final settlement (the "Debt Settlement") of accrued and outstanding indebtedness in the amount of $52,500 for directors' fees (the "Debt") owing to each such Creditor (the "Debt Settlement").

The issuance of the Settlement Shares to each Creditor will be considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"); however, the issuances are exempt from the minority approval and formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101.

The Settlement Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

The Company also entered into an assignment agreement, whereby a certain arm's length assignee (the "Assignee") acquired all of Stephen Van Deventer and Kimberly Van Deventer's right, title, interests and obligations in and under a convertible credit facility agreement dated effective December 9, 2016, as amended, as to the aggregate principal amount of $475,637.50 and the accrued interest thereon in the aggregate amount of $45,096.93 (collectively, the "Assigned Amount"). The Assignee has elected to convert the Assigned Amount into an aggregate of 16,272,951 Shares (the "Conversion Shares"). The Conversion Shares will not be subject to a hold period in Canada.

None of the foregoing securities have been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About PreveCeutical

PreveCeutical is a health sciences company that develops innovative options for preventive and curative therapies utilizing organic and nature identical products. The Company aims to be a leader in the preventive health sciences sector.

With the completion of four of its research programs, the Company is actively working on the development, clinical trials, and commercialization of its products; and has filed a number of provisional patent applications to protect the intellectual property from its research programs.

For more information about PreveCeutical, please visit our website www.PreveCeutical.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of PreveCeutical

Stephen Van Deventer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Van Deventer: +1 604 306 9669

Or Investor Relations ir@preveceutical.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

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 in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations and orientations regarding the future, including, without limitation, the continued research interests of PreveCeutical, PreveCeutical's anticipated business plans, and its prospects of success in executing its proposed plans. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "will", "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "may", "should", "budget", "schedules", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential", "proposes" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions regarding PreveCeutical, including expected growth, results of operations, including PreveCeutical's research and development activities, performance, industry trends, growth opportunities, that PreveCeutical will be granted requisite expedited approvals by world health, retain and attract qualified research personnel and obtain and/or maintain the necessary intellectual property rights needed to carry out future business activities.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including, risks and uncertainties relating to: complexities and delays in connection with research and development activities and the actual results of research and development activities; the ability of PreveCeutical to, among other things, protect its respective intellectual property, obtain any required governmental, regulatory or stock exchange approvals, permits, consents or authorizations required, including Canadian Securities Exchange acceptance of any planned future activities and obtaining expedited requisite approvals from world health agencies; and the ability of PreveCeutical to commercialize products, pursue business partnerships, complete their research programs as planned, and obtain the financing required to carry out their planned future activities. Other factors such as general economic, market or business conditions or changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry may also adversely affect the future results or performance of PreveCeutical. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, PreveCeutical assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Although PreveCeutical believes that the statements, beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that those statements, beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions will prove to be accurate. Readers should consider all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to other periodic reports provided by PreveCeutical from time-to-time. These reports and PreveCeutical's filings are available at www.sedar.com. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE or CNSX Markets), its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE), nor any other regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Any link in this press release to external information or other resources is provided for reference only, and such information or resources might change from time to time, and may include forward-looking statements as described above, and are subject to the above disclaimers under this heading forward-looking statements.

Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/77122
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland police detained a crowd of at least 100 protesters Friday night at a demonstration, halting the march minutes after it started.

The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com said the mass detainment shortly after 9 p.m in the Pearl District appeared to an example of kettling, a police tactic of surrounding a crowd and containing people within a perimeter.

In a tweet and at the scene, police said they were detaining everyone within the boundary for the ''investigation of a crime.'' Portland has been the site of frequent protests, many involving violent clashes between officers and demonstrators, ever since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.

Over the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 straight days.
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Friday, March 12, 2021

Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death, was recently saluted as a Remarkable Woman by the local CBS/FOX/CW stations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Remarkable Women is part of a nationwide Nexstar Media initiative to honor the influence that women have had on public policy, social progress and the quality of life.

Gails husband nominated her, writing in his essay, My wife Gail Rubin is a Remarkable Woman in so many ways. She is a pioneering death educator, author, speaker, event coordinator, and Death Cafe host. She helps people talk about planning ahead for end-of-life issues using a light touch on what many consider a dark topic. During this coronavirus pandemic, with so much illness and death, she is making a difference by inspiring people to overcome their fears to plan ahead for our 100% mortality rate.

Watch Gail Rubins interview:

Shes a Certified Thanatologist, a person who studies and teaches about death, dying and bereavement. She teaches in a number of ways: in person, online, and on television and YouTube.

TEDxABQ speaker in 2015  Her talk, A Good Goodbye, inspires people to think about, talk about, and do something about our eventual guaranteed demise.

Community involvement with Congregation Albert synagogues cemetery committee and the Chevrah Kaddisha, trained Jewish volunteers who wash and dress the deceased in the ritual manner for burial.

Shes president of the nonprofit organization that supports Historic Fairview Cemetery . Shes leading efforts to make the cemetery an outdoor history museum and xeriscape garden. The cemetery is the final resting place of approximately 12,000 individuals who have impacted the development of Albuquerque and New Mexico, and shes helping to tell their stories.

. Shes leading efforts to make the cemetery an outdoor history museum and xeriscape garden. The cemetery is the final resting place of approximately 12,000 individuals who have impacted the development of Albuquerque and New Mexico, and shes helping to tell their stories. Albuquerque Business First recognized her with their 2019 Women of Influence Award.

Shes written three award-winning books on planning ahead for death: A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Dont Plan to Die; Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips; and Kicking the Bucket List: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die.

She was one of the first people to host a Death Cafe in the United States in 2012. The Death Cafe has since developed into a worldwide movement with 12,000 events in 74 countries to date.

Shes also a pioneer of the Before I Die Festival movement in the United States. She held her first festival in 2017 in Albuquerque, grew it to multiple towns in New Mexico, and won a prestigious funeral industry award for the 2018 Before I Die New Mexico Festival. In 2020, she pivoted to offer the Festival as a pandemic-safe online experience.

Read more about Gail Rubin as a Remarkable Woman here.

About Nexstars Remarkable Women Award

KRQE Media Group is recognizing the great contributions women have made to our nation and local communities. Throughout Womens History Month, KRQE Media Group is highlighting four local women who inspire, lead and forge the way for other women. Its not just about one day or one month  its about what they do, day-in and day-out.

One woman will be named New Mexicos Woman of the Year and win a $1,000 donation to her charity of choice. From the more than 100 local winners, one woman will be selected and named Nexstar Media Groups Woman of the Year.

Learn more about Gail Rubin as a speaker here.

Related
Chinese solar telescope reveals acceleration of magnetic reconnection

Magnetic reconnection refers to the reconfiguration of magnetic field geometry. It plays an elemental role in the rapid release of magnetic energy and its conversion to other forms of energy in magnetized plasma systems throughout the universe.

Researchers led by Dr. LI Leping from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) analyzed the evolution of magnetic reconnection and its nearby filament. The result suggested that reconnection is significantly accelerated by the propagating disturbance caused by the adjacent filament eruption.

The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal on Feb. 25.

The New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST) is a 1-m ground-based solar telescope, located in the Fuxian Solar Observatory of the Yunnan Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (YNAO). It provides observations of the solar fine structures and their evolution in the solar lower atmosphere.

The NVST observed the active region 11696 on March 15, 2013, in the H channel, centered at 6562.8 A with a bandwidth of 0.25 A.

Employing the NVST H images with higher spatial resolution, the researchers studied the evolution of magnetic loops and their nearby filament in the active region, combining the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) line-of-sight magnetograms on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO).

In NVST H images, two groups of fibrils converged and interacted with each other. Two sets of newly formed fibrils then appeared and retracted from the interaction region.

"The result provides clear evidence of magnetic reconnection," said Prof. Hardi Peter from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), a co-author of the study. In AIA EUV images, the current sheet formed repeatedly in the reconnection region in the lower-temperature channels, and plasmoids appeared in the current sheet and propagated along it bidirectionally.

A filament was located to the southeast of the reconnection region. It erupted and pushed away the loops covering the reconnection region. "The filament eruption led to a disturbance propagating outward across the reconnection region," said Dr. LI Leping, the first author of this study.

The current sheet subsequently became shorter and brighter, with a larger reconnection rate. It appeared in the AIA higher-temperature channels. In the current sheet, more and hotter plasmoids formed.

"Compared with the observations before the filament eruption during the same time intervals, more thermal and kinetic energy was converted through reconnection after the filament eruption," said Dr. LI. "The reconnection was thus significantly accelerated by the propagating disturbance caused by the nearby filament eruption."

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This story has been published on: 2021-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Mar. 12NEW LONDON  The Board of Education, without much controversy, passed a $72.9 million school budget for fiscal year 2022 on Thursday.

The budget is accompanied by a $45 million appropriation request to the city, which is 2.2% or a $982,188 increase over last year's funding. The portion of the school budget up for consideration by the city is funded jointly by taxpayers and the state's Educational Cost Sharing program.

The mayor will incorporate the school's spending request into his overall budget for presentation to the City Council on April 1. City administration, as it has in past years, will argue the school board's request amounts to a 4.6% increase in funding directly from taxpayers considering the fact that state education funding is expected to remain flat again.

School Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie's proposed budget notes that the final impact on the city's tax rate includes other factors such changes in the grand list, increases or decreases in city revenue and possible changes in expenditures in other city departments.

The City Council has the ultimate say on spending.

The budget passed by the school board on Thursday is a slight reduction from the spending plan introduced by Ritchie. The school board cut $306,548, calling into question a major hike in special education tuition costs at the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication, or ISAAC, a New London charter school.

Because of proposed hikes in special education at ISAAC, budgeted funding for the estimated 34 special education students had risen from $401,737 this year to $883,502 next year.

"I thought it was too much money. They are supposed to charge a reasonable rate per pupil for special education," said school board member Bryan Doughty.

School finance director Rob Funk said he plans continued talks with representatives of ISAAC about the way the district is being billed.

Other budget drivers include contractual wage increases, drops in magnet tuition and grant revenue, a 6% health insurance rate increase and electricity costs associated with construction at the high school. The increases are offset in part by an increase in Alliance funding, a drop in workers comp rates, reductions in after-school program and contracted instruction costs. There are also 20 paraprofessional positions being left vacant and two administrative positions being cut  the assistant principal of Harbor School and a director of curriculum, instruction and assessment 6-12.

Story continues

The district is expected to receive $8.4 million over two years through the federal Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds program, or ESSER, to address COVID-19 related needs.

School board member Rob Pero questioned the addition of two new administrators in positions funded with those funds. He said his concern was focused on what happens to the positions once funding dries up.

The new positions are assistant director of mental health and an assistant director of curriculum, instruction and assessment preK-12.

Board member Elaine Maynard Adams said that with so much of the school's budget dependent on grant funds, the school board's yearly task always includes decisions on which positions were worth saving and fit into the budget.

New London schools this month started in-school classes four days a week for those students who request it. Ritchie said there have been 513 requests from students to make the switch and 156 students have already joined for the four-day instruction. More are expected to be added in the coming days and weeks.

"It's wonderful to see the halls filled a little bit more," Ritchie said.

The district continues to maintain and support two-day-a-week hybrid instruction and full distance learning for some students.

Teachers and staff in the district, meanwhile, have started getting vaccinations. Ritchie said with guidance from Ledge Light Health District, vaccination clinics opened at Foxwood Casino last weekend. There will be an additional 1,500 slots allocated for school staff over this weekend.

"We believe every employee interested in getting the vaccine will have an opportunity this weekend," Ritchie said. "There's a lot of relief and happiness as we go through the process."

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New York: In these digital days, it may be hard to appreciate how radically Lou Ottens changed the audio world when, in 1963, he and his team at Philips, the Dutch electronics company, introduced the cassette tape.

As the story goes, Lou was home one night trying to listen to a reel-to-reel recording when the loose tape began to unravel from its reel, Zack Taylor, who directed the 2017 film, Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape, said by email.

Ottens was in charge of product development at the Philips plant in Hasselt, Belgium, at the time.

The next morning, Taylor continued, a frustrated Lou Ottens gathered the engineers and designers from the Philips audio division and insisted that they create something foolproof: the tape had to be enclosed, and the player had to fit in his jacket pocket.


New York was Podgorica Airports busiest unserved route, both during the last normal year for commercial aviation in 2019, as well as in the pandemic-stricken 2020. Almost 30.000 people either originated or departed between Podgorica and New York Citys airports in 2019, according to global data provider OAG. It makes it one of the busiest markets for flights to the Big Apple in the former Yugoslavia. New York was also the busiest unserved route for airports in Zagreb, Skopje and Pristina, however, the Montenegrin capital had more indirect passengers to the largest city in the United States than either of the three. New York was Podgorica Airports busiest unserved route, both during the last normal year for commercial aviation in 2019, as well as in the pandemic-stricken 2020. Almost 30.000 people either originated or departed between Podgorica and New York Citys airports in 2019, according to global data provider OAG. It makes it one of the busiest markets for flights to the Big Apple in the former Yugoslavia. New York was also the busiest unserved route for airports in Zagreb, Skopje and Pristina, however, the Montenegrin capital had more indirect passengers to the largest city in the United States than either of the three.





On Podgorica's busiest unserved route, Air Serbia dominated as the largest feeder airline, based on 2019 data, transporting 12.285 travellers between the two cities, or 41.6% of all traffic. It was followed by Turkish Airlines and Austrian. Overall, over 49.000 people flew between Podgorica and the United States in 2019 under a single ticket. Air Serbia was the busiest feeder carrier accounting for 29% of all passengers carried. It was followed by Turkish Airlines with a 20% market share, Montenegro Airlines, which shuttled passengers to points in Europe for onward connections, with an 11% share, as well as Alitalia and Austrian with a 9% share each.





There have been attempts to address the lack of nonstop flights between Montenegro and the United States in the past. In March 1999 Montenegro Airlines applied to operate nonstop passenger and cargo flights between Tivat and New York. At the time, it concluded a wet-lease agreement for a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft from Italy's Air Europe, which has since gone bankrupt, in order to run the transatlantic service. However, within weeks, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia commenced, and the application was rejected. With the launch of its New York service in 2016, Air Serbia has managed to scoop up the majority of passengers heading from both Podgorica to New York but also the United States.





If you would like to find out the full list of the busiest unserved routes from Podgorica, of which seven of the top ten are in Europe, two in Asia and one in North America, subscribe for this weeks EX-YU Aviation Premium Newsletter here








STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Fifteen million New Yorkers will be eligible for vaccination no later than May 1, following President Joe Bidens announcement directing all states to open eligibility to adults aged 18 and older.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Bidens announcement will have a major ramification on states vaccination capacity.

Remember when we started we were talking about June, July, August. The President is now talking about May 1. That means we have to have a tremendous increase in our capacity to vaccinate, and that is a logistical undertaking unlike anything we have done before so were going to be preparing for that..., Cuomo said.

New York is still in phase 1B of its vaccination schedule, although the governor has moved over people from other groups and expanded the eligibility categories. Currently more than 12 million New York residents are eligible, including those aged 60 and older, restaurant workers, for-hire drivers, school teachers, essential workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, government employees, and those with an underlying condition or comorbidity.

Let me be clear: That doesnt mean everyones going to have that shot immediately, but it means youll be able to get in line beginning May 1. Every adult will be eligible to get their shot, Biden said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has said for weeks the city would be able to vaccinate thousands more residents per day if it had the supply it needs, but he agrees with the presidents decision to open up eligibility to all adults on May 1.

We also, here in New York City, were hearing loud and clear the presidents vision of how we move forward, how we speed the process of vaccinating our people, reopening our economy, bringing ourselves forward. I agree entirely with the president that we need to move aggressively. Obviously, what were missing is the supply, de Blasio said.

We really look forward to that number jumping up a lot more when we get an even bigger supply, he said.

There will be enough vaccine supply for every adult in the United States by the end of May, President Joe Biden said while addressing the nation on the anniversary of the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown on Thursday.

The soon-to-be increase in the nations vaccine stockpile is, in part, because of a recent deal that allows Merck to produce the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine. The deal was made using the Defense Production Act.

The Biden administration purchased 100 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Two months ago, the country  this country didnt have nearly enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all or near all of the American public. But soon we will, Biden said.

The administration said it also plans to expand the kinds of medical professionals who can administer the vaccines  calling on active-duty military, FEMA, retired doctors and nurses, and administrators.

In addition, its expanding the number of community health centers and community-based organizations, many of which are in underserved areas, where local residents can get vaccinated, as well as working to set up nearly 600 federally supported vaccination centers.

The administration plans to launch a website and new tools to make it easier for you to find the vaccine and where to get the shot.

Further guidance will be coming about what people can and cannot do once theyre fully vaccinated to lessen the confusion, to keep people safe and to encourage others to get the shot, he said.

Because heres the point: If we do all this, if we do our part, if we do this together, by July the 4th, theres a good chance you, your families, and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day, he said.

After this long hard year, that will make this Independence Day something truly special, where we not only mark our independence as a nation, but we begin to mark our independence from this virus.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
The most stunning global event last week was the historic meeting of Pope Francis with Shiite Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in a small, bare room in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq.

I say that not just because of the popes astonishing bravery in attempting to protect Iraqs ancient Christian sects, whose numbers have dwindled from around 1.5 million to 250,000, under attacks from extremists since the 2003 U.S. invasion. At 84, in the time of COVID-19, the popes journey to Iraq was not for the faint-hearted.

Nor do I say it only because the reclusive, ailing 94-year-old Sistani stood to greet the pope and joined him in condemning extremism.

This trip symbolized something much more significant, when the world is convulsed by xenophobic nationalism, ugly strains of populism and deep cracks within democratic political systems. It was a desperate last plea by global religious moderates for justice and peace.

Both these religious leaders have promoted the rights of oppressed religious and ethnic groups and social justice for poor people, along with democratic rule. But they have been challenged by hard-liners within their own religions and by authoritarian politicians. Their joint appearance was a poignant plea for values that are under increasing global threat.

I have walked the narrow alley in Najaf off which Sistani lives. He, like the pope, chooses to live humbly. And dont be fooled by the photo of the two men in which the black-clad cleric looked wraith-like  he still wields immense religious power.

While Shiites comprise only around 15% of all Muslims, the vast majority of whom are Sunnis, Iran and Iraq are predominantly Shiite.

And Sistani is the preeminent Shiite ayatollah, leader of a school of religious thought that opposes direct involvement of clerics in political leadership. Thus he opposes the rule by clerics practiced in Shiite Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution  and has endorsed constitutional elections in Iraq.

I was in Iraq in 2005 when the first national elections were held and posters all over Baghdad featured photos of the ayatollah telling Iraqis to go to the polls. He has also supported youthful Iraqi demonstrators protesting corruption, including within Shiite parties.

Sistani urged his followers to fight ISIS and protect Christians from persecution. He has also urged Shiite militiamen who fought ISIS to return home.

So when Sistani reaffirmed the right of Iraqs Christian citizens to live like all other Iraqis in safety and with their full constitutional rights this was not just pablum. Similarly, when Francis urged Iraqis to show that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, his plea was backed up by personal risk.

A former Jesuit, Francis has campaigned all over the world for the marginalized, and even once washed the feet of Muslim asylum seekers. He has criticized the growth of nationalist populism in Europe. And he called former President Donald Trump not Christian for his anti-migrant rhetoric. The one time he met Trump he gave him a treatise on climate change.

The pope has been criticized by religious conservatives. And his campaign to convince the dwindling Iraqi Christian community to remain is probably too late.

Do we expect Christians to stay in the Middle East, especially Syria and Iraq? the Chaldean Catholic Bishop Bashar Matti Warda asked me rhetorically, in Erbil in 2016. That is a very difficult question. They have good reason to leave.

The Iraqi government is trying very hard to reign in violent militias, mostly sponsored by Iran, that still frighten Christians. But the clerics joint denunciation of religious fanaticism may not convince.

And yet, the sight of these clerics endorsing pluralism is moving  and a warning. When Sistani dies, Iran will try to exert more influence over Iraqi Shiites. And Pope Francis Vatican campaign for the poor may or may not outlast his papacy after he dies.

They have set down the markers, and tried their best in Najaf. Now its up to us.

TRUDY RUBIN writes for the The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 13 : As the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are yet to announce their candidate lists for the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls, the media is raking up many names.

One name which the media has raised in each and every state election is that of superstar Mammootty and this time, too, it is no different.

This speculation had a shelf life till the Communist Party of India (Marxist) released its candidate list. Asked about his political leanings, Mammootty said he clearly has a political leaning but till now he has not been asked to contest the upcoming Assembly elections.

"There is lot of freedom for the media reporters when it comes to naming probable candidates of political parties and the ground rule is nothing but to run his/her imagination wild and come out with names which create a buzz. The moment one TV channel comes out, the others are also not far behind and finally when it comes to the actual candidate list, a huge majority of the hyped names that were doled out fail to figure. But then no one remembers what was said as all start to go after the actual electoral list. This is what happens all the time and this time also it's been the same," said a media critic who requested anonymity.

In the past few days, one name that has taken centrestage in all TV news reports has been that of two-time former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Oommen Chandy. By now all the TV channels are naming him as the Congress candidate from Nemom in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, often referred to as the Gujarat of Kerala by the state BJP leaders as that's the only seat which the BJP had won in the 140-member Kerala Assembly during the 2016 Kerala polls.

"I do not know from where you (media) get all this news as I have not thought of contesting out of Puthupally where I have contested the previous 11 elections," commented Chandy but even after his denial, TV channels continue running the same news.

Even though the Congress candidates list is yet to be released and Nemom continues to be in the news, the other names that surfaced in the media include Congress Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor, K. Muraleedharan, among others. The latest name doing the rounds is that of acclaimed film personality Major Ravi.

But soon after arriving from New Delhi on Saturday morning, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, said out of the 91 Assembly seats that the Congress is contesting, 81 seats have been finalised and the remaining 10 would be finalised on Saturday. State Congress President Mullapally Ramachandran will announce it on Sunday.

With the BJP yet to reveal its candidates list, the major name that none in the media could play up was that of Metroman E. Sreedharan. Only after it was revealed by the State BJP President, K. Surendran, did Kerala come to know that he would be a BJP candidate.

Among the numerous names that continue to be floated around is that of yesteryear actress Maneka Suresh, the mother of the National award winning actress, Keerthi Suresh.

In the CPI(M) ranks, one name which was raised was that of youth leader of the CPI(M) and a hugely popular face on all TV channels defending his party to the hilt -- A. A. Rahim who was missing when the list surfaced. Strangely none of the media could play up the name of Mohammed Riyaz, the son-in-law of current Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as a likely candidate.

Riyaz has already started his campaign in the Beypore constituency in Kozhikode district.

The candidates list of both the BJP and the Congress is expected by Sunday.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After several unsuccessful attempts to adopt a dog locally, Tottenville resident Robert Zhen came across the organization No Dogs Left Behind (NDLB) website. NDLB is a non-profit organization that rescues dogs from slaughterhouses and the dog meat market in China.

In May 2020, Zhen officially adopted two dogs through NDLB. Due to the international flight restrictions during COVID, the dogs didnt arrive here in the U.S. until January of this year.

Zhens children, Bernice, 12, and Corey, 10, picked out the names for their rescue pups. Kirby is a Samoyed, approximately four years old, and Yoshi is a two-year-old Golden Retriever.

No Dogs Left Behind rescued pup, Yoshi, enjoys the snow (Courtesy of Robert Zhen)

Both Kirby and Yoshi quickly adjusted to living with their new family. Zhen described both of them as being very friendly and sweet, each with their own personality. Yoshi is laid-back while Kirby is more attached to the hip, always ready for attention and petting, according to Zhen.

Kirby enjoys petting and attention from forever family in Tottenville (Composite of images courtesy of Robert Zhen)

The Zhens also adopted a third rescue, Yuki who is a 10-month-old German Shepherd mix, through the Sean Casey Animal Rescue group last year. Zhen says that after getting to know each other, Kirby, Yoshi, and Yuki are now the best of friends

Rescue dogs pose for camera in Zhen family's backyard. From left: Yoshi; Yuki; Kirby (Courtesy of Robert Zhen)

Zhen highly recommends that anyone looking to adopt a rescue dog should consider NDLB.

This is a very good organization that is actually trying to rescue dogs from the meat market over in China, said Zhen who mentioned that as someone of Chinese descent he was familiar with the dog meat industry and the culture around it.

According to Humane Society International, between 10-20 million dogs are killed for consumption annually in China.

One of the most notable events associated with dog meat consumption is the annual Yulin festival, which takes place during the summer solstice in Yulin, Guangxi, China. According to No Dogs Left Behind, every year an estimated 10,000-15,000 dogs are stuffed into small cages, tortured, and slaughtered during the festival. Many of these dogs have been stolen from their owners, some even smuggled into China from surrounding countries.

Multiple dogs are stuffed into a cage as they are transported to Yulin festival in China where they will be tortured, slaughtered, and eaten. (Courtesy of No Dogs Left Behind)

NDLB is not only fighting to save all of the dogs captured but also to prevent the practice from continuing. The organization operates with a five pillar approach to fighting against animal cruelty: emergency response, shelter operations, education, government advocacy, and adoption.

With the help of the media, activists, local police, and government officials in China, the NDLB team is able to shut down wet markets and slaughterhouses as well as intercept dog meat trucks and traffickers.

Recently, NDLB has also rescued dogs from restaurants. Jeffrey Beri, found of No Dogs Left Behind, who is present for every rescue, explained the unique situation of the dogs confiscated from restaurants.

Referring to some of the dogs that arrived in the U.S. on March 6 he said, Many of these dogs that are coming right now were literally at the restaurant waiting to be slaughtered.

They were butchering them in the back of restaurant, continued Beri.

After rescuing the dogs, the team then takes them to one of four NDLB shelters in China where they receive medical treatment and are rehabilitated.

All of the dogs then have their photographs along with information about them posted on the website for people to choose to sponsor, foster, or adopt.

It is important to note that although China does not have any animal welfare laws, a majority of Chinese citizens do not approve of the dog meat industry. According to Humane Society International and Avaaz, a 2016 survey revealed that 64% of Chinese citizens want the Yulin festival to be eradicated, 51.7% think the dog meat industry should be banned altogether, and 69.5% have never eaten dog meat.

Beri sees hope that China will be a pioneer in ending the dog meat industry and inspiring other countries in Asia to also end the horrific torture, slaughter, and consumption of dogs.

Last year, Shenzen and Zhuhai became the first Chinese cities to ban dog and cat meat. Days before Zhuhai enacted its ban, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs stated that dogs are pets not livestock.

We believe that China, with our support and help, will lead the way for change. So we applaud China for their work and their efforts, said Beri.

He emphasized that local law enforcement, government officials, and activists in China have been and continue to be integral to saving these dogs lives.

In the past year alone, NDLB has brought more than 290 dogs to the U.S. and placed all of them in homes.

The most recent transport occurred on Saturday, March 6th with a total of 27 dogs. They initially landed at Los Angeles International Airport where three met their families, one continued its journey all the way to Florida, and the remaining 23 touched down in New York City at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Flashback to 3-5-2021...NDLB Freedom Flight LAX 27 arrives in Los Angeles, welcomed by our amazing Los Angeles... Posted by No Dogs Left Behind on Tuesday, March 9, 2021

There are numerous ways that people can help support No Dogs Left Behind in Fight[ing] the good fight, like NDLBs motto says. Donations and purchasing merchandise helps to pay for medical and transport expenses. People can also choose to sponsor a specific dog and follow their story as they are rehabilitated.

For people that enjoy traveling, you can volunteer at one of the NDLB shelters in China or be a Flight Hero transporting dogs with you on a flight from China to the United States. Fostering is another option, which helps to free up space at the shelters for the next dogs that are rescued. Last, but not least, theres adoption  being a forever family to these brave furry survivors. The adoption and transport fees are $2290 for dogs under 50 lbs and a crate size of 80 cm or smaller and $2990 for dogs over 50 lbs with a crate size of 90 cm or larger.

The dog meat trade industry is immense, but organizations like No Dogs Left Behind give hope that one day no dogs will have to suffer at the hands of such an inhumane practice.
The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has reacted to the recent crisis between crop farmers and herders in Nigeria.

Mr Tinubu, in a statement Saturday, said the destruction of crops or seizure of property of an innocent farmer or herder is an act of criminality.

PREMIUM TIMES in the past has reported how the crisis between herders and farmers have led to the destruction of farms and eviction of several herders in some Southwest states.

Mr Tinubu recommended that the federal government should convene a meeting of state governors, senior security officials, herder and farmer representatives, along with traditional rulers and religious leaders to hammer out a set of working principles to resolve the crisis among others

Read full statement below:

STATEMENT ON THE HERDER CRISIS

The herder-farmer dispute has taken on acute and violent dimensions. It has cost too many innocent lives while destroying the property and livelihoods of many others. It has also aggravated ethnic sentiment and political tension. Despite the efforts of some of those in positions of high responsibility and public trust, the crisis has not significantly abated. Sadly, others who should know better have incited matters by tossing about hate-tainted statements that fall dangerously short of the leadership these people claim to provide. We all must get hold of our better selves to treat this matter with the sobriety it requires.

Because of the violence that has ensued and the fretful consequences of such violence if left unabated, we must move in unison but decisively to end the spiral of death and destruction. Only when the violence and the illogic of it are halted can logic and reason prevail. Until the violence is rolled back, we cannot resolve the deep problems that underlie this conflict. We will neither be able to uplift the farmer from his impoverished toil nor move the herder toward the historic transformation which he must make.

Yet, as vital as security is to the resolution of this matter, we must realize security measures alone will not suffice. Enhanced security may be the necessary first step, but it cannot be the only step. Nor do we resolve this by hitching ourselves to emotional, one-dimensional answers. More to the point, those who cast this as exclusively a matter of ethnic confrontation are mistaken. This is no time for reckless chauvinism of any kind, on either side of this dispute. This matter is not ethnic in factual origin or actual causation although in the minds and hearts of too many it has become ethnic in recrimination and impulsive action.

There have been sporadic disputes in the past but this one is more severe. The reasons for the greater violence of this current dispute are myriad. Economic hardship and its resultant dislocation, proliferation of weapons, generalized increase in criminality, and weakening of social institutions all play a role. Desertification, increased severity and length of the dry season, diminution of water resources, impairment of land fertility and population growth also contribute in no small measure. Thus, any durable solution must get at most, if not all, of these issues.

Farmers have a right to farm their land unmolested. Herders have a right to raise their livestock without undue interference. However, when conflict between these groups arises to such an extent, we must set forth clear principles and policies to remove the tension, in order to allow both to proceed toward their stated goals and to live in harmony and according to their respective rights. Just as I cannot go into your house and take your shirt because I do not have one of like colour, no one can destroy the crops of a farmer or seize the cattle of a herder simply because such destruction sates their anger or their selfish, short-term interests. If such a condition were to hold, then all would turn into chaos; all would be in jeopardy of being lost. To destroy the crops or seize the property of the innocent farmer or herder is nothing if not an act of criminality.

Here, I must state two fundamental realities. One has been previously mentioned by me and others as part of the solution. The other reality is hardly discussed.

First, the situation of the herder is becoming untenable. Their nomadic ways fall increasingly in conflict with the dictates of modern society. This way of life is centuries old and steeped in tradition. We can never condone or accept violence as a valid response to any hardship. However, we all must recognize and understand the sense of dislocation caused by the sudden passing of such a longstanding social institution.

I mention their dislocation not to excuse violence and other excesses. I raise it to underscore that we must realize the true complexity of this crisis. What is happening has been terrible, but it is not due to any intrinsic evil in either the herder or the farmer. The calamity now being faced is borne of situational exigencies. It is but the tragic outcome when often desperate, alienated people are left too long unattended and when their understanding of the modern socio-economic and environmental forces affecting the very terms of their existence is incomplete. An ethnically fuelled response will be to vociferously defend the nomadic way believing this tack will somehow protect the herder and cast the speaker as an ethnic champion. However, careless words cannot shield the herder from relentless reality. Such talk will only delude him into believing that he can somehow escape the inevitable. We do both herder and farmer grave injustice by allowing the herder to continue as he is  fighting a losing battle against modernity and climate change. In that fight, desperation causes him to flail and fight the farmer, who too is a victim of these impersonal forces.

Second, to help the herder and leave the farmer unattended is unfair and will only trigger a resentment that tracks already heated ethnic fault lines. The times have also been perilous for the hardscrabble farmer. He needs help to survive and to be more productive in ways that increases national food security. Farm productivity and incomes must be enhanced. Soil enrichment, better irrigation and water retention as well as provision of better rural roads, equipment and access to modern machinery are required to lift him above bare subsistence.

Both innocent and law-abiding farmer and herder need to be recompensed for the losses they have suffered. Both need further assistance to break the current cycle of violence and poverty. In short, the continued progressive reform of many of our rural socio-economic relationships is called for.

Based on these strategic observations, I recommend the federal government convene a meeting of state governors, senior security officials, herder and farmer representatives, along with traditional rulers and religious leaders. The purpose of this meeting would be to hammer out a set of working principles to resolve the crisis.

After this meeting, governors of each state should convene follow-up meetings in their states to refine and add flesh to the universal principles by adjusting them to the particular circumstances of their states. In addition to religious and traditional leaders and local farmer and herder representatives, these meetings shall include the states best security minds along with experts in agriculture (livestock and farming), land use and water management to draw specific plans for their states.

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To accomplish this goal, wise policy must include the following elements:

Maintain reasonable and effective law enforcement presence in affected areas. The proposed reform of the Nigerian law enforcement apparatus towards state and community policing can help in this regard. The legislative and administrative measures required to make this a reality should be expedited. In addition to alleviating the present farmer-herder crisis, this reform will also bolster efforts against the banditry, kidnapping and robbery plaguing communities across the country. Governments need to employ new technology and equipment to enhance the information gathering/surveillance and response capabilities of law enforcement.

2. Help the herders transition to more sedentary but more profitable methods of cattle-rearing. Unoccupied public land can be fenced into grazing areas or ranches and leased to herders on a very low-cost, nominal basis. The leasing is not intended to penalize herders. Rather, the nominal fee is intended to ensure the herders are invested in the project and incentivized (by reason of their investment) to use the land provided. This aspect will also mitigate any resentment over herders being given land for free. Government, in turn, being a responsible lessor, must help with supplemental feed and water in these areas. This will enable herders to better maintain and care for their livestock thus enhancing their incomes. Herders can augment income by becoming suppliers to the leather goods industry. Additionally, herders can also develop a more symbiotic relationship with farmers by, for example, trading animal compost to the farmer in exchange for animal feed.

3. Assist farmers increase productivity by supporting or providing subvention for their acquisition of fertilizer, equipment and machinery and, also, by establishing commodity boards to guarantee minimum prices for important crops. In the medium to long term, resources must be dedicated to establishing better irrigation and water catchment systems to further improve farm productivity and mitigate the dire impact of flood and drought cycles brought about by extreme climatic conditions.

4. Establish a permanent panel in each state as a forum for farmers, herders, security officials and senior state officials to discuss their concerns, mitigate contention and identify trouble and douse it before it erupts.

We are a populous nation of diverse ethnic groups. We are a people of potential richness, yet to escape present poverty. We have resources but not wealth. Often, our words speak of hope and fear in the same breath. While we all hope and strive for the best, many fear that there is not enough of what is needed to go around and that they will be left out. In such a situation, harsh competition and contest are fated to occur. In the unfolding of this social dynamic, one group of actors has been pitted against another over dwindling water and fertile ground. The confrontation has resulted in the needless loss of life and destruction of property. If left to itself, this situation may spread and threaten the progress of the nation. It could call into proximate question the utility of the social compact that holds government and governed in positive bond, one to the other. We have a decision to make. Do we attempt the hard things that decency requires of us to right the situation? Or do we allow ourselves to be slave to short term motives that appeal to base instinct that run afoul of the democratic principles upon which this republic is founded and for which so many have already sacrificed so much? In the question itself, lies the answer.

SIGNED

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

March 13, 2021.
The United States, Japan, India, and Australia are committed to working together to tackle the shared challenges we face and to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, said President on Friday (local time).

"This morning, I met virtually with the in the first multilateral summit I've hosted as president. The United States, Japan, India, and Australia are committed to working together to tackle the shared challenges we face and to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific region," Biden wrote from his official account.

Earlier in the day, during the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) on Friday, US President said that a free and open Indo-Pacific is essential for the future of each of the grouping's member countries, and the US is committed to ensuring the region is governed by law and free of coercion.

"A free and open Indo Pacific is essential to each of our future of our countries. The US is committed to working with you, our partners and all of our allies in the region to achieve stability" he said during the meet.

During the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the four leaders - the US, Australia, India and Japan - stressed for a free, open and rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is "anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion".

In a joint statement, the leaders said: "We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific. We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion."

"Today, the global devastation caused by COVID-19, the threat of climate change, and security challenges facing the region summon us with renewed purpose," they said.

The Quad is a strategic forum comprising India, Japan, Australia and the United States of America, held its first-ever head of states meet virtually on Friday.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For Subscribers Gov. Noem hires jet consultant to help South Dakota buy new aircraft

An out-of-state consultant has been hired for $195,000 by Gov. Kristi Noem's administration to help the state of South Dakota buy a new aircraft.
MINNEAPOLIS - The city of Minneapolis will pay a record $27 million to the family of George Floyd to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit related to his death last May in police custody, a deal that could also impact the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged in his killing,

The payout, one of the largest of its kind involving police misconduct, was approved Friday in an unanimous vote by the Minneapolis City Council in a last-minute addition to the agenda of the panel's regular meeting. The settlement is the highest ever paid by the city, eclipsing the $20 million paid in 2019 to the family of Justine Damond, who was shot and killed by a Minneapolis police officer in 2017.

Floyd's family and its legal team welcomed the settlement, saying the record amount was vindication for Floyd and the Black Americans who took to the nation's streets demanding social justice in the aftermath of the 46-year-old's death pinned beneath the knee of a White police officer.

"This historic agreement - the largest pretrial settlement and a police civil rights wrongful death case in U.S. history - makes a statement that George Floyd deserved better than what we witnessed on May 25, 2020," attorney Ben Crump said at a news conference with members of Floyd's family and city officials. "That George Floyd's life matters, and by extension, Black lives matter."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, standing with Floyd's family and legal team during the news conference, said the city would go beyond the monetary settlement to implement major policy changes in the pursuit of racial justice.

"Our Black community has endured deep and compounding trauma over this last year, and perhaps more acutely than George Floyd's family standing with me right now," he said. "Amid unprecedented pain we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to truly effectuate change."

Floyd's family said that while they appreciated the city for agreeing to the settlement, the money could not make up for the loss of their loved one.

"If I could get him back, I will give all of this back," said his brother, Philonise Floyd.

"Today is a huge step in the healing process," Floyd's nephew Brandon Williams said. "Hopefully it's a healing in the way that policing is carried on."

Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender offered her condolences to Floyd's family after the vote.

"No amount of money can ever address the intense pain or trauma caused by this death to George Floyd's family or to the people of our city," she said. "Minneapolis has been fundamentally changed by this time of racial reckoning and this city council is united in working together with our community, and the Floyd family to equitably reshape our city of Minneapolis."

But the settlement could have implications for the criminal trial of Chauvin, who is charged with second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter holding his knee on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes on May 25. The incident, captured on video that went viral, led to months of nationwide protests.

Three other former officers also charged in Floyd's death and named in the Floyd family lawsuit - Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao - are scheduled to be tried separately in August.

As jury selection for Chauvin's trial began this week, Eric Nelson, Chauvin's attorney, sought to block mention of any possible payout by the city to the Floyd's family, arguing it would be prejudicial.

Some legal observers said publicity over the settlement, which came on day four of jury selection, could result in a possible mistrial.

"I think it's a potential disaster for Chauvin," said Mary Moriarty, former chief Hennepin County public defender. She said if she were Chauvin's attorney, she would request a mistrial.

"The concern is that jurors will be aware that the city gave George Floyd's family a great deal of money," Moriarty said. "And I suspect the jurors will have a hard time avoiding the news, even if they try."

Nelson did not respond to a request for comment. News of the settlement broke during a lunch break during jury selection, and proceedings ended Friday without any mention of the development.

A Minneapolis official said the city had been concerned that the announcement could impact the trial.

The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the city consulted with Hennepin County Chief District Court Judge Toddrick Barnette, who told the city it could proceed. Barnette did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While Floyd's family and the city's leaders largely avoided commenting on the trial during the new conference - in part because has warned against public comment on the case - the family's lawyers said their concern was justice - in whatever form. Crump said he had less faith in the "discriminatory criminal justice system." He said history shows there is "no guarantee" that a White officer will be convicted of killing a Black man.

Seven members of the jury have been impaneled so far - three White men, a Hispanic man, a multiracial woman, a White woman and a Black man - in a pace that has been faster than expected. According to the court, three jurors are in their 20s, three are in their 30s and one is in their 50s. Jury selection is scheduled to continue Monday with opening arguments in the case expected to begin no earlier than March 29.

Robert Bennett, a lawyer who has represented several plaintiffs in wrongful death lawsuits, said it was not yet clear how the settlement might impact the criminal case against Chauvin.

"It's a separate proceeding, and the judge in the criminal case can say 'That's the city of Minneapolis dealing with its problems. You don't have to concern yourself with it,'" Bennett said. "Although it's hard to ignore it if you're a juror."

Bennett represented Damond's family in its wrongful death case against the city. The $20 million settlement was announced just three days after a jury convicted the police officer who shot and killed Damond of charges of second- and third-degree murder.

Floyd's family sued the city in July.

Settlement amounts in fatal police shootings vary widely. In a 2015 Washington Post account of awards in civil lawsuits, payouts ranged from $7,500 to $8.5 million.

In 2018, a Maryland jury awarded a record $38 million to the family of Korryn Gaines, who was fatally shot by a Baltimore County police officer. Gaines's 5-year-old son was shot in the face during the incident, but survived. However, the settlement has been the subject of appeals and has not been paid out.

In September, the city of Louisville announced a $12 million settlement with the family of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police executing a no-knock search warrant at her apartment last March. While Louisville implemented a series of policy changes to overhaul police tactics, the officers responsible for Taylor's death were ultimately not prosecuted.

The Floyd family settlement includes $500,000 to benefit the area in Minneapolis near where Floyd died - now widely known as George Floyd Square - and to execute necessary documents to process the agreement.

The city's closed-door session to discuss the lawsuit came shortly after council members voted overwhelmingly to move forward with a charter amendment to eliminate its police department and install a new department of public safety. Voters could ultimately decide on the measure this November.

In celebrating the settlement, lawyers representing Floyd's family hailed the changes Minneapolis has pledged to make to its policing tactics.

"The settlement is not just historic because of the $27 million paid out, but for the impact on social justice policy reforms and police reforms " Crump said. "That's why this is so historic and significant."

Minneapolis officials say the settlement will be paid out of a self-insurance fund that has been pushed the brink in recent years after the city has been forced to pay tens of millions of dollars to settle police-related lawsuits including in the Damond case.

On Friday, Frey and other city officials pointed to police reforms that have been undertaken since Floyd's death, but observers were quick to note the city had promised change before.

"This is the same police department. They don't learn, so the settlements are ratcheting up," said Barnett, the lawyer in the Damond case. "If something else happens, the next settlement will be $30 million."

- - -

The Washington Post's Jared Goyette in Minneapolis and Kimberly Kindy in Washington contributed to this report.
ALONE, the organisation which supports older people, is reflecting on a year supporting an increasing number of older people in need amid ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

One year ago, ALONEs National Support line became the gateway to their multi-disciplinary supportive services and allowed them to reach a growing cohort of older people in need of support.

Their National Support Line quickly became the leading national number for Community Call, an initiative that links local and national Government with the community and voluntary sectors to provide support to older people and those who are at risk at this time.

As a member organisation of the National Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Subgroup for Vulnerable People, ALONE has worked in collaboration with the Department of Health and the HSE to provide a coordinated national response to support older people who have concerns, may be at risk or who have contracted COVID-19.

ALONEs Strategic Plan outlines the projections of an ageing population and the supports needed in order to cater for a growing age group. Having established clear goals from the outset pre-pandemic, this was key to how ALONE were able to mobilise a rapid response in every county.

Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE said, ALONE volunteers and staff have been working alongside older people for over forty years now. We grow in strength each and every year with the important relationships we build and services that we develop.

For over a year now, our lives have been put on hold as a result of COVID-19, with older people among the worst affected by the impact of the pandemic on their lives. The support we have received from our partner organisations, ambassadors, community groups and individuals since the arrival of COVID-19 in Ireland has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Our National Support Line has been a lifeline for older people across the country during dark times over the past year and we will continue this work until the threat of the pandemic has passed and beyond, he continued.

Our National Support Line will continue to be the gateway to accessing our services and we endeavour to keep providing and expanding these services to accommodate for those who require them. We have accomplished so much over the last year but we are still working with older people who are struggling every day to provide assistance, support and reassurance.

We must continue to protect our ageing population following the sacrifices that they have made in the past year and provide the necessary supports for older people both now and when things begin to return to normality.

Since March 9, 2020, and around 365 days later, ALONEs National Support Line has received in excess of 43,429 calls for support. ALONE coordinated the National Support Line to be in operation from 8am  8pm, seven days a week, ultimately increasing their capabilities as an organisation, to provide support on greater scale.

Subsequent to this, ALONE staff and volunteers have placed more than 110,141 calls to older people who have been linked in with their services. The organisation has increased its weekly volume of older people seeking ongoing support as they now assist up to 2,426 older people weekly with challenges spanning across loneliness, health, finance, housing, accessing services, COVID-19 and other issues.

While 75% of callers to ALONE live ALONE, 31% of these callers are between 75-90 years of age. ALONE staff have put 9,228 support plans in place for those who have called with an issue so that we develop a solution to the problem. ALONEs support plans can provide a point of contact for access to health, social care, housing, transport and other arising needs using technology and other services and activities to improve physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

Their Support Coordination services have been transformed through collaborative relationships with the Local Authorities, the Gardai, the GAA, partners in the Statutory, Community and Voluntary Sectors. ALONE have continuously evolved their relationships with partner organisations stating, without them, they would not have been able to achieve what they have.

The organisation has seen a huge increase to the number of volunteers since the onset of the pandemic, with the total figure currently over 2,645. ALONE has trained 589 volunteers to work with older people over the past year, with the first ever online volunteer training taking place on April 10th, 2020.

ALONE has also implemented technology to help older people through the pandemic, installing various devices for older people across the country in order to keep them connected and help them through the pandemic. ALONE supplied and installed 356 Assistive Technology devices in 2020 and worked on a partner collaboration resulting in the delivery of 1,068 phones to older people across the Country.

Contact ALONE if you have concerns about your own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person you know. Their National Support Line is available seven days a week from 8am  8pm on 0818 222 024. Further information can be found on www.alone.ie.
Businesses and residents in Bridge Street are 'overjoyed' with the announcement that 7.4 million in funding has been secured for urban regeneration of the St Nicholas Quarter of Dundalk.

The local group, led by Joanne Lavelle and Sarah McKenna, have worked in recent years to keep the issue on the agenda. After 'much disappointment' that street improvement works would be limited to only half of the neighbourhood, the group engaged with Louth County Council and representatives to seek funding for an ambitious urban regeneration scheme.

Speaking about the multi million euro funding announcement, Joanne Lavelle said: 'After previous unsuccessful funding bids and insufficient funds to complete the street improvement works, we engaged with Council Executive to explain the potential for jobs, homes and town centre life that can be achieved through regeneration of our neighbourhood. We're thrilled about this announcement, which is a resounding example of local authority and local interests working together as partners.'

'This shows what we can achieve when we're all working together. It's massive for our neighbourhood and we're really excited about the road ahead.'

The 7.4 million is a game changer for the north end of Dundalk according to Dundalk Senator John McGahon.

'For too long, Bridge Street and Linenhall Street were left behind while the rest of the town progressed. Now with a 7.4 Million investment, both streets will now be on the same level playing field as the rest of Dundalk town. This funding will completely re-energise and rejuvenate both streets and open up previously unimagined potential.'

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He added: 'Residential units above shop fronts will entice younger people to live above the shop once more. It will unlock pedestrian space and create a thriving community space right in the heart of Dundalk. It will improve the streetscape for our elderly and people with disabilities while vacant and derelict buildings will be replaced with new retail units in which entrepreneurs can get their first start.

Louth County Council did an excellent job and submitted a strong application and followed it up with further information in April 2020 in a bid to strengthen the application.

The submission proposes that the project will be split into two Phases. The first will consist of the regeneration of the public realm of the northern gateway, Bridge Street, Linenhall Street, Northgate Street, and the Peace Park. Phase two will consist of a feasibility study and preliminary design, and will include Compulsory Purchase Orders of vacant and derelict properties along Bridge Street and Linenhall Street and also portions of back lands areas required to transform the area into a vibrant town centre location.
Zaruhi Postanjyan, the head of the oppositional Apricot Country Party, said today that she needs 3,000 cars to force Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign.

The oppositionist explained that it is the exact number of cars, which is required to surround and block all government buildings in Armenia. Postanjyan recalled that in 2018, when the Armenian people overthrew the 20-year-old regime of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict instigators, Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sargsyan, this method worked.

It is necessary to block the movement of representatives of the authorities (the prime minister, the president, governors, deputies of the My Step Alliance) for 48 hours and set a condition for them to resign, news.am quotes her as saying.
The technology is behind a piece of digital art auctioned for $69.3 million on Thursday and the sale of Jack Dorsey's first tweet -- so-called NFTs have set off a revolution in collectables.

What is an NFT, and why are they causing such a stir?

- What is an 'NFT' ? -

A non-fungible token (NFT) is a digital object that can be a drawing, animation, piece of music, photo, or video with a certificate of authenticity created by blockchain technology. This authentication by a network of computers is considered inviolable.

The virtual object, which is actually a computer file, can be exchanged or sold with its certificate.

- What's different with NFTs? -

Despite the ubiquity of the internet, the sale and exchange of collectible digital objects had been niche until very recently. Most collectors preferred physical objects: paintings, sculptures, bottles of wine, sneakers.

One of the obstacles preventing digital objects from becoming mainstream collectibles was the fear of copies.

NFTs can still be copied, of course, but only one file has a certificate of authenticity, which cannot be replicated.

- Can I create an NFT? -

Any internet user can go to a dedicated platform, like Rarible or OpenSea, to upload the file which will become the NFT. Fees are usually less than $30 per file, paid in cryptocurrency.

Once the NFT is on the platform, the creator can sell it. The creator also has the option of setting a percentage that he or she will receive from all future sales of the file.

- How big is the NFT market? -

Taking into account the most recent transactions, it's already worth several billion dollars. On Thursday, the digital artwork "Everydays: the First 5,000 Days," was sold at Christie's for $69.3 million. Other major auction houses are now actively considering holding NFT sales.

On Thursday alone, two images created on the CryptoPunks platform were sold for $7.3 million each. And Twitter founder Jack Dorsey was offered $2.5 million for the NFT of his very first tweet.

Story continues

- Is there an NFT bubble? -

Some experts expect price corrections as the NFT market takes shape, but no one sees the segment collapsing. Many even believe that a lot of NFTs are undervalued due to the nascent stage of the market.

The purchaser of "Everydays," known only by the pseudonym Metakovan, called the work "the crown jewel" of this generation and estimated that it is worth $1 billion.

"My prediction is that over the coming years we'll see the consensus shift on digital items, from 'these are worthless and not real' to 'this is the best way to prove ownership, scarcity, and authenticity,'" investor Jonathan Bales wrote in what's considered the definitive text on the subject in early January.

"I'm convinced NFTs are the future of collecting. The most exciting aspect, to me, is that the party is just getting started," he said.

tu/acb/jh
Microsoft and Google openly feuding amid hacks, competition inquiries FILE PHOTO: The brand logo of Alphabet Inc's Google is seen outside its office in Beijing

By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Google and Microsoft are at knives drawn.

Driven in part by pressure from lawmakers and regulators over the extraordinary power the two technology companies wield over American life, the California-based search engine giant and Washington-based software firm are wrestling to throw each other under the bus.

Tensions between Microsoft Corp and Alphabet-owned Google have been simmering for a while but the rivalry has become unusually public in recent days as executives from both firms have been put on the defensive over competing crises.

Google faces bipartisan complaints - and journalistic ire - over its role in gutting the media industry's advertisement revenue, the subject of a Congressional antitrust hearing on Friday.

Microsoft, meanwhile, faces scrutiny for its role in back-to-back cybersecurity breaches.

In the first, the same allegedly Russian hackers who compromised the Texas software firm SolarWinds Corp also took advantage of Microsoft's cloud software to break into some of the company's clients. The second, disclosed on March 2, saw allegedly Chinese hackers abuse previously unknown vulnerabilities to vacuum up emails from Microsoft customers around the world.

Addressing lawmakers on Friday at a House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee on news, Microsoft President Brad Smith was due to fire a shot at Google, telling representatives that media organizations are being forced to "use Google's tools, operate on Google's ad exchanges, contribute data to Google's operations, and pay Google money," according to excerpts of his testimony published by Axios.

Google fired back, saying that Microsoft's "newfound interest in attacking us comes on the heels of the SolarWinds attack and at a moment when they've allowed tens of thousands of their customers  including government agencies in the U.S., NATO allies, banks, nonprofits, telecommunications providers, public utilities, police, fire and rescue units, hospitals and, presumably, news organizations  to be actively hacked via major Microsoft vulnerabilities."

(Reporting by Raphael Satter, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Todos Medical (OTCQB: TOMDG) CEO Gerald Commissiong joined Steve Darling from Proactive with news the company saw a 38.1% increase in sales in February announcing 7.15 million surpassing Januarys number of 5.18 million

Commissiong telling Proactive the big driver was the increase in PCR reagent and supply sales from a new New York City, Tri-State Area client. Commissiong also told Proactive Todos expects another one of its pending NYC Tri-State Area clients to become operational and begin to bring sample processing in-house in the coming weeks.

The leaders at the summit made a commitment on Friday to harness India's manufacturing prowess for a massive vaccine diplomacy project to deliver 1 billion doses to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond as the four-nation group eyes broader agenda, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said.

Calling the and "emergent institution", he said on Friday: "These four leaders made a massive joint commitment with India, manufacturing US technology, Japanese and American financing and Australian logistics capability. The committed to delivering up to 1 billion doses to ASEAN. The Indo-Pacific and beyond by the end of 2022."

India's vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities put it in the driver's seat in the project that is of imminent importance to the Quad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "United in our fight against COVID-19, we launched a landmark Quad partnership to ensure accessibility of safe COVID-19 vaccines. India's formidable vaccine production capacity will be expanded with support from Japan, US & Australia to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region."

"Today's summit shows that Quad has come of age -- Modi said at the beginning of the summit with Prime Ministers Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan, and US President Joe Biden as the group reaches for a new role embracing development and cooperation beyond the four nations as a force for the global good."

"It will now remain an important pillar of stability in the region," Modi said.

Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in the summit that was held virtually with Biden presiding from the White House.

Sullivan said that the leaders agreed to meet in person before the end of the year.

Biden is trying to give the Quad that is formally known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue an impetus to expand in other areas with a new model of cooperation.

Sullivan said at his briefing in Washington that the challenge posed by China figured in the talks and "they made clear that none of them has any illusions about China, but today was not fundamentally about China."

However, Sullivan said: "The Quad is not a military alliance; it's not a new NATO despite some of the propaganda that's out there. What it is is an opportunity for these four democracies to work, and also with other countries on fundamental issues of economics, technology, climate and security."

"Each of the leaders independently in the course of the meeting referred to this event as historic because it's cemented, a group of strong democracies that will work together going forward to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific," Sullivan said.

The leaders discussed key regional issues including freedom of navigation and "freedom from coercion" in the South and East China Seas, the North Korea nuclear issue, and the Myanmar coup, he said.

A joint statement issued at the end of the summit said that the four countries will establish a vaccine working groups on vaccine and technology.

The critical- and emerging-technology working group will work to facilitate cooperation on international standards and innovative technologies of the future, while the climate working group will seek to strengthen climate actions globally on mitigation, adaptation, resilience, technology, capacity-building, and climate finance, the statement said.

The statement also said, they will try "to meet challenges to the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas".

It said, "We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, and also confirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese abductees. As long-standing supporters of Myanmar and its people, we emphasise the urgent need to restore democracy and the priority of strengthening democratic resilience."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Sumona Guha, the National Security Council's senior director for South Asia, also participated in the summit.

As the summit began, Biden said, "The United States is committed to working with you, our partners, and all of our allies in the region to achieve stability. This is a group particularly important because it is dedicated to the practical solutions and concrete results."

"The Quad is going to be a vital arena for cooperation," he said.

Sullivan did not give further details of the vaccine plan. But some media reports said that the US would help India manufacture the one-dose vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson that does not require ultra-cold refrigeration like other US vaccinations.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)

--IANS

al/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.)
 Flash

Egypt rejected on Friday a joint statement issued by a number of countries at the United Nations Human Rights Council, which included criticisms about human rights situation in the North African country.

In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed absolute rejection of the statement which contained "groundless discourse based on inaccurate information."

The ministry stressed extreme astonishment and disapproval that the facts and information being clarified to these countries regarding the human rights situation in Egypt were not used.

The ministry also stressed the need for a thorough review of these "rejected claims," calling upon these countries to stop making accusations that only "reflect a reprehensible political orientation and which include fallacies without foundations."

"It is unacceptable to carelessly make such a statement which does not take into account the comprehensive Egyptian efforts in the field of human rights in all its political, economic and social aspects," the ministry affirmed.

Egypt, through its mission in Geneva, is scheduled to deliver a statement before the Human Rights Council, which will shed light on the deficiencies within the countries which have taken part in the joint statement, according to the ministry's statement.

Earlier on Friday, the United States and some other Western countries are among the signatories of the joint statement calling on the Egyptian government to lift curbs on freedom of expression and assembly.